JP3183798U - Ink supply device and ink cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

An ink supply device and an ink cartridge having means for suppressing a speed at which an ink cartridge is inserted into a cartridge mounting portion and having a positional relationship between an access portion of the ink cartridge and a portion to be accessed of the cartridge mounting portion hardly vary. provide.
An ink cartridge is provided in a main body having a second protrusion disposed at a position offset with respect to a center line, an ink chamber provided in the main body, and the main body. And an engaging portion 43, a rib 48, a detected element 49, and an ink supply port 71 that are physically related to the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the mounting process. The cartridge mounting portion 110 includes a guide groove 109 that guides the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30, a locking member 145 that is physically related to the engaging portion 43, the rib 48, the detected element 49, and the ink supply port 71, and an optical sensor 114. , 116 and the ink needle 122, and a slide member 135 that generates a biasing force in the removal direction 55.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink supply device in which an ink cartridge is mounted in a cartridge mounting portion, and an ink cartridge.

  In a so-called tube supply type image recording apparatus, an ink cartridge is disposed outside a carriage on which a recording head is mounted. The ink cartridge and the recording head are connected via a tube. For example, the ink cartridge is mounted in a horizontal direction through an opening on a cartridge mounting portion having an opening on the front of the apparatus main body (see Patent Document 1). The cartridge mounting unit detachably accommodates the ink cartridge. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, an ink path from the ink cartridge to the recording head is formed. Ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head through the ink passage.

  There is a case where a remaining amount detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge is provided, and a sensor for detecting the remaining amount detection unit of the ink cartridge is provided in the cartridge mounting unit (Patent Document 2). . In addition, the cartridge mounting unit may be provided with a sensor for detecting whether an ink cartridge is mounted. In addition, a sensor for detecting the type of ink cartridge such as the color and capacity of ink stored in the ink cartridge may be provided in the cartridge mounting portion.

  Further, in order to facilitate the removal of the ink cartridge from the cartridge mounting portion, a configuration in which the mounted ink cartridge is biased in the direction of being removed from the cartridge mounting portion is known. When the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, the ink cartridge is held in the cartridge mounting portion against the urging force in the direction of being removed by the lock member that engages with the ink cartridge. Is done.

JP 2009-1332098 A JP 2007-15393 A

  In the process of mounting the ink cartridge on the cartridge mounting portion, acceleration in the mounting direction acts on the ink cartridge. This acceleration depends on the user's operation. If the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion too quickly, the sensor may not be able to accurately detect the detector of the ink cartridge.

  Further, in the process in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the ink cartridge may move up and down due to rattling. Due to this backlash, the positional relationship between the sensor and the detector, the positional relationship between the ink supply port and the ink needle, and the positional relationship between the lock member and the engaging portion become unstable, and the sensor detection failure or the ink needle is damaged. Incomplete locks can occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and suppresses the speed at which the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and the positional relationship between the access portion of the ink cartridge and the accessed portion of the cartridge mounting portion is The object is to provide means that are difficult to vary.

  The present invention includes a front surface (40) disposed on the front side of the mounting direction (56) to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110), a rear surface (42) disposed to face the front surface (40), The access unit (43, 48, 49, 71) that is disposed on the front surface and physically related to the cartridge mounting unit (110) in the mounting process to the cartridge mounting unit (110) and the front surface (40) A housing (31) having an abutting portion (75) disposed at a position offset with respect to the center of the direction (52), and provided inside the housing (31) to store ink. And an ink supply device (100) including a cartridge mounting portion (110) to which an ink cartridge (30) including the ink chamber (36) can be mounted. The cartridge mounting portion (110) includes a guide portion (109) for guiding the casing (31) of the ink cartridge (30) in a mounting posture so as to be slidable along the mounting direction (56), and the access portion (43). , 48, 49, 71) and the accessed portion (114, 116, 117, 122) physically related to the contact portion (75) in the mounting process, and the posture can be changed to the mounting direction (56). And a biasing member (135) that generates a biasing force in the opposite direction (55) to the mounting direction (56) by changing the posture to the mounting direction (56). With the contact portion (75) in contact with the biasing member (135), the access portion (43, 48, 49, 71) is related to the accessed portion (114, 116, 117, 122). .

  Further, according to the present invention, in the process of mounting the ink cartridge (30) in the cartridge mounting portion (110), the accessed portion (114, 116, 122, 145) physically related to the ink cartridge (30), the ink An ink cartridge that can be attached to the cartridge attachment portion (110), which includes an urging member (135) that abuts the cartridge and urges the ink cartridge (30) in the opposite direction (55) to the attachment direction (56). 30), a housing (31) having an ink chamber (36) in which ink is stored, and the housing (31) provided with the cartridge in the mounting process to the cartridge mounting portion (110). And an access unit (43, 48, 49, 71) physically related to the unit (110). The front surface (40) disposed on the front side of the mounting direction (56) to be inserted into the portion (110), the rear surface (42) disposed to face the front surface, and the vertical direction (52 on the front surface (40). ) And a contact portion (75) that receives a biasing force from the cartridge mounting portion during the mounting process to the cartridge mounting portion (110). ) May be regarded as an ink cartridge (30) which is a protrusion protruding from the front surface (40) in the mounting direction (56).

  When the ink cartridge (30) is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110), the user presses the rear surface (42) of the housing (31). Since the contact portion (75) is offset with respect to the rear surface (42) with respect to the center in the vertical direction (52), when a biasing force is applied to the contact portion (75), the ink cartridge ( 30) rotates to the maximum within the range of rattling in the cartridge mounting portion (110). By this rotation, the casing (31) of the ink cartridge (30) is always maintained in a fixed posture with respect to the range of backlash. This stabilizes the positional relationship between the access portion (43, 48, 49, 71) of the ink cartridge (30) and the accessed portion (114, 116, 117, 122) of the cartridge mounting portion (110). In the process of mounting the ink cartridge (30) to the cartridge mounting portion (110), the casing (31) receives the biasing force in the opposite direction (55) from the biasing member (135). The speed at which 30) is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110) is suppressed.

According to the present invention, the contact portion (75) is offset with respect to the center of the vertical direction (52) with respect to the rear surface (42) of the casing (31) of the ink cartridge (30). In the process in which the cartridge (30) is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110), the casing (31) of the ink cartridge (30) is maintained in a certain posture with respect to the range of rattling. Further, the urging force from the urging member (135) suppresses the speed at which the ink cartridge (30) is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110). Accordingly, the speed at which the ink cartridge (30) is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110) is suppressed, and the access portion (43, 48, 49, 71) of the ink cartridge (30) and the cartridge mounting portion (110) are reduced. ) With the accessed part (114, 116, 117, 122) is stabilized.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of a printer 10 including an ink supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 5 is a front view of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 90. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state immediately after the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 is detected. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state where the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the rib 138 of the slide member 135 is detected. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 having the long second protrusion 46 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 is detected. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 having a long dimension of the detected element 49 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 is detected. FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117. FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The cartridge mounting portion 110 is provided with an opening 112 whose one surface is open to the outside. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting part 110 through the opening 112.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores ink that can be used by the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by the ink tube 20 in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores the ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects the ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzles 29 by the ink jet recording method.

  The recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23 is transported onto the platen 26 by the transport roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a recording sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording paper. The recording sheet that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged by a discharge roller pair 22 to a discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24.

[Ink cartridge 30]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is a container for storing ink. A space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is an ink chamber 36 for storing ink. The ink chamber 36 may be a space formed by the main body 31 forming the appearance of the ink cartridge 30, or may be a space formed by a member different from the main body 31. The main body 31 corresponds to a housing.

  2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is indicated by an arrow 50 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the lower surface in the drawing as the bottom surface and the upper surface in the drawing as the top surface. Is inserted / removed along the direction (hereinafter referred to as “insertion / removal direction 50”). The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 while standing. This standing state corresponds to the mounting posture. The direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is the mounting direction 56, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted is the removal direction 55. Further, the height direction 52 in the standing state corresponds to the direction of gravity. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 along the insertion / extraction direction 50 and is removed from the cartridge mounting unit 110 along the insertion / extraction direction 50. In the present embodiment, a mode in which the standing ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting unit 110 is shown. However, the ink cartridge 30 is laid sideways, that is, in the width direction 51. May be inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the direction of gravity as the gravity direction.

  The ink cartridge 30 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 31. The main body 31 is thin in the width direction (left-right direction) 51, and has a flat shape in which the height direction (up-down direction) 52 and the depth direction (front-rear direction) 53 are larger than the width direction 51. The wall of the main body 31 that is the front side of the mounting direction 56 when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 is the front wall 40, and the wall of the main body 31 that is the rear side of the mounting direction 56 is the rear wall 42. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 face each other in the insertion / extraction direction 50. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 are a pair of left and right side walls extending in the insertion / removal direction 50, connecting the side walls to the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42, and extending upward from the upper end of the front wall 40 toward the upper end of the rear wall 42. The wall 39 and the lower wall 41 extending from the lower end of the front wall 40 toward the lower end of the rear wall 42 are partitioned by four walls. The insertion / extraction direction 50 is parallel to the depth direction 53. The width direction 51 corresponds to the horizontal direction. The height direction 52 corresponds to the vertical direction and the gravity direction. The outer surface of the main body 31 constituted by the front wall 40 corresponds to the front surface. The outer surface of the main body 31 constituted by the rear wall 42 corresponds to the rear surface. The upper wall 39 corresponds to a connecting member.

A remaining amount detection unit 33 is provided near the center of the front wall 40 of the main body 31 in the height direction 52. The remaining amount detection unit 33 is disposed on the rear side of the mounting direction 56 from the tip of the mounting direction 56 of the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45, the front end of the mounting direction 56 of the second protrusion 46, and the detected element 49, which will be described later. ing. The remaining amount detection unit 33 has a box shape with one opening so as to communicate with the ink chamber 36. Further, the remaining amount detection unit 33 has a pair of walls made of a translucent resin that transmits light emitted from the optical sensor 114 (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the space between the pair of left and right walls of the remaining amount detection unit 33 is hollow so that ink can be stored. Between the pair of left and right walls of the remaining amount detection unit 33, the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60 is located. The sensor arm 60 is provided with an indicator portion 62 and a float portion 63 on both ends of a plate-like arm main body 61, respectively. In the ink chamber 36, the sensor arm 60 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 64 extending along the width direction 51. The sensor arm 60 corresponds to the amount of ink present in the ink chamber 36, and the indicator unit 62 is positioned in a lower position in the gravity direction of the remaining amount detection unit 33, and the indicator unit 62 is the gravity of the remaining amount detection unit 33. The posture can be changed to a higher posture located on the upper side in the direction. Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the indicator unit 62 is in the lower posture.

  In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110, the remaining amount detection unit 33 is configured to transmit a predetermined amount or more of infrared light with respect to the optical sensor 114 provided in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The amount detection unit 33 changes to a state in which infrared light is shielded or attenuated below a predetermined amount. If the indicator unit 62 is in the upper position, the remaining amount detection unit 33 transmits infrared light, and if the indicator unit 62 is in the lower position, the remaining amount detection unit 33 blocks or attenuates infrared light. It is determined that the remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber 36 has become less than a predetermined amount according to the light transmission state of the remaining amount detection unit 33.

  Note that the remaining amount detection unit 33 may not include the sensor arm 60. As will be described later, in the optical sensor 114, the light emitting element 118 and the light receiving element 119 are opposed to each other in the horizontal direction. The light emitted from the light emitting element 118 is received by the light receiving element 119. The infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 118 is blocked or attenuated when there is ink in the remaining amount detection unit 33, and is emitted from the light emitting element 118 when there is no ink in the remaining amount detection unit 33. Infrared light may be transmitted through a predetermined amount or more. Furthermore, the remaining amount detection unit 33 may be made of a soft film. In other words, the film swells when ink is present in the remaining amount detection unit 33, and the lever is held at a position where the lever blocks infrared light by contacting the rotatable lever with the film. On the other hand, when there is no ink in the remaining amount detection unit 33, the film is deflated, and the rotatable lever is rotated downward or upward so that the infrared light is not blocked. May be. Further, in a state where there is ink in the remaining amount detection unit 33, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 118 is reflected so as not to reach the light receiving element 119, and in a state where there is no ink in the remaining amount detection unit 33, The infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 118 may be reflected so as to reach the light receiving element 119.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 34 that penetrates the front wall 40 in the depth direction 53 is formed above the remaining amount detection unit 33 in the front wall 40 of the main body 31, and in the insertion / extraction direction 50 from the opening 34. An air communication port 32 is provided on the rear wall 42 side. The atmosphere communication port 32 is a through hole that penetrates the wall forming the ink chamber 36 in the depth direction 53. The air layer of the ink chamber 36 and the atmosphere can be communicated with each other via the atmosphere communication port 32.

  The atmospheric communication port 32 is configured to be opened and closed by an atmospheric communication valve 80. When the atmosphere communication port 32 is opened, the air pressure in the ink chamber 36 maintained at a negative pressure becomes the external pressure. The atmosphere communication port 32 is not necessarily provided on the front wall 40 side, and the arrangement is not limited as long as the inside and the outside of the ink chamber 36 communicate with each other. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is used in a state in which the inside of the ink chamber 36 is maintained at a negative pressure, the air communication port 32 is not necessarily provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an ink supply unit 37 is provided below the remaining amount detection unit 33 on the front wall 40 of the main body 31. The ink supply unit 37 has a cylindrical outer shape, and protrudes outward along the insertion / extraction direction 50 from the front wall 40. An ink supply port 71 is formed at the protruding end of the ink supply unit 37. An ink flow path 38 extending from the ink supply port 71 through the internal space of the ink supply unit 37 in the insertion / removal direction 50 to the ink chamber 36 is formed. The ink supply port 71 is configured to be opened and closed by an ink supply valve 70. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 122 (see FIG. 6) provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 and the ink supply valve 70 is opened. As a result, the ink flows out from the ink chamber 36 through the ink flow path 38 to the ink needle 122 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink supply unit 37 corresponds to an access unit.

  The ink supply port 71 is not necessarily limited to a configuration that can be opened and closed by the ink supply valve 70. For example, the ink supply port 71 is closed with a film or the like, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The ink supply port 71 may be opened by the ink needle 122 breaking through the film.

  An engaging portion 43 is formed near the center of the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 in the depth direction 53. The engaging portion 43 is a protrusion having a flat surface extending in the width direction 51 and the height direction 52 of the ink cartridge 30. A lock lever 145 (described later) is engaged with the engaging portion 43 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The engaging portion 43 receives a biasing force that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 55. The engaging part 43 corresponds to the access part.

  The main body 31 is provided with a first protrusion 45 and a second protrusion 46. The first protrusion 45 is provided on the upper end of the front wall 40 of the main body 31 so as to extend from the front wall 40 in a direction away from the ink chamber 36 along the depth direction 53. The width of the first protrusion 45 is the same as the width of the front wall 40. The first protrusion 45 protrudes from the front wall 40 in a direction away from the rear wall 42 (mounting direction 56). The front end of the first protrusion 45 protrudes from the ink supply port 71, which is the front end of the ink supply unit 37, to the front side in the direction away from the rear wall 42 (mounting direction 56). In the present embodiment, the first protrusion 45 has the same width as the width of the front wall 40, but may be a plate-like one having a width (vertical, horizontal) narrower than the width of the front wall 40. A groove 47 extending in the depth direction 53 is formed at the center of the first protrusion 45 in the width direction 51. The groove 47 opens upward in the height direction 52 at the first protrusion 45. The cross-sectional shape along the height direction 52 of the groove 47 is concave. Further, the tip of the groove 47 in the direction away from the ink chamber 36 is opened.

  In the inner space of the groove 47, a rib 48 extending in the height direction 52 and the depth direction 53 is provided in the center of the bottom surface of the groove 47 in the width direction 51. The rib 48 is erected upward from the bottom surface of the groove 47. Both side surfaces of the rib 48 in the width direction 51 are opposed to and parallel to the pair of side surfaces facing the width direction 51 in the groove 48. The rib 48 blocks or attenuates light traveling in the width direction 51 and can be detected by the optical sensor 116. The dimension in which the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 protrudes in the direction away from the front wall 40 from the rear wall 42 (mounting direction 56) is changed according to the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 includes a difference in ink color and components, a difference in the amount of ink initially stored in the ink chamber 36, and the like. The rib 48 corresponds to an access part and a detected part.

  The second protrusion 46 is provided at the lower end of the front wall 40 of the main body 31. Therefore, the second protrusion 46 is disposed below the ink supply unit 37. In other words, the second protrusion 46 passes through the center of the height direction 52 and is offset downward with respect to the center line 54 (see FIG. 3) along the depth direction 53. The center line 54 is a virtual straight line that passes through the centers of the upper end and the lower end (a pair of edges) of the rear wall 42 of the main body 31.

  The width of the second protrusion 46 is the same as the width of the front wall 40. The second protrusion 46 protrudes from the front wall 40 in the mounting direction 56. The tip 75 of the second protrusion 46 protrudes from the ink supply port 71, which is the tip of the ink supply unit 37, to the front side in the direction away from the rear wall 42 (mounting direction 56). The dimension in which the second protrusion 46 protrudes in the direction away from the front wall 40 from the rear wall 42 (mounting direction 56) is changed according to the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 includes a difference in ink color and components, a difference in the amount of ink initially stored in the ink chamber 36, and the like. The tip 75 of the second protrusion 46 corresponds to the contact portion. In the present embodiment, the second protrusion 46 is indirectly detected in the cartridge mounting portion 110, but a rib like the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 described above is provided on the second protrusion 46. Thus, the rib of the second protrusion may be directly detected by the optical sensor 117.

  On the front wall 40 of the main body 31, between the first protrusion 45 and the second protrusion 46 in the height direction 52, on the front side in the direction away from the rear wall 42 of the remaining amount detection unit 33 (mounting direction 56), A detected element 49 for attenuating or blocking infrared light traveling in the width direction 51 is provided. The detected element 49 has substantially the same width as the remaining amount detection unit 33 in the width direction 51. This width is a dimension that can enter between the light emitting element 118 and the light receiving element 119 (see FIG. 4) of the optical sensor 114. The detected element 49 corresponds to an access unit and a detected unit. In addition, the to-be-detected child 49 may be comprised with light transmissive resin as a part of residual amount detection part 33. FIG. The light-transmitting resin may have a thickness that attenuates or reflects infrared light, or may contain a colorant.

  The to-be-detected child 49 and the remaining amount detection unit 33 are arranged at a predetermined interval in the depth direction 52. This interval allows infrared light traveling in the width direction 51 to pass through without being attenuated below a predetermined amount. The dimension of the detection object 49 along the depth direction 53 is changed according to the type of the ink cartridge 30. The type of the ink cartridge 30 is a difference in ink color, a component such as a pigment or a dye, a difference in the amount of ink initially stored in the ink chamber 36, and the like.

  The first protrusion 45, the second protrusion 46, and the detected element 49 are all protruded in the mounting direction 56 from the remaining amount detection unit 33. In other words, in the ink cartridge 30, the first protrusion 45, the second protrusion 46, and the detected element 49 are arranged on the front side in the mounting direction 56 with respect to the remaining amount detection unit 33. The projection 45, the second projection 46, and the detected element 49 are disposed in a direction closer to the rear wall 42 (behind the mounting direction 56). The remaining amount detection unit 33 and the ink supply port 71 are both disposed between the first protrusion 45 and the second protrusion 46 in the height direction 52.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a guide portion 35 extending in the depth direction 53 is provided on the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. The guide part 35 is configured by a rib or a protruding piece protruding upward from the upper wall 39. The distance between the pair of side walls facing the width direction 51 in the guide portion 35 is shorter than the distance between the pair of side walls facing the width direction 51 in the main body 31. That is, the dimension of the guide part 35 in the width direction 51 is smaller than the dimension of the main body 31 in the width direction 51.

  A guide portion 44 extending in the depth direction 53 is provided on the lower wall 41 of the main body 31. The guide part 44 is configured by a rib or a protruding piece protruding downward from the lower wall 41. The distance between the pair of side walls facing the width direction 51 in the guide portion 44 is shorter than the distance between the pair of side walls facing the width direction 51 in the main body 31. That is, the dimension of the guide portion 44 in the width direction 51 is smaller than the dimension of the main body 31 in the width direction 51. The guide portions 35 and 44 are inserted into a guide groove 109 described later and moved when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Ink supply apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 100 is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21 provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 101 forming the housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has an opening 112 on the front side of the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is provided on the bottom surface defining the bottom portion of the internal space of the case 101 by inserting the guide portion 35 into the guide groove 109 provided on the top surface defining the top portion of the internal space of the case 101. The guide portion 44 is inserted into the guide groove 109 thus guided to be guided in the insertion / removal direction 50. The case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors. The guide groove 109 corresponds to a guide portion.

  The case 101 is provided with three plates 102 that partition the internal space into four spaces that are long in the vertical direction. The ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in each space partitioned by the plate 102. The plate 102 is provided on the end surface side opposite to the opening 112 in the case 101.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a connection portion 103 is provided at the lower portion of the end surface of the case 101. The connection portion 103 is disposed at a position corresponding to the ink supply portion 37 of each ink cartridge 30 attached to the case 101 on the final surface. In the present embodiment, four connection portions 103 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101.

  The connection unit 103 includes an ink needle 122 and a holding unit 121. The ink needle 122 is made of a tubular resin needle. The ink needle 122 is connected to the ink tube 20 on the outer surface side that forms the front and back surfaces of the case 101. Each ink tube 20 drawn out from each ink needle 122 to the outer surface side that is the front and back of the case 101 is pulled upward along the outer surface of the case 101, and then ink is supplied to the recording head 21 of the printer 10. It is extended so that it can be distributed.

  The holding part 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape. An ink needle 122 is disposed at the center of the holding part 121. As shown in FIG. 6, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the ink supply unit 37 is inserted inside the cylinder of the holding unit 121. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply unit 37 is in close contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the holding unit 121. As a result, the ink supply unit 37 is inserted into the holding unit 121 at a predetermined interval. When the ink supply unit 37 is inserted into the holding unit 121, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 37. As a result, the ink stored in the ink chamber 36 can flow out. The ink that has flowed out of the ink chamber 36 flows into the ink needle 122. The ink needle 122 corresponds to an ink introduction tube.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sensor unit 104 is provided on the end surface of the case 101 above the connection portion 103 in the gravity direction. The sensor unit 104 includes a substrate 113 and an optical sensor 114. The sensor unit 104 is configured by mounting the optical sensor 114 on the substrate 113. The sensor unit 104 is provided with four optical sensors 114. These four optical sensors 114 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The four optical sensors 114 are arranged in a row in the width direction of the case 101 (matching the width direction 51) between the plates 102.

  Each optical sensor 114 includes a light emitting element 118 such as an LED and a light receiving element 119 such as a phototransistor. Each of the light emitting element 118 and the light receiving element 119 is surrounded by a casing. The outer shape of the optical sensor 114 formed by this housing is a horseshoe shape. The light emitting element 118 can emit light in one direction from the housing. The light receiving element can receive light emitted from one direction to the housing. Such a light emitting element 118 and a light receiving element 119 are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval in a horseshoe-shaped housing. In the space between the light emitting element 118 and the light receiving element 119, the remaining amount detection unit 33 and the detected element 49 of the ink cartridge 30 can enter. When the remaining amount detection unit 33 or the detected element 49 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 114, the optical sensor 114 can detect a change in the amount of light by the remaining amount detection unit 33 or the detected element 49. This optical sensor 114 corresponds to the accessed part.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a sensor unit 105 is provided on the end surface side of the top surface of the case 101. The sensor unit 105 includes a substrate 115 and an optical sensor 116. The sensor unit 105 is configured by mounting the optical sensor 116 on the substrate 115. The sensor unit 105 is provided with four optical sensors 116. These four optical sensors 116 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The four optical sensors 116 are arranged in a row in the width direction of the case 101 (matching the width direction 51) between the plates 102.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the case 101, the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 116. By detecting a change in the signal of the optical sensor 116 at this time, the mounting state of the ink cartridge 30 can be determined. Since the optical sensor 116 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element like the optical sensor 114, the detailed description of the optical sensor 116 is omitted here. The optical sensor 116 corresponds to the accessed part.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the slide member 135 is disposed in a space 130 formed on the lower end side of the end surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110. In the present embodiment, four slide members 135 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The space 130 is continuous with the internal space of the cartridge mounting unit 110. The slide member 135 is supported so as to be slidable along the insertion / removal direction 50 by a support rod 133 extending along the insertion / removal direction 50 in the space 130. The slide member 135 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. A rib 136 extending along the insertion / extraction direction 50 is provided at the upper end of the slide member 135. The slide member 135 is disposed in the insertion path of the second protrusion 46 of the ink cartridge 30 and can come into contact with the tip 75 of the second protrusion 46. The slide member 135 corresponds to an urging member.

  A coil spring 139 is provided in the space 130. The coil spring 139 elastically biases the ink cartridge 30 toward the opening 112, that is, in a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted from the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, toward the opening 112. The coil spring 139 is externally fitted to the support rod 133 extending in the insertion / extraction direction 50 in the space 130 and is interposed between the end wall 131 defining the end of the space 130 and the slide member 135. . When the coil spring 139 has a natural length, that is, when no external force is applied to the slide member 135, the slide member 135 is disposed at a predetermined position on the opening 112 side (see FIG. 8). In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the second protrusion 46 of the ink cartridge 30 contacts the slide member 135, and the slide member 135 is pressed toward the end wall 131 of the space 130. Accordingly, the coil spring 139 is contracted and the slide member 135 is slid to the position on the end wall 131 side (see FIG. 6). The contracted coil spring 139 urges the ink cartridge 30 toward the removal direction 55 via the slide member 135.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the sensor unit 107 is provided on the end surface of the case 101, below the connecting portion 103 in the gravity direction and above the slide member 135 in the gravity direction. The sensor unit 104 includes a substrate 111 and an optical sensor 117. The sensor unit 107 is configured by mounting the optical sensor 117 on the substrate 111. The sensor unit 107 is provided with four optical sensors 117. These four optical sensors 117 correspond to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. In other words, the four optical sensors 117 correspond to the four slide members 135. The four photosensors 117 are arranged in a line in the width direction of the case 101 (matching the width direction 51) above the space 130.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the case 101, the slide member 135 is slid toward the end wall 131 of the space 130, and the rib 136 enters the optical path (detection position) of the optical sensor 117 and is detected by the optical sensor 117. Can be done. Since the optical sensor 117 includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element as in the optical sensor 114, a detailed description of the optical sensor 117 is omitted here.

  The case 101 is provided with a lock lever 145. The lock lever 145 is for maintaining the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the mounted state against the urging force of the coil spring 139. The lock lever 145 is provided above the opening 112 of the case 101. In the present embodiment, four lock levers 145 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be attached to the case 101.

  The entire lock lever 145 is formed in an arm shape. A support shaft 147 is provided near the center of the lock lever 145. The support shaft 147 is supported by the case 101. Accordingly, the lock lever 145 is supported on the upper side of the opening 112 of the case 101 so as to be rotatable about the support shaft 147. The lock lever 145 is roughly divided into an operation part 149 and an engaged part 146. The operation unit 149 protrudes outward from the opening 112 of the case 101. The operation unit 149 is a part that receives an operation for rotating the lock lever 145. The engaged portion 146 enters the inside of the case 101. The engaged portion 146 can be engaged with the engaging portion 43 of the ink cartridge 30. When the engaged portion 146 engages with the engaging portion 43, the ink cartridge 30 biased by the coil spring 139 is maintained in the mounted state with respect to the case 101. The rotation position (see FIG. 6) of the lock lever 145 at which the engaged portion 146 can engage with the engaging portion 43 is referred to as a lock position, and the engaged portion 146 engages with the engaging portion 43. The position (see FIG. 8) that is not performed is referred to as the unlock position. The lock lever 145 corresponds to a lock member.

  A coil spring 148 is attached to the lock lever 145. The lock lever 145 is biased toward the lock position by the coil spring 148. When the operation unit 149 is pushed downward with respect to the lock lever 145 in the lock position, the lock lever 145 is rotated from the lock position to the unlock position.

[Control unit 90]
Hereinafter, the schematic configuration of the control unit 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control unit 90 controls the overall operation of the printer 10. The control unit 90 is configured as a microcomputer mainly including a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, an EEPROM 94, and an ASIC 95.

  The ROM 92 stores a program for the CPU 91 to control various operations of the printer 10, a program for executing determination processing described later, and the like. The RAM 93 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data, signals, and the like used when the CPU 91 executes the program, or as a work area for data processing. The EEPROM 94 stores settings, flags, and the like that should be retained even after the power is turned off. For example, data (lookup data) indicating a correspondence relationship between the combination of output signals of the detected element 49 and the rib 138 of the slide member 135 and the type of the ink cartridge 30 is stored.

  Optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 are connected to the ASIC 95. Although not shown in FIG. 7, a drive circuit that drives each roller such as the paper feed roller 23 and the conveyance roller pair 25, an input unit for inputting an image recording instruction to the printer 10, and the printer 10 A display unit for displaying information on the device is also connected.

  The optical sensors 114, 116, 117 output an analog electric signal (voltage signal or current signal) corresponding to the intensity of light received by the light receiving element. The control unit 90 monitors the electrical signals output from the respective optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 at a predetermined timing, and when the level (voltage value or current value) of the electrical signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the HI level. It is determined as a signal, and when it is less than a predetermined threshold, it is determined as a LOW level signal. In the present embodiment, the output signal when the light is blocked or attenuated at each detection position of each of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 is determined as the LOW level signal, and the output signal when the light sensor is not blocked or attenuated. However, since the determination of the HI level signal or the LOW level signal is relative, the type of the output signal corresponding to the level (threshold value) of the electrical signal may be reversed.

[Installation operation of ink cartridge 30]
The operation of mounting the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting unit 110 is closed by an openable / closable cover provided on the housing of the printer 10. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted, this cover is opened. The opening / closing of the cover is detected by a sensor. Based on the detection signal of this sensor, the control unit 90 can detect that the cover has been opened. The control unit 90 performs control so that light is emitted from the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 using the opening of the cover as a trigger.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the mounting direction 56 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. The user holds the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 when inserting the ink cartridge 30. Which position of the main body 31 the user holds in the height direction 52 is not necessarily constant. However, it is assumed that the printer 10 is installed on a desk or the like, and the user often inserts the ink cartridge 30 while looking at the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting unit 110 from the upper side in the gravity direction. Therefore, it is assumed that the user mounts the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 while holding between the vicinity of the center in the height direction 52 of the main body 31 and the upper end. Further, in the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30, when the position that the user should have is printed or there is a member or shape that prevents slipping, it is assumed that the user holds the position.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110, first, a guide surface that is inclined toward the front of the mounting direction 56 formed at the tip of the mounting direction 56 of the guide part 35 is located on the engaged part 146 of the lock lever 145. Abut. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the engaged portion 146 of the lock lever 145 rides on the guide portion 35. As a result, the lock lever 145 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 8 and moves from the lock position to the unlock position.

  Further, the tip 75 of the second protrusion 46 of the ink cartridge 30 abuts on the slide member 135. At this time, the slide member 135 is positioned on the opening 112 side in the space 130 urged by the coil spring 139. The user further pushes the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 into the opening 112 against the biasing force of the coil spring 139 in order to insert the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. The speed at which the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110 is relaxed by the biasing force of the coil spring 139.

  Since the tip 75 of the second protrusion 46 is offset downward with respect to the position in the height direction 52 on the rear wall 42 side of the main body 31 that the user will hold, the tip 75 of the second protrusion 46 is. When an urging force in the removal direction 55 is applied to the ink cartridge 30, the ink cartridge 30 rotates to the maximum in the clockwise direction (arrow 57) in FIG. 8 within the range of rattling in the cartridge mounting portion 110. This backlash is determined by a gap between the guide groove 109 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the guide portions 35 and 44 of the ink cartridge 30. Since the tip 75 of the second protrusion 46 of the ink cartridge 30 and the slide member 135 are kept in contact with each other until the ink cartridge 30 is completely attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110, the user moves the ink toward the attachment direction 56. By pushing the cartridge 30, the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 is always maintained in a fixed posture that is rotated to the maximum clockwise relative to the range of rattling.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the detected element 49 passes through the detection position of the optical sensor 114 as shown in FIG. At this time, the remaining amount detection unit 33 has not reached the detection position of the optical sensor 114. As shown in FIG. 13, the output signal of the optical sensor 114 is detected from the HI level signal after the optical sensor 114 detects the detected element 49 and before the remaining amount detection unit 33 reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 114. It becomes a LOW level signal and becomes a HI level signal again. The control unit 90 monitors the change in the output signal of the optical sensor 114, and detects that the detected element 49 has been detected on the condition that the output signal of the optical sensor 114 has changed from the LOW level signal to the HI level signal. Stores the indicated flag.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 enters the detection position of the optical sensor 116, as shown in FIG. When the optical sensor 116 detects the rib 48, the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal (timing T1 in FIG. 13A). The control unit 90 monitors the change in the output signal of the optical sensor 116 and detects the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 based on the output signal being a LOW signal.

  The control unit 90 generates a trigger signal on condition that the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal. Based on this trigger signal, the output signals of the optical sensors 114 and 117 are determined.

  In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the second protrusion 46 contacts the slide member 135. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110, the slide member positioned on the opening 112 side in the space 130 is pressed against the end wall 131 side of the space 130 against the biasing force of the coil spring 139. Is done. As a result, the rib 136 of the slide member 135 approaches the detection position of the optical sensor 117.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the ink cartridge 30, when the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal (timing T1), that is, when the trigger signal is generated, The rib 136 of the slide member 135 does not reach the detection position of the optical sensor 117. Therefore, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is an HI level signal (timing T1 in FIG. 13A).

  The control unit 90 stores the output signals of the optical sensors 114 and 117 when the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal (timing T1).

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rib 136 of the slide member 135 reaches the detection position of the optical sensor 117. As a result, the output signal of the optical sensor 117 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal. The control unit 90 detects the rib 136 of the slide member 135 based on the output signal of the optical sensor 117 being a LOW level signal.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 and the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position of the cartridge mounting unit 110, the remaining amount detection unit 33 is moved to the detection position of the optical sensor 114. To reach. Further, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 37 and the ink supply port 71 is opened. In this mounted state, the ink stored in the ink chamber 33 can be supplied to the ink tube 20 through the ink needle 122.

  When the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, the engaging portion 43 passes the engaged portion 146 of the lock lever 145 in the mounting direction 56. As a result, the engaged portion 146 of the lock lever 145 is not supported by the guide portion 35, so that the lock lever 145 rotates clockwise in FIG. 10 and the engaged portion 146 engages with the engaging portion 43. . Due to the engagement between the engaged portion 146 and the engaging portion 43, the ink cartridge 30 is held at the mounting position against the urging force received from the slide member 135 in the removal direction 55. Thereby, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed.

  When the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 of the ink cartridge 30, the remaining amount detection unit 33, and the rib 138 of the slide member 135 are all of the optical sensors 114, 116, 117. The vehicle enters the detection position (timing T2 in FIGS. 13 and 14). Therefore, if the sensor arm 60 is in the lower position, the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 are all LOW level signals.

  The controller 90 detects that the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 and the rib 139 of the slide member 135 have been detected, that is, if the output signals of the optical sensors 116 and 117 are both LOW signals, the ink cartridge 30. The type of is determined. This type of determination is made based on the presence or absence of a flag and the output signal of the optical sensor 117 when the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes from the HI level signal to the LOW level signal (timing T1).

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes when the ink cartridge 30 has a short dimension along the insertion / extraction direction 50 of the detected element 49 (timing). Before T1, the signal changes from the LOW level signal to the HI level signal (see FIGS. 13A and 13B). Based on this, the controller 90 stores a flag. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, if the ink cartridge 30 has a long dimension along the insertion / extraction direction 50 of the detected element 49, the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes (timing T <b> 1) and then from the LOW level signal. Changes to the HI level signal. At this time, no flag is stored in the control unit 90 (see FIGS. 14A and 14B).

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, if the ink cartridge 30 has a short dimension in which the second protrusion 46 protrudes in the mounting direction 56, the output of the optical sensor 117 when the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes (timing T1). The output signal is an HI level signal (see FIGS. 13A and 14B). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, if the ink cartridge 30 has a short dimension in which the second protrusion 46 protrudes in the mounting direction 56, the output of the optical sensor 117 when the output signal of the optical sensor 116 changes (timing T1). The output signal is a LOW level signal (see FIGS. 13B and 14A).

  The type of the ink cartridge 30 corresponds to the presence / absence of the flag and the output signal of the optical sensor 117, and is stored in the control unit 90 as lookup data. In the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 9, the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 are as shown in FIG. 13A, and the flag is stored at the timing T1, so the control unit 90 It is determined that the ink cartridge 30 stores the color ink. Further, since the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the HI level signal, the control unit 90 determines that the initial ink amount stored in the ink chamber 36 is the normal amount of the ink cartridge 30.

  In the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 11, the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 are as shown in FIG. 13B, and the flag is stored at the timing T <b> 1. It is determined that the ink cartridge 30 stores the color ink. Further, since the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the HI level signal, the control unit 90 determines that the initial ink amount stored in the ink chamber 36 is the large-capacity ink cartridge 30.

  Note that whether the ink cartridge 30 has a normal capacity or a large capacity is a relative concept. Further, the amount of ink that can be stored in the ink chamber 36 may be different by changing the size in the width direction 51 of the ink cartridge 30, or the same size and the same capacity in the width direction 51. A normal capacity and a large capacity may be set by changing the amount of ink initially filled in the ink cartridge 30 having the ink chamber 36. Further, in the ink cartridge 30 packed together with the printer 10, the amount of ink initially filled is larger than the initial ink amount in the replacement ink cartridge 30. This is due to the following reason. In the printer 10 immediately after purchase, the tube 20 and the ink flow path from the tube 20 to the recording head 21 are not filled with ink. In order to eliminate such a region where no ink is present in the ink flow path, the program of the control unit 90 is set to perform a suction (purge) operation when the printer 10 is first turned on after purchase. Yes. The ink cartridge 30 packed together with the printer 10 is filled with as much ink as is consumed by the initial suction operation.

  In the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 12, the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 are as shown in FIG. 14A, and no flag is stored at the timing T1, so the control unit 90 It is determined that the ink cartridge 30 stores black ink. Further, since the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the LOW level signal, the control unit 90 determines that the initial ink amount stored in the ink chamber 36 is the ink cartridge 30 having a normal capacity.

  Further, if the output signal of each of the optical sensors 114, 116, 117 is the ink cartridge 30 as shown in FIG. 14B, no flag is stored at the timing T1, so the control unit 90 performs black ink. Is determined as the stored ink cartridge 30. Further, since the output signal of the optical sensor 117 is the HI level signal, the control unit 90 determines that the initial ink amount stored in the ink chamber 36 is the large-capacity ink cartridge 30.

  As described above, if the determination of the type of the ink cartridge 30 is the color of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30, the position of the cartridge mounting portion 110 where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted is the position of the color ink. It is determined whether or not there is. For example, when the control unit 90 determines that the ink cartridge 30 mounted at the position of the cartridge mounting unit 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 that stores the color ink is to be mounted stores the black ink, No. 90 immediately notifies the error that the ink cartridge 30 is not mounted at an appropriate position. When the control unit 90 determines that the type of the ink cartridge 30 to be mounted is determined in advance, the control unit 90 permits the image recording operation of the printer 10.

  As described above, if the determination of the type of the ink cartridge 30 is the capacity of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30, the initial capacity of the ink cartridge 30 installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is the normal capacity. The control unit 90 selectively sets the amount (count number) of ink droplets that can be ejected from the recording head 21 by the ink cartridge 30 depending on whether the ink cartridge 30 is used or when the power is first turned on. Sets the amount of ink consumed in the suction operation.

  As described above, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed. In the mounting process, the control unit 90 uses the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 to detect the detection target 49 and the remaining parts. The remaining amount detection unit 33 is not detected based on an output signal obtained when any of the amount detection unit 33, the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45, and the rib 136 of the slide member 135 is detected. That is, the control unit 90 does not detect the remaining amount detection unit 33 immediately after the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. Note that “the remaining amount detection unit 33 is not detected” means that the remaining amount detection unit 33 does not determine the amount of light received from the remaining amount detection unit 33 based on the output signal of the optical sensor 114. Even if light is emitted to the detection unit 33 and the optical sensor 114 outputs a signal, it is interpreted that a state in which the control unit 90 does not make any determination based on the output signal is included.

[Determination of remaining amount of ink cartridge 30]
Hereinafter, the remaining amount determination of the ink cartridge 30 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when light is emitted from the light emitting element 118 of the optical sensor 114 with the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110, the light is irradiated to the remaining amount detection unit 33. . In a state where the ink chamber 36 is filled with a predetermined amount or more of ink, the light irradiated to the remaining amount detection unit 33 is blocked by the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60. When the ink in the ink chamber 36 becomes less than a predetermined amount, the sensor arm 60 rotates and the light irradiated to the remaining amount detection unit 33 is not blocked by the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60. That is, the posture of the sensor arm 60 changes depending on the amount of ink stored in the ink chamber 36, and the light transmission state of the remaining amount detection unit 33 changes due to the change in posture of the sensor arm 60. The amount of light received by the light receiving element 119 differs depending on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting element 118 is blocked by the indicator unit 62. Due to this difference, the light receiving element 119 outputs different electrical signals. That is, when the light applied to the remaining amount detection unit 33 is blocked by the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60, the optical sensor 114 outputs a LOW level signal (the light indicated by the solid line in FIGS. 13 and 14). When the light irradiated to the remaining amount detection unit 33 is not blocked by the indicator unit 62 of the sensor arm 60, the optical sensor 114 outputs an HI level signal (dotted line in FIGS. 13 and 14). The output of the optical sensor 114 shown in FIG. The controller 90 determines whether or not the amount of ink in the ink chamber 102 is less than a predetermined amount based on the difference in electrical signals output from the optical sensor 114.

  The control unit 90 determines the remaining amount of the ink cartridge 30 using a signal other than the output signals of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117 generated during the mounting process of the ink cartridge 30 described above as a trigger (timing T2). Further, the control unit 90 determines the remaining amount on the condition that the optical sensors 116 and 117 detect the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 and the rib 138 of the slide member 135. Whether or not the optical sensors 116 and 117 detect the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 and the rib 138 of the slide member 135 may be determined when the trigger is generated.

  As a trigger for determining the remaining amount of the ink cartridge 30, for example, a cover for accessing the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting unit 110 is provided in the printer 10, and a sensor for detecting opening and closing of the cover is provided. If there is, the control unit 90 determines the remaining amount of the ink cartridge 30 when the cover is closed based on the output signal of the sensor.

  Further, the electrical signal as a trigger for the control unit 90 to determine the remaining amount of the ink cartridge 30 may be generated at the timing when the printer 10 finishes image recording for one page of recording paper. Further, when the cleaning operation of the recording head 21 is completed, when the outlet of the printer 10 is connected, when the power switch of the printer 10 is turned on, when the printer 10 in the sleep state returns to the operating state, etc. In addition, an electrical signal serving as a trigger may be generated.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to this embodiment, since the tip 75 of the second protrusion 46 is offset from the center line 54 in the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30, in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, The ink cartridge 30 is maintained in a fixed posture with respect to the range of rattling of the guide groove 109. As a result, the positional relationship between the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 and the detected element 49 in the ink cartridge 30 and the detection positions of the optical sensors 114 and 116 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 is less likely to vary. 116, the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 and the detected element 49 are stably detected. Further, the positional relationship between the engaging portion 43 in the ink cartridge 30 and the engaged portion 146 of the lock member 145 that can be in the cartridge mounting portion 110 is less likely to vary, and the engaging portion 43 and the engaged portion 146 The position at which the ink cartridge 30 is engaged is stabilized, and as a result, the lock of the ink cartridge 30 is stabilized in the mounted state. Further, the positional relationship between the ink supply port 71 in the ink cartridge 30 and the ink needle 122 in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is stabilized, and the ink needle 122 is stably inserted into the ink supply port 71.

  Further, before the rib 48 of the first protrusion 45 in the ink cartridge 30, the detected element 49, and the rib 136 of the slide member 135 reach the respective detection positions of the optical sensors 114, 116, and 117, the tip of the first protrusion 46. Since 75 is in contact with the slide member 135 and receives the biasing force of the coil spring 139, the speed at which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 by the user is reduced. Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, even if the distance between the detected element 49 and the remaining amount detection unit 33 along the insertion / extraction direction 50 of the space is relatively short, the optical sensor 114 passes through the space. Since the insertion speed of the ink cartridge 30 is relaxed to the extent that it can be detected, the detection of the detected element 49 is stabilized. Further, since the speed at which the ink needle 122 collides with the ink supply valve 70 that closes the ink supply port 71 is reduced, the ink needle 122 and the ink supply valve 70 are hardly damaged.

30 ... Ink cartridge 31 ... Main body (housing)
36 ... Ink chamber 40 ... Front wall (front)
42 ... rear wall (rear surface)
43 ... engaging portion 46 ... second protrusion (protrusion)
48 ... rib (detected part, access part)
49 ... Detected child (detected part, access part)
71... Ink supply port 75... Tip (contact portion)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Ink supply apparatus 109 ... Guide groove (guide part)
110 ... cartridge mounting portion 114, 116 ... optical sensor 122 ... ink needle (ink introduction tube)
135 ... Slide member (135)
145 ... Lock member

Claims (10)

The front surface (40) disposed on the front side of the mounting direction (56) to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110), the rear surface (42) disposed to face the front surface (40), and the front surface (40). In the mounting process to the cartridge mounting section (110), the access section (43, 48, 49, 71) physically related to the cartridge mounting section (110) and the vertical direction (52) on the front surface (40). A housing (31) having a contact portion (75) disposed at a position offset with respect to the center of the housing, and an ink chamber provided in the housing (31) for storing ink An ink supply device (100) comprising a cartridge mounting portion (110) to which an ink cartridge (30) including (36) can be mounted,
The cartridge mounting part (110) is
A guide portion (109) for guiding the housing (31) of the ink cartridge (30) in a mounting posture so as to be slidable along the mounting direction (56);
The accessed part (114, 116, 117, 122) physically related to the access part (43, 48, 49, 71);
In the mounting process, the posture can be changed to the mounting direction (56) by contacting the contact portion (75), and the posture can be changed to the mounting direction (56), and the posture can be changed to the opposite direction (55). A biasing member (135) for generating a force,
With the contact portion (75) in contact with the biasing member (135), the access portion (43, 48, 49, 71) is related to the accessed portion (114, 116, 117, 122). Ink supply device (100). In the front surface (40), the vertical direction (52) in the mounting posture is longer than the width direction (51),
The ink supply device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion (75) is disposed below the vertical direction (52). The access unit is a detected unit (48, 49),
The ink supply device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the accessed part is a sensor (114, 116) for detecting the detected part (48, 49). The access unit is an ink supply port (71) through which the ink stored in the ink chamber (36) flows out to the outside.
The ink supply device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the accessed part is an ink introduction tube inserted into the ink insertion port (71). The access portion is an engagement portion (43) disposed on a connecting member (39) that connects the front surface (40) and the rear surface (42).
The accessed portion can engage and disengage the engaging portion (43), and engages with the engaging portion (43) to resist the urging force of the urging member (135). The ink supply device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ink supply device (100) is a lock member (145) for holding the housing (31) in the mounting position. In the process of mounting the ink cartridge (30) in the cartridge mounting section (110), the accessed section (114, 116, 122, 145) physically related to the ink cartridge (30) and the ink cartridge are mounted in contact with each other. A biasing member (135) for biasing the ink cartridge (30) in a direction (56) opposite to a direction (56), and an ink cartridge (30) mountable on a cartridge mounting portion (110) comprising:
A housing (31) having an ink chamber (36) in which ink is stored;
An access unit (43, 48, 49, 71) which is provided in the housing (31) and physically related to the cartridge mounting unit (110) in the mounting process to the cartridge mounting unit (110); And
The housing (31) includes a front surface (40) disposed on the front side of the mounting direction (56) to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion (110),
A rear surface (42) disposed opposite the front surface;
A contact portion (75) that is disposed at a position offset with respect to the center in the vertical direction (52) on the front surface (40) and receives a biasing force from the cartridge mounting portion in the mounting process to the cartridge mounting portion (110) Have
The contact part (75) is an ink cartridge (30) which is a protrusion protruding from the front surface (40) in the mounting direction (56). In the front surface (40), the vertical direction (52) in the mounting posture is longer than the width direction (51),
The ink cartridge (30) according to claim 6, wherein the contact portion (75) is located below the vertical direction (52).   The ink cartridge (30) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the access section is a detected section (48, 49) that can be detected by a sensor (114, 116) provided in the cartridge mounting section (110).   The ink cartridge (30) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the access section is an ink supply port (71) through which ink stored in the ink chamber (36) flows out to the outside when an ink introduction tube is inserted. ). The access portion is an engagement portion (43) that engages with the cartridge mounting portion (110) so as to be able to hold the housing (31) in the mounting position against the biasing force. The ink cartridge (30) described.

Images