JP4893845B2 - Liquid cartridge and liquid discharge system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge, in particular, a liquid cartridge that is mounted on a liquid discharge device and supplies liquid to the liquid discharge device, and a liquid discharge system having the liquid cartridge.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid cartridge that is attached to a liquid ejection device and supplies liquid to the liquid ejection device, so that the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge can be grasped. Patent Document 1 has a member to be detected in a liquid cartridge. A float member is fixed to the detected member. The position of the float member moves in accordance with the amount of liquid in the liquid cartridge, and the member to be detected also moves in conjunction with the float member. The liquid cartridge disclosed in Patent Document 1 detects the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge by detecting the position of the detected member using an optical sensor.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-125738

  However, in patent document 1, the case where the detection position of the to-be-detected member by an optical sensor exists in the liquid is assumed. Therefore, when the liquid in the liquid cartridge is difficult to transmit light, such as black pigment ink, it may be difficult to accurately detect the position of the detection target member.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cartridge and a liquid ejection system that can easily detect the remaining amount of liquid using an optical sensor regardless of whether or not the liquid is difficult to transmit light.

  The liquid cartridge according to the present invention is a liquid cartridge that is detachable from the liquid ejection device and supplies liquid to the liquid ejection device when the liquid cartridge is mounted, and has a housing that defines a liquid storage chamber. In the storage chamber, a float member having a mass per unit volume smaller than that of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber, a detected member that moves in conjunction with the float member, the float member, and the detected member And a restricting means for restricting movement to a predetermined path, in a mounting posture attached to the liquid ejection device, and storing a liquid up to a predetermined maximum amount in the liquid storage chamber. In this case, a part of the member to be detected is located at a detection position that is above the liquid level, and the housing is configured so that light incident from the outside does not pass through the liquid. At least a portion thereof is light transmissive, and the detected member is linked to the float member that moves following the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage chamber, Move to pass the detection position.

  The liquid ejection system of the present invention is a liquid ejection system that includes a liquid cartridge and a liquid ejection device to which the liquid cartridge is mounted, and that ejects the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge onto a medium to be ejected. The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a mounting unit on which the liquid cartridge is mounted, a liquid discharging head that discharges the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge mounted on the mounting unit, and an upper side of the mounting unit. The liquid cartridge has a housing that defines a liquid storage chamber, and a mass per unit volume is stored in the liquid storage chamber in the liquid storage chamber. A float member smaller than the liquid to be detected, a detected member that moves in conjunction with the float member, the float member, and the detected member And a restricting means for restricting movement to a predetermined path, in a mounting posture attached to the liquid ejection device, and storing a liquid up to a predetermined maximum amount in the liquid storage chamber. In this case, at least a part of the detected member is positioned at a detection position above the liquid level, and the casing does not allow the light emitted from the photodetector to pass through the liquid. At least a part of the member to be detected is light transmissive so that the part located at the detection position can be reached.

  According to the liquid cartridge or the liquid discharge system of the present invention, the light from the outside reaches the detection position through the light-transmitting region in the housing. Further, the detection member follows the liquid level in the liquid storage chamber and passes through the detection position. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the amount of the liquid in the liquid storage chamber by detecting the passage of the detection member using the optical sensor through the region having the light transmittance. On the other hand, the detection position is a position above the liquid level when the liquid is stored in the liquid storage chamber up to a predetermined maximum amount. That is, regardless of the amount of liquid in the liquid storage chamber, external light reaches the detection position without passing through the liquid. Therefore, compared to a liquid cartridge in which the detection position is set in the liquid, the liquid cartridge can easily grasp the remaining amount of liquid regardless of whether or not the liquid in the liquid storage chamber easily transmits light. Is realized.

  Further, in the present invention, the predetermined maximum amount of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is set such that the height of the highest position of the liquid storage chamber is 100 and the height of the lowest position of the liquid storage chamber when in the mounting posture. The amount is preferably such that the liquid level is 70 or more and less than 90 when 0. According to this configuration, while ensuring a sufficient amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber, the light incident from the outside is confused by the droplets attached to the position corresponding to the detection position of the inner wall of the liquid storage chamber. It is possible to avoid the problem that detection cannot be performed as much as possible.

  In the present invention, the detected member has light blocking properties, and the casing includes a pair of wall portions sandwiching a portion of the detected member located at the detection position. It is preferable that at least a part of each of the wall portions has light permeability so that light incident from the outside can be emitted to the outside again through the detection position. According to this configuration, when the member to be detected is positioned at the detection position, light passing through the detection position is blocked through the light-transmitting region formed on each of the pair of wall portions. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether or not the member to be detected is at the detection position by receiving the light incident from one wall portion at the other wall portion and detecting the intensity of the received light.

  Further, in the present invention, there is provided a remaining amount detecting member integrated including the float member and the detected member, and the restricting means supports the remaining amount detecting member in a swingable manner. It is preferable that According to this configuration, the remaining amount detection member rotates by the movement of the float member. As a result, it is possible to easily realize a restricting means for restricting the movement of the detected member so that the detected member passes the detection position as the liquid decreases.

  Further, in the present invention, the detected member is provided with a transmitting portion that transmits light, and the transmitting member is configured so that the detected member moves along the predetermined path by swinging of the remaining amount detecting member. When moving, it preferably passes through the detection position. According to this configuration, as the amount of the liquid changes, each of the region having the light blocking property and the transmission portion in the detection member passes through the detection position. Therefore, the detection member having a structure capable of distinguishing between the state where the transmission part is located at the detection position and the state where the light blocking region is located at the detection position is realized. When the member is used, the amount of liquid in the liquid storage chamber can be grasped in more detail.

  In the present invention, the detected member is provided with a plurality of the transmissive portions, and the plurality of transmissive portions are arranged along a circumferential direction around a pivot point supported by the pivot mechanism. It is preferable to form at intervals. According to this configuration, a detection member having a structure capable of distinguishing the state where each transmission portion is located at the detection position is realized. Therefore, when such a detection member is used, the liquid in the liquid storage chamber is more specifically described. It becomes possible to grasp the amount of.

  Further, in the present invention, of the plurality of transmission parts, the transmission part that is the most distant from the liquid surface of the liquid stored up to the maximum amount in the liquid storage chamber has a width along the circumferential direction, It is preferably larger than any of the other transmission portions. The transmission part that is the farthest from the liquid level of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber up to the maximum amount is positioned at the detection position when the liquid in the liquid storage chamber is the smallest among the plurality of transmission parts. It is a transmission part. According to said structure, since the width | variety of this permeation | transmission part is larger than the thing in any of the other permeation | transmission parts, the liquid cartridge which can confirm that the liquid in a liquid storage chamber is the state reduced most is implement | achieved. .

In the present invention, it is preferable that the remaining amount detecting member is formed in a disc shape centered on a pivot point supported by the pivot mechanism. When the remaining amount detecting member has a shape other than a disk, for example, a rectangular shape, the end surface along the plane is formed on the remaining amount detecting member. If such an end surface passes through the liquid level when the remaining amount detecting member rotates, bubbles may adhere to the end surface. When bubbles are attached to the end face, the remaining amount detecting member is difficult to move, and the remaining amount of liquid is hardly detected stably. On the other hand, when the remaining amount detecting member has a disk shape, an end surface along a plane as in the case of having a rectangular shape is not formed, so when the remaining amount detecting member rotates and moves. Air bubbles hardly adhere to the end face. Therefore, the remaining amount of liquid is detected stably. Further, when the remaining amount detecting member has a shape other than the disk shape, the area of the portion immersed in the liquid changes according to the position of the remaining amount detecting member in the swinging direction.
On the other hand, according to the above configuration, since the remaining amount detecting member has a disc shape, the area of the portion immersed in the liquid is uniform when the remaining amount detecting member rotates and moves with the movement of the float member. Become. For this reason, the frictional force received from the liquid becomes uniform, and the remaining amount detecting member easily moves smoothly.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the said permeation | transmission part is a slit extended in the radial direction from the periphery of the said residual amount detection member formed in the disk shape. According to this configuration, formation of the transmission part is facilitated. In particular, it becomes easy to form many transmission parts on the remaining amount detection member.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the said light transmissive part is a hole which penetrates the said residual amount detection member. According to this configuration, when the light-transmitting portion is a slit extending in the radial direction from the periphery of the remaining amount detecting member, the remaining amount detecting member formed in a disk shape rotates around the pivot point. The resistance due to the liquid becomes small, and the remaining amount detecting member can be rotated with a small load.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the light transmission part is formed of a material having light transmittance. According to this configuration, the light-transmitting portion can be formed by forming the remaining amount detecting member with a light-transmitting material and attaching the light-blocking sealing material to the portion corresponding to the light blocking portion. The remaining amount detection member can be easily formed.

  In the present invention, the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber may have a property of not transmitting light. Even when such a liquid is used, the application of the present invention realizes a liquid cartridge that can easily detect the remaining amount of liquid.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a detailed configuration around the ink cartridge mounted on the printer of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to the first embodiment mounted on the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3 showing the position of a remaining amount detection member for each remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge of FIG. 3. 4 is a graph showing the intensity of light detected by an optical sensor unit in response to a decrease in ink in the ink cartridge of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing how the ink cartridge of FIG. 3 is attached to and detached from the printer. FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6 showing a state where the ink cartridge of FIG. 3 is attached to and detached from the printer when the remaining amount of ink is sufficient. It is a graph which shows the change of the intensity | strength of the light which a light receiving element receives at the time of Fig.7 (a). FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6 showing a state in which the ink cartridge of FIG. It is a graph which shows the change of the intensity | strength of the light which a light receiving element receives at the time of FIG.7 (c). FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6 showing a state in which the ink cartridge of FIG. It is a graph which shows the change of the intensity | strength of the light which a light receiving element in the case of FIG.7 (e) receives. FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6 showing a state where the ink cartridge of FIG. 3 is attached to and detached from the printer when the ink is almost empty. It is a graph which shows the change of the intensity | strength of the light which a light receiving element receives at the time of FIG.7 (g). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment when ink is scarce. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment when ink is almost empty. FIG. 10 is a graph showing a change in intensity of light received by the light receiving element when the remaining amount of ink changes as in FIGS. 9A to 9C in the third embodiment. It is a front view of the residual amount detection member in the ink cartridge which concerns on 4th Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view of a remaining amount detection member in an ink cartridge according to a fifth embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the residual amount detection member in the ink cartridge which concerns on 6th Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to a seventh embodiment attached to the printer of FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of the ink cartridge periphery which concerns on 8th Embodiment. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to an eighth embodiment when ink is scarce. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of the ink cartridge periphery of 8th Embodiment when ink is substantially empty. 14 is a graph showing a change in intensity of light received by a light receiving element when the remaining amount of ink changes as shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C in the eighth embodiment. It is a graph which shows the change of the intensity | strength of the light which a light receiving element receives when the liquid level of an ink vibrates in 8th Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed configuration around an ink cartridge according to a ninth embodiment mounted on the printer of FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of the ink cartridge periphery which concerns on the 10th Embodiment with which the printer of FIG. 1 was mounted | worn. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of the ink cartridge periphery which concerns on the 11th Embodiment with which the printer of FIG. 1 was mounted | worn. FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 17 showing the position of the remaining amount detection member for each remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge of FIG. 17. It is a graph which shows the intensity | strength of the light which an optical sensor part detects as ink decreases in the ink cartridge of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode that the ink cartridge of FIG. 17 is attached or detached with a printer. FIG. 21 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 20 showing how the ink cartridge of FIG. 17 is attached to and detached from the printer for each remaining amount of ink. FIG. 25 is a front view of a remaining amount detection member in an ink cartridge according to a twelfth embodiment. It is a front view of the remaining amount detection member in the ink cartridge according to the thirteenth embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of the ink cartridge periphery which concerns on the 14th Embodiment with which the printer of FIG. 1 was mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows the modification of 1st-14th embodiment.

  The following is a description of an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The following description includes descriptions of a plurality of embodiments. First, descriptions related to configurations common to these embodiments will be given, and then descriptions related to configurations specific to these embodiments will be made in order. Finally, the relationship between the invention realized in this embodiment and the embodiment will be described.

<Common configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printer system 1 according to all embodiments included in the present specification. The printer system 1 includes an ink cartridge 10 and an ink jet printer 20. The ink jet printer 20 (hereinafter referred to as “printer 20”) includes a control unit 22, a notification unit 29, an ink jet head 23, a transport unit 24, and a storage case 30. The control unit 22 controls the operation of the printer 20. The notification unit 29 notifies the user of the printer 20 of various information related to the operation status of the printer 20 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 22. For example, the notification unit 29 may have a display, and various information may be displayed on the display to notify the user.

  The inkjet head 23 has a plurality of nozzles 23a. An ink flow path (not shown) is formed inside the ink jet head 23, and the ink supplied from the ink flow path is discharged downward from the nozzle 23a. The transport unit 24 transports the printing paper P below the inkjet head 23. The ink ejected from the inkjet head 23 lands on the printing paper P transported by the transport unit 24. The control unit 22 controls ink ejection from the inkjet head 23 and conveyance of the printing paper P by the conveyance unit 24 based on image data transmitted from a personal computer or the like connected to the printer 20. As a result, the printer 20 forms an image corresponding to the image data on the printing paper P.

  The storage case 30 is a case in which the ink cartridge 10 is stored. A rectangular parallelepiped storage space 32 is formed inside the storage case 30, and the ink cartridge 10 is attached to and detached from the storage space 32 along the direction of arrow B. A recess 34 is formed in the storage space 32 (the inner surface of the storage case 30) in the storage case 30 that defines the storage space 32. The recess 34 extends from the opening of the accommodation space 32 along the direction B to the back of the accommodation space 32.

  The housing case 30 includes an optical sensor unit 31, an ink inflow port 33, and a lid unit 35. The optical sensor unit 31 is installed so as to be exposed in the accommodation space 32 in the accommodation case 30. The ink inlet 33 is an opening that is connected to the ink outlet 19 of the ink cartridge 10 when the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the storage case 30 and into which the ink flowing out from the ink outlet 19 flows. The ink inflow port 33 communicates with the ink flow path in the inkjet head 23 through the ink tube 25. As a result, ink from the ink cartridge 10 is introduced into the ink flow path in the inkjet head 23. The lid portion 35 opens and closes an opening that is an entrance / exit of the housing case 30, and is installed in the housing case 30 so as to be swingable along the direction of arrow A. The lid portion 35 opens the opening of the storage case 30 when the ink cartridge 10 is attached to and detached from the storage case 30, and closes the opening of the storage case 30 when the ink cartridge 10 is attached.

  The ink cartridge 10 has substantially the same rectangular parallelepiped shape as the storage space 32 and is slightly smaller than the storage space 32. A convex portion 13 is formed on the side surface of the ink cartridge 10. The convex portion 13 has substantially the same shape as the concave portion 34 formed in the housing case 30, and has a size that can be accommodated in the concave portion 34. The ink cartridge 10 has a detection window 11 and an ink outlet 12. When the ink cartridge 10 is attached to and detached from the storage case 30, the ink cartridge 10 is slid along the direction of arrow B while the convex portion 13 of the ink cartridge 10 and the concave portion 34 of the storage case 30 are fitted to each other. . That is, the convex portion 13 and the concave portion 34 are guide members that move the ink cartridge 10 along the attaching / detaching direction B. When the ink cartridge 10 is attached to the storage case 30, the ink outlet 12 communicates with the ink inlet 33, and the optical sensor 31 and the detection window 11 are disposed at the same position in both the vertical and horizontal directions in FIG. Is done.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a more detailed configuration around the ink cartridge 10 in a state where it is mounted in the storage case 30. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIA-IIA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIB-IIB in FIG. In this specification, the posture of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the storage case as shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as “mounting posture”. In the following description, the ink cartridge is in the “installed posture”.

  The ink cartridge 10 has a cartridge housing 14 (hereinafter referred to as “housing 14”). A hollow ink storage chamber 14c is formed inside the housing 14, and the ink 99 is stored in the ink storage chamber 14c. That is, the housing 14 defines an ink storage chamber 14c (liquid storage chamber) that stores ink. Further, the ink storage chamber 14 c communicates with an ink outlet 19 through which ink flows out through the passage 18. An opening / closing mechanism (not shown) that opens and closes the ink outlet 19 is provided in the passage 18. This opening / closing mechanism normally closes the ink outlet 19 and opens the ink outlet 19 when the ink outlet 19 is connected to the ink inlet 33 of the storage case 30.

  The detected member 15 and the float member 16 are accommodated in the ink storage chamber 14c. The float member 16 is made of a material such as resin so that the mass per unit volume is smaller than the density of the ink 99. For example, it may be formed of a material having a specific gravity smaller than that of ink, or may be formed as a hollow body having a cavity inside when formed of a material having a specific gravity larger than that of ink. The detected member 15 is a plate-like member made of a material having a property of blocking light. The detected member 15 in FIG. 2 includes an arm portion 15a and a detected portion 15b as a specific example. A float member 16 is fixed to the detected member 15 (the tip of the arm portion 15a). That is, the detected member 15 is interlocked with the float member 16 when the float member 16 moves.

  In addition, a regulating member 17 that regulates the movement of the detected member 15 and the float member 16 to a predetermined path is provided in the ink storage chamber 14c. FIG. 2 shows, as a specific example of the regulating member 17, a pivotal support mechanism including a swing shaft 17 a fixed to the arm portion 15 a and a bearing 17 b that supports the swing shaft 17 a so as to swing. In such a pivot mechanism, the position where the swing shaft 17a is supported becomes the pivot point.

  The detected member 15 and the float member 16 move following the ink level in the ink containing chamber 14c as follows. When ink is stored in the ink storage chamber 14c, the float member 16 floats on the ink surface because the mass per unit volume is smaller than the ink density as described above. For example, when the liquid level falls along the arrow D, the float member 16 moves along the direction C, and the detected member 15 moves along the direction E in conjunction with the float member 16.

In addition, the optical sensor unit 31 includes a light emitting element 31a and a light receiving element 31b. The light emitting element 31a and the light emitting element 31a are arranged at the same position in the vertical direction of the figure.
The light emitting element 31 a is connected to the control unit 22 and emits light according to an instruction from the control unit 22. The light receiving element 31b is also connected to the control unit 22, and receives the light and transmits a signal indicating the intensity of the received light to the control unit 22. On the other hand, the detection window 11 is provided in the casing 14 of the ink cartridge 10. The detection window portion 11 includes detection windows 11a and 11b. The detection windows 11 a and 11 b are formed on a pair of left and right side plates 14 a and 14 b (a pair of wall portions) constituting the housing 14. The detection windows 11a and 11b are made of a light-transmitting material and are arranged on virtual lines connecting the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b, respectively. Thus, as long as there is no shield on the light path in the ink containing chamber 14c, the light from the light emitting element 31a reaches the light receiving element 31b along the virtual straight line through the detection windows 11a and 11b. 1 and 2, the entire ink cartridge 10 may be made of a light-transmitting material instead of the detection window 11 being formed. In the housing 14, a portion including a region through which light from the light emitting element 31 a passes when the ink cartridge 10 is in the mounting posture may be made of a material having light transmittance.

  With the above configuration, the position of the detection member 15 changes according to the remaining amount of ink in the ink storage chamber 14c. For example, when the remaining amount of ink is a certain size, a position (hereinafter referred to as “detection position”) that blocks the light path along the virtual straight line connecting the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b in the ink containing chamber 14c. The detected member 15 is located at On the other hand, when the remaining amount of ink is other size, the detected member 15 is positioned at a position different from the detection position. When the detected member 15 is located at the detection position, the light from the light emitting element 31 a is blocked by the detected member 15. Therefore, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 31b when the detected member 15 is located at the detection position is larger than the amount of light received by the light receiving element 31b when the detected member 15 is not located at the detected position. .

  As described above, the control unit 22 refers to the intensity of light indicated by the signal from the light receiving element 31b and derives the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge 10 in the mounting posture. Then, the control unit 22 causes the notification unit 29 to notify the user of information related to the remaining amount of ink based on the derived remaining amount of ink.

  Note that an ink cartridge and a storage case according to an embodiment described later have a detection target member, a float member, a regulating member, a housing, and an optical sensor unit as shown in FIG. However, the specific structure of these configurations in each embodiment includes the casing 14, the detected member 15 (arm portion 15 a), the float member 16, the regulating member 17, and the optical sensor unit 31 shown in FIG. 2. May differ from structure. That is, each embodiment has a configuration that functions in the same manner as the casing 14, the detected member 15, the float member 16, the regulating member 17, and the optical sensor unit 31, but its specific structure and more detailed functions May be different from that of FIG.

<Embodiments>
The following is a description relating to the configuration specific to each embodiment. In each embodiment, the ink cartridge and the housing case include a specific configuration, in particular, a detected member, a float member, a regulating member, and an optical sensor unit. In the following description, parts having the same structure as that in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2, and the description and illustration of the part may be omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the configuration of the ink cartridge 110 and the storage case 130 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the ink cartridge 110 is in the mounting posture in which it is mounted in the storage case 130. FIG. 3A is a diagram corresponding to FIG. FIG.3 (b) is sectional drawing along the IIIB-IIIB line | wire of Fig.3 (a).

The ink cartridge 110 includes a housing 114 and a remaining amount detection member 150 installed inside the housing 114. An ink storage chamber 114 c is formed in the housing 114.
The casing 114 is formed in a cubic shape as a whole, and has a convex portion 114d protruding from the left in FIG. 3A, and the internal space of the convex portion 114d becomes a part of the ink containing chamber 114c. ing. As shown in FIG. 3B, in the first embodiment, the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b of the optical sensor unit 31 are arranged so as to sandwich the convex portion 114d. A detection window 111 is formed on the convex 114d. The detection window 111 is installed at the same position as the optical sensor unit 31 in the vertical direction. Further, the detection window 111 extends from the position facing the left inner wall surface of the convex portion 114d to the right from the installation position of the optical sensor unit 31 in the left-right direction. Thereby, the light path 141 through which the light from the light emitting element 31a reaches the light receiving element 31b is arranged in the convex portion 114d. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, the detection position 142 is also located in the convex portion 114d. That is, the detection position 142 is a position that is sandwiched between the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b when the ink cartridge 110 is mounted in the housing case 130. An ink outlet 112 through which the ink 99 in the ink storage chamber 114 flows out to the storage case 130 is formed below the convex portion 114d.

  The remaining amount detection member 150 includes a detection member 115 and a float member 116. The detected member 115 is a plate-like member made up of an arm portion 115a and a detected portion 115b. The arm portion 115a is bent twice at a substantially right angle, and the detected portion 115b is fixed to one end and the float member 116 is fixed to the other end. A swing shaft 17a is fixed to one corner 115e that is bent in the arm 115a. The swing shaft 17a is supported by a bearing 17b as shown in FIG. The swing shaft 17a is supported at a position close to the lower portion of the left inner wall surface of the ink storage chamber 114c. Further, the position where the swing shaft 17a is supported is that the float member 116 is disposed near the bottom surface in the ink storage chamber 114c in the vertical direction, and the detected portion 115b is the region of the convex portion 114d in the ink storage chamber 114c. It is adjusted to be placed inside.

  The detected part 115b has a generally square shape. A substantially rectangular slit 161 is formed in the detected portion 115b. In FIG. 3, the slit 161 extends downward from the upper end of the detected portion 115 b to a position near the lower end of the detected portion 161. And it arrange | positions in the position slightly left from the center of the to-be-detected part 115b regarding the left-right direction of FIG. Further, light blocking portions 162a and 162b are formed so as to sandwich the slit 161. In the detected portion 115b, the slit 161 is a portion through which light from the light emitting element 31a is transmitted, and the light blocking portions 162a and 162b are portions that block light from the light emitting element 31a.

  In addition, a protrusion 115d is formed at the lower end of the detected portion 115b. The protrusion 115d abuts on the protrusion 114d, thereby restricting the movement of the detected portion 115b so as not to move below the position shown in FIG. As a result, the remaining amount detection member 150 is held at the same position from the state where the ink 99 is accommodated in the ink cartridge 110 to the maximum amount to the state where the liquid level of the ink 99 reaches the float member 116. ing. When the liquid level of the ink 99 descends along the direction R and reaches the float member 116, the float member 116 follows the liquid level of the ink 99 and rotates and moves in the direction Q1 about the swing shaft 17a. To do. In conjunction with this, the detected portion 115b also moves along the direction Q2. As described above, the float member 116 is disposed at a position close to the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 114c. Therefore, in a state where the liquid level of the ink 99 is lowered and reaches the float member 116, the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink storage chamber 114c is small.

  4 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a one-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 4A shows a state until the liquid level of the ink 99 reaches the float member 116. FIG. 4B shows a state after the liquid level of the ink 99 is lowered and reaches the float member 116, and the detected portion 115b is slightly moved from the position of FIG. 4A along the direction Q2 of FIG. Show. FIG. 4C shows a state after the liquid level of the ink 99 is lowered and the detected portion 115b is further moved from the position of FIG. 4B. FIG. 4D shows a state after the liquid level of the ink 99 is lowered and the detected portion 115b is further moved from the position of FIG. 4C.

  The state of the detected portion 115b changes as follows according to the amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 110. In FIG. 4A, the detected portion 115b is in a state where the light blocking portion 162a is located at the detection position 142. In FIG. 4B, the detected portion 115 b is in a state where the slit 161 is located at the detection position 142. In FIG. 4C, the detected portion 115b is in a state where the light blocking portion 162b is located at the detection position 142. In FIG. 4D, the detected portion 115b has passed through the detection position 142 and is positioned to the right of the detection position 142.

  FIG. 5 shows changes in the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b when the light irradiation range changes as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d). The horizontal axis in FIG. 5 represents time (and the amount of ink 99 consumed), and the vertical axis represents light intensity. The light intensity A1 indicates the intensity when the light from the light emitting element 31a reaches the light receiving element 31b without being blocked by the detected member 115. The light intensity A0 indicates the intensity when the light from the light emitting element 31a reaches the light receiving element 31b when the detected member 115 blocks the light. t1 to t4 correspond to times when the detected part 115b is in the respective states of FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (d).

  At t1, since the light is blocked by the light blocking unit 162a, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b is A0. At t2, since light is received by the light receiving element 31b through the slit 161, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b is A1. At t3, since the light is blocked by the light blocking unit 162b, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b is A0. After t4, the detected portion 115b has already passed the detection position 142, so the light intensity is A1.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the ink 99 in the ink containing chamber 114c decreases and the remaining amount becomes small, the liquid level of the ink 99 reaches the float member 116, and the float member 116 starts to move. When the ink 99 further decreases, in conjunction with the float member 116, the first position where the light blocking portion 162a is located at the detection position 142, the second position where the slit 161 is located at the detection position 142, the light The position of the detected member 115 changes in the order of the third position where the blocking part 162b is located at the detection position 142 and the fourth position where the detected part 115b has passed the detected position 142. . Accordingly, the light received by the light receiving element 31b is in the first state where the intensity is A0, the second state where the intensity is A1, the third state where the intensity is A0, and the fourth state where the intensity is A1. The state changes in order.

  The control unit 22 grasps the remaining amount of the ink 99 in four stages by grasping the first to fourth states at the present time. Specifically, the control unit 22 measures how many times the light received by the light receiving element 31b is switched between a state where the light is A0 and a state where the light intensity is A1. And it determines with it being each of the 1st-4th state at the present time according to whether the frequency | count of switching is 0 times-3 times. Then, the control unit 22 notifies the user of information indicating the remaining amount of the ink 99 via the notification unit 29 based on the determination result regarding the remaining amount of the ink 99. For example, according to each of the first to fourth states, the remaining amount of the ink 99 is still sufficient, the remaining amount of the ink 99 is small, the remaining amount of the ink 99 is further decreased, A message indicating that the remaining amount of ink 99 is almost empty may be displayed on the display.

  In the first embodiment, the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 110 is not only when the ink cartridge 110 is in the mounted posture from the start of use until the present time but also when the ink cartridge 110 is attached to and detached from the storage case 130. It has a configuration that can be grasped. FIG. 6 shows how the ink cartridge 110 is attached to and detached from the housing case 130. A broken line represents the ink cartridge 110 that is slightly slid rightward from the mounting posture. When the ink cartridge 110 is attached to or detached from the housing case 130, the ink cartridge 110 moves between the position indicated by the broken line and the position of the mounting posture. At this time, the detection position 142 moves relative to the detected portion 115b so as to cut the detected portion 115b parallel to the direction 143, for example. Here, as described above, the detection window 111 is formed to be long in the left-right direction (see FIG. 3). For this reason, for example, when the ink cartridge 110 is attached to the storage case 130, the light from the light emitting element 31a reaches the housing 114 until the left side wall of the housing 114 passes the detection position 142 and reaches the mounting posture. The light enters the ink storage chamber 114c through the detection window 111 without being blocked. Note that the detection window 111 is not necessarily formed when the entire casing 114 is formed of a material that transmits light.

  FIG. 7A, FIG. 7C, FIG. 7E, and FIG. 7G are enlarged views of a region surrounded by a one-dot chain line in FIG. FIGS. 7A, 7C, 7E, and 7G show the case where the ink cartridges 110 having different remaining amounts of ink 99 are mounted on the storage case 130 along the arrow 144. FIG. FIG. 9 shows how the detection position 142 moves relative to the detected portion 115b. The remaining amount of ink 99 in FIGS. 7A, 7C, 7E, and 7G corresponds to the remaining amount of ink 99 in FIGS. 4A to 4D. To do. 7A, FIG. 7C, FIG. 7E, and FIG. 7G, the solid line indicates the ink cartridge 110 in the mounted posture. A broken line indicates the ink cartridge 110 immediately before the mounting posture is taken. 7 (b), FIG. 7 (d), FIG. 7 (f), and FIG. 7 (h), the detection position 142 is shown in FIG. 7 (a), FIG. It is a graph showing the change of the intensity | strength of the light which the light receiving element 31b receives at the time of relative movement like FIG.7 (e) and FIG.7 (g), respectively.

  In the case of FIG. 7A, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. 7B. First, before the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 7A, light from the light emitting element 31a is received by the light receiving element 31b without being blocked. At this time, the intensity of light is A1 (t5). Next, when the detection position 142 reaches the casing 114 of the ink cartridge 110 (the side wall on the left side of the convex portion 114d), the light path is blocked by the casing 114. At this time, the light intensity is A0 (t6). Next, when the detection position 142 finishes passing through the housing 114, a light path is formed in the space between the housing 114 and the detected portion 115b, so that the light intensity is A1 (t7). Next, after the detection position 142 reaches the detected part 115b, the detection position 142 passes through the light blocking part 162b and the slit 161 in order. Therefore, the light intensity once changes to A0 (t8) and then becomes A1 (t9). Next, when the detection position 142 passes through the slit 161 and reaches the light blocking part 162b, the light intensity becomes A0 (t10). In the mounting posture indicated by the solid line in FIG. 7A, the light blocking portion 162b is in the detection position 142, and thus the light intensity becomes A0 after t10.

In the case of FIG. 7C, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. 7D. First, before the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 7C, the light from the light emitting element 31a is received by the light receiving element 31b without being blocked. At this time, the intensity of light is A1 (t11). Next, when the detection position 142 reaches the casing 114 of the ink cartridge 110, the optical path is blocked by the casing 114. At this time, the intensity of light is A0 (t12). Next, when the detection position 142 finishes passing through the housing 114, a light path is formed in the space between the housing 114 and the detected portion 115b, so that the light intensity is A1 (t13).
Next, when the detection position 142 reaches the detected part 115b, the detection position 142 passes through the light blocking part 162b and moves to the slit 161. Therefore, the light intensity once changes to A0 (t14) and then becomes A1 (t15). Here, in the mounting posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 7C, since the slit 161 is in the detection position 142, the light intensity is A1 after t15.

  In the case of FIG. 7E, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. First, before the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 7E, light from the light emitting element 31a is received by the light receiving element 31b without being blocked. At this time, the intensity of light is A1 (t16). Next, when the detection position 142 reaches the casing 114 of the ink cartridge 110, the optical path is blocked by the casing 114. At this time, the light intensity is A0 (t17). Next, when the detection position 142 finishes passing through the housing 114, a light path is formed in the space between the housing 114 and the detected portion 115b, so that the light intensity is A1 (t18). When the detection position 142 reaches the light blocking portion 162b, the light intensity becomes A0 (t19). Here, in the mounting posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 7E, the light blocking portion 162b is located at the detection position 142. Therefore, after t19, the light intensity is A0.

  In the case of FIG. 7G, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. First, before the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 7G, the light from the light emitting element 31a is received by the light receiving element 31b without being blocked. At this time, the intensity of light is A1 (t20). Next, when the detection position 142 reaches the casing 114 of the ink cartridge 110, the optical path is blocked by the casing 114. At this time, the intensity of light is A0 (t21). Next, when the detection position 142 finishes passing through the housing 114, a light path is formed in the space between the housing 114 and the detected portion 115b, so that the light intensity is A1 (t22). Here, in the mounting posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 7G, the detection position 142 is located between the detected portion 115b and the housing 114. Therefore, after t21, the light intensity is A0.

  As described above, when the ink cartridge 110 is attached to the storage case 130, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b depends on the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 110 at the time of attachment, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7D, FIG. 7F, and FIG. 7H, the change modes are different.

  Therefore, the control unit 22 acquires the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 110 when the ink cartridge 110 is attached to the storage case 130 based on the signal from the light receiving element 31b. Specifically, for example, the memory included in the control unit 22 has light as shown in FIGS. 7B, 7D, 7F, and 7H. Data indicating the change mode of the intensity is stored in association with the remaining amount of the ink 99 corresponding to the change mode. Then, the control unit 22 determines which change mode stored in the memory corresponds to the change mode of the light intensity indicated by the signal from the light receiving element 31b, and determines the remaining amount of the ink 99 from the determination result. get. Then, the control unit 22 notifies the user of the acquired remaining amount of the ink 99 via the notification unit 29. For example, the remaining amount of ink 99 in the mounted ink cartridge 110 is still sufficient depending on which of the change modes in FIGS. 7B to 7H, the remaining amount of ink 99 remains. A message indicating that the remaining amount of ink 99 is still small, or the remaining amount of ink 99 is almost empty, may be displayed on the display in accordance with the remaining amount of ink 99.

  In the first embodiment, when the ink cartridge 110 is mounted, the remaining amount of the ink 99 can be grasped in at least four stages as shown in FIG. It is also possible to grasp the remaining amount of 99. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7C, the separation distance between the detected portion 115b and the housing 114 differs depending on the remaining amount of the ink 99. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7D, the lengths of the period 171 and the period 172 in which the light intensity is A1 are different from each other. Based on this, by determining that the remaining amount of the ink 99 is smaller as the period 172 is longer, it is possible to grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in five stages or more in total.

  In the above description, the case where the remaining amount of the ink 99 is acquired when the ink cartridge 110 is mounted is shown, but the remaining amount of the ink 99 is also removed when the ink cartridge 110 is removed from the storage case 130. Can be grasped. When the ink cartridge 110 is removed from the housing case 130, the change mode of the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b is obtained by inverting the change mode shown in FIG. Therefore, the ink cartridge 110 can be obtained by comparing the change mode shown in FIG. 7B or the like with respect to time and the change mode of the intensity of light actually received by the light receiving element 31b. It is possible to grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 when it is removed from the storage case 130.

  In the first embodiment, the slit 161 is formed in the detected part 115b so as to extend along the vertical direction. In such a case, it is preferable that the swing shaft 17a is located directly below the detected portion 215 as much as possible. According to this, for example, when the remaining amount detecting member 115 rotates around the swing shaft 17a as compared with the case where the swing shaft 17a is positioned to the right of the detected portion 115b (see FIG. 8). The detected portion 115b moves greatly in the left-right direction. Therefore, the slit 161 easily passes through the detection position 142, and the light intensity is likely to change greatly, so that the ink cartridge 110 can easily detect the remaining amount of the ink 99.

  In the first embodiment, when the cartridge 110 is mounted, the light path is blocked by the housing 114 (the side wall portion on the left side of the convex portion 114d). The entire body 114 may be formed of a light-transmitting member so that the housing 114 does not block the light path. Even in such a configuration, the light intensity changes shown in FIGS. 7B, 7D, 7F, and 7H show different changes, and the control unit 22 distinguishes these changes. It is possible to do. However, in the case of FIG. 7 (h), the light intensity does not change (it is still A1) and is indistinguishable from the case where the cartridge 110 is not mounted. Therefore, in order to distinguish these, the cartridge 110 exists at the mounting position. It is necessary to separately provide a switch for detecting whether or not.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 210 and the storage case 230 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG.

  The ink cartridge 210 includes a housing 214 and a remaining amount detection member 250 installed in the housing 214. An ink storage chamber 214c is formed in the housing 214, and a convex portion 214d that protrudes leftward toward the outside of the ink cartridge 210 is formed at the left end of the ink storage chamber 214c. The convex part 214d is formed so as to be longer in the vertical direction than the convex part 114d of the first embodiment. Further, similarly to the first embodiment, a detection window 111 that is long in the left-right direction is formed on the convex portion 214d.

  The remaining amount detection member 250 includes a detected member 215 and a float member 216. The detected member 215 includes an arm part 215a and a detected part 215b. The arm portion 215a is bent at an angle larger than 90 degrees at the corner portion 215e. A detected portion 215b is fixed to one end of the arm portion 215a, and a float member 216 is fixed to the other end. A swing shaft 17a is fixed in the vicinity of the corner portion 215e. The swing shaft 17a is supported by a bearing 17b (see FIG. 2) on the right side of the convex portion 214d. The remaining amount detecting member 250 is installed such that when the liquid level of the ink 99 is above the float member 216, the float member 216 is disposed near the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 214c, and the detected portion 215b is located on the convex portion 214d. It is adjusted so as to contact the inner surface from above.

  The detected part 215b has substantially the same configuration as the detected part 115b of the first embodiment, and the protruding parts 215d corresponding to the protruding part 115d, the slit 161, the light blocking part 162a, and the light blocking part 162b, respectively. , And slits 261 and light blocking portions 262a and 262b sandwiching the slits 261 from each other. However, unlike the slit 161, the slit 261 is cut obliquely with respect to the four sides of the detected portion 215b from the upper left corner of the detected portion 215b toward the lower right corner.

  In the second embodiment, when the remaining amount of ink 99 becomes small and the liquid level reaches the float member 216, the float member 216 starts to move. In conjunction with this, the arm portion 215a rotates and moves in the direction S about the swing shaft 17a. As a result, the detected part 215b moves from the position where the light blocking part 262a is at the detection position 242 to the position where the slit 261 is at the detection position 242 and the position where the light blocking part 262b is at the detection position 242. Moves to a position that has passed the detection position 242. Here, the light received by the light receiving element 31b is, as in the first embodiment, the first state where the intensity is A0, the second state where the intensity is A1, the third state where the intensity is A0, and the intensity. Sequentially changes to the fourth state where A1 is A1. Therefore, also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the remaining amount of the ink 99 can be grasped in four stages.

  Further, since the slit 261 is formed in the detected portion 215b, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b when the ink cartridge 210 is attached to the housing case 230 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Depending on the remaining amount of ink 99 in the ink cartridge 210, the change mode differs. Accordingly, in the second embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to grasp the remaining amount of ink 99 even when the ink cartridge 210 is mounted in the storage case 230.

  Here, in the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the swing shaft 17a is positioned at the right side at substantially the same height as the detected portion 215b. For this reason, when the ink 99 decreases, the detected portion 215b moves substantially upward. Therefore, when the slit extending along the vertical direction is formed in the detected portion 215b, the slit is difficult to pass through the detection position 242. That is, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b is unlikely to change according to the remaining amount of the ink 99, and the difference in the change in the intensity of the light when the ink cartridge 210 is attached to the housing case 230 is less likely to occur. .

  On the other hand, the slits 261 of the second embodiment are cut obliquely with respect to the four sides of the detected portion 215b. Therefore, when the detected part 215 moves upward, the slit 261 reliably passes the detection position 242. Further, a difference according to the remaining amount of the ink 99 is likely to occur in the light intensity change mode when the ink cartridge 210 is attached to the storage case 230. Thereby, even when the swing shaft 17a is located at substantially the same height as the detected portion 215b, the remaining amount of the ink 99 can be reliably grasped.

[Third Embodiment]
The following is a description of the third embodiment. FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C are diagrams illustrating configurations of the ink cartridge 310 and the storage case 330 according to the third embodiment. The left view and the right view in FIG. 9A correspond to FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively.

  The ink cartridge 310 has a remaining amount detecting member 350 having a substantially disk shape. The remaining amount detecting member 350 is formed by integrally forming a disc-shaped detected member 315 and the float member 16. The float member 16 is fixed near the periphery of the detected member 315. A rocking shaft 17a is fixed to the center of the disc-shaped member 315 to be detected. The swing shaft 17a is supported by the bearing 17b so that the detected member 315 can swing (turnable) along the circumferential direction F.

  The detected member 315 is formed with a plurality of slits 361 along the periphery of the disk. These slits 361 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction F of the detected member 315. All the slits 361 extend to the same length from the periphery of the detected member 315 toward the center thereof. Each slit 361 penetrates the detected member 315 in the thickness direction. Of the slits 361, the slit 361b closest to the float member 16 in the circumferential direction F is formed to have a larger width in the circumferential direction F than the other slits 361a. The widths of the slits 361a in the circumferential direction F are equal to each other. A light blocking portion 362 is formed between the slits 361.

  On the other hand, a light path 341 is formed on an imaginary straight line connecting the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b. The path 341 is located substantially at the center of the ink cartridge 310 in the vertical direction of FIG. On the other hand, the detected member 315 is positioned so as to block the path 341 at substantially the center of the ink cartridge 310 in the left-right direction in the left diagram of FIG. A detection position 342 that is a position where the path 341 and the detected member 315 intersect in FIG. 9A is located in the vicinity of the left end of the detected member 315 in the right diagram of FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 9A, detection windows 11 a and 11 b positioned on the extension line of the path 341 are formed in the casing 314 of the ink cartridge 310.

  FIG. 9A shows a state in which the ink 99 is stored in the ink storage chamber 314c of the ink cartridge 310 up to a maximum amount. FIG. 9B shows a state in which the ink 99 has decreased from the state of FIG. FIG. 9C shows a state in which the ink 99 further decreases from the state of FIG. 9B, and the ink 99 in the ink storage chamber 314c is almost empty. As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, as the ink 99 stored in the ink storage chamber 314c decreases, the float member 16 moves in the circumferential direction F around the swing shaft 17a. Rotate and move. The detected member 315 is also linked to the float member 16 and rotates in the circumferential direction F about the swing shaft 17a.

  Here, during the period of transition from the state of FIG. 9A to the state of FIG. 9B, the slit 361a is located at the detection position 342 (corresponding to the state where the detected member 315 is at the first position). And the state where the light blocking unit 362 is located at the detection position 342 (corresponding to the state where the detected member 315 is located at the second position) are alternately repeated. More specifically, as the ink 99 decreases, for example, the slit s4 is positioned at the detection position 342 from the state where one of the two light blocking sections 362 sandwiching the slit s4 is positioned at the detection position 342. Through this state, the other light blocking portion 362b of the two light blocking portions 362 is positioned at the detection position 342. Such a change is repeated as the ink 99 decreases.

  Further, during the transition from the state of FIG. 9B to the state of FIG. 9C, the slit 361a is located at the detection position 342 and the light blocking unit 362 is located at the detection position 342 as described above. The state is repeated alternately. Then, as shown in FIG. 9C, the slit 361b is located at the detection position 342. In the present embodiment, the slit 361b is positioned at the detection position 342 when the ink 99 in the ink storage chamber 314c is empty.

  The detected member 315 moves as described above as the ink 99 in the ink storage chamber 314c decreases from the maximum amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 310 until the ink 99 is consumed and emptied. The intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. In FIG. 9D, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents light intensity. Since the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 310 is consumed with the passage of time, the horizontal axis of FIG. 9D represents time and also represents the consumption amount of the ink 99. In FIG. 9D, the light intensity A1 indicates the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b in a state where the detected member 315 does not block the light path 341 connecting the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b. .

  In FIG. 9 (d), times t23, t24 and t25 indicate the time points in the states of FIG. 9 (a), FIG. 9 (b) and FIG. 9 (c), respectively. At time t <b> 23, the detected member 315 blocks the light path 341 at the detection position 342. Therefore, at time t23, the light intensity is A0 which is smaller than A1.

  During the period from t23 to t24, the state where the light blocking unit 362 is positioned at the detection position 342 and the state where the slit 361a is positioned at the detection position 342 are repeated as described above. When the light blocking unit 362 is located at the detection position 342, the light blocking unit 362 blocks the light path 341, and thus the light intensity is A0. Since the light path 341 is not blocked when the slit 361a is located at the detection position 342, the light intensity is A1.

  At time t25, the slit 361b is located at the detection position 342. Therefore, the light intensity is A1 at time t25. The slit 361b has a larger width in the circumferential direction F than the slit 361a. For this reason, when the speed at which the ink 99 is consumed is approximately the same throughout the use period of the ink cartridge 310, the period in which the intensity is A1 continues for a long time.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b as the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 310 is consumed is as shown in FIG. Therefore, the control unit 22 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 310 in multiple stages based on the signal from the light receiving element 31b. For example, at time t23, the state where the light intensity is A1 has not yet appeared. On the other hand, the state where the light intensity is A1 appears many times as time passes until time t24. Therefore, the control unit 22 measures how many times the remaining amount of the ink 99 is present by measuring how many times the state where the light intensity is A1 and the state where the light intensity is A0. Can be grasped in stages.

  The state where the light intensity is A1 corresponds to the case where the light blocking unit 362 is located at the detection position 342, and the state where the light intensity is A0 corresponds to the case where the slit 361 is located at the detection position 342, respectively. ing. Accordingly, the number of steps in which the remaining amount of ink 99 can be determined depends on the number of slits 361 and light blocking portions 362 formed in the detection member 315. For example, in this embodiment, the state shown in FIG. 9A is once, the state shown in FIG. 9C is once, and FIGS. 9A to 9C. ), The state where the light blocking section 362 is located at the detection position 342 is 10 times, and the state where the slit 361a is located at the detection position 342 in the period of FIGS. 9A to 9C. It is possible to grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in a total of 22 stages, such as 10 times.

  The control unit 22 measures how many times the remaining amount of the ink 99 is present at a current time by measuring how many times the state where the light intensity is A1 and the state where the light intensity is A0 has appeared so far. The user grasps the information and informs the user of the grasped information via the notification unit 29.

  When the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 310 is almost empty as in the state of FIG. 9C, the state where the intensity is A1 is longer than that until the time t24 as described above. continue. Based on this, the control unit 22 determines that the remaining amount of the ink 99 is low, and notifies the user that the remaining amount of the ink 99 is low via the notification unit 29.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the fourth embodiment, the remaining amount detecting member 350 in the third embodiment is replaced with a remaining amount detecting member 450 in FIG. The remaining amount detection member 450 includes a detected member 415 and a float member 16. The detected member 415 is a plate-shaped member including a detected portion 415b having a sector shape and an arm portion 415a extending from the sector center of the detected portion 415b. A swing shaft 17a is fixed in the vicinity of the center of the sector of the detected portion 415b. The swing shaft 17a is supported by the bearing 17b so that the remaining amount detecting member 450 can swing along the direction G in a region not shown. A float member 16 is fixed to one end of the arm portion 415a that is separated from the swing shaft 17a.

  In the detected part 415b, a plurality of slits 461 are formed at equal intervals along the fan-shaped periphery. The slits 461 all have the same length from the fan-shaped peripheral edge toward the swing shaft 17a. The slit 461 is adjusted to such a length that the detection position 442 in the fourth embodiment is positioned on the slit 461. A plurality of light blocking portions 462 are formed between the slits 461.

  In the fourth embodiment, the remaining amount detecting member 450 having the above-described configuration is installed inside an ink cartridge. In the fourth embodiment, as the ink 99 in the ink cartridge decreases, the float member 16 moves along the direction H, and the detected portion 415b rotates along the direction G. Along with this, the state where the light blocking unit 462 is located at the detection position 442 and the state where the slit 461 is located at the detection position 442 are alternately repeated. Accordingly, in the fourth embodiment as well as in the third embodiment, by measuring how many times the state where the light intensity is A1 and the state where the light intensity is A0 appears up to the present time, The control unit 22 can grasp the remaining amount of 99 in multiple stages.

[Fifth Embodiment]
In the fifth embodiment, the remaining amount detecting member 350 in the third embodiment is replaced with a remaining amount detecting member 550 in FIG. The difference between the remaining amount detecting member 550 and the remaining amount detecting member 350 is the shape of the slit 561 and the shape of the light blocking part 562 formed in the detected member 515. The other parts in the fifth embodiment are the same as those in the third embodiment.

A plurality of through holes 561a are formed in the detected member 515 at equal intervals along the circumference thereof. Each of the through holes 561a has a circular shape having the same size. Further, any through hole 561a is separated from the swing shaft 17a at a position closer to the swing shaft 17a from the periphery of the detected member 515 by the same distance as the separation distance between the detection position 542 and the swing shaft 17a. Has been placed. The detected member 515 is further formed with a slit 561b.
The slit 561b is disposed so as to be adjacent to the slit 561 closest to the float member 16 in the circumferential direction. The slit 561b is formed so as to be cut in a trapezoidal shape from the periphery of the detected member 515 toward the swing shaft 17a, and the length in the circumferential direction of the slit 561b is longer than the diameter of the through hole 561a. . Further, light blocking portions 562 are formed between the 561's.

  In the fifth embodiment, when the ink 99 in the ink cartridge decreases, the remaining amount detecting member 550 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Accordingly, the state where the light blocking unit 562 is located at the detection position 542 and the state where the through hole 561a is located at the detection position 542 are alternately repeated. Therefore, the control unit 22 determines the remaining amount of the ink 99 at the current time by measuring how many times the light intensity is A1 and the state where the light intensity is A0. It is possible to grasp.

  In the fifth embodiment, the slit 561b and the through hole 561a have different shapes. Therefore, the time change of the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b differs between the state where the through hole 561a is located at the detection position 542 and the state where the slit 561b is located at the detection position 542. Accordingly, the slit 561b can play the same role as the slit 361b of the third embodiment. That is, in the fifth embodiment, the control unit 22 can determine that the remaining amount of the ink 99 is small as in the third embodiment.

[Sixth Embodiment]
In the sixth embodiment, the remaining amount detecting member 350 in the third embodiment is replaced with a remaining amount detecting member 650 in FIG. The remaining amount detection member 650 includes a detected member 615 and a float member 16. The detected member 615 includes an arm portion 615a extending from the swing shaft 17a obliquely downward to the right in FIG. 12, and an arm portion 615b extending to the left in FIG. The float member 16 is fixed to the tip of the arm portion 615a, and a slit 661 is formed at the tip of the arm portion 615b. The slit 661 extends from the tip of the arm portion 615b to the detection position 642 toward the swing shaft 17a. Thus, the light blocking portions 662a and 662b are formed so as to sandwich the slit 661. In the sixth embodiment, when the ink 99 in the ink cartridge decreases and the ink 99 approaches an empty state, the arm portion 615b passes the detection position 642 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The structures of the remaining amount detecting member 650 and the regulating member 17, the detection position 642, and the like are adjusted.

  In the sixth embodiment, when the remaining amount of ink 99 in the ink cartridge becomes small, the light blocking unit 662a is positioned at the detection position 642 from the state where the arm unit 615b is positioned below the detection position 642. The arm portion 615b is positioned above the detection position 642 through the state where the slit 661a is positioned at the detection position 642 and the state where the light blocking portion 662b is positioned at the detection position 642. Until the state, the state of the remaining amount detecting member 650 changes. Therefore, in the sixth embodiment, the control unit 22 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in five stages in total.

[Seventh Embodiment]
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating configurations of an ink cartridge 710 and a storage case 730 according to the seventh embodiment. FIG. 13 (a) corresponds to FIG. 2 (a), and FIG. 13 (b) corresponds to FIG. 2 (b).

  The remaining amount detection member 750 according to the seventh embodiment is a combination of a detected member 715 and a float member 716. The float member 716 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the mass per unit volume is smaller than the density of the ink 99. The detected member 715 is a plate-like member whose thickness direction is parallel to the left-right direction in FIG. The float member 716 is fixed to the lower end of the detected member 715.

  In the detected member 715, a plurality of slits 761 arranged along the vertical direction in FIG. 13 are formed. All the slits 761 have the same shape and the same size, and are arranged at equal intervals in the vertical direction. A light blocking portion 762 is formed between the slits 761. As shown in FIG. 13, the member 715 to be detected is disposed at a position that blocks the light path 741 connecting the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b.

A regulating member 717 is integrally fixed to the housing 714 of the ink cartridge 710.
The restricting member 717 is a plate-like member that extends vertically downward from the ceiling surface inside the housing 714. The regulating member 717 is formed with a regulating surface 717a parallel to the vertical direction. On the other hand, the inner wall surface 714d on the left side of the housing 714 extends in parallel with the restriction surface 717a and faces the restriction surface 717a in the left-right direction. The regulating member 717 is arranged such that the separation distance between the inner wall surface 714d and the regulating surface 717a is slightly larger than the maximum width in the left-right direction of the remaining amount detecting member 750. The remaining amount detecting member 750 is disposed between the inner wall surface 714d and the regulating surface 717a. The restriction surface 717a and the inner wall surface 714d restrict the movement of the remaining amount detection member 750 in the left-right direction.

  In the seventh embodiment, when the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 710 decreases, the float member 716 descends as the ink liquid level falls. In conjunction with this, the entire remaining amount detecting member 750 is lowered. Since the movement of the remaining amount detection member 750 in the left-right direction in FIG. 13B is restricted by the inner wall surface 714d and the restriction surface 717a, the light blocking unit 762 is not separated from the detection position 742 in the left-right direction. As the remaining amount detecting member 750 is lowered, the state where the light blocking unit 762 is positioned at the detection position 742 and the state where the slit 761 is positioned at the detection position 742 are alternately repeated. Accordingly, in the seventh embodiment as well as in the first to sixth embodiments, by measuring how many times the state in which the light intensity is A1 and the state in which the light intensity is A0 appear up to the present time, It is possible for the control unit 22 to grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 at multiple stages.

[Eighth Embodiment]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the ink cartridge 810 and the storage case 830 according to the eighth embodiment. The left diagram and the right diagram in FIG. 14A correspond to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, respectively.

  The housing case 830 of the eighth embodiment is obtained by replacing the optical sensor unit 31 with the optical sensor unit 831 in the housing case 330 of the third embodiment. The optical sensor portion 831 includes two light emitting elements 831a and two light receiving elements 831b. The two light emitting elements 831a are arranged along the vertical direction. The two light receiving elements 831b are also arranged along the vertical direction. In addition, the light emitting element 831a and the light receiving element 831b are arranged so that one light receiving element 831b faces the one light emitting element 831a in the left-right direction of FIG. Accordingly, in the ink cartridge 810, a light path 841a connecting one light emitting element 831a and one light receiving element 831b and a light path 841b connecting the other light emitting element 831a and the other light receiving element 831b are formed. Is done. In addition, the detection positions by the optical sensor unit 31 are two detection positions 842a and 842b. The detection positions 842a and 842b correspond to the light paths 841a and 841b, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, the ink cartridge 810 of the eighth embodiment may have substantially the same configuration as the ink cartridge 310 of the third embodiment. However, light-transmitting portions such as detection windows 811a and 811b through which light passes are formed in the housing 814, and the shape, size, and position of these portions are in the mounting posture. Sometimes it is necessary to adjust both the light path 841a and the light path 841b.

  The remaining amount detecting member 350 installed in the ink cartridge 810 has the same configuration as that in the third embodiment, but the slit 361 and the light blocking unit 362 of the detected member 315 are as follows. Need to be adjusted. That is, the widths of the slits 361a and 361b and the light blocking unit 362 in the circumferential direction I and the separation distance between the two light emitting elements 831a are the width of the slit 361a <the separation distance between the light emitting elements 831a <the width of the light blocking unit 362. <It needs to be adjusted so as to satisfy the size relationship of the width of the slit 361b.

  FIG. 14A shows a state in which the ink 99 is accommodated in the ink cartridge 810 up to a maximum amount. FIG. 14B shows a state in which the ink 99 has decreased from the state of FIG. FIG. 14C shows a state in which the ink 99 further decreases from the state of FIG. 14B and the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 810 is almost empty. As the ink 99 decreases, the remaining amount detection member 350 rotates in the circumferential direction I. During the period from FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C, the state where the light blocking section 362 is located at the detection position 842b and the state where the slit 361a is located at the detection position 842b are repeated. . In FIG. 14C, the slit 361b is located at the detection position 842b. On the other hand, in the period from FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C, each slit 361a and each light blocking unit 362 replaces the detection position 842a positioned above the detection position 842b with the detection position 842b. You will pass a little later. 14C, the slit 361b is located at both the detection positions 842a and 842b.

  FIG. 14D is an example of a graph showing changes in the intensity of light received by the two light receiving elements 831b from when the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 810 reaches the maximum amount until the ink 99 is consumed and emptied. It is. In each of the upper and lower graphs in FIG. 14D, the horizontal axis represents time (and consumption of ink 99), and the vertical axis represents light intensity. Times t26 to t28 are times corresponding to FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (c), respectively. 14D, the upper graph shows the intensity of light received by the lower one of the two light receiving elements 831b, and the lower graph in FIG. 14D shows the second light receiving element 831b. The upper one indicates the intensity of light received. That is, in the upper graph in FIG. 14D, the slit 361 and the light blocking unit 362 pass through the detection position 842b in order. In the lower graph of FIG. 14D, the slit 361 and the light blocking unit 362 pass through the detection position 842a in order.

  As described above, the slits 361a and the light blocking portions 362 pass through the detection position 842a with a slight delay after passing through the detection position 842b. Therefore, in FIG. 14D, for example, a period in which the light intensity is A1 appears in the lower graph at a timing slightly delayed from the timing in the upper graph.

  Further, as described above, the relationship of the width of the slit 361a <the distance between the light emitting elements 831a <the width of the light blocking portion 362 <the width of the slit 361b is satisfied. That is, the separation distance between the detection positions 842a and 842b is smaller than the width of the light blocking unit 362 in the circumferential direction I and larger than the width of the slit 361a. Therefore, the state where the slit 361a is located at the detection position 842a and the state where the slit 361a is located at the detection position 842b do not appear at the same time. Accordingly, the period in which the light intensity is A1 in the upper graph in FIG. 14D and the period in which the light intensity is A1 in the lower graph in FIG. It appears alternately.

  At time t28 corresponding to FIG. 14C, the slit 362b is located at both of the detection positions 842a and 842b. Therefore, in both the upper graph and the lower graph of FIG. The strength of A1 is A1.

  In the eighth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14D, a state in which the intensity of light received by the two light receiving elements 831b is both A1 occurs until the state of FIG. 14C is reached. Absent. Therefore, the control unit 22 can easily and reliably grasp that the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 810 is almost empty by determining whether or not the intensity of the light received by the two light receiving elements 831b is both A1. can do. Conversely, since the intensity of light received by one of the two light receiving elements 831b is not A1, it can be understood that the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 810 is not almost empty.

  When it is detected that the ink cartridge 810 is about to be removed from the printer 20 when the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 810 is not nearly empty, the notification unit 29 is informed that the ink 99 still remains. The control unit 22 may have a configuration in which the user is notified. Alternatively, when the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 810 is not nearly empty, the lid is arranged so that the ink cartridge 810 is not removed during a period when it is detected that the ink cartridge 810 is about to be removed from the printer 20. The printer 20 may have a configuration for locking the unit 35.

In the eighth embodiment, as described below, it is possible to accurately grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 as compared with the first to seventh embodiments. For example, the liquid level of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 810 may vibrate up and down due to vibration when the printer 20 operates.
Accordingly, if the remaining amount detection member 350 vibrates in the circumferential direction I, a detection error may occur as follows.

  For example, FIG. 14B shows a state immediately after the light blocking unit 362c passes the detection position 842a. Here, when the remaining amount detection member 350 vibrates as described above, the light blocking portion 362c is once moved to the detection position 842a in the direction opposite to the circumferential direction I by the vibration, and then the position shown in FIG. It can happen that it returns to At this time, according to the configuration in which only one light receiving element 31b detects the light intensity as in the third embodiment, the light blocking unit 362c is merely temporarily moved to the detection position 842a by vibration. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that the control unit 22 erroneously measures the passage of the light blocking unit on the assumption that any one of the light blocking units has correctly passed along the circumferential direction I through the detection position 842a.

  On the other hand, according to the eighth embodiment, even when the light blocking unit 362c is temporarily moved to the detection position 842a by vibration as described above, the state where the light blocking unit 362d is positioned at the detection position 842b is maintained. Is done. During this time, at the detection position 842a, the state where the light intensity is A1 is detected twice with the light blocking unit 362c temporarily blocking the light path 841a by vibration. That is, the intensity of light detected by the two light receiving elements 831b changes as shown in FIG. The upper graph in FIG. 14E represents the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 831b corresponding to the detection position 842b, and the lower graph represents the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 831b corresponding to the detection position 842a. As shown in FIG. 14E, the state 872 having the light intensity A1 at the detection position 842a is detected twice while the state 871 having the light intensity A0 at the detection position 842b continues. The Rukoto. On the other hand, when the light intensity is detected normally, the two light receiving elements 831b should alternately detect the state where the light intensity is A1, as shown in FIG. 14 (d). .

  In the control unit 22 of the eighth embodiment, the light receiving element 831b determines that the light intensity is A1, based on the detection result shown in FIG. 14E that is different from the normal detection result. The measured value of how many times it was detected is corrected to the correct measured value. Specifically, for example, while the state in which the light intensity is A0 continues in one light receiving element 831b, the state in which the light intensity is A0 in the other light receiving element 831b is sandwiched once and the light When the state where the intensity is A1 is detected twice, the two detections are measured as one net detection. Therefore, in the eighth embodiment, even when the liquid level of the ink 99 vibrates, it is possible to accurately grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 compared to the first to seventh embodiments.

[Ninth Embodiment]
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the storage case 930 and the ink cartridge 910 according to the ninth embodiment. FIGS. 15A and 15B correspond to FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively. FIGS. 15A and 15B show the case where the ink 99 is contained in the ink cartridge 910 up to a predetermined maximum amount.

The light emitting element 931 a and the light receiving element 931 b of the housing case 930 are both arranged at positions facing the uppermost part of the ink cartridge 910. More specifically, when the ink cartridge 910 is mounted and the ink 99 in the ink storage chamber 914c is stored up to a predetermined maximum amount, the light path 941 is positioned above the liquid level of the ink 99. As shown, a light emitting element 931a and a light receiving element 931b are arranged. As a result, the detection position 942 is positioned above the liquid surface of the ink 99 in FIG.
In the housing 914 of the ink cartridge 910, detection windows 911a and 911b are formed on a virtual straight line connecting the light emitting element 931a and the light receiving element 931b.

Here, the predetermined maximum amount of the ink 99 stored in the ink storage chamber 914c is set such that the height of the lowest position X of the ink storage chamber 914c in the vertical direction is 0 and the height of the highest position Y of the ink storage chamber 914c. It is desirable that the level of the liquid level when the predetermined maximum amount is stored in the ink storage chamber 914c is 70 or more and less than 90 when 100 is set. This is due to the following reason.
If ink droplets adhere to the portion of the inner wall of the housing 914 that becomes the detection position 942, the light emitted from the light emitting element 931a is confused by the ink droplets, so that the amount of light received by the light receiving element 931b is reduced. descend. In addition, there is a problem that normal detection cannot be performed if the amount of received light is greatly reduced. Therefore, it is desirable that the detection position 942 be always higher than the ink liquid level. However, when the cartridge 910 receives external vibration, the ink liquid level vibrates up and down. The maximum height position of the ink liquid level is set to less than 90 so that the position 942 is always above the ink liquid level. On the other hand, if the amount of ink stored in the ink storage chamber 914c is small, such a problem does not occur. However, if the amount is too small, a large number of sheets cannot be printed. It was.

A remaining amount detection member 950 is installed in the ink storage chamber 914c. A swing shaft 17a is fixed to the remaining amount detecting member 950, and the swing shaft 17a is supported by a bearing 17b.
The size of the remaining amount detecting member 950 and the position of the bearing 17b are as shown in FIG. 15 in which the ink 99 is accommodated in the ink accommodating chamber 914c up to a predetermined maximum amount, and the upper end of the remaining amount detecting member 950 is the liquid of the ink 99. It is adjusted to be positioned above the surface.

  Further, the remaining amount detecting member 950 includes the detected member 315 of the third embodiment and the float member 16 fixed to the detected member 315. The float member 16 of the remaining amount detecting member 950 is fixed in the vicinity of the periphery of the detected member 315. However, unlike the third embodiment, the float member 16 of the remaining amount detecting member 950 is fixed at a position close to the region where the slit 361a is formed. More specifically, the detection position 942 is arranged between the slit 361a closest to the float member 16 and the float member 16 in the state of FIG. 15 in which the ink 99 is accommodated in the ink containing chamber 914c up to a predetermined maximum amount. As described above, the fixed position of the float member 16 is adjusted.

  In the ninth embodiment, when the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 910 decreases, the remaining amount detection member 950 rotates in the direction J. Accordingly, the state where the light blocking unit 362 is located at the detection position 942 and the state where the slit 361a is located at the detection position 942 are alternately repeated. Therefore, the control unit 22 determines the remaining amount of the ink 99 at the current time by measuring how many times the light intensity is A1 and the state where the light intensity is A0. It is possible to grasp.

Furthermore, according to the ninth embodiment, the detection position 942 is located above the liquid level of the ink 99 even when the ink 99 is stored in the ink storage chamber 914c up to the maximum amount.
That is, the light from the light emitting element 31a does not pass through the ink 99 when propagating along the path 941 to the light receiving element 31b. On the other hand, in the case of an ink cartridge configured such that the light from the light emitting element 31a passes through the ink 99 and reaches the light receiving element 31b, the light is transmitted depending on the position of the liquid surface of the ink 99. Since whether or not it passes through is different, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b may become unstable. In particular, when an ink that hardly transmits light (for example, black pigment ink) is used, the ink 99 is used in an ink cartridge in which an optical sensor unit that allows light to pass through the ink 99 is used. In some cases, it may be impossible to accurately grasp the remaining amount of the battery. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the light does not pass through the ink 99 regardless of the remaining amount of the ink 99, so that the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b is stabilized. As a result, the control unit 22 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 more accurately.

[Tenth embodiment]
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating configurations of the ink cartridge 1010 and the storage case 1030 according to the tenth embodiment. FIG. 16 corresponds to FIG.

In the tenth embodiment, as in the ninth embodiment, the detection position 1042 is positioned above the liquid level of the ink 99 when the ink 99 is stored in the ink cartridge 1010 up to the maximum amount. It has been adjusted. An ink cartridge 1010 according to the tenth embodiment is obtained by replacing the remaining amount detecting member 950 with a remaining amount detecting member 1050 in the ink cartridge 910 according to the ninth embodiment. The remaining amount detection member 1050 includes a detected member 1015 and a float member 1016. The detected member 1015 includes an arm portion 1015a and a detected portion 1015b. The arm portion 1015a is a plate-like member that is bent substantially vertically. A detected portion 1015b is fixed to one end of the arm portion 1015a, and a float member 1016 is fixed to the other end. A swing shaft 17a is fixed to a corner portion of the arm portion 1015a that is bent. When the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 1010 decreases, the remaining amount detecting member 1050 rotates and moves about the swing shaft 17a along the direction K.
The shape of the remaining amount detection member 1050, the position of the swing shaft 17a, and the like are adjusted so that the detected portion 1015b passes the detection position 642 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. ing.

  In the tenth embodiment, when the remaining amount of ink 99 in the ink cartridge 1010 becomes small, the detected portion 1015b is located just at the detected position 1042 from the state before the detected portion 1015b passes the detected position 1042. After that, the state of the remaining amount detection member 1050 changes until the detected portion 1015b passes the detection position 1042. Therefore, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b changes twice. Thereby, the control unit 22 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in three stages based on the signal from the light receiving element 31b.

  Further, according to the tenth embodiment, similarly to the ninth embodiment, since light does not pass through the ink 99 regardless of the remaining amount of the ink 99, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b is stable. To do. As a result, the control unit 22 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 more accurately.

[Eleventh embodiment]
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating configurations of the ink cartridge 1110 and the storage case 1130 according to the eleventh embodiment. FIG. 17 corresponds to FIG.

The ink cartridge 1110 has a remaining amount detection member 1150. The remaining amount detection member 1150 has a detected member 1115 and a float member 1116. The detected member 1115 includes an arm portion 1115a and a detected portion 1115b. The arm portion 1115a is a plate-like member bent substantially at a right angle. A detected portion 1115b is fixed to one end of the arm portion 1115a, and a float member 1116 is fixed to the other end. A swing shaft 17a is fixed to a corner portion of the arm portion 1115a that is bent. The position where the swing shaft 17a is supported by the ink cartridge 1110 is adjusted such that the float member 1116 fixed to the other end of the arm portion 1115a is disposed near the bottom surface in the ink storage chamber 1114c. The detected part 1115b includes a slit forming part 1161 in which fine slits are formed.
The slit forming portion 1161 is disposed at the left end of the detected portion 1115b in FIG. 17, and has a strip-shaped range from the upper end to the lower end of the detected portion 1115b.

  In addition, a protrusion 1115d is formed at the lower end of the detected portion 1115b. The protrusion 1115d abuts the casing 1114 of the ink cartridge 1110, thereby restricting the movement of the detected portion 1115b so as not to move below the position shown in FIG. As a result, the remaining amount detection member 1150 is held at the same position from the state in which the ink 99 is accommodated in the ink cartridge 1110 to the maximum amount to the state in which the liquid level of the ink 99 reaches the float member 1116. ing. When the liquid level of the ink 99 descends and reaches the float member 1116, the float member 1116 follows the liquid level of the ink 99 and moves along the direction L1. In conjunction with this, the detected portion 1115b also moves along the direction L2. As described above, the float member 1116 is disposed at a position close to the bottom surface of the ink storage chamber 1114c. Therefore, in a state where the liquid level of the ink 99 is lowered and reaches the float member 1116, the ink 99 in the ink storage chamber 1114c is in a very small state.

  FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a one-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 18A shows a state until the liquid level of the ink 99 reaches the float member 1116. FIG. 18B shows a state after the liquid level of the ink 99 has fallen to reach the float member 1116 and the detected portion 1115b has moved a little along the direction L2 from the position of FIG. FIG. 18C shows a state after the liquid level of the ink 99 is lowered and the detected portion 1115b is further moved from the position of FIG. 18B. In the eleventh embodiment, reference numeral 1142 denotes a range irradiated with light from the light emitting element 31 a installed in the printer 20.

  As shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of slits 1161 are formed in the slit forming portion 1161. The slit 1161 penetrates the detected portion 1115b in the thickness direction, and has a circular cross-sectional shape with respect to a cross section perpendicular to the thickness direction. The slits 1161 are arranged in a lattice pattern so as to be evenly distributed in the region from the upper end to the lower end of the left half of the detected portion 1115b in FIG. The light applied to the slit forming portion 1161 passes through the detected portion 1115b through the slit 1161. The slits 1161 are formed so that the diameter of the cross section of the slits 1161 is smaller than the diameter of the light irradiation range 1142 and the interval between the slits 1161 is also smaller than the diameter of the irradiation range 1142 on average.

  The position of the irradiation range 1142 with respect to the detected portion 1115b changes as follows according to the amount of ink 99 in the ink cartridge 1110. In the state of FIG. 18A, the irradiation range 1142 is located in a region other than the slit forming portion 1161 of the detected portion 1115b. In the state of FIG. 18B, the irradiation range 1142 is located in the region of the slit forming portion 1161. In the state of FIG. 18C, the irradiation range 1142 is located outside the area of the detected portion 1115b.

  FIG. 19 shows changes in the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b when the light irradiation range changes as shown in FIGS. 18 (a) to 18 (c). The horizontal axis in FIG. 19 represents time (and the amount of ink 99 consumed), and the vertical axis represents light intensity. t29 to t31 correspond to times when the detected part 1115b is in each of the states shown in FIGS. 18 (a) to 18 (c).

  At t29, when the irradiation range 1142 is located in a region other than the slit forming portion 1161 of the detected portion 1115b, the light received by the light receiving element 31b is A0 because the light is blocked by the detected portion 1115b. The intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b at t31 is A1 because the light is received by the light receiving element 31b without passing through the detected portion 1115b. At t30, when the irradiation range 1142 is located within the region of the slit forming portion 1161, light is transmitted through the detected portion 1115b through at least one of the slits 1161. On the other hand, since the slit 1161 is smaller than the irradiation range 1142, the irradiation range 1142 includes a region where the slit 1161 is not opened. Therefore, a part of the light irradiated to the irradiation range 1142 is blocked by a region where the slit 1161 is not opened. For this reason, the intensity A2 of the light received by the light receiving element 31b at t30 is larger than A0 at t29 and smaller than A1 at t31.

  As described above, according to the eleventh embodiment, when the remaining amount of the ink 99 becomes small, the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b changes twice. Therefore, it is measured how many times the intensity of the light has changed so far. Thus, the remaining amount of the ink 99 can be grasped in three stages. Since the light intensity changes in three stages A0, A1, and A2, it is determined whether the current light intensity is A0 to A2 without measuring how many times it has changed so far. By doing so, it is possible to grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in three stages.

  In the eleventh embodiment, the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 1110 is not only applied when the ink cartridge 1110 is used until the present time, but also when the ink cartridge 1110 is attached to and detached from the storage case 1130. It has a configuration that can be grasped. FIG. 20 shows how the ink cartridge 1110 is attached to and detached from the storage case 1130. A broken line represents the ink cartridge 1110 that is slightly slid rightward from the mounting posture. When the ink cartridge 1110 is attached to or detached from the housing case 1130, the ink cartridge 1110 moves between the position indicated by the broken line and the position of the mounting posture. At this time, the irradiation range 1142 moves relative to the detected portion 1115b so as to cut the detected portion 1115b parallel to the direction 1143, for example.

  FIG. 21A, FIG. 21C, and FIG. 21E are enlarged views of a region surrounded by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 21 (a), 21 (c), and 21 (e) show the detected portion 1115b when the ink cartridge 1110 having the different remaining amount of ink 99 is attached to the containing case 1130 along the arrow 1144. A state in which the irradiation range 1142 moves relative to each other is shown. The remaining amount of ink 99 in FIGS. 21A, 21C, and 21E corresponds to the remaining amount of ink 99 in FIGS. 18A to 18C. In FIG. 21A, FIG. 21C, and FIG. 21E, the solid line indicates the ink cartridge 1110 when in the mounted posture. A broken line indicates the ink cartridge 1110 immediately before the mounting posture is taken. 21 (b), 21 (d), and 21 (f), the irradiation range 1142 is as shown in FIGS. 21 (a), 21 (c), and 21 (e) with respect to the detected portion 1115b. It is a graph showing the change of the intensity | strength of the light which the light receiving element 31b receives at the time of relative movement, respectively.

  In the case of FIG. 21A, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. First, before the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 21A, light from the light emitting element 31a is received by the light receiving element 31b without being blocked. At this time, the intensity of light is A1 (t32). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 reaches the casing 1114 of the ink cartridge 1110, the optical path is blocked by the casing 1114. At this time, the intensity of light is A0 (t33). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 finishes passing through the housing 1114, a light path is formed in the space between the housing 1114 and the detected portion 1115b, so that the light intensity is A1 (t34). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 is located at the slit forming portion 1161 of the detected portion 1115b, the light intensity is A2 (t35). In the mounting posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 21A, the irradiation range 1142 is completely blocked by the detected portion 1115b, and thus the light intensity is A0 (t36).

  In the case of FIG. 21C, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. First, before the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 21C, the light from the light emitting element 31a is received by the light receiving element 31b without being blocked. At this time, the intensity of light is A1 (t37). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 reaches the casing 1114 of the ink cartridge 1110, the optical path is blocked by the casing 1114. At this time, the light intensity is A0 (t38). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 finishes passing through the housing 1114, a light path is formed in the space between the housing 1114 and the detected portion 1115b, so that the light intensity is A1 (t39). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 is located at the slit forming portion 1161 of the detected portion 1115b, the light intensity is A2 (t40). Here, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 21C, when the ink cartridge 1110 is inserted until it is in the mounting posture, the irradiation range 1142 is positioned within the region of the slit forming portion 1161. Therefore, after t40, the light intensity is A2.

  In the case of FIG. 21 (e), the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b changes as shown in FIG. 21 (f). First, before the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 21E, the light from the light emitting element 31a is received by the light receiving element 31b without being blocked. At this time, the intensity of light is A1 (t41). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 reaches the casing 1114 of the ink cartridge 1110, the optical path is blocked by the casing 1114. At this time, the light intensity is A0 (t42). Next, when the irradiation range 1142 finishes passing through the housing 1114, a light path is formed in the space between the housing 1114 and the detected portion 1115b, so that the light intensity is A1 (t43). Here, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 21E, when the ink cartridge 1110 is inserted until it is in the mounting posture, the irradiation range 1142 is positioned between the detected portion 1115b and the housing 1114. . Therefore, after t43, the light intensity is A1.

As described above, in the eleventh embodiment, the change in intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b when the ink cartridge 1110 is mounted in the housing case 1130 is the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the mounted ink cartridge 1110. It will be different. Based on the signal from the light receiving element 31b, the control unit 22 acquires the remaining amount of ink 99 in the ink cartridge 1110 when the ink cartridge 1110 is mounted in the storage case 1130.
Specifically, for example, the memory of the control unit 22 has a light intensity change mode as shown in FIGS. 21B, 21D, and 21F. It is stored in association with the remaining amount of ink 99 corresponding to the change mode. Then, the control unit 22 determines which change mode stored in the memory corresponds to the change mode of the light intensity indicated by the signal from the light receiving element 31b, and determines the remaining amount of the ink 99 from the determination result. get. Then, the control unit 22 notifies the user of the acquired remaining amount of the ink 99 via the notification unit 29. For example, when the remaining amount of ink 99 is smaller than a predetermined value, the user may be warned via the notification unit 29 that the remaining amount of ink 99 is small.

  In the eleventh embodiment, when the ink cartridge 1110 is mounted, the remaining amount of the ink 99 can be grasped in at least three stages as shown in FIG. It is also possible to grasp the remaining amount of 99. For example, as shown in FIG. 21A and FIG. 21C, the separation distance between the detected portion 1115b and the housing 1114 differs according to the remaining amount of the ink 99. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 21B and 21D, the periods 1171 and 1172 in which the light intensity is A1 are different in length. Based on this, by determining that the remaining amount of the ink 99 is smaller as the period 1172 is longer, it is possible to grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in four or more stages in total.

  In the above description, the case where the remaining amount of the ink 99 is acquired when the ink cartridge 1110 is mounted is shown, but the remaining amount of the ink 99 is also removed when the ink cartridge 1110 is removed from the storage case 1130. Can be grasped. When the ink cartridge 1110 is removed from the housing case 1130, the change mode of the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 31b is obtained by temporally reversing the change mode shown in FIG. Therefore, the ink cartridge 1110 can be obtained by comparing the temporal change of the change mode shown in FIG. 21B or the like with the change mode of the light intensity actually received by the light receiving element 31b. It is possible to grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 when it is removed from the storage case 1130.

[Twelfth embodiment]
In the twelfth embodiment, as in the eleventh embodiment, the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge is determined as the ink cartridge is being used (when the ink cartridge is in the mounted posture from the start of use until the present time). In addition, the ink cartridge can be obtained when the ink cartridge is attached to or detached from the storage case. FIG. 22 shows a remaining amount detecting member 1250 according to the twelfth embodiment.

  The remaining amount detection member 1250 has a detected member 1215 and a float member 16. The detected member 1215 has a generally disk shape. The float member 16 is fixed in the vicinity of the periphery of the disk of the member to be detected 1215.

  In addition, a plurality of slits 1261 are formed in the detected member 1215. These slits 1261 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the detected member 1215. Of the slits 1261, the slit 1261 b closest to the float member 16 in the circumferential direction of the detected member 1215 is formed to have a larger width in the circumferential direction than the other slits 1261 a. On the other hand, the widths of the slits 1261a in the circumferential direction are equal to each other. The slits 1261a extend from the vicinity of the periphery of the detected member 1215 toward the center thereof to the same length. A light blocking portion 1262 is formed between the slits 1261.

  In addition to the slit 1261, slits 1291 a to 1291 c extending along the circumferential direction are formed in the detection member 1215. All of the slits 1291 a to 1291 c are formed between the slit 1261 a and the periphery of the detected member 1215. Of these, the slit 1291 a is closest to the periphery of the detected member 1215, and the slit 1291 c is farthest from the periphery of the detected member 1215. One end of each of the slits 1291a to 1291c is disposed at a position slightly closer to the float member 16 than the slit 1261a farthest from the slit 1261b in the circumferential direction. The other ends of the slits 1291a to 1291c are arranged at different positions. The other end of the slit 1291a is farthest from the slit 1261b in the circumferential direction, and the other end of the slit 1291c is closest to the slit 1261b.

  By having the slit 1261 as described above, the remaining amount detecting member 1250 can acquire the remaining amount of the ink 99 while the ink cartridge is being used. Further, the remaining amount detecting member 1250 can acquire the remaining amount of the ink 99 as follows even when the ink cartridge is attached to and detached from the storage case.

  FIG. 22 shows a detection position 1242 when the remaining amount of ink 99 is close to the maximum amount. When the ink cartridge is mounted in the storage case in this state, the detection position 1242 moves in the direction of the arrow 1244a along the alternate long and short dash line 1281a with respect to the remaining amount detection member 1250. Therefore, the slits 1291a to 1291c pass through the detection position 1242 until the ink cartridge is completely installed. That is, when the remaining amount of ink 99 is close to the maximum amount, the optical sensor unit 31 detects that all of the slits 1291a to 1291c have passed the detection position 1242.

  When the remaining amount of the ink 99 decreases, the remaining amount detecting member 1250 rotates in the direction M within the ink cartridge. It is assumed that the remaining amount of the ink 99 is reduced to m1 smaller than the maximum amount, and the remaining amount detecting member 1250 is rotationally moved from the position shown in FIG. 22 to a position where the one-dot chain line 1281b overlaps the one-dot chain line 1281a. . When the ink cartridge is mounted in the storage case in such a state, the detection position 1242 moves in the direction of the arrow 1244b along the alternate long and short dash line 1281b. Therefore, the slits 1291a and 1291b pass through the detection position 1242 until the ink cartridge is completely installed. That is, when the remaining amount of the ink 99 is m1, the optical sensor unit 31 detects that two of the slits 1291a to 1291c have passed the detection position 1242.

It is assumed that the remaining amount of the ink 99 further decreases from m1 to m2 smaller than m1, and the remaining amount detecting member 1250 is rotated to a position where the one-dot chain line 1281c overlaps the one-dot chain line 1281a. When the ink cartridge is mounted in the storage case in such a state, the detection position 1242 moves in the direction of the arrow 1244c along the alternate long and short dash line 1281c.
Therefore, only the slit 1291a passes through the detection position 1242 until the ink cartridge is completely installed. That is, when the remaining amount of the ink 99 is m2, the optical sensor unit 31 detects that one of the slits 1291a to 1291c has passed the detection position 1242.

  As described above, according to the twelfth embodiment, when the ink cartridge having the remaining amount detecting member 1250 is attached to and detached from the storage case, the optical sensor determines how many slits among the slits 1291a to 1291c have passed the detection position 1242. By acquiring through the unit 31, the remaining amount of the ink 99 is grasped in three stages.

[Thirteenth embodiment]
In the thirteenth embodiment, as in the twelfth embodiment, the remaining amount of ink 99 in the ink cartridge can be acquired both when the ink cartridge is used and when the ink cartridge is attached to and detached from the storage case. It is. FIG. 23 shows a remaining amount detection member 1350 according to the thirteenth embodiment.

  The remaining amount detection member 1350 includes a detected member 1315 and a float member 16. The detected member 1315 has a plurality of slits 1361a and slits 1361b. The remaining amount detecting member 1350 corresponds to the remaining amount detecting member 1250 of the twelfth embodiment in which a slit 1361a is formed instead of the slit 1261a and the slits 1291a to 1291c. A light blocking part 1362 is formed between the slits 1361.

  One end of the slit 1361 a is disposed on the periphery of the detected member 1315. Each of the slits 1361a is formed to extend linearly from one end along the direction away from the periphery of the detected member 1315. The other end of the slit 1361 a is arranged inside a circle 1382 smaller than the detected member 1315 concentric with the detected member 1315 and in the vicinity of the circle 1382. The slit 1361a is formed so that an acute angle between the slit 1361a and the detected member 1315 is closer to the slit 1361b. For example, among the slits s1 to s3, the slit s1 is farthest from the slit 1361b, and the slit s3 is closest to the slit 1361b. Of the acute angles θ1 to θ3 between the slits s1 to s3 and the radial direction, θ1 related to s1 farthest from the slit 1361b is the smallest, and θ3 related to s3 closest to the slit 1361b is the largest.

  Here, a virtual straight line 1381a passing through the slit s1 and the center of the detected member 1315 and a plurality of virtual straight lines corresponding to the virtual straight line 1381a rotated counterclockwise in FIG. (For example, virtual straight lines 1381b and 1381c correspond to such virtual straight lines). At this time, the slit 1361a is formed in the detected member 1315 so as to further satisfy the following conditions A and B.

  (Condition 1) The slits 1361a are formed so that the number of slits 1361a traversed by the virtual line changes according to the rotation angle from the virtual line 1381a.

  For example, the number of slits 1361a traversed by the virtual straight line 1381a is one. On the other hand, the number of slits 1361a traversed by the virtual straight line 1381b rotated by an angle α1 from the virtual straight line 1381a is two. The number of slits 1361a traversed by the virtual straight line 1381c rotated by the angle α2 (> α1) from the virtual straight line 1381a is three.

  (Condition b) The number of slits 1361a traversed by a virtual line is equal to or greater than the number of slits 1361a traversed by any other virtual line whose rotational angle from the virtual line 1381a is smaller than that virtual line. . That is, as the rotation angle from the virtual straight line 1381a increases, the slits 1361a are formed so that the number of slits 1361a that the virtual straight line crosses increases stepwise.

  Since the slit 1361a is formed as described above, the remaining amount detecting member 1350 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 when the ink cartridge is mounted in the storage case. .

  FIG. 23 shows a detection position 1342 when the remaining amount of ink 99 is close to the maximum amount. When the ink cartridge in which the remaining amount detection member 1350 is provided is mounted in the storage case, the detection position 1342 is relatively to the detected member 1315 in the direction of the arrow 1344a along the virtual straight line 1381a. Moving. In this case, the number of slits 1361a (corresponding to the slit s1) detected by the optical sensor unit 31 at the detection position 1342 is one.

  Next, when the ink 99 has decreased from the state of FIG. 23, the remaining amount detection member 1350 is in a position where it has been rotated along the direction N. When such an ink cartridge is attached to the storage case, the detection position 1342 moves along one of the virtual straight lines X rotated about the center of the detected member 1315 from the virtual straight line 1381a. For example, it moves in the direction of the arrow 1344b along the virtual straight line 1381b. At this time, the number of slits 1361 a detected by the optical sensor unit 31 at the detection position 1342 is equal to the number of slits 1361 a crossed by the virtual straight line X. On the other hand, since the slits 1361a are formed so as to satisfy the above conditions A and B, the larger the number of slits 1361a that the imaginary straight line X crosses, the more the remaining amount detection member 1350 becomes from the state of FIG. It is a large rotational movement. That is, it is possible to determine that the remaining amount of ink 99 is smaller as the number of slits 1361 detected by the optical sensor unit 31 at the detection position 1342 is larger.

  For example, when the detection position 1342 moves along the virtual straight line 1381b, the optical sensor unit 31 detects the two slits 1361a. When the detection position 1342 moves along the virtual straight line 1381c, the optical sensor unit 31 detects three slits 1361a. Therefore, it can be determined that the remaining amount of the ink 99 is less in the latter case than in the former case.

  When the ink cartridge having the remaining amount detection member 1350 is in use, the detection position 1342 is opposite to the direction N along the circle 1382 with respect to the detected member 1315 as the ink 99 decreases. Move in the direction. Therefore, the slit 1361a and the light blocking unit 1362 are alternately detected at the detection position 1342. Therefore, the remaining amount detection member 1350 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 in multiple stages even during use of the ink cartridge.

[Fourteenth embodiment]
FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an ink cartridge 1410 and a storage case 1430 according to the fourteenth embodiment. The fourteenth embodiment corresponds to the seventh embodiment in which the remaining amount detecting member 750 is replaced with a remaining amount detecting member 1450.

  The remaining amount detection member 1450 includes a detected member 1415 and a float member 1416 fixed to the lower end of the detected member 1415. A slit 1461 and a slit 1491 are formed in the detected member 1415. The slits 1461 are arranged along the vertical direction, and a light blocking portion 1462 is formed between the slits 1461. In the fourteenth embodiment, the slit 1461 and the light blocking unit 1462 correspond to the slit 761 and the light blocking unit 762 in the seventh embodiment. Therefore, the ink cartridge 1410 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 during use.

  The slit 1491 is composed of three slits extending in the vertical direction. The upper ends of these slits are all arranged at the same position in the vertical direction near the upper end of the detected member 1415, while the lower ends are arranged at different positions in the vertical direction. Thus, when the ink cartridge 1410 is attached to and detached from the storage case 1430, the number of slits 1491 through which the detection position 1442 passes along the direction 1443 is stepwise according to the remaining amount of the ink 99 in the ink cartridge 1410. Will change. Therefore, the ink cartridge 1410 can grasp the remaining amount of the ink 99 when it is attached to the storage case 1430.

<Relationship between Inventions and Embodiments Included in the Present Application>
The inventions realized in the first to fourteenth embodiments include the following.

  An ink cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a float member, a member to be detected that interlocks with the float member, and a regulating means. The restricting means restricts the movement of the float member and the detected member to a predetermined path when the float member and the detected member move following the liquid level of the ink 99 in the ink containing chamber. In addition, a part of the casing of the ink cartridge has light transmittance, and light from the outside of the ink cartridge is emitted to the outside through a predetermined detection position through the light transmissive portion. And the light transmission part (slit) provided in the to-be-detected member and the 1st and 2nd light shielding part provided in the position which pinches | interposes the light-transmission part of a to-be-detected member, When moving along the path, the detection position passes through the first light blocking section, the light transmitting section, and the second light blocking section in this order.

  The first invention is realized in each of the first to fourteenth embodiments. For example, in the sixth embodiment, the first and second light blocking units correspond to the light blocking units 662a and 662b, respectively. Further, the light transmission part corresponds to the slit 661. The restricting member 17 (the swing shaft 17a and the bearing 17b) restricts the movement of the detected member 615 (and the float member 16) so as to rotate around the swing shaft 17a. When the detected member 615 rotates, the light blocking unit 662a, the slit 661, and the light blocking unit 662b sequentially pass through the detection position 642.

  In the seventh embodiment, the light transmission part corresponds to the slit 761. The first and second light blocking portions correspond to a pair of light blocking portions 762 that sandwich the slit 761. The restricting means 717 restricts the movement of the member to be detected 715 (and the float member 716) so as to move in the vertical direction with respect to the housing 714. When the detected member 715 is lowered, one of the pair of light blocking portions 762, the slit 761 sandwiched by the pair of light blocking portions 762, and the other of the pair of light blocking portions 762 pass through the detection position 742 in order.

  The ink cartridge according to the second aspect of the invention has a float member, a member to be detected interlocked with the float member, and a regulating means. The restricting means restricts the movement of the float member and the detected member to a predetermined path when the float member and the detected member move following the liquid level of the ink 99 in the ink containing chamber. A part of the member to be detected is located above the liquid surface of the ink 99 when the predetermined maximum amount is accommodated in the ink accommodating chamber. In addition, a part of the casing of the ink cartridge is light transmissive. When the ink cartridge is in the mounting posture, light from the outside of the ink cartridge passes through a predetermined light-transmitting portion of the housing and passes through a predetermined detection position without passing through the ink 99 accommodated up to a predetermined maximum amount. Emits outside. The detected member passes through the detection position when moving along the predetermined path.

  The second invention is realized in the ninth embodiment. FIG. 15 showing the ninth embodiment shows a state in which the ink 99 is accommodated in the ink accommodating chamber 914c up to the maximum amount. At this time, the positions of the optical sensor unit 31 (the light emitting element 31a and the light receiving element 31b) and the detection windows 911a and 911b are adjusted so that the detection position 942 is positioned above the liquid surface of the ink 99.

  In all of the first to sixth, eighth, and tenth to thirteenth embodiments, the restricting means is a member to be detected so that the member to be detected rotates around the swing shaft and passes the detection position. Is restricted. As described above, in the embodiment in which the detection member passes through the detection position by rotating, the detection position is set above the liquid level of the ink 99 in the state where the ink 99 is stored in the ink storage chamber to the maximum amount. It is possible to adjust so that the member to be detected passes through the detection position even when it is installed in the position. For example, in the eleventh embodiment, a detection window is formed above the housing 1114, and the detection position 1142 is installed above by installing the optical sensor unit 31 of the housing case 1130 at the position of the detection window. . Then, the swing shaft 17a is installed above the position in FIG. 17, and the movement path of the detected member 1115 is adjusted so that the detected member 1115 passes the upper detection position 1142, thereby the eleventh embodiment. Thus, the second invention is realized.

  The remaining amount detecting member 950 of the ninth embodiment realizes the second invention by moving the fixed position of the float member 16 near the slit in the remaining amount detecting member 150 of the third embodiment. It is a thing. Therefore, in the embodiment in which a disk-like member to be detected is used like the remaining amount detecting member 150, the second invention can be realized by adjusting the fixing position of the float member in the same manner as described above. Is possible.

<Other variations, etc.>
In the above-described embodiment, a form in which the detected member and the float member are integrally fixed is employed. However, as long as the member to be detected moves in conjunction with the movement of the float member, they do not need to be fixed integrally. For example, the float member and the detected member are separate bodies, and the float member is in contact with the detected member. And the structure that a to-be-detected member moves along a predetermined | prescribed path | route may be sufficient when a float member pushes a to-be-detected member as the ink 99 reduces.

  Further, the above-described embodiment has a configuration in which the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 31b is reduced by blocking the light by the member to be detected. However, the configuration may be such that the detected member reflects the light from the light emitting element and the light receiving element detects the reflected light to detect the remaining amount of the ink 99. For example, FIG. 25 shows an example of such a configuration. FIG. 25A shows a remaining amount detecting member 2050 having a detected member 2015 and a float member 16. The detected member 2015 is configured such that light reflecting portions 2081 and 2082 that reflect light are formed instead of the slits in the region where the slits 161a and 161b are formed in the detected member 115 of the third embodiment. . The light reflecting portions 2081 and 2082 correspond to the slits 161a and 161b, respectively. Further, a light blocking unit 2062 is formed between the light reflecting units 2081 and 2082.

  FIG. 25B and FIG. 25C show an ink cartridge 2010 and a storage case 2030 having a remaining amount detection member 2050 as shown in FIG. In the housing case 2030, a light emitting element 2031a and a light receiving element 2031b are provided. The installation angles of the light emitting element 2031a and the light receiving element 2031b are adjusted so that when the light from the light emitting element 2031a is reflected on the surface of the detection member 2015, the reflected light is received by the light receiving element 2031b. Accordingly, when the light 2141c from the light emitting element 2031a reaches the light reflecting portion 2081 or 2082 as shown in FIG. 25C, the reflected light reflected by the light reflecting portion 2081 or the like reaches the light receiving element 2031b. Become. On the other hand, when the light 2141b from the light emitting element 2031a reaches the light blocking unit 2062, as shown in FIG. 25B, the light is blocked by the light blocking unit 2062, and thus the reflected light reaches the light receiving element 2031b. Absent.

  That is, the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 2031b when the light reflecting unit 2081 or 2082 is positioned at the detection position where the light from the light emitting element 2031a reaches is when the light blocking unit 2062 is positioned at the detection position. The light intensity of the light received by the light receiving element 2031b is larger. Thus, an ink cartridge capable of grasping the remaining amount of ink 99 based on the intensity of light received by the light receiving element 2031b is realized in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. Note that the region other than the light reflecting portion 2081 in the detected member 2015 may be made of a material having a property of transmitting light. Also in this case, since the light is not reflected except for the light reflecting portion 2081, the detected member 2115 has the same function as the light blocking portion 2062 that prevents the reflected light from reaching the light receiving element 2031 b.

  Further, the above-described embodiment includes a form in which a slit is formed in the member to be detected. Such a slit may be made of any material and may have any shape as long as it is configured to transmit light more easily than the light blocking portion. For example, a transparent resin material may be filled in a through hole that penetrates the member to be detected, or a shape other than a rectangle or a circle may be used. Further, the light blocking unit may not completely block light. What is necessary is just to form with the material which does not permeate | transmit light compared with light transmissive parts, such as a slit.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the to-be-detected member which consists of a material which has light-shielding property is formed with the slit and through-hole which permeate | transmit light. However, a sealing member having a light blocking property may be attached to the detected member made of a light transmissive material at the same position in the same shape as the slit or the like in the above-described embodiment. Thereby, since the light transmission part having the same function as that of the above-described embodiment is formed by a simple method, the remaining amount detection member can be easily manufactured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer system 10-1410, 2010 Ink cartridge 11 Detection window part 11a, 11b, 811a, 811b, 911a, 911b Detection window 14, 714, 814, 914, 1114 Cartridge case (case)
14a Side plates 14c, 114c, 914c Ink storage chambers 15-1415, 2015 Detected members 16-1416 Float members 17, 717 Restricting members 17a, 717a Restricting surfaces 17a Oscillating shaft 20 Inkjet printer (printer)
22 Control part 30-1430, 2030 Storage case 31 Optical sensor part 31a, 831a, 931a, 2031a Light emitting element 31b, 831b, 931b, 2031b Light receiving element 99 Ink 142-1442 Detection position 150-1450, 2050 Remaining amount detection member 161- 1461, 1291a-1291c, 1491 Slit 162-1462, 2062 Light blocking unit 2081 Light reflecting unit

Claims (13)

A liquid cartridge that is detachable from the liquid ejection device and supplies liquid to the liquid ejection device when mounted,
In addition to having a housing that defines a liquid storage chamber, a float member having a mass per unit volume smaller than that of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber and moving in conjunction with the float member in the liquid storage chamber A member to be detected, and a restricting means for restricting movement of the float member and the member to be detected to a predetermined path are provided,
In the mounting posture mounted on the liquid ejection device and when the liquid is stored in the liquid storage chamber up to a predetermined maximum amount, a part of the detected member is above the liquid level. Is located at the detection position
The casing has light permeability so that at least part of the casing can reach the detection position without passing through the liquid.
The liquid cartridge is characterized in that the member to be detected moves so as to pass through the detection position in conjunction with the float member that moves following the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid storage chamber.   The predetermined maximum amount of liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber is defined as liquid when the height of the highest position of the liquid storage chamber is 100 and the height of the lowest position is 0 when in the mounted posture. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level is an amount such that the liquid level is 70 or more and less than 90. 3. The detected member has light blocking properties,
The housing includes a pair of wall portions sandwiching a portion of the detected member located at the detection position, and each of the pair of wall portions is again externally exposed to light incident from the outside via the detection position. 3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the liquid cartridge is light transmissive so that the liquid cartridge can emit light. A remaining amount detecting member integrated including the float member and the detected member;
4. The liquid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the regulating means is a pivot mechanism that supports the remaining amount detecting member in a swingable manner. The detected member is provided with a transmission part that transmits light,
5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the transmission portion passes through the detection position when the member to be detected moves along the predetermined path by swinging of the remaining amount detection member. The detected member is provided with a plurality of the transmission parts,
The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of transmission parts are formed at equal intervals along a circumferential direction around a pivot point supported by the pivot mechanism.   Of the plurality of transmission parts, the transmission part that is farthest from the liquid level of the liquid stored up to the maximum amount in the liquid storage chamber has a width along the circumferential direction that is the same as any of the other transmission parts. 7. The liquid cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the liquid cartridge is larger than that in the above.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the remaining amount detection member is formed in a disk shape centered on a pivot point supported by the pivot mechanism.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the transmission portion is a slit extending in a radial direction from a peripheral edge of the remaining amount detection member formed in a disk shape.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the light transmission part is a hole penetrating the remaining amount detection member.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the light transmission part is formed of a material having a light transmission property.   The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber has a property of not transmitting light. A liquid discharge system comprising a liquid cartridge and a liquid discharge device to which the liquid cartridge is mounted, and discharges and adheres the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge to a discharge medium,
The liquid ejection device includes:
A mounting section on which the liquid cartridge is mounted; a liquid discharge head that discharges the liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge mounted on the mounting section; and a photodetector provided on the upper side of the mounting section. Is,
The liquid cartridge is
In addition to having a housing that defines a liquid storage chamber, a float member having a mass per unit volume smaller than that of the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber and moving in conjunction with the float member in the liquid storage chamber A member to be detected, and a restricting means for restricting movement of the float member and the member to be detected to a predetermined path are provided,
In the mounting posture attached to the liquid ejection device, and when the liquid is accommodated up to a predetermined maximum amount in the liquid accommodation chamber, at least a part of the detected member is from the liquid surface. Is also located at the upper detection position, so that the housing can reach the portion of the detected member positioned at the detection position without passing through the liquid light emitted from the photodetector, A liquid discharge system, wherein at least a part thereof has light permeability.

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