JP5435149B2 - Cartridge and printing material supply system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge and a printing material supply system including a cartridge and a printing apparatus.

  In recent years, cartridges equipped with circuit boards that handle information relating to printing materials (for example, information indicating the remaining amount of printing materials) have been used (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). When such a cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the circuit board of the cartridge is electrically connected to the printing apparatus side by bringing the terminal on the cartridge side into contact with the terminal on the printing apparatus side. In particular, in recent years, since the size of the terminal has been reduced, the importance of correctly mounting the cartridge at the designed mounting position has increased.

  Conventionally, various mechanisms for detachably mounting a cartridge on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus have been proposed. For example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a lever having a first locking portion is integrally formed on one side surface of the cartridge, and a second locking portion is formed on the other side surface facing the one side surface. A mechanism for mounting the cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion by locking the first locking portion and the second locking portion of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion is described.

  In Patent Document 3, a first locking portion and a second locking portion are formed on two opposing side surfaces of the cartridge, respectively, and a lever that locks the first locking portion is integrated with the cartridge mounting portion. A mechanism is described in which the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion by molding and locking the first locking portion and the second locking portion of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion, respectively.

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, with the cartridge mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, the repulsive force that the printing material supply port of the cartridge receives from the printing material supply pipe of the cartridge mounting portion and the biasing force by the spring contact of the cartridge mounting portion A force is exerted in a direction to remove the cartridge from the cartridge mounting portion. Similarly, in the technique of Patent Document 2, it is mainly provided in the vicinity of the printing material supply pipe in the technique of Patent Document 3 mainly due to the repulsive force of the spring and the seal member provided in the printing material supply port. The repulsive force of the spring exerts a force in a direction to remove the cartridge from the cartridge mounting portion. In the techniques of Patent Documents 1 to 3, all of these forces are sealed by the first locking portion and the second locking portion.

JP 2007-230249 A JP 2005-22345 A JP 2002-19142 A

  In the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is necessary to provide a first locking portion between the lever operating portion and the lever rotation shaft. However, in order to easily release the locking state between the first locking portion of the lever and the locking portion of the cartridge mounting portion, the distance between the lever and the side surface of the cartridge provided with the lever is relatively large. There is a need. For this purpose, it is necessary to increase the length of the lever and to provide the engaging portion on the side closer to the operation portion. Therefore, the cartridge cannot be downsized. This leads to an increase in the size of the printing apparatus to / from which the cartridge is attached / detached. In the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2, since a lever that can be elastically deformed is integrally formed on the side wall of the cartridge, in addition to the moldability of the wall surface of the cartridge and the lever, the robustness required for the wall surface and the lever There is a problem that a material that satisfies both the flexibility required for elastic deformation is limited to a part of materials (for example, polypropylene (PP)). Further, in the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2, since a material having flexibility required for elastic deformation of the lever is used, the lever is plastically deformed by a stress generated in the lever in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. As a result, there is a possibility that the cartridge cannot be held in the designed mounting position. If the cartridge cannot be held in the designed mounting position, the cartridge-side terminal and the printing apparatus-side terminal may be misaligned, resulting in poor conduction.

  On the other hand, in the technique of Patent Document 3, although a problem such as downsizing of the cartridge can be solved by providing a lever not on the cartridge side but on the cartridge mounting portion side, the moment balance with the second locking portion as the rotation fulcrum is achieved. For this reason, there is a problem that the urging force from the cartridge mounting portion to the cartridge is likely to act in the direction of releasing the locking between the first locking portion and the cartridge mounting portion, and the cartridge is easily detached from the mounting portion. Therefore, the technique of Patent Document 3 cannot be applied to the techniques of Patent Documents 1 and 2 that need to maintain good contact between the cartridge-side terminal and the printer-side terminal.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of stably achieving electrical connection between a cartridge side terminal and a device side terminal. It is another object of the present invention to provide a technology that enables downsizing of a cartridge, a printing apparatus, and eventually a printing material supply system that is completed with the cartridge mounted on the printing apparatus.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1] A cartridge as one of application examples is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus,
The cartridge mounting portion includes a printing material supply pipe, a device-side terminal, a lever, a first device-side locking portion, and a second device-side locking portion corresponding to each cartridge so that a plurality of cartridges can be mounted. Each is provided,
The printing material supply pipe has a tip portion connected to the cartridge,
An axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is a Z axis, a direction in which the printing material supply pipe and the apparatus-side terminal are arranged and a direction orthogonal to the Z axis is an X axis, the Z axis, and the The axis orthogonal to the X axis is the Y axis, the + Z axis direction from the proximal end portion of the printing material supply pipe toward the distal end portion, and the opposite is the −Z axis direction, and the device side terminal side from the printing material supply pipe When the + X-axis direction toward
The device-side terminal has a device-side contact portion that comes into contact with the cartridge, and is elastically deformed around the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as a rotation center with respect to the device-side contact portion. The cartridge is configured to be electrically connectable with the cartridge by making contact with the cartridge while applying an urging force including the component of
The first device-side locking portion is configured as a part of the lever so that the cartridge can be locked on the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side with respect to the device-side terminal.
The second device side locking portion is configured to be able to lock the cartridge on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side of the printing material supply pipe,
The lever moves from the locking position to the + X-axis with the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as the rotation center from the locking position where the first device-side locking portion locks the cartridge. The cartridge is configured such that the cartridge can be locked and unlocked by the first device side locking portion by rotating so that the first device side locking portion moves in the direction. Because
When the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis with respect to the cartridge in a state of being mounted on the cartridge mounting portion are axes on the cartridge,
Two surfaces facing each other in the Z-axis direction, a first surface located on the −Z-axis direction side and a second surface located on the + Z-axis direction side;
A second surface that intersects the first surface and the second surface and faces in the X-axis direction, a third surface located on the + X-axis direction side, and a fourth surface located on the −X-axis direction side; ,
A second surface that intersects the first to fourth surfaces and opposes in the Y-axis direction, a fifth surface located on the + Y-axis direction side and a sixth surface located on the −Y-axis direction side;
An inclined surface provided at a corner portion connecting the first surface and the third surface, and inclined toward the −Z axis direction and the + X axis direction;
A printing material supply port provided on the first surface and configured to be connectable to the printing material supply pipe;
Provided on the inclined surface, and in contact with the device side terminal while receiving an urging force including the component in the + Z-axis direction from the device side terminal in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. A cartridge side terminal electrically connected to the apparatus side terminal;
A first cartridge side locking portion provided on the third surface;
A second cartridge side locking portion provided on the fourth surface,
The first cartridge side latching portion has a first latching surface facing the + Z-axis direction, and the first latching surface is in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. Locked to the first device side locking portion;
The second cartridge side latching portion has a second latching surface facing the + Z-axis direction, and the second latching surface is in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. Locked to the second device side locking portion;
The cartridge side terminal has a cartridge side contact portion that comes into contact with the device side terminal in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion,
The cartridge side contact portion is provided on the −Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking surface.
According to this application example, since the lever is provided not on the cartridge side but on the cartridge mounting portion side, the size of the cartridge can be reduced. In addition, since the distance between the side wall of the cartridge and the lever can be reduced and the lever can be reduced, the printing apparatus and the printing material supply system can be reduced in size. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a lever on the cartridge, the degree of freedom of the material used for the outer shell of the cartridge can be increased. That is, since a relatively high rigidity material can be selected as these materials, the possibility of plastic deformation as described above can be reduced. Therefore, the cartridge can be stably held at the designed mounting position.
Further, according to this application example, since the cartridge side contact portion is provided on the −Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking surface, when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the + X axis direction The rotation locus of the cartridge side contact portion having the rotation center on the second locking surface is directed in the −X-axis direction with respect to the rotation locus of the device side contact portion toward the side. Therefore, the wiping amount between the cartridge side terminal and the apparatus side terminal can be remarkably increased while allowing the cartridge to be mounted at the designed mounting position. Wiping is to rub the cartridge side terminal provided on the slope with the device side terminal provided on the cartridge mounting part when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting part. The wiping amount is a length that the device side terminal can rub against the cartridge side terminal. By wiping, it is possible to remove dust and dirt adhering to the cartridge side terminal and to reduce poor connection between the cartridge side terminal and the apparatus side terminal.

  Application Example 2 The second cartridge side locking portion engages with the second device side locking portion when the cartridge is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion, thereby rotating the cartridge with respect to the cartridge mounting portion. It may be configured to function as a fulcrum. According to this application example, the cartridge can be easily attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion.

  Application Example 3 The first locking surface may be provided on the −Z-axis direction side with respect to the second locking surface. According to this application example, in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the urging force from the cartridge mounting portion to the cartridge causes the locking between the first cartridge side locking portion and the first device side locking portion. Acts in the direction that strengthens the lens (the direction that includes the + X-axis component and + Z-axis component), preventing the cartridge from being detached from the designed mounting position and holding the cartridge in a stable state at the designed mounting position. can do.

  Application Example 4 Positions where the first locking surface and the second locking surface cross a plane parallel to the Z axis and the X axis through the center of the width in the direction along the Y axis of the cartridge. May be provided. According to this application example, it is possible to suppress the action of the urging force applied to the cartridge from the cartridge mounting portion as a force for tilting the cartridge in the Y-axis direction.

  Application Example 5 The first cartridge side locking portion further includes a third locking surface facing the + X-axis direction, and the third locking surface is configured so that the cartridge is attached to the cartridge mounting portion. In the mounted state, the first device-side locking portion may be locked. According to this application example, the cartridge can be held in a more stable state at the designed mounting position.

  Application Example 6 The printing material supply port may be provided at a position closer to the fourth surface than the third surface. According to this application example, since the printing material supply port is formed on the second locking surface side that is positioned with respect to the cartridge mounting portion before the first locking surface, the cartridge is positioned with respect to the cartridge mounting portion. Can be easily performed.

  Application Example 7 The fifth surface and the sixth surface may have a pair of side surfaces configured to be engageable with the cartridge mounting portion. According to this application example, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the cartridge-side terminal in the Y-axis direction with respect to the cartridge mounting portion.

  Application Example 8 The cartridge is further provided with a seventh surface provided between the first surface and the third surface and extending from the first surface to the + Z-axis direction side, An eighth surface may be provided between the first surface and the third surface and connected to the seventh surface and the third surface, and the inclined surface may be provided on the eighth surface. According to this application example, since the cartridge side terminal is provided in the + Z-axis direction from the first surface provided with the printing material supply port, when the cartridge is mounted with the first surface as the bottom surface, the mounting is performed. It is possible to prevent the cartridge side terminal from being damaged by other objects (for example, a printing material, a liquid such as water, or a metal product such as a clip or a screw) present on the mounting surface.

  Application Example 9 The cartridge further includes a pair of projecting portions that project from the side portions of the seventh surface in the + Y-axis direction and the −Y-axis direction, and that face each other in the Y-axis direction. The pair of protrusions may be configured to be engageable with a fitting portion provided in the cartridge mounting portion. According to this application example, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the cartridge-side terminal in the Y-axis direction with respect to the cartridge mounting portion.

  Application Example 10 There are a plurality of the cartridge side terminals and the apparatus side terminals, and the plurality of cartridge side terminals are arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of apparatus side terminals. Each of the cartridge side contact portions may be provided on the −Z axial direction side with respect to the second locking surface. According to this application example, it is possible to significantly increase the wiping amounts of the plurality of cartridge side terminals.

  Application Example 11 One of the plurality of cartridge side terminals is a cartridge side ground terminal configured to be electrically connectable to a device side ground terminal connected to a ground line among the plurality of device side terminals. The cartridge-side ground terminal is provided at the center of the width in the direction along the Y-axis of the cartridge, and when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, Prior to contact with the apparatus-side terminal by the cartridge-side terminal, the apparatus-side ground terminal may be contacted. According to this application example, the first biasing force applied from the cartridge mounting portion to the cartridge side terminal is generated at the center of the width in the direction along the Y axis of the cartridge. The function of acting as a force to tilt in the axial direction is suppressed, and the cartridge can be mounted in a stable posture. In addition, since the cartridge-side ground terminal comes into contact with the device-side ground terminal before other cartridge-side terminals, even if an unintended high voltage is applied to the cartridge side, , Can reduce the problems caused by high voltage.

[Application Example 12] A printing material supply system as one of application examples is as follows:
A printing apparatus having a cartridge mounting portion;
A cartridge according to any one of application examples 1 to 11 detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion;
In the cartridge mounting portion, a plurality of the cartridges can be mounted, corresponding to each cartridge, a printing material supply pipe, a device side terminal, a lever, a first device side locking portion, and a second device side locking portion. Are provided,
The printing material supply pipe has a tip portion connected to the cartridge,
An axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is a Z axis, a direction in which the printing material supply pipe and the apparatus-side terminal are arranged and a direction orthogonal to the Z axis is an X axis, the Z axis, and the The axis orthogonal to the X axis is the Y axis, the + Z axis direction from the proximal end portion of the printing material supply pipe toward the distal end portion, and the opposite is the −Z axis direction, and the device side terminal side from the printing material supply pipe When the + X-axis direction toward
The device-side terminal has a device-side contact portion that comes into contact with the cartridge, and is elastically deformed around the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as a rotation center relative to the device-side contact portion, and the + Z-axis direction The cartridge is configured to be electrically connectable with the cartridge by making contact with the cartridge while applying an urging force including the component of
The first device-side locking portion is configured as a part of the lever so that the cartridge can be locked on the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side with respect to the device-side terminal.
The second device side locking portion is configured to be able to lock the cartridge on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side of the printing material supply pipe,
The lever moves from the locking position to the + X-axis with the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as the rotation center from the locking position where the first device-side locking portion locks the cartridge. The cartridge is locked and unlocked by the first device side locking portion by rotating so that the first device side locking portion moves in the direction. Features.
According to this application example, the same effects as those of Application Examples 1 to 11 can be obtained.

Application Example 13 A cartridge that is one of application examples is a cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus,
A printing material supply port configured to form an opening surface having an opening at the protruding end, and to supply the printing material to the printing device through the opening surface;
A cartridge side terminal configured to be electrically connectable to a device side terminal provided in the cartridge mounting portion;
A first cartridge side locking portion configured to be able to be locked with a first device side locking portion provided rotatably on the cartridge mounting portion;
The printing material supply port is sandwiched between the first cartridge side locking portion and the second device side locking portion fixed to the cartridge mounting portion. And a second cartridge side locking portion,
An axis parallel to the opening surface from the printing material supply port toward the first cartridge side locking portion is an X axis, an axis parallel to the opening surface and perpendicular to the X axis is a Y axis, the X axis, and the When the axis perpendicular to the Y axis is the Z axis, the protruding direction of the printing material supply port is the -Z axis direction, and the opposite is the + Z axis direction,
The first cartridge side locking portion and the second cartridge side locking portion are provided on the + Z axis direction side from the opening surface of the printing material supply port,
The first cartridge side locking portion has a first locking surface facing the + Z-axis direction, and the first device side locking portion is locked to the first locking surface. The movement of the cartridge in the + Z-axis direction can be restricted,
The second cartridge side locking portion has a second locking surface facing the + Z-axis direction, and the second device side locking portion is locked to the second locking surface. The movement of the cartridge in the + Z-axis direction can be restricted,
The cartridge side terminal has a cartridge side contact portion that comes into contact with the device side terminal,
The cartridge side contact portion is provided on the −Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking surface.
According to this application example, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in Application Example 1.

  The form of the present invention is not limited to the cartridge and the printing material supply system. For example, the liquid cartridge, the liquid container, the printing material container, the cartridge adapter, the circuit board, the printing apparatus, the liquid ejecting apparatus, and the liquid ejecting apparatus. And other forms such as a liquid supply system including a liquid cartridge. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a printing material supply system. It is a perspective view which shows the holder with which the cartridge was mounted | worn. It is a perspective view which shows the holder with which the cartridge was mounted | worn. It is a top view which shows the holder with which the cartridge was mounted | worn. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnects and shows the holder with which the cartridge was mounted | worn by arrow F5-F5 of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the force which a lever receives from a cartridge in a 1st latching position. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a cartridge. It is a front view which shows the structure of a cartridge. It is a rear view which shows the structure of a cartridge. It is a left view which shows the structure of a cartridge. It is a bottom view showing the configuration of the cartridge. It is explanatory drawing which shows the detailed structure of the circuit board of a cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a holder. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a holder. It is a top view which shows the structure of a holder. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnects and shows a holder by arrow F16-F16 of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the detailed structure of a terminal block. It is a perspective view which shows the detailed structure of a lever. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly | attachment structure of the lever with respect to a holder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the cartridge with respect to a holder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the cartridge with respect to a holder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the cartridge with respect to a holder. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the lever vicinity in the state with which the cartridge was mounted | worn with the holder. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the lever vicinity in the state with which the cartridge was mounted | worn with the holder. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the cartridge has moved in the −Z-axis direction from the state of FIG. 24. FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the cartridge moves in the −Z-axis direction from the state corresponding to FIG. 23 in another embodiment in which an extended surface is omitted. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the cartridge with respect to the holder in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the cartridge with respect to the holder in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the cartridge with respect to the holder in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the attachment or detachment operation | movement of the cartridge with respect to the holder in 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the cartridge in 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a 1st cartridge side latching | locking part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a 2nd cartridge side latching | locking part and a 2nd apparatus side latching | locking part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the external appearance of a cartridge. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the cartridge which uses an adapter. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the cartridge which uses an adapter. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the cartridge which uses an adapter. It is a figure which shows the modification of a terminal shape. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the detailed structure of a terminal block. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the apparatus side terminal started contacting the circuit board when mounting | wearing a cartridge with a holder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which mounting | wearing of the cartridge with respect to the holder was completed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the wiping between a cartridge side contact part and an apparatus side contact part.

  In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, a printing material supply system to which the present invention is applied will be described below.

A. First embodiment:
A-1. Overall configuration of printing material supply system:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the printing material supply system 10. In FIG. 1, XYZ axes orthogonal to each other are drawn. The XYZ axes in FIG. 1 correspond to the XYZ axes in the other drawings. In the present embodiment, the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction. The printing material supply system 10 includes a cartridge 20 and a printer (printing apparatus) 50. In the printing material supply system 10, the cartridge 20 is detachably mounted on the holder (cartridge mounting unit) 600 of the printer 50 by the user.

  The cartridge 20 of the printing material supply system 10 is a cartridge (ink cartridge) having a function of containing ink (printing material), and is configured to be detachable from the printer 50. The ink as the printing material accommodated in the cartridge 20 is supplied to the head 540 of the printer 50 through a printing material supply port and a printing material supply pipe which will be described later. In the present embodiment, a plurality of cartridges 20 are detachably mounted on the holder 600 of the printer 50. In the present embodiment, six types of cartridges 20 are attached to the holder 600 in correspondence with six colors (black, yellow, magenta, light magenta, cyan, and light cyan) of ink, that is, a total of six cartridges 20. .

  The number of cartridges mounted in the holder 600 is not limited to six, and can be changed to an arbitrary number according to the configuration of the printer 50, and may be six or less, or six or more. There may be. The type of ink in the cartridge 20 is not limited to six colors, and six or more colors (for example, the ink colors of the present embodiment) even if there are six colors or less (for example, four colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan). And a special glossy color (metallic luster, pearl white, etc.). In another embodiment, two or more cartridges 20 may be mounted on the holder 600 corresponding to one color ink. Detailed configurations of the cartridge 20 and the holder 600 will be described later.

  The printer 50 of the printing material supply system 10 is an ink jet printer including a printing apparatus having a function of supplying ink (printing material). In addition to the holder 600, the printer 50 includes a control unit 510, a carriage 520, and a head 540. The printer 50 has a function (printing apparatus) for supplying ink from the cartridge 20 mounted on the holder 600 to the head 540, and by ejecting ink from the head 540 to a print medium 90 such as paper or a label, Data such as characters, graphics, and images are printed on the print medium 90.

  The control unit 510 of the printer 50 controls each unit of the printer 50. The carriage 520 of the printer 50 is configured to be able to move the head 540 relative to the print medium 90. The head 540 of the printer 50 includes an ink discharge mechanism that receives supply of ink from the cartridge 20 mounted in the holder 600 and discharges the ink onto the print medium 90. The controller 510 and the carriage 520 are electrically connected via a flexible cable 517, and the ink ejection mechanism of the head 540 operates based on a control signal from the controller 510.

  In the present embodiment, the carriage 520 includes a holder 600 together with the head 540. In this way, the type of printer in which the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600 on the carriage 520 that moves the head 540 is also referred to as an “on-carriage type”.

  In another embodiment, the holder 600 may be configured at a site different from the carriage 520, and the ink from the cartridge 20 mounted on the holder 600 may be supplied to the head 540 of the carriage 520 via a flexible tube. Such a printer type is also called an “off-carriage type”.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 50 includes a main scan feed mechanism and a sub scan feed mechanism in order to move the carriage 520 and the print medium 90 relative to each other to realize printing on the print medium 90. The main scanning feed mechanism of the printer 50 includes a carriage motor 522 and a driving belt 524, and transmits the power of the carriage motor 522 to the carriage 520 via the driving belt 524, thereby reciprocating the carriage 520 in the main scanning direction. The sub-scan feed mechanism of the printer 50 includes a transport motor 532 and a platen 534, and transmits the power of the transport motor 532 to the platen 534, thereby transporting the print medium 90 in the sub-scan direction orthogonal to the main scan direction. The carriage motor 522 of the main scan feed mechanism and the transport motor 532 of the sub scan feed mechanism operate based on a control signal from the control unit 510.

  In this embodiment, when the printing material supply system 10 is in use, the axis along the sub-scanning direction for transporting the printing medium 90 is the X axis, and the axis along the main scanning direction for reciprocating the carriage 520 is the Y axis. The axis along the direction of gravity is the Z axis. These X axis, Y axis and Z axis are orthogonal to each other. The usage state of the printing material supply system 10 is the state of the printing material supply system 10 installed on a horizontal surface. In this embodiment, the horizontal surface is a surface parallel to the X axis and the Y axis. .

  In the present embodiment, the + X-axis direction toward the sub-scanning direction and the opposite thereof are defined as the −X-axis direction, the + Z-axis direction upward from the lower side of the gravity direction, and the opposite thereof as the −Z-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the + X axis direction side is the front surface of the printing material supply system 10. In the present embodiment, the + Y-axis direction from the right side surface of the printing material supply system 10 toward the left side surface, and the opposite is the −Y-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the arrangement direction of the plurality of cartridges 20 attached to the holder 600 is a direction along the Y axis.

A-2. Configuration with cartridge installed in holder:
2 and 3 are perspective views showing the holder 600 to which the cartridge 20 is mounted. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the holder 600 to which the cartridge 20 is mounted. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the holder 600 to which the cartridge 20 is mounted cut along the arrow F5-F5 in FIG. 2 to 5 show a state where one cartridge 20 is correctly mounted at the designed mounting position in the holder 600.

  In the holder 600 of the printer 50, a plurality of slots (mounting spaces) capable of receiving the cartridges 20 are formed corresponding to the cartridges 20 so that the plurality of cartridges 20 can be mounted. The printer 50 has an ink supply pipe (printing material supply pipe) 640, a terminal block 700, a lever 800, a first device side locking portion 810, and a second device side locking in each slot of the holder 600. Part 620.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge 20 has a first cartridge side latching portion 210, a second cartridge side latching portion 220, and an ink container in accordance with the slot formed in the holder 600 of the printer 50. Part (printing material container) 290, an ink supply port (printing material supply port) 280, and a circuit board 400. In the present embodiment, the ink supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 is formed with an ink flow path 282 that communicates with the ink storage portion 290, and ink is supplied from the ink storage portion 290 to the outside of the cartridge 20 through the ink flow path 282. It is possible to supply. In the present embodiment, a foamed resin body 284 that prevents inadvertent leakage of ink from the ink flow path 282 is provided on the outlet side of the ink flow path 282.

  The ink supply tube 640 of the printer 50 is configured to be able to supply ink from the ink storage portion 290 of the cartridge 20 to the head 540 by connecting to the ink supply port 280 of the cartridge 20. The ink supply tube 640 has a tip portion 642 connected to the cartridge side. A base end portion 645 of the ink supply pipe 640 is provided on the bottom surface of the holder 600. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the central axis C of the ink supply tube 640 is parallel to the Z axis, and the direction from the proximal end 645 to the distal end 642 of the ink supply tube 640 is along the central axis C. Is the + Z-axis direction.

  In the present embodiment, a porous filter 644 that filters ink from the cartridge 20 is provided at the distal end 642 of the ink supply tube 640. As the porous filter 644, for example, a stainless mesh, a stainless nonwoven fabric, or the like can be used. In other embodiments, the porous filter may be omitted from the tip 642 of the ink supply tube 640.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the ink supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 is sealed around the ink supply tube 640 to prevent ink leakage from the ink supply port 280 to the surroundings. An elastic member 648 is provided. A biasing force Ps including a component in the + Z-axis direction is applied from the elastic member 648 to the ink supply port 280 to the cartridge 20 mounted in the holder 600.

  The terminal block 700 of the printer 50 is provided on the + X axis direction side of the ink supply pipe 640. The terminal block 700 is provided with device-side terminals that can be electrically connected to the cartridge-side terminals provided on the circuit board 400 of the cartridge 20. A biasing force Pt including a component in the + Z-axis direction is applied to the circuit board 400 from the device-side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 to the cartridge 20 in a state of being mounted in the holder 600.

  The first device side locking portion 810 in the printer 50 is provided as a part of the lever 800, and locks the first cartridge side locking portion 210 at the first locking position 810L. The first locking position 810L is located on the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side from the position where the circuit board 400 and the device-side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 are in contact. The first device side locking portion 810 limits the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction by locking the first cartridge side locking portion 210.

  The second device side locking portion 620 in the printer 50 is provided as a part of the holder 600, and is configured to be able to lock the second cartridge side locking portion 220 at the second locking position 620L. The second locking position 620L is located on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side of the ink supply pipe 640. The second device side locking portion 620 limits the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction by locking the second cartridge side locking portion 220.

  When the cartridge 20 is attached to and detached from the holder 600, the second cartridge side locking portion 220 and the second device side locking portion 620 engaged with each other are used as rotation fulcrums on a plane parallel to the Z axis and the X axis. The cartridge 20 is attached and detached while rotating the cartridge 20 along the direction. That is, the second cartridge side locking portion 220 and the second device side locking portion 620 function as a rotation fulcrum of the cartridge 20 when the cartridge 20 is attached and detached. Details of the attaching / detaching operation of the cartridge 20 with respect to the holder 600 will be described later.

  The lever 800 of the printer 50 rotates to the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side from the first locking position 810L where the first device side locking portion 810 locks the first cartridge side locking portion 210. It has a center 800c. The lever 800 rotates so that the first device-side locking portion 810 moves in the + X-axis direction from the first locking position 810L, so that the first device-side locking portion 810 moves to the first cartridge side. The locking portion 210 is configured to be locked and unlocked.

  The lever 800 is formed with an operation portion 830 configured to receive an operation force Pr directed toward the −X axis direction by the user on the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side from the rotation center 800c. When the operation force Pr by the user is applied to the operation unit 830, the lever 800 is rotated so that the first device-side locking unit 810 moves from the first locking position 810L in the + X-axis direction. The locking of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 by the first apparatus side locking portion 810 is released. As a result, the cartridge 20 can be removed from the holder 600.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in a state where the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600, the first locking position 810L is positioned on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dz from the second locking position 620L. Therefore, the urging forces Ps and Pt from the holder 600 to the cartridge 20 are related to the moment when the second locking position 620L is the rotation fulcrum of the cartridge 20, and the first cartridge side locking portion 210 and the first device It acts in a direction (a direction including a + X-axis component and a + Z-axis component) that strengthens locking with the side locking portion 810. Thus, the cartridge 20 can be stably held at the designed mounting position.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the force that the lever 800 receives from the cartridge 20 at the first locking position 810L. FIG. 6A shows the force F1 that the lever 800 receives from the cartridge 20 at the first locking position 810L when the first locking position 810L is positioned on the −Z-axis direction side of the second locking position 620L. Is illustrated. FIG. 6B shows the force F2 that the lever 800 receives from the cartridge 20 at the first locking position 810L when the first locking position 810L is located on the + Z-axis direction side of the second locking position 620L. Illustrated. The force F1 in FIG. 6A and the force F2 in FIG. 6B are the same magnitude.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically show the positional relationship between the first locking position 810L, the second locking position 620L, and the rotation center 800c on the X axis and the Z axis. did. The positional relationship between FIG. 6 (A) and FIG. 6 (B) is the same except that the position of the second locking position 620L on the Z-axis is different. An arc RT1 in FIGS. 6A and 6B is a rotation locus obtained by rotating the first locking position 810L about the rotation center 800c. An arc RT2 in FIGS. 6A and 6B is a rotation locus obtained by rotating the first locking position 810L around the second locking position 620L.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, since the first locking position 810L is located on the −Z-axis direction side of the second locking position 620L, the first locking position 810L acts in the tangential direction of the arc RT2. The force F1 acts in a direction including the + X axis component and the + Z axis component. A force obtained by resolving the force F1 in the tangential direction of the arc RT1 is F1t, and a force obtained by resolving the force F1 in the radial direction of the arc RT1 is F1r.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, since the first locking position 810L is located on the + Z axis direction side of the second locking position 620L, the force acting in the tangential direction of the arc RT2 at the first locking position 810L. F2 acts in a direction including a −X axis component and a + Z axis component. A force obtained by resolving the force F2 in the tangential direction of the arc RT1 is F2t, and a force obtained by resolving the force F2 in the radial direction of the arc RT1 is F2r.

  As is clear from the comparison between FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the force F1 and the force are determined from the mutual positional relationship of the first locking position 810L, the second locking position 620L, and the rotation center 800c. Even if the relationship with F2 is “F1 = F2”, the force relationship in the tangential direction of the arc RT1 is “F1t <F2t”, and the force relationship in the radial direction of the arc RT1 is “F1r> F2r”. That is, when the first locking position 810L is positioned on the −Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking position 620L, the center of rotation of the lever 800 from the cartridge 20 is greater than when the first locking position 810L is positioned on the + Z axis direction side. As the force toward 800c increases, the force for rotating the lever 800 clockwise around the rotation center 800c as viewed from the + Y-axis direction side decreases. Therefore, the first cartridge-side locking portion 210 is more in the case where the first locking position 810L is positioned on the −Z-axis direction side than the second locking position 620L than on the + Z-axis direction side. And the first device side locking portion 810 can be strengthened.

A-3. Detailed cartridge configuration:
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20. FIG. 9 is a rear view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20. FIG. 10 is a left side view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20. FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20.

  In the description of the cartridge 20, the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis with respect to the cartridge 20 that is mounted in the holder 600 are axes on the cartridge. In the present embodiment, the + X-axis direction side is the front surface of the cartridge 20 when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600. The plane CX illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11 is a plane that passes through the central axis C and is parallel to the Z axis and the X axis. The plane Yc shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11 is a plane that passes through the center of the length (width) in the direction along the Y axis of the cartridge 20 and is parallel to the Z axis and the X axis.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, the cartridge 20 includes a first surface 201, a second surface 202, a third surface 203, and a fourth surface 204 as six planes that form an outer shape based on a rectangular parallelepiped. And a fifth surface 205 and a sixth surface 206. In the present embodiment, the cartridge 20 includes a first surface 201 to a sixth surface 206 corresponding to six planes of a rectangular parallelepiped, a first surface 201 and a third surface 203, and a seventh surface 207. , And an eighth surface 208. An ink storage portion 290 is formed inside the first surface 201 to the eighth surface 208.

  The first surface 201 to the eighth surface 208 form a flat surface as a rough shape, and it is not necessary that the entire surface is completely flat, and a part of the surface may have irregularities. In the present embodiment, the first surface 201 to the eighth surface 208 are outer surfaces of an assembly in which a plurality of members are assembled. In the present embodiment, the first surface 201 to the eighth surface 208 are formed of plate-like members. In another embodiment, a part of the first surface 201 to the eighth surface 208 may be formed of a film-like (thin film-like) member. The first surface 201 to the eighth surface 208 are made of resin, and in this embodiment, are formed of a material (for example, polyacetal (POM)) that can obtain higher rigidity than polypropylene (PP).

  In the present embodiment, the length (length in the X-axis direction), width (length in the Y-axis direction), and height (length in the Z-axis direction) of the cartridge 20 are in the order of length, height, and width. large. The magnitude relationship between the length, width, and height of the cartridge 20 can be arbitrarily changed. For example, the cartridge 20 may be increased in the order of height, length, and width, or may have the same height, length, and width. good.

  The first surface 201 and the second surface 202 of the cartridge 20 are surfaces parallel to the X axis and the Y axis, and are in a positional relationship facing each other in the Z axis direction. The first surface 201 is located on the −Z axis direction side, and the second surface 202 is located on the + Z axis direction side. The first surface 201 and the second surface 202 are in a positional relationship with the third surface 203, the fourth surface 204, the fifth surface 205, and the sixth surface 206. In this specification, two surfaces "intersect" means that two surfaces are connected to each other, a state where one surface is extended to the other surface, and a surface where the other surfaces are extended to each other. It is intended to be one of the states. In the present embodiment, the first surface 201 constitutes the bottom surface of the cartridge 20 and the second surface 202 constitutes the top surface of the cartridge 20 in the mounted state where the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600.

  An ink supply port 280 is formed on the first surface 201. The ink supply port 280 protrudes from the first surface 201 in the −Z-axis direction, and forms an opening surface 288 having an opening in a plane parallel to the X-axis and the Y-axis at the end in the −Z-axis direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a foamed resin body 284 is provided inside the ink supply port 280 from the opening surface 288 to the inside on the + Z axial direction side. In the present embodiment, when the cartridge 20 is shipped from the factory, the opening surface 288 of the ink supply port 280 is sealed with a sealing member (not shown) such as a cap or a film, and then when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, A sealing member (not shown) that seals the opening surface 288 is removed from the cartridge 20.

  In the present embodiment, the ink supply port 280 protrudes in the −Z-axis direction around the central axis C of the ink supply tube 640, but in other embodiments, the center of the ink supply port 280 is the center of the ink supply tube 640. It may deviate from the central axis C. In this embodiment, the opening surface 288 of the ink supply port 280 viewed from the −Z-axis direction toward the + Z-axis direction has a line-symmetric outline with respect to axes parallel to the X-axis and the Y-axis, respectively. In this embodiment, an asymmetric outline may be used. In the present embodiment, the shape of the opening surface 288 viewed from the Z-axis direction is a shape obtained by rounding the corners of a rectangle. There may be.

  The third surface 203 and the fourth surface 204 of the cartridge 20 are surfaces parallel to the Y-axis and the Z-axis, and are in a positional relationship facing each other in the X-axis direction. The third surface 203 is located on the + X axis direction side, and the fourth surface 204 is located on the −X axis direction side. The third surface 203 and the fourth surface 204 are in a positional relationship with the first surface 201, the second surface 202, the fifth surface 205, and the sixth surface 206. In the present embodiment, the third surface 203 constitutes the front surface of the cartridge 20 and the fourth surface 204 constitutes the back surface of the cartridge 20 with the cartridge 20 mounted in the holder 600.

  A first cartridge side locking portion 210 is formed on the third surface 203. The first cartridge side locking portion 210 is provided on the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side from the ink supply port 280 and the circuit board 400. The first cartridge side locking part 210 has a first locking surface 211 facing the + Z-axis direction, and is positioned at the first locking position 810L by the rotation of the lever 800. The portion 810 is locked to the first locking surface 211 so that the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction can be restricted.

  In the present embodiment, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is a convex portion that protrudes from the third surface 203 in the + X-axis direction. Thus, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 can be easily formed on the third surface 203. Further, the user can easily confirm the first cartridge side locking portion 210 when the cartridge 20 is mounted.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 has an L-shaped third surface 203 whose two sides are parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis, respectively. From the center in the Y-axis direction of the portion parallel to the Y-axis in the L-shaped convex part, the triangular wall portion seen from the direction along the Y-axis is formed on the −Z-axis direction side. The L-shaped convex portion is formed toward the third surface 203 from the end on the + X-axis direction side.

  In the present embodiment, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 has a third locking surface 213 facing the + X axis direction in addition to the first locking surface 211 facing the + Z axis direction. The first device side locking portion 810 positioned at the first locking position 810L by rotation is locked to the first locking surface 211 and the third locking surface 213, so that the + Z-axis direction of the cartridge 20 and The movement in the + X axis direction can be restricted. Thus, the cartridge 20 can be held in a more stable state at the designed mounting position.

  In the present embodiment, the first locking surface 211 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is formed as a plane facing the + Z-axis direction constituting a portion parallel to the Y axis in the L-shaped convex portion. . That is, the first locking surface 211 is a plane parallel to the X axis and the Y axis. In the present embodiment, the third locking surface 213 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is formed as a plane facing the + X axis direction that constitutes a portion parallel to the Y axis in the L-shaped convex portion. . That is, the third locking surface 213 is a plane parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis.

  In the present embodiment, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 has an inclined surface 216 that is inclined toward the −Z axis direction and the + X axis direction. The + Z-axis direction side of the inclined surface 216 is adjacent to the −Z-axis direction side of the third locking surface 213 adjacent to the + X-axis direction side of the first locking surface 211, and the −Z-axis direction side of the inclined surface 216 is The third surface 203 and the eighth surface 208 are adjacent to the adjacent portion. As a result, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, the first device side locking portion 810 can be smoothly guided to the first locking surface 211. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 216 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is formed as a plane on the + X axis direction side that constitutes a triangular wall portion formed on the −Z axis direction side of the L-shaped convex portion. Has been.

  In the present embodiment, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 has an extended surface 218 obtained by extending a part of the third locking surface 213 adjacent to the + X axis direction side of the first locking surface 211 in the + Z axis direction. Have. Accordingly, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, the lever 800 can be prevented from riding on the + Z axis direction side of the first locking surface 211. In the present embodiment, the extended surface 218 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is formed as a plane facing the + X axis direction that constitutes a portion parallel to the Z axis in the L-shaped convex portion. That is, the extended surface 218 is a plane parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis.

  In the present embodiment, a protrusion 260 is formed on the third surface 203. The protrusion 260 has a shape obtained by extending the second surface 202 in the + X-axis direction, and protrudes from the third surface 203 in the + X-axis direction. Since the cartridge 20 is formed with the protruding portion 260, when removing the cartridge 20 from the holder 600, the user presses the finger that pressed the operation portion 830 of the lever 800 toward the −X axis direction side as it is. By being hooked on 260, it is possible to easily lift the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction with the second cartridge side locking portion 220 as the rotation fulcrum. In other embodiments, the protrusion 260 may be omitted from the third surface 203.

  A second cartridge side locking portion 220 is formed on the fourth surface 204. The second cartridge side locking portion 220 is provided on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side from the ink supply port 280 and the circuit board 400. The second cartridge side locking portion 220 has a second locking surface 222 facing the + Z-axis direction, and the second device side locking portion 620 is locked to the second locking surface 222. The movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction can be restricted.

  In the present embodiment, the second cartridge side locking portion 220 is also used as a rotation fulcrum of the cartridge 20 with respect to the holder 600 by engaging the second device side locking portion 620 when the cartridge 20 is attached to and detached from the holder 600. Configured to work. Thereby, the cartridge 20 can be easily attached to and detached from the holder 600.

  In the present embodiment, the second cartridge side locking portion 220 is a convex portion protruding from the fourth surface 204 in the −X axis direction. Thus, the second cartridge side locking portion 220 can be easily formed on the fourth surface 204. Further, the user can easily confirm the second cartridge side locking portion 220 when the cartridge 20 is mounted.

  In the present embodiment, the second locking surface 222 of the second cartridge side locking portion 220 is formed as a plane facing the + Z-axis direction that constitutes a convex portion protruding from the fourth surface 204 in the −X-axis direction. ing. That is, the second locking surface 222 is a plane parallel to the X axis and the Y axis.

  In the present embodiment, the second cartridge side locking portion 220 has an inclined surface 224 adjacent to the −X axis direction side of the second locking surface 222, and the inclined surface 224 includes the + Z axis direction and the −X axis. Inclined to face. Accordingly, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, the second locking surface 222 can be smoothly guided to the second device side locking portion 620. In other embodiments, the inclined surface 224 may be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first locking surface 211 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is positioned at a distance Dz from the second locking surface 222 of the second cartridge side locking portion 220, − It is provided on the Z axis direction side, that is, on the first surface 201 side. In other words, the second locking surface 222 is provided on the + Z-axis direction side, that is, on the second surface 202 side with a distance Dz from the first locking surface 211. Accordingly, as described with reference to FIG. 6, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 and the first device side locking portion 810 are locked when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600. Can be strong.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the first locking surface 211 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 and the second locking of the second cartridge side locking portion 220 are used. The surface 222 is provided at a position that crosses the plane Yc that passes through the center of the width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the cartridge 20. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the action of the urging forces Ps and Pt from the holder 600 acting on the cartridge 20 as a force that tilts the cartridge 20 in the Y-axis direction.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the first locking surface 211 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 and the second locking of the second cartridge side locking portion 220 are used. The surface 222 is provided at a position crossing the plane CX passing through the central axis C. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively suppress the action of the urging force Ps applied from the holder 600 to the cartridge 20 as a force for tilting the cartridge 20 in the Y-axis direction.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the distance Dx1 on the X axis between the central axis C and the third surface 203 is longer than the distance Dx2 on the X axis between the central axis C and the fourth surface 204. That is, the distance on the X-axis with respect to the ink supply port 280 is greater than the first locking surface 211 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 than the second locking surface 222 of the second cartridge side locking portion 220. Is closer. Accordingly, since the ink supply port 280 is formed on the second locking surface 222 side that is positioned with respect to the holder 600 before the first locking surface 211, the cartridge 20 can be easily positioned with respect to the holder 600. It can be carried out.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the length of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 in the Y axis direction is smaller than the length of the second cartridge side locking portion 220 in the Y axis direction. In the present embodiment, the length of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 in the Y axis direction is smaller than the length of the circuit board 400 in the Y axis direction. In the present embodiment, the length of the second cartridge side locking portion 220 in the Y axis direction is substantially equal to the length of the circuit board 400 in the Y axis direction.

  The fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 of the cartridge 20 are surfaces parallel to the Z-axis and the X-axis, and are in a positional relationship facing each other in the Y-axis direction. The fifth surface 205 is located on the + Y axis direction side, and the sixth surface 206 is located on the −Y axis direction side. The fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 are in a positional relationship where they intersect with the first surface 201, the second surface 202, the third surface 203, and the fourth surface 204. In the present embodiment, the fifth surface 205 constitutes the left side surface of the cartridge 20 and the sixth surface 206 constitutes the right side surface of the cartridge 20 when the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 600.

  The seventh surface 207 of the cartridge 20 is a surface that is provided at a corner portion connecting the first surface 201 and the third surface 203 and extends from the first surface 201 to the + Z-axis direction side. The seventh surface 207 is connected to the eighth surface 208 on the + Z axis direction side and is connected to the first surface 201 on the −Z axis direction side. In the present embodiment, the seventh surface 207 is a surface parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis, and is in a positional relationship facing the fourth surface 204.

  The eighth surface 208 of the cartridge 20 is provided at a corner portion connecting the first surface 201 and the third surface 203 and is a surface formed on the + Z-axis direction side with respect to the seventh surface 207. The eighth surface 208 is connected to the third surface 203 on the + Z axis direction side, and is connected to the seventh surface 207 on the −Z axis direction side. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the eighth surface 208 is inclined toward the −Z axis direction and the + X axis direction.

  In the present embodiment, the circuit board 400 is installed on the eighth surface 208. As shown in FIG. 10, the circuit board 400 has a surface (also referred to as “cartridge side inclined surface”) 408 that is inclined toward the −Z axis direction and the + X axis direction in a state of being installed on the eighth surface 208. In a state where the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, the cartridge side terminal provided on the circuit board 400 of the cartridge 20 contacts the device side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 of the holder 600 on the cartridge side inclined surface 408 side.

  The angle φ at which the cartridge-side inclined surface 408 is inclined with respect to a plane parallel to the X axis and the Y axis (the opening surface 288 of the ink supply port 280) is preferably 25 ° to 40 °. A sufficient amount of wiping can be ensured by setting the angle of the cartridge side inclined surface 408 to 25 ° or more. Wiping is to rub the cartridge-side terminal provided on the cartridge-side inclined surface 408 with the device-side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600. The wiping amount is a length that the device side terminal can rub against the cartridge side terminal. By wiping, it is possible to remove dust and dirt adhering to the cartridge side terminal and to reduce poor connection between the cartridge side terminal and the apparatus side terminal. By setting the angle of the cartridge-side inclined surface 408 to 40 ° or less, a component in the + Z-axis direction included in the biasing force Pt with respect to the circuit board 400 from the device-side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 can be sufficiently secured.

  In the present embodiment, when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600, the circuit board in the cartridge 20 is prevented in order to prevent displacement of the cartridge side terminal provided in the circuit board 400 with respect to the device side terminal provided in the terminal block 700. A pair of first engagement surfaces 230, a pair of second engagement surfaces 240, and a pair of protrusions 250 are formed around 400.

  A pair of first engagement surfaces 230 provided at positions near the circuit board 400 on the fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 of the cartridge 20 are a pair of surfaces parallel to the Z axis and the X axis, respectively. It is provided on each side of the substrate 400 in the direction along the Y axis. The pair of first engagement surfaces 230 is configured to be engageable with a first engagement portion 632 (FIGS. 13 to 15) provided in the holder 600. Thereby, the positional deviation of the circuit board 400 in the Y-axis direction with respect to the holder 600 can be prevented, and the cartridge side terminal can be brought into contact with the apparatus side terminal at a correct position.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of first engagement surfaces 230 has a surface on the fifth surface 205 side and a surface on the sixth surface 206 side. The surface on the fifth surface 205 side is a surface in which the fifth surface 205 is lowered in the −Y-axis direction from the region of a constant distance from the eighth surface 208 over the protrusion 250. The surface on the sixth surface 206 side is a surface obtained by lowering the sixth surface 206 in the + Y-axis direction from the region of a constant distance from the eighth surface 208 to the protrusion 250. The distance between the pair of first engagement surfaces 230 along the Y-axis direction is smaller than the dimension (width) of the cartridge 20 in the Y-axis direction, that is, the distance between the fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface. It is larger than the dimension (width) of 400 in the Y-axis direction.

  A pair of second engagement surfaces 240 provided at positions near the circuit board 400 on the fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 of the cartridge 20 are a pair of surfaces parallel to the Z axis and the X axis, respectively. It is provided on each side of the substrate 400 in the direction along the Y axis. The pair of second engagement surfaces 240 are configured to be engageable with a second engagement portion 634 (FIGS. 13 to 15) provided on the holder 600. Thereby, the positional deviation of the circuit board 400 in the Y-axis direction with respect to the holder 600 can be prevented, and the cartridge-side terminal can be brought into contact with the apparatus-side terminal at a correct position.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of second engagement surfaces 240 has a surface on the fifth surface 205 side and a surface on the sixth surface 206 side. The surface on the fifth surface 205 side is a surface in which a part of the first engagement surface 230 adjacent to the eighth surface 208 is further lowered in the −Y axis direction. The surface on the sixth surface 206 side is a surface in which a part adjacent to the eighth surface 208 in the first engagement surface 230 in which the sixth surface 206 is lowered in the + Y-axis direction is further lowered in the + Y-axis direction. The distance between the pair of second engagement surfaces 240 along the Y-axis direction is smaller than the dimension (width) of the cartridge 20 in the Y-axis direction, that is, the distance between the fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface. It is almost equal to the dimension (width) of 400 in the Y-axis direction.

  The pair of protrusions 250 in the cartridge 20 protrude from the side of the seventh surface 207 in the + Y axis direction and the −Y axis direction toward the + X axis direction. The pair of protrusions 250 face each other on the Y axis on the −Z axis direction side of the circuit board 400. A pair of protrusion part 250 is comprised so that engagement with the fitting part 636 (FIGS. 13-15) provided in the holder 600 is possible. Thereby, the positional deviation of the circuit board 400 in the Y-axis direction with respect to the holder 600 can be prevented, and the cartridge side terminal can be brought into contact with the apparatus side terminal at a correct position.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of the circuit board 400 of the cartridge 20. 12A, which is the upper stage of FIG. 12, illustrates a configuration on the surface (cartridge side inclined surface) 408 of the circuit board 400 as viewed from the arrow F12A of FIG. FIG. 12B, which is the lower part of FIG. 12, illustrates the configuration of the side surface of the circuit board 400 viewed from the arrow F12B (+ Y-axis direction) in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, a boss groove 401 is formed at the end of the circuit board 400 on the + Z axis direction side, and a boss hole 402 is formed at the end of the circuit board 400 on the −Z axis direction side. ing. The circuit board 400 installed in the cartridge 20 is fixed to the eighth surface 208 of the cartridge 20 using the boss groove 401 and the boss hole 402. In the present embodiment, the boss groove 401 and the boss hole 402 are provided at positions crossing the plane Yc passing through the center of the width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the cartridge 20. In other embodiments, at least one of the boss groove 401 and the boss hole 402 may be omitted from the circuit board 400 and the circuit board 400 may be fixed to the eighth surface 208 using an adhesive, or the eighth surface 208 may be fixed. The circuit board 400 may be fixed using an engaging claw (not shown) provided on the side.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12A, nine cartridge-side terminals 431 to 439 are formed on the cartridge-side inclined surface 408 of the circuit board 400, and as shown in FIG. A storage device 420 is formed. In the present embodiment, the storage device 420 of the circuit board 400 stores information related to the ink of the cartridge 20 (for example, the remaining amount of ink and ink color).

  The number of cartridge-side terminals of the circuit board 400 is not limited to nine, and can be changed to an arbitrary number, which may be nine or less, or nine or more. As shown in FIG. 12B, the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are preferably at the same height from the cartridge side inclined surface 408 of the circuit board 400.

  Each of the cartridge-side terminals 431 to 439 of the circuit board 400 has a contact portion cp that comes into contact with a device-side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 of the holder 600. Among the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439, the four cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 are arranged in parallel along the terminal row R1 parallel to the Y axis on the + Z axis direction side, and the five cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 are arranged. The terminal rows R2 are arranged in parallel along the terminal row R2 parallel to the Y axis on the −Z axis direction side of the terminal row R1. The contact portions cp of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 on the terminal row R1 are located on the terminal row R1, and the contact portions cp of the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 on the terminal row R2 are located on the terminal row R2. To do.

  The cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 on the terminal row R1 are arranged so that the cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 on the terminal row R1 and the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 on the terminal row R2 do not overlap each other when viewed from the direction along the Y axis. 434 is located on the + Z-axis direction side of the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 on the terminal row R2. The cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 on the terminal row R1 are arranged so that the cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 on the terminal row R1 and the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 on the terminal row R2 do not overlap each other when viewed from the direction along the Z axis. 434 and the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 on the terminal row R2 are alternately arranged.

  The five cartridge side terminals 432, 433, 436, 437 and 438 are electrically connected to the storage device 420. The cartridge side terminal 432 functions as a “reset terminal” that receives supply of the reset signal RST to the storage device 420. The cartridge side terminal 433 functions as a “clock terminal” that receives supply of the clock signal SCK to the storage device 420. The cartridge-side terminal 436 functions as a “power supply terminal” that receives supply of a power supply voltage VDD (for example, rated 3.3 volts) to the storage device 420. The cartridge side terminal 437 functions as a “ground terminal” that accepts the supply of the ground voltage VSS (0 volt) to the storage device 420, that is, a “cartridge side ground terminal”. The cartridge side terminal 438 functions as a “data terminal” that receives supply of the data signal SDA to the storage device 420.

  The four cartridge-side terminals 431, 434, 437, and 439 function as “mounting detection terminals” that are used to detect whether or not the cartridge 20 is correctly mounted on the holder 600 from the holder 600 side. To do. The contact portions cp of the other cartridge side terminals 432, 433, 436, 437, and 438 exist in the rectangular area having the four contact points cp of the four cartridge side terminals 431, 434, 437, and 439 as four vertices. To do. In the present embodiment, the four cartridge-side terminals 431, 434, 437, and 439 are electrically connected to each other inside the circuit board 400, and serve as ground terminals when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600. It is electrically connected to a ground line (not shown) on the printer 50 side through a functioning cartridge side terminal 437.

  In the present embodiment, the nine cartridge-side terminals 431 to 439 of the circuit board 400 are connected to the printer via the device-side terminals provided on the terminal block 700 of the holder 600 when the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 600. 50 control units 510 are electrically connected. As a result, the control unit 510 can detect mounting of the cartridge 20 and can read and write information from and to the storage device 420 of the circuit board 400.

  In the present embodiment, the cartridge side terminal 437 that functions as a ground terminal is provided at a position that crosses the plane Yc that passes through the center of the width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the cartridge 20, and the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 600. In this case, prior to the contact between the other cartridge side terminals 431-436, 438, 439 and the apparatus side terminals 731-736, 738, 739 (FIG. 17), the apparatus side terminal 737 (FIG. 17) is contacted. It is configured. As a result, an urging force Pt first applied from the holder 600 to the circuit board 400 is generated at the center of the width in the direction along the Y axis of the cartridge 20, so that the urging force Pt applied to the cartridge side inclined surface 408 causes the cartridge 20 to Y The action acting as a force for inclining in the axial direction is suppressed, and the cartridge 20 can be mounted on the holder 600 in a stable posture. In addition, since the cartridge-side terminal 437 that functions as a ground terminal contacts the device-side terminal before the other cartridge-side terminals 431 to 436, 438, and 439, an unintended high voltage is applied to the cartridge 20 side. Even if it exists, the trouble by a high voltage can be reduced by the grounding function of the cartridge side terminal 437.

  In the present embodiment, the cartridge side terminal 437 that functions as a ground terminal is formed longer in the direction along the Z axis than the other cartridge side terminals 431 to 436, 438, and 439. Accordingly, the cartridge side terminal 437 functioning as a ground terminal and the device side terminal 737 (FIG. 17) provided on the terminal base 700 of the holder 600 can be more reliably contacted with the other cartridge side terminals 431 to 436. 438, 439 and the device side terminals 731-736, 738, 739 can be made earlier than the contact. In other embodiments, all the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 may be formed in the same size.

A-4. Detailed configuration of holder:
13 and 14 are perspective views showing the configuration of the holder 600. FIG. FIG. 15 is a top view showing the configuration of the holder 600. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the holder 600 cut along the arrow F16-F16 in FIG.

  The holder 600 of the printer 50 includes five wall portions 601, 603, 604, 605, and 606 as wall surfaces constituting a container body that defines a space for receiving the mounting of the cartridge 20. In the present embodiment, the five wall portions 601, 603, 604, 605, and 606 are formed of plate-like members. The five walls 601, 603, 604, 605, and 606 are made of resin, and in this embodiment, a material that can obtain higher rigidity than polypropylene (PP) (for example, modified polyphenylene ether (m-PPE)). )).

  The wall portion 601 of the holder 600 constitutes the bottom surface of the container body when the printer 50 is in use. The wall portion 603 of the holder 600 is erected on the + X axis direction side of the wall portion 601 and constitutes the front surface of the container body when the printer 50 is used. The wall portion 604 of the holder 600 is erected on the −X axis direction side of the wall portion 601 and constitutes the back surface of the container body when the printer 50 is used. The wall portion 605 of the holder 600 is erected on the −Y axis direction side of the wall portion 601 and constitutes the right side surface of the container body when the printer 50 is used. The wall portion 606 of the holder 600 is erected on the + Y axis direction side of the wall portion 601 and constitutes the left side surface of the container body when the printer 50 is used. The wall portion 603 and the wall portion 604 are in a positional relationship facing each other, and the wall portion 605 and the wall portion 606 are in a positional relationship facing each other.

  An ink supply tube 640 is provided on the wall portion 601 of the holder 600, and a porous filter 644 is provided on the tip 642 of the ink supply tube 640. In the present embodiment, the ink supply pipe 640 is provided closer to the wall portion 604 (closer to the −X axis direction). In another embodiment, the ink supply pipe 640 may be provided near the wall portion 603 (close to the + X axis direction), or may be provided at the center between the wall portion 604 and the wall portion 603.

  An elastic member 648 is provided around the ink supply tube 640 in the wall portion 601. The elastic member 648 prevents leakage of ink from the ink supply port 280 to the surroundings by sealing the ink supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 with the cartridge 20 mounted in the holder 600. The elastic member 648 generates a biasing force Ps in a direction in which the ink supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 is pushed back (a direction toward the + Z-axis direction) in a mounted state where the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600.

  In the present embodiment, a pair of standing surface portions 660 are erected on the + Y axis direction side and the −Y axis direction side of each ink supply tube 640 in the wall portion 601. The pair of elevation parts 660 are wall surfaces parallel to the Z axis and the X axis, respectively, and are configured such that the cartridge 20 fits between the pair of elevation parts 660 when the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 600. . As a result, the positional deviation of the ink supply port 280 with respect to the ink supply tube 640 can be prevented.

  A terminal block 700 is installed on the wall 603 side (+ X-axis direction side) from the ink supply pipe 640 and at a position where the wall 601 and the wall 603 are adjacent to each other. As shown in FIG. 16, the terminal block 700 has a device-side inclined surface 708 that is inclined toward the + Z-axis direction and the −X-axis direction in a state of being installed on the wall portion 601. In a state where the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, the device-side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 of the holder 600 contacts the circuit board 400 of the cartridge 20 on the device-side inclined surface 708 side. In addition, the device-side terminal provided on the terminal block 700 is installed in contact with the substrate 790 fixed to the holder 600 on the slope side opposite to the device-side slope 708. The control unit 510 is electrically connected through the connected terminals and wiring.

  The angle at which the apparatus-side inclined surface 708 of the terminal block 700 is inclined with respect to a plane (wall portion 601) parallel to the X axis and the Y axis is such that the cartridge-side inclined surface 408 of the cartridge 20 is relative to the opening surface 288 of the ink supply port 280. It is the same as the inclination angle φ. Therefore, the apparatus-side inclined surface 708 of the terminal block 700 is parallel to the cartridge-side inclined surface 408 of the circuit board 400 in a mounted state where the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600.

  In the present embodiment, nine device-side terminals 731 to 739 are provided on the device-side inclined surface 708 of the terminal block 700 corresponding to the nine cartridge-side terminals 431 to 439 of the circuit board 400 in the cartridge 20. The number of device-side terminals is not limited to nine and can be changed to an arbitrary number, which may be nine or less, or nine or more.

  FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the terminal block 700. FIG. 17 shows the terminal block 700 removed from the holder 600. The nine device-side terminals 731 to 739 in the terminal block 700 are provided at positions corresponding to the nine cartridge-side terminals 431 to 439 on the circuit board 400 of the cartridge 20, respectively. On the −Z-axis direction side of the device-side slope 708 of the terminal block 700, five device-side terminals 735 to 739 are arranged in parallel along the Y-axis, and + Z-axis is more than these five device-side terminals 735 to 739. On the direction side, four device side terminals 731 to 734 are arranged in parallel along the Y axis.

  The device side terminals 731 to 739 are formed of an elastic member having electrical conductivity. The device-side terminals 731 to 739 protrude from the device-side inclined surface 708, respectively, and the cartridge-side inclined surface 408 of the cartridge 20 is pushed back when the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 600 (the direction toward the + Z-axis direction). The urging force Pt is generated.

  In the present embodiment, among the nine device-side terminals 731 to 739, the device-side terminal 737 located at the center in the Y-axis direction is a “ground terminal” that is electrically connected to a ground line (not shown), that is, “ "Device side ground terminal". The device-side terminal 737 that is the device-side ground terminal is in contact with the cartridge-side terminal 437 (FIG. 12) that is the cartridge-side ground terminal when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600.

  In the present embodiment, the height at which the device side terminal 737 protrudes from the device side inclined surface 708 is higher than the other device side terminals 731 to 736, 738, and 739. As a result, the device-side terminal 737 contacts the cartridge-side terminal 437 (FIG. 12), which is the cartridge-side ground terminal, before the other device-side terminals 731 to 736, 738, and 739.

  FIG. 39 is an exploded perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the terminal block 700. The terminal block 700 includes a base 710 and device side terminals 731 to 739.

  The base 710 includes a plurality of slits 712 that hold the device-side terminals 731 to 739 so as to be elastically deformable. In the present embodiment, the base 710 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having the device-side inclined surface 708 as one of the surfaces. In the present embodiment, the base 710 is formed of an electrically insulating resin.

  The device side terminals 731 to 739 are members having electrical conductivity and elasticity, and in the present embodiment, the device side terminals 731 to 739 are metal plate-like members. In the present embodiment, the device-side terminals 731 to 739 include a connecting portion 752, a fixing portion 754, a first beam portion 756, a second beam portion 758, a device-side contact portion 760, and a contact portion 770. . A first beam portion 756, a fixing portion 754, and a second beam portion 758 are arranged in this order in the connecting portion 752, and are connected to each other via the connecting portion 752. The fixing part 754 is a part shorter than the first beam part 756 and the second beam part 758, and the device-side terminals 731 to 739 are fixed to the base part 710 via the fixing part 754.

  One end of the first beam portion 756 is supported by the connecting portion 752, and the other end is formed with a device side contact portion 760 configured to be able to contact the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439. In the present embodiment, the device side contact portion 760 is formed as a triangular apex. When the first beam portion 756 receives a force from the device-side contact portion 760, the first beam portion 756 is elastically deformed with the connection position 750c between the first beam portion 756 and the connection portion 752 as the rotation center. In the present embodiment, the first beam portion 756 is longer than the second beam portion 758. Thereby, when the 1st beam part 756 elastically deforms, the distance which the apparatus side contact part 760 moves can be earned.

  One end of the second beam portion 758 is supported by the connecting portion 752, and a contact portion 770 configured to be able to contact a terminal on the substrate 790 fixed to the holder 600 is formed at the other end. . In the present embodiment, the contact portion 770 is formed as a triangular apex. When the second beam portion 758 receives a force from the contact portion 770, the second beam portion 758 elastically deforms with the connection position between the second beam portion 758 and the connection portion 752 as the rotation center.

  FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the device-side terminals 731 to 739 have started to contact the circuit board 400 when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600. FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the mounting of the cartridge 20 to the holder 600 is completed.

  As will be described in detail later, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, the cartridge 20 is rotated clockwise with the second locking position 620L as the rotation fulcrum as viewed from the + Y-axis direction side. When the rotation of the cartridge 20 with the second locking position 620L as the rotation fulcrum proceeds, the device side contact portions 760 of the device side terminals 731 to 739 are connected to the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 at the contact point Pfc shown in FIG. The cartridge side contact portion 460 starts to contact. The device side contact portions 760 of the device side terminals 731 to 734 are positioned on the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side of the device side contact portions 760 of the device side terminals 735 to 739, and the cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 are connected. Each cartridge side contact portion 460 is located on the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side with respect to each cartridge side contact portion 460 of the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439.

  As shown in FIG. 40, the device-side contact portions 760 of the device-side terminals 731 to 734 are located on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dfc1 from the second locking position 620L. That is, the cartridge side contact portions 460 of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 are positioned on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dfc1 from the second locking position 620L.

  As shown in FIG. 40, the device-side contact portions 760 of the device-side terminals 735 to 739 are located on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dfc2 from the second locking position 620L. That is, the cartridge side contact portions 460 of the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 are positioned on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dfc2 from the second locking position 620L.

  40, when the rotation of the cartridge 20 with the second locking position 620L as the rotation fulcrum further proceeds, the device-side terminals 731 to 739 are on the + Z-axis direction side and + X-axis direction side with respect to the device-side contact portions 760. Elastic deformation progresses with the connecting position 750c located on the side as the center of rotation. Thereafter, when the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is locked to the first device side locking portion 810, the device side contact portions 760 of the device side terminals 731 to 739 at the contact point Psc shown in FIG. And the contact with the cartridge side contact portions 460 of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 41, the device-side contact portions 760 of the device-side terminals 731 to 734 are located on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dsc1 from the second locking position 620L. That is, the cartridge side contact portions 460 of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 434 are positioned on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dsc1 from the second locking position 620L.

  As shown in FIG. 41, the device-side contact portions 760 of the device-side terminals 735 to 739 are positioned on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dsc2 from the second locking position 620L. That is, the cartridge side contact portions 460 of the cartridge side terminals 435 to 439 are positioned on the −Z axis direction side with a distance Dsc2 from the second locking position 620L.

  FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of wiping between the cartridge side contact portion 460 and the apparatus side contact portion 760. FIG. 42A shows a state of wiping when the contact point Pfc at which the cartridge side contact portion 460 starts to contact the device side contact portion 760 is located on the −Z axis direction side from the second locking position 620L. Illustrated. FIG. 42B illustrates a state of wiping when the contact point Pfc at which the cartridge side contact portion 460 starts to contact the device side contact portion 760 is located on the + Z-axis direction side from the second locking position 620L. did.

  42A and 42B schematically show the positional relationship between the second locking position 620L, the contact point Pfc, and the connection position 750c on the X axis and the Z axis. The positional relationship between FIG. 42 (A) and FIG. 42 (B) is the same except that the position of the second locking position 620L on the Z-axis is different. An arc RT3 in FIGS. 42A and 42B is a rotation locus obtained by rotating the contact point Pfc around the connection position 750c. An arc RT4 in FIGS. 42A and 42B is a rotation locus obtained by rotating the contact point Pfc around the second locking position 620L.

  As shown in FIGS. 42A and 42B, when the contact point Pfc is located on the −Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side with respect to the connection position 750c, the state shown in FIG. 40 is changed to the state shown in FIG. As the mounting of the cartridge 20 proceeds, the apparatus side contact portion 760 moves to the + X axis direction side. The movement distance on the X axis of the apparatus side contact portion 760 at that time is defined as a distance Lh.

  As shown in FIG. 42A, when the contact point Pfc is located on the −Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side with respect to the second locking position 620L, the cartridge 20 moves from the state of FIG. 40 to the state of FIG. When the mounting of the cartridge proceeds, the cartridge side contact portion 460 moves to the −X axis direction side. In this case, the moving distance on the X axis of the cartridge side contact portion 460 is defined as a distance Lc1.

  As shown in FIG. 42B, when the contact point Pfc is located on the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side from the second locking position 620L, the cartridge 20 moves from the state of FIG. 40 to the state of FIG. As the mounting proceeds, the cartridge side contact portion 460 moves to the + X axis direction side. In this case, the moving distance on the X axis of the cartridge side contact portion 460 is defined as a distance Lc2.

  The wiping amount between the cartridge side contact part 460 and the apparatus side contact part 760 is the difference between the movement distance on the X axis of the cartridge side contact part 460 and the movement distance on the X axis of the apparatus side contact part 760. This is the distance projected on the cartridge side inclined surface 408. That is, the larger the difference between the movement distance on the X axis of the cartridge side contact portion 460 and the movement distance on the X axis of the apparatus side contact portion 760, the larger the wiping amount.

  In the case of FIG. 42A, since the cartridge side contact portion 460 and the apparatus side contact portion 760 move in different directions on the X axis, the movement distance on the X axis of the apparatus side contact portion 760 and the cartridge side contact The difference from the movement distance on the X axis of the part 460 is “Lh + Lc1”. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 42B, since the cartridge side contact portion 460 and the device side contact portion 760 move in the same direction on the X axis, the movement distance of the device side contact portion 760 on the X axis. And the difference between the movement distance on the X axis of the cartridge side contact portion 460 is “Lh−Lc2”. Therefore, in FIG. 42A where the contact point Pfc is located on the −Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking position 620L, the contact point Pfc is positioned on the + Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking position 620L. The wiping amount can be significantly increased as compared with FIG. That is, in FIG. 42A in which the cartridge side contact portion 460 is located on the −Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking position 620L, the cartridge side contact portion 460 is in the + Z axis direction with respect to the second locking position 620L. The amount of wiping can be significantly increased as compared with FIG. 42B located on the side.

  Returning to the description of FIGS. 13 to 16, in the present embodiment, a pair of first engaging portions 632 are provided on the + Y axis direction side and the −Y axis direction side of the terminal block 700. The pair of first engaging portions 632 have surfaces parallel to the Z axis and the X axis, respectively, and engage with the pair of first engaging surfaces 230 of the cartridge 20 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600. It is configured. Thereby, the positional deviation of the circuit board 400 with respect to the terminal block 700 can be prevented, and the positional deviation between the apparatus side terminals 731 to 739 and the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, a pair of second engagement portions 634 are provided on the + Y axis direction side and the −Y axis direction side of the terminal block 700 and inside the pair of first engagement portions 632. The pair of second engaging portions 634 have surfaces parallel to the Z-axis and the X-axis, respectively, and engage with the pair of second engaging surfaces 240 of the cartridge 20 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600. It is configured. Thereby, the positional deviation of the circuit board 400 with respect to the terminal block 700 can be prevented, and the positional deviation between the apparatus side terminals 731 to 739 and the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, a fitting portion 636 is provided adjacent to the end of the terminal block 700 on the −Z axis direction side. The fitting portion 636 is configured to fit between the pair of protruding portions 250 of the cartridge 20 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600. Thereby, the positional deviation of the circuit board 400 with respect to the terminal block 700 can be prevented, and the positional deviation between the apparatus side terminals 731 to 739 and the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 can be prevented.

  A lever 800 is rotatably provided on the wall portion 603 side of the holder 600. The lever 800 is formed of a member separate from the five wall portions 601, 603, 604, 605, and 606 in the holder 600. The lever 800 is made of resin, and in this embodiment, is formed of a material (for example, polyacetal (POM)) that can obtain higher rigidity than polypropylene (PP).

  As shown in FIG. 16, the lever 800 has a rotation center 800c on the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side from the device-side terminals 731 to 739. The lever 800 is formed with an operation portion 830 and a first device side locking portion 810. The operation unit 830 is positioned on the + Z-axis direction side with respect to the rotation center 800c, and the first device-side locking unit 810 is positioned on the −Z-axis direction side with respect to the rotation center 800c.

  An operation unit 830 is provided at the end of the lever 800 on the + Z axis direction side. The operation unit 830 is configured to be able to receive an operation force Pr directed toward the −X axis direction by the user from the wall 603 side (+ X axis direction side) to the −X axis direction side. When the operation force Pr by the user is applied to the operation unit 830, the lever 800 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the + Y-axis direction side about the rotation center 800c.

  A first device side locking portion 810 is provided at the end of the lever 800 on the −Z axis direction side. The first device-side locking portion 810 locks the first cartridge-side locking portion 210 at a first locking position 810L located on the −Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side with respect to the rotation center 800c. It is configured to be possible. In the present embodiment, the first device side locking portion 810 has a first device side locking surface 811 and a second device side locking surface 813. The first device side locking surface 811 is a flat surface facing the −Z-axis direction in a state of being positioned at the first locking position 810L, and is engaged with the first locking surface 211 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210. It is configured to be possible. The second device side locking surface 813 is a flat surface facing the −X axis direction in the state of being positioned at the first locking position 810L, and is engaged with the third locking surface 213 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210. It is configured to be possible.

  In the present embodiment, the lever 800 is configured such that the position of the first device-side locking portion 810 is the first locking position 810L when the cartridge 20 is not mounted. In another embodiment, the standby position of the lever 800 may be a position where the first device-side locking portion 810 is closer to the −X-axis direction side than the first locking position 810L, or the first device The side locking portion 810 may be located on the + X axis direction side from the first locking position 810L.

  In the present embodiment, the elastic member 682 is provided on the −Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side with respect to the rotation center 800 c of the lever 800. The elastic member 682 abuts on the lever 800 and elastically deforms when the lever 800 rotates in the rotational direction in which the first device side locking portion 810 moves to the + X axis direction side from the first locking position 810L. By doing so, the lever 800 is urged in a direction in which the lever 800 is pushed back.

  FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the lever 800. As shown in FIG. 18, an operation part 830 is formed at the end of the lever 800 on the + Z direction side, and the end opposite to the operation part 830 across the rotation center 800c, that is, the −Z direction side. A first device side locking portion 810 is formed at the end of the first device side.

  The first device side locking portion 810 is formed with a first device side locking surface 811 and a second device side locking surface 813 which are two surfaces intersecting each other. The second device side locking surface 813 is located farther from the rotation center 800c than the first device side locking surface 811 and is adjacent to the end portion 818 of the lever 800 on the −Z direction side.

  In the present embodiment, at the position where the first device side locking surface 811 and the second device side locking surface 813 intersect, the first device side locking surface 811 and the second device side locking surface 813 are the first. A groove portion 815 is formed so as to be easily engaged with the cartridge side locking portion 210. In the present embodiment, the groove 815 has a shape in which the first device side locking surface 811 is extended and the second device side locking surface 813 side is notched.

  The lever 800 has a pair of wall portions 860 that face each other in the Y-axis direction. The pair of wall portions 860 are erected on the lever 800-X-axis direction side surface. The pair of wall portions 860 are formed between the operation portion 830 and the first device side locking portion 810 from the end portion in the + Z direction to the end portion in the −Z direction. The distance in the Y-axis direction between the pair of wall portions 860 is larger than the length in the Y-axis direction of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 in the cartridge 20. In the present embodiment, the outer surfaces of the pair of wall portions 860, that is, the surface on the + Y axis direction side of the wall portion on the + Y axis direction side and the surface on the −Y axis direction side of the wall portion on the −Y axis direction side are the lever 800. Part of both side surfaces of

  Between the pair of wall portions 860, a flat surface 822 and an inclined surface 824 are formed in order from the operation portion 830 toward the first device side locking portion 810. In the present embodiment, the plane 822 is a plane parallel to the second device side locking surface 813, and the inclined surface 824 is connected to the plane 822, gradually from the plane 822 toward the first device side locking portion 810. The plane is inclined so as to rise in the −X axis direction. In the present embodiment, a surface end portion 828 having a gentler inclination than the inclined surface 824 is formed between the inclined surface 824 and the first device side locking surface 811. The pair of wall portions 860, the flat surface 822, the inclined surface 824, and the surface end portion 828 have a function as a guide portion when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600 and when the cartridge 20 is removed from the holder 600. When the cartridge 20 is attached and detached, the movement of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 in the Y-axis direction is restricted by the pair of wall portions 860, and the first cartridge side is restricted by the flat surface 822, the inclined surface 824, and the surface end portion 828. By restricting the movement of the locking portion 210 in the X-axis direction, the cartridge 20 can be smoothly guided to the correct mounting position in the holder 600, and the cartridge 20 can be smoothly removed from the holder 600. Become. In another embodiment, instead of the flat surface 822, the inclined surface 824, and the surface end portion 828, a smooth curved surface is formed between the pair of wall portions 860 from the operation portion 830 to the first device side locking portion 810. May be.

  In this embodiment, in order to escape the extended surface 218 formed on the cartridge 20 in order to prevent the lever 800 from climbing up, a notch surface 870 in which a part of the inclined surface 824 corresponding to the position of the extended surface 218 is cut out. Is formed. In the present embodiment, the notch surface 870 is a plane parallel to the second device side locking surface 813 and is formed from the groove portion 815 toward the rotation center 800c.

  In the present embodiment, a contact portion 880 is formed on the back side of the first device side locking portion 810. The contact portion 880 is configured to be able to temporarily contact an elastic member 682 provided in the holder 600 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600 and when the cartridge 20 is removed from the holder 600.

  A pair of rotation shaft portions 850 for determining the position of the rotation center 800 c are formed on the outer surfaces of the pair of wall portions 860. The pair of rotation shaft portions 850 is provided at a position substantially in the middle of the length of the lever 800 in the Z-axis direction. One of the pair of rotation shaft portions 850 protrudes in the −Y-axis direction from the surface on the −Y-axis direction side of the −Y-axis direction side wall portion, and the other of the pair of rotation shaft portions 850 + Y-axis on the + Y-axis direction side wall portion It protrudes from the surface on the direction side in the + Y-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the pair of rotation shaft portions 850 are shafts having a fan-shaped cross section, and have an inner arc surface 852, an outer arc surface 854, and radial side surfaces 856 and 858. The inner circular arc surface 852 is a side surface of a portion corresponding to the central angle of the fan shape, and the outer circular arc surface 854 is a side surface of a portion corresponding to the fan-shaped arc. Each of the arcs forming the inner arc surface 852 and the outer arc surface 854 is centered on the rotation center 800c. Radial side surfaces 856 and 858 are side surfaces of a portion corresponding to a sector-shaped radius. The radial side surface 856 is a plane substantially along the first device side locking surface 811, and the radial side surface 858 is a plane approximately along the second device side locking surface 813.

  FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly structure of the lever 800 with respect to the holder 600. The lever 800 is rotatably assembled to the holder 600 by being held by the first holding member 650 and the second holding member 680. FIG. 19 illustrates a configuration of a part for holding one lever 800 rather than the entirety of the first holding member 650 and the second holding member 680. The first holding member 650 and the second holding member 680 are made of resin, and are formed of a material (for example, ABS resin) capable of obtaining higher rigidity than polypropylene (PP) in this embodiment. .

  The first holding member 650 includes a pair of standing portions 651 and a through hole 658. In the present embodiment, the first holding member 650 is formed with a first engagement portion 632, a second engagement portion 634, and a fitting portion 636. The pair of upright portions 651 in the first holding member 650 are provided upright with an interval in which the lever 800 can be received. The pair of standing portions 651 are respectively formed with bearing portions 654 that can receive the rotation shaft portion 850 of the lever 800. In the present embodiment, an engagement hole 656 that engages with the second holding member 680 is formed in each of the pair of standing portions 651.

  The second holding member 680 includes a pair of standing portions 681 and a through hole 688. In the present embodiment, an elastic member 682 is formed on the second holding member 680. The pair of standing portions 681 in the second holding member 680 are erected with the same interval as the pair of standing portions 651 in the first holding member 650. Each of the pair of standing portions 681 is formed with a sealing surface 684 that seals the bearing portion 654 so that the rotation shaft portion 850 of the lever 800 does not come off from the bearing portion 654. In the present embodiment, the pair of standing portions 681 are respectively formed with engaging convex portions 686 that engage with the engaging holes 656 of the first holding member 650.

  When the lever 800 is assembled to the holder 600, the lever 800 is paired by fitting the rotating shaft portions 850 of the lever 800 into the bearing portions 654 of the pair of standing portions 651 in the first holding member 650. It installs between the standing part 651 of this. After that, by engaging the first holding member 650 and the second holding member 680, each bearing portion 654 in which the rotation shaft portion 850 of the lever 800 is fitted is replaced with each blockade of the second holding member 680. Sealed with face 684. Thereafter, the first holding member 650 and the second holding member 680 are fastened to the holder 600 with screws using the through holes 658 and 688, so that the lever 800 can be rotatably assembled to the holder 600. it can.

  Returning to the description of FIGS. 13 to 16, the wall portion 604 of the holder 600 is provided with a second device-side locking portion 620. The second device side locking portion 620 can be locked to the second cartridge side locking portion 220 at a second locking position 620L located on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side of the ink supply tube 640. It is configured.

  In the present embodiment, the second device side locking portion 620 is a through-hole having a size that can receive the second cartridge side locking portion 220 and has a device side locking surface 622. The device-side locking surface 622 is a flat surface facing the −Z-axis direction, and is configured to be able to engage with the second locking surface 222 of the second cartridge-side locking portion 220. An end 624 on the + X-axis direction side of the device-side locking surface 622 becomes a rotation fulcrum of the cartridge 20 with respect to the holder 600 by engaging with the second cartridge-side locking portion 220 when the cartridge 20 is detached. .

  A space portion 670 is provided on the wall portion 604 of the holder 600 on the + Z-axis direction side of the second device side locking portion 620. The space portion 670 forms a space in the wall portion 604 for rotating the cartridge 20 with the second device side locking portion 620 as a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge 20 is attached and detached. In the present embodiment, the space portion 670 is a stepped portion in which the wall portion 604 is lowered stepwise in the −X axis direction toward the + Z axis direction. In another embodiment, the space portion 670 may be an inclined surface in which the wall portion 604 is continuously lowered in the −X axis direction toward the + Z axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the first device-side locking surface 811 of the first device-side locking portion 810 located at the first locking position 810L is the device-side locking of the second device-side locking portion 620. The distance Dz from the surface 622 is provided on the −Z axis direction side, that is, on the wall portion 601 side. In other words, the device-side locking surface 622 is positioned at a distance Dz from the first device-side locking surface 811 located at the first locking position 810L, and is the + Z-axis direction side, that is, the holder in the use state of the printer 50. It is provided on the upper side of 600. Accordingly, as described with reference to FIG. 6, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 and the first device side locking portion 810 are locked when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600. Can be strong.

A-5. Detachment of cartridge from holder:
20, 21, and 22 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the attaching / detaching operation of the cartridge 20 with respect to the holder 600. 20 to 22 show the cartridge 20 and the holder 600 cut at a position corresponding to FIG.

  When the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 600, as shown in FIG. 20, the cartridge 20 is moved in the −Z-axis direction from the second cartridge side locking portion 220 side to the inside of the holder 600, and the second The cartridge side locking portion 220 is inserted into the second device side locking portion 620. In the state shown in FIG. 20, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 in the cartridge 20 is located on the + Z-axis direction side of the first device side locking portion 810 in the lever 800 on the holder 600 side.

  Next, from the state shown in FIG. 20, the second cartridge side locking portion 220 inserted in the second device side locking portion 620 is used as a rotation fulcrum, that is, clockwise from the + Y-axis direction side, that is, Then, the cartridge 20 is rotated so that the third surface 203 side is pushed toward the wall portion 601 side of the holder 600. Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is guided between the pair of wall portions 860 in the lever 800 so that the movement in the Y-axis direction is restricted, and the pair of walls The movement in the X-axis direction is restricted by contacting the plane 822 between the portions 860, and the movement proceeds in the -Z-axis direction.

  The cartridge 20 is further rotated so as to push the third surface 203 side of the cartridge 20 from the state shown in FIG. Then, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is further pushed in the −Z axis direction, and proceeds from the flat surface 822 of the lever 800 to the inclined surface 824. Then, as shown in FIG. 22, when the lever 800 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the + Y-axis direction side, the inclined surface 824 of the lever 800 approaches a state parallel to the Z-axis. In the state shown in FIG. 22, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 advances in the −Z axis direction on the inclined surface 824 approaching the state parallel to the Z axis. At this time, in the present embodiment, the contact portion 880 on the back surface of the lever 800 contacts the elastic member 682 and receives an urging force from the elastic member 682 to push the lever 800 clockwise when viewed from the + Y-axis direction side. This urging force is an external force including a component in the −Z-axis direction. That is, the rotation area of the lever 800 is limited by the elastic member 682. The state in which the lever 800 abuts against the elastic member 682 is urged from the state shown in FIG. 22 until the cartridge 20 is further pushed in and the first cartridge side locking portion 210 gets over the inclined surface 824 of the lever 800. Maintained.

  When the cartridge 20 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. 22 and the first cartridge side locking portion 210 passes through the inclined surface 824 of the lever 800 and gets over the surface end portion 828, as shown in FIG. Returns to the original position, and the first device side locking portion 810 moves to the first locking position 810L to lock the first cartridge side locking portion 210. Further, the ink supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 is connected to the ink supply tube 640, and the second cartridge side locking portion 220 and the second device side locking portion 620 are engaged. Thereby, the mounting of the cartridge 20 to the holder 600 is completed. Further, when the cartridge 20 is correctly mounted at the designed mounting position, the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 and the apparatus side terminals 731 to 739 are electrically connected, and a signal is transmitted between the cartridge 20 and the printer 50. Transmission takes place.

  In the present embodiment, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 passes through the inclined surface 824 of the lever 800 and gets over the surface end portion 828, and at the same time, the elastic member 682 is separated from the contact portion 880 on the back surface of the lever 800. . Thus, a click feeling can be given to the user when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600.

  In the present embodiment, when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600, the elastic member 682 is not in contact with the lever 800 and does not apply an external force. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the lever 800 from being deformed by being always urged by the elastic member 682.

  In another embodiment, the elastic member 682 may be in contact with the lever 800 even when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, and the lever 800 may be biased in a direction including a component in the −X axis direction. Thus, a click feeling can be given to the user more strongly when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600. In other embodiments, the elastic member 682 may be omitted. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced. An embodiment in which the elastic member 682 is omitted will be described in a second embodiment.

  23 and 24 are cross-sectional views showing the structure in the vicinity of the lever 800 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600. FIG. The state of the lever 800 shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 is a state in which the first device side locking portion 810 is locked to the first cartridge side locking portion 210 at the first locking position 810L.

  FIG. 23 shows a cross section of the lever 800 that locks the cartridge 20 in the holder 600 taken along a plane that passes through the first device side locking surface 811 and is parallel to the X axis and the Y axis. FIG. 24 shows a cross section of the lever 800 that locks the cartridge 20 in the holder 600 taken along a plane that passes through the cut-out surface 870 and is parallel to the X axis and the Y axis. In FIGS. 23 and 24, the projected shape of the pivot shaft portion 850 of the lever 800 is illustrated by a broken line, and the projected shape of the bearing portion 654 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line.

  As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the inner arc surface 852 and the outer arc surface 854 of the rotation shaft portion 850 come into contact with the bearing portion 654, thereby determining the position of the rotation center 800 c of the lever 800. When the lever 800 continues to rotate counterclockwise when viewed from the + Y-axis direction side, the radial side surface 856 of the rotation shaft portion 850 contacts the bearing portion 654, thereby causing a counterclockwise lever as viewed from the + Y-axis direction side. 800 rotations are limited. When the lever 800 continues to rotate clockwise as viewed from the + Y-axis direction side, the radial side surface 858 of the rotation shaft portion 850 contacts the bearing portion 654, so that the lever 800 rotated clockwise as viewed from the + Y-axis direction side. Rotation is limited. Accordingly, the lever 800 can be stably rotated, and the cartridge 20 can be held in a stable state at the designed mounting position.

  As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the first device-side locking surface 811 of the first device-side locking portion 810 engages with the first locking surface 211 of the first cartridge-side locking portion 210. . As a result, the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction is restricted in a state where the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600. In the present embodiment, in order to smoothly attach and detach the latch with the first cartridge side latching section 210, the first device side latching surface 811 has a cross section parallel to the X axis and the Z axis as a rotation center. It is formed as a curved surface that becomes an arc centered on 800c.

  As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the second device side locking surface 813 of the first device side locking portion 810 engages with the third locking surface 213 of the first cartridge side locking portion 210. . As a result, in the state where the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600, the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + X-axis direction is restricted. In the present embodiment, the second device-side locking surface 813 is formed as a plane that is parallel to the Y-axis and the Z-axis while being engaged with the third locking surface 213.

  As shown in FIG. 24, in the state where the first apparatus side locking portion 810 is locked to the first cartridge side locking portion 210, the extended surface is formed in the space above the cutout surface 870 where the inclined surface 824 is cut out. A part of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 including 218 is stored. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the extension surface 218 from inhibiting the locking between the first device side locking portion 810 and the first cartridge side locking portion 210.

  FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the cartridge 20 has moved in the −Z-axis direction from the state of FIG. FIG. 25 assumes a state in which when the user mounts the cartridge 20 in the holder 600, the user pushes the cartridge 20 further in the −Z-axis direction than the state shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, when the cartridge 20 moves further in the −Z-axis direction than the state in which the first device side locking portion 810 is locked to the first cartridge side locking portion 210. The second device side locking surface 813 on the lever 800 side engages with an extended surface 218 that extends the third locking surface 213 in the + Z-axis direction side. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the end portion 818 on the −Z direction side of the lever 800 from riding on the first locking surface 211 on the cartridge 20 side. In the present embodiment, when the force for moving the cartridge 20 in the −Z-axis direction is removed from the state of FIG. 25, the cartridge 20 and the lever 800 return to the state of FIG.

  FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the cartridge 20 is moved in the −Z-axis direction from the state corresponding to FIG. 23 in another embodiment in which the extended surface 218 is omitted. Similarly to FIG. 25, FIG. 26 assumes a state where the user has pushed the cartridge 20 too much in the −Z-axis direction when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600. As shown in FIG. 26, in another embodiment in which the extension surface 218 is omitted, when the second device side locking surface 813 on the lever 800 side gets over the third locking surface 213 on the cartridge 20 side, the + Y axial direction side The lever 800 rotates clockwise as viewed, and the end portion 818 on the −Z direction side of the lever 800 rides on the first locking surface 211 on the cartridge 20 side. In another embodiment of FIG. 26, even if the force for moving the cartridge 20 in the −Z-axis direction is removed, the state of FIG. 26 is maintained. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 26, while pressing the cartridge 20 in the −Z-axis direction, pushing the operation unit 830 in the −X-axis direction and rotating the lever 800 counterclockwise when viewed from the Y-axis direction side, The ride on the lever 800 can be released.

  Next, an operation when removing the cartridge 20 from the holder 600 will be described. When removing the cartridge 20 from the holder 600, the user pushes the operation unit 830 of the lever 800 in the −X-axis direction from the state shown in FIG. That is, the operation force Pr toward the −X axis direction side is applied to the operation unit 830 of the lever 800. Then, the lever 800 moves the first device side locking portion 810 in the direction including the + X axial direction component around the rotation center 800c. As a result, the engagement between the first cartridge side locking portion 210 and the first device side locking portion 810 is released, and the state shown in FIG. 22 is obtained. Thereafter, the user grasps the protruding portion 260 or the like, and uses the second cartridge side locking portion 220 inserted into the second device side locking portion 620 as a rotation fulcrum, as viewed from the + Y axis direction side. By moving the third surface 203 side of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction while rotating the cartridge 20 clockwise, the state of FIG. 21 and further the state of FIG. 20 are obtained. Finally, the user can remove the cartridge 20 from the holder 600 by gripping the third surface 203 side of the cartridge 20 and pulling out the second cartridge side locking portion 220 from the second device side locking portion 620. .

A-6. effect:
According to the first embodiment described above, since the lever 800 is provided not on the cartridge 20 side but on the holder 600 side, the cartridge 20 can be reduced in size. Further, since the distance between the side wall (third surface 203) of the cartridge 20 and the lever 800 can be reduced and the lever 800 can be reduced, the printer 50 and the printing material supply system 10 can also be reduced in size. Further, since there is no need to provide the lever 800 in the cartridge 20, the degree of freedom of the material used for the outer shell of the cartridge can be increased. That is, since a relatively high rigidity material can be selected as these materials, the possibility of plastic deformation as described above can be reduced. Therefore, the cartridge 20 can be held in a stable state at the designed mounting position.

  Further, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, as shown in FIG. 42A, the second on the second locking surface 222 with respect to the rotation trajectory of the device side contact portion 760 toward the + X axis direction side. Since the rotation locus of the cartridge side contact portion 460 with the locking position 620L as the rotation center is directed in the −X axis direction, the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 and the apparatus can be mounted while enabling the cartridge 20 to be mounted at the designed mounting position. The wiping amount between the side terminals 731 to 739 can be remarkably increased.

  Further, in a state where the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600, the urging forces Ps and Pt from the holder 600 to the cartridge 20 are locked between the first cartridge side locking portion 210 and the first device side locking portion 810. Acts in a direction that strengthens the lens (a direction that includes the + X-axis component and the + Z-axis component), so that the cartridge 20 is prevented from being detached from the designed mounting position, and the cartridge 20 is stable at the designed mounting position Can be held in. Further, since the lever 800 is provided not on the cartridge 20 side but on the holder 600 side, the cartridge 20 can be reduced in size. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the lever 800 in the cartridge 20, the degree of freedom of the material used for the first surface 201 to the eighth surface 208 of the cartridge 20 can be increased.

B. Second embodiment:
FIGS. 27, 28, 29, and 30 are explanatory views showing the attaching / detaching operation of the cartridge 20 with respect to the holder 600A in the second embodiment. The printing material supply system 10A of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the elastic member 682 that biases the lever 800 is not provided in the holder 600A. About the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, while attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol, description is abbreviate | omitted. The configuration of the cartridge 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 27 corresponds to the state of FIG. 20 in the first embodiment. FIG. 28 corresponds to the state of FIG. 21 in the first embodiment. FIG. 29 corresponds to the state of FIG. 22 in the first embodiment. FIG. 30 corresponds to the state of FIG. 5 in the first embodiment, and shows a mounted state in which the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 600A.

  When the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 600A, as shown in FIG. 27, the cartridge 20 is moved in the −Z-axis direction from the second cartridge side locking portion 220 side to the inside of the holder 600A, while the second The cartridge side locking portion 220 is inserted into the second device side locking portion 620.

  From the state shown in FIG. 27, the cartridge 20 is rotated clockwise as viewed from the + Y-axis direction side, with the second cartridge side locking portion 220 inserted into the second device side locking portion 620 as a rotation fulcrum. As shown in FIG. 28, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is guided between the pair of wall portions 860 of the lever 800, and on the plane 822 between the pair of wall portions 860 in the −Z-axis direction. Proceed to

  When the cartridge 20 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. 28 and the first cartridge side locking portion 210 advances from the flat surface 822 of the lever 800 to the inclined surface 824, as shown in FIG. 29, the + Y axis direction side When the lever 800 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the side, the inclined surface 824 of the lever 800 approaches a state parallel to the Z axis. In the state shown in FIG. 29, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 advances in the −Z-axis direction on the inclined surface 824 that approaches the state parallel to the Z-axis.

  When the cartridge 20 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. 29 and the first cartridge side locking portion 210 passes through the inclined surface 824 of the lever 800 and gets over the surface end portion 828, as shown in FIG. The lever 800 returns to the original position, and the first device side locking portion 810 moves to the first locking position 810L and locks the first cartridge side locking portion 210. Thereby, the mounting of the cartridge 20 to the holder 600A is completed.

  When removing the cartridge 20 from the holder 600A, from the state shown in FIG. 30, by applying an operating force Pr toward the −X axis direction side to the operating portion 830 of the lever 800, the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is provided. And the first device side locking portion 810 are disengaged, and the state shown in FIG. 29 is obtained. Thereafter, the cartridge 20 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the + Y-axis direction side with the second cartridge side locking portion 220 inserted into the second apparatus side locking portion 620 as a rotation fulcrum. Is moved in the + Z-axis direction, the removal of the cartridge 20 from the holder 600A is completed.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained except for the effects brought about by the elastic member 682. Since the printing material supply system 10A of the second embodiment does not include the elastic member 682, the manufacturing cost can be reduced more than the printing material supply system 10 of the first embodiment.

C. Third embodiment:
FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20A in the third embodiment. The difference from the cartridge 20 (FIG. 7) of the first embodiment is that the dimensions of the cartridge 20A and the direction in which the cartridge 20A is mounted in a holder (not shown) are not the vertical direction but the horizontal direction. Since the other cartridge configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and descriptions thereof are omitted. Further, since the size and mounting direction of the cartridge 20A are different from those in the first embodiment, the size of the holder and the position and orientation in the printer are also different from those in the printer of the first embodiment. Since it is the same as that of embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted. The cartridge 20 of the first embodiment is a form suitable for an on-carriage type or a small printer, while the cartridge 20A of the third embodiment is a form suitable for an off-carriage type or a large printer. However, any cartridge can be applied to any type of printer regardless of whether it is an on-carriage type, an off-carriage type, a large size, or a small size.

  As shown in FIG. 31, the cartridge 20A of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the third surface 203 to the sixth surface 206 have a shape extending in the + Z-axis direction. In the third embodiment, the cartridge 20A increases in the order of the length in the Y-axis direction, the length in the X-axis direction, and the length in the Z-axis direction. In the third embodiment, the Z-axis direction in which the cartridge 20A is attached and detached is a horizontal direction. Then, the cartridge 20A is attached to and detached from the holder 600 in such a direction that the direction from the lower side to the upper side in the gravity direction (vertical direction) is the + X axis direction.

  The third embodiment can also obtain the same effects as the first embodiment.

D. Variations:
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to such embodiment at all, Of course, it can implement with various forms within the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. is there.

D-1. Modified example of the first cartridge side locking portion:
FIG. 32 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the first cartridge side locking portion 210. 32, six different shapes of the first cartridge side locking portions 210A to 210F are shown in FIGS. 32 (A) to 32 (F), respectively.

  The first cartridge side locking portion 210A in FIG. 32A is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the inclined surface 216 is omitted. 32B is the same as that of the first embodiment except that an extended surface 218 is formed on the −Y axis direction side. The first cartridge side locking portion 210C in FIG. 32C is the same as that of the first embodiment except that an extended surface 218 is formed at the center in the Y-axis direction.

  The first cartridge side locking portion 210D in FIG. 32D is the same as that of the first embodiment except that an inclined surface 216 is formed in the entire region of the end portion on the −Z axis direction side. The first cartridge side locking portion 210E in FIG. 32E is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the extended surface 218 is omitted. The first cartridge side locking portion 210F in FIG. 32 (F) is the same as in the first embodiment except that the inclined surface 216 and the extended surface 218 are omitted.

  A lever 800 corresponding to the modification of FIGS. 32A and 32D is the same as that of the first embodiment. The lever 800 corresponding to the modified example of FIGS. 32B and 32C is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the position of the notch surface 870 is different. A lever 800 corresponding to the modified examples of FIGS. 32E and 32F is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the cut-out surface 870 can be omitted.

D-2. Modified examples of the second cartridge side locking portion and the second device side locking portion:
FIG. 33 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the second cartridge side locking portion 220 and the second device side locking portion 620. Three different forms of the second cartridge side locking portion 220 and the second device side locking portion 620 are shown in FIGS. 33 (A) to 33 (C), respectively.

  33A, the second cartridge side locking portion 220A is formed as a concave portion, and the second apparatus side locking portion 620A is formed as a convex portion. This is the same as the embodiment.

  In the modification of FIG. 33 (B), the second cartridge side locking portion 220 has the same shape as that of the first embodiment, but the second device side locking portion 620B is formed as a convex portion. That is, it is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the second device side locking portion 620B is formed as a convex portion.

  In the modified example of FIG. 33C, the second cartridge side locking portion 220C is formed as a high step on the −Z axis direction side in the −Z axis direction side, and the second device side locking portion 620C is + Z. Except for the point that the axial direction side is formed as a high step on the + X axial direction side, it is the same as in the first embodiment.

D-3. Examples of cartridge appearance variations:
FIG. 34 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the appearance of the cartridge. FIG. 34 shows six different modifications of the appearance of the cartridge in FIGS. 34 (A) to 34 (F), respectively. The same components as those of the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The outer shell of the cartridge 20a shown in FIG. 34A has an oval or oval side surface. A first cartridge side locking portion 210 and a circuit board 400 are provided on the front side of the cartridge 20a. An ink supply port 280 is formed on the bottom surface side of the cartridge 20a. A second cartridge side locking portion 220 is formed on the back side of the cartridge 20a. When the cartridge 20a is viewed from the front side, the cartridge 20a has a certain width.

  The cartridge 20b of FIG. 34B is the same as the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment except that the eighth surface 208 is not connected to the −Z axis direction side of the third surface 203.

  The cartridge 20c of FIG. 34C is the same as the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment except that the eighth surface 208 is extended to the first surface 201 and the seventh surface 207 is omitted.

  The cartridge 20d shown in FIG. 34D has a shape in which a portion where the second surface 202 and the third surface 203 intersect is cut out, and the first surface 201 is inclined to the eighth surface 208 to form a seventh surface. Except for the point that 207 is omitted, it is the same as the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment.

  The cartridge 20e of FIG. 34E is the same as the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment except that the circuit board 400 is attached to the eighth surface 208 via a spring.

  The cartridge 20f shown in FIG. 35 (F) is configured such that a surface 208f corresponding to the eighth surface 208 is movable, and the circuit board 400 is provided on the surface 208f. 20 is the same.

  Each of the cartridges 20a to 20f of the modified examples of FIG. 34 includes the first cartridge side locking portion 210, the second cartridge side locking portion 220, the ink supply port 280, and the circuit board 400. It is provided at a position corresponding to the cartridge 20 of the embodiment. As a result, any of the cartridges 20a to 20f of the modified examples has compatibility with the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment.

  As can be understood from the respective modifications of FIG. 34, various modifications can be considered for the outer shape of the cartridge. Even when the outer shape of the cartridge has a shape other than a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, for example, as shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 34 (A) and 34 (D), six surfaces of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped, First surface (bottom surface) 201, second surface (upper surface) 202, third surface (front surface) 203, fourth surface (rear surface) 204, fifth surface (left side surface) 205, and FIG. The sixth side (right side) 206 can be considered virtually. In this specification, the term “plane” is used to refer to both such a virtual plane (also referred to as a virtual plane or a non-existing plane) and a real plane as described in FIGS. It is used in the meaning including. Further, in this specification, the term “surface” is used in a meaning including both a plane and a curved surface.

D-4. Cartridge with adapter:
FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20 i using the adapter 299. The cartridge 20i is configured to be separable into a housing member 200i and an adapter 299. The accommodation member 200i has a printing material accommodation unit 200 that accommodates the printing material therein. When the printing material is exhausted from the printing material storage unit 200, it is possible to replace the storage member 200i with a new one or supply the printing material storage unit 200 with the printing material. The adapter 299 can be reused when the housing member 200i is replaced or the printing material is replenished. The cartridge 20i of FIG. 35 is compatible with the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The outer shell 22 i of the cartridge 20 i is configured by a combination of the outer shell of the housing member 200 i and the outer shell of the adapter 299. The storage member 200 i includes an ink flow path 282 and a foamed resin body 284 in addition to the printing material storage unit 200.

  The accommodating member 200i of the cartridge 20i includes a second surface 202i corresponding to the second surface 202 of the cartridge 20i. The housing member 200i includes a first surface 201i, a third surface 203i, a fourth surface 204i, a fifth surface (not shown), a first surface corresponding to the first surface 201 and the third to eighth surfaces 203 to 208 of the cartridge 20i. A sixth surface 206i, a seventh surface 207i, and an eighth surface 208i are provided.

  The first surface 201i and the second surface 202i face each other in the Z-axis direction, and the first surface 201i is located on the −Z-axis direction side and the second surface 202i is located on the + Z-axis direction side. The third surface 203i and the fourth surface 204 face each other in the X-axis direction, the third surface 203i is positioned on the + X-axis direction side, and the fourth surface 204i is positioned on the −X-axis direction side. The fifth surface (not shown) and the sixth surface 206i face each other in the Y-axis direction, the fifth surface (not shown) is located on the + Y-axis direction side, and the sixth surface 206i is located on the −Y-axis direction side. The seventh surface 207i and the eighth surface 208i form a connection surface that connects the first surface 201i and the third surface 203i.

  The seventh surface 207i is a surface that intersects the first surface 201i at a right angle. The seventh surface 207 i is a surface (YZ plane) parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis. The seventh surface 207i as the step surface is a surface erected with respect to the first surface 201i. That is, the seventh surface 207i is a surface extending in the + Z-axis direction from the first surface 201i. The seventh surface 207i is located on the −X axis direction side and the −Z axis direction side with respect to the eighth surface 208i.

  The eighth surface 208i is a surface that connects the seventh surface 207i and the third surface 203i. The eighth surface 208i is a slope inclined toward the direction including the components in the + X axis direction and the −Z axis direction. The eighth surface 208i is a surface inclined with respect to the first surface 201i and the third surface 203i. The eighth surface 208i is a surface that intersects the fifth surface (not shown) and the sixth surface 206i at a right angle. The eighth surface 208i is inclined with respect to the XY plane and the YZ plane, and intersects the XZ plane at a right angle.

  The adapter 299 of the cartridge 20i is a surface corresponding to the first surface 201, the third surface 203, the fourth surface 204, the fifth surface 205, the sixth surface 206, the seventh surface 207, and the eighth surface 208 of the cartridge 20i. Is provided. Of the surfaces of the adapter 299, the surface corresponding to the second surface 202 of the cartridge 20i is an opening. Inside the adapter 299, a space for receiving the housing member 200i is formed. An ink supply port 280 is provided on the first surface 201 of the adapter 299.

  The configuration of the cartridge 20i of FIG. 35 is the same as that of the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7 including the modification except that the receiving member 200i and the adapter 299 can be separated as described above. . In other embodiments and other modifications, a configuration in which the housing member and the adapter can be separated as in the cartridge 20i in FIG. 35 may be applied. In addition, although the dimension and ratio of each part in the cartridge 20i of FIG. 35 may be different from those in the first embodiment, the dimensions and ratio may be the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a cartridge 20j using an adapter. The cartridge 20j is configured to be separable into a housing member 200j and an adapter 299j. The accommodation member 200j has a printing material accommodation unit 200 that accommodates the printing material therein. When the printing material is exhausted from the printing material storage unit 200, it is possible to replace the storage member 200j with a new one or supply the printing material storage unit 200 with the printing material. The adapter 299j can be reused when the housing member 200j is replaced or the printing material is supplied. The cartridge 20j of FIG. 36 is compatible with the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The outer shell 22j of the cartridge 20j is configured by a combination of the outer shell of the housing member 200j and the outer shell of the adapter 299j. The storage member 200j includes a printing material storage unit 200 and an ink supply port 280.

  The accommodating member 200j of the cartridge 20j includes a second surface 202j and a sixth surface 206j corresponding to the second surface 202 and the sixth surface 206 of the cartridge 20j, respectively. The housing member 200j includes a first surface 201j and a third surface corresponding to the first surface 201, the third surface 203, the fourth surface 204, the fifth surface 205, the seventh surface 207, and the eighth surface 208 of the cartridge 20j, respectively. 203j, a fourth surface 204j, a fifth surface (not shown), a seventh surface 207j, and an eighth surface 208j.

  The first surface 201j and the second surface 202j are opposed to each other in the Z-axis direction, and the first surface 201j is located on the −Z-axis direction side and the second surface 202j is located on the + Z-axis direction side. The third surface 203j and the fourth surface 204j face each other in the X-axis direction, the third surface 203j is positioned on the + X-axis direction side, and the fourth surface 204j is positioned on the −X-axis direction side. The fifth surface (not shown) and the sixth surface 206j face each other in the Y-axis direction, the fifth surface (not shown) is located on the + Y-axis direction side, and the sixth surface 206j is located on the −Y-axis direction side. The seventh surface 207j and the eighth surface 208j form a connection surface that connects the first surface 201j and the third surface 203j.

  The seventh surface 207j is a surface that intersects the first surface 201j at a right angle. The seventh surface 207j is a surface (YZ plane) parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis. The seventh surface 207j as the step surface is a surface erected with respect to the first surface 201j. That is, the seventh surface 207j is a surface extending in the + Z-axis direction from the first surface 201j. The seventh surface 207j is located on the −X axis direction side and the −Z axis direction side with respect to the eighth surface 208j.

  The eighth surface 208j is a surface connecting the seventh surface 207j and the third surface 203j. The eighth surface 208j is a slope inclined toward the direction including the components in the + X axis direction and the −Z axis direction. The eighth surface 208j is a surface inclined with respect to the first surface 201j and the third surface 203j. The eighth surface 208j is a surface that intersects the fifth surface (not shown) and the sixth surface 206j at a right angle. The eighth surface 208j is inclined with respect to the XY plane and the YZ plane, and intersects the XZ plane at a right angle.

  The adapter 299j of the cartridge 20j includes surfaces corresponding to the first surface 201, the third surface 203, the fourth surface 204, and the fifth surface 205 of the cartridge 20j. Of the surfaces of the adapter 299j, the surfaces corresponding to the second surface 202 and the sixth surface 206 of the cartridge 20j are openings. A space for receiving the housing member 200j is formed inside the adapter 299j. The adapter 299j has an opening in a part of the first surface 201, through which the ink supply port 280 of the storage member 200j is exposed and connected to the ink supply tube 640.

  The configuration of the cartridge 20j of FIG. 36 is the same as that of the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7 including the modification, except that it can be separated into the housing member 200j and the adapter 299j as described above. . In other embodiments and other modifications, a configuration in which the housing member and the adapter can be separated as in the cartridge 20j of FIG. 36 may be applied.

  In the cartridge 20j in FIG. 36, the shape of the first cartridge side locking portion 210 is simplified as compared with the first embodiment (see FIG. 7), but the same as in the first embodiment. It is good also as a shape. In addition, the dimensions and ratios of the respective parts of the cartridge 20j in FIG. 36 may be the same dimensions and ratios as in the first embodiment, although there are portions that are different from those in the first embodiment. In the cartridge 20j of FIG. 36, the protruding portion 260 is omitted, but the protruding portion 260 may be provided as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a cartridge 20k using an adapter. The cartridge 20k includes an adapter 299k, an external tank 200T, a tube 200L, and an auxiliary adapter 200S. The adapter 299k of the cartridge 20k has the same configuration as the adapter 299j of FIG.

  The external tank 200T of the cartridge 20k accommodates the printing material inside. In the present embodiment, the external tank 200T is installed outside the printer 50 shown in FIG. The printing material of the external tank 200T is supplied to the auxiliary adapter 200S through the tube 200L. The auxiliary adapter 200S of the cartridge 20k has an ink supply port 280k corresponding to the ink supply port 280.

  The external tank 200T, the auxiliary adapter 200S, and the tube 200L function as a storage member 200k that stores ink. That is, as indicated by a dotted line in the drawing, the cartridge 20k in FIG. 37 can be regarded as having the accommodating member 200k. The outer shell 22k of the cartridge 20k is configured by a combination of the outer shell of the virtual housing member 200k and the outer shell of the adapter 299k.

  As described above, the cartridge 20k in FIG. 37 can be regarded as being configured to be separable into the housing member 200k and the adapter 299j, like the cartridge 20i in FIG. 35 and the cartridge 20j in FIG. When the printing material runs out of the external tank 200T, it is possible to replace the external tank 200T with a new one or supply the printing material to the external tank 200T. The adapter 299k can be reused when the external tank 200T is replaced or the printing material is replenished. The cartridge 20k in FIG. 37 is compatible with the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The configuration of the cartridge 20k of FIG. 37 is the same as that of the cartridge 20 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7 including the modification, except that it can be separated into the housing member 200k and the adapter 299k as described above. . In other embodiments and other modifications, a configuration in which the housing member and the adapter can be separated as in the cartridge 20k of FIG. 37 may be applied.

D-5. Modified Example Regarding Circuit Board 400 and Terminal Arrangement In the embodiment described above, the circuit board 400 is provided in the cartridge 20. However, in the other embodiments, the circuit board 400 may not be provided in the cartridge 20. That is, the cartridge side terminal may be formed directly on the eighth surface 208. In this case, the cartridge side inclined surface 408 is the surface of the eighth surface 208.

  In addition, part of the wiring formed on the circuit board 400 and the storage device 420 may be provided on a surface other than the eighth surface 208. For example, wiring, a storage device 420, and cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are provided on a flexible printed circuit board having a larger area than the circuit board 400, and the flexible printed circuit board is bent, and the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are formed on the eighth surface. Alternatively, a part of the wiring or the storage device 420 may be disposed on the fifth surface 205 adjacent to the eighth surface.

  Further, the arrangement of the cartridge side terminals and the apparatus side terminals may be one row instead of two rows, or three or more rows.

  Further, the shape and arrangement of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are not limited to those shown in FIG. FIG. 38 is a view showing a modification of the shape of the cartridge side terminal. The circuit boards 400A, 400B, and 400C of the modification shown in FIG. 38 are the same as the circuit board 400 of FIG. 12A except that the surface shapes of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are different.

  In the circuit board 400A of FIG. 38A, the surface shape of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 is not a substantially rectangular shape as in the circuit board 400 of FIG.

  In the circuit board 400B of FIG. 38B, the surface shapes of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are not substantially rectangular like the circuit board 400 of FIG. 12A, but are surrounded by irregular straight lines and curves. Shape.

  In the circuit board 400C of FIG. 38C, the surface shapes of the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are linear shapes having a predetermined width, and are the same shape. These cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are arranged in a line in the width direction. The cartridge side terminals (mounting detection terminals) 435 and 439 are arranged at both ends of the array in which the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 are arranged. The cartridge side terminal (mounting detection terminal) 431 is disposed between the cartridge side terminal (mounting detection terminal) 435 and the cartridge side terminal (power supply terminal) 436. The cartridge side terminal 434 (mounting detection terminal) is disposed between the cartridge side terminal 439 (mounting detection terminal) and the cartridge side terminal (data terminal) 438.

  Also in the circuit boards 400A, 400B, and 400C of the modified example shown in FIG. 38, the arrangement of the contact portions cp with the device side terminals corresponding to the cartridge side terminals 431 to 439 is the same as in the first embodiment of FIG. It is. As described above, the surface shape of each terminal can be variously modified as long as the arrangement of the contact portions cp is the same.

E. Other variations:
Among the constituent elements in the above-described embodiments, constituent elements that are not related to a specific purpose, function, and effect can be omitted. For example, instead of the storage device 420 of the cartridge 20, another electric device may be mounted.

  The various members in the above-described embodiment do not need to be configured as independent members, and a plurality of members may be integrally formed as necessary. Moreover, you may comprise one member in embodiment mentioned above by the combination of a some member.

The present invention can be applied not only to an ink jet printer and its ink cartridge, but also to any liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects liquid other than ink and its liquid container. For example, the present invention can be applied to the following various liquid ejecting apparatuses and the liquid storage containers.
・ Image recording devices such as facsimile devices ・ Color material injection devices used in the production of color filters for image display devices such as liquid crystal displays ・ Organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displays, surface emission displays (Field Emission Displays, FEDs), etc. Electrode material injection device used for electrode formation, Liquid injection device for injecting liquid containing bio-organic matter used for biochip manufacturing, Sample injection device as precision pipette, Lubricating oil injection device, Resin liquid injection device, Clock Transparent resin liquid such as UV curable resin liquid is used to form micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used for liquid injection devices and optical communication elements that inject lubricating oil onto precision machines such as cameras and cameras. Liquid jetting device that injects acidic or alkaline etching solution to etch liquid jetting devices and substrates A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head for ejecting droplets of equipment and any other small quantity

  The “droplet” refers to a state of liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and includes a liquid that pulls a tail in a string shape in addition to a granular liquid and a tear-like liquid. The “liquid” here may be any material that can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, the “liquid” may be a material in a state when the substance is in a liquid phase, and a material in a liquid state having high or low viscosity, and sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, Liquid materials such as liquid resins and liquid metals (metal melts) are also included in the “liquid”. Further, “liquid” includes not only a liquid as one state of a substance but also a liquid obtained by dissolving, dispersing or mixing particles of a functional material made of a solid such as a pigment or metal particles in a solvent. Further, representative examples of the liquid include ink and liquid crystal as described in the above embodiment. Here, the ink includes various liquid compositions such as general water-based ink and oil-based ink, gel ink, and hot-melt ink.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10A ... Printing material supply system 20, 20A, 20a-20f, 20i, 20j, 20k ... Cartridge 22i, 22j, 22k ... Outer shell 50 ... Printer 90 ... Printing medium 200 ... Printing material accommodating part 200L ... Tube 200S ... Auxiliary Adapter 200T ... External tank 200i, 200j, 200k ... Housing member 201-208 ... First surface to eighth surface 210, 210A-F ... First cartridge side locking portion 211 ... First locking surface 213 ... Third engagement Stop surface 216 ... Inclined surface 218 ... Extension surface 220, 220A, 220C ... Second cartridge side locking portion 222 ... Second locking surface 224 ... Inclined surface 230 ... First engagement surface 240 ... Second engagement surface 250 ... Protruding part 260 ... Protruding part 280, 280k ... Ink supply port 282 ... Ink flow path 284 ... Foamed resin body 288 ... Opening surface DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 90 ... Ink storage part 299 ... Adapter 299i, 299j, 299k ... Adapter 400, 400A, 400B, 400C ... Circuit board 401 ... Boss groove 402 ... Boss hole 408 ... Cartridge side slope 420 ... Storage device 431-439 ... Cartridge side terminal 510 Control unit 517 Flexible cable 520 Carriage 522 Carriage motor 524 Drive belt 532 Transport motor 534 Platen 540 Head 600, 600A Holder 601 603-606 Wall 620, 620A, 620B, 620C First 2 apparatus side latching | locking part 620L ... 2nd latching position 622 ... apparatus side latching surface 624 ... end part 632 ... 1st engagement part 634 ... 2nd engagement part 636 ... fitting part 640 ... ink supply pipe 642 ... tip 644 ... porous body 645 ... Base end portion 648 ... Elastic member 650 ... First holding member 651 ... Standing portion 654 ... Bearing portion 656 ... Engaging hole 658 ... Through hole 660 ... Elevating surface portion 670 ... Space portion 680 ... Second holding Member 681 ... Standing portion 682 ... Elastic member 684 ... Sealing surface 686 ... Engaging convex part 688 ... Through hole 700 ... Terminal block 708 ... Device side slope 710 ... Base 712 ... Slit 731 to 739 ... Device side terminal 750c ... Connection position 752 ... Connecting portion 754 ... Fixing portion 756 ... First beam portion 758 ... Second beam portion 760 ... Device side contact portion 770 ... Contact portion 790 ... Substrate 800 ... Lever 800c ... Rotation center 810 ... First device side locking 810L: first locking position 811: first device side locking surface 813 ... second device side locking surface 815 ... groove 818 ... terminal portion 822 ... plane 824 ... inclined surface 828 ... surface end 830 ... operation unit 850 ... rotating shaft 852 ... inner arcuate surface 854 ... outer arcuate surface 856 ... radial side 858 ... radial side 860 ... wall portion 870 ... notched surface 880 ... contact portion

Claims (12)

Removably attached to the cartridge attachment part of the printing device,
The cartridge mounting portion includes a printing material supply pipe, a device-side terminal, a lever, a first device-side locking portion, and a second device-side locking portion corresponding to each cartridge so that a plurality of cartridges can be mounted. Each is provided,
The printing material supply pipe has a tip portion connected to the cartridge,
An axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is a Z axis, a direction in which the printing material supply pipe and the apparatus-side terminal are arranged and a direction orthogonal to the Z axis is an X axis, the Z axis, and the The axis orthogonal to the X axis is the Y axis, the + Z axis direction from the proximal end portion of the printing material supply pipe toward the distal end portion, and the opposite is the −Z axis direction, and the device side terminal side from the printing material supply pipe When the + X-axis direction toward
The device-side terminal has a device-side contact portion that comes into contact with the cartridge, and is elastically deformed around the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as a rotation center relative to the device-side contact portion, and the + Z-axis direction The cartridge is configured to be electrically connectable with the cartridge by making contact with the cartridge while applying an urging force including the component of
The first device-side locking portion is configured as a part of the lever so that the cartridge can be locked on the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side with respect to the device-side terminal.
The second device side locking portion is configured to be able to lock the cartridge on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side of the printing material supply pipe,
The lever moves from the locking position to the + X-axis with the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as the rotation center from the locking position where the first device-side locking portion locks the cartridge. The cartridge is configured such that the cartridge can be locked and unlocked by the first device side locking portion by rotating so that the first device side locking portion moves in the direction. Because
When the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis with respect to the cartridge in a state of being mounted on the cartridge mounting portion are axes on the cartridge,
Two surfaces facing each other in the Z-axis direction, a first surface located on the −Z-axis direction side and a second surface located on the + Z-axis direction side;
A second surface that intersects the first surface and the second surface and faces in the X-axis direction, a third surface located on the + X-axis direction side, and a fourth surface located on the −X-axis direction side; ,
A second surface that intersects the first to fourth surfaces and opposes in the Y-axis direction, a fifth surface located on the + Y-axis direction side and a sixth surface located on the −Y-axis direction side;
An inclined surface provided at a corner portion connecting the first surface and the third surface, and inclined toward the −Z axis direction and the + X axis direction;
A printing material supply port provided on the first surface and configured to be connectable to the printing material supply pipe;
Provided on the inclined surface, and in contact with the device side terminal while receiving an urging force including the component in the + Z-axis direction from the device side terminal in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. A cartridge side terminal electrically connected to the apparatus side terminal;
A first cartridge side locking portion provided on the third surface;
A second cartridge side locking portion provided on the fourth surface,
The first cartridge side latching portion has a first latching surface facing the + Z-axis direction, and the first latching surface is in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. Locked to the first device side locking portion;
The second cartridge side latching portion has a second latching surface facing the + Z-axis direction, and the second latching surface is in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. Locked to the second device side locking portion;
The cartridge side terminal has a cartridge side contact portion that comes into contact with the device side terminal in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion,
The cartridge, wherein the cartridge side contact portion is provided on the −Z axis direction side with respect to the second locking surface. The cartridge according to claim 1,
The second cartridge side locking portion functions as a rotation fulcrum of the cartridge with respect to the cartridge mounting portion by engaging with the second device side locking portion when the cartridge is attached to and detached from the cartridge mounting portion. Consists of a cartridge.   3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the first locking surface is provided closer to the −Z-axis direction than the second locking surface.   The first locking surface and the second locking surface are provided at positions intersecting with a plane parallel to the Z axis and the X axis through the center of the width of the cartridge in the direction along the Y axis. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The first cartridge side locking portion further has a third locking surface facing the + X axis direction, and the third locking surface is in a state where the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. A cartridge that is locked to the first device side locking portion.   The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the printing material supply port is provided at a position closer to the fourth surface than the third surface. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
The fifth surface and the sixth surface have a pair of side surfaces configured to be engageable with the cartridge mounting portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
A seventh surface provided between the first surface and the third surface and extending from the first surface to the + Z-axis direction side;
An eighth surface provided between the first surface and the third surface, and connected to the seventh surface and the third surface;
The cartridge, wherein the inclined surface is provided on the eighth surface. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein
Furthermore, each of the seventh surface is provided with a pair of projecting portions that protrude from the side portions in the + Y-axis direction and the −Y-axis direction, and face each other in the Y-axis direction,
The pair of projecting portions is configured to be engageable with a fitting portion provided in the cartridge mounting portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
The cartridge side terminal and the apparatus side terminal are plural, and the plurality of cartridge side terminals are arranged corresponding to each of the plural apparatus side terminals,
Each cartridge-side contact portion of the plurality of cartridge-side terminals is a cartridge provided on the −Z-axis direction side with respect to the second locking surface. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein
One of the plurality of cartridge side terminals is a cartridge side ground terminal configured to be electrically connectable to a device side ground terminal connected to a ground line among the plurality of device side terminals,
The cartridge-side ground terminal is provided at the center of the width of the cartridge in the direction along the Y-axis, and when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the other cartridge in the plurality of cartridge-side terminals. A cartridge configured to contact the device-side ground terminal prior to contact with the device-side terminal by a side terminal. A printing material supply system,
A printing apparatus having a cartridge mounting portion;
The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the cartridge is detachably mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
In the cartridge mounting portion, a plurality of the cartridges can be mounted, corresponding to each cartridge, a printing material supply pipe, a device side terminal, a lever, a first device side locking portion, and a second device side locking portion. Are provided,
The printing material supply pipe has a tip portion connected to the cartridge,
An axis parallel to the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe is a Z axis, a direction in which the printing material supply pipe and the apparatus-side terminal are arranged and a direction orthogonal to the Z axis is an X axis, the Z axis, and the The axis orthogonal to the X axis is the Y axis, the + Z axis direction from the proximal end portion of the printing material supply pipe toward the distal end portion, and the opposite is the −Z axis direction, and the device side terminal side from the printing material supply pipe When the + X-axis direction toward
The device-side terminal has a device-side contact portion that comes into contact with the cartridge, and is elastically deformed around the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as a rotation center relative to the device-side contact portion, and the + Z-axis direction The cartridge is configured to be electrically connectable with the cartridge by making contact with the cartridge while applying an urging force including the component of
The first device-side locking portion is configured as a part of the lever so that the cartridge can be locked on the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side with respect to the device-side terminal.
The second device side locking portion is configured to be able to lock the cartridge on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side of the printing material supply pipe,
The lever moves from the locking position to the + X-axis with the + Z-axis direction side and the + X-axis direction side as the rotation center from the locking position where the first device-side locking portion locks the cartridge. The cartridge is configured such that the cartridge can be locked and unlocked by the first device-side locking portion by rotating so that the first device-side locking portion moves in the direction. Material supply system.

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