JP6010956B2 - Circuit board, printing material container, and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a circuit board, a printing material container, a printing apparatus, and the like.

  A circuit board is attached to a printing material container (ink cartridge or the like) of a printing apparatus such as an ink jet printer, and a storage device that stores printing material information such as ink information is mounted on the circuit board. The circuit board is provided with a terminal group for connecting to the connector terminal group on the printing apparatus main body side. As a conventional technique of such a circuit board, for example, there are techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

  In this circuit board, it is necessary to securely connect the connector terminal on the printer main body side and the terminal of the circuit board to transmit various signals.

  Until now, considering that the position of the connector terminal has a positional tolerance due to mechanical variation, etc., the terminal width of the circuit board is made sufficiently large so that the electrical connection between the connector terminal and the terminal is Secure connection.

  However, when the terminal width of the circuit board is increased in this way, there is a risk of increasing costs. In addition, there is a problem that the required specification of the design with respect to the location of the connector terminal becomes high.

JP 2002-198627 A JP 2007-196664 A

  According to some aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a circuit board, a printing material container, a printing apparatus, and the like that can ensure proper electrical connection between a connector terminal on the printing apparatus main body side and a terminal of the circuit board.

  One aspect of the present invention is a circuit board attached to a printing material container, and a terminal group connected to a connector terminal group on the printing apparatus body side when the printing material container is attached to the printing apparatus body. A width of the terminals of the terminal group in a first direction orthogonal to the mounting direction of the printing material container, when the printing material container is mounted. W2 is the width in the first direction of the connector terminal existing region of the connector terminal group, and W3 is the width in the first direction of the opening region of the protective film opened at the terminal position. In this case, the circuit board is related to W3> W2 ≧ W1.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the circuit board terminal width W1, the connector terminal existing area width W2, and the protective film opening area width W3 are set such that the relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established. A protective film or the like is formed. Therefore, compared with the conventional method of making the existence area width smaller than the terminal width, it becomes possible to reduce the requirement for the design tolerance of the existence position of the connector terminal, and it becomes possible to reduce the restriction on the design. . And it becomes possible to ensure proper electrical connection between the connector terminals.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the width W3 of the opening region of the protective film may be a first protective film boundary that is a boundary with a non-opening region on one side of the opening region, and a width of the other side of the opening region. It is a distance between the second protective film boundary that is a boundary with the non-opening region, and the presence region of the connector terminal is based on a positional tolerance of a location of the connector terminal when the printing material container is mounted. A width W2 of the existence region is defined by a first end face on the first protective film boundary side of the connector terminal when the connector terminal is positioned at the first position due to the positional tolerance. The distance between the connector terminal and the second end face on the second protective film boundary side of the connector terminal when the connector terminal is located at the second position due to the positional tolerance may be used.

  In this case, when the presence position of the connector terminal varies in the range of the first position to the second position due to the position tolerance, the first end surface of the connector terminal when the connector terminal is located at the first position, With respect to the distance W2 between the connector terminal and the second end surface when the connector terminal 2 is located at the position 2, a relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the width W1 of the terminal is set to a width at which the connector terminal contacts the terminal when the connector terminal is positioned at the first position or the second position. May be.

  In this case, when the connector terminal is located in the existence area, the connector terminal and the terminal of the circuit board are in contact with each other. In this state, the terminal width W1 of the circuit board, the existence area of the connector terminal With respect to the width W2 and the opening region width W3 of the protective film, the relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, W3> WP ≧ W1 may be satisfied, where WP is a distance between the first position and the second position in the first direction.

  In this way, the connector terminal is allowed to be located at the first position or the second position, which is the position outside the first end face or the second end face of the terminal of the circuit board. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the requirement for the design tolerance of the location of the connector terminal.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the distance in the first direction from the first protective film boundary to the first end surface of the terminal on the first protective film boundary side and the second protective film boundary When the distance in the first direction from the terminal to the second end face of the terminal on the second protective film boundary side is LH, and the width of the connector terminal in the first direction is LTM, WP ≦ W1 + 2 × (LH−LTM / 2) may be satisfied.

  In this way, it is possible to ensure that the connector terminal comes into contact with the terminal while the distance between the first position and the second position of the connector terminal is larger than the terminal width.

In one embodiment of the present invention, when the contact pressure of the connector terminal with respect to the terminal is 300 N / mm ² or more, W3> W2 ≧ W1 may be satisfied.

Thus, if the contact pressure of the connector terminal is set to 300 N / mm ² or more, the contact resistance value between the connector terminal and the terminal can be saturated, and even when the relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established. Therefore, it is possible to ensure proper electrical connection between the connector terminal and the terminal.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, a storage device that stores printing material information may be included, and the terminal may be a storage device terminal connected to the storage device.

  In the aspect of the invention, the terminal may be a mounting detection terminal used for detection of mounting of the printing material container.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction is a first direction, the mounting direction is a second direction, and a side facing the first side of the circuit board is a second side. In this case, the terminal group includes a first terminal group in which M terminals are arranged along the first direction on the second direction side of the first side of the circuit board; On the second direction side of one terminal group, there is a second terminal group in which N terminals (M and N are integers of 2 or more satisfying M <N) are arranged along the first direction. May be.

  Moreover, the other aspect of this invention is related with the printing material container containing the said circuit board in any one of said.

  Another aspect of the invention relates to a printing apparatus including the printing material container described above and the printing apparatus main body.

In another aspect of the present invention, the printer includes a holder for the printing material container, the holder having a contact mechanism having the connector terminal group, and the contact mechanism is configured to attach the printing material container when the printing material container is mounted. You may generate the pressing force from which the contact pressure of the said connector terminal with respect to the said terminal of the said circuit board of a printing material container becomes 300 N / mm < ² > or more.

In this way, if a pressing force is generated such that the contact pressure of the connector terminal is 300 N / mm ² or more, the contact resistance value between the connector terminal and the terminal can be saturated, and the relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established. Even when it is set to hold, it is possible to ensure proper electrical connection between the connector terminal and the terminal.

FIG. The perspective view which shows the example of a printing material container. The perspective view which shows the example of the holder which has a contact mechanism. The perspective view which shows the example of a contact mechanism. Explanatory drawing of mounting | wearing operation | movement of a printing material container. Explanatory drawing of mounting | wearing operation | movement of a printing material container. Explanatory drawing of mounting | wearing operation | movement of a printing material container. The perspective view which shows the other example of the holder which has a contact mechanism. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing other examples of the printing material container. The perspective view which shows the other example of a contact mechanism. FIG. 11A to FIG. 11E are explanatory diagrams of the mounting operation of the printing material container. The structural example of a circuit board. The structural example of a circuit board. Explanatory drawing about generation | occurrence | production of the foreign material at the time of mounting | wearing of a printing material container. Explanatory drawing of the method of this embodiment. The figure which shows the relationship between a contact pressure and required wiping amount. 17A and 17B show examples of the tip shape of the connector terminal. The figure which shows the relationship between the load per terminal and required wiping amount. The figure which shows the relationship between a contact pressure and required wiping amount. Explanatory drawing of the method of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the method of this embodiment. The figure which shows the change of the contact resistance value with respect to DR1 direction position. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of the characteristic measurement method of FIG. 22. The figure which shows the relationship between a contact pressure and a contact resistance value. The connection structural example of the circuit board of an apparatus side circuit board and a printing material container. 1 is a configuration example of a printing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The present embodiment described below does not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims, and all the configurations described in the present embodiment are indispensable as means for solving the present invention. Not necessarily.

1. Printing Device, Printing Material Container, Holder FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a printing device according to the present embodiment. This printing apparatus includes a printing apparatus main body and a printing material container 100 (in the narrow sense, an ink cartridge or a cartridge). In addition, an operation unit and a display unit (not shown) can be provided. The printing apparatus in FIG. 1 is an example of an inkjet printer.

  The printing apparatus main body includes a holder 510 (container mounting unit), a head 512, and a control unit 520. A carriage 514 is configured by the holder 510 and the head 512.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the type of printing apparatus in which the printing material container 100 is accommodated in the holder 510 on the carriage 514 that moves the head 512 is called an “on-carriage type”. It is not limited to this. For example, an “off-carriage type” in which an immovable holder 510 is disposed at a position different from the carriage 514 and ink from the printing material container 100 mounted on the holder 510 is supplied to the head 512 via a flexible tube. Also good.

  In FIG. 1, for example, six types of printing material containers 100 of black, yellow, magenta, light magenta, cyan, and light cyan are mounted on the holder 510. However, the type and number of printing material containers 100 to be mounted are not limited to this.

  The head 512 is configured to be relatively movable with respect to the print medium 530 (paper, label, or the like), and includes an ink discharge mechanism that discharges a printing material (ink in a narrow sense) to the print medium 530. The control unit 520 controls each unit of the printing apparatus, and is realized by a circuit board for main control of the printing apparatus.

  The printing apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a main scanning feed mechanism and a sub-scan feed mechanism. The main scanning feed mechanism is realized by a carriage motor 524 and a drive belt 526. Specifically, the carriage 514 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction by transmitting the power of the carriage motor 524 to the carriage 514 via the drive belt 526. The sub-scan feed mechanism is realized by a transport motor 528 and a platen 529. Specifically, the print medium 530 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction by transmitting the power of the conveyance motor 528 to the platen 529. These main scan feed mechanism and sub scan feed mechanism operate based on a control signal from the control unit 520.

  In FIG. 1 and the like, when the printing apparatus is in use, the axis along the sub-scanning direction (front-rear direction) in which the print medium 530 is conveyed is the X-axis, and the main scanning direction (left-right direction) for reciprocating the carriage 514 The along axis is the Y axis. The axis along the gravity direction (vertical direction) is taken as the Z axis.

  Next, a first example of the printing material container 100, the holder 510, and the contact mechanism 560 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the printing material container 100 of the first example. The printing material container 100 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped appearance. The outer shell of the printing material container 100 includes a front end surface (first surface) Sf, a rear end surface (second surface) Sr, a ceiling surface (third surface) St, and a bottom surface (fourth surface). Sb and two side surfaces (fifth and sixth surfaces) Sc and Sd are provided. 2 represents the mounting direction of the printing material container 100, and this mounting direction DIS is the negative direction (−Z direction) of the Z axis in FIG.

  Inside the printing material container 100, a printing material storage chamber 102 (ink storage chamber, ink storage bag) in which the printing material is stored is provided. On the front end surface Sf of the printing material container 100, a restricting portion 110 and a protruding portion 140 are provided. The circuit board 200 is attached to the inclined surface of the front end surface Sf, and a restricting portion 130 is provided. A printing material supply port 150 is provided on the bottom surface Sb of the printing material container 100. A restricting portion 120 is provided on the rear end surface Sr of the printing material container 100. The printing material container 100 is locked to the holder 510 by these restricting portions 110, 120, 130 and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the holder 510 of the first example. FIG. 3 shows a state in which one printing material container 100 (cartridge) is mounted on the holder 510 (a state in which the printing material container 100 is correctly mounted at the designed mounting position). In this mounted state, the terminals of the terminal group (terminal group of the circuit board) on the printing material container 100 side are in contact with the connector terminals of the connector terminal group of the holder 510 (connector terminal group of the contact mechanism). In this state, the printing material container 100 is located.

  The holder 510 is formed with a storage chamber 540 for the printing material container 100, and the storage chamber 540 is divided by a partition wall 542 into a plurality of slots (mounting spaces) that can receive the printing material containers 100. Has been. Each slot is provided with a printing material supply pipe 550, a contact mechanism 560, and a lever 590. The upper surface side (+ Z direction) of each slot is opened, and the printing material container 100 is attached to and detached from each slot of the holder 510 through this opening.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the contact mechanism 560 of the first example. FIG. 4 illustrates the contact mechanism 560 in a state of being removed from the holder 510.

The contact mechanism 560 includes a terminal block 562 and a connector terminal group 570 held by the terminal block 562. The connector terminals 571 to 579 of the connector terminal group 570 are elastic members having electrical conductivity, and a portion protruding from the terminal block side surface 564 of the terminal block 562 is displaced by receiving an external force. The contact mechanism 560 (connector terminals 571 to 579) generates an urging force in a direction in which the circuit board 200 of the printing material container 100 is pushed back in a state where the printing material container 100 is mounted on the holder 510. That is, the connector terminals 571 to 579 protruding from the terminal block side surface 564 are pushed toward the terminal block side surface 564 by the printing material container 100, and an urging force is generated by the reaction force. Accordingly, as described later, when the printing material container 100 is mounted, a pressing force (biasing force) is generated such that the contact pressure of the connector terminal with respect to the terminal of the circuit board 200 of the printing material container 100 is 300 N / mm ² . It becomes possible.

  5 to 7 are diagrams for explaining the mounting operation of the printing material container 100 (cartridge) to the holder 510 in the first example. 5 to 7 show cross-sectional views of the holder 510 and the printing material container 100. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the printing material container 100 is provided with restricting portions 110 and 120. The printing material container 100 is locked to the holder 510 by these restricting portions 110 and 120.

  The printing material container 100 is provided with a printing material supply port 150. When the printing material container 100 is mounted on the holder 510, the printing material supply port 150 is connected to the printing material supply pipe 550 of the holder 510. Connected to. As a result, the printing material (ink or the like) in the printing material container 100 is supplied to the head 512 in FIG.

  The front end of the printing material supply port 150 is open, and a foam resin 152 and a printing material channel 154 are provided inside the printing material supply port 150. The printing material flow path 154 communicates with the printing material accommodation chamber 102 of FIG. When the printing material container 100 is shipped from the factory, the opening of the printing material supply port 150 is sealed with a sealing material such as a cap or a film.

  A porous filter 552 for filtering the printing material is provided at the tip of the printing material supply pipe 550. Further, an elastic member 554 is provided around the printing material supply pipe 550, and the elastic member 554 seals the periphery of the printing material supply port 150 of the printing material container 100 in the mounted state, thereby preventing leakage of the printing material. Is done.

  Next, the mounting operation of the printing material container 100 on the holder 510 in the first example will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when mounting the printing material container 100, the printing material container 100 is inserted from the upper surface of the holder 510, and the restriction part 120 of the printing material container 100 is inserted into the restriction part 610 of the holder 510. To do.

  Next, the printing material container 100 is rotated in the clockwise direction when viewed from the + Y direction (positive direction of the Y axis) shown in FIG. 5 with the restricting portion 120 of the printing material container 100 as a rotation fulcrum.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the restricting portion 110 of the printing material container 100 is restricted in the −Z direction (the negative of the Z axis) while the movement of the Y axis and the X axis direction is restricted by the guide wall portion on the back surface of the lever 590. Direction). When the printing material container 100 is further rotated from the state shown in FIG. 6, the lever 590 is pushed by the restricting portion 110 and rotates about the point PTR in the counterclockwise direction as viewed from the + Y direction. . Accordingly, the lever 590 abuts on the elastic member 620 of the holder 510 and receives an urging force from the elastic member 620 in a direction in which the lever 590 is pushed back clockwise as viewed from the + Y direction. That is, the rotation region of the lever 590 is limited by the elastic member 620. This urging state by the elastic member 620 is maintained until the restricting portion 110 of the printing material container 100 gets over the guide wall portion on the back surface of the lever 590.

  When the restricting portion 110 gets over the guide wall portion of the lever 590, as shown in FIG. 7, the restricting portion 594 on the holder 510 side locks the restricting portion 110 of the printing material container 100 at the position of the point PTA. become. Then, the movement of the printing material container 100 in the + Z direction side and the + X direction side is restricted.

  Then, the printing material supply port 150 of the printing material container 100 is connected to the printing material supply pipe 550 of the holder 510, and the restriction parts 120 and 110 of the printing material container 100 are restriction parts 610 and 594 on the holder 510 side, respectively. Engagement of the printing material container 100 with the holder 510 is completed. Further, by correctly mounting the printing material container 100 at the designed mounting position, the connector terminal group (connector terminals 571 to 579) of the contact mechanism 560 and the terminal group of the circuit board 200 of the printing material container 100 Are electrically connected, and signal transmission between the printing apparatus main body and the printing material container 100 becomes possible. The operation unit 592 of the lever 590 is used when the user removes the printing material container 100 from the holder 510.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the mounted state of the printing material container 100, the terminal group of the circuit board 200 receives the pressing force FP due to the urging force by the contact mechanism 560, and thereby the terminals of the circuit board 200 and the contact points A contact pressure is generated between each connector terminal of the mechanism 560.

  Next, a second example of the printing material container 100, the holder 510, the contact mechanism 560, and the like according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the holder 510 of the second example. FIG. 8 shows a state where one printing material container 100 is mounted on the holder 510.

  The holder 510 is formed with a storage chamber for the printing material container 100, and the storage chamber is divided by a partition wall into a plurality of slots that can receive the printing material containers 100. Each slot is provided with a printing material supply pipe 550 and a contact mechanism 560. A printing material container 100 is inserted into each slot along the Z axis from the + Z direction in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the printing material container 100 of the second example. A printing material storage chamber 102 is provided inside the printing material container 100. A circuit board 200 is attached to the front end surface Sf of the printing material container 100. A printing material supply port 150 is provided on the bottom surface Sb of the printing material container 100.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a contact mechanism 560 of the second example. The contact mechanism 560 includes a terminal block 562 and a connector terminal group 570 held by the terminal block 562. The connector terminals 571 to 577 of the connector terminal group 570 are elastic members having electrical conductivity, and a portion protruding from the terminal block side surface 564 of the terminal block 562 is displaced by receiving an external force. The contact mechanism 560 generates a biasing force in a direction in which the circuit board 200 of the printing material container 100 is pushed back in a state where the printing material container 100 is mounted on the holder 510. Accordingly, as described later, when the printing material container 100 is mounted, a pressing force (biasing force) is generated such that the contact pressure of the connector terminal with respect to the terminal of the circuit board 200 of the printing material container 100 is 300 N / mm ² . It becomes possible.

  FIG. 11A to FIG. 11E are diagrams for explaining the mounting operation of the printing material container 100 to the holder 510 in the second example. 11A to 11E show the contact mechanism 560 and the circuit board 200 viewed from the + Y direction. At the time of mounting, the circuit board 200 moves along the mounting direction DIS that is the −Z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, first, the lower end LE (the end in the −Z direction) of the circuit board 200 contacts the connector terminals 571 and 572 of the contact mechanism 560. Then, when the circuit board 200 further moves in the −Z direction, the connector terminals 571 and 572 are pushed in the −X direction. The connector terminals 572 and 572 have elasticity, and the connector terminals 571 and 572 are biased in the + X direction. Therefore, the circuit board 200 moves in the −Z direction with the connector terminals 572 and 572 being in contact with the first surface SF1 of the circuit board 200.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11C, the lower end LE of the circuit board 200 is in contact with the connector terminals 573 to 577. These connector terminals 573 to 577 also have elasticity, and the connector terminals 573 to 577 are biased in the + X direction. Therefore, the circuit board 200 moves in the −Z direction in a state where the connector terminals 573 to 577 are in contact with the first surface SF1 of the circuit board 200.

  A storage device 203 is mounted on the second surface SF2 of the circuit board 200 as will be described later. The connector terminals 571 to 577 are electrically connected to the terminals of the main circuit board 800 on the printing apparatus main body side.

  FIG. 11D shows a state where the circuit board is further moved in the −Z direction from FIG. Finally, as shown in FIG. 11E, the mounting of the printing material container 100 is completed. In this mounted state, the terminals 211 and 212 of the printing material container 100 are in contact with the connector terminals 571 and 572 of the contact mechanism 560, and the terminals 213 to 217 are in contact with and electrically connected to the connector terminals 573 to 577. . As a result, signals can be transmitted between the printing apparatus main body and the printing material container 100.

  As shown in FIG. 11E, when the printing material container 100 is mounted, the terminal group of the circuit board 200 receives the pressing force FP due to the urging force by the contact mechanism 560, and thereby the terminal of the circuit board 200. A contact pressure is generated between each terminal of the group and each connector terminal of the connector terminal group of the contact mechanism 560.

2. Configuration of Circuit Board FIGS. 12 and 13 show a configuration example of the circuit board 200 of the present embodiment. 12 is a view of the circuit board 200 as viewed from the first surface SF1 side (front surface side), and FIG. 13 is a view of the circuit board 200 as viewed from the second surface SF2 side (back surface side).

  The first surface SF <b> 1 of the circuit board 200 is exposed to the outside in a state where the circuit board 200 is attached to the printing material container 100 (FIGS. 2, 9 </ b> A, and 9 </ b> B). Surface. The second surface SF2 is the back surface of the first surface SF1. Further, a direction DIS in FIG. 12 indicates a mounting direction of the printing material container 100 to the holder 510. This mounting direction DIS coincides with the −Z direction, which is the mounting direction of the printing material container 100 shown in FIGS.

  The circuit board 200 is provided with fixing holes HL (boss holes) for attaching the circuit board 200 to the printing material container 100. Further, the circuit board 200 is provided with fixing grooves NT1, NT2, and NT3 (boss grooves).

  In FIGS. 12 and 13, the direction orthogonal to the first direction DR1 is defined as the second direction DR2. The direction opposite to the first direction DR1 is defined as a third direction DR3, and the direction opposite to the second direction DR2 is defined as a fourth direction DR4. Here, the second direction DR2 coincides with the mounting direction DIS, and the first direction DR1 is a direction orthogonal to the mounting direction DIS.

  The substantially rectangular circuit board 200 has first to fourth sides SD1 to SD4. The side facing the first side SD1 is the second side SD2, and the side facing the third side SD3 is the fourth side SD4. The first and second sides SD1 and SD2 and the third and fourth sides SD3 and SD4 intersect (orthogonal) at least at their extension lines. In addition, a notch part is provided in the corner part corresponding to the crossing position of 1st-4th edge | side SD1-SD4, or it is curvilinear.

  The circuit board 200 of this embodiment attached to the printing material container 100 includes a storage device 203, a circuit element 210, and a terminal group (TA1, TA2). The terminal group is a terminal provided on the circuit board 200 shown in FIG. 2 or 9A.

  A storage device 203 illustrated in FIG. 13 stores printing material information. This printing material information is information relating to the printing material stored in the printing material container 100, and is, for example, ink amount information (ink consumption information or remaining ink information), ink color information, and the like. Further, the storage device 203 can further store printing material container information that is information about the printing material container 100. The printing material container information is, for example, ID information or manufacturing information of the printing material container 100. The storage device 203 is realized by, for example, a nonvolatile memory (EEPROM or the like).

  A circuit element 210 shown in FIG. 13 is an element for various detections, for example, a resistance element (RD). The circuit element 210 may be a passive element (such as a capacitor) or an active element (such as a semiconductor element) other than the resistance element.

  The terminal group (TA1, TA2) includes a plurality of terminals provided on the circuit board 200. Specifically, the terminal group includes a plurality of storage device terminals (RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, SDA) connected to the storage device 203. The terminal group includes at least one detection terminal (DT1, DT2) connected to the circuit element 210. This terminal group is connected to connector terminals (571 to 579 in FIG. 4 and 571 to 577 in FIG. 10) on the printing apparatus main body side when the printing material container 100 is mounted on the printing apparatus main body (holder). is there.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, terminal groups (TA1, TA2) are arranged on the first surface SF1 of the circuit board 200. The first surface SF1 is a connection side surface of the connector terminal on the printing apparatus main body side. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13, the storage device 203 and the circuit element 210 are arranged (mounted) on the second surface SF <b> 2 that is the back surface of the first surface SF <b> 1 of the circuit board 200.

  Specifically, the terminal group provided on the first surface SF1 of the circuit board 200 includes a first terminal group TA1 and a second terminal group TA2.

  The first terminal group TA1 is a terminal group in which M terminals are arranged along the first direction DR1 on the second direction DR2 side of the first side SD1 of the circuit board 200. On the other hand, the second terminal group TA2 is a terminal group in which N terminals are arranged along the first direction DR1 on the second direction DR2 side of the first terminal group TA1. Here, M and N are integers of 2 or more that satisfy M <N, and the number M of terminals in the first terminal group TA1 is smaller than the number N of terminals in the second terminal group TA2.

  Specifically, each terminal of the first and second terminal groups TA1 and TA2 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and is arranged so as to form two rows perpendicular (substantially perpendicular) to the mounting direction DIS. . For example, among these two columns, a column along the first line A1 on the near side in the mounting direction DIS (a column positioned on the upper side in FIG. 12) is an upper column (first column), and the column in the mounting direction DIS A row (row located in the lower side in FIG. 12) along the second line A2 on the back side (tip side in the mounting direction) is defined as a lower row (second row). In this case, the first terminal group TA1 is a terminal group in the upper row along the line A1, and the second terminal group TA2 is a terminal group in the lower row along the line A2. These lines A1 and A2 can also be considered as lines formed by contact portions CP of a plurality of terminals. The contact portion CP is a portion where a connector terminal provided in the holder for connecting the apparatus-side circuit board and the circuit board 200 comes into contact with each terminal when the printing material container 100 is mounted on the printing apparatus main body. It is.

  That is, each terminal includes a contact portion CP in contact with a corresponding connector terminal among the plurality of connector terminals on the printing apparatus main body side at the center thereof. The contact portions CP of the terminals of the first terminal group TA1 along the line A1 and the contact portions CP of the terminals of the second terminal group TA2 along the line A2 are alternately arranged, so-called staggered. Make up the arrangement. That is, the terminals of the first terminal group TA1 and the terminals of the second terminal group TA2 are arranged in a staggered manner so that the terminal centers are not aligned in the mounting direction DIS. ing.

Next, each terminal of the terminal groups TA1 and TA2 will be described in more detail. In FIG. 12, terminals CO1, RST, SCK, CO2 of the terminal group TA1 arranged along the upper line A1, and terminals DT1, VDD, VSS, of the terminal group TA2 arranged along the lower line A2. Each of SDA and DT2 has the following functions (uses).
<Terminal group TA1>
(1) First short-circuit detection terminal CO1
(2) Reset terminal RST
(3) Clock terminal SCK
(4) Second short-circuit detection terminal CO2
<Terminal group TA2>
(5) First mounting detection terminal DT1
(6) Power supply terminal (first power supply terminal) VDD
(7) Ground terminal (second power supply terminal) VSS
(8) Data terminal SDA
(9) Second mounting detection terminal DT2
The first and second attachment detection terminals DT1 and DT2 are used when detecting whether or not the printing material container 100 is correctly attached to the holder 510. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the second surface SF <b> 2 of the circuit board 200 has a first connection line LD <b> 1 having one end connected to one end of the circuit element 210, and one end connected to the circuit element 210. A second connection line LD2 connected to the other end is wired. The other end of the first connection line LD1 is connected to the first detection terminal DT1 of the first surface SF1 through the first through hole TC1 of the circuit board 200 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the other end of the second connection line LD2 is connected to the second detection terminal DT2 of the first surface SF1 through the second through hole TC2 of the circuit board 200 as shown in FIG.

  The first and second short circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 are used for short circuit detection between the terminals. Specifically, it is used when detecting a short circuit between at least one of the first and second mounting detection terminals DT1 and DT2 and the first and second short circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2. These first and second short-circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 are connected via a connection line LC. That is, on the first surface SF1 of the circuit board 200, the first and second short circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 are short-circuited by the connection line LC. The terminals CO1 and CO2 can also be used as cartridge-out detection terminals. The other five terminals RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, and SDA are terminals for the storage device 203 and are also referred to as “memory terminals”.

  Specifically, the reset terminal RST, the clock terminal SCK, the power supply terminal VDD, the data terminal SDA, and the ground terminal VSS are electrically connected to the storage device 203. The storage device 203 does not have an address terminal, and a memory cell to be accessed is determined based on the number of pulses of the clock signal input from the clock terminal SCK and command data input from the data terminal SDA, and is synchronized with the clock signal. Then, data is received from the data terminal SDA, or data is transmitted from the data terminal SDA. The clock terminal SCK is used to supply a clock signal from the printing apparatus main body side.

  The contact portions of the first and second short-circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 of the terminal group TA1 are arranged at both ends of the terminal group TA1, that is, the outermost side of the terminal group TA1. Further, the contact portions of the first and second mounting detection terminals DT1 and DT2 of the terminal group TA2 are arranged at both ends of the terminal group TA2, that is, the outermost side of the terminal group TA2. The contact portions of the storage device terminals RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, and SDA are collectively arranged at the center in the region where the entire nine terminals are arranged. The contact portions of the first and second short-circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 and the first and second mounting detection terminals DT1 and DT2 are at the four corners of the set of storage device terminals RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, and SDA. Is arranged.

3. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and FIGS. 11 (A) to 11 (E), when the printing material container 100 is mounted, the tip of the connector terminal on the printer main body side is the circuit board. It moves while rubbing on the protective film (resist) 200. If the protective film is destroyed by the rubbing of the tip of the connector terminal and foreign matter such as shaving powder (shaving residue) of the protective film is generated, contact failure may occur due to the foreign matter. That is, when the foreign matter is sandwiched between the terminal of the circuit board 200 and the connector terminal, the electrical conductivity between the terminal of the circuit board 200 and the connector terminal is deteriorated, resulting in poor electrical contact. There is a fear.

  For example, in FIG. 14, when the printing material container 100 is mounted, the connector terminal on the printing apparatus main body side moves on the circuit board 200 as indicated by E1. For example, the mounting direction DIS is a second direction DR2, and the opposite direction is a fourth direction DR4. In this case, the tip of the connector terminal moves along the fourth direction DR4 as shown by E1 and overshoots, then returns along the second direction DR2, and stops at the contact position ( Lock).

  Due to such movement of the connector terminal, as shown in E2, the upper surface of the protective film 220 on the circuit board 200 is scraped by the tip of the connector terminal, and a part of the protective film 220 is broken to generate foreign matters. There is a risk of poor contact. E3 in FIG. 14 is a contact position of the DR2 side end of the connector terminal at the time of completion of the mounting of the printing material container 100 in the printing material container 100 shown in FIGS. This is the position when the connector terminal is fully pushed in during mounting.

  As shown in E2 of FIG. 14, when the distance that the connector terminal moves while rubbing the protective film 220 becomes longer, the amount of foreign matter generated increases accordingly, and the probability of occurrence of contact failure increases. In particular, as compared with the mounting method using the rotation method as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11E, the printing material container 100 is moved and mounted straight in the −Z direction. Then, the distance shown by E2 in FIG. 14 becomes longer, the amount of foreign matter such as shavings on the protective film 220 increases, and contact failure tends to occur.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the protective film 220 is opened around the terminal 230 of the circuit board 200, and a distance L that allows the connector terminal to run idle is provided. That is, the distance L is set to a predetermined distance, for example, 0.8 mm or more. For example, when the contact area when the printing material container 100 is mounted is RCT, the distance L is the distance from the protective film boundary BDR to the contact area RCT. Specifically, it is the distance to the contact area boundary BDC1 of the contact area RCT. In other words, the distance L is an idle running distance in which the connector terminal runs idle with no protective film below. By allowing the connector terminal to run idle for a distance L in this way, so-called wiping self-cleaning is performed, so that foreign matter such as scraps attached to the tip of the connector terminal is shaken off, reducing the occurrence of contact failure. it can.

  As described above, the circuit board 200 of the present embodiment attached to the printing material container 100 is connected to the connector terminal group on the printing apparatus body side when the printing material container 100 is mounted on the printing apparatus body. It has a group (TA1, TA2) and a protective film 220 of the circuit board 200.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 15, from the protective film boundary BDR that is a boundary between the non-opening region and the open region of the protective film 220, the connector terminal group connector terminal and the terminal group terminal 230 when the printing material container 100 is mounted. Let L be the distance in the mounting direction DIS of the printing material container 100 to the contact area RCT.

  In this case, in the present embodiment, the protective film boundary BDR is positioned at a position where L ≧ 0.8 mm (predetermined distance). That is, the opening region of the protective film 220 is formed so that the protective film boundary BDR is located at a position satisfying L ≧ 0.8 mm.

  Here, the contact area RCT is an area defined by a position tolerance (contact position variation) of the contact position between the connector terminal and the terminal 230 of the circuit board 200 when the printing material container 100 is mounted. The distance L is defined as the distance between the first contact region boundary BDC1 on the protective film boundary BDR side and the protective film boundary BDR out of the first contact region boundary BDC1 and the second contact region boundary BDC2 due to the position tolerance of the contact position. Is the distance between.

  For example, the contact position of the connector terminal has a positional tolerance due to a mechanism or variation of the printing apparatus, variation due to play, variation due to a manufacturing process of the circuit board 200 or the like (variation of terminal dimensions), or the like. The contact region RCT in FIG. 15 is a region defined by such position tolerance. That is, the contact region RCT is a region that represents a design tolerance of variation with respect to the exact position of the contact position (terminal center position).

  For example, the contact position of the connector terminal is planned to vary between the contact area boundaries BDC1 and BDC2 in the mounting direction DIS. For example, in FIG. 15, the boundary when the contact position varies most toward the side SD2 is the contact region boundary BDC1, and the boundary when the contact position varies most toward the side SD1 is the contact region boundary BDC2.

  Then, the dimension of the terminal 230 in the mounting direction DIS is set such that the connector terminal properly contacts the terminal 230 even when the contact position varies between the boundaries BDC1 and BDC2. Specifically, the edge on the side SD2 side of the terminal 230 is positioned on the side SD2 side with respect to the contact area boundary BDC1, and the end side on the side SD1 side of the terminal 230 is on the side SD1 side with respect to the contact area boundary BDC2. Will be located.

  In this embodiment, the opening of the protective film 220 with respect to the terminal 230 is formed so that the idle running distance of the connector terminal is L ≧ 0.8 mm with respect to the contact region RCT scheduled in this way. The

  In this way, for example, even if the contact position of the connector terminal is the position of the contact region boundary BDC1 in the worst case, L ≧ 0.8 mm is secured as the idle running distance L of the connector terminal. . In the section of the idle running distance L, since the protective film 220 is opened below the connector terminal, the protective film 220 does not exist. Accordingly, foreign matters such as scraps generated by cutting the protective film 220 in the section indicated by E2 in FIG. 4 are shaken down in the section of the idle travel distance L. By setting the idle running distance to L ≧ 0.8 mm, the foreign matter is sufficiently shaken off, and the amount of foreign matter sandwiched between the connector terminal and the terminal 230 when the connector terminal and the terminal 230 are in contact with each other. Can be minimized. As a result, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of contact failure due to foreign matter as compared with the case where the idle running distance is set to L <0.8 mm.

In this case, in this embodiment, the distance L can be L ≧ 0.8 mm when the contact pressure of the connector terminal with respect to the terminal 230 is 300 N / mm ² or more. Here, “N” represents “Newton”.

  For example, FIG. 16 is a graph of actual measurement values showing the relationship between the contact pressure and the required wiping amount. The necessary wiping amount is a wiping amount necessary for maintaining the electrical conductivity between the connector terminals without causing a contact failure, and corresponds to the idle running distance L. Specifically, the necessary wiping amount (necessary wiping distance) is a wiping amount (wiping distance) such that the contact resistance value between the connector terminals is equal to or less than a predetermined contact resistance value that is an allowable value.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the contact pressure is 300 N / mm ² or more, the necessary wiping amount is saturated. For example, in FIG. 16, if the contact pressure is about 200 N / mm ² , a wiping amount of about 2 mm is required, and if it is smaller than 200 N / mm ² , the necessary wiping amount increases rapidly.

On the other hand, if the contact pressure is 300 N / mm ² or more, the necessary wiping amount is saturated at a value of 0.8 mm or less. Therefore, it is understood that foreign matters such as scraps can be removed if the distance L corresponding to the required wiping amount is 0.8 mm or more.

  FIGS. 17A and 17B show examples of the shape of the tip of the connector terminal. FIG. 17A is an example when the radius of curvature is large (R0.7), and FIG. 17B is an example when the radius of curvature is small (R0.3). If the radius of curvature is small and the tip is sharper as shown in FIG. 17B, a large contact pressure can be obtained even if the load (pressing force) per terminal is small. This is because the sharper the tip shape, the smaller the contact area and the higher the contact pressure even with the same load (pressing force).

  FIG. 18 is a graph of actual measurement values showing the relationship between the load per terminal and the required wiping amount. F1 in FIG. 18 is a characteristic when the radius of curvature is large (FIG. 17A), and F2 is a characteristic when the radius of curvature is small (FIG. 17B).

  FIG. 19 is a graph in which the load per terminal is converted into contact pressure. G1 in FIG. 19 is a characteristic when the radius of curvature is large (FIG. 17A), and is a characteristic obtained by converting the characteristic of F1 in FIG. 18 into a contact pressure. On the other hand, G2 in FIG. 19 is a characteristic when the radius of curvature is small (FIG. 17B), and is a characteristic obtained by converting the characteristic F2 in FIG. 18 into a contact pressure. For example, the conversion from the load per terminal to the contact pressure can be realized by calculating the contact area from the radius of curvature or the like and dividing the load per terminal by the contact area.

As shown in G1 and G2 of FIG. 19, whether the radius of curvature is large or small, the required wiping amount is a value of 0.8 mm or less if the contact pressure is 300 N / mm ² or more. Saturates at. Therefore, if the contact pressure is set to 300 N / mm ² or more regardless of the radius of curvature, foreign objects can be caused by the idle running of the connector terminal in the section of the distance L by setting the idle running distance to L ≧ 0.8 mm. It is understood that the occurrence of contact failure (contact failure) can be suppressed by shaking off.

That is, if the contact pressure is 300 N / mm ² or more and the connector terminal comes into contact with the terminal of the circuit board 200, even if foreign matter remains at the tip of the connector terminal during idle running of the distance L, By being crushed by the contact pressure, electrical contact between the connector terminal and the terminal of the circuit board 200 can be secured, and the occurrence of contact failure can be prevented. In this case, if the distance L is too short, even if the contact pressure is set to 300 N / mm ² or more, it becomes difficult to secure the necessary wiping amount, and the probability of occurrence of contact failure increases. In this embodiment, the distance L By making ≧ 0.8 mm (or L ≧ 0.5 mm), the probability of occurrence of such a contact failure has been sufficiently reduced.

The contact pressure in this case is realized by the pressing force FP described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. That is, the contact mechanism 560 provided in the holder 510 of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a pressing force FP (the contact pressure of the connector terminal with respect to the terminal of the circuit board 200 becomes 300 N / mm ² or more when the printing material container 100 is mounted. (Biasing force) is generated. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, if L ≧ 0.8 mm is secured as the idle running distance of the connector terminal on the circuit board 200, the necessary wiping amount can be secured as apparent from FIG. The occurrence of poor contact between the terminal and the terminal can be suppressed.

  That is, heretofore, an idle running distance that drops off foreign matters such as scraps of the protective film 220 has not been assumed. For this reason, the distance L in FIG. 15 is shorter than 0.8 mm, and the opening of the protective film 220 is formed so that the protective film boundary BDR is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the contact region boundary BDC1. Further, there was no knowledge that the necessary wiping amount was saturated as shown in FIG.

In this regard, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, finding that the necessary wiping amount is saturated by setting the contact pressure to 300 N / mm ² or more, the idle running distance is set to L ≧ 0.8 mm, It has succeeded in greatly reducing the probability of contact failure.

Even if the pressing force FP has the same magnitude, the contact pressure can be increased by sharpening the tip of the connector terminal. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17B, the magnitude of the pressing force FP required to generate a contact pressure of 300 N / mm ² or more by reducing the radius of curvature at the tip of the connector terminal and sharpening the shape. Can be reduced. Thereby, there is an advantage that the required specification of the machine design for the generation mechanism of the pressing force FP can be lowered.

4). Terminal Width and Opening Width Next, the method of this embodiment relating to the setting of the terminal width and the opening width of the protective film will be described. For example, in FIG. 20, if the width W1 of the terminal 230 of the circuit board 200 in the first direction DR1 can be reduced, the amount of gold plating on the terminal 230 can be reduced, and cost reduction can be realized.

  However, the position of the connector terminal also has a position tolerance in the first direction DR1 in FIG. 20, and variation occurs. Therefore, in the past, in order to ensure electrical contact between the connector terminal and the terminal of the circuit board 200, the terminal width is designed to be larger than the range of positional tolerance of the connector terminal. However, when the terminal width is increased, the amount of gold plating or the like increases or the area of the circuit board 200 increases, which causes a problem such as an increase in cost. In addition, the required specifications for the range of connector terminal position tolerances have become stricter, which has become a design constraint.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the method described below is adopted for setting the terminal width and the opening width of the protective film.

  For example, in FIGS. 20 and 21, the width W <b> 1 is the width of the terminal 230 of the terminal group of the circuit board 200 in the first direction DR <b> 1 orthogonal to the mounting direction DIS of the printing material container 100. The width W2 is a width in the first direction DR1 of the region REX where the connector terminal 240 is present when the printing material container 100 is mounted. The width W3 is the width in the first direction DR1 of the opening region of the protective film 220 opened at the position of the terminal 230.

  In this case, in the present embodiment, a relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established. That is, the terminal width W1 of the circuit board 200 and the opening width W3 of the protective film 220 are set so that the relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established.

  Here, the width W3 of the opening region of the protective film 220 is the distance between the first protective film boundary BDR1 and the second protective film boundary BDR2 shown in FIGS. The first protective film boundary BDR1 is a boundary with the non-opening region on one side (the third direction DR3 side) of the opening region of the protective film 220. The second protective film boundary BDR2 is a boundary with the non-opening region on the other side (first direction DR1 side) of the opening region of the protective film 220.

  The connector terminal existence area REX is an area defined by the position tolerance of the connector terminal existence position (variation of the existence position) when the printing material container 100 is mounted.

  The width W2 of the existence region REX is such that the connector terminal 240 is positioned at the first end surface ST1 when the connector terminal 240 is positioned at the first position PS1 due to the position tolerance as shown in FIG. The distance between the connector terminal 240 and the second end face ST2 when the connector terminal 240 is located at the second position PS2 due to tolerance.

  Here, the first end face ST1 of the connector terminal 240 is an end face on the first protective film boundary BDR1 side (end face on the third direction DR3 side). The second end face ST2 is an end face on the second protective film boundary BDR2 side (end face on the first direction DR1 side).

  Further, the width W1 of the terminal 230 is set to a width at which the connector terminal 240 contacts the terminal 230 when the connector terminal 240 is located at the first position PS1 or the second position PS2. In other words, the existence area REX is defined by the first position PS1 and the second position PS2, and when the connector terminal 240 exists in the existence area REX, the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 are in contact with each other. .

  In FIG. 21, when the distance between the first position PS1 and the second position PS2 in the first direction DR1 is WP, in this embodiment, for example, the relationship of W3> WP ≧ W1 is established.

  Further, the distance in the first direction DR1 from the first protective film boundary BDR1 to the first end surface ST3 on the first protective film boundary BDR1 side of the terminal 230, and the second protective film boundary BDR2 to the second end of the terminal 230. The distance in the first direction DR1 to the second end face ST4 on the side of the protective film boundary BDR2 is LH. When these distances are different, the larger distance may be set to LH. The width of the connector terminal 240 in the first direction DR1 is LTM. In this case, in this embodiment, for example, a relationship of WP ≦ W1 + 2 × (LH−LTM / 2) is established.

  For example, the position where the connector terminal 240 exists has a positional tolerance due to a mechanism or variation of the printing apparatus, variation due to backlash, variation due to a manufacturing process of the circuit board 200, or the like. The existence area REX in FIG. 20 is an area defined by such position tolerance. In other words, the region occupied by the connector terminal 240 when the variation due to the positional tolerance of the connector terminal 240 is taken into consideration becomes the existence region REX. That is, the region including the terminal width LTM (plate thickness) in the first direction DR1 of the connector terminal 240 becomes the existence region REX.

  For example, in FIG. 21, it is assumed that the position of the connector terminal 240 in the first direction DR1 varies in the range of the first position PS1 to the second position PS2 due to position tolerance. The first position PS1 is the position (representative position) of the connector terminal 240 when it is most dispersed in the third direction DR3 side, and the second position PS2 is the most varied in the first direction DR1 side This is the position (representative position) of the connector terminal 240.

  In this case, the range of the existence region REX in the first direction DR1 is that the first end face ST1 of the connector terminal 240 when the connector terminal 240 is located at the first position PS1, and the connector terminal 240 is at the second position PS2. This is a range between the second end face ST2 of the connector terminal 240 when the connector terminal 240 is located at the position. Accordingly, the width W2 of the existence region REX in the first direction DR1 is such that the first end face ST1 of the connector terminal 240 when located at the first position PS1 and the connector terminal when located at the second position PS2. The distance between the second end face ST <b> 2 is 240.

  When the width of the terminal 230 in the first direction DR1 is W1 and the width of the opening region of the protective film 220 in the first direction DR1 is W3, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The relational expression of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established. More specifically, when the distance in the first direction DR1 between the first position PS1 and the second position PS2 is WP, the relational expression of W3> WP ≧ W1 is established. In this case, the widths W <b> 1, W <b> 2, and WP are widths on the assumption that the connector terminal 240 contacts the terminal 230. That is, when the connector terminal 240 is located at the first position PS1, the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 are in contact with each other at the portion indicated by H1 in FIG. 21, and the connector terminal 240 is located at the second position PS2. Sometimes, the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 are in contact with each other at a portion indicated by H2. That is, the width W1 of the terminal 230 is set to such a width that the connector terminal 240 contacts the terminal 230 when the connector terminal 240 is located at the first position PS1 or the second position PS2. . Note that H1 and H2 in FIG. 21 indicate variations in the tip shape of the connector terminal 240, and the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 are in contact with each other even when there is such a variation in shape.

  Next, specific numerical examples such as W1, W2, W3, and WP will be described. For example, in the present embodiment, W1 = 1.05 mm. Further, the distance from the first protective film boundary BDR1 to the first end face ST3 on the BDR1 side of the terminal 230 and the distance from the second protective film boundary BDR2 to the second end face ST4 on the BDR2 side of the terminal 230 are expressed as LH. Then, LH = 0.2 mm can be obtained. Further, when the width (plate thickness) of the connector terminal 240 in the first direction DR1 is LTM, LTM = 0.25 mm can be obtained.

  When the connector terminal 240 is located at the first position PS1 and the second position PS2 due to the position tolerance, in order for the connector terminal 240 to contact the terminal 230, WP ≦ W1 + 2 It is sufficient to satisfy the relational expression of × (LH−LTM / 2) = 1.05 + 2 × (0.2−0.25 / 2) = 1.2 mm.

  As an example, the design tolerances are mechanical variation = ± 0.195 mm, process variation of the circuit board 200 = ± 0.27 mm, and backlash variation = ± 0.05 mm. Therefore, the variation (position tolerance) in the first direction DR1 as a whole is ± 0.515 mm, and WP = 0.515 × 2 = 1.03 mm. Therefore, WP = 1.03 mm ≦ W1 + 2 × (LH−LTM / 2) = 1.2 mm is satisfied. That is, it is possible to ensure that the connector terminal 240 contacts the terminal 230 while the width WP and the width W2 are larger than the width W1 of the terminal 230.

  That is, until now, since the position where the connector terminal 240 exists varies due to position tolerance, in order to ensure electrical connection between the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 of the circuit board 200, W2 <W1 (WP <W1). Thus, the width W1 of the terminal 230 is set. That is, by designing the width W1 of the terminal 230 to be larger than the width W2 of the existence area REX due to the positional tolerance of the connector terminal 240, the existence area REX is present inside the width W1. The electrical connection between the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 was ensured.

  However, as will be described later, if the contact pressure of the connector terminal 240 with respect to the terminal 230 is equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the electrical connection between the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 can be secured even if the relationship of W2 <W1 is not established. There was found.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the width W1 of the terminal 230 is set so that the relational expression of W3> W2 ≧ W1 (W3> WP ≧ W1) is established.

  In this way, it is possible to reduce the requirement for the design tolerance of the location of the connector terminal 240 and reduce the width W1 of the terminal 230, thereby reducing the amount of gold plating of the terminal 230 and reducing costs. Become.

  For example, in the conventional design method of W2 <W1, when the width W1 of the terminal 230 is 1.05 mm and LTM = 0.25 mm, WP ≦ W1-LTM = 1.05−0.25 = 0 .8mm. Therefore, WP ≦ 0.8 mm is required as an allowable variation (position tolerance) of the existence position of the connector terminal 240, and the design restriction is increased.

  On the other hand, according to the method of the present embodiment, it is only necessary to satisfy WP ≦ W1 + 2 × (LH−LTM / 2) = 1.05 + 2 × (0.2−0.25 / 2) = 1.2 mm. The allowable variation of the existing position is expanded from 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm, and the restriction on the design can be reduced. That is, despite the fact that the terminal width W1 is the same, the design tolerance width WP can be taken in a larger range than before, and there is an allowable range of positional variation between the printing material container 100 and the printing apparatus main body. By increasing the number, design merit can be obtained. Alternatively, since the width W1 of the terminal 230 can be further reduced by designing the width WP of the design tolerance to be small, the amount of gold plating of the terminal 230 can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, since the relationship of W3> W2 is established, for example, when the printing material container 100 is mounted, there is a situation in which a failure occurs due to the end surfaces ST1 and ST2 of the connector terminal 240 contacting the protective film 220 or the like. Will be able to prevent.

In the present embodiment, when the contact pressure of the connector terminal 240 with respect to the terminal 230 is 300 N / mm ² or more, W3> W2 ≧ W1 (W3> WP ≧ W1) can be satisfied.

  For example, FIG. 22 is a graph of actual measurement values showing the relationship between the DR1 direction position and the contact resistance value in FIG. The contact resistance value is a contact resistance value between the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230. In addition, 0 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.3 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 1.6 mm shown on the right side of the graph of FIG. That is, FIG. 22 shows the relationship between the DR1 direction position and the contact resistance value by changing the push amount of the connector terminal 240.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 23, a state where the DR1 direction position is 0 mm is a state where the position of the right end surface of the connector terminal 240 and the position of the left end surface of the terminal 230 coincide. Further, the state where the DR1 direction position is 1.25 mm is a state where the position of the left end surface of the connector terminal 240 and the position of the right end surface of the terminal 230 coincide.

  As apparent from FIG. 22, when the position in the DR1 direction is smaller than 0 mm or larger than 1.25 mm, the contact resistance value rapidly increases. For this reason, the width WP due to the positional tolerance of the connector terminal 240 needs to be 1.25 mm or less in the case of FIG. However, if the push-in amount is 0.3 mm or less, the contact resistance value becomes unstable.

  And the graph which converted the pushing amount of FIG. 22 into the contact pressure is FIG. Here, the radius of curvature of the connector terminal 240 is R = 0.4, the contact width is 0.18 mm, and the amount of pushing is converted into the contact pressure.

From the relationship between the contact pressure and the contact resistance value shown in FIG. 24, it is understood that if the contact pressure is 300 N / mm ² , the contact resistance value is saturated and the electrical connection between the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 can be secured. That is, when the contact pressure of the connector terminal 240 with respect to the terminal 230 is 300 N / mm ² or more, the connector terminal 240 and the terminal are also set when the relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 (W3> WP ≧ W1) is established. 230 electrical connection can be ensured.

  That is, as described above, conventionally, the electrical connection between the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 is ensured by satisfying the relationship of W2 <W1. However, according to this method, there is a problem that an allowable range of design tolerance is reduced and design restrictions are increased.

In this regard, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 24, the knowledge that the contact resistance value is saturated by setting the contact pressure to 300 N / mm ² or more is found, and the relationship of W3> W2 ≧ W1 is established. . As described above, according to the method of the present embodiment, even if the design tolerance width becomes larger than the terminal width, if the contact pressure is set to 300 N / mm ² or more, the electrical connection between the connector terminal 240 and the terminal 230 is established. It is based on the knowledge that it can be secured.

5. Next, details of the electrical configuration of the printing apparatus will be described. FIG. 25 shows a connection configuration example of the printing material container and the apparatus-side circuit board in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment.

  The controller 300 is provided on the device side circuit board 450. The control unit 300 includes a plurality of storage devices of first to fourth printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4 (first to nth printing material containers in a broad sense; n is an integer of 2 or more). Connected to the terminals RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, and SDA, and controls reading or writing of data with respect to the storage device 203.

  The printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4 have circuit boards 200-1 to 200-4, respectively. The storage device 203 and the terminals are actually connected to the circuit boards 200-1 to 200-4. Is provided. However, in the following, for simplification of description, the circuit boards 200-1 to 200-4 are described as printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4 as appropriate.

  Of the first to fourth printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4, the second printing material container 100-2 to the third printing material container 100-3 (i to j in the broad sense). A plurality of storage device terminals RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, and SDA, where i and j are integers satisfying 1 <i <n-1 and i <j <n, are determined by bus MBS. Commonly connected to the control unit 300. The plurality of storage device terminals RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, and SDA of the first printing material container 100-1 are separated from the bus MBS and connected to the control unit 300. The plurality of storage device terminals RST, SCK, VDD, VSS, and SDA of the fourth printing material container 100-4 (nth printing material container) are separated from the bus MBS and connected to the control unit 300. .

  The device-side circuit board 450 is a circuit board for the printing apparatus main body, on which the control unit 300 is mounted. The first to fourth terminal groups TG1 to TG4 on the main body side (first to nth on the main body side in a broad sense). Terminal group) and bus wiring of the bus MBS. The first to fourth terminal groups TG1 to TG4 on the main body side are first to fourth printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4 (first to fourth circuit boards 200-1 to 200-4). Is connected. The first to fourth terminal groups TG1 to TG4 on the main body side are a plurality for accessing the storage devices 203-1 to 203-4 included in the first to fourth printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4. Storage device terminals CRST, CSCK, CVDD, CVSS, and CSDA. Further, it has mounting detection terminals CDT1 and CDT2 for detecting the mounting of the first to fourth printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4, respectively.

  The first terminal group TG1 on the main body side is arranged on the first end side of the device-side circuit board 450, and the fourth terminal group TG4 (n-th terminal group) on the main body side is the device-side circuit board 450. It is arranged on the second end side facing the first end side. Among the first to fourth terminal groups TG1 to TG4, the second to third terminal groups TG2 to TG3 (i.e., the i-th to j-th terminal groups in a broad sense) are connected to the control unit 300 by the bus wiring of the bus MBS. Commonly connected. The first terminal group TG1 is separated from the bus wiring of the bus MBS and connected to the control unit 300. The fourth terminal group TG4 is separated from the bus wiring of the bus MBS and connected to the control unit 300.

  25, the first terminal group TG1 disposed on the first end side of the device-side circuit board 450 and the second end side facing the first end side are provided. The arranged fourth terminal group TG4 is separated from the bus MBS and connected to the control unit 300.

  In an inkjet printer or the like, when ink is ejected from a print head, a part of the ink is atomized (mist) and released into the air. Since this ink mist wraps around from the end side of the apparatus-side circuit board 450, the printing material containers 100-1 and 100 located closer to the end side than the printing material containers 100-2 and 100-3 far from the end side. -4 is more likely to cause a short circuit between terminals due to ink mist adhesion.

  According to the configuration of FIG. 25, even when a short circuit occurs in the printing material containers 100-1 and 100-4 on the edge side, it is separated from the other printing material containers 100-2 and 100-3. Therefore, it is possible to suppress adverse effects on communication between the control unit 300 and the storage devices 203-2 and 203-3 of other printing material containers. Further, it is possible to prevent a high voltage from being applied to the storage devices 203-2 and 203-3 at the time of mounting detection. As a result, it is possible to reliably and safely detect the mounting of the printing material containers 100-1 to 100-4.

  FIG. 26 shows a basic configuration example of the printing apparatus of the present embodiment. This printing apparatus has a printing apparatus main body and a printing material container 100. The printing apparatus main body includes a device-side circuit board 450 on which the control unit 300 is provided, a main control unit 400, and a display unit 430. In FIG. 26, one printing material container 100 is illustrated, but the printing apparatus of the present embodiment can include a plurality of printing material containers 100.

  The device-side circuit board 450 includes a terminal group having nine terminals and a plurality of wirings that electrically connect each terminal of the terminal group and the control unit 300. Specifically, the terminal group includes a reset terminal CRST, a clock terminal CSCK, a power supply terminal CVDD, a ground terminal CVSS, a data terminal CSDA, mounting detection terminals CDT1, CDT2, and short circuit detection terminals CCO1, CCO2.

  The control unit 300 includes a communication processing unit 350, and controls reading or writing of data with respect to the storage device 203 together with the main control unit 400. For example, when the main control unit 400 controls data writing or reading with respect to the storage device 203, the communication processing unit 350 relays communication of writing data or reading data. Further, the control unit 300 includes a mounting detection unit 330, a CO detection unit 340, a short circuit detection unit 310, a voltage application unit 320, and a high voltage control unit 360, and processes such as mounting detection, CO detection, short circuit detection, and high voltage interruption. I do.

  The main control unit 400 includes a CPU 410 and a memory 420, and controls printing processing. In addition, necessary communication is performed with the control unit 300 via the bus BUS. In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 11, the control unit is divided into the main control unit 400 and the control unit 300, but may be configured as one control unit.

  The display unit 430 is for notifying the user of various kinds of information such as the operating state of the printing apparatus and the mounting state of the ink cartridge.

  The low voltage power supply 441 generates a low voltage power supply voltage (first power supply voltage) VDD. The voltage VDD is a normal power supply voltage (rated 3.3V) used in the logic circuit. The high voltage power supply 442 generates a high voltage power supply voltage (second power supply voltage) VHV. The voltage VHV is a high voltage (for example, rated 42 V) that is used to drive the print head and eject ink, and is also used to generate a mounting detection voltage VHO that is applied to the mounting detection terminal DT1. These voltages VDD and VHV are supplied to the controller 300, and are also supplied to other circuits as necessary. Specifically, for example, the high voltage power supply voltage VHV is supplied from the high voltage power supply 442 to the voltage applying unit 320 of the control unit 300, and the mounting detection voltage VHO output from the voltage applying unit 320 is the printing material container 100. This is supplied to the mounting detection terminal DT1 and the mounting detection unit 330. The attachment detection voltage VHO is higher than a high-potential side power supply voltage (for example, 3.3 V) supplied to the storage device 203.

  Of the nine terminals provided on the circuit board 200 of the printing material container 100, the terminals RST, SCK, VDD, SDA, and VSS are electrically connected to the storage device 203.

  On the other hand, the attachment detection terminals DT1 and DT2 are used when detecting whether or not the printing material container 100 is correctly attached to the holder 510. Between the mounting detection terminals DT1 and DT2, a resistance element RD (circuit element in a broad sense) for mounting detection is provided. The mounting detection unit 330 detects mounting of the printing material container 100 based on the mounting detection voltage VHO output from the voltage application unit 320 and the current flowing through the mounting detection resistance element RD. Specifically, when the mounting detection voltage VHO output from the voltage application unit 320 is applied to the mounting detection terminal DT1, a voltage is applied to the mounting detection resistance element RD and a current flows, and this current is mounted. The detection is detected by the detection unit 330.

  The short circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 are electrically connected by wiring inside the printing material container 100 (specifically, the circuit board 200). The CO detection unit 340 detects electrical continuity between CO1 and CO2 to determine whether CO1 and CO2 are in electrical contact with the corresponding terminals of the holder 510, that is, a printing material container. It can be detected whether or not 100 is correctly mounted. However, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the mounting detection terminals DT1 and DT2 and the mounting detection unit 330 are provided, and by using these, the mounting of the printing material container 100 can be detected. 340 can be omitted.

  In the following description, the mounting detection by the mounting detection unit 330 is referred to as “mounting detection”, and the mounting detection by the CO detection unit 340 is referred to as “cartridge out detection” or “CO detection”.

  The short circuit detection unit 310 is connected to the short circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 directly or via diodes D1 and D2 (given circuit elements in a broad sense). For example, a high voltage that is not originally applied to the short-circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 is applied due to a short circuit between at least one of the short-circuit detection terminals CO1 and CO2 and at least one of the mounting detection terminals DT1 and DT2. (Application of abnormal voltage) is detected based on a comparison between the voltage of the detection node ND and the reference voltage. That is, a short circuit (abnormal voltage) is detected when the voltage at the detection node ND is higher than the reference voltage. When the short circuit detection unit 310 detects a short circuit, it outputs a short circuit detection signal VSHT to the high voltage control unit 360, and the high voltage control unit 360 controls the voltage application unit 320 based on the short circuit detection signal VSHT. The signal VCNT is output. The voltage application unit 320 stops the supply of the mounting detection voltage VHO based on the control signal VCNT from the high voltage control unit 360.

  Although the present embodiment has been described in detail as described above, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made without departing from the novel matters and effects of the present invention. Therefore, all such modifications are included in the scope of the present invention. For example, a term described with a different term having a broader meaning or the same meaning at least once in the specification or the drawings can be replaced with the different term in any part of the specification or the drawings. Further, the configurations and operations of the circuit board, the printing material container, and the printing apparatus are not limited to those described in the present embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

100 printing material container (ink cartridge), 102 printing material container,
110, 120, 130 Restricting part, 140 Protruding part,
150 printing material supply port, 152 foam resin, 154 printing material flow path,
200 circuit board, 203 storage device, 210 circuit element,
220 protective film, 230 terminal, 240 connector terminal,
300 control unit, 310 short-circuit detection unit, 320 voltage application unit, 330 wearing detection unit,
340 CO detector, 350 communication processor, 360 high voltage controller,
400 main control unit, 410 CPU, 420 memory, 430 display unit,
441 Low voltage power supply, 442 High voltage power supply, 450 Device side circuit board,
510 holder, 512 head, 514 carriage, 520 control unit,
524 carriage motor, 526 driving belt,
528 transport motor, 529 platen, 530 print medium, 540 storage chamber,
542 partition wall, 550 printing material supply pipe, 552 porous filter,
554 elastic member, 560 contact mechanism, 562 terminal block, 564 side surface of terminal block,
571-579 Connector terminal, 590 lever,
592 operation unit, 594 regulating unit, 620 elastic member,
L distance, RCT contact area, BDC1, BDC2 first and second contact area boundaries,
BDR protective film boundary, BDR1, BDR2 first and second protective film boundary,
REX existence area, W1 terminal width, W2 existence area width, W3 opening area width,
ST1 to ST4 end face, PS1, PS2 first and second positions,
WP Distance between first and second positions, LTM connector terminal width, DIS mounting direction,
TA1, TA2 first and second terminal groups, DT1, DT2 first and second mounting detection terminals,
CO1, CO2 first and second short-circuit detection terminals, RST reset terminal,
SCK clock terminal, SDA data terminal, VDD power supply terminal, VSS ground terminal,
CP contact portion, HL fixing hole, TH1, TH2 first and second through holes,
SD1 to SD4, first to fourth sides, DR1 to DR4, first to fourth directions,
LC connection line, LD1, LD2 First and second connection lines

Claims (10)

A circuit board attached to the printing material container,
A terminal group connected to the connector terminal group on the printing apparatus main body side when the printing material container is mounted on the printing apparatus main body,
A protective film of the circuit board;
Including
The width of the terminals of the terminal group in a first direction orthogonal to the mounting direction of the printing material container is W1, and when the printing material container is mounted, the region of the connector terminals of the connector terminal group the width in the first direction and W2, the width in the first direction of the opening area of the protective film that is open at the location of the terminal when the W3, W3> Ri W2 ≧ W1 der,
The width W3 of the opening region of the protective film is
A distance between a first protective film boundary that is a boundary with the non-opening region on one side of the opening region and a second protective film boundary that is a boundary with the non-opening region on the other side of the opening region. Yes,
The existence area of the connector terminal is an area defined by a positional tolerance of an existence position of the connector terminal at the time of mounting the printing material container.
The width W2 of the existence region is
When the connector terminal is located at the first position due to the position tolerance, the connector terminal is located at the second position due to the position tolerance, and the connector terminal is located at the second position due to the position tolerance. The distance between the connector terminal and the second end face on the second protective film boundary side of the connector terminal,
A circuit board characterized by W3> WP ≧ W1 where WP is a distance between the first position and the second position in the first direction . In claim 1 ,
The width W1 of the terminal is
A circuit board, wherein the connector terminal is set to a width that contacts the terminal when the connector terminal is positioned at the first position or the second position. In claim 1 or 2 ,
The distance in the first direction from the first protective film boundary to the first end surface of the terminal on the first protective film boundary side and the second protective film boundary to the second protective film boundary When the distance in the first direction to the second end face on the protective film boundary side is LH and the width of the connector terminal in the first direction is LTM, WP ≦ W1 + 2 × (LH−LTM) / 2). A circuit board characterized by In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3 ,
A circuit board characterized by W3> W2 ≧ W1 when the contact pressure of the connector terminal with respect to the terminal is 300 N / mm ² or more. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 ,
Including a storage device for storing printing material information;
The circuit board, wherein the terminal is a storage device terminal connected to the storage device. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 ,
The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is a mounting detection terminal used for mounting detection of the printing material container. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6 .
When the direction orthogonal to the mounting direction is the first direction, the mounting direction is the second direction, and the side facing the first side of the circuit board is the second side,
The terminal group is
A first terminal group in which M terminals are arranged along the first direction on the second direction side of the first side of the circuit board;
A second terminal group in which N terminals (M, N is an integer of 2 or more satisfying M <N) are arranged along the first direction on the second direction side of the first terminal group; A circuit board comprising: Printing material container which comprises the circuit board according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The printing material container according to claim 8 ,
The printing apparatus body;
A printing apparatus comprising: In claim 9 ,
Including a holder for the printing material container,
The holder has a contact mechanism having the connector terminal group,
The contact mechanism is
A printing apparatus that generates a pressing force at which a contact pressure of the connector terminal with respect to the terminal of the printing material container is 300 N / mm ² or more when the printing material container is mounted.

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