JP6028425B2 - Cartridge and printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cartridge.

  Patent Document 1 describes that an ink cartridge having an ink supply hole on a side surface is mounted between partition walls erected on a bottom surface of a holder of a printing apparatus. The ink cartridge described in Patent Document 1 is attached to the holder by inserting it horizontally along the bottom surface of the holder with the side surface on which the ink supply hole is formed as the tip side.

JP-A-9-39266

  Patent Document 1 does not assume that the ink cartridge is mounted from a direction other than the horizontal direction. Known ink cartridges include those that are inserted into the holder in the vertical direction or diagonally, in addition to those that are inserted into the holder in the horizontal direction as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707. When the ink cartridge is inserted into the holder from a direction other than horizontal and installed, the ink supply port of the ink cartridge collides obliquely with the ink supply tube provided in the holder, so that the ink supply port and the ink supply Great care must be taken to avoid damaging the tube. Therefore, a technique for guiding the cartridge to the mounting posture in a stable posture when the cartridge is mounted is desired. In addition, a technique for smoothly guiding the cartridge to the mounting posture is desired. Such a demand is common not only to cartridges that contain ink, but also to other liquids and cartridges that contain printing materials (for example, toner) other than liquid. In addition, such a cartridge is desired to be reduced in size, cost, resource saving, ease of manufacture, improved usability, and to hold the cartridge in a stable posture when using the printing apparatus. ing.

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.
One aspect of the present invention is:
A cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a plurality of partition walls for partitioning a plurality of cartridges,
A first surface and a second surface facing each other;
A third surface and a fourth surface intersecting the first surface and the second surface and facing each other;
A fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface and face each other;
A printing material supply port provided on the first surface,
At least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface is formed with a recess for accommodating at least a part of the partition wall when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
A direction perpendicular to the fifth surface and the sixth surface is a width direction, and when the cartridge is viewed toward the first surface, the first surface has a first width portion corresponding to the depression, A second width portion on the third surface side with respect to the first width portion and a third width portion on the fourth surface side with respect to the first width portion are formed, and the second and third width portions are formed. Is wider than the first width portion,
The printing material supply port is a cartridge provided in the first width portion.
Moreover, the other form of this invention is:
A cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a partition wall for partitioning a plurality of cartridges,
A first surface and a second surface facing each other;
A third surface and a fourth surface intersecting the first surface and the second surface and facing each other;
A fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface and face each other;
A printing material supply port provided on the first surface,
At least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface is formed with a recess for accommodating at least a part of the partition wall when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
When the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, at least a part of the contour of the recess is an arc;
The arc is a cartridge that is an arc centered on a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
In addition, the present invention can be realized as the following forms.

(1) According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a plurality of partition walls for partitioning a plurality of cartridges. The cartridge includes a first surface and a second surface facing each other; a third surface and a fourth surface intersecting with the first surface and the second surface and facing each other; the first surface and the second surface A fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect with the third surface and the fourth surface and face each other; and a printing material supply port provided in the first surface; At least one of the six surfaces is formed with a recess for accommodating at least a part of the partition wall when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion; a direction orthogonal to the fifth surface and the sixth surface When the cartridge is viewed toward the first surface, the first surface includes a first width portion corresponding to the depression, and a portion closer to the third surface than the first width portion. A second width portion, a third width portion on the fourth surface side than the first width portion, and It is formed, the second and the width of the third width portion is larger than the first width portion. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the recess is formed in at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface intersecting the first surface provided with the printing material supply port, and the width is smaller than the first width portion on both sides of the recess. Since the second and third width portions having a large width are provided, the insertion posture of the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion (holder) is limited by the depression and the second and third width portions, and the mounting posture can be maintained in a stable posture. Can lead.

(2) In the cartridge of the above aspect, when the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, at least a part of the contour of the recess may be an arc. According to the cartridge of this embodiment, the cartridge can be smoothly guided to the mounting posture by sliding the arc portion in contact with the partition wall.

(3) In the cartridge of the above aspect, the arc may be an arc centered on a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the rotational movement at the time of cartridge mounting can be guided by the arc provided in the recess of the cartridge, so that the cartridge can be mounted easily and smoothly.

(4) In the cartridge according to the above aspect, the arc may be provided on a distal end side when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. According to the cartridge of this form, the cartridge can be more smoothly guided to the mounting posture.

(5) In the cartridge according to the above aspect, when the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, the outline of the recess is defined as a first straight line that forms the first width portion. The arc may intersect with the first straight line, the second straight line may intersect with the arc, and the third straight line may intersect with the first and second straight lines. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the partition wall is surrounded by the depression when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. Therefore, the cartridge can be held on the cartridge mounting portion in a stable posture.

(6) In the cartridge of the above aspect, a convex portion may be formed in the third width portion in a direction from the second surface toward the first surface. According to the cartridge of such a form, since the convex portion can be slid on the partition wall, the cartridge can be mounted smoothly.

(7) In the cartridge of the above aspect, the printing material supply port may be provided in the first width portion. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the printing material supply pipe of the cartridge mounting portion is provided at a position corresponding to the printing material supply port, that is, between the partition walls. Therefore, the printing material supply pipe can be protected by the partition wall. As a result, when the cartridge is mounted, the printing material supply port of the cartridge collides obliquely with the printing material supply pipe, or a portion other than the printing material supply port of the cartridge contacts the printing material supply pipe, It is possible to reduce or prevent the printing material supply port and the printing material supply pipe from being damaged.

(8) According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a partition wall for partitioning a plurality of cartridges. The cartridge includes a first surface and a second surface facing each other; a third surface and a fourth surface intersecting with the first surface and the second surface and facing each other; the first surface and the second surface A fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect with the third surface and the fourth surface and face each other; and a printing material supply port provided in the first surface; At least one of the six surfaces is formed with a recess for accommodating at least a part of the partition wall when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion; at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface When the cartridge is viewed in the direction, at least a part of the outline of the recess is an arc. According to the cartridge of this aspect, it is possible to smoothly guide the cartridge to the mounting posture by sliding the arc portion constituting a part of the outline of the recess in contact with the partition wall.

(9) In the cartridge of the above aspect, the arc may be an arc centered on a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the rotational movement at the time of cartridge mounting can be guided by the arc provided in the recess of the cartridge, so that the cartridge can be mounted easily and smoothly.

(10) In the cartridge according to the above aspect, the arc may be provided on a distal end side when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. According to the cartridge of this form, the cartridge can be more smoothly guided to the mounting posture.

(11) In the cartridge according to the above aspect, when the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, the outline of the recess has a first straight line constituting the first surface; The circular arc that intersects with the first straight line, a second straight line that intersects with the circular arc, and a third straight line that intersects with the first and second straight lines may be included. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the partition wall is surrounded by the depression when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. Therefore, the cartridge can be held on the cartridge mounting portion in a stable posture.

(12) In the cartridge of the above aspect, when the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, an intersection of the first straight line and the arc is from the printing material supply port. May be provided on the fourth surface side, and the intersection of the first and second straight lines and the third straight line is provided on the third surface side with respect to the printing material supply port. Also good. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the printing material supply pipe of the cartridge mounting portion is provided at a position corresponding to the printing material supply port, that is, between the partition walls. Therefore, the printing material supply pipe can be protected by the partition wall. As a result, when the cartridge is mounted, the printing material supply port of the cartridge collides obliquely with the printing material supply pipe, or a portion other than the printing material supply port of the cartridge contacts the printing material supply pipe, It is possible to reduce or prevent the printing material supply port and the printing material supply pipe from being damaged.

(13) According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a partition wall for partitioning a plurality of cartridges. The cartridge includes a first surface and a second surface facing each other; a third surface and a fourth surface intersecting with the first surface and the second surface and facing each other; the first surface and the second surface A plurality of printing materials supply ports provided on the first surface; a fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect with the third surface and the fourth surface and face each other; between two printing material supply port adjacent to each other in the supply port, recess said cartridge is at least a portion of the partition wall is accommodated when mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the first It is recessed from the first surface toward the second surface; when the cartridge is viewed toward the fifth surface or the sixth surface, at least a part of the contour of the recess is an arc. According to the cartridge of this aspect, it is possible to smoothly guide the cartridge to the mounting posture by sliding the arc portion constituting a part of the outline of the recess in contact with the partition wall.

(14) In the cartridge of the above aspect, the arc may be an arc centered on a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the rotational movement at the time of cartridge mounting can be guided by the arc provided in the recess of the cartridge, so that the cartridge can be mounted easily and smoothly.

(15) In the cartridge according to the above aspect, the arc may be provided on a distal end side when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. According to the cartridge of this form, the cartridge can be more smoothly guided to the mounting posture.

(16) In the cartridge according to the above aspect, when the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, the outline of the recess has a first straight line constituting the first surface; The circular arc that intersects with the first straight line, a second straight line that intersects with the circular arc, and a third straight line that intersects with the first and second straight lines may be included. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the partition wall is surrounded by the depression when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. Therefore, the cartridge can be held on the cartridge mounting portion in a stable posture.

(17) In the cartridge of the above aspect, when the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, an intersection of the first straight line and the arc is from the printing material supply port. May be provided on the fourth surface side, and the intersection of the first and second straight lines and the third straight line is provided on the third surface side with respect to the printing material supply port. Also good. According to the cartridge of this aspect, the printing material supply pipe of the cartridge mounting portion is provided at a position corresponding to the printing material supply port, that is, between the partition walls. Therefore, the printing material supply pipe can be protected by the partition wall. As a result, when the cartridge is mounted, the printing material supply port of the cartridge collides obliquely with the printing material supply pipe, or a portion other than the printing material supply port of the cartridge contacts the printing material supply pipe, It is possible to reduce or prevent the printing material supply port and the printing material supply pipe from being damaged.

(18) According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus to which any one of the above cartridges is mounted. In this printing apparatus, a printing material supply pipe is provided so as to be sandwiched between two adjacent partition walls, and when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, a direction perpendicular to the first surface is a height direction. In this case, the height of the partition wall is larger than half of the distance between the two partition walls. According to the printing apparatus of this aspect, even if the cartridge is to be mounted while being inclined toward the fifth surface side or the sixth surface side, the corner formed by the first surface and the fifth surface or the first surface and the sixth surface. The corner formed by the surface does not contact the bottom of the partition wall. Therefore, it is possible to reduce or prevent the printing material supply pipe provided on the bottom of the partition wall from being damaged when the cartridge is mounted.

(19) According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus to which any one of the above cartridges is mounted. In this printing apparatus, at least a part of the partition wall has a shape along the arc. According to the printing apparatus of this aspect, since the arc portion of the depression is guided along the arc of the partition wall, the cartridge can be easily and smoothly mounted in a more stable posture.

  A plurality of constituent elements of each aspect of the present invention described above are not indispensable, and some or all of the effects described in the present specification are to be solved to solve part or all of the above-described problems. In order to achieve the above, it is possible to appropriately change, delete, replace with another new component, and partially delete the limited contents of some of the plurality of components. In order to solve part or all of the above-described problems or to achieve part or all of the effects described in this specification, technical features included in one embodiment of the present invention described above. A part or all of the technical features included in the other aspects of the present invention described above may be combined to form an independent form of the present invention.

  For example, one embodiment of the present invention can be realized as an object including one or more elements of a surface, a supply port, a depression, and a width portion. That is, this thing may have a surface and does not need to have it. Moreover, this thing may have a supply port and does not need to have it. Moreover, this thing may have a hollow and does not need to have it. Moreover, this thing may have a width part and does not need to have it. The first surface and the second surface that face each other; the third surface and the fourth surface that intersect with the first surface and the second surface and face each other; the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and The fifth surface and the sixth surface may intersect with the fourth surface and face each other. The supply port may be configured as a printing material supply port provided on the first surface. The recess may be formed on at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, and may be configured to accommodate at least a part of the partition wall when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. The width portion has a direction perpendicular to the fifth surface and the sixth surface as the width direction, and when viewed from the cartridge toward the first surface, the first width portion corresponding to the depression and third than the first width portion. The second width portion on the surface side and the third width portion on the fourth surface side than the first width portion are configured on the first surface, and the width of the second and third width portions is greater than that of the first width portion. May be enlarged. Such a thing can be realized, for example, as a cartridge, but can also be realized as a thing other than the cartridge. According to such a form, it is possible to solve at least one of various problems such as downsizing, cost reduction, resource saving, ease of manufacture, and improvement in usability of the product. Any or all of the above-described technical characteristics of the cartridge can be applied to this product.

  The present invention can be realized in various forms other than the cartridge. For example, the present invention can be realized in the form of a cartridge manufacturing method, a printing apparatus in which the cartridge is mounted, a printing material supply system including the cartridge and the printing apparatus, and the like.

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 F4-F4 cross-sectional schematic diagram of FIG. It is a figure which shows the shape of a partition wall It is a figure for demonstrating the height of a partition wall. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a cartridge. FIG. 4 is a right side view of the cartridge. It is a bottom view of a cartridge. It is F8-F8 cross-sectional schematic diagram of FIG. It is a rear view of a cartridge. It is a front view of a cartridge. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement at the time of mounting a cartridge with respect to a holder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement at the time of mounting a cartridge with respect to a holder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement at the time of mounting a cartridge with respect to a holder. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement at the time of mounting a cartridge with respect to a holder. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of a cartridge. It is a bottom view of the cartridge shown in FIG. It is a right view of the cartridge shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the various modifications of the shape of a cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the cartridge which uses an adapter. It is a perspective view which shows the other structure of the cartridge which uses an adapter. It is a perspective view which shows the other structure of the cartridge which uses an adapter. It is a perspective view which shows the other structure of the cartridge which uses an adapter. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a printing material supply system. It is a perspective view which shows the other structure of a 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. The XYZ axes are attached to the drawings shown thereafter as necessary. The printing material supply system 10 includes a cartridge 20 and a printer 50 as a printing apparatus. In the printing material supply system 10, the cartridge 20 is detachably mounted on the holder 60 of the printer 50 by the user.

  The cartridge 20 of the printing material supply system 10 stores ink as a printing material therein. The ink as the printing material accommodated in the cartridge 20 is supplied to the head 540 via 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 60 of the printer 50. In this embodiment, six types of cartridges 20 are attached to the holder 60 corresponding to six colors (black, yellow, magenta, light magenta, cyan, and light cyan), that is, a total of six cartridges 20 are mounted on the holder 60. .

  In other embodiments, the number of cartridges attached to the holder 60 may be six or less, or may be six or more. In other embodiments, the type of ink in the cartridge 20 may be 6 colors or less, or 6 colors or more. In another embodiment, two or more cartridges 20 may be mounted on the holder 60 corresponding to one color ink. Detailed configurations of the cartridge 20 and the holder 60 will be described later.

  The printer 50 of the printing material supply system 10 is a small inkjet printer for individuals. In addition to the holder 60, the printer 50 includes a control unit 510 and a carriage 520 having the holder 60. The carriage 520 includes a head 540. The printer 50 circulates ink from the cartridge 20 mounted in the holder 60 to the head 540 via a printing material supply pipe described later, and discharges (supplies) ink from the head 540 to a printing medium 90 such as paper or a label. To do. As a result, data such as characters, graphics, and images is printed on the print medium 90 using the head 540.

  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 ejection mechanism that ejects ink from the cartridge 20 mounted on the holder 60 onto the print medium 90. The controller 510 and the carriage 520 are electrically connected via a flexible cable 317, 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 60 together with the head 540. As described above, the type of the printer 50 in which the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 60 on the carriage 520 that moves the head 540 is also referred to as an “on-carriage type”. In another embodiment, the immovable holder 60 is configured in a different part from the carriage 520, and the ink from the cartridge 20 mounted on the holder 60 is supplied to the head 540 of the carriage 520 via the flexible tube. good. 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 for realizing printing on the print medium 90 by relatively moving the carriage 520 and 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 the present embodiment, in the use state (also referred to as “use posture”) of the printing material supply system 10, the axis along the sub-scanning direction (front-rear direction) for transporting the print medium 90 is the X axis, and the carriage 520 is reciprocated. An axis along the main scanning direction (left-right direction) to be moved is a Y-axis, and an axis along the gravity direction (up-down direction) is a Z-axis. 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 (XY). Plane).

  In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction (front direction) is the + X-axis direction, the opposite direction (rear direction) is the -X-axis direction, the direction from the lower side to the upper side of the gravity direction (upward direction) is the + Z-axis direction, The reverse direction (downward) is taken as the −Z-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the + X axis direction side (front side) is the front surface of the printing material supply system 10. In the present embodiment, the direction from the right side surface to the left side surface of the printing material supply system 10 is defined as + Y axis direction (left direction), and the opposite direction is defined as −Y axis direction (right direction). In the present embodiment, the arrangement direction of the plurality of cartridges 20 attached to the holder 60 is a direction along the Y axis (left and right direction, also simply referred to as “Y axis direction”). The direction along the X axis (front-rear direction) is also referred to as the “X-axis direction”, and the direction along the Z axis (up-down direction) is also referred to as the “Z-axis direction”.

  2 and 3 are perspective views showing the holder 60 to which the cartridge 20 is mounted. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the holder 60 to which the cartridge 20 is mounted. 2 to 4 show a state in which one cartridge 20 is correctly mounted in the designed mounting position in the holder 60. Note that “the state of being correctly mounted at the designed mounting position” means that each terminal of the cartridge-side terminal group, which will be described later, contacts each corresponding terminal of the terminal group of the contact mechanism of the printer 50. The state where is located.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the holder 60 of the printer 50 has five walls 601, 603, 604, 605, and 606. A concave portion formed by these five wall portions becomes a cartridge housing chamber 602 (also referred to as “cartridge mounting portion 602”). The cartridge housing chamber 602 is divided by a partition wall 607 into a plurality of slots (mounting spaces) that can receive the cartridges 20. The partition wall 607 functions as a guide when the cartridge 20 is inserted into the slot. Each slot is provided with a printing material supply pipe 640, a contact mechanism 70, a lever 80, a second device-side restricting portion 620, and a protrusion 636 serving as a third device-side restricting portion. One side surface (+ Z-axis side surface; upper surface) of each slot is opened, and the cartridge 20 is attached to and detached from the holder 60 through the opened one side surface (upper surface). The printing material supply pipe 640 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the two partition walls 602.

  The cartridge 20 is locked by the lever 80 and the second apparatus-side restricting portion 620, and a printing material supply port, which will be described later, is connected to the printing material supply pipe 640, so that the cartridge 20 is mounted. This state is also referred to as “a state where the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 60” or “an attached state”. The printing material supply pipe 640 is connected to the printing material supply port of the cartridge 20, and thereby distributes the ink as the printing material stored in the cartridge 20 to the head 540. The printing material supply pipe 640 has a distal end portion (also referred to as “connection end portion”) 642 positioned on the + Z axis side and a proximal end portion 645 positioned on the −Z axis side. The base end portion 645 is provided on the bottom wall portion 601. The leading end 642 is connected to the printing material supply port of the cartridge 20. The central axis C of the printing material supply pipe 640 is parallel to the Z axis. The direction from the base end 645 toward the tip end 642 along the central axis C is the + Z axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an elastic member 648 is provided around the printing material supply pipe 640. The elastic member 648 seals the periphery of the printing material supply port of the cartridge 20 in the mounted state. Accordingly, the elastic member 648 prevents ink from leaking out from the printing material supply port. In the mounted state, the elastic member 648 applies a biasing force including a component in the + Z-axis direction to the cartridge 20.

  Further, in the mounted state, various information is transmitted between the cartridge 20 and the printer 50 by electrically connecting a terminal group provided on a circuit board (to be described later) of the cartridge 20 and the contact mechanism 70.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along F4-F4 in FIG. In this figure, the protrusion 636 is not shown. As shown in FIG. 5, the printing material supply pipe 640 of the printer 50 is connected to the printing material supply port 280 of the cartridge 20, thereby allowing the ink in the printing material container 200 to pass through the printing material flow path 282. Supply to head 540.

  In the present embodiment, a porous body filter 644 that filters ink from the cartridge 20 is provided at the distal end 642 of the printing material supply pipe 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 printing material supply pipe 640.

  The contact mechanism 70 of the printer 50 is provided on the + X axis direction side of the printing material supply pipe 640 and is configured to be electrically connectable to a terminal group provided on the circuit board 40 of the cartridge 20. The mounted cartridge 20 receives a biasing force Pt including a component in the + Z-axis direction from the terminal of the contact mechanism 70 to the circuit board 40. Further, the mounted cartridge 20 receives a biasing force Ps in the + Z-axis direction from the elastic member 648 to the printing material supply port 280.

  The lever 80 used for attaching and detaching the cartridge 20 has an operation unit 830 at the end on the + Z-axis direction side and a first device-side regulating unit 810 at the end on the −Z-axis direction side. In the mounted state, the first device side restricting portion 810 (the first device side engaging surface described in detail later) is the first cartridge side restricting portion at the first engaging position 810L which is a predetermined engaging position. 210 can be locked. The first locking position 810L is located on the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side from the position where the terminal group provided on the circuit board 40 and the contact mechanism 70 are in contact with each other. The first device-side restricting portion 810 restricts the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction by engaging with the first cartridge-side restricting portion 210.

  The lever 80 rotates about a position between the operation unit 830 and the first device side regulating unit 810 as an axis 800c. The rotation shaft 800c of the lever 80 is located on the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side from the first locking position 810L.

  The operation unit 830 of the lever 80 is used when the user removes the cartridge 20 from the holder 60. When removing the cartridge 20, the user pushes the operation unit 830 in the −X axis direction. At this time, a force Pr (also referred to as “operation force Pr”) from the + X axis direction side to the −X axis direction side is applied to the operation unit 830. Then, the lever 80 rotates about the shaft 800c, and the first device side regulating portion 810 moves from the first locking position 810L in the + X axis direction. As a result, the locking of the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 by the first device side regulating portion 810 is released, and the cartridge 20 can be removed from the holder 60.

  A second device side regulating portion 620 is provided on the side wall portion 604. The second apparatus-side restricting portion 620 is configured to be able to lock the second cartridge-side restricting portion 220 at the second locking position 620L. In the present embodiment, the second device-side restricting portion 620 is a through hole formed in the side wall portion 604 of the holder 60. The second locking position 620L is located on the + Z-axis direction side and the −X-axis direction side of the printing material supply pipe 640. The second device side regulating unit 620 regulates the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction by locking the second cartridge side regulating unit 220. Thus, in the mounted state, the cartridge 20 is restricted from moving in the + Z-axis direction on both sides of the end in the + X-axis direction and the end in the −X-axis direction.

  When the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the corner portion 621 formed on the inner wall of the side wall portion 604 on the + Z-axis direction side of the second device side regulating portion 620 and the cartridge facing the side wall portion 604. 20 surfaces (fourth surface 204 described later) are brought into contact with each other. Then, the cartridge 20 can be mounted on the holder 60 with the corner portion 621 as the rotation fulcrum PP. That is, the cartridge 20 is mounted while the cartridge 20 is rotated about the corner portion 621 along a plane parallel to the Z axis and the X axis. Details of the mounting operation of the cartridge 20 to the holder 60 will be described later.

  FIG. 6 is a view showing the shape of the partition wall 607. FIG. 6 schematically shows the F5-F5 cross section of FIG. In the bottom wall portion 601 of the holder 60, when a plurality of cartridges 20 are mounted on the holder 60, a plurality of partition walls 607 for partitioning each cartridge 20 are erected on the bottom wall portion 601 along the ZX plane. ing. The partition wall 607 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the direction from the −Y-axis direction to the + Y-axis direction, and the rear side S1 of the −X-axis direction end and the upper side of the + Z-axis direction end At a portion where S2 intersects, a notch 608 is provided along an arc A1 having a radius R1 with the rotation fulcrum PP as the center. Further, chamfering is performed at a portion where the upper side S2 of the + Z-axis direction end portion and the front side S3 of the + X-axis direction end portion intersect. The partition wall 607 is formed in a recess 275 (see FIG. 8) provided on the surface (the sixth surface 206 described later in detail) of the cartridge 20 when the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 60. Be contained.

  FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the height H of the partition wall. FIG. 7 schematically shows a part of the F6-F6 cross section of FIG. The maximum height H along the Z-axis direction of the partition wall 607 erected on the bottom wall portion 601 of the holder 60 is higher than half of the distance D between the two partition walls 607 (D / 2). Is set to This is because the bottom surface (the surface on the −Z axis direction side) and the side surface (the surface on the + Y axis direction side or the −Y axis direction side) of the cartridge 20 are about to be mounted on the two partition walls 607. In addition, the corner portion 21 in the −Z-axis direction of the cartridge 20 is located at any location on a semicircular locus having a diameter D as a distance D between the two partition walls 607. However, if it is larger than D / 2 which is the maximum height of the locus, the corner portion 21 does not contact the bottom portion between the partition walls 607. As for the portion where the printing material supply pipe 640 is disposed between the partition walls 607, if the height H of the partition wall 607 from the tip 642 of the printing material supply pipe 640 is greater than half of the distance D, It is possible to prevent the corner portion 21 of the cartridge 20 from coming into contact with the front end portion 642 of the printing material supply pipe 640. Further, for a portion where the printing material supply pipe 640 is not disposed between the partition walls 607, if the height H of the partition wall 607 from the bottom wall portion 601 or the elastic member 648 is greater than half of the distance D, the cartridge The 20 corner portions 21 can be prevented from contacting the bottom wall portion 601 and the elastic member 648. That is, if at least the height H of the partition wall 607 from the front end portion 642 of the printing material supply pipe 640 is larger than half of the distance D, the corner portion 21 of the cartridge 20 becomes the front end portion 642 of the printing material supply pipe 640 or the elastic member. 648, contact with the bottom wall 601 can be prevented.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cartridge 20. FIG. 9 is a right side view of the cartridge 20. FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the cartridge 20. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line F8-F8 in FIG. In the present embodiment, the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis for the cartridge 20 in the mounted state are axes on the cartridge. In the present embodiment, the + X axis direction side is the front surface of the cartridge 20 in the mounted state. The plane Yc shown in FIG. 10 is a plane (ZX plane) that passes through the center of the width that is the length of the cartridge 20 in the Y-axis direction and is parallel to the Z-axis and the X-axis. Also, the plane CX shown in FIG. 10 is a plane (ZX plane) that passes through the central axis C and is parallel to the Z axis and the X axis.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the cartridge 20 includes a printing material storage unit 200 that stores ink, an outer shell 22, a printing material supply port 280, a circuit board 40, a prism 270, and a first cartridge side regulation unit. 210. The mounting direction SD when mounting the cartridge 20 on the holder 60 is the −Z-axis direction (in the present embodiment, the vertically downward direction). Here, when the cartridge 20 is actually inserted into the holder 60, the state of the cartridge 20 is not always constant. In the middle of trying to attach the cartridge 20 to the holder 60, the state of the cartridge 20 may be tilted with respect to the Z axis. However, immediately before mounting and in the mounted state, the printing material supply port 280 receives the printing material supply pipe 640 having the central axis C parallel to the Z axis, and the state of the cartridge 20 is regulated by the printing material supply pipe 640. Will be. Therefore, it can be said that the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 60 in the −Z-axis direction.

  The outer shell (also referred to as “cartridge main body”) 22 defines an internal space including the printing material accommodation unit 200 of the cartridge 20. The outer shell 22 constitutes at least a part of the outer wall surface of the cartridge 20. The outer shell 22 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP). The cartridge 20 has a substantially prismatic shape with side surfaces having a congruent shape. Further, it can be said that the cartridge 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A part of the outer shell 22 may be formed of a resin film.

  The cartridge 20 has a length (length in the X-axis direction), width (length in the Y-axis direction), and height (length in the Z-axis direction) in the order of length, height, and width. 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 outer shell 22 of the cartridge 20 has a first wall 201, a second wall 202, a third wall 203, a fourth wall 204, a fifth wall 205, a sixth wall 206, and a connection wall 209. . The connection wall 209 has a seventh wall 207 and an eighth wall 208 (FIG. 11). The first to eighth walls 201 to 208 define an internal space including the printing material accommodation unit 200 of the cartridge 20. In the following description, reference numerals 201 to 208 are also used to mean the outer surfaces (first to eighth surfaces 201 to 208) of the wall constituting the outer shell 22 of the cartridge. Outer surfaces (first to eighth surfaces) 201 to 208 of the first to eighth walls are generally flat. A substantially flat surface includes a case where the entire surface is completely flat and a case where a part of the surface is uneven. That is, it includes a case where the surface or wall constituting the outer shell of the cartridge 20 can be grasped even if there is some unevenness on a part of the surface. The outer shapes of the first to eighth surfaces 201 to 208 in plan view are all substantially rectangular.

  Here, the first surface (first wall) 201 is also called a bottom surface (bottom wall), the second surface (second wall) 202 is also called an upper surface (upper wall), and the third surface (third wall) 203 is a front surface. (Front wall), the fourth surface 204 (fourth wall) is also referred to as the back surface (rear wall), the fifth surface 205 (fifth wall) is also referred to as the left side surface (left wall), and the sixth surface (sixth wall). Wall 206 is also referred to as the right side (right wall).

  The first surface 201 and the second surface 202 face each other in the Z-axis direction. The first surface 201 is located on the −Z axis direction side. The second surface 202 is located on the + Z axis direction side. The third surface 203 and the fourth surface 204 oppose each other in the X-axis direction. The third surface 203 is located on the + X axis direction side. The fourth surface 204 is located on the −X axis direction side. The fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 face each other in the Y-axis direction. The fifth surface 205 is located on the + Y axis direction side. The sixth surface 206 is located on the −Y axis direction side.

  In the present embodiment, the first surface 201 located on the −Z-axis direction side is a surface that becomes the bottom surface in the mounted state. The first surface 201 is a horizontal surface in the mounted state. That is, the first surface 201 is a surface (XY plane) parallel to the X axis and the Y axis and perpendicular to the Z axis.

  The second surface 202 located on the + Z-axis direction side is a surface that is an upper surface in the mounted state. The second surface faces the first surface 201. The second surface 202 is a surface parallel to the first surface 201. That is, the second surface 202 is a surface parallel to the X axis and the Y axis and perpendicular to the Z axis. The second surface 202 is a horizontal surface (XY plane) in the mounted state.

  The third surface 203 located on the + X axis direction side is a surface that becomes a side surface in the mounted state. The third surface 203 is a surface that intersects the first surface 201 and the second surface 202 at a right angle. The third surface 203 is a surface (YZ plane) parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis and perpendicular to the X axis. Of the sides of the third surface 203, the side 290 located closest to the −Z-axis direction is also referred to as “first side 290” and the side 291 located closest to the + Z-axis direction is referred to as “second side 291”. Also called. In this specification, the two surfaces “intersect” means that the two surfaces intersect each other and actually intersect each other, the state where the extended surface of one surface intersects the other surface, and the mutually extended surfaces Means a state where the

  The fourth surface 204 located on the −X-axis direction side is a surface that becomes a side surface in the mounted state. The fourth surface 204 is a surface that intersects the first surface 201 and the second surface 202 at a right angle. The fourth surface 204 is a surface parallel to the third surface 203. The fourth surface 204 is a surface (YZ plane) parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis and perpendicular to the X axis.

  The fifth surface 205 located on the + Y-axis direction side and the sixth surface 206 located on the −Y-axis direction side are surfaces that become side surfaces in the mounted state. The fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 are surfaces that intersect the first to fourth surfaces 201 to 204 at right angles, respectively. The fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 are surfaces (XZ plane) parallel to the X axis and the Z axis and perpendicular to the Y axis. The sixth surface 206 is a surface parallel to the fifth surface 205.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the connection surface 209 is a surface that connects the first surface 201 and the third surface 203. The seventh surface 207 of the connection surface 209 is a surface that intersects the first surface 201 at a right angle. The seventh surface 207 is a surface (YZ plane) parallel to the Y axis and the Z axis. The seventh surface 207 as a step surface is a surface erected with respect to the first surface 201. That is, the seventh surface 207 is a surface extending in the + Z-axis direction from the first surface 201. The seventh surface 207 is located on the −X axis direction side and the −Z axis direction side with respect to the eighth surface 208. The eighth surface 208 is a surface connecting the seventh surface 207 and the third surface 203. The eighth surface 208 is a slope inclined toward the direction including the components in the + X axis direction and the −Z axis direction. The eighth surface 208 is a surface inclined with respect to the first surface 201 and the third surface 203. The eighth surface 208 is a surface that intersects the fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 at a right angle. The eighth surface 208 is inclined with respect to the XY plane and the YZ plane, and intersects the XZ plane at a right angle. The eighth surface 208 is provided with a substrate installation portion 208T that protrudes outward from the eighth surface 208.

  From the relationship between the first to sixth surfaces 201 to 206, the following can be said. That is, the direction in which the first and second surfaces 201 and 202 face each other is the Z-axis direction, the direction in which the third and fourth surfaces 203 and 204 face each other is the X-axis direction, and the fifth and sixth surfaces 205, The direction in which 206 faces is the Y-axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the circuit board 40 is provided on the board installation portion 208 </ b> T on the eighth surface 208. Similar to the eighth surface 208, the surface 408 of the circuit board 40 is inclined in a direction including components in the + X-axis direction and the −Z-axis direction. The surface 408 is a surface inclined with respect to the first surface 201 and the third surface 203. The surface 408 is a surface that intersects the fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206 at a right angle. The surface 408 is inclined with respect to the XY plane and the YZ plane, and intersects the XZ plane at a right angle. That is, the surface 408 can also be referred to as an “inclined surface 408”. The surface 408 is provided with a cartridge-side terminal group 400 that comes into contact with the apparatus-side terminal group provided in the contact mechanism 70 (FIG. 2).

  Here, the seventh surface 207 and the surface 408 constitute a part of the outer surface of the cartridge 20. Further, the seventh surface 207 and the surface 408 are cartridge-side corner portions 265 (also simply referred to as “corner portions 265”) that connect the first surface 201 and the third surface 203 that constitute a part of the outer surface of the cartridge 20. Part of For easy understanding, the corner portion 265 is indicated by a bold line in FIG. Further, the third surface 203 and the corner portion 265 face the first device-side side wall portion 603 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the holder 60 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60. Further, the fourth surface 204 faces the second device side wall 604 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the holder 60 in the mounted state.

  The prism 270 is used to detect the remaining amount of ink in the cartridge 20. The prism 270 is a transparent member formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. The prism 270 is attached to the first surface 201 so as to be able to contact the ink in the printing material container 200. The light reflection state of the prism 270 differs depending on whether or not the surface of the prism 270 is in contact with the ink in the printing material container 200. Here, the detection of the ink remaining amount state is performed as follows. That is, light is emitted toward the prism 270 by the optical sensor provided in the printer 50. Then, the light is reflected by the prism 270, and the printer 50 detects the remaining amount of ink based on the amount of light received by the optical sensor.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the printing material supply port 280 is provided so as to protrude from the first surface 201 to the −Z axis direction side. The printing material supply port 280 communicates with the printing material container 200 through the printing material channel 282. The printing material supply port 280 is connected to the printing material supply pipe 640 of the printer 50, and distributes the ink in the printing material container 200 to the head 540. That is, the printing material supply port 280 opens toward the outside, and distributes the ink in the printing material storage unit 200 to the outside.

  The printing material supply port 280 is provided in a portion of the first surface 201 that is closer to the fourth surface 204 than the third surface 203. That is, in the X-axis direction, the distance between the outer surface of the printing material supply port 280 and the third surface 203 is larger than the distance between the outer surface of the printing material supply port 280 and the fourth surface 204. The prism 270 is provided in a portion of the first surface 201 that is closer to the third surface 203 than the fourth surface 204. That is, in the X-axis direction, the distance between the outer surface of the prism 270 and the fourth surface 204 is larger than the distance between the outer surface of the prism 270 and the third surface 203.

  The front end of the printing material supply port 280 is open. A surface (opening surface) 288 formed by this opening is a horizontal surface in the mounted state. That is, the opening surface 288 is a surface (XY plane) parallel to the X axis and the Y axis.

  Inside the printing material supply port 280, a foam resin 284 is disposed on the inner side of the opening surface 288 on the + Z axis direction side. Specifically, the foam resin 284 is disposed in contact with the printing material flow path 282. In this embodiment, when the cartridge 20 is shipped from the factory, the opening surface 288 of the printing material supply port 280 is sealed with a sealing member (not shown) such as a cap or a film. When the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 60, a sealing member (not shown) that seals the opening surface 288 is removed from the cartridge 20.

  In the present embodiment, the printing material supply port 280 protrudes in the −Z-axis direction with the central axis C of the printing material supply pipe 640 as the center. However, in other embodiments, the center of the printing material supply port 280 is the printing material. The supply pipe 640 may deviate from the central axis C. In the present embodiment, the opening surface 288 of the printing material supply port 280 viewed from the −Z-axis direction has an outline that is line-symmetric with respect to an axis parallel to the X axis and the Y axis, but in other embodiments, An asymmetric outline may also 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.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 is provided on the third surface 203. The first cartridge side regulating portion 210 is provided on the + Z axis direction side and the + X axis direction side from the printing material supply port 280 and the circuit board 40. The first cartridge side regulating unit 210 regulates the movement of the cartridge 20 in the mounted state by being locked to the lever 80 (FIG. 2). The first cartridge side restricting portion 210 is a protrusion that protrudes from the third surface 203 in the + X-axis direction (outward). Regarding the position in the Z-axis direction, the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 is provided closer to the first side 290 than to the second side 291. In the present embodiment, the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 is adjacent to the first side 290.

  The first cartridge side regulating portion 210 includes a first portion 212 extending in the Y-axis direction (width direction), a second portion 214 extending from the first portion 212 in the + Z-axis direction (vertically upward), A third portion 215 extending in the −Z-axis direction (vertically downward) from the first portion 212. The first portion 212 regulates the movement of the cartridge 20 in the mounted state in cooperation with the lever 80. The second portion 214 is provided to lock the first portion 212 at the correct portion of the lever 80 when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60.

  The first portion 212 includes a first cartridge side locking surface 211 as a first contact portion and a second cartridge side locking surface 213 as a second contact portion. The first cartridge side locking surface 211 is a surface facing the + Z-axis direction. The second cartridge side locking surface 213 is a surface facing the + X axis direction. The third portion 215 is in contact with the first portion 212 and the first side 290.

  The cartridge 20 further includes a second cartridge side regulating portion 220 provided on the fourth surface 204, a protruding portion 260 provided on the third surface 203, and a third cartridge side provided on the seventh surface 207. And a restriction unit 250.

  The second cartridge side restricting portion 220 is a protrusion provided so as to protrude from the fourth surface 204 to the −X axis direction side. The second cartridge side regulating portion 220 is inserted into the second device side regulating portion 620 (FIG. 3) which is a through hole of the holder 60. In the mounted state of the cartridge 20, the second cartridge side regulating unit 220 is locked to the second device side regulating unit 620 and regulates the movement of the cartridge 20 in the mounted state. The second cartridge side regulating portion 220 is provided on the + Z axis direction side and the −X axis direction side from the printing material supply port 280 and the circuit board 40.

  Further, the protruding portion 260 is provided on the third surface 203 at a position on the + Z-axis direction side with respect to the first cartridge side regulating portion 210. In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 260 is provided in a portion of the third surface 203 that is located on the most + Z-axis direction side (uppermost side) including the second side 291.

  The third cartridge side regulating portion 250 is a pair of projecting members (regulating walls) projecting in the + X axis direction from both sides of the seventh surface 207 in the Y axis direction. The pair of projecting members 250 receives the projecting portion 636 (FIG. 2) therebetween, thereby restricting movement in the Y-axis direction in the mounted state in cooperation with the projecting portion 636.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, a recess 275 is provided on the sixth surface 206. The recess 275 is formed from the X-axis direction center portion to the -X-axis direction end portion at the −Z-axis direction end portion of the sixth surface 206. That is, the length of the recess 275 along the X-axis direction is almost half of the length of the cartridge 20. Further, the maximum height of the recess 275 along the Z-axis direction is 1/6 to 1/5 of the height along the Z-axis direction of the portion excluding the printing material supply port 280 of the cartridge 20. Yes. When the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the partition wall 607 shown in FIG. Therefore, the recess 275 has a shape substantially similar to the partition wall 607 when the cartridge 20 is viewed toward the sixth surface, that is, when the cartridge 20 is viewed from the −Y axis direction to the + Y axis direction. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first surface 201 of the cartridge 20 has a first width portion 231, a second width portion 232, and a third width portion 233. The first width portion 231, the second width portion 232, and the third width portion 233 are each a rectangular region. The first width portion 231 has a first width W1 when the direction along the Y-axis direction is the width direction. An end portion in the −Y-axis direction of the first width portion 231 is connected to the inner surface of the recess 275 formed in the sixth surface 206. In FIG. 10, the depression 275 is represented by hatching. The second width portion 232 is located on the + X axis direction side of the first width portion 231, that is, on the third surface 203 side. The width of the second width portion 232 is a second width W2 that is wider than the first width W1. The third width portion 233 is located on the −X axis direction side of the first width portion 231, that is, on the fourth surface 204 side. The width of the third width portion 233 is a third width W3 that is wider than the first width W1. In the present embodiment, the second width W2 and the third width W3 are equal. In other embodiments, the second width W2 and the third width W3 may be different. For example, the second width portion 232 may be narrower than the third width portion 233. Ends in the + Y-axis direction of the first width portion 231, the second width portion 232, and the third width portion 233 are on the same straight line along the X-axis direction, and are connected to the fifth surface 205, respectively. The printing material supply port 280 is provided in the first width portion 231.

  On the −X-axis direction side of the recess 275, that is, on the third width portion 233, a convex portion 276 directed to the −Z-axis direction is formed at an end portion on the −X-axis direction side (see FIG. 9). As will be described later, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the convex portion 276 slides on the side S2 (FIG. 6) of the partition wall 607 and the notch 608.

  9 and 10, the shape of the contour of the recess 275 when the cartridge 20 is viewed toward the sixth surface 206, that is, when the cartridge 20 is viewed from the −Y axis direction to the + Y axis direction. explain. The outline of the recess 275 includes a first straight line 275a that forms the first width portion 231 of the first surface 201, an arc 275b that intersects the first straight line 275a, a second straight line 275c that intersects the arc 275b, The second straight line 275a and the third straight line 275d intersecting the second straight line 275c. The arc 275 b is provided at the end portion in the −X axis direction of the recess 275. The arc 275b coincides with an arc A1 having a radius R1 around the rotation fulcrum PP when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60. The rotation fulcrum PP on the cartridge 20 is located on the + Z-axis direction side of the fourth surface 204 with respect to the position where the second cartridge side regulating portion 220 is provided. The printing material supply port 280 is provided in the first width portion 231. That is, the intersection 275P between the first straight line 275a and the arc 275b is provided on the fourth surface 204 side (−X axis direction side) from the printing material supply port 280. The first straight line 275a and the intersection point 275Q of the second straight line 275c and the third straight line 275d are provided on the third surface 203 side (+ X axis direction side) from the print supply port 280.

  FIG. 12 is a rear view of the cartridge 20. Details of the second cartridge side regulating portion 220 will be described with reference to FIG. The second cartridge side restricting portion 220 includes a first restricting / engaging surface 222 as a first restricting / engaging portion, an inclined surface 224, a first restricting side surface 226, and a second restricting side surface 228. Have.

  The first restriction locking surface 222 is a surface facing the + Z-axis direction and is a horizontal surface in the mounted state. The first restriction locking surface 222 is locked to the second device side restriction portion 620 in the mounted state. Therefore, the first restriction locking surface 222 restricts the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction in the mounted state. The first restricting / locking surface 222 is provided at a position crossing the plane Yc passing through the center of the width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the cartridge 20 and perpendicular to the plane Yc. As shown in FIG. 5, in the mounted state of the cartridge 20, the cartridge 20 receives urging forces Ps and Pt including components in the + Z axis direction from the holder 60. Then, the first restriction locking surface 222 is pressed against the second device side restriction portion 620 by such urging forces Ps and Pt. At this time, the second device-side restricting portion 620 contacts the first restricting / engaging surface 222 in parallel with the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the possibility that the cartridge 20 tilts around the X axis in the mounted state can be reduced.

  The inclined surface 224 is connected to the first restriction locking surface 222 and is inclined toward a direction including components in the + Z-axis direction and the −X-axis direction. Accordingly, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the first restriction locking surface 222 can be smoothly guided to the second device side restriction portion 620.

  The first restriction side surface 226 forms the side surface of the second cartridge side restriction portion 220 on the −Y axis direction side. The second restriction side surface 228 forms the side surface of the second cartridge side restriction portion 220 on the + Y axis direction side. The first regulating side surface 226 is a plane facing the −Y axis direction. The second restriction side surface 228 is a plane facing the + Y axis direction. The first and second regulating side surfaces 226 and 228 are planes parallel to the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, respectively. The first and second restricting side surfaces 226 and 228 restrict the movement of the cartridge 20 in the Y-axis direction by interfering with the second device side restricting portion 620 in the mounted state of the cartridge 20.

  FIG. 13 is a front view of the cartridge 20. The first cartridge side restricting portion 210 will be further described with reference to FIG. The first cartridge side regulating portion 210 is provided at a position crossing the plane Yc. Further, the first cartridge side locking surface 211 is provided at a position crossing the plane Yc and perpendicular to the plane Yc.

  The first cartridge-side locking surface 211 has the first outer portion 435P and the second portion in the Y-axis direction (width direction) (when the cartridge 20 is viewed from the third surface 203 side in the −X-axis direction). It is located inside the range 40Y without being located outside the range 40Y between the outer portions 439P. In the present embodiment, the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 including the first cartridge side locking surface 211 is positioned inside the range 40Y without being positioned outside the range 40Y. That is, the first cartridge-side restricting portion 210 is located inside a region sandwiched between the first imaginary line 435PL including the first outer portion 435P and the second imaginary line 439PL including the second outer portion 439P. The first virtual line 435PL and the second virtual line 439PL are straight lines extending along the Z-axis direction, respectively.

  14 to 17 are explanatory views showing an operation (mounting operation) when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60. 14 to 17 show the cartridge 20 and the holder 60 so as to correspond to FIGS. 6 and 9. 14 to 17 show how the cartridge 20 is attached to the holder 60 in time series in the order of FIGS. 14 to 17.

  When the cartridge 20 is mounted in the holder 60, as shown in FIG. 14, the cartridge 20 has a posture in which the fourth surface 204 side is inclined slightly downward (−Z axis direction side), that is, the arc 275b is the tip. The cartridge 60 is made to enter the cartridge housing chamber 602 from above the holder 60 (on the + Z-axis direction side). Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the convex portion 276 provided on the third width portion 233 of the first surface 201 of the cartridge 20 is brought into contact with the upper side S <b> 2 of the partition wall 607. When the convex portion 276 of the cartridge 20 is brought into contact with the upper side S2 of the partition wall 607, the convex portion 276 is slid in the −X axis direction on the upper side S2, and the cartridge 20 is moved to the −X axis direction side.

  When the cartridge 20 is moved in the −X axis direction in this way, the fourth surface 204 of the cartridge 20 comes into contact with the corner portion 621 of the side wall portion 604 of the holder 60 as shown in FIG. As described above, the corner portion 621 functions as the rotation fulcrum PP of the cartridge 20. Therefore, the third surface 203 side of the cartridge 20 is rotated downward (−Z axis direction) around the rotation fulcrum PP. At this time, the cartridge 20 is smoothly guided to the mounting posture by rotating the cartridge 20 so that the arc 275b portion of the cartridge 20 and the notch 608 of the partition wall are brought into contact with each other and slid. At this time, the convex portion 276 of the cartridge 20 slides on the notch 608 provided in the partition wall 607. When the cartridge 20 is rotated and moved in this manner, the second cartridge-side restricting portion 220 is inserted into the second device-side restricting portion 620.

  Finally, when the second cartridge side restricting portion 220 is inserted into the second device side restricting portion 620 and rotated to push the third surface 203 side of the cartridge 20 downward, the cartridge 20 The first cartridge side regulating portion 210 provided on the third surface 203 is pushed into the −Z axis direction side. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 gets over the guide groove 820 of the lever 80 provided in the holder 60 and is locked by the lever 80. Specifically, as shown in the enlarged view at the upper left, the first device-side locking surface 811 of the first device-side regulating portion 810 and the first cartridge-side locking surface of the first cartridge-side regulating portion 210 By abutting 211, the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction is restricted. In addition, the second device-side locking surface 813 of the first device-side regulating portion 810 and the second cartridge-side locking surface 213 of the first cartridge-side regulating portion 210 are in contact with each other, so that the cartridge 20 Movement toward the + X-axis direction is restricted. As described above, the first cartridge side restricting portion 210 and the second cartridge side restricting portion 220 are related to the first device side restricting portion 810 and the second device side restricting portion 620 on the holder 60 side. Then, the printing material supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 is connected to the printing material supply pipe 640, and the mounting of the cartridge 20 to the holder 60 is completed. Further, when the cartridge is correctly mounted at the designed mounting position, the cartridge side terminal group 400 on the circuit board 40 and the contact mechanism 70 are electrically connected, and a signal is transmitted between the cartridge 20 and the printer 50. Transmission takes place. Further, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the partition wall 607 is surrounded by the recess 275.

  Next, the operation when removing the cartridge 20 from the holder 60 will be described. When removing the cartridge 20 from the holder 60, the user pushes the operation unit 830 in the −X axis direction. That is, an external force Pr (FIG. 5) is applied to the operation unit 830 in a direction including the −X axis direction component. Then, the lever 80 moves the first device side regulating portion 810 around the rotation shaft 800c in a direction including the + X-axis direction component. As a result, the first device side regulating portion 810 and the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 are unlocked, and the restriction of the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction on the third surface 203 side is released. When the restriction of the movement of the cartridge 20 in the + Z-axis direction is released, the third surface 203 side of the cartridge 20 moves to the + Z-axis direction side by the urging force Pt (FIG. 5) from the contact mechanism 70. Therefore, from the state shown in FIG. 17, as shown in FIG. 16, by rotating the third wall 203 side of the cartridge 20 around the rotation fulcrum PP and lifting it up, the second cartridge side regulating portion 220 is moved to the second side. 2 can be removed from the device-side regulating unit 620. Then, the user can remove the cartridge 20 from the holder 60.

  According to the cartridge 20 of the present embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the second width portion 232 and the third width portion 233 provided on the first surface 201 of the cartridge 20 are provided with the depression 275. The width is wider than the first width portion 231 formed. Therefore, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the insertion position of the cartridge into the holder can be limited by the second width portion 232 and the third width portion 233, and the cartridge 20 can be guided to a mounting posture in a stable posture. That is, when the user mounts the cartridge 20 in the holder 60, even if the second width portion 232 is inserted with the second width portion 232 side as the leading end side, that is, with the ± X direction reversed, the second width portion 232 It cannot be installed because it is obstructed by the partition wall 607. Further, when the user inserts the cartridge 20 with the third width portion 233 side as the leading end side, that is, in a state where the ± X direction is correct, the protrusion provided on the third width portion 233, in particular, the third width portion 233. When the portion 276 contacts the partition wall 607 provided in the holder 60, the cartridge 20 is guided to the mounting posture in a stable posture.

  In the present embodiment, the printing material supply port 280 is provided in the first width portion 231. That is, an intersection 275P between the first straight line 275a and the arc 275b is provided on the fourth surface 204 side (−X axis direction side) from the printing material supply port 280, and the first straight line 275a and the second straight line 275a An intersection 275Q between the straight line 275c and the third straight line 275d is provided on the third surface 203 side (+ X-axis direction side) from the print supply port 280. Correspondingly, the printing material supply pipe 640 is provided so as to be sandwiched between two partition walls 607. Therefore, the printing material supply pipe 640 can be protected. That is, when the cartridge 20 is mounted, the second width portion 232 and the third width portion 233 come into contact with the partition wall 607 so that the printing material supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 collides obliquely with the printing material supply pipe 640. It is possible to reduce or prevent a portion other than the printing material supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 from coming into contact with the printing material supply pipe 640. Therefore, it is possible to reduce or prevent the printing material supply port 280 and the printing material supply pipe 640 from being damaged.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, at least a part of the contour of the recess 275 is the arc 275b. Therefore, the cartridge 20 can be smoothly guided to the mounting posture by sliding the arc 275 in contact with the partition wall 607.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the arc 275 b coincides with the arc A <b> 1 having a radius R <b> 1 centered on the rotation fulcrum PP when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the partition wall 607 is provided with a notch 608 having a shape along the arc A1. Therefore, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the rotational movement of the cartridge 20 can be guided by the arc 275b. At this time, the arc 275b portion of the recess 275 of the cartridge 20 is guided along the arc of the notch 608 of the partition wall 607. Therefore, the cartridge 20 can be easily and smoothly mounted in a more stable posture.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the arc 275 b is provided on the distal end side when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60. Therefore, the cartridge 20 can be more smoothly guided to the mounting posture.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the contour of the recess 275 intersects the first straight line 275a constituting the first width portion 231 of the first surface 201 and the first straight line 275a. The arc 275b includes a second straight line 275c that intersects the arc 275b, and a third straight line 275d that intersects the first straight line 275a and the second straight line 275c. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60, the partition wall 607 is surrounded by the recess 275. Therefore, the cartridge 20 can be held in the holder 60 in a stable state.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the third width portion 233 (more specifically, the convex portion 276 of the third width portion 233) of the cartridge 20 is replaced with the upper side S <b> 2 of the partition wall 607 and Since the cartridge 20 can be mounted on the holder 60 by sliding on the notch 608, the cartridge 20 can be moved from the front side (+ X-axis direction side) even when the upper space of the holder 60 is narrow due to the structure of the printer 50. It can be easily attached to the holder 60.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the recess 275 of the cartridge 20 is formed only on the sixth surface 206, and the recess 275 is formed from the center in the X axis direction to the end of the −X axis direction of the cartridge 20. Yes. Therefore, when the cartridge 20 is to be mounted upside down or back to front, the recess 275 and the partition wall 607 are not engaged, and the cartridge 20 cannot be mounted on the holder 60. Therefore, erroneous mounting can be prevented or suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the height H of the partition wall 607 along the Z-axis direction is set to be half of the distance D between the two partition walls 607 (D / 2). Also set to a high height. Therefore, even if the cartridge 20 is inclined and mounted on the fifth surface 205 side or the sixth surface 206 side, a corner formed by the first surface 201 and the fifth surface 205 or the first surface 201 and the sixth surface 206 is formed. And the corner formed by the contact between the printing material supply pipe 640 and the elastic member 648 of the holder 60 does not contact. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the printing material supply pipe 640 and the elastic member 648 from being damaged when the cartridge 20 is mounted on the holder 60.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the printing material supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 is provided in the first width portion 231 of the first surface 201. Therefore, the width of the portion other than the printing material supply port 280 can be widened, so that a large amount of printing material can be accommodated.

The embodiment described above can be variously modified as follows.
・ Modification 1:
FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the cartridge. FIG. 19 is a bottom view of the cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is a plan view (right side view) of the cartridge shown in FIG. 18 as viewed from the sixth surface 206 side. In the cartridge 20 a shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, portions corresponding to the respective portions of the cartridge 20 in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as the cartridge 20. The cartridge 20a shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 has a width in the Y-axis direction that is approximately twice that of the cartridge 20 of the above embodiment. The first surface 201 of the cartridge 20a is provided with two printing material supply ports 280 along the width direction (Y-axis direction). In addition, two second cartridge side regulating portions 220 are provided on the fourth surface 204 of the cartridge 20a along the Y-axis direction. The cartridge 20a is mounted across two slots divided by a partition wall 607 (see FIG. 2) in the holder 60. A recess 275 in which at least a part of the partition wall 607 is accommodated is formed between the two printing material supply ports 280. Except for the above points, the cartridge 20a shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 is the same as the cartridge 20 in the above embodiment. Further, the cartridge 20a can be mounted on the holder 60 in the same manner as the cartridge 20 in the above embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above embodiment. Note that three or more printing material supply ports 280 may be provided along the width direction (Y-axis direction). In this case, a recess 275 may be formed between two printing material supply ports 280 adjacent to each other in the plurality of printing material supply ports 280. In this way, a cartridge that spans three or more slots can be configured.

Modification 2
In the above embodiment, the recess 275 is provided on the sixth surface 206 of the cartridge 20. On the other hand, the recess 275 may be provided on the fifth surface 205. Further, the recess 275 may be provided on both the fifth surface 205 and the sixth surface 206.

・ Modification 3:
In the above embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the printing material supply pipe 640 of the holder 60 is provided between the partition walls 607 on the −X axis direction side of the cartridge housing chamber 602. On the other hand, the printing material supply pipe 640 may be provided on the + X axis direction side. In this case, the printing material supply port 280 of the cartridge 20 can be provided in the second width portion 232 (FIG. 10) of the first surface 201 of the cartridge 20. The same applies to the cartridge 20a of the first modification.

-Modification 4:
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, both the recess 275 and the partition wall 607 of the cartridge 20 are formed along an arc centered on the rotation fulcrum PP. On the other hand, one of the recess 275 and the partition wall 607 may be formed along an arc. Moreover, the part formed along the circular arc of the hollow 275 and the partition wall 607 may be formed diagonally (straight), for example. The same applies to the cartridge 20a of the first modification.

Modification 5:
FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram showing various modified examples of the shape of the cartridge. FIG. 21 shows the fifth surface 205 side of various cartridges, but a recess 275 is formed on the sixth surface 206 side as in the above-described embodiment. An outer shell 22c of the cartridge 20c shown in FIG. 21A has an elliptical or oval side surface. Further, the cartridge 20c has a first cartridge side regulating portion 210 and a circuit board 40 on the front side thereof. Further, a printing material supply port 280 is formed on the bottom surface side of the cartridge 20c, and a second cartridge side regulating portion 220 is formed on the back surface side. Even in the cartridge 20c, if the first and second cartridge side regulating portions 210 and 220, the circuit board 40, and the printing material supply port 280 are configured to be connected to corresponding members of the printer 50, Compatibility with the cartridge 20 shown in FIG. 8 or the cartridge 20a shown in FIG. 18 can be ensured.

  The cartridge 20d shown in FIG. 21B has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as in FIG. A major difference from the cartridge 20 of FIG. 8 is that the eighth surface 208 is not provided continuously at the lower end of the third surface 203. The cartridges 20e and 20f shown in FIGS. 21C and 21D are different from the cartridge 20 of FIG. 8 in that they do not have a seventh surface. In the cartridge 20g shown in FIG. 21E, the circuit board 40 is attached to the eighth surface 208 via a spring. In the cartridge 20h shown in FIG. 21F, a surface 208h corresponding to the eighth surface 208 is movable, and the circuit board 40 is provided on the surface 208h. Also in these cartridges 20c to 20g, the first and second cartridge side regulating portions 210 and 220, the circuit board 40, and the printing material supply port 280 are configured to be connected to corresponding members of the printer 50. Therefore, compatibility with the cartridge 20 shown in FIG. 8 and the cartridge 20a shown in FIG. 18 can be ensured.

  As can be understood from the various examples shown in FIG. 21, 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. 21A and 21D, six surfaces of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped, that is, FIG. 8, a bottom surface 201 (first surface), a top surface 202 (second surface), a front surface 203 (third surface), a back surface 204 (fourth surface), a left side surface 205 (fifth surface), and a right side surface 206 ( 6th surface) can be considered virtually. In the present specification, the term “plane” (plane) refers to such a virtual plane (also referred to as a virtual plane or a non-existing plane), as described in FIG. 8, FIG. 10, FIG. 18, FIG. It can be used in the meaning including both the actual surface and the actual surface. Further, the term “surface” is used to include both a flat surface and a curved surface.

Modification 6:
FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a cartridge using an adapter. The cartridge 20 i shown in FIG. 22 can be separated into an accommodation member 200 i having a printing material accommodation portion 200 and an adapter 299. When the printing material in the storage unit 200 runs out, the user replaces the storage member 200i with a new one or refills the printing material there. The adapter 299 can be reused. The cartridge 20i is compatible with the cartridge 20 (see FIG. 8) of the above embodiment.

  The outer shell 22i of the cartridge 20i is configured by a combination of the outer shell of the housing member 200i and the outer shell of the adapter 299i. The storage member 200i includes a printing material storage unit 200 that stores ink, a printing material flow path 282 for supplying the printing material to the printing material supply port, and a foam resin 284. The housing member 200i includes a second surface 202i corresponding to the second surface 202 of the cartridge 20i. The accommodating member 200i includes a first surface 201i, a third surface 203i, a fourth surface 204i, and a fifth surface (not shown) 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. 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 207i 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 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 205i 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 includes surfaces 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 20j. . A surface corresponding to the second surface 202 of the cartridge 20 i is an opening 202. Inside the adapter 299, a space for receiving the housing member 200i is formed. A printing material supply port 280 is provided on the first surface 201 of the adapter 299. In addition, about another part, it is comprised similarly to the cartridge 20 (FIG. 8) of the said embodiment also including a modification. Therefore, a recess 275 is provided on a surface corresponding to the sixth surface 206. As described above, the cartridge 20 i may be configured by the housing member 200 i and the adapter 299.

Modification 7:
FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the cartridge using the adapter. As shown in FIG. 23, also in the cartridge 20a (FIG. 18) of the first modification, the cartridge 20ai may be configured by the housing member 200ai and the adapter 299a as in the modification of FIG. In the cartridge 20ai shown in FIG. 23, portions corresponding to the respective portions of the cartridges 20, 20a, 20i in the embodiment, the first modification, and the modification in FIG. 22 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The cartridge 20ai shown in FIG. 23 has a width in the Y-axis direction that is approximately twice that of the cartridge 20i of the modified example of FIG. On the first surface 201 of the adapter 299a, two printing material supply ports 280 are provided along the width direction (Y-axis direction). A slit 275ia is provided between the printing material supply ports 280. Further, the second surface 204 of the adapter 299a is provided with two second cartridge side restricting portions 220 along the Y-axis direction (only one is shown in FIG. 23). The storage member 200ai is provided with a printing material storage unit 200 for storing ink and two printing material delivery ports 280i for supplying printing material to the two printing material supply ports 280. The printing material container 200 and the two printing material delivery ports 280i are connected by two printing material channels 282. Foam resin 284 is provided at each of the two printing material delivery ports 280i. In addition, the housing member 200ai is formed with a recess 275ib that is recessed from the first surface 201i to the second surface 202i side (+ Z-axis direction side). The cartridge 20ai is mounted across two slots divided by a partition wall 607 (see FIG. 2) in the holder 60. A recess 275 in which at least a part of the partition wall 607 is stored is formed between the two printing material supply ports 280 by the recess 275 ib formed in the storage member 200 ai and the slit 275 ia provided in the adapter 299 a. . Except for the above points, the cartridge 20ai shown in this modification is the same as the cartridge 20a in the first modification. In addition, about another part, including a modification, it is comprised similarly to the cartridge 20a (FIG. 18) of the said modification 1. FIG.

-Modification 8:
FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the cartridge using the adapter. The cartridge 20j shown in FIG. 24 can be separated into a housing member 200j having a printing material housing portion 200 and an adapter 299j. When the printing material in the storage unit 200 runs out, the user replaces the storage member 200j with a new one or refills the printing material there. The adapter 299j can be reused. This cartridge 20j is compatible with the cartridge 20 of the above embodiment (see FIG. 8).

  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 that stores ink and a printing material supply port 280. The housing member 200j includes a second surface 202 and a sixth surface 206 that constitute the second surface 202 and the sixth surface 206 of the cartridge 20j, respectively. In addition, the housing member 200j includes first surfaces 201j, 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. A third surface 203j, a fourth surface 204j, a fifth surface (not shown), a seventh surface 207j, and an eighth surface 208j are provided. The first surface 201j and the second surface 202 face each other in the Z-axis direction, and the first surface 201j is positioned on the −Z-axis direction side and the second surface 202 is positioned 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 206 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 206 is located on the −Y-axis direction side. In addition, 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 205j and the sixth surface 206 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 sixth surface 206 is provided with a recess 275.

  The adapter 299j 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. 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. The printing material supply port 280 provided in the housing member 200j is exposed from the opening provided in the first surface 201 of the adapter 299j and is connected to the printing material supply pipe 640 (see FIG. 2 and the like). Compared to the above embodiment (see FIG. 8), in the cartridge 20j of the present embodiment, the shape of the first cartridge side regulating portion 210 is simplified, but the shape similar to that of the above embodiment may be adopted. good. Further, the height (length in the Z-axis direction) of the third surface 203 and the fourth surface 204 is lower (shorter) than the third surface 203 and the fourth surface 204 of the embodiment. It is good also as height (length) similar to a form. Furthermore, although the protrusion part 260 is abbreviate | omitted, you may provide the protrusion part 260 similarly to embodiment. In addition, about another part, it is comprised similarly to the cartridge 20 (FIG. 8) of the said embodiment. As described above, the cartridge 20j may be configured by the housing member 200j and the adapter 299j.

-Modification 9:
FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the cartridge using the adapter. As shown in FIG. 25, the cartridge 20aj (FIG. 18) of the first modification may be configured by the housing member 200aj and the adapter 299aj as in the modification of FIG. In the cartridge 20aj shown in FIG. 25, portions corresponding to the respective portions of the cartridges 20, 20a, 20j in the embodiment, the first modification, and the modification in FIG. 24 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The cartridge 20aj shown in FIG. 25 is formed so that the width in the Y-axis direction is about twice that of the cartridge 20j of the modified example of FIG. The storage member 200aj is provided with a printing material storage unit 200 that stores ink and two printing material supply ports 280. The two printing material supply ports 280 are provided on the first surface 201j of the housing member 200aj along the width direction (Y-axis direction). Between the two printing material supply ports 280, a recess 275jb is formed which is recessed on the second surface 202 side (+ Z-axis direction side) with respect to the first surface 201j. On the fourth surface 204 of the adapter 299aj, two second cartridge side restricting portions 220 are provided along the Y-axis direction (only one is shown in FIG. 25). The adapter 299aj has an opening in a part of the first surface 201. The two printing material supply ports 280 provided in the housing member 200aj are exposed from the opening provided in the first surface 201 of the adapter 299j and are connected to the printing material supply pipe 640 (see FIG. 2 and the like). The first surface 201 of the adapter 299aj is provided with a slit 275ja at a position corresponding to the space between the two printing material supply ports 280. The cartridge 20aj is mounted across two slots divided by a partition wall 607 (see FIG. 2) in the holder 60. A recess 275 in which at least a part of the partition wall 607 is accommodated is formed between the two printing material supply ports 280 by the recess 275jb formed in the accommodation member 200ai and the slit 275ja provided in the adapter 299aj. . Except for the above points, the cartridge 20aj shown in this modified example is the same as the cartridge 20a in the modified example 1 (FIG. 18). In addition, about another part, including a modification, it is comprised similarly to the cartridge 20a (FIG. 18) of the said modification 1. FIG.

Modification 10:
FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing material supply system 200K in a modification using an external tank. The printing material supply system 200K includes an adapter 299k, an external tank 200T, a tube 200L, and an auxiliary adapter 200S. The adapter 299k has the same configuration as the adapter 299j described with reference to FIG. A printing material is accommodated in the external tank 200T. The external tank 200T is placed outside the printer 50 shown in FIG. The auxiliary adapter 200S has the same configuration as the housing member 200j described with reference to FIG. 24 except that it is connected to the tube 200L, and a recess 275 is formed in the sixth surface 206. The tube 200L supplies the printing material from the external tank 200T to the auxiliary adapter 200S. The external tank 200T, the auxiliary adapter 200S, and the tube 200L function as a storage member 200k that stores ink. The printing material supply system 200K of the present modification includes a cartridge 20k that can be separated into an auxiliary adapter 200S and an adapter 299k, like the cartridges 20i and 20j in FIGS. When the printing material in the tank 200T runs out, the user replaces the tank 200T with a new one or replenishes the printing material there. The adapter 299k can be reused. A cartridge 20k constituted by a combination of the auxiliary adapter 200S and the adapter 299k is compatible with the cartridge 20 (see FIG. 8) of the above embodiment.

  The outer shell 22k of the cartridge 20k is configured by a combination of the outer shell of the auxiliary adapter 200S and the outer shell of the adapter 299k. The configuration of the auxiliary adapter 200S and the configuration of the adapter 299k are the same as the cartridge 20j of FIG. In addition, about another structure, including a modification, it is comprised similarly to the cartridge 20 (FIG. 8) of the said embodiment. As described above, the cartridge 20k may be configured by the auxiliary adapter 200S and the adapter 299k.

-Modification 11:
FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing another configuration of the printing material supply system. As shown in FIG. 27, also in the cartridge 20a (FIG. 18) of the modification 1, the cartridge 20ak may be configured by the auxiliary adapter 200aS and the adapter 299ak as in the modification of FIG. And you may comprise printing material supply system 200aK by connecting auxiliary adapter 200aS to external tank 200T via tube 200L. In the printing material supply system 200aK shown in FIG. 27, the portions corresponding to the respective parts of the cartridges 20, 20a, 20k and the printing material supply system 200K in the embodiment, the first modification, and the modification in FIG. The code | symbol is attached | subjected. In the cartridge 20ak shown in FIG. 27, the auxiliary adapter 200aS has the same configuration as the housing member 200aj described in FIG. 25 except that it is connected to the tube 200L, and has a recess 275kb on the first surface (not shown). Is formed. The adapter 299ak has the same configuration as the adapter 299aj described in FIG. 25, and the first surface 201 is provided with a slit 275ka. A recess 275 in which at least a part of the partition wall 607 is accommodated is formed between the two printing material supply ports 280 by the recess 275 kb formed in the auxiliary adapter 200 a S and the slit 275 ka provided in the adapter 299 ak. . The configuration of the auxiliary adapter 200aS and the configuration of the adapter 299ak are the same as those of the cartridge 20aj in FIG. In addition, about another structure, including a modification, it is comprised similarly to the cartridge 20a of the said modification 1 (FIG. 18). As described above, the cartridge 20ak may be configured by the auxiliary adapter 200aS and the adapter 299ak.

Modification 12:
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.
(1) Image recording device such as facsimile device (2) Color material injection device used for manufacturing color filter for image display device such as liquid crystal display (3) Organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display and surface emitting display (Field Electrode material injection device used for electrode formation such as Emission Display (FED), etc. (4) Liquid injection device for injecting liquid containing biological organic material used for biochip manufacturing (5) Sample injection device as a precision pipette (6) Lubrication Oil injection device (7) Resin liquid injection device (8) Liquid injection device for injecting lubricating oil pinpoint to precision machines such as watches and cameras (9) Micro hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements, etc. ), Etc., to inject a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin liquid onto the substrate (10) Acid or to etch the substrate A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects alkaline of the etching solution (11) any other liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head ejecting a minute amount of liquid droplet

  The “droplet” refers to the state of the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and includes those that have tails in the form of particles, tears, and threads. 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 in which the substance is in a liquid phase, such as 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.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and can be realized with various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments and the modifications corresponding to the technical features in each embodiment described in the summary section of the invention are to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or In order to achieve part or all of the effects, replacement or combination can be performed as appropriate. Further, if the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, it can be deleted as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing material supply system 20, 20a, 20c-k, 20ai, 20aj, 20ak ... Cartridge 21 ... Corner | angular part 22 ... Outer shell 40 ... Circuit board 40Y ... Range 50 ... Printer 60 ... Holder 70 ... Contact mechanism 80 ... Lever 90 ... Print medium 200, 200i, 200j, 200k, 200ai, 200aj, 200ak ... Printing material container 200K, 200aK ... Printing material supply system 200L ... Tube 200S, 200aS ... Auxiliary adapter 200T ... External tank 201 ... First surface (first) wall)
202 ... 2nd surface (2nd wall)
203 ... Third surface (third wall)
204 ... Fourth surface (fourth wall)
205 ... Fifth surface (fifth wall)
206 ... 6th surface (6th wall)
207 ... 7th surface (7th wall)
208 ... 8th surface (8th wall)
208T ... Board installation part 209 ... Connection surface (connection wall)
210: First cartridge side regulating portion 211: First cartridge side locking surface 212: First portion 213: Second cartridge side locking surface 214: Second portion 215: Third portion 220: Third 2 cartridge side restricting portion 222... First restricting locking surface 224... Inclined surface 226... First restricting side surface 228... Second restricting side surface 231 ... first width portion 232 ... second width portion 233. Part 250 ... Third cartridge side regulating part 260 ... Projection part 265 ... Corner part 270 ... Prism 275, 275ib, 275jb, 275kb ... Recess 275a ... First straight line 275b ... Arc 275c ... Second straight line 275d ... Third straight line Straight line 275ia, 275ja, 275ka ... slit 275P, 275Q ... intersection point 276 ... convex portion 280 ... printing material supply port 282 ... printing material flow path 284 ... foam resin 288 ... opening surface 290 ... first side 291 ... second side 299, 299a, 299aj, 299ak ... adapter 317 ... flexible cable 400 ... cartridge side terminal group 408 ... inclined surface (surface)
435, 439 ... cartridge side terminal 435P ... first outer part 435PL ... first imaginary line 439P ... second outer part 439PL ... second imaginary line 510 ... control unit 520 ... carriage 522 ... carriage motor 524 ... drive belt 532 ... Conveyance motor 534 ... Platen 540 ... Head 601 ... Device side bottom wall 602 ... Cartridge storage chamber (cartridge mounting part)
603 ... 1st apparatus side wall part 604 ... 2nd apparatus side wall part 607 ... Partition wall 608 ... Notch 620 ... 2nd apparatus side control part 620L ... 2nd latching position 636 ... Projection part 640 ... Printing material Supply pipe 642 ... distal end 644 ... porous body filter 645 ... base end 648 ... elastic member 800c ... rotating shaft 810 ... first device side restricting portion 811 ... first device side locking surface 813 ... second device side Locking surface 820 ... guide groove 830 ... operation part C ... center axis SD ... mounting direction Ps ... biasing force Pt ... biasing force

Claims (18)

A cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a plurality of partition walls for partitioning a plurality of cartridges,
A first surface and a second surface facing each other;
A third surface and a fourth surface intersecting the first surface and the second surface and facing each other;
A fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface and face each other;
A printing material supply port provided on the first surface,
At least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface is formed with a recess for accommodating at least a part of the partition wall when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
A direction perpendicular to the fifth surface and the sixth surface is a width direction, and when the cartridge is viewed toward the first surface, the first surface has a first width portion corresponding to the depression, A second width portion on the third surface side with respect to the first width portion and a third width portion on the fourth surface side with respect to the first width portion are formed, and the second and third width portions are formed. the width is much larger than the said first width portion,
The printing material supply port is provided in the first width portion.
cartridge. The cartridge according to claim 1,
The cartridge, wherein at least a part of the contour of the recess is an arc when the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface. The cartridge according to claim 2,
The cartridge, wherein the arc is an arc centered on a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. The cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
The arc is a cartridge provided on the tip side when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. A cartridge according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein
When the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface, the outline of the recess intersects the first straight line constituting the first width portion and the first straight line. A cartridge comprising an arc , a second straight line that intersects with the arc, and a third straight line that intersects with the first and second straight lines. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
The cartridge, wherein a convex portion is formed in the third width portion in a direction from the second surface toward the first surface. A cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a partition wall for partitioning a plurality of cartridges,
A first surface and a second surface facing each other;
A third surface and a fourth surface intersecting the first surface and the second surface and facing each other;
A fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface and face each other;
A printing material supply port provided on the first surface,
At least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface is formed with a recess for accommodating at least a part of the partition wall when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
When viewed the fifth surface and the cartridge toward at least one of the sixth surface, Ri least partially arcuate der contour of the recess,
The cartridge, wherein the arc is an arc centered on a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion . The cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein
The arc is a cartridge provided on the tip side when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. The cartridge according to claim 7 or 8 , wherein
When the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface,
The outline of the recess intersects the first straight line constituting the first surface, the arc intersecting with the first straight line, the second straight line intersecting with the arc, and the first and second straight lines. And a third straight line. The cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein
When the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface,
The intersection of the first straight line and the circular arc is provided on the fourth surface side from the printing material supply port,
An intersection of the first and second straight lines and the third straight line is a cartridge provided on the third surface side with respect to the printing material supply port. A cartridge that is detachably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a printing apparatus provided with a partition wall for partitioning a plurality of cartridges,
A first surface and a second surface facing each other;
A third surface and a fourth surface intersecting the first surface and the second surface and facing each other;
A fifth surface and a sixth surface that intersect the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface and face each other;
A plurality of printing material supply ports provided on the first surface,
Between two printing material supply port adjacent to each other in the plurality of printing material supply port, at least a portion of the partition wall is accommodated when said cartridge is mounted to the cartridge mounting portion A dent is recessed from the first surface toward the second surface,
The cartridge, wherein at least a part of the contour of the recess is an arc when the cartridge is viewed toward the fifth surface or the sixth surface. The cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein
The cartridge, wherein the arc is an arc centered on a rotation fulcrum when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. The cartridge according to claim 11 or 12 ,
The arc is a cartridge provided on the tip side when the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. The cartridge according to any one of claims 11 to 13 , comprising:
When the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface,
The outline of the recess intersects the first straight line constituting the first surface, the arc intersecting with the first straight line, the second straight line intersecting with the arc, and the first and second straight lines. And a third straight line. 15. The cartridge according to claim 14 , wherein
When the cartridge is viewed toward at least one of the fifth surface and the sixth surface,
The intersection of the first straight line and the circular arc is provided on the fourth surface side from the printing material supply port,
An intersection of the first and second straight lines and the third straight line is a cartridge provided on the third surface side with respect to the printing material supply port. A printing apparatus to which the cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 15 is mounted,
A printing material supply pipe is provided so as to be sandwiched between two adjacent partition walls,
When the cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the height of the partition wall is more than half the distance between the two partition walls when the direction perpendicular to the first surface is the height direction. Big printing device. A printing apparatus to which the cartridge according to any one of claims 2 to 5 is mounted,
A printing apparatus, wherein at least a part of the partition wall has a shape along the arc. A printing apparatus to which the cartridge according to any one of claims 7 to 15 is mounted,
A printing apparatus, wherein at least a part of the partition wall has a shape along the arc.

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