JP6380193B2 - Liquid supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus in which a liquid cartridge is mounted in a mounting portion and an opening of the mounting portion can be closed by a cover.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by discharging ink stored in an ink container from a nozzle is known. Some ink jet recording apparatuses are configured so that a new ink cartridge can be mounted each time ink is consumed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an ink container 12 that can be attached to and detached from a printing device 86. Specifically, the ink container 12 includes a fitting mechanism 62. In a state where the ink container 12 is inserted into the printing device 86, the fitting mechanism 62 of the ink container 12 is fitted with the fitting mechanism 76 of the printing device 86, thereby resisting the biasing force of the springs 98 and 108. The ink container 12 is accurately positioned in the printing device 86.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when the ink cartridge 22 is inserted to a predetermined position in the storage portion 59, the cover 57 is closed without the cartridge side interference portion 44 and the cover side interference portion 75 interfering with each other. In a state where the cartridge 22 is not inserted to a predetermined position in the storage portion 59, a configuration is disclosed in which the cartridge side interference portion 44 and the cover side interference portion 75 interfere with each other and the cover 57 is not closed.

JP-T-2002-508720 JP-A-2005-74979

  In the structure of Patent Document 1, if the ink container 12 is not rotated from the position in which the fitting mechanism 62 and the fitting mechanism 76 are fitted to the position in which the fitting mechanism 62 is not fitted in the printing device 86, the ink container 12 is spring 98. , 108 cannot be moved out of the printing device 86. Therefore, it is desirable that the ink container 12 can be easily rotated to a posture in which the fitting mechanism 62 and the fitting mechanism 76 are not fitted without interfering with the printing device 86 in a state where the ink container 12 is positioned in the printing device 86. . On the other hand, if the fitting mechanism 62 and the fitting mechanism 76 can be easily rotated to a posture in which the fitting mechanism 62 does not fit, the ink container 12 is printed when the user does not intend to remove the ink container 12 due to impact or vibration. There is a risk of disengagement from the device 86.

  In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2, the user can be made aware that the ink cartridge 22 is not inserted up to a predetermined position of the storage portion 59 by not closing the cover 57. However, when the user does not intend to remove the ink cartridge 22 as described above, the lock of the ink cartridge 22 is not released.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to allow a user to recognize through a cover opening / closing operation that the liquid cartridge is not accurately positioned in the mounting portion. And providing a means capable of preventing the liquid cartridge from being released from the positioned state in the mounting portion in which the cover is closed.

  (1) In the present invention, the liquid cartridge is mounted by being inserted through the opening of the mounting portion in the first direction against the urging force in the second direction opposite to the first direction. The present invention relates to a liquid supply apparatus. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid storage chamber, a front surface facing the first direction in a state where the liquid cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion, and a rear surface disposed with the liquid storage chamber interposed between the front surface and the front surface. And a side surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface, a liquid supply unit disposed on the front surface, a lock surface disposed on the side surface, and a recessed portion opened in the second direction. The mounting portion is rotatable to a liquid supply pipe inserted into the liquid supply portion, a lock portion that contacts the lock surface, an open posture that opens the opening, and a closed posture that closes the opening. And a cover having a protrusion. The liquid cartridge has a first posture in which the lock surface is in contact with the lock portion facing the first direction and the second direction in a state where the liquid supply pipe is inserted into the liquid supply portion in the mounting portion. And the lock surface is pivotable between the lock portion and a second posture that does not face the first direction and the second direction, and in the first posture, the lock surface is in contact with the lock portion. By abutting in the second direction, the mounting portion is positioned against the urging force. The cover is in the closed position when the liquid cartridge is positioned in the mounting portion, so that the protrusion is accommodated in the recessed portion and the liquid cartridge is rotated to the second position. When the liquid cartridge is in the second posture in the mounting portion, the protrusion comes into contact with the liquid cartridge in the process of turning from the open posture to the closed posture. .

  When the liquid cartridge is in the first posture in the mounting portion, the protrusion in the cover in the closed posture is accommodated in the recessed portion of the liquid cartridge, and the liquid cartridge is restricted from changing its posture to the second posture. When the liquid cartridge is in the second posture in the mounting portion, the protrusion comes into contact with the liquid cartridge in the process of rotating the cover from the open posture to the closed posture, so that the user can recognize that the liquid cartridge is not in the first posture. .

  (2) Preferably, when the liquid cartridge is in the second posture in the mounting portion, the protrusion is formed on the liquid cartridge in a process in which the cover is rotated from the open posture toward the closed posture. When the abutment and the cover are further rotated to the closed position, the protrusion rotates the liquid cartridge from the second position to the first position.

  As a result, when the cover is rotated from the open position to the closed position when the liquid cartridge is in the second position in the mounting portion, the protrusion is rotated to the first position while contacting the liquid cartridge in the second position. . Accordingly, the user can set the liquid cartridge in the second posture to the first posture by the operation of rotating the cover to the closed posture.

  (3) Preferably, the liquid cartridge further includes an operation surface disposed at a position closer to the rear surface than the lock surface on the side surface, and the side surface is viewed from a direction orthogonal to the side surface. Sometimes, it has a sub-side surface that overlaps with the operation surface, and the recessed portion is formed between the operation surface and the sub-side surface.

  Due to the recessed portion, the user can easily recognize the operation surface.

  (4) Preferably, the liquid cartridge has a first rib extending from the sub-side surface toward the back surface facing the operation surface in the recessed portion.

  The operation surface is reinforced by the first rib.

  (5) Preferably, the mounting portion can be mounted in a state where a plurality of the liquid cartridges are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the protrusion is positioned in the mounting portion. Are accommodated between the first ribs in the recessed portions of the liquid cartridges adjacent to each other.

  Thereby, the number of protrusions to be provided on the cover can be made smaller than the number of liquid cartridges that can be mounted on the mounting portion. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the protrusion on the cover is increased.

  (6) Preferably, the liquid cartridge has a second rib that protrudes from the back surface facing the operation surface toward the sub-side surface in the recessed portion and extends in a direction along the rear surface.

  The position where the protrusion of the cover abuts can be accurately determined by the second rib.

  (7) Preferably, the first direction is a horizontal direction, the side surface is an upper surface facing upward when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion, and the liquid cartridge is in the second posture. In some cases, the lock surface is positioned below the lock portion.

  (8) Preferably, the first direction is a horizontal direction, the side surface is an upper surface facing upward when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion, and the liquid cartridge is in the second posture. In some cases, the lock surface is positioned below the lock portion, and the operation surface faces upward and in the second direction in a state where the liquid cartridge is positioned on the mounting portion. .

  Thereby, when a user presses an operation surface, the force required to release the liquid cartridge from the positioned state with respect to the liquid consuming device is reduced.

  (9) Preferably, in a state where the liquid cartridge is positioned on the mounting portion, at least a part of the operation surface protrudes upward from the lock surface.

  The locking surface is protected by the protruding part of the operation surface.

  (10) Preferably, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the operation surface.

  (11) Preferably, each of the plurality of protrusions is a protrusion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to allow the user to recognize that the liquid cartridge is not accurately positioned in the mounting portion through the opening / closing operation of the cover, and in the mounting portion where the cover is closed, Release from the positioned state can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of a printer 10 provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an external configuration of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from the front and from above. FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from the front and below. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from the rear and from above. FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from the rear and below. FIG. 5 is a side view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110, and shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 starts to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110, and shows a state in which the second protrusion 86 is in contact with the slider 107. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110, and shows a state in which the ink supply portion 34 starts to enter the guide portion 105 and the rod 125 starts to enter the concave portion 96 of the front cover 31. Show. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110, and shows a state where the ink needle 102 has entered the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply portion 34. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting part 110, and shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is positioned on the cartridge mounting part 110. FIG. 12 is a side view of the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture, and shows the relationship of force when the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 is pushed by the user. FIG. 13 is a side view of the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture, and shows the relationship of force when the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 is pushed by the user. FIG. 14 is a side view of the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture, and shows the relationship between the virtual arc C and the lock surface 151. FIG. 15A is a plan view when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53, and FIG. 15B is a rear view when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the forward direction 57. FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the cover 108 and the cartridge mounting part 110 in the open posture. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the cover 108 and the cartridge mounting part 110 in the closed posture. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the cover 108 and the cartridge mounting part 110 in the open posture. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing the cover 108 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the closed posture. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protrusion 121 of the cover 108 is in contact with the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture at the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110 is defined as the insertion direction 51 (an example of the first direction). Further, a direction opposite to the insertion direction 51 and in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 is defined as a removal direction (an example of a second direction) 52. In the present embodiment, the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 are horizontal directions, but the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 may not be horizontal directions. Further, the gravity direction is defined as the downward direction 53, and the direction opposite to the gravity direction is defined as the upward direction 54. In addition, directions orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 and the downward direction 53 are defined as a right direction 55 and a left direction 56. More specifically, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is inserted up to the mounting position of the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture (an example of the first posture), the ink cartridge 30 is removed. , The direction extending to the right is defined as the right direction 55, and the direction extending to the left is defined as the left direction 56. Further, the insertion direction 51 may be referred to as the front direction 57 and the removal direction 52 may be referred to as the rear direction 58.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes a recording head 21, an ink supply device 100, and an ink tube 20 that connects the recording head 21 and the ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge mounting part 110 (an example of a mounting part). An ink cartridge 30 (an example of a liquid cartridge) can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. An opening 112 is provided on one surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51 through the opening 112 or is extracted from the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the removal direction 52.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores ink (an example of a liquid) that can be used by the printer 10. In a state where the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores the ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects the ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzles 29 by the ink jet recording method. Specifically, a drive voltage is selectively applied from the head control board 21A provided on the recording head 21 to the piezo elements 29A provided corresponding to the nozzles 29. Thereby, ink is selectively ejected from the nozzles 29.

  The printer 10 includes a paper feed tray 15, a paper feed roller 23, a transport roller pair 25, a platen 26, a discharge roller pair 27, and a paper discharge tray 16. The recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23 is transported onto the platen 26 by the transport roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a recording sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording paper. The recording paper that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged to a paper discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24 by a discharge roller pair 27.

[Ink supply apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 100 (an example of a liquid supply device) is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21 provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture (first posture) is shown.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 16, and 17, the cartridge mounting unit 110 includes a case 101, an ink needle 102, a sensor 103, four contacts 106, a slider 107, and a lock unit 145. And a cover 108. The cartridge mounting unit 110 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black side by side in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction 51. In addition, four ink needles 102, sensors 103, four contacts 106, sliders 107, and lock portions 145 are provided in correspondence with the four ink cartridges 30.

[Case 101]
The case 101 that forms the housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has a top surface that defines the top of the internal space of the case 101, a bottom surface that defines the bottom, and a top that connects the top and the bottom. And an opening 112 that is provided at a position facing the end surface and the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 and that can be exposed to the user interface surface of the printer 10 that faces when the user uses the printer 10. It has a box shape. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is guided in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 in FIG. 7 by inserting the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the ink cartridge 30 into the guide grooves 109 provided on the top surface and the bottom surface. The case 101 is provided with three plates 104 that divide the internal space into four spaces that are long in the vertical direction. The ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in each space partitioned by the plate 104.

[Ink needle 102]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the ink needle (an example of a liquid supply pipe) 102 is made of a tubular resin, and is provided at the lower portion of the end surface of the case 101. The ink needle 102 is disposed on the end surface of the case 101 at a position corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The ink needle 102 protrudes from the end surface of the case 101 in the removal direction 52.

  A cylindrical guide portion 105 is provided around the ink needle 102. The guide part 105 protrudes from the end surface of the case 101 in the removal direction 52, and its protruding end is open. The ink needle 102 is disposed at the center of the guide portion 105. The guide unit 105 has a shape in which the ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge enters inward.

  In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting part 110 in the insertion direction 51, that is, in the process of moving the ink cartridge 30 to the mounting position, the ink supply part 34 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the guide part 105 (FIG. 10). reference). When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110 in the insertion direction 51, the ink needle 102 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 formed in the ink supply part 34. As a result, the ink supply valve 70 in the ink supply unit 34 is opened. As a result, the ink needle 102 and the ink supply unit 34 are connected. The ink stored in the storage chamber 36 formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is connected to the ink needle 102 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 formed inside the ink supply unit 34 and the internal space of the ink needle 102. The ink tube 20 flows out. The tip of the ink needle 102 may be flat or pointed.

[Slider 107]
An opening 111 extending along the insertion direction 51 (or the removal direction 52) is formed on the lower surface of the guide groove 109 below the case 101 and near the end surface. A slider 107 is provided in the opening 111. The slider 107 protrudes upward from below the lower surface of the guide groove 109 through the opening 111. The slider 107 is fitted to a guide rail 113 provided below the case 101, and can move in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 along the guide rail 113 in the opening 111. A hiki spring 114 is stretched between the slider 107 and the case 101. The spring spring 114 is biased in the removal direction 52 by pulling the slider 107. Therefore, the slider 107 is positioned at the end of the guide rail 113 in the removal direction 52 when no external force is applied. When an external force in the insertion direction 51 is applied from that position, the slider 107 can move in the insertion direction 51 along the guide rail 113 in the opening 111.

  In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting part 110 in the insertion direction 51, that is, in the process in which the ink cartridge 30 moves to the mounting position, the second protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30 is inserted along the guide groove 109 in the insertion direction. By proceeding to 51, the slider 107 comes into contact (see FIG. 8). When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51, the slider 107 moves in the insertion direction 51 against the urging force of the hiki spring 114 by being pushed into the second projecting portion 86. The ink cartridge 30 receives a biasing force in the removal direction 52 by the slider 107. The slider 107 and the spring spring 114 are an example of an urging member.

[Locking part 145]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the lock portion 145 extends in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 of the case 101 in the vicinity of the top surface of the case 101 and in the vicinity of the opening 112. The lock portion 145 is a rod-shaped member that extends along the left direction 56 and the right direction 55. The lock part 145 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Both ends of the lock portion 145 in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 are fixed to walls that define both the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 of the case 101. Therefore, the lock portion 145 does not move relative to the case 101 such as turning. The lock portion 145 extends in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 over four spaces in which the four ink cartridges 30 can be stored. In each space in which the ink cartridge 30 is accommodated, there is a space around the lock portion 145. Therefore, it is possible to access the lock portion 145 toward the upward direction 54 and toward the removal direction 52.

  The lock unit 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 at the mounting position. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and rotated to the mounting posture so that the ink cartridge 30 is engaged with the lock portion 145, and the lock portion 145 has a direction in which the slider 107 removes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52. The ink cartridge 30 is held in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force of pushing the ink cartridge 30 and the force of the coil spring 78 of the ink cartridge 30 pushing the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, four contact points 106 are provided near the end surface of the top surface of the case 101. Although not shown in detail in each figure, the four contact points 106 are spaced apart in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55. The arrangement of the four contact points 106 corresponds to the arrangement of four electrodes 65 of the ink cartridge 30 described later (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Each contact 106 is made of a member having conductivity and elasticity, and can be elastically deformed in the upward direction 54. Four sets of four contact points 106 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the case 101. The number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65 are arbitrary.

  Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the arithmetic unit via an electric circuit. The arithmetic device includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and may be configured as a control unit of the printer 10. When the contact 106 and the corresponding electrode 65 are electrically connected, the voltage Vc is applied to the electrode 65, the electrode 65 is grounded, or power is supplied to the electrode 65. Data stored in the IC of the ink cartridge 30 can be accessed by electrical conduction between the contact 106 and the corresponding electrode 65. The output from the electric circuit is input to the arithmetic unit.

[Rod 125]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the rod 125 is provided above the ink needle 102 on the end surface of the case 101. The rod 125 protrudes from the end surface of the case 101 in the removal direction 52. Like the upper half of the cylindrical shape, the rod 125 has a U-shaped cross-section that is orthogonal to the removal direction 52, and has a shape in which a rib extending upward in the removal direction 52 protrudes from the uppermost portion. is there. The rod 125 is inserted into the concave portion 96 below the IC substrate 64 of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is positioned at the mounting position.

[Sensor 103]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a sensor 103 is provided on the top surface of the case 101. The sensor 103 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light emitting unit is provided in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 with respect to the light receiving unit and spaced from the light receiving unit. The detected portion 62 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is disposed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. In other words, the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are disposed to face each other with the detected portion 62 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 being interposed therebetween.

  The sensor 103 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light output from the light emitting unit is received by the light receiving unit. For example, the sensor 103 may detect a low level signal (“a signal with a signal level less than a threshold level” on condition that the light output from the light emitting unit cannot be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the received light intensity is less than a predetermined intensity). ").) Is output. On the other hand, the sensor 103 receives a high level signal (“the signal level is equal to or higher than the threshold level” on condition that the light output from the light emitting unit can be received by the light receiving unit (that is, the received light intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity). "Signal") is output.

[Cover 108]
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the cover 108 is provided so as to be able to open and close an opening 22 formed on a wall facing the user when the printer 10 is used in the casing 14 constituting the outer shape of the printer 10. It has been. In the internal space of the housing 14, the case 101 is positioned so that the opening 112 matches the opening 22. Thereby, the ink cartridge 30 can be inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 22 and the opening 112.

  The cover 108 rotates around a rotation shaft 115 extending in a direction along the mounting surface on which the printer 10 is mounted. In the present embodiment, the rotation shaft 115 extends in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The cover 108 has an outer shape with a size corresponding to the opening 22, and has a substantially rectangular outer shape that can cover the opening 22. The cover 108 covers the opening 22 of the housing 14 in the closed posture. When the cover 108 is in the closed position, the ink cartridge 30 cannot be inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110. In the open posture, the cover 108 opens the opening 22 of the housing 14 and exposes the opening 112 of the case 101 to the outside. When the cover 108 is in the open position, the ink cartridge 30 can be inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The cover 108 has an outer surface 116 that forms part of the front wall of the housing 14 in the closed posture, and an inner surface 117 that faces the case 101. An engaging portion 118 protrudes from the inner surface 117 of the cover 108. The engaging portion 118 holds the cover 108 in a closed posture by engaging with an engaged portion 119 provided near the upper end of the opening 22 of the housing 14.

  A protrusion 121 is provided on the inner surface 117 of the cover 108 at a position closer to the rotation shaft 115 than the engaging portion 118. The three protrusions 121 are spaced apart in the direction along the rotation shaft 115 so as to be positioned between the four ink cartridges 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110.

  The three protrusions 121 have the same configuration except for the arrangement. The protrusion 121 protrudes from the inner surface 117 of the cover 108 and has a horizontally long flat plate shape along the rotation shaft 115. The distance between the protrusion 121 and the rotation shaft 115 is such that the protrusion 121 when the cover 108 is in the closed position is a recessed portion between the operation surface 90 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the sub upper surface 92. 95 to be accommodated.

  Although details will be described later, the protrusion 121 accommodated in the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30 when the cover 108 is in the closed posture is the second in the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 from the first posture (mounting posture). Regulates movement to turn to posture. In addition, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protrusion 121 is the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture in the process in which the cover 108 is rotated from the open posture to the closed posture. Abutting against the wall surface defining Further, when the cover 108 is further rotated to the closed posture, the protrusion 121 causes the operation unit 90 to be lifted in the upward direction 54, thereby rotating the ink cartridge 30 from the second posture to the first posture.

[Ink cartridge 30]
The ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is a container for storing ink. A space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is a storage chamber (an example of a liquid storage chamber) 36 that stores ink. The storage chamber 36 is formed by the rear cover 31 that forms the appearance of the ink cartridge 30 and the inner frame 35 housed in the front cover 32, but is formed by the rear cover 31, the front cover 32, and the like. May be.

  The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and 15 is the posture when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture (first posture). That is, the ink cartridge 30 includes a front surface 140, a rear surface 41, upper surfaces 39 and 141 (an example of side surfaces), and lower surfaces 42 and 142, as will be described later. As for the orientation of the ink cartridge 30, the direction from the rear surface 41 toward the front surface 140 coincides with the insertion direction 51 and the front direction 57, the direction from the front surface 140 toward the rear surface 41 coincides with the removal direction 52, and from the upper surfaces 39 and 141. In this posture, the direction toward the lower surfaces 42 and 142 coincides with the lower direction 53, and the direction toward the upper surfaces 39 and 141 from the lower surfaces 42 and 142 coincides with the upper direction 54. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the front surface 140 faces the insertion direction 51 and the front direction 57, the rear surface 41 faces the removal direction 52, and the bottom surfaces 42 and 142 face the downward direction 53. The upper surfaces 39 and 141 face the upward direction 54.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the ink cartridge 30 includes a rear cover 31 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a front cover 32 that forms the front surface 140, and an internal frame 35 that partitions the storage chamber 36. . A front cover 32 is assembled to the rear cover 31 to form an outer shape of the ink cartridge 30. The inner frame 35 is housed inside the assembled rear cover 31 and front cover 32. The ink cartridge 30 as a whole has a narrow dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and a dimension along the lower direction 53 and the upper direction 54, and the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, respectively. The flat shape is larger than the dimension along the direction 56. The surface of the front cover 32 facing the insertion direction 51 (front direction 57) when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 is the front surface 140, and the rear cover 31 facing the removal direction 52 (rear direction 58). Is the rear surface 41. That is, the rear surface 41 is disposed with the storage chamber 36 sandwiched between the rear surface 41 and the front surface 140 of the front cover 32.

[Rear cover 31]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear cover 31 includes side surfaces 37, 38 that are spaced apart from each other in the right direction 55 and the left-right direction 51, an upper surface 39 that faces the upper direction 54, and a lower surface that faces the lower direction 53. 42 extends from the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51, and has a box shape opened toward the front direction 57. An inner frame 35 is inserted into the rear cover 31 through an opening. That is, the rear cover 31 covers the rear part of the inner frame 35. Further, the lower surface 42 is disposed with the storage chamber 36 interposed between the lower surface 42 and the upper surface 39 in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted.

  The rear surface 41 has an upper portion 41U and a lower portion 41L. The upper portion 41U is located in the upward direction 54 with respect to the lower portion 41L. The lower portion 41L is located in the lower direction 53 relative to the upper portion 41U. The lower portion 41L is located in the forward direction 57 with respect to the upper portion 41U. The upper portion 41U and the lower portion 41L are both flat surfaces and intersect with each other without being orthogonal to each other. The lower portion 41L is inclined with respect to the lower direction 53 and the upper direction 54 so as to be closer to the front surface 140 as the lower surface 42 is approached. As shown in FIG. 15 (B), the upper portion 41U includes characters such as “PUSH” prompting the user to press, a symbol such as an arrow, and a diagram showing pressing with a finger. A sheet is attached.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a convex portion 43 is provided on the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31. The convex portion 43 extends along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 in the center of the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 on the upper surface 39. A surface facing the rear direction 58 in the convex portion 43 is a lock surface 151. The lock surface 151 extends along the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. The lock surface 151 is a surface that can come into contact with the lock portion 145 toward the removal direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the lock surface 151 comes into contact with the lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52, the ink cartridge 30 is mounted against the biasing force of the spring spring 114 biased through the slider 107 and the biasing force of the coil spring 78. Held by the unit 110.

  Reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 that intersect with the lock surface 151 respectively extend continuously from the end in the right direction 55 and the end in the left direction 56 of the lock surface 151. The reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 include a lock surface, and extend so as to form an acute angle toward the front direction 57 with respect to a virtual plane extending along the lower direction 53 and the upper direction 54, the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. . The strength of the convex portion 43 is reinforced by the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153, and the possibility that the lock surface 151 is damaged is reduced. Further, since the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 do not extend in the rearward direction 58 from the lock surface 151, they do not come into contact with the lock portion 145. Therefore, even if the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 exist, even if the lock surface 151 may slide with the lock portion 145, the sliding resistance does not increase.

  In the convex portion 43, a horizontal surface 154 is provided continuously with the lock surface 151 in the forward direction 57 from the lock surface 151. The horizontal plane 154 is a plane extending along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, the front direction 57, and the rear direction 58. In the forward direction 57 from the horizontal plane 154, an inclined surface 155 is provided continuously with the horizontal plane 154. The inclined surface 155 faces the upward direction 54 and the front direction 57. Therefore, the inclined surface 155 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53, and is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the backward direction 58. Since the lock surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 are continuous via the horizontal surface 154, the mountain shape with a sharp boundary between the lock surface 151 and the inclined surface 154 is not formed. In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 by the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154, the lock portion 145 is smoothly guided to the rear direction 58 from the lock surface 151 while being in contact with the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154. .

  Reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157 that intersect with the inclined surface 151 respectively extend continuously from the end in the right direction 55 and the end in the left direction 56 on the inclined surface 155. The reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157 include the inclined surface 155 and extend so as to form an acute angle toward the downward direction 54 with respect to a virtual plane extending along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The strength of the convex portion 43 is reinforced by the reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157, and the possibility that the inclined surface 155 is damaged is reduced. Further, since the reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157 do not extend in the upward direction 54 from the inclined surface 155, they do not come into contact with the lock portion 145. Therefore, even if the reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157 are present, the sliding resistance when the inclined surface 155 slides on the lock portion 145 does not increase.

  On the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, an operation unit 90 is provided in the rear direction 58 from the lock surface 151. A sub-upper surface 91 (an example of a sub-side surface) is formed at the rear end of the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 and is located in a lower direction 53 than other portions of the upper surface 39. An operation unit 90 is disposed above the sub upper surface 91 with a recessed portion 95 therebetween. The recessed portion 95 opens toward the removal direction 52, that is, toward the rear direction 58. The operation unit 90 has a flat plate shape that protrudes from the vicinity of the boundary between the other part of the upper surface 39 and the sub-upper surface 91 in the upward direction 54 to the upper side of the convex portion 43, and further bent obliquely downward in the backward direction 58 and downward direction 53. is there. A rib 94 (an example of a first rib) is provided between the operation unit 90 and the sub-upper surface 91 and is continuous with the back surface 99 and the sub-upper surface 91 of the operation unit 90 and extends in the rearward direction 58. As shown in FIG. 15, the dimension of the rib 94 along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 is smaller than the dimension of the operation unit 90 and the dimension of the sub upper surface 91 along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, respectively.

  In the recessed portion 95, a rib 89 (an example of a second rib) protrudes from the back surface 99 of the operation unit 90 toward the sub-upper surface 91. The rib 89 extends from the rib 94 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, that is, in the direction along the rear surface 41.

  In the operation unit 90, a surface facing the upward direction 54 and the rearward direction 58 is an operation surface 92. The operation surface 92 is a surface opposite to the back surface 99 in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53. The operation surface 92 and the sub-upper surface 91 overlap in positions in the direction along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53, the operation surface 92 and the sub-upper surface 91 are in overlapping positions. On the operation surface 92, a plurality of protrusions, for example, a plurality of protrusions 93 extending along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are formed at intervals in the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58. The protrusions 93 as the plurality of protrusions make it easier for the user to recognize the operation surface 92, and when the user operates the operation surface 92 with the finger, the finger is less likely to slip relative to the operation surface 92.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the operation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53 and is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the forward direction 57. In other words, the operation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the direction from the upper surface 39 to the lower surface 42, and when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the direction from the rear surface 41 to the front surface 140. Visible. The operation surface 92 is a surface for the user to operate in order to take out the ink cartridge 30 from the state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The operation unit 90 is fixed to the rear cover 31 by being molded integrally with the rear cover 31, and is configured not to move relative to the rear cover 31. Yes. Therefore, the force applied from the user to the operation surface 92 is transmitted to the rear cover 31 as it is without changing the direction. In the present embodiment, the operation unit 90 is configured not to move relative to the internal frame 35 and the storage chamber 36, such as turning.

[Front cover 32]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front cover 32 is disposed to be separated from each other in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 by the side surfaces 143 and 144, and in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. The upper surface 141 and the lower surface 142 extend from the front surface 140 in the rearward direction 58 and have a box shape opened toward the rearward direction 58. An inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32 through an opening. That is, the front cover 32 covers the front portion of the inner frame 35 that is not covered by the rear cover 31.

  In a state where the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31 are assembled, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is assembled, the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 constitutes the upper surface of the ink cartridge 30 together with the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31. The lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 and the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31 constitute the lower surface of the ink cartridge 30. Specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture (first posture), the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 extends along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, and the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31 is It is inclined downward 53 and rearward 58. Side surfaces 143 and 144 of the front cover 32 constitute side surfaces of the ink cartridge 30 together with side surfaces 37 and 38 of the rear cover 31. In the assembled state of the ink cartridge 30, the front surface 140 of the front cover 32 that forms the front surface of the ink cartridge 30 and the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 that forms the rear surface of the ink cartridge 30 have the front direction 57 and They are spaced apart from one another in the rearward direction 58. In addition, the front surface, the rear surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the side surface of the ink cartridge 30 do not necessarily have to be one flat surface. That is, it is a surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture is viewed in the rear direction 58, and in the front direction 57 from the center of the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 of the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture. The surface to be located is the front surface. It is a surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture is viewed in the front direction 57 and is located in the rear direction 58 from the center of the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 of the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture. The face is the rear face. It is a surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture is viewed in the downward direction 53 and is located in the upward direction 54 from the center of the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 of the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture. The surface is the top surface. It is a surface that can be seen when the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture is viewed in the upward direction 54, and is located in the downward direction 53 from the center of the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 of the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture. The surface is the lower surface. The same applies to the side surface.

  A concave portion 96 that is recessed in the rear direction 58 is formed in the upper portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The rod 125 enters the recess 96 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. Therefore, the cross section perpendicular to the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 of the recess 96 is a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the rod 125.

  A hole 97 penetrating in the rear direction 58 is formed in a lower portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The hole 97 is a hole for exposing the ink supply part 34 of the inner frame 35 to the outside in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. Therefore, the hole 97 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 of the internal frame 35.

  A first protrusion 85 and a second protrusion 86 are provided on the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The first protrusion 85 protrudes forward 57 at the upper end of the front cover 32. The recess 96 is provided at the tip of the first protrusion 85. The tip of the first protrusion 85 forms part of the front surface 140.

  The second protruding portion 86 protrudes forward 57 from the front surface 140 at the lower end of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32, that is, below the ink supply portion 34. On the lower surface of the second projecting portion 86, a recess 87 that opens in the front direction 57 and the downward direction 53 is formed. A part of the recess 87 protrudes downward 53 from the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32. In the process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the second protrusion 86 comes into contact with the recess 87 as the slider 125 enters. The 2nd protrusion part 86 is an example of a biasing receiving part.

  A hole 98 penetrating in the downward direction 53 is formed in the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32. The hole 98 is a hole for exposing the detected portion 62 of the inner frame 35 to the outside in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. Accordingly, the hole 98 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the detected portion 62 of the inner frame 35.

  An IC substrate 64 is provided on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 above the first protrusion 85, that is, above the ink supply unit 34. The IC substrate 64 is electrically connected to four contacts 106 (see FIG. 2) arranged in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 in the middle of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted to the cartridge. Even when attached to the portion 110, the contact 106 is electrically connected.

  An IC (not shown in the drawings) and four electrodes 65 are mounted on the IC substrate 64. The four electrodes 65 are arranged along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and stores information about the ink cartridge 30 such as data indicating information such as a lot number, date of manufacture, and ink color in a readable manner.

  Each electrode 65 is electrically connected to the IC. Each electrode 65 extends along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58, and the four electrodes 65 are spaced apart in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. Each electrode 65 is exposed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 64 so as to be electrically accessible.

[Internal frame 35]
Although not shown in each figure, the inner frame 35 is configured in an annular shape in which a pair of end faces are opened in a right direction 55 and a left direction 56. In the internal frame 35, a pair of open surfaces is sealed with a film (not shown), thereby forming a storage chamber 36 in which ink can be stored. The front surface 40 that defines the storage chamber 36 is a surface that faces the back surface of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32 when the internal frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32, and is provided with an ink supply unit 34. .

[Ink supply unit 34]
As shown in FIG. 6, the ink supply unit 34 protrudes in the forward direction 57 from the front surface 40 of the inner frame 35 in the lower portion of the front surface 140. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape, and protrudes outward through a hole 97 provided in the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The ink supply unit 34 includes a cylindrical tube wall 73 having an internal space, and a seal member 76 and a cap 79 attached to the tube wall 73.

  The cylindrical wall 73 extends from the inside of the storage chamber 36 to the outside. An end of the tubular wall 73 in the removal direction 52 is open in the storage chamber 36. The end of the cylindrical wall 73 in the insertion direction 51 is open to the outside of the ink cartridge 30. Thereby, the cylindrical wall 73 communicates with the storage chamber 36 and the outside of the ink cartridge 30 via the internal space. That is, the ink supply unit 34 supplies the ink stored in the storage chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73. A seal member 76 and a cap 79 are attached to the end of the cylindrical wall 73 in the insertion direction 51.

  A valve body 77 and a coil spring 78 are accommodated in the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73. The valve body 77 and the coil spring 78 are in a state where the ink supply unit 34 is in a state where ink flows out from the storage chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 (see FIG. 11). This is for selectively switching between the state in which ink does not flow out of the ink cartridge 30 from the internal space (see FIG. 6).

  The valve body 77 opens and closes the ink supply port 71 penetrating through the center of the seal member 76 by moving along the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58. The coil spring 78 urges the valve body 77 in the forward direction 57. Therefore, the valve body 77 closes the ink supply port 71 of the seal member 76 in a state where no external force is applied.

  The seal member 76 is disposed at the tip of the cylindrical wall 73. The seal member 76 is a disk-shaped member having a through hole formed in the center. The seal member 76 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer, for example. The center of the seal member 76 is penetrated in the front direction 57 and the rear direction 58 to form a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and the ink supply port 71 is formed by the inner peripheral surface. The inner diameter of the ink supply port 71 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102. The seal member 76 is in liquid-tight contact with the tip of the cylindrical wall 73 by a cap 79 fitted on the outer side of the cylindrical wall 73.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a state where the valve body 77 closes the ink supply port 71, the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply port 71. While the seal member 76 is elastically deformed, the outer peripheral surface of the ink needle 102 comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface that defines the ink supply port 71. When the tip of the ink needle 102 passes through the seal member 76 and enters the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73, it comes into contact with the valve body 77. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 102 moves the valve body 77 in the backward direction 58 against the urging force of the coil spring 78. As a result, the ink stored in the storage chamber 36 can flow to the tip portion of the ink needle 102 through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73. Although not shown in each figure, ink flows from the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 to the internal space of the ink needle 102 through a through hole formed in the tip portion of the ink needle 102. As a result, the ink stored in the storage chamber 36 can flow out through the internal space of the cylindrical wall 73 and the ink needle 102.

  In the ink supply unit 34, the valve body 77 for closing the ink supply port 71 is not necessarily provided. For example, when the ink supply port 71 is closed with a film or the like and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the ink needle 102 breaks through the film, so that the leading end portion of the ink needle 102 passes through the ink supply port 71. The structure which approachs into the internal space of the cylinder wall 73 may be sufficient. The ink supply port 71 may be closed by the elasticity of the seal member 76 and may be formed so as to be expanded by the ink needle 102 only when the ink needle 102 is inserted.

[Detected part 62]
As shown in FIG. 6, the inner frame 35 has a detected portion 62 that protrudes upward from the upper surface 54. The detected part 62 is a convex part having an internal space that is continuous with the storage chamber 36, and has a light-transmitting property that transmits light toward the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The detected part 62 is exposed to the outside through the hole 98 of the front cover 32.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a member 59 to be detected is disposed in the storage chamber 36 of the inner frame 35. The detected member 59 is supported by a rotation shaft 61 extending along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and can be rotated around the rotation shaft 61.

  The detected member 59 has a float 63. The float 63 has a specific gravity smaller than that of the ink stored in the storage chamber 36. Accordingly, in the storage chamber 36, the float 63 generates buoyancy in a state where it exists in the ink. In a state where the storage chamber 36 is substantially filled with ink, the detected member 59 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 6 due to the buoyancy of the float 63. A part of the detected member 59 has entered the detected portion 62, and the detected member 59 comes into contact with the wall that defines the end of the front direction 57 of the detected portion 62. Posture is maintained. In this state, the detected member 59 blocks the light of the sensor 103 that travels in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 through the detected portion 62.

  More specifically, when the light output from the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 reaches one of the right and left surfaces of the detected portion 62 by the detected member 59, the other surface of the right and left surfaces of the detected portion 62. The intensity of light coming out of the light and reaching the light receiving unit is less than a predetermined intensity, for example, zero. The detected member 59 may completely block the light from traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56, may partially absorb the light, or may bend the light traveling direction. The light may be totally reflected.

  When the ink level decreases in the storage chamber 36 and the liquid level of the ink descends from the position of the float 63 in the posture when the detected member 59 blocks the light traveling through the detected portion 62, the float 63 moves to the liquid level of the ink. It descends with. As a result, the detected member 59 rotates clockwise in FIG. Due to this clockwise rotation, a part of the detected member 59 that has entered the detected part 62 is removed from the optical path from the light emitting part to the light receiving part of the sensor 103. Thereby, the intensity of the light reaching the light receiving part of the sensor 103 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity.

[Arrangement of Lock Surface 151 and Operation Surface 92 in Ink Cartridge 30]
As shown in FIG. 5, in the ink cartridge 30, the distance D1 between the lock surface 151 and the front surface 140 (more specifically, the foremost surface of the front surface 140) is the lock surface 151 and the rear surface 41 (more specifically, The distance D2 from the upper portion 41U) of the rear surface 41 is larger. A distance D1 between the lock surface 151 and the front surface 140 (more specifically, the foremost surface of the front surface 140) is a distance D3 between the operation surface 92 and the front surface 140 (more specifically, the foremost surface of the front surface 140). Smaller than. A distance D4 between the lower end of the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 and the lower surface 42 is larger than a distance D5 between the lower end of the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 and the lower surface 42 (zero in this embodiment). The distance D6 between the foremost position of the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 and the front surface 140 (more specifically, the foremost surface of the front surface 140) is the front position of the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 and the front surface 140 (more specifically, It is larger than the distance D7 from the front surface 140). At least a part of the lower portion 41 </ b> L of the rear surface 41 is located between the central axis 72 of the ink supply port 71 of the seal member 76 and the lower surface 42. The central axis 72 of the ink supply port 71 is an axis that passes through the center of the ink supply port 71 and extends in a direction in which the ink supply port 71 penetrates the seal member 76.

[Operation for Mounting Ink Cartridge 30 to Cartridge Mounting Unit 110]
Hereinafter, a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the ink cartridge 30 before being mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the valve body 77 closes the ink supply port 71 of the seal member 76. Thereby, the distribution of ink from the storage chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 is blocked. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110, the cover 108 is opened by the user.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the case 101 through the opening 112 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. Since the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 is located in the removal direction 52 relative to the lower portion 41L, that is, closer to the user, the user presses the upper portion 41U and presses the ink cartridge 30. Is inserted in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. In addition, as described above, the upper portion 41U is pasted with a sheet on which characters such as “PUSH”, a symbol such as an arrow, a figure showing pressing with a finger, and the like are pasted. You are prompted to press the upper portion 41U. The lower part of the ink cartridge 30, that is, the lower part of each of the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31 enters a guide groove 109 below the case 101. A second projecting portion 86 is provided at the lower portion of the front cover 32, and a part of the concave portion 87 projecting downward from the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 contacts the lower surface of the guide groove 109. Thus, the lower surface 142 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction 51 so that the front portion of the front cover 32 is lifted. That is, a part of the recess 87 of the front cover 32 and a part near the rear end of the lower surface 142 are in contact with the lower surface of the guide groove 109.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51, the concave portion 87 of the second projecting portion 86 of the front cover 31 comes into contact with the slider 107. At this time, the user is pressing the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 8 around the contact portion between the concave portion 87 of the second protrusion 86 and the slide 107. By this rotation, the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 is separated from the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109, while the upper portion of the ink cartridge 30 contacts the upper guide groove 109.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the urging force of the spring 114 that urges the slider 107 in the removal direction 52, the cap 79 of the ink supply unit 34. Begins to enter the guide portion 105. Further, the concave portion 96 of the front cover 32 faces the rod 125, and the rod 125 starts to enter the concave portion 96.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the urging force of the spring 114 that urges the slider 107 in the removal direction 52, the cap 79 of the ink supply unit 34. Enters the guide portion 105 and the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply port 71 to separate the valve body 77 from the seal member 76 against the urging force of the coil spring 78. In addition to the biasing force of the hiki spring 114 applied to the ink cartridge 30 via the slider 107, the biasing force of the coil spring 78 is applied in the removal direction 52.

  Further, the rod 125 enters the concave portion 96 of the front cover 32 and supports the front cover 32 from below. When the IC substrate 64 reaches below the contact 106, each electrode 65 is electrically connected to the corresponding contact 106 while elastically deforming the contact 106 upward. At this time, the IC substrate 64 is urged downward 53 by the elastic deformation of the contact 106, but the rod 125 supports the front cover 32 from below, so that the positioning of the IC substrate 64 with respect to the contact 106 is accurate. To be made. The rod 125 does not necessarily support the front cover 32 from below.

  Further, the convex portion 43 of the rear cover 31 reaches the lock portion 145, and the inclined surface 155 slides with respect to the lock portion 145. The ink cartridge 30 is applied with a rotational moment counterclockwise in FIG. 10 by the user pressing the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51. However, due to the contact between the inclined surface 155 and the lock portion 145, Contrary to this rotational moment, the ink cartridge 30 uses the center of the ink supply port 71 of the seal member 76 into which the ink needle 102 is inserted as the center of rotation, in other words, the ink supply port 71 in the ink needle 102. The center of the part which the inner peripheral surface of the seal member 76 to demarcate contacts is the center of rotation, and rotates clockwise in FIG. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 10 is referred to as a second posture.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture, the lock surface 151 of the convex portion 43 is located below the lock portion 145. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture, the position of the rotation center and the IC substrate 64 described above in the direction along the insertion direction 51 overlap. Accordingly, the urging force applied to the IC substrate 64 by the contact 106 does not act as a moment for rotating the ink cartridge 30 or is a very small moment. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture, the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 32 abuts or approaches the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109. In the present embodiment, the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 32 is in a horizontal plane. Become. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture, the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 is positioned in the insertion direction 51 from the upper portion 41U.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the biasing force of the spring 114 that biases the slider 107 in the removal direction 52 and the biasing force of the coil spring 78, The inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 of the convex portion 43 of the cover 31 are closer to the end surface of the case 101 than the lock portion 145. Since the user presses the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51, a rotational moment is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 11, so that the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 are in contact with the lock portion 145. When the ink cartridge 30 is not in contact, the ink cartridge 30 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 11 with the center of the ink supply port 71 of the seal member 76 into which the ink needle 102 is inserted as the rotation center. The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 11 is referred to as a first posture.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the lock surface 151 faces the lock portion 145 toward the removal direction 52. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 rotates from the second posture to the first posture, the rear cover 31 comes into contact with the lock portion 145. By the impact of this contact, the user recognizes that the ink cartridge 30 has been pushed in the insertion direction 51. When the user stops pushing the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52 due to the biasing force biased from the hiki spring 114 and the biasing force of the coil spring 78 via the slider. When the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the lock surface 151 faces the lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 moves slightly in the removal direction 52, the lock surface 151 is locked. Abuts against the portion 145. Accordingly, the ink cartridge 30 is maintained in the first posture and is restricted from moving in the removal direction 52. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is positioned in the cartridge mounting part 110 and is in a state where the mounting is completed.

  Hereinafter, the operation of rotating the ink cartridge 30 from the second posture to the first posture in the cartridge mounting portion 110 will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 12, the magnitude of gravity applied to the ink cartridge 30 is defined as gravity G. Also, the biasing force F is the magnitude of the biasing force of the spring 114 and the coil spring 78 that biases the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52 in the first posture. Further, a distance along the insertion direction 51 from the center of gravity M of the ink cartridge 30 to the rotation center O in the second posture is a distance L. Further, the distance along the upper direction 54 perpendicular to the insertion direction 51 from the rotation center O of the lower end of the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 in the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture is defined as a height H. At this time,
The formula: (biasing force F) × (height H)> (gravity G) × (distance L) is satisfied.
In the above equation, the product of gravity G and distance L corresponds to the magnitude of the moment for rotating the ink cartridge 30 clockwise in FIG.

  In order for the user to insert the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51, it is necessary to push the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 with a force at least greater than the biasing force F. In other words, if the force that the user pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 is the force U, (biasing force F) <(force U). Further, when the user holds the ink cartridge 30 at a fixed position in the insertion direction 51 against the urging force F, the urging force F and the force U are equal. Therefore, when the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting part 110, a force U equivalent to at least the urging force F is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51. In addition, the user presses the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 in the ink cartridge 30, that is, the upper portion from the lower end of the upper portion 41U. Here, it is assumed that the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture is substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction 51. Then, a counterclockwise moment in FIG. 12 having a magnitude corresponding to at least the product of the urging force F and the height H is generated in the ink cartridge 30. Since the above equation is satisfied, a counterclockwise moment in FIG. 12 is generated in the ink cartridge 30 in the process in which the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51. Further, since the ink cartridge 30 receives the biasing force of the tear spring 114 via the slider 107 at the second projecting portion 86, that is, receives the biasing force of the tear spring 114 below the rotation center O. This urging force also acts as a moment for rotating the ink cartridge 30 counterclockwise. Needless to say, even if there is no urging force of the hiki spring 114, a counterclockwise moment is generated in the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  Therefore, as described above, when the inclined surface 155 of the convex portion 43 finishes sliding with respect to the lock portion 145 and the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 are separated from the lock portion 145 in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 is Due to the counterclockwise moment in FIG. 12, the posture changes from the second posture to the first posture.

  As shown in FIG. 14, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the upper end of the lock surface 151 is centered on the rotation center O and outward from the virtual arc C passing through the lock portion 145. The lower end of the lock surface 151 is located inside the virtual arc C. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the lower end of the lock surface 151 is inward of the virtual arc C from the upper end of the lock surface 151, that is, at a position close to the rotation center O. Accordingly, the lock portion 145 slides toward the lower end of the lock surface 151 by the urging force in the removal direction 52. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated to the first posture in a state where the lock portion 145 and the lock surface 151 are in contact with each other.

On the other hand, suppose that in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the user presses the lower portion 41L without pressing the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31. As shown in FIG. 13, the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture is at an angle α with respect to the first virtual plane P1 (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 13) orthogonal to the insertion direction 51. Intersect. Further, the length of the perpendicular extending from the rotation center O toward the second virtual plane P2 (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 13) orthogonal to the lower part 41L at the lower end of the lower part 41L is defined as a length N. . At this time,
The formula: (biasing force F) × cos α × (length N)> (gravity G) × (distance L) is satisfied.
Similarly to the above, in the above formula, the product of gravity G and distance L corresponds to the magnitude of the moment for rotating the ink cartridge 30 clockwise in FIG.

  When the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting unit 110, when the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 is pushed in the insertion direction 51 with a force U at least equal to the urging force F, the ink cartridge 30 has at least A counterclockwise moment in FIG. 13 having a magnitude corresponding to the product of the cos α component of the biasing force F and the length N is generated. Since the above equation is satisfied, even when the user pushes the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51, a counterclockwise moment in FIG.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is positioned in the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the mounting is completed, the user rotates the cover 108 in the open posture as shown in FIG. 18 to the closed posture as shown in FIG. In the cover 108 in the closed posture, the engaging portion 118 engages with the engaged portion 119. As a result, the cover 108 is held in the closed posture. Further, the protrusion 121 of the cover 108 is accommodated between the two ribs 94 in the recessed portion 95 of each of the adjacent ink cartridges 30 positioned in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The protrusion 121 accommodated in the recessed portion 95 contacts the rib 89 protruding from the back surface 99 of the operation portion 90 in the upward direction 54. The contact between the protrusion 121 and the rib 89 restricts the rotation of the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture to the second posture. When the cover 108 is in the closed position, a gap is formed between the protrusion 121 and the rib 89, and as soon as the ink cartridge 30 starts to rotate from the first position to the second position, The dimensions of the protrusion 121 and the rib 89 may be set so that the protrusion 121 and the rib 89 come into contact with each other and the rotation of the ink cartridge 30 in the first position to the second position is restricted.

  Here, it is assumed that the ink cartridge 30 inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 is not rotated from the second posture to the first posture and remains in the second posture as shown in FIG. In the process in which the user rotates the cover 108 in the open position to the closed position in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the second position in the cartridge mounting unit 110, the protrusion 121 of the cover 108 has the second protrusion 121 as shown in FIG. It is in contact with a surface that defines the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30 that is in the posture, specifically, a surface that faces the rear direction 58. In a state where the projection 121 is in contact with the surface defining the recessed portion 95, the cover 108 is not in the closed posture, and the engaging portion 118 does not engage with the engaged portion 119. The user can recognize that the ink cartridge 30 is not in the first posture by the impact of the protrusion 121 of the cover 108 coming into contact with the surface defining the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30. A user who recognizes that the ink cartridge 30 is not in the first posture opens the cover 108 again, inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110 again, and places the ink cartridge 30 in the first posture. That is, it is expected to complete the mounting.

  When the user further rotates the cover 108 from the state in which the protrusion 121 of the cover 108 is in contact with the surface defining the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30, the protrusion 121 protrudes from the back surface 99 of the operation unit 90. The operation of coming into contact with the rib 89 in the upward direction 54 and rotating the cover 108 to the closed position is transmitted as the operation of moving the operation unit 90 of the ink cartridge 30 in the upward direction 54 and the insertion direction 51. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture is rotated to the first posture, and the lock surface 151 comes into contact with the lock portion 145. Accordingly, the ink cartridge 30 is maintained in the first posture and is restricted from moving in the removal direction 52. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is positioned in the cartridge mounting part 110 and is in a state where the mounting is completed. When the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the cover 108 can be rotated to the closed posture, and the engaging portion 118 is engaged with the engaged portion 119 in the cover 108 rotated to the closed posture. Accordingly, the cover 108 is held in the closed posture. In other words, the user cannot recognize that the ink cartridge 30 is not in the first posture due to the impact of the projection 121 of the cover 108 coming into contact with the surface defining the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30, and the cover 108 is rotated to the closed posture as it is. Even if it is moved, the ink cartridge 30 can be in the first posture and the cover 108 can be in the closed posture.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the user rotates the cover 108 from the closed posture to the open posture. As a result, the user can access the ink cartridge 30 through the opening 112. Then, the user pushes the operation surface 92 downward. As shown in FIG. 15, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the operation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53 and the front direction 57 (insertion direction). 51) when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed. In the state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the operation surface 92 faces the upward direction 54 and the removal direction 52, so that the ink cartridge 30 is released from the position positioned with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. In addition, when the user operates the operation surface 92, a force acts on the ink cartridge 30 in the downward direction 53 and the insertion direction 51. Due to the force acting in the insertion direction 51, the lock surface 151 is separated from the lock portion 145. The ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first posture to the second posture by the force acting in the downward direction 53. Accordingly, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first position to the second position as compared with the case where the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first position to the second position while the lock surface 151 is sliding with the lock portion 145. Therefore, the force applied to the operation surface 92 by the user is reduced.

  As the ink cartridge 30 rotates from the first posture to the second posture, the lock surface 151 is positioned below the lock portion 145. Then, the ink cartridge 30 moves the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the removal direction 52 by the biasing force of the hiki spring 114 and the coil spring 78. When the ink cartridge 30 moves away from the slider 107, the urging force in the removal direction 52 is not applied to the ink cartridge 30. Therefore, when the inertial force acting on the ink cartridge 30 disappears, the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52. Finish moving. At this time, since at least the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30 is located outside the opening 102 of the case 101 of the cartridge mounting unit 110, the user holds the rear cover 31 and holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting unit 110. Can be taken out from.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protrusion 121 is accommodated in the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30 in the cover 108 in the closed posture and abuts against the rib 89. It is restricted that the cartridge 30 changes its posture to the second posture, that is, the ink cartridge 30 is released from the positioned state. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protrusion 121 contacts the surface defining the recessed portion 95 of the ink cartridge 30 in the process in which the cover 108 is rotated from the open posture to the closed posture. Therefore, the user can recognize that the ink cartridge 30 is not in the first posture by the impact at the time of contact.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second posture in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protrusion 121 is in the second posture when the cover 108 is rotated from the open posture to the closed posture. The ink cartridge 30 is rotated to the first posture while being in contact with the rib 89 of the recessed portion 95 of the 30. Accordingly, the user can set the ink cartridge 30 in the second posture to the first posture by the operation of rotating the cover 108 to the closed posture.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the recessed portion 95 is formed between the operation surface of the operation unit 90 and the sub-upper surface 91, the user can easily recognize the operation surface 92.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the recessed portion 95 has the rib 94 extending from the sub upper surface 91 toward the back surface 99 of the operation portion 90, the operation surface 92 is reinforced by the rib 94.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the protrusion 121 is accommodated between the two ribs 94 in each recessed portion 95 of the adjacent ink cartridge 30 in a state where the protrusion 121 is positioned in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The number of power protrusions 121 can be made smaller than the number of ink cartridges 30 that can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. As a result, the degree of freedom in designing the protrusion 121 in the cover 108 increases.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the concave portion 95 has the rib 89 that protrudes downward 53 from the back surface 99 of the operation unit 90 toward the sub-upper surface 91, so that the protrusion 121 of the cover 108 contacts with the rib 89. Is determined accurately.

  In addition, in the state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the first posture, the operation surface 92 faces the upward direction 54 and the removal direction 52, so that the ink cartridge 30 is released from the position positioned with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the user operates the operation surface 92 at this time, a force acts on the ink cartridge 30 in the downward direction 53 and the insertion direction 51. Due to the force acting in the insertion direction 51, the lock surface 151 is separated from the lock portion 145. The ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first posture to the second posture by the force acting in the downward direction 53. Compared to the case where the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first posture to the second posture while the lock surface 151 is sliding with the lock portion 145, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first posture to the second posture. In addition, the force applied to the operation surface 92 by the user is reduced.

  Further, since a part of the operation surface 92 protrudes upward from the lock surface 151, the operation surface 92 protrudes even if the ink cartridge 30 is dropped with the upper surfaces 39 and 141 directed downward 53. The lock surface 151 is protected by the part that has been removed.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the operation unit 92 and the lock surface 151 are provided on the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, but the operation unit 92 and the lock surface 151 are provided on the side surfaces 37 and 38 or the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31. Alternatively, the front cover 32 may be provided on any one of the upper surface 141, the lower surface 142, and the side surfaces 143 and 144.

  In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of ink cartridges 30 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. However, the number of ink cartridges 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110 is plural, even if it is single. Also good.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the slider 107 and the hiki spring 114 are provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110, but these are arbitrary configurations. For example, the slider 107 and the spring spring 114 are not provided in the cartridge mounting unit 110, and the ink cartridge 30 inserted into the cartridge mounting unit 110 is biased in the removal direction 52 only by the coil spring 78 of the ink supply unit 34. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink is described as an example of the liquid. For example, instead of the ink, a pretreatment liquid discharged onto a recording sheet or the like prior to the ink at the time of printing is stored in the liquid cartridge. It may be. Further, water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be stored in the liquid cartridge.

30 ... Ink cartridge (liquid cartridge)
34: Ink supply unit (liquid supply unit)
36... Storage chamber (liquid storage chamber)
39, 141 ... upper surface (side surface)
41 ... rear surface 42, 142 ... lower surface 76 ... seal member (seal part)
89 ... rib (second rib)
91 ... Sub upper surface (Sub side surface)
92 ... operation surface 93 ... ridge (protrusion)
94 ... rib (first rib)
95 ... Recessed part 99 ... Back surface 100 ... Ink supply device (liquid supply device)
102: Ink needle (liquid supply pipe)
108 ... cover 121 ... projection 140 ... front 145 ... lock part 151 ... lock surface

Claims (11)

A liquid supply device that is mounted by being inserted through an opening of the mounting portion against a biasing force in a second direction opposite to the first direction toward the first direction.
The liquid cartridge is
A liquid storage chamber;
A front surface facing the first direction when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion;
A rear surface disposed with the liquid storage chamber sandwiched between the front surface,
A side surface extending between the front surface and the rear surface;
A liquid supply unit disposed on the front surface;
A locking surface disposed on the side surface;
A concave portion opened in the second direction,
The mounting part is
A liquid supply pipe inserted into the liquid supply unit;
A lock portion that comes into contact with the lock surface;
A cover that can be rotated to an open posture that opens the opening and a closed posture that closes the opening and has a protrusion, and
The liquid cartridge is
In the state where the liquid supply pipe is inserted into the liquid supply unit in the mounting unit, the lock surface is in contact with the lock unit facing the first direction and the second direction, and the lock surface. Is rotatable between the lock portion and a second posture that does not face the first direction and the second direction, and in the first posture, the lock surface moves in the second direction with the lock portion. By being abutted, it is in a state of being positioned on the mounting portion against the urging force,
The above cover
When there is the liquid cartridge in a state of being positioned on the mounting portion, the closed posture is adopted, so that the protrusion is accommodated in the recessed portion and the liquid cartridge rotates to the second posture. Regulate,
A liquid supply device in which the protrusion abuts the liquid cartridge in the process of being rotated from the open position toward the closed position when the liquid cartridge is in the second position in the mounting portion.   When the liquid cartridge is in the second posture in the mounting portion, the protrusion comes into contact with the liquid cartridge in a process in which the cover is rotated from the open posture toward the closed posture, and the cover The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion rotates the liquid cartridge from the second position to the first position by rotating to the closed position. The liquid cartridge further includes an operation surface disposed at a position closer to the rear surface than the lock surface on the side surface,
The side surface has a sub-side surface that overlaps with the operation surface when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the side surface,
The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion is formed between the operation surface and the sub-side surface.   The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid cartridge has a first rib extending from the sub-side surface toward the back surface facing the operation surface in the recessed portion. The mounting portion can be mounted in a state where a plurality of the liquid cartridges are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first direction,
The liquid supply device according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion is accommodated between the first ribs in the recessed portions of the liquid cartridge adjacent to each other while being positioned on the mounting portion.   6. The liquid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the liquid cartridge has a second rib that protrudes from the back surface facing the operation surface toward the sub-side surface in the recessed portion and extends in a direction along the rear surface. Liquid supply device. The first direction is a horizontal direction,
The side surface is an upper surface that faces upward when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion,
The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the liquid cartridge is in the second posture, the lock surface is positioned below the lock portion. The first direction is a horizontal direction,
The side surface is an upper surface that faces upward when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion,
When the liquid cartridge is in the second posture, the lock surface is positioned below the lock portion,
7. The liquid supply device according to claim 3, wherein the operation surface faces upward and in the second direction in a state where the liquid cartridge is positioned on the mounting portion.   The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least a part of the operation surface protrudes upward from the lock surface in a state where the liquid cartridge is positioned at the mounting portion.   The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed on the operation surface. The liquid supply apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is a protrusion.

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