JP6447301B2 - system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for consuming a consumable material held in a cartridge mounted on a mounting portion.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a cartridge that stores ink and a printer in which the cartridge is mounted. In Patent Document 1, the cartridge is provided with electrodes, and the printer is provided with contacts. In the process of inserting / removing the cartridge into / from the printer, the block portion of the cartridge comes into contact with the circuit support substrate of the printer, so that the electrode and the contact are not in contact. On the other hand, when the cartridge is completely installed in the printer, the block portion is separated from the circuit support substrate, and the electrodes and the contacts come into contact with each other. Thus, the printer can access an IC chip or the like provided in the cartridge through the contact electrode and the contact.

US2008 / 0122904A1

  By the way, with the miniaturization of a circuit board due to circuit integration, the electrodes mounted on the circuit board also become smaller. Therefore, if the circuit board is not accurately positioned with respect to the cartridge, the electrode and the contact point of the printer may not contact each other when the cartridge is mounted on the printer. Also, when a cartridge with an incorrect circuit board position is installed in the printer, the electrodes and contacts that were in contact immediately after the cartridge was installed in the printer become non-contact due to the vibration of the printer thereafter. there is a possibility.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system in which an electrical interface of a cartridge and a contact of a mounting portion can be electrically contacted stably.

(1) A system according to the present invention includes a consumable material cartridge for holding a consumable material, and a second material in which the consumable material cartridge is inserted and attached in the first direction of the consumable material cartridge and the consumable material cartridge is opposite to the first direction. And a consumption part that consumes the consumption material held by the consumption material cartridge that has been completely attached to the attachment part. The consumable material cartridge includes a substrate support portion, a substrate supported by the substrate support portion, and an electrical interface mounted on a surface of the substrate facing a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. With. The mounting portion is movable between a contact position that overlaps the position of the electrical interface of the consumer material cartridge that has been mounted on the mounting portion, and a non-contact position that is spaced from the contact position in the third direction. When viewed in the first direction with respect to the substrate of the consumable material cartridge that has been mounted on the mounting portion, and a part of the substrate support portion, and is disposed in the first direction with respect to the contact point. A first wall having an overlapping portion, a second wall that is arranged to be shifted in the second direction from the contact point, and is movable in the third direction and a fourth direction opposite to the third direction ; A first biasing member that biases the second wall in the fourth direction. The second wall is movable between a first position and a second position, and when in the first position, the substrate of the consumable material cartridge to be inserted into and removed from the mounting portion, and It has a portion that overlaps with a part of the movement locus of the substrate support part, allows movement of the contact point to the contact position, and deviates in the third direction from the movement locus when in the second position. And the contact is positioned at the non-contact position. When the consumable material cartridge is completely mounted on the mounting portion, a first space that receives the first wall in a region shifted in the first direction from the substrate and a part of the substrate support portion. And a second space for receiving the second wall at the first position is formed in a region shifted in the second direction from the substrate and a part of the substrate support.

  In the above configuration, the consumable cartridge inserted or removed from the mounting portion has the second wall located at the first position on the movement trajectory of the substrate against the urging force of the first urging member. Move to 2 position. Further, when the consumable material cartridge is completely mounted in the mounting portion, the first wall is received in the first space, and the second wall at the first position is received in the second space. In other words, the substrate of the consumer material cartridge that has been mounted is disposed between the first wall and the second wall at the first position in the first direction and the second direction. Thereby, the electrical interface mounted on the board is brought into contact with the contact moved to the contact position by the second wall at the first position.

  On the other hand, when the substrate is displaced with respect to the substrate support portion in the first direction, the substrate comes into contact with the first wall and the substrate support portion is the second when the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion. It may protrude into the space and hinder the movement of the second wall to the first position. Similarly, when the substrate is displaced in the second direction with respect to the substrate support portion, the substrate protrudes into the second space when the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion, and the second wall There is a possibility of inhibiting the movement to one position. As a result, the second wall that cannot move to the first position obstructs the movement of the contact to the contact position, so that the electrical interface and the contact cannot be contacted. In this way, only the electrical interface of the substrate supported by the substrate support portion at the correct position can come into contact with the contact, and the electrical interface of the substrate supported by the substrate support portion shifted in the first direction or the second direction is The contact cannot be touched. As a result, the electrical interface and the contacts can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  Note that “the consumption material cartridge has been completely attached to the attachment unit” refers to a state in which the consumption unit can consume the consumption material held in the consumption material cartridge, for example. Further, in the process of inserting / removing the consumption material cartridge into / from the mounting portion, the substrate may be in contact with the second wall, may be the substrate support portion, or other consumption material cartridges. It may be a component.

  (2) Preferably, in the process in which the consumer cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion, the surface of the second wall that contacts at least one of the substrate and the substrate support portion, or the surface that contacts the second wall. At least one surface of the substrate and the substrate support portion is inclined in the fourth direction toward the first direction. In the process of removing the consumption material cartridge from the mounting portion, the surface of the second wall that contacts at least one of the substrate and the substrate support portion, or the substrate that contacts the second wall and the substrate At least one surface of the substrate support portion is inclined in the fourth direction toward the second direction.

  According to the above configuration, the second wall can smoothly move to the second position along the inclined surface in the process in which the consumer cartridge is inserted into and removed from the mounting portion. That is, the consumption material cartridge can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the mounting portion.

  (3) Preferably, the mounting portion is arranged so as to be shifted from the contact point in a fifth direction orthogonal to the first direction to the fourth direction, and the consumable material cartridge that has been mounted on the mounting portion is disposed. The third wall having a portion overlapping with the substrate when viewed in the fifth direction, and the consumption dissipated in the sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction with respect to the contact point, and has been mounted on the mounting portion. And a fourth wall having a portion overlapping with the substrate of the material cartridge as viewed in the sixth direction. When the consumption material cartridge is completely attached to the attachment portion, a third space that receives the third wall in a region shifted in the fifth direction from the substrate, and a sixth space from the substrate. A fourth space for receiving the fourth wall is formed in the shifted region.

  According to the above configuration, the substrate supported by being shifted in the fifth direction with respect to the substrate support portion comes into contact with the third wall and obstructs the insertion of the consumption material cartridge into the mounting portion. Similarly, the substrate supported by being shifted in the sixth direction with respect to the substrate support portion comes into contact with the fourth wall and obstructs the insertion of the consumption material cartridge into the mounting portion. As a result, only the electrical interface of the substrate supported by the substrate support unit at the correct position can contact the contact, and the electrical interface of the substrate supported by the substrate support unit shifted in the fifth direction or the sixth direction can be contacted. It becomes impossible to touch. As a result, the electrical interface and the contacts can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  (4) Preferably, the substrate support portion extends from the substrate in the first direction, and is inserted into the second wall at the first position in the process of inserting the consumer cartridge into the mounting portion. A first end contacting the first end, and extending in the second direction from the substrate, and contacting the second wall at the first position in the process of removing the consumer cartridge from the mounting portion. Two ends.

  According to the above configuration, for example, when the consumable material cartridge is inserted and removed vigorously with respect to the mounting portion, the substrate is prevented from colliding with the second wall at the first position. As a result, the substrate is prevented from peeling from the substrate support portion. In addition, since the momentum of the consumable material cartridge is diminished by the contact between the substrate support portion and the second wall, the substrate and the second wall may contact thereafter.

  (5) Preferably, the consumable material cartridge is provided with a main body for holding the consumable material and the substrate support portion, and the consumable material cartridge is disposed between a proximity position and a distant position farther from the main body than the proximity position. A movable member capable of moving relative to the main body in the first direction and the second direction; and a second urging member for urging the movable member in a first direction away from the main body. Then, the mounting portion is configured to prevent the urging force of the second urging member from resisting the urging force of the main body in a state where the consumption material cartridge in which the movable member is in the proximity position is completely mounted on the mounting portion. A lock portion is provided that restricts movement in two directions.

  According to the above configuration, since the movable member is urged in the first direction by the second urging member of the consumer material cartridge that has been mounted, the substrate and the substrate support portion move unintentionally in the second direction. The second wall is not moved to the second position. In addition, even if the main body of the consumption material cartridge that has been mounted is moved in the second direction due to deterioration of the lock portion or the like, the position of the movable member that is biased in the first direction by the second biasing member does not change. . As a result, the electrical interface and the contacts can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  (6) Preferably, the consumer material cartridge includes an integrated circuit capable of storing information related to the consumer material. The system includes a control unit that accesses the integrated circuit through the electrical interface in contact with the contact.

  The control unit according to the above configuration can access the integrated circuit of the consumable material cartridge through the electrical interface and the contacts that are stably in contact with each other. Note that “access” includes, for example, one or both of reading information from an integrated circuit and writing information to the integrated circuit.

  (7) For example, the substrate support portion protrudes in the third direction. And in the said 1st direction and the said 2nd direction, the width | variety of the protrusion end of the said board | substrate and the said board | substrate support part is shorter than the separation distance of the said 1st wall and the said 2nd wall.

  (8) For example, the contact and the first urging member are integrally formed.

  (9) For example, the third direction is vertically upward. The fourth direction is vertically downward.

  According to the present invention, only the electrical interface of the substrate supported by the substrate support portion at the correct position can come into contact with the contact, and the electrical interface of the substrate supported by the substrate support portion is shifted in the first direction or the second direction. Since the interface cannot contact the contact, the electrical interface and the contact can be brought into electrical stable contact.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer 10. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge mounting part 110. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the contact unit 125. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the moving wall 127 is removed from the main body 126, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the moving wall 127 is located at the first position. Yes, (C) is a state in which the moving wall 127 is located at the second position. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been inserted to a position where the IC substrate 85 is directly below the moving wall 127. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to a position where the IC substrate 85 is directly below the first contact 131. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been completely mounted. FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating an external configuration of the cartridge mounting unit 110. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 in which the IC substrate 85 is disposed with respect to the substrate support portion 84 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. (A) is a state in which the IC substrate 85 is arranged so as to be shifted in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the substrate support portion 84, and (B) is a state in which the IC substrate 85 is removed from the substrate support portion 84 in the removal direction 52. It is in a state where they are shifted to each other.

  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 unit 110 and mounted is defined as the insertion direction 51 (an example of the first direction). Also, the direction opposite to the insertion direction 51 and with which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 is defined as the removal direction 52 (an example of the second direction). 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.

  A direction orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 is defined as an upward direction 54 (an example of a third direction). Further, the direction opposite to the upward direction 54 is defined as the downward direction 53 (an example of the fourth direction). In the present embodiment, the upward direction 54 as the third direction is vertically upward, and the downward direction 53 as the fourth direction is vertically downward. However, the third direction and the fourth direction may not be the vertical direction.

  In addition, directions orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 and the downward direction 53 are defined as a right direction 55 (an example of a fifth direction) and a left direction 56 (an example of a sixth direction). More specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the insertion direction 51 in a state where the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 is completed, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture (use posture), A direction extending to the right is defined as a right direction 55, and a direction extending to the left is defined as a left direction 56. In the present embodiment, the right direction 55 as the fifth direction and the left direction 56 as the sixth direction are horizontal directions, but the fifth direction and the sixth direction may not be horizontal directions.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, a printer 10 (an example of a system) records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100.

  The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21. The ink supply device 100 controls the overall operation of the cartridge mounting unit 110 (an example of a mounting unit), an ink cartridge 30 (an example of a consumption material cartridge), a recording head 21 (an example of a consumption unit), and the printer 10. Part 1. The ink cartridge 30 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 or removed from the cartridge mounting part 110 through the opening 112. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores ink (an example of a consumption material) that can be used by the printer 10. That is, the ink cartridge 30 holds ink. The ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by the ink tube 20 in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores ink supplied from the ink cartridge 30 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.

  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 22, 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. Accordingly, the ink held by the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is consumed by the recording head 21. The recording sheet that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged by a discharge roller pair 22 to a discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24.

[Ink cartridge 30]
The ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a container for storing ink. A space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is an ink chamber 36 for storing ink. The ink chamber 36 is formed by the casing of the main body 31. For example, the ink chamber 36 may be formed by an internal frame that is a member different from the casing of the main body 31 forming the appearance of the ink cartridge 30. Good.

  The posture of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a posture when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounting posture. That is, the ink cartridge 30 includes a front wall 91, a rear wall 42, upper walls 39 and 92, a lower wall 41, a side wall 37, and a side wall 38, as will be described later. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 shown in FIG. 2 is such that the direction from the rear wall 41 toward the front wall 91 coincides with the insertion direction 51, and the direction from the front wall 91 toward the rear wall 42 coincides with the removal direction 52. The direction from 39, 92 to the lower wall 41 matches the lower direction 53, the direction from the lower wall 41 to the upper walls 39, 92 matches the upper direction 54, and the direction from the side wall 38 to the side wall 37 is the right direction 55. And the direction from the side wall 37 toward the side wall 38 corresponds to the left direction 56. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, the outer surface of the front wall 91 faces the insertion direction 51, the outer surface of the rear wall 42 faces the removal direction, and the outer wall of the lower wall 41 The surface faces the downward direction 53, the outer surfaces of the upper walls 39, 92 face the upward direction 54, the outer surface of the side wall 37 faces the right direction 55, and the outer surface of the side wall 38 faces the left direction 56.

  The ink cartridge 30 includes a main body 31 and a cover 90 (an example of a movable member) having a three-dimensional shape composed of a plane or a curved surface, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A cover 90 is assembled to the main body 31 to form the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30. The ink cartridge 30 is generally thin in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and has a flat shape in which the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53, the insertion direction 51, and the removal direction 52 are longer than the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. .

[Main unit 31]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the main body 31 includes a front wall 40, a rear wall 42, a side wall 37, a side wall 38, an upper wall 39, and a lower wall 41.

  The front wall 40 is a wall that faces the insertion direction 51 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The rear wall 42 is a wall that faces the removal direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 are spaced apart from each other in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52.

  The side wall 37 connects the right ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42. The side wall 38 connects the left ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42. The upper wall 39 connects the upper ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42. The lower wall 41 connects the lower ends of the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42.

  The ink chamber 36 is partitioned by a front wall 40, a rear wall 42, a side wall 37, a side wall 38, an upper wall 39, and a lower wall 41. That is, the main body 31 holds ink in the ink chamber 36.

  An ink supply unit 34 is provided below the front wall 40 of the main body 31. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape and protrudes from the front wall 40 in the insertion direction 51. An ink supply port 71 is formed at the protruding end of the ink supply unit 34. The ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34 can be exposed to the outside through the opening 97 of the cover 90.

  An ink flow path 72 that extends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 and connects the ink supply port 71 and the ink chamber 36 is formed in the internal space of the ink supply unit 34. One end of the ink flow path 72 is opened to the outside of the main body 31 at the ink supply port 71, and extends in the removal direction 52 from the ink supply port 71 to the inside of the main body 31. The ink supply port 71 is configured to be opened and closed by an ink supply valve 70 biased to the ink supply port 71 by a coil spring 73. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 117 (see FIG. 4) provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, and ink is supplied against the urging force of the coil spring 73. The valve 70 is separated from the ink supply port 71. Accordingly, the ink in the ink chamber 36 flows out to the ink needle 117 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the ink flow path 72.

  The ink supply port 71 is not necessarily limited to a configuration that can be opened and closed by the ink supply valve 70. For example, 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 supply port 71 may be opened when the ink needle 117 breaks through the film. Although not shown in the present embodiment, the main body 31 may be provided with an air communication port for setting the atmospheric pressure of the ink chamber 36 in a state maintained at a negative pressure to the external atmospheric pressure.

  A locking portion 45 is formed from the vicinity of the center in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52 on the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 to the rear wall 42. The locking portion 45 has a groove extending in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52 in the upper wall 39. The locking portion 45 has a locking surface 46 that faces the removal direction 52 of the ink cartridge 30 at the end in the groove insertion direction 51. An engagement member 145 (see FIG. 4, an example of a lock portion) described later is engaged with the locking surface 46 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The locking surface 46 receives an external force opposite to the urging force that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52, that is, a force from the engaging member 145 in this embodiment. An end of the groove removal direction 52 opens to the outside of the main body 31.

  A rotation member 80 is provided on the locking portion 45 of the main body 31. The rotating member 80 has, for example, a bent flat plate shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The rotating member 80 has a shaft 83 at the bent position. The rotating member 80 can rotate around the shaft 83. The distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 extends from the shaft 83 in the insertion direction 51. A rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 extends from the shaft 83 in the removal direction 52.

  When the rotation member 80 is rotated until the distal end portion 81 is located at the uppermost position, the distal end portion 81 projects upward from the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. When the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 is pushed downward, the rotating member 80 rotates clockwise in FIG. In a state in which the rotating member 80 is rotated most clockwise, the distal end portion 81 is located near the lower end of the locking surface 46. The rotating member 80 may be integrated with the main body 31. The rotating member 80 may be urged clockwise by a coil spring, or may be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by its own weight.

[Cover 90]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover 90 has a shape covering at least a part of the outer surface constituting the main body 31, for example, a front wall 40 of the main body 31, a side wall 37, a side wall 38, an upper wall 39, And it is a thin container shape which can cover a part of lower wall 41 from the outside. The cover 90 has a width (length in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56) and height (length in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53) that can cover the entire front wall 40 of the main body 31, and the side wall 37. The side wall 38, the upper wall 39, and the lower wall 41 have a depth (length in the insertion direction 51 and removal direction 52) that can cover a part of the lower wall 41. That is, the cover 90 has a box shape having a width and height larger than the width and height of the main body 31 and a depth shorter than the depth of the main body 31. The cover 90 has an opening facing the front wall 91 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The main body 31 can be inserted into the cover 90 through the opening.

  Although not shown in detail in each drawing, the cover 90 can be moved relative to the main body 31 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 when assembled in the main body 31. Such a slide of the cover 90 is, for example, provided with an engaging claw on one of the main body 31 and the cover 90 and an elongated hole extending in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 on the other, and engaging with the elongated hole. This can be realized by inserting a nail. When the cover 90 moves with respect to the main body 31 and the engaging claw comes into contact with the ends of the elongated holes in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52, further movement of the cover 90 is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, between the front wall 40 of the main body 31 and the cover 90, a coil spring 47 (an example of a second urging member) that can elastically contract along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 is provided. ) Is provided.

  The front wall 91 of the cover 90 is urged by the coil spring 47, and is located at the farthest position away from the front wall 40 of the main body 31 in the insertion direction 51 when no external force is applied (see FIG. 3). ). When the cover 90 is located at the remote position, the front wall 91 of the cover 90 that faces the front wall 40 of the main body 31 is located at a position that is shifted in the insertion direction 51 from most of the ink supply unit 34. Therefore, most of the ink supply unit 34 is immersed in the cover 90.

  When an external force is applied to the main body 31 or the cover 90 so as to bring them closer together, the coil spring 47 is elastically contracted so that the front wall 19 of the cover 90 faces the front wall 40 of the main body 31. And the front wall 91 of the cover 90 is positioned at the closest position to the front wall 40 of the main body 31. When the cover 90 is located at a position other than the far position, the cover 90 is urged by the contracted coil spring 47 in the insertion direction 51 away from the main body 31.

  As described above, the cover 90 is movable relative to the main body 31 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 according to the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 47.

  An opening 97 that penetrates in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 is formed in the lower portion of the front wall 91 of the cover 90. The opening 97 becomes a passage for exposing the ink supply unit 34 of the main body 31 to the outside when the cover 90 moves to the close position. Therefore, the opening 97 is formed in a position, size, and shape corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 of the main body 31.

  A protrusion 93 is provided at the lower end of the front wall 91 of the cover 90. The width of the protrusion 93 is the same as the width of the front wall 91. The protrusion 93 protrudes from the front wall 91 in the insertion direction 51. The protrusion 93 contacts the contacted portion 94 (see FIG. 4) of the case 101 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted and mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the main body 31 is further inserted in a state where the protrusion 93 is in contact with the contacted portion 94, the cover 90 is moved relative to the main body 31. Therefore, the protrusion dimension of the protrusion 93 is set corresponding to the moving distance of the cover 90.

  A substrate support portion 84 is provided on the upper surface of the upper wall 92 that faces the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 in the cover 90. The substrate support portion 84 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member placed on the upper surface of the upper wall 92. That is, the substrate support portion 84 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the upper wall 92. Note that the substrate support portion 84 may be a separate member from the upper wall 92 or may be integrally formed with the upper wall 92. Further, the substrate support portion 84 may have a shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped.

  An IC substrate 85 (an IC chip, an example of a substrate) is attached to the upper surface of the substrate support portion 84 by a known method such as adhesion. That is, the substrate support portion 84 supports the IC substrate 85. The lengths of the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the IC substrate 85 are equal to or shorter than the lengths of the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the substrate support portion 84. In the present embodiment, the lengths of the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the IC substrate 85 are shorter than the lengths of the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the substrate support portion 84. The substrate support portion 84 includes a first end portion 84A extending in the insertion direction 51 from the supported IC substrate 85, and a second end portion extending in the removal direction 52 from the supported IC substrate 85. 84B is provided.

  Four electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 (an example of an electrical interface) are formed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 85, that is, the surface facing the upward direction 54 of the IC substrate 85. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 extend in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 on the upper surface of the IC substrate 85, and are spaced apart from each other in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 are, for example, clock electrodes, data electrodes, power supply voltage electrodes, ground electrodes, and the like. On the IC substrate 85, an IC (not shown, an example of an integrated circuit) electrically connected to the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 is mounted. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and stores information indicating information relating to the ink cartridge 30 (for example, information such as a lot number and date of manufacture) and information relating to ink (for example, ink color) in a readable manner. Note that the number of electrodes is not limited to four.

  The substrate support portion 84 is disposed in a state of protruding from the upper wall 92. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is completely mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, a space defined by the cover 90 of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 is formed around the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85. Is done. This will be described in detail below.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a first space 161 is formed in a region shifted in the insertion direction 51 from the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85. Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the first space 161 is a surface facing the insertion direction 51 of the upper wall 92, the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85, the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting portion 110, and It is demarcated by the end surface 102 (refer FIG. 4, FIG. 10). The first space 161 is a space larger than a front wall 155 of a contact unit 125 described later. Accordingly, the front wall 155 is disposed in the first space 161 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the first space 161 is a space that receives the front wall 155.

  A second space 162 is formed in a region shifted in the removal direction 52 from the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85. Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the second space 162 has a surface facing the upper wall 92, the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 in the removal direction 52, and the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. It is divided by. The second space 162 is a space larger than a moving wall 127 of the contact unit 125 described later. Accordingly, the moving wall 127 is disposed in the second space 162 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the second space 162 is a space that receives the moving wall 127.

  The first space 161 may be formed in a region shifted in the insertion direction 51 from a part of the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85. Here, the part of the substrate support portion 84 is a portion of the substrate support portion 84 that overlaps the front wall 155 when viewed in the insertion direction 51. Further, the second space 162 may be formed in a region shifted in the removal direction 52 from a part of the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85. Here, a part of the substrate support portion 84 is a portion of the substrate support portion 84 that overlaps the moving wall 127 when viewed in the insertion direction 51.

  A third space 163 is formed in a right region of the IC substrate 85 (a region shifted in the right direction 55). Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the third space 163 includes the upper wall 92, the right side of the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85, the top surface 104 and the right side surface 105 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 (FIG. 4, see FIG. 10). The third space 163 is a larger space than a right side wall 156 of the contact unit 125 described later. Accordingly, the right side wall 156 is disposed in the third space 163 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the third space 163 is a space that receives the right side wall 156.

  A fourth space 164 is formed in the left area of the IC substrate 85 (area shifted in the left direction 56). Although the cartridge mounting portion 110 is not shown in FIG. 2, the fourth space 164 includes the upper wall 92, the left side of the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85, the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the left side surface 106 (see FIG. 4, see FIG. 10). The fourth space 164 is a space larger than the left side wall 157 of the contact unit 125 described later. Accordingly, the left side wall 157 is disposed in the fourth space 164 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the fourth space 164 is a space that receives the left side wall 157.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the case 101 constituting the housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has an opening 112. The inside of the case 101 is exposed through the opening 112 to the surface of the printer 10 that the user faces when the printer 10 is used. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, but in FIGS. 4 and 10, the space of the case 101 that can accommodate one ink cartridge 30. It is shown. The space inside the case 101 is defined by the end surface 102 facing the opening 112 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52, the top surface 104, the right side surface 105, the left side surface 106, and the bottom surface 107. In addition, the connection part 103, the contacted part 94, the engaging member 145, and the contact unit 125 described below are provided corresponding to each of the four ink cartridges. That is, in this embodiment, the connection part 103, the to-be-contacted part 94, the engaging member 145, and the four contact units 125 are each provided. The four connecting portions 103, the four contacted portions 94, the four engaging members 145, and the four contact units 125 are arranged in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, respectively. Each connection portion 103, each contacted portion 94, each engagement member 145, and each contact unit 125 have the same configuration. Therefore, in the following, the configuration of one connecting portion 103, the abutted portion 94, the engaging member 145, and the contact unit 125 will be described, and the remaining three connecting portions 103, the abutting portion 94, and the engaging member 145 are described. The description of the configuration of the contact unit 125 is omitted.

  A connection portion 103 is provided below the end surface 102. The connection unit 103 is disposed on the end surface 102 at a position corresponding to the ink supply unit 34 of each ink cartridge 30 attached to the case 101.

  The connection unit 103 includes an ink needle 117 and a holding groove 116. The ink needle 117 is made of a tubular resin needle. The ink needle 117 extends inside and outside the case 101 by passing through the case 101. The outer end of the case 101 of the ink needle 117 is connected to the ink tube 20. The ink tube 20 connected to the ink needle 117 is extended to the recording head 21 of the printer 10 so that ink can be circulated. In FIG. 4, the ink tube 20 is omitted.

  The holding groove 116 is a cylindrical groove formed in the end surface 102. An ink needle 117 is disposed in the center of the holding groove 116. As shown in FIG. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding groove 116. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical ink supply unit 34 comes into contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the end surface 102 constituting the holding groove 116. When the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding groove 116, the ink needle 117 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34. As a result, the ink stored in the ink chamber 36 can flow out. The ink that has flowed out of the ink chamber 36 is supplied to the recording head 21 through the ink needle 117 and the ink tube 20.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a contacted portion 94 is provided below the connection portion 103. The contacted portion 94 has a surface facing the removal direction 52, and the protrusion 93 of the cover 90 can contact the surface.

  An engaging member 145 is provided on the case 101. The engaging member 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a mounted state. For example, the engaging member 145 is formed to be rotatable about a support shaft 147 provided near the opening 112 of the case 101. Specifically, the engaging member 145 is configured to be able to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise in FIG. An engagement end 146 is disposed at the end of the engagement member 145 opposite to the support shaft 147 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The engagement end 146 can be engaged with the locking surface 46 of the ink cartridge 30. The engagement end portion 146 engages with the engaging surface 46 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is completely attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110 and the cover 90 is positioned at the close position, thereby causing the biasing force of the coil springs 47 and 73 to be applied. Accordingly, the movement of the main body 31 in the removal direction 52 is restricted. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The position of the engagement member 145 (see FIG. 9) at which the engagement end 146 and the engagement surface 46 can be engaged is referred to as a lock position, and the engagement end 146 and the engagement portion 45 are not engaged. The position of the engaging member 145 (see FIGS. 6 to 8) is referred to as an unlock position. The engaging member 145 rotates in the downward direction 53 by its own weight. When the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 moves in the upward direction 54, the engaging member 145 is pushed by the distal end portion 81. Thereby, the engaging member 145 rotates in the upward direction 54 around the support shaft 147, and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

  A contact unit 125 is attached to the top surface 104 of the case 101. The contact unit 125 is provided at a position at least partially facing the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 above the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge mounting portion 110. ing.

[Contact unit 125]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the contact unit 125 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped body portion 126, a flexible member 128 supported by the body portion 126, and the body portion 126 in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53. And a movable wall 127 (an example of a second wall) supported so as to be movable.

  The main body 126 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A notch 154 is formed from the upper surface 151 of the main body 126 to the lower surface 153 through the rear side surface 152. Four notches 154 are formed corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89, and are formed side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56.

  Concave portions 120 extending in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 are formed in the right side surface 118 and the left side surface 119 of the main body 126. The depth in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 of the portion above the central portion in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 of the recess 120 is the depth of the portion below the central portion in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 of the recess 120. It is deeper than the depth in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. As a result, a step is formed at the center in the upper direction 54 and the lower direction 53 of the recess 120. A step surface 120A facing the upward direction 54 is formed at the step.

  Four flexible members 128 are formed corresponding to the four electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89. Each flexible member 128 is inserted into a corresponding notch 154. That is, the flexible member 128 is arranged side by side in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56.

  The flexible member 128 is a member in which an electrical conductor is elongated. In the present embodiment, the flexible member 128 is made of copper, and the surface thereof is plated with nickel and gold. As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible member 128 has a spring part 130 (an example of a first biasing member) that is generally U-shaped in a side view and a lower end of both ends of the spring part 130. It is formed between the formed first contact 131 (an example of a contact), the second contact 132 formed at the upper end of both ends of the spring portion 130, the curved portion of the spring portion 130 and the first contact 131. And an action portion 133 attached to the moving wall 127 described later. The spring part 130, the first contact 131, the second contact 132, and the action part 133 are integrally formed.

  A portion above the curved portion 130 </ b> A of the spring portion 130 is supported and fixed to a surface 154 </ b> A that faces the upward direction 54 located in the notch 154 of the main body portion 126. On the other hand, the portion below the curved portion 130 </ b> A of the spring portion 130 is neither supported nor fixed to the main body portion 126. As a result, the first contact 131 and the action portion 133 formed in a portion below the curved portion 130A of the spring portion 130 are moved upward and downward by the spring portion 130 of the flexible member 128 being elastically bent. It can move in direction 53.

  The positions of the first contact 131 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are the right electrode 55 of the corresponding electrode among the four electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. It is the same as the position in the left direction 56.

  The first contact 131 is movable between a contact position shown in FIG. 6 and a non-contact position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, the first contact 131 at the contact position is located below the notch 154. At this time, the lower end of the first contact 131 at the contact position is positioned below the upper ends of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the first contact 131 at the contact position overlaps with the positions of the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the first contact 131 at the contact position can contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89.

  The non-contact position is above the contact position. That is, the non-contact position is spaced upward from the contact position. The first contact 131 in the non-contact position is located above the upper ends of the electrodes 86, 87, 88 and 89. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the first contact 131 at the non-contact position is immersed in the notch 154. As a result, the first contact 131 in the non-contact position cannot contact the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89.

  The second contact 132 shown in FIG. 4 is in contact with a contact (not shown) exposed from the top surface 104 of the cartridge mounting unit 110. The contact is electrically connected to the control unit 1 of the printer 10 by a cable or the like. In addition, the 2nd contact 132 may be electrically connected with the control part 1 without passing the said contact by FFC (flexible flat cable).

  The IC substrate 85 is electrically connected to the control unit 1 through the flexible member 128 when the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contact 131 come into contact with each other. As a result, the control unit 1 can access the IC provided on the IC substrate 85 through the electrodes 86, 87, 88, and 89 that are in contact with the first contact 131. Here, the control unit 1 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and is arranged as a control board inside the printer 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the moving wall 127 is displaced from the first contact 131 in the removal direction 52.

  The moving wall 127 is movable in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53 between the first position shown in FIGS. 5B and 6 and the second position shown in FIGS. 5C and 7. is there.

  As will be described later, when the moving wall 127 is pushed up to the second position in contact with the substrate supporting portion 84 and the IC substrate 85, the right end of the moving wall 127 is to the right of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate supporting portion 84. Is located. The left end of the moving wall 127 is located on the left side of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84.

  The moving wall 127 is in contact with the action portion 133 of the flexible member 128 on the upper surface 127A. The action part 133 may be fitted into the upper surface 127A. Moreover, the moving wall 127 may be attached to the action part 133 with an adhesive agent etc., for example. In the present embodiment, the action portion 133 has a curved shape, but may have a shape other than the curved shape.

  The moving wall 127 includes a pair of projecting portions 121 projecting upward from the right end and the left end of the upper surface 127A. A protruding portion 121 </ b> A that protrudes toward the opposite protruding portion 121 is formed at the protruding tip of each protruding portion 121.

  The moving wall 127 is located at the first position by its own weight in a state where the flexible member 128 is not bent. At this time, the protrusion 121A is in contact with the step surface 120A of the main body 126 from above. Thereby, the movement wall 127 is restricted from moving downward from the first position.

  The moving wall 127 at the first position has a portion that overlaps a part of the movement locus of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The position of the moving wall 127 is not limited to the above-described position as long as the overlapping portion is included in the first position. For example, as will be described later, when the moving wall 127 is pushed up to the second position in contact with the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85, the right end of the moving wall 127 is more right than the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84. Further, the left end of the moving wall 127 may be located between the right end and the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84. Further, the left end of the moving wall 127 is positioned to the left of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84, and the right end of the moving wall 127 is positioned between the right end and the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84. May be. Further, both the right end and the left end of the moving wall 127 may be located between the right end and the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84. In the present embodiment, “the right end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84” means the right end of the IC substrate 85 and the right end of the substrate support portion 84, and “the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84”. Means the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the left end of the substrate support portion 84, and “the upper end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84” means the upper end of the IC substrate 85 and the upper end of the substrate support portion 84, “The lower end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84” means the lower end of the IC substrate 85 and the lower end of the substrate support portion 84, and “the end portion in the insertion direction 51 of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84” This means the end of the IC substrate 85 in the insertion direction 51 and the end of the substrate support 84 in the insertion direction 51, and “the end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support 84 in the removal direction 52” means the IC substrate 85. End portion of substrate removal direction 52 and substrate The meaning of the end of the removal direction 52 of the lifting unit 84.

  Since the moving wall 127 in the first position is in the above-described position, the IC substrate is inserted into the surface 127B facing the removal direction 52 of the moving wall 127 in the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. At least one of 85 and the substrate support portion 84 abuts. In the present embodiment, the first end portion 84A of the substrate support portion 84 abuts. Here, in the present embodiment, an inclined surface 127 </ b> C that is inclined downward 53 toward the insertion direction 51 is formed at the lower end portion of the surface 127 </ b> B, and the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. , At least one of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 (the first end portion 84A in the present embodiment) abuts on the inclined surface 127C of the surface 127B.

  In addition, at least one of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 contacts the surface 127D of the moving wall 127 facing the insertion direction 51 in the process of removing the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge mounting portion 110. In the present embodiment, the second end portion 84B of the substrate support portion 84 abuts. Here, in the present embodiment, an inclined surface 127E that is inclined downward 53 toward the removal direction 52 is formed at the lower end portion of the surface 127D, and the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110. In the process, at least one of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 (second end portion 84B in the present embodiment) abuts on the inclined surface 127E of the surface 127D.

  In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the IC substrate 85 and the portion of the substrate support portion 84 that contact the surface 127B (in this embodiment, the inclined surface 127C), that is, the IC substrate 85 or the substrate support portion. Inclination which inclines in the downward direction 53 toward the insertion direction 51 in the upper end part (the 1st end part 84A (refer FIG. 3) of the board | substrate support part 84 in this embodiment) of the edge part in the insertion direction 51 in at least one of 84. A surface may be formed. At this time, the presence or absence of the inclined surface 127C is arbitrary. Further, in the process of removing the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the IC substrate 85 and a portion of the substrate support portion 84 that contacts the surface 127D (in this embodiment, the inclined surface 127E), that is, the IC substrate 85 or the substrate support. At least one of the end portions 84 in the removal direction 52 at the upper end portion (in this embodiment, the second end portion 84B of the substrate support portion 84 (see FIG. 3)) in the downward direction 53 toward the removal direction 52. An inclined surface that is inclined may be formed. At this time, the presence or absence of the inclined surface 127E is arbitrary.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the moving wall 127 is located at the first position and the flexible member 128 is not applied with an external force, the first contact 131 of the flexible member 128 is located at the contact position. . That is, when the moving wall 127 is located at the first position, the movement of the first contact 131 to the contact position is allowed.

  The moving wall 127 moves from the first position to the second position by being pressed against the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 as described later. Thereby, the part below the curved part 130A in the spring part 130 of the flexible member 128 bends in the upward direction 54 due to elasticity. Therefore, the downward biasing force 53 by the flexible member 128 acts on the moving wall 127. That is, the flexible member 128 biases the moving wall 127 in the downward direction 53.

  The moving wall 127 at the second position is arranged so as to be shifted in the upward direction 54 from the moving locus. Further, when the moving wall 127 is moved from the first position to the second position and the portion below the curved portion 130A of the spring portion 130 of the flexible member 128 bends in the upward direction 54, the first contact 131 is moved upward. Move to 54. Thereby, when the moving wall 127 is located at the second position, the first contact 131 is located at the non-contact position.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the main body 126 includes a front wall 155 (an example of a first wall), a right side wall 156 (an example of a third wall), and a left side wall 157 (an example of a fourth wall). .

  The front wall 155 is displaced from the first contact 131 in the insertion direction 51. The right end of the front wall 155 is located on the right side of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the attachment to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed. The left end of the front wall 155 is located on the left side of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 of the ink cartridge 30 in a state where the attachment to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed.

  The front wall 155 has a portion located below the upper end and above the lower end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. That is, the front wall 155 has a portion overlapping the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110 as viewed in the insertion direction 51. Here, the overlapping portion is located between the upper end and the lower end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 in the front wall 155 and between the right end and the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84. Part.

  Note that the position of the front wall 155 is not limited to the position described above as long as it has the overlapping portion. For example, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the right end of the front wall 155 is positioned to the right of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84, and the left end of the front wall 155 is the IC substrate 85. And you may be located between the right end and left end of the board | substrate support part 84. FIG. Further, the left end of the front wall 155 is positioned to the left of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84, and the right end of the front wall 155 is positioned between the right end and the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84. May be. Further, both the right end and the left end of the front wall 155 may be positioned between the right end and the left end of the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84.

  The right wall 156 is disposed on the right side of the first contact 131. That is, the right side wall 156 is disposed so as to be shifted in the right direction 55 from the first contact 131. The end of the right side wall 156 in the insertion direction 51 is a position shifted in the insertion direction 51 from the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The end of the front wall 155 in the insertion direction 51 is a position that is shifted in the removal direction 52 from the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110.

  The right side wall 156 has a portion located below the upper end and above the lower end of the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110. That is, the right side wall 156 has a portion that overlaps with the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110 when viewed in the right direction 55. Here, the overlapping portion is a portion of the right side wall 156 located between the upper end and the lower end of the IC substrate 85 and between both ends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the IC substrate 85. .

  Note that the position of the right side wall 156 is not limited to the position described above as long as it has the overlapping portion. For example, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the end of the right side wall 156 in the insertion direction 51 is displaced from the IC substrate 85 in the insertion direction 51 and the right side wall 156 is removed. The end portion of 52 may be located between both ends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the IC substrate 85. Further, the end of the right side wall 156 in the removal direction 52 is displaced from the IC substrate 85 in the removal direction 52, and the end of the right side wall 156 in the insertion direction 51 is connected to the insertion direction 51 of the IC substrate 85 and the removal direction. It may be located between both ends in the drawing direction 52. Further, both ends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the right side wall 156 may be located between both ends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the IC substrate 85.

  The left side wall 157 is disposed on the left side of the first contact 131. That is, the right side wall 156 is arranged so as to be shifted in the left direction 56 from the first contact 131. The left side wall 157 has a portion that overlaps with the IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110 when viewed in the left direction 56. Here, the overlapping portion is located below the upper end of the IC substrate 85 and above the lower end of the left side wall 157 and between the both ends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 of the IC substrate 85. It is a part to do. Since the position and configuration of the left side wall 157 are the same as those of the right side wall 156, further detailed description is omitted here.

  The distance between the right side wall 156 and the left side wall 157 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 is a length that allows the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 to be positioned between the side walls 156 and 157. That is, the separation distance is longer than the length of the substrate support portion 84 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. That is, the separation distance is longer than the length between the right end and the left end at the protruding ends of the substrate support portion 84 and the cover 90 of the IC substrate 85 from the upper wall 92.

[Installation operation of ink cartridge 30]
The operation of mounting the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110, the engagement member 145 is moved upward 54 by the upper wall 92 of the cover 90 and the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. And the engaging member 145 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. At this time, the moving wall 127 is located at the first position, and the first contact 131 is located at the contact position.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51, the first end portion 84A of the substrate support portion 84 comes into contact with the inclined surface 127C of the moving wall 127. The moving wall 127 is guided by the inclined surface 127 </ b> C and rides on the upper surfaces of the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85. That is, the moving wall 127 moves in the upward direction 54 from the first position to the second position (see FIG. 7).

  As the moving wall 127 moves from the first position to the second position, the spring portion 130 of the flexible member 128 is bent by elasticity. Thereby, the 1st contact 131 moves to the up direction 54 from a contact position to a non-contact position (refer to Drawing 7).

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 from the state shown in FIG. 7 and the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 are separated from the moving wall 127, as shown in FIG. Due to the urging force of the part 130, it moves downward 53 from the second position to the first position. As a result, the first contact 131 moves in the downward direction 53 from the non-contact position to the contact position. As a result, the first contact 131 comes into contact with the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 on the IC substrate 85 from above. At this time, the front wall 155 is disposed in the first space 161, the moving wall 127 at the first position is disposed in the second space 162, the right wall 156 is disposed in the third space 163, and the left wall 157 is disposed in the first space 161. Arranged in four spaces 164. Thereby, the board | substrate support part 84 and the IC board | substrate 85 will be in the state located in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 between the movement wall 127 and the front wall 155 of a 1st position. Further, the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 are located between the right side wall 156 and the left side wall 157 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56.

  In the above state, the protrusion 93 of the cover 90 contacts the contacted portion 94. As a result, the cover 90 cannot be moved further in the insertion direction 51. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 from the state shown in FIG. 8, only the main body 31 moves against the urging force of the coil spring 47 without moving the cover 90.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 from the state shown in FIG. 8, the ink supply unit 34 comes into contact with the holding groove 116. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the ink needle 117 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34. The ink supply valve 70 pushed by the ink needle 117 is separated from the ink supply port 71 against the biasing force of the coil spring 73.

  Further, the engaging member 145 that has reached the locking portion 45 of the main body 31 is not supported by the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 and rotates in the downward direction 53 to reach the locked position. The engaging end 146 and the locking surface 46 face each other in the insertion direction 51 and the withdrawal direction 52.

  When the force for pushing the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 disappears from this state, the ink cartridge 30 is pulled out to the position where the engagement end portion 146 and the locking surface 46 are in contact with each other by the biasing force of the coil springs 47 and 73. Retreat to. As a result, the engaging member 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110 against the force (the urging force of the coil springs 47, 73) that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52. Further, the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 is located below the engaging member 145. Further, the rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the groove of the locking portion 45 and is located above the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. Thus, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed.

  9, the ink needle 117 is in a state in which the ink supply valve 70 is separated from the ink supply port 71. Therefore, the ink can flow out from the ink chamber 36 through an ink introduction port (not shown) provided at the tip of the ink needle 117. Further, the contact between the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contacts 131 establishes an electrical connection between the IC of the IC board 85 and the control unit 1 of the printer 10, and the control unit 1 accesses the IC. It becomes possible to do.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rear end portion 82 of the rotating member 80 is pushed down in the downward direction 53 by the user. As a result, the distal end portion 81 of the rotating member 80 moves upward 54 and is separated from the bottom surface of the locking portion 45. As the tip 81 moves, the engaging member 145 is rotated in the upward direction 54 from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the holding of the ink cartridge 30 by the engaging member 145 is released.

  By moving the engagement member 145 to the unlock position, the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52 by the urging force of the coil springs 47 and 73. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52, the ink needle 117 comes out of the ink supply unit 34. As a result, the ink supply valve 70 is pushed by the restoring force of the coil spring 73 to close the ink supply port 71.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52, the second end portion 84B of the substrate support portion 84 comes into contact with the inclined surface 127E of the moving wall 127. The moving wall 127 is guided by the inclined surface 127E and rides on the upper surfaces of the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85. That is, the moving wall 127 moves in the upward direction 54 from the first position to the second position.

  As the moving wall 127 moves from the first position to the second position, the spring portion 130 of the flexible member 128 is bent by elasticity. As a result, the first contact 131 moves in the upward direction 54 from the contact position to the non-contact position.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is further moved in the removal direction 52, and the substrate support portion 84 and the IC substrate 85 are shifted from the movement wall 127 in the removal direction 52, the movement wall 127 is moved toward the spring portion 130. The urging force moves downward from the second position to the first position 53, and the first contact 131 moves downward from the non-contact position to the contact position (see FIG. 6). In this way, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contacts 131 are separated from each other, and the electrical connection between the IC of the IC board 85 and the control unit 1 of the printer 10 is released.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
In the present embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 that is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 resists the urging force of the spring portion 130 by moving the moving wall 127 located at the first position on the movement locus of the IC substrate 85. And move to the second position. When the ink cartridge 30 is completely installed in the cartridge mounting unit 110, the front wall 155 is received in the first space 161, and the moving wall 127 at the first position is received in the second space 162. In other words, the mounted IC substrate 85 of the ink cartridge 30 is disposed between the front wall 155 and the moving wall 127 at the first position in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. Thereby, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 mounted on the IC substrate 85 are brought into contact with the first contact 131 moved to the contact position by the moving wall 127 at the first position.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11 (A), when the IC substrate 85 is displaced in the insertion direction 51 with respect to the substrate support portion 84, the ink cartridge 30 is completely attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110. There is a possibility that the IC substrate 85 comes into contact with the front wall 155 and the substrate support portion 84 protrudes into the second space 162 and hinders the movement of the moving wall 127 to the first position. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the IC substrate 85 is displaced with respect to the substrate support portion 84 in the removal direction 52, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110 is completed. In some cases, the IC substrate 85 may protrude into the second space 162 and hinder the movement of the moving wall 127 to the first position. As a result, the moving wall 127 that cannot move to the first position inhibits the movement of the first contact 131 to the contact position, so that the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contact 131 cannot be contacted. In this way, only the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the IC substrate 85 supported by the substrate support portion 84 at the correct position can come into contact with the first contact 131, and the substrate is shifted in the insertion direction 51 or the removal direction 52. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the IC substrate 85 supported by the support portion 84 can no longer contact the first contact 131. As a result, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contact 131 can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  Note that “installation of the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting unit 110” indicates, for example, a state in which the recording head 21 can consume ink held in the ink cartridge 30. Further, in the process of inserting / removing the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110, the IC substrate 85, the substrate support portion 84, or the ink may contact the moving wall 127. Other components of the cartridge 30 may be used.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the moving wall 127 can smoothly move to the second position along the inclined surfaces 127 </ b> C and 127 </ b> E in the process of inserting and removing the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge mounting portion 110. That is, the ink cartridge 30 can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the IC substrate 85 that is supported by being shifted in the right direction 55 with respect to the substrate support portion 84 contacts the right side wall 156 and obstructs the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. To do. Similarly, the IC substrate 85 supported by being shifted in the left direction 56 with respect to the substrate support portion 84 comes into contact with the left side wall 157 and obstructs the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. As a result, only the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the IC substrate 85 supported by the substrate support 84 at the correct position can come into contact with the first contact 131, and shift to the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 to shift the substrate support portion. The electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 of the IC substrate 85 supported by 84 cannot contact the first contact 131. As a result, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contact 131 can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the substrate support portion 84 extends from the IC substrate 85 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52, for example, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted and removed with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. In this case, the IC substrate 85 is prevented from colliding with the moving wall 127 at the first position. As a result, separation of the IC substrate 85 from the substrate support portion 84 is suppressed. Since the momentum of the ink cartridge 30 is diminished by the contact between the substrate support portion 84 and the moving wall 127, the IC substrate 85 and the moving wall 127 may come into contact thereafter.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the cover 90 is urged in the insertion direction 51 by the coil spring 47 of the ink cartridge 30 that has been installed, and therefore the IC substrate 85 and the substrate support portion 84 are not intended to be removed. And the moving wall 127 is not moved to the second position. In addition, the ink cartridge that has been installed is displaced by the displacement of the position where the engagement member 145 contacts the locking surface 46 in the removal direction 52 due to aging of the case 101, the engagement member 145, and the support shaft 147, and the like. Even if the 30 main bodies 31 are moved in the removal direction 52, the position of the cover 90 biased in the insertion direction 51 by the coil spring 47 does not change. As a result, the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contact 131 can be brought into electrical stable contact.

  Further, the control unit 1 according to the present embodiment can access the IC of the ink cartridge 30 through the electrodes 86, 87, 88, 89 and the first contact 131 that are stably in contact with each other. Note that “access” includes, for example, one or both of reading information from the IC and writing information to the IC.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the first contact 131 and the spring portion 130 that urges the moving wall 127 are configured integrally, but both may be configured as separate members. In this case, for example, the contact unit 125 moves the first contact 131 from the contact position to the non-contact position in conjunction with the movement of the moving wall 127 from the first position to the second position, and moves the second position of the moving wall 127 to the second position. An interlocking mechanism that moves the first contact 131 from the non-contact position to the contact position in conjunction with the movement from the first position to the first position may be provided. In addition, when the 1st contact 131 and the spring part 130 are comprised as a separate member, it cannot be overemphasized that the 1st contact 131 and the 2nd contact 132 are electrically connected by FFC etc.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the board | substrate support part 84 was arrange | positioned in the state protruded from the upper wall 92, the 1st space 161 thru | or the 4th space 164 was formed, However, This invention is not limited to this. For example, the first space 161 to the fourth space 164 may be formed by forming a recess around the substrate support portion 84 in the upper wall 92.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 includes the main body 31, the cover 90, and the coil spring 47, but the ink cartridge 30 may not include the cover 90 and the coil spring 47. In this case, the substrate support portion 84 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper wall 39 of the main body 31.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 10 that records an image on a recording sheet using the inkjet recording method has been described as an example of the system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the printer 10 may be one that records an image on a recording sheet by another method such as an electrophotographic method, or may be a label printer that records an image on a label by a thermal transfer method.

  In the above embodiment, ink has been described as an example of a consumer material, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, instead of a liquid such as ink, powder such as toner may be used as a consumption material, or a tape used in a label printer or the like may be used as a consumption material.

10 ... Printer (system)
21 ... Recording head (consumption unit)
30 ... Ink cartridge (consumer cartridge)
51 ... Insertion direction (first direction)
52 ... Withdrawal direction (second direction)
53 ... Downward direction (4th direction)
54 ... Upward direction (third direction)
84... Substrate support 85... IC substrate (substrate)
86-89 ... Electrode (electrical interface)
110 ... Cartridge mounting part (mounting part)
127 ... Moving wall (second wall)
130 ... Spring part (first biasing member)
131 ... 1st contact (contact)
155 ... Front wall (first wall)
161 ... 1st space 162 ... 2nd space

Claims (9)

A consumable cartridge that holds consumables;
A mounting portion in which the consumable material cartridge is inserted and mounted in a first direction, and the consumable material cartridge is removed in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
A consumption unit that consumes the consumption material held by the consumption material cartridge that has been installed in the attachment unit, and a system comprising:
The consumer material cartridge is
A substrate support,
A substrate supported by the substrate support unit;
An electrical interface mounted on a surface of the substrate facing a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction,
The mounting part is
A contact position that overlaps with the position of the electrical interface of the consumer material cartridge that has been mounted on the mounting portion, and a contact that is movable between a non-contact position spaced from the contact position in the third direction;
The portion of the substrate of the consumable material cartridge that has been disposed in the first direction with respect to the contact and that has been mounted on the mounting portion, and a portion that overlaps with a portion of the substrate support portion in the first direction. A first wall having:
A second wall that is displaced in the second direction from the contact and is movable in the third direction and a fourth direction opposite to the third direction ;
A first urging member that urges the second wall in the fourth direction,
The second wall is
Movable between a first position and a second position;
The substrate of the consumable material cartridge that is inserted into and removed from the mounting portion when in the first position, and a portion that overlaps a part of the movement trajectory of the substrate support portion, and the contact point Allow movement to the contact position,
When in the second position, it is displaced from the movement trajectory in the third direction, the contact point is located in the non-contact position,
When the consumption material cartridge is completely mounted on the mounting portion,
A first space for receiving the first wall is formed in a region shifted in the first direction from a part of the substrate and the substrate support;
A system in which a second space for receiving the second wall at the first position is formed in a region shifted in the second direction from a part of the substrate and the substrate support. In the process of inserting the consumption material cartridge into the mounting portion, the surface of the second wall that contacts at least one of the substrate and the substrate support portion, or the substrate and substrate support portion that contact the second wall. At least one of the surfaces is inclined in the fourth direction toward the first direction,
In the process of removing the consumption material cartridge from the mounting portion, the surface of the second wall that contacts at least one of the substrate and the substrate support portion, or the substrate that contacts the second wall and the substrate support. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the portion is inclined in the fourth direction toward the second direction. The mounting part is
The contact point is displaced in the fifth direction orthogonal to the first direction to the fourth direction, and overlaps the substrate of the consumer material cartridge that has been mounted on the mounting portion when viewed in the fifth direction. A third wall having a portion;
The fourth contact point is disposed in a sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction from the contact, and has a portion overlapping the substrate of the consumer material cartridge that has been mounted on the mounting portion when viewed in the sixth direction. With walls,
When the consumption material cartridge is completely mounted on the mounting portion,
A third space for receiving the third wall in a region displaced in the fifth direction from the substrate;
The system according to claim 1, wherein a fourth space that receives the fourth wall is formed in a region that is displaced in the sixth direction from the substrate. The substrate support is
A first end extending from the substrate in the first direction and contacting the second wall at the first position in a process in which the consumer cartridge is inserted into the mounting portion;
A second end that extends in the second direction from the substrate and contacts the second wall at the first position in a process in which the consumer cartridge is removed from the mounting portion. Item 4. The system according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The consumer material cartridge is
A main body for holding the consumer material,
A movable member provided with the substrate support portion and capable of relative movement in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the main body between a proximity position and a remote position farther from the main body than the proximity position. When,
A second urging member that urges the movable member in a first direction away from the main body,
The mounting portion is configured to move the second direction of the main body against the biasing force of the second biasing member in a state where the mounting of the consumer cartridge with the movable member in the proximity position is completed on the mounting portion. The system in any one of Claim 1 to 4 provided with the lock part which controls the movement to. The consumable material cartridge includes an integrated circuit capable of storing information on the consumable material,
6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that accesses the integrated circuit through the electrical interface in contact with the contact. The substrate support part protrudes in the third direction,
The width of the protruding end of the substrate and the substrate support portion in the first direction and the second direction is shorter than the distance between the first wall and the second wall. system.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the contact point and the first biasing member are integrally formed. The third direction is vertically upward,
The system according to claim 1, wherein the fourth direction is vertically downward.

Images