JP6859749B2 - Liquid cartridge and liquid injection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge for accommodating a liquid and a liquid injection device including the liquid cartridge.

Conventionally, a liquid cartridge that is detachably attached to a holder of a liquid injection device such as an inkjet printer has been widely used. The structure of the liquid cartridge is appropriately changed according to the mounting direction of the liquid cartridge in the liquid injection device. Patent Document 1 discloses an ink cartridge that is mounted horizontally in the front-rear direction with respect to the printer. A rail is provided on the lower surface of the holder, and the ink cartridge can be moved in the front-rear direction by being guided by the rail. Patent Document 2 discloses an ink cartridge that is mounted vertically downward with respect to the printer.

In the case of a structure in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the holder in the front-rear direction as in Patent Document 1, the ink cartridge is pressed against the rail side of the lower surface due to the influence of gravity, and the lower surface of the ink cartridge is a rail. Supported by. Therefore, if a positioning hole is provided on the front surface of the ink cartridge, the posture of the liquid cartridge is stabilized by positioning at the two points of the positioning hole and the lower surface of the ink cartridge, so that the mounting operation can be performed smoothly. ..

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-58765 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-187708

On the other hand, in the case of a structure in which the ink cartridge is mounted vertically downward on the holder as in Patent Document 2, the rear end of the ink cartridge can be moved back and forth and left and right regardless of the influence of gravity. The rear end side cannot be pressed in any fixed direction, and the posture of the ink cartridge tends to be unstable. In the example of Patent Document 2, positioning is performed by a positioning hole provided on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge and a positioning shaft of the holder. However, if the upper part of the ink cartridge moves back and forth or left and right during mounting, a large tilt will occur on the upper end side of the ink cartridge, and the positioning hole and the positioning shaft of the holder will get caught, and the mounting operation will be performed. In some cases, it could not be done smoothly.

The above-mentioned problem is not limited to ink cartridges for printers, but is also a problem common to liquid cartridges that contain other types of liquids and liquid injection devices that use the liquid cartridges.

The present invention has been made to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following forms or application examples.

(1) According to one embodiment of the present invention, the liquid cartridge is mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, and the bottom surface of the cartridge holder is positioned so as to project toward the liquid cartridge. Liquid cartridges that have protrusions are provided. This liquid cartridge is a bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, and has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is in the X direction and the Y direction. The position of the liquid cartridge in the X direction or the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the holder of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. With a side wall portion having a side wall position regulating portion that regulates; The direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction from the bottom wall portion of the liquid cartridge to the upper wall portion of the liquid cartridge is referred to as a Z direction. Further, the larger of the positioning hole, the gap on both sides in the X direction and the gap on both sides in the Y direction of the positioning hole and the positioning protrusion in a state where the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder are not tilted from each other is designated as Ga; The height of the inner peripheral surface of the positioning hole that can be contacted along the Z direction is defined as La; the X of the inner wall surface of the holder and the side wall position regulating portion in a state where the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder are not tilted from each other. The larger of the one-sided gap in the direction and the one-sided gap in the Y direction is Gb; the bottom wall portion of the liquid cartridge contacts the bottom surface of the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder are not tilted from each other. The height along the Z direction from the first contact position to the second contact position where the side wall position regulating portion contacts the inner wall surface of the holder when the liquid cartridge is tilted is defined as Lb. At this time, the relationship of Ga <Gb and (Gb / Lb) <(Ga / La) is established.
In this liquid cartridge, Ga is the gap between the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder engaging structure (positioning hole and positioning protrusion) in the lower part in the Z direction. Further, Gb is a gap between the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder in the upper part in the Z direction. Further, (Ga / La) means the tilt allowed for the liquid cartridge in the lower engaging structure in the Z direction, and (Gb / Lb) means the tilt allowed for the liquid cartridge in the upper part in the Z direction. To do. According to the above liquid cartridge, since Ga <Gb, when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, the liquid cartridge can be mounted using a relatively large gap Gb, and the mounting operation is easy. Further, the inclination of the liquid cartridge when the liquid cartridge is mounted is (Gb / Lb) or less, which is smaller than the inclination (Ga / La) allowed in the lower engaging structure (positioning hole and positioning protrusion). Therefore, the possibility that the liquid cartridge is excessively tilted and the positioning hole and the positioning protrusion are caught can be reduced, and the mounting operation can be smoothly performed.

(2) In the liquid cartridge, the inner peripheral surface of the positioning hole has a chamfered portion at at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the inner peripheral surface in the Z direction, and the height La is determined by the chamfered portion. It may be shortened.
According to this configuration, the height La is shortened by forming chamfered portions at at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the positioning hole, so that the thickness of the entire bottom wall portion of the liquid cartridge is reduced. The allowable inclination (Ga / La) in the lower engaging structure (positioning hole and positioning protrusion) can be increased without excessively reducing the strength.

(3) In the liquid cartridge, when the positioning protrusion has a straight portion and the height from the first contact position to the tip of the straight portion of the positioning protrusion in the Z direction is Lc, {Gb. The relationship of / (Lb-Lc)} <(Ga / La) may be established.
Here, {Gb / (Lb-Lc)} is an inclination allowed for the liquid cartridge when the bottom wall portion of the liquid cartridge is lowered to a state where it is in contact with the tip of the straight portion of the positioning protrusion of the cartridge holder. According to this configuration, the inclination {Gb / (Lb-Lc)} in this state is smaller than the inclination (Ga / La) allowed in the lower engaging structure (positioning hole and positioning protrusion), so that the liquid cartridge It is possible to further reduce the possibility that the positioning hole and the positioning protrusion are bitten by excessive tilting, and the mounting operation can be performed more smoothly.

(4) According to the second aspect of the present invention, the liquid cartridge is mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, and the bottom surface of the cartridge holder protrudes toward the liquid cartridge. A liquid cartridge with a positioning protrusion is provided. This liquid cartridge is a bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, and has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is in the X direction and the Y direction. A bottom wall portion for positioning the positioning projection in the above; a first side wall portion having a locking portion for locking to a fixing member provided on the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder; A side wall position that faces the first side wall portion in the Y direction and regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the holder of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second side wall portion having a regulating portion; the bottom wall portion has a liquid supply port and a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device, and the locking portion holds the liquid cartridge at the bottom. When viewed from the wall side, it is provided between the liquid supply port and the waste liquid introduction port in the X direction. According to this configuration, the liquid cartridge mounting operation can be smoothly performed, and the liquid cartridge mounting posture with respect to the cartridge holder can be stabilized.

(5) According to the third aspect of the present invention, the liquid cartridge is mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, and the bottom surface of the cartridge holder protrudes toward the liquid cartridge. A liquid cartridge with a positioning protrusion is provided. This liquid cartridge is a bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, and has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is in the X direction and the Y direction. A bottom wall portion for positioning the positioning projection in the above; a first side wall portion having a locking portion for locking to a fixing member provided on the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder; A side wall position that faces the first side wall portion in the Y direction and regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the holder of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second side wall portion having a regulating portion; a second side wall portion provided on the first side wall portion side of the bottom wall portion, and in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, it comes into contact with an electrode provided on the cartridge holder. It is provided with an electrode contact portion and; According to this configuration, the liquid cartridge mounting operation can be smoothly performed, and the liquid cartridge mounting posture with respect to the cartridge holder can be stabilized.

(6) In the liquid cartridge, the bottom wall portion has a liquid supply port and a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device, and the locking portion views the liquid cartridge from the bottom wall portion side. At that time, it may be provided between the liquid supply port and the waste liquid introduction port in the X direction. According to this configuration, the mounting posture of the liquid cartridge with respect to the cartridge holder can be made more stable.

(7) In the liquid cartridge, a plurality of liquid cartridges provided on the first side wall side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with electrodes provided on the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. It has an electrode contact portion, and the locking portion may be provided between the two farthest electrode contact portions in the X direction when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side. .. According to this configuration, the mounting posture of the liquid cartridge with respect to the cartridge holder can be made more stable.

(8) In the liquid cartridge, a plurality of liquid cartridges provided on the first side wall side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with electrodes provided on the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. The bottom wall portion has an electrode contact portion, the bottom wall portion has a liquid supply port and a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device, and the locking portion is a view of the liquid cartridge from the bottom wall portion side. Occasionally, it may be provided between the electrode contact portion closest to the liquid supply port and the waste liquid introduction port in the X direction. According to this configuration, the mounting posture of the liquid cartridge with respect to the cartridge holder can be made more stable.

(9) In the liquid cartridge, the bottom wall portion has a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device, and the locking portion is when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side. It may be provided between the waste liquid introduction port and the positioning hole in the X direction. According to this configuration, the mounting posture of the liquid cartridge with respect to the cartridge holder can be made more stable.

(10) In the liquid cartridge, the bottom wall portion includes a plurality of contact protrusions that come into contact with the bottom surface of the cartridge holder with the liquid cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder, and the locking portion is the locking portion. When the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall side, it may be provided between the two contact protrusions in the X direction. According to this configuration, the mounting posture of the liquid cartridge with respect to the cartridge holder can be made more stable.

(11) In the liquid cartridge, an electrode contact provided on the first side wall side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with an electrode provided on the cartridge holder with the liquid cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder. The bottom wall portion is provided with a portion, and the bottom wall portion is inclined toward the side opposite to the bottom surface side of the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder at the end portion on the first side wall portion side. It has an inclined portion, and the electrode contact portion may be provided on the inclined portion. According to this configuration, the electrode provided on the cartridge holder and the electrode contact portion provided on the liquid cartridge can be brought into good contact with each other.

(12) In the liquid cartridge, the locking portion is a first surface along the bottom surface of the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, and the locking portion is more than the first surface. It has a second surface that is provided on the bottom surface side of the cartridge holder and is inclined so as to be separated from the bottom surface of the cartridge holder as the distance from the first side wall portion is increased. , The angle of inclination of the inclined portion from the bottom surface may be larger than that of the inclined portion. According to this configuration, when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder, the fixing member provided on the cartridge holder can be smoothly guided and engaged from the vicinity of the inclined portion of the liquid cartridge to the locking portion.

The present invention can be realized in various forms other than the liquid cartridge described above. For example, it can be realized in the form of a liquid supply system, a liquid injection device, or the like.

A perspective view of the printer. The perspective view which shows the state which the liquid cartridge is attached to the printer. Perspective view of the liquid cartridge. Perspective view of the liquid cartridge. Top view of the liquid cartridge. Bottom view of the liquid cartridge. Rear view of the liquid cartridge. The figure which shows how the liquid cartridge is attached to the cartridge holder. The figure which shows the state which the liquid cartridge is attached to the cartridge holder. Top view of the cartridge holder. Top view of the liquid cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder. An exploded perspective view showing the structure of the liquid cartridge. The figure which shows the internal structure of a liquid cartridge. Sectional drawing which the liquid cartridge is attached to the cartridge holder. Explanatory drawing which shows the regulation structure of the position and inclination on the bottom surface of a liquid cartridge. Explanatory drawing which shows the regulation structure of the position and inclination on the bottom surface of a liquid cartridge. Explanatory drawing which shows the regulation structure of the position and inclination on the side surface of a liquid cartridge. It is a figure which shows the force relationship applied to a liquid cartridge.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
A. Liquid injection device and liquid cartridge configuration:
B. Details of the tilt control structure of the liquid cartridge:
C. Modification example:

A. Liquid injection device and liquid cartridge configuration:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the printer 100 as a liquid injection device. In FIG. 1, three axes orthogonal to each other, the XYZ axes, are drawn. The directions in which the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis arrows point are positive directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively. The positive directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are the + X direction, the + Y direction, and the + Z direction, respectively. The directions opposite to the directions in which the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis arrows are pointing are the negative directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively. The negative directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are the −X direction, the −Y direction, and the −Z direction, respectively. The directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, are called the X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction, respectively. The same applies to the figures and explanations shown thereafter. The XYZ axes drawn in the other figures correspond to the XYZ axes in FIG.

In the present embodiment, when the printer 100 is installed on a horizontal surface (upright state), the direction from the back surface to the front of the printer 100 is the + X direction, the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of the printer 100 is the + Z direction, and the front surface of the printer 100. The direction from the left side to the right side when viewed from the side is the + Y direction. Hereinafter, the + Z direction side is also referred to as “upper side”, and the −Z direction side is also referred to as “lower side”. The −Z direction is also the direction of gravity. In the present embodiment, the "side surface" is a surface excluding a surface facing the + Z direction side (upper surface) and a surface facing the −Z direction side (bottom surface).

The printer 100 is an inkjet printer that ejects ink from a head to print on a printing medium. The printer 100 is installed in a store or the like and is used as a commercial printer that prints on roll paper for receipts or cut sheet paper. The printer 100 includes a roll paper storage unit 110 for storing roll paper, a liquid cartridge storage unit 120 for storing liquid cartridges, a cut sheet paper insertion unit 130 for inserting cut sheet paper, and a roll paper after printing. Alternatively, it includes a print medium ejection unit 140 from which the cut sheet is ejected.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the printer 100. The liquid cartridge storage unit 120 includes a lid unit 121 that opens to the front side of the printer 100. A cartridge holder 150 to which the liquid cartridge 200 is detachably mounted is provided in the lid portion 121. The liquid cartridge 200 is inserted into the cartridge holder 150 in the −Z direction and mounted. The −Z direction in which the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150 is also referred to as a “mounting direction”. Further, the state in which the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150 of the printer 100 is also simply referred to as a “mounted state”.

The liquid cartridge 200 includes a flat plate-shaped handle portion 201 extending upward from the upper surface thereof. The user can attach the liquid cartridge 200 to the cartridge holder 150 by holding the handle portion 201. Further, the user can remove the liquid cartridge 200 from the cartridge holder 150 by holding the handle portion 201 and pulling up the liquid cartridge 200 upward. The handle portion 201 is foldable. When the lid portion 121 is closed after the liquid cartridge 200 is attached to the cartridge holder 150, the handle portion 201 is folded toward the back side of the printer 100 while being in contact with the inner surface of the lid portion 121.

As shown in FIG. 2, only one liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150. That is, the printer 100 of this embodiment is a single color printer. Further, in the printer 100 of the present embodiment, although detailed illustration is omitted, the liquid cartridge 200 and the print head are separated, and the liquid cartridge 200 and the print head are connected by a tube. That is, the printer 100 of this embodiment is a printer called an "off-carriage type" in which the cartridge holder 150 is not linked to the movement of the print head (carriage). In the present embodiment, the print head is arranged on the back side of the cartridge holder 150, and while reciprocating along the Y direction, the ink supplied from the liquid cartridge 200 through the tube is ejected to the print medium. The printer 100 of the present embodiment includes an internal pump for returning the ink supplied from the liquid cartridge 200 but not used for printing to the liquid cartridge 200 as waste liquid.

3 and 4 are perspective views of the liquid cartridge 200, and FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are a plan view, a bottom view, and a rear view of the liquid cartridge 200. The liquid cartridge 200 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and has the largest dimension along the Y direction and the smallest dimension along the X direction. That is, the external dimensions of the liquid cartridge 200 are smaller in the order of the dimensions along the Y direction, the dimensions along the Z direction, and the dimensions along the X direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid cartridge 200 includes a box-shaped case 202. The case 202 has a lower case member 204 and a lid member 203 that engages with the lower case member 204. The lower case member 204 and the lid member 203 are made of, for example, a synthetic resin. When the lid member 203 is lowered from above the lower case member 204, the lid member 203 snap-fits and engages with the lower case member 204.

The liquid cartridge 200 includes a first wall portion (bottom wall portion) 211, a second wall portion (upper wall portion) 212, a third wall portion (back wall portion) 213, and a fourth wall portion (front wall portion). It includes 214, a fifth wall portion (first side wall portion) 215, a sixth wall portion (second side wall portion) 216, a seventh wall portion 217, and an eighth wall portion 218. In the following description, "intersecting" or "intersecting" two walls means a state in which the two walls intersect with each other and a state in which the two walls intersect with each other when one wall is extended. And, it means that it is in one of the states where each wall portion is extended and intersects. Further, "opposing" the two wall portions means that both the case where another object does not exist and the case where another object exists between the two wall portions are included.

The outer surface of each wall portion 211-218 is substantially flat. The generally flat surface includes a case where the entire surface is completely flat and a case where a part of the surface has irregularities. That is, the generally flat surface includes a case where the surface or wall constituting the case 202 of the liquid cartridge 200 can be grasped even if a part of the surface has some unevenness. The outer shape of the first wall portion 211 to the eighth wall portion 218 in a state of being observed along the respective normal lines is substantially rectangular.

The first wall portion 211 and the second wall portion 212 are wall portions parallel to the X-axis and the Y-axis. The second wall portion 212 faces the first wall portion 211. That is, the first wall portion 211 and the second wall portion 212 face each other in the Z direction. The first wall portion 211 is located on the −Z direction side, and the second wall portion 212 is located on the + Z direction side. The first wall portion 211 and the second wall portion 212 intersect with the third wall portion 213, the fourth wall portion 214, the fifth wall portion 215, the sixth wall portion 216, the seventh wall portion 217, and the eighth wall portion 218. There is a positional relationship. In the present embodiment, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, the first wall portion 211 constitutes the bottom surface of the liquid cartridge 200, and the second wall portion 212 constitutes the upper surface of the liquid cartridge 200. The first wall portion 211 is also referred to as "bottom wall portion 211", and the second wall portion 212 is also referred to as "upper wall portion 212".

The bottom wall portion 211 (FIG. 4) is a part of the lower case member 204. The bottom wall portion 211 has a liquid supply port 230 for supplying ink to the printer 100, and a waste liquid introduction port 231 for introducing the waste liquid supplied from the printer 100. Further, the bottom wall portion 211 has a positioning hole 232 and a rotation stop hole 233 that engage with a protrusion (described later) provided in the cartridge holder 150. The bottom wall portion 211 is further provided with a contact protrusion 630 that comes into contact with a contact protrusion (described later) on the bottom surface of the cartridge holder 150 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150. In this example, four contact protrusions 630 are provided at positions close to the four corners of the bottom wall portion 211, but the number of contact protrusions 630 can be arbitrarily set.

The upper wall portion 212 (FIG. 3) is a part of the lid member 203. The upper wall portion 212 is provided with a handle portion 201. The lid member 203 has a peripheral wall portion 340 that is continuous over the entire circumference of the side surface of the upper wall portion 212 and extends downward from the side surface of the upper wall portion 212.

The third wall portion 213 and the fourth wall portion 214 are wall portions parallel to the Y-axis and the Z-axis. The third wall portion 213 and the fourth wall portion 214 face each other in the X direction. The third wall portion 213 is located on the −X direction side, and the fourth wall portion 214 is located on the + X direction side. The third wall portion 213 intersects the first wall portion 211 and the second wall portion 212, and also intersects the fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216. The fourth wall portion 214 intersects the first wall portion 211 and the second wall portion 212 and faces the third wall portion 213. The fourth wall portion 214 also intersects with the seventh wall portion 217 and the eighth wall portion 218. In the present embodiment, when the liquid cartridge 200 is attached to the cartridge holder 150, the fourth wall portion 214 faces the front side of the printer 100, and the third wall portion 213 faces the back side of the printer 100.

The third wall portion 213 (FIG. 7) is a part of the lower case member 204. The third wall portion 213 is provided with an erroneous mounting suppressing protrusion 260 for suppressing the erroneous mounting of the liquid cartridge 200 on the cartridge holder 150. The erroneous mounting suppression protrusion 260 is arranged at a position deviated from the center of the side surface (third wall portion 213) provided with the erroneous mounting suppression protrusion 260 when the case 202 of the liquid cartridge 200 is viewed along the mounting direction. ing. In the present embodiment, the erroneous mounting suppression protrusion 260 is arranged at a position deviated from the center of the third wall portion 213 toward the fifth wall portion 215.

The third wall portion 213 is further provided with a first side wall position restricting portion 510 capable of contacting the inner wall surface (holder inner wall surface) of the cartridge holder 150 with the liquid cartridge 200 mounted on the cartridge holder 150. .. The side wall position regulating portion 510 is a member that regulates the position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the X direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder 150. In this example, the side wall position regulating portion 510 is a rib protruding in the −X direction from the surface of the third wall portion 213. Further, although two side wall position regulating portions 510 are provided at different positions in the Y direction, the number thereof can be set to an arbitrary value of 1 or more. When a plurality of side wall position restricting portions 510 are provided on the third wall portion 213, it is preferable to provide them at symmetrical positions centered on the central position along the Y direction of the liquid cartridge 200. In the present embodiment, the protruding height (dimension in the X direction) of the side wall position regulating portion 510 is substantially the same as the height of the peripheral wall portion 340 of the lid member 203 with respect to the surface of the third wall portion 213. Therefore, the peripheral wall portion 340 also has a function of regulating the position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the X direction together with the side wall position regulating portion 510.

The fourth wall portion 214 (FIG. 4) is a part of the lid member 203. The fourth wall portion 214 is provided with a second side wall position restricting portion 520 that can come into contact with the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder 150 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150. The side wall position regulating portion 520 is a member that regulates the position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the X direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder 150. In this example, the side wall position regulating portion 520 is a rib protruding in the + X direction from the surface of the fourth wall portion 214. Further, although two side wall position regulating portions 520 are provided at different positions in the Y direction, the number thereof can be set to an arbitrary value of 1 or more. When a plurality of side wall position restricting portions 520 are provided on the fourth wall portion 214, it is preferable to provide them at symmetrical positions centered on the central position along the Y direction of the liquid cartridge 200.

The fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216 are wall portions parallel to the X-axis and the Z-axis. The fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216 face each other in the Y direction. The fifth wall portion 215 intersects the first wall portion 211, the second wall portion 212, the third wall portion 213, and the seventh wall portion 217. The sixth wall portion 216 intersects the first wall portion 211, the second wall portion 212, the third wall portion 213, and the eighth wall portion 218, and faces the fifth wall portion 215. In the present embodiment, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, the fifth wall portion 215 faces the right side surface of the printer 100, and the sixth wall portion 216 faces the left side surface side of the printer 100. The fifth wall portion 215 is also referred to as a "first side wall portion 215", and the sixth wall portion 216 is also referred to as a "second side wall portion 216".

The fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216 are a part of the lower case member 204. The fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216 are provided with a third side wall position regulating portion 530 that can come into contact with the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder 150 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150 (. FIG. 4). The side wall position regulating portion 530 is a member that regulates the position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder 150. In the example of FIG. 4, the side wall position restricting portion 530 is a rib protruding from the surface of the fifth wall portion 215 in the + Y direction. Similarly, the sixth wall portion 216 is also provided with a rib-shaped side wall position restricting portion 530 protruding in the −Y direction from the surface of the sixth wall portion 216 (FIG. 7). One side wall position regulating portion 530 is provided on each of the fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216, and the number thereof can be set to any value of 1 or more. As can be seen from FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the protruding height (dimension in the Y direction) of the side wall position regulating portion 530 is the lid member 203 with reference to the surfaces of the fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216. It is almost the same as the height of the peripheral wall portion 340. Therefore, the peripheral wall portion 340 also has a function of regulating the position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the Y direction together with the side wall position regulating portion 530.

The fifth wall portion 215 further has a locking portion 240 (FIG. 4). The locking portion 240 is locked to a fixing member (described later) provided on the cartridge holder 150 in the mounted state. As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the position of the locking portion 240 in the Z direction is lower than 1/2 of the height from the bottom wall portion 211 to the upper wall portion 212 (-) in the mounted state. Position on the Z direction side). Further, in the present embodiment, the erroneous mounting suppression protrusion 260 is provided on the third wall portion 213 that intersects the fifth wall portion 215 provided with the locking portion 240.

The seventh wall portion 217 (FIG. 4) is a wall portion parallel to the Z axis and inclined from the X axis and the Y axis. The seventh wall portion 217 is a wall portion that connects the fifth wall portion 215 and the fourth wall portion 214 on the side surface of the case 202. The seventh wall portion 217 intersects the first wall portion 211 and the second wall portion 212, and also intersects the fifth wall portion 215 and the fourth wall portion 214. The seventh wall portion 217 is configured by chamfering a corner portion where the fifth wall portion 215 and the fourth wall portion 214 intersect.

The eighth wall portion 218 (FIG. 6) is also a wall portion parallel to the Z axis and inclined from the X axis and the Y axis, similarly to the seventh wall portion 217. The eighth wall portion 218 is a wall portion that connects the sixth wall portion 216 and the fourth wall portion 214 on the side surface of the case 202. The eighth wall portion 218 intersects the first wall portion 211 and the second wall portion 212, and also intersects the sixth wall portion 216 and the fourth wall portion 214. The eighth wall portion 218 is configured by chamfering a corner portion where the sixth wall portion 216 and the fourth wall portion 214 intersect. The seventh wall portion 217 and the eighth wall portion 218 are in a relationship of intersecting each other by extending each of the liquid cartridge 200 to the front side (+ X direction side). Further, the 7th wall portion 217 and the 8th wall portion 218 are also extended portions in which the 3rd wall portion 213 is extended in the Y direction by extending each of the liquid cartridge 200 to the back surface side (−X direction side). Cross.

The bottom wall portion 211 (FIG. 4) has an inclined portion 219 that is inclined toward the side opposite to the cartridge holder 150 side in the mounted state, and has an end portion on the + Y direction side, that is, an end portion on the fifth wall portion 215 side. Be prepared for. The inclined portion 219 can be said to be a wall portion connecting the first wall portion 211 and the fifth wall portion 215.

The inclined portion 219 has a plurality of electrode contact portions 250 that electrically contact a plurality of electrodes (described later) provided in the cartridge holder 150 in the mounted state. In the present embodiment, these electrode contact portions 250 are formed on a substrate 251 fixed to the outer surface of the inclined portion 219.

A storage device for storing various information of the liquid cartridge 200 is provided on the back surface of the substrate 251. In this storage device, for example, information indicating the remaining amount of ink and the color of ink is stored. When the electrode provided on the cartridge holder 150 comes into contact with the electrode contact portion 250, the control circuit of the printer 100 can read various information from the storage device of the substrate 251.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150. 8 and 9 show only a part of the cartridge holder 150. The cartridge holder 150 includes a bottom surface 161 facing the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 in the mounted state. The bottom surface 161 is provided with a positioning protrusion 151, a rotation stop protrusion 152, a fixing member 153, a plurality of electrodes 155, a liquid introduction needle 156, and a waste liquid supply needle 157. Each of the plurality of electrodes 155 is formed by a metal leaf spring.

The positioning protrusion 151 is a protrusion that is inserted into the positioning hole 232 (FIG. 6) provided in the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150. By engaging the positioning protrusion 151 with the positioning hole 232, the bottom of the liquid cartridge 200 is positioned in the X and Y directions. The planar shape of the positioning hole 232 is, for example, a circular shape that is almost a perfect circle. The rotation stop protrusion 152 is a protrusion that is inserted into the rotation stop hole 233 provided in the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150. The rotation of the liquid cartridge 200 is restricted by the engagement between the rotation stop protrusion 152 and the rotation stop hole 233. The planar shape of the rotation stop protrusion 152 is, for example, an oval having a longitudinal direction along the Y direction. The engagement of the rotation stop protrusion 152 and the rotation stop hole 233 regulates the position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the X direction, and as a result, the rotation of the liquid cartridge 200 is prevented. The positioning protrusion 151 and the rotation stop protrusion 152 extend from the bottom surface 161 in the + Z direction. The positioning protrusion 151 and the rotation stop protrusion 152 regulate the positions of the liquid cartridge 200 in the cartridge holder 150 in the X and Y directions. Further, the positioning protrusion 151 and the rotation stop protrusion 152 have a longer dimension along the Z direction than the liquid introduction needle 156 and the waste liquid supply needle 157. Therefore, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, the positioning protrusion 151 and the waste liquid supply needle 157 rotate faster than the liquid introduction needle 156 and the waste liquid supply needle 157 are inserted into the liquid supply port 230 and the waste liquid introduction port 231, respectively. The stop protrusion 152 is inserted into the positioning hole 232 and the rotation stop hole 233, respectively. Therefore, the possibility that the liquid introduction needle 156 and the waste liquid supply needle 157 come into contact with the bottom surface of the liquid cartridge 200 is reduced, and the possibility that the liquid introduction needle 156 and the waste liquid supply needle 157 are damaged is reduced.

The fixing member 153 is a metal leaf spring member for fixing the liquid cartridge 200. The fixing member 153 faces the first side wall portion 215 and the locking portion 240 in the mounted state. The fixing member 153 extends from the end of the bottom surface 161 in the + Y direction toward the + Z direction. As shown in FIG. 9, the fixing member 153 is provided with a recess 153a at the tip end portion in the + Z direction into which the locking portion 240 is fitted in the + Y direction. Further, the fixing member 153 includes an inclined surface 153b on the + Z direction side of the recess 153a, and the distance from the first side wall portion 215 increases toward the + Z direction. The recess 153a and the inclined surface 153b are formed by bending the plate-shaped fixing member 153.

When the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, first, the third wall portion 213 to the eighth wall portion 218 or the side wall position regulating portions 510, 520, 530 come into contact with the inner wall surface 163 to 168 of the cartridge holder 150. By doing so, the liquid cartridge 200 is guided into the cartridge holder 150 while the movement of the entire outer shape of the liquid cartridge 200 in the X direction and the Y direction is restricted. Then, the positioning protrusion 151 is inserted into the positioning hole 232, and the rotation stop protrusion 152 is inserted into the rotation stop hole 233. After that, the locking portion 240 comes into contact with the inclined surface 153b of the fixing member 153 and pushes the fixing member 153 in the + Y direction. When the liquid cartridge 200 is further inserted in the mounting direction in this state, the liquid introduction needle 156 is inserted into the liquid supply port 230, the waste liquid supply needle 157 is inserted into the waste liquid introduction port 231, and further, the liquid cartridge 200 is inserted into the inclined portion 219 of the liquid cartridge 200. The provided electrode contact portion 250 contacts the electrode 155 provided on the cartridge holder 150. Finally, the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted and fixed to the cartridge holder 150 by fitting the locking portion 240 into the recess 153a of the fixing member 153. In the mounted state, the liquid cartridge 200 receives a reaction force in the + Z direction from the electrode 155 formed by the leaf spring and the springs provided in the liquid supply port 230 and the waste liquid introduction port 231. Therefore, when the liquid cartridge 200 is pulled out from the cartridge holder 150 in the + Z direction, the reaction force from the springs of the liquid supply port 230 and the waste liquid introduction port 231 is obtained by pulling the liquid cartridge 200 in the + Z direction by holding the handle portion 201. Therefore, the liquid cartridge 200 can be easily removed from the cartridge holder 150.

Further, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted in the cartridge holder 150, the bottom surface 161 (FIG. 8) of the cartridge holder 150 comes into contact with the contact protrusion 630 (FIG. 4) of the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200. A contact protrusion 730 that supports the liquid cartridge 200 is provided. The position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the cartridge holder 150 in the Z direction is defined by the contact surface between the contact protrusions 630 and 730.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the cartridge holder 150, and FIG. 11 is a plan view of the liquid cartridge 200 mounted on the cartridge holder 150. In this embodiment, the liquid cartridge 200 is substantially hexagonal when viewed along the mounting direction. More specifically, the liquid cartridge 200 has a substantially hexagonal shape in terms of the upper surface shape, the lower surface shape, and the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the mounting direction. In the present embodiment, the shape of the cartridge holder 150 is also formed into a substantially hexagonal shape when viewed from the mounting direction so as to match the shape of the liquid cartridge 200. That is, the shapes of the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 are substantially similar when viewed from the mounting direction. The cartridge holder 150 has inner wall surfaces 163 to 168 corresponding to wall portions 213 to 218 forming the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 in the mounted state. That is, the cartridge holder 150 has an inner wall surface 163 facing the third wall portion 213, an inner wall surface 164 facing the fourth wall portion 214, an inner wall surface 165 facing the fifth wall portion 215, and a sixth wall portion. It has an inner wall surface 166 facing the 216, an inner wall surface 167 facing the seventh wall portion 217, and an inner wall surface 168 facing the eighth wall portion 218. Of these inner wall surfaces 163 to 168, a groove portion 160 extending in the Z direction is formed on the inner wall surface 163 facing the third wall portion 213 of the liquid cartridge 200. When the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, the erroneous mounting suppression protrusion 260 provided on the third wall portion 213 of the liquid cartridge 200 fits into the groove portion 160.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid cartridge 200, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the liquid cartridge 200. As described above, the liquid cartridge 200 includes a lid member 203 and a lower case member 204.

The lid member 203 mainly constitutes the upper wall portion 212 of the case 202, the fourth wall portion 214, the seventh wall portion 217, and the eighth wall portion 218. Further, in the present embodiment, the lid member 203 is continuous with the upper wall portion 212 along the entire circumference of the side surface of the upper wall portion 212, and the peripheral wall portion extending downward (−Z direction) from the side surface of the upper wall portion 212. It has 340 and. That is, the peripheral wall portion 340 is continuously formed over the entire circumference of the side surface of the upper wall portion 212. The fourth wall portion 214, the seventh wall portion 217, and the eighth wall portion 218 of the case 202 form a part of the peripheral wall portion 340. When the lid member 203 engages with the lower case member 204, the lid member 203 is in a state of covering the liquid storage member 274 and the waste liquid absorbing member 280 above the lower case member 204.

The lower case member 204 mainly constitutes the first wall portion 211, the third wall portion 213, the fifth wall portion 215, and the sixth wall portion 216 of the case 202. A wall portion 224 that partially overlaps with the fourth wall portion 214 of the lid member 203 is further provided on the front surface of the lower case member 204. The wall portion 224 is provided with an engaging hole 222 that engages with an engaging projection provided on the inner surface of the lid member 203. A partition wall 205 parallel to the Y-axis and the Z-axis is provided at substantially the center of the internal space of the lower case member 204. The partition wall 205 divides the inside of the liquid cartridge 200 into a first storage chamber 207 and a second storage chamber 208. The liquid container 270 for storing ink is stored in the first storage chamber 207. The waste liquid absorbing member 280 for holding the waste liquid supplied from the printer 100 is stored in the second storage chamber 208. That is, in the present embodiment, the liquid container 270 and the waste liquid absorbing member 280 are arranged side by side in the X direction in the case 202 of the liquid cartridge 200. The partition wall 205 as a whole extends to the bottom wall portion 211. Therefore, in the upright posture of the liquid cartridge 200, the flow of waste liquid from the second storage chamber 208 to the first storage chamber 207 is suppressed.

The waste liquid absorbing member 280 is a rectangular parallelepiped member capable of holding a liquid inside. As the waste liquid absorbing member 280, for example, a porous material such as a sponge or a non-woven fabric, or a polymer polymer having a liquid absorbing property can be adopted. In the present embodiment, the two waste liquid absorbing members 280 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the X direction. In the present embodiment, the case 202 does not have a film that seals or seals the waste liquid absorbing member 280 in the case 202, and the second storage chamber 208 is not sealed. Further, the waste liquid absorbing member 280 is stored in the second storage chamber 208 in a naked state, which is not contained in the liquid impermeable bag.

The liquid container 270 has a liquid storage member 274 formed of a flexible sheet and a liquid outlet member 400 joined to one side of the liquid storage member 274. As the flexible sheet, for example, a plastic film such as a polyethylene film can be used. An opening 271 is provided in the lower portion of the liquid storage member 274, and the liquid outlet member 400 is joined to the opening 271. A liquid supply port 230 is installed at the bottom of the liquid outlet member 400. The liquid supply port 230 is made of, for example, a spring, a valve body, a sealing rubber, an absorbent material, or the like, but detailed description thereof will be omitted. The liquid outlet member 400 is formed with a flow path for guiding the ink contained in the liquid storage member 274 to the liquid supply port 230. The liquid lead-out member 400 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The liquid containing member 274 and the liquid leading member 400 are joined by, for example, heat fusion or an adhesive.

Flat fusion allowances 275 and 276 formed by laminating two plastic films are formed at the + Y direction end and the −Y direction end of the liquid accommodating member 274, respectively. .. When the liquid container 270 is housed in the first storage chamber 207, these fusion allowances 275 and 276 are bent in the + X direction or the −X direction in the first storage chamber 207 as shown in FIG. Is housed in.

B. Details of the tilt control structure of the liquid cartridge:
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150. The liquid cartridge 200 is mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder 150. As will be described later, the inclination regulation of the liquid cartridge 200 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150 is related to the inclination regulation in the lower part of the liquid cartridge 200 in the Z direction and the inclination regulation in the upper part in the Z direction. doing. Further, these tilt restrictions are related to the Z-direction (vertical direction) position-regulating structure in the lower part of the liquid cartridge 200 and the X-direction and Y-direction position-regulating structures in the upper and lower parts of the liquid cartridge 200. The X direction corresponds to the lateral direction of the liquid cartridge 200 and its bottom wall portion 211, and the Y direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the liquid cartridge 200 and its bottom wall portion 211.

The Z-direction position limiting structure at the bottom of the liquid cartridge 200 includes a contact protrusion 630 provided on the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 and a contact protrusion 730 provided on the bottom surface 161 of the cartridge holder 150. That is, the position of the liquid cartridge 200 in the Z direction is regulated by the contact between these contact protrusions 630 and 730.

The Y-direction and X-direction position control structures of the liquid cartridge 200 are provided on the bottom surface and the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200, respectively. First, the positions in the X and Y directions on the bottom surface of the liquid cartridge 200 are related to the positioning holes 232 provided in the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 and the positioning protrusions 151 provided in the bottom surface 161 of the cartridge holder 150. It is regulated by the case. Since the positioning projection 151 has a straight rod-like structure, it can also be called a "positioning rod" or a "positioning shaft". The position of the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 in the Y direction is regulated by the contact between the ribs 530 or the peripheral wall portion 340 provided on the side wall portions 215 and 216 of the liquid cartridge 200 and the inner wall surfaces 164 and 165 of the cartridge holder 150. In the present embodiment, since the rib 530 and the peripheral wall portion 340 are substantially flush with each other, both the rib 530 and the peripheral wall portion 340 are the side wall positions that regulate the positions of the liquid cartridge 200 in the X direction or the Y direction. Corresponds to the regulatory department. Similarly, although not shown, the position of the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 in the X direction is also the same as the ribs 510, 520 (FIGS. 8 and 4) or the peripheral wall portion 340 provided on the side wall portions 213 and 214 of the liquid cartridge 200. , It is regulated by contact with the inner wall surface 163, 164 (FIG. 10) of the cartridge holder 150.

15 and 16 are explanatory views showing a regulation structure of a position and an inclination on the bottom surface of the liquid cartridge 200. FIG. 15 is a view in which the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 are not tilted from each other, and the circumscribed circle C151 of the horizontal cross section (XY cross section) of the positioning protrusion 151 provided on the bottom surface 161 of the cartridge holder 150 is a broken line. It is drawn in. The circumscribed circle C ₁₅₁ has a diameter D ₁₅₁ . The positioning hole 232 provided in the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 has a diameter D ₂₃₂ . At this time, the gaps Ga on both sides of the positioning hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151 in the X and Y directions are given below.
Ga = D _232- D ₁₅₁ ... (1)
The gap Ga on both sides can be considered as an allowable amount of misalignment between the positioning hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151. In the present embodiment, the gap Ga on both sides is the same in the X direction and the Y direction, but when the gap Ga on both sides is different in the X direction and the Y direction, a larger value is adopted.

FIG. 16 shows a YZ cross section of the positioning hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151 in a state where the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 are tilted to the maximum. Actually, the bottom wall portion 211 is tilted diagonally, but in FIG. 16, for convenience of illustration, the positioning projection 151 is tilted with respect to the bottom wall portion 211. Further, the X, Y, and Z axes are drawn with reference to the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200. That is, the X direction and the Y direction are the directions in which the bottom wall portion 211 extends, and the Z direction is the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction from the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 toward the upper wall portion 212.

In the present embodiment, the upper end of the inner peripheral surface 232in of the positioning hole 232 is chamfered, and the chamfered portion 232C is formed. In the example of FIG. 16, the shape of the chamfered portion 232C is a so-called C chamfer. When such a chamfered portion 232C is formed, the height La of the inner peripheral surface 232 in which can come into contact with the positioning protrusion 151 in the positioning hole 232 is larger than the thickness of the bottom wall portion 211. Is also small. In other words, the height La of the inner peripheral surface 232 inches along the Z direction is shortened by the chamfered portion 232C. However, the chamfered portion 232C may not be formed.

In FIG. 16, since the liquid cartridge 200 is tilted to the maximum, the distance between the positioning hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151 at the position where they are in contact (the lower end of the chamfered portion 232C) in the Y direction is described with reference to FIG. It is equal to the gap Ga on both sides of both sides. At this time, the angle θa formed by the inner peripheral surface 232in of the positioning hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151 is given as follows.
θa = arctan (Ga / La)… (2)
This angle θa can also be considered as an allowable value for the tilt angle of the liquid cartridge 200. Further, the parameter (Ga / La) is an inclination allowed for the liquid cartridge 200 in the lower engaging structure (positioning hole 232 and positioning protrusion 151) in the Z direction.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a position and tilt regulation structure on the upper side surface of the liquid cartridge 200, and shows a state in which the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 are not tilted from each other. As described above, the position of the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 in the Y direction depends on the contact state between the side wall position regulating portion (peripheral wall portion 340 or its rib 530) of the liquid cartridge 200 and the inner wall surfaces 164 and 165 of the cartridge holder 150. Be regulated. In FIG. 17, for convenience of illustration, the gap between the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 and the inner wall surfaces 164 and 165 of the cartridge holder 150 is exaggerated. Here, the one-sided gap Gb in the Y direction between the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 and the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder 150 is given below.
Gb = (LG _{150 -LG 200} ) / 2 ... (3)
Here, the LG ₁₅₀ is the distance between the inner wall surfaces 164 and 165 of the cartridge holder 150, and the LG ₂₀₀ is the distance between the side surfaces of the liquid cartridge 200. Similarly, there is a one-sided gap Gb in the X direction. When the one-sided gap Gb is different in the X direction and the Y direction, the larger value is adopted.

The one-sided gap Gb is used as the gap on the upper side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 because it is considered that when the liquid cartridge 200 is tilted with respect to the cartridge holder 150, it is tilted by the amount of the one-sided gap Gb. .. On the other hand, on the bottom surface of the liquid cartridge 200, the double-sided gap Ga described with reference to FIG. 15 is adopted. The reason for this is that, as described with reference to FIG. 16, the engaging structure (positioning hole 232 and positioning protrusion 151) on the bottom surface of the liquid cartridge 200 is allowed to be tilted by the amount of the gap Ga on both sides.

In the example of FIG. 17, since the rib 530 and the peripheral wall portion 340 are in a substantially flush state, the distance between the surfaces of the peripheral wall portion 340 and the distance between the surfaces of the ribs 530 on both sides are both described above. Corresponds to the distance LG _200. However, when the rib 530 projects outward from the peripheral wall portion 340, the distance LG ₂₀₀ on the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 is defined by the surfaces of the ribs 530 on both sides. On the contrary, when the peripheral wall portion 340 protrudes outward from the rib 530, the distance LG _{200 on} the side surface of the liquid cartridge 200 is defined by the surface of the peripheral wall portion 340.

In FIG. 17, the height difference Lb between the two contact positions P1 and P2 of the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 is further drawn. The first contact position P1 is a contact position between the contact protrusion 630 of the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 and the contact protrusion 730 of the bottom surface 161 of the cartridge holder 150. In other words, the first contact position P1 is a contact position where the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 contacts the bottom surface 161 of the cartridge holder 150. The second contact position P2 is a contact position where the side wall position regulating portion (rib 530 or peripheral wall portion 340) of the liquid cartridge 200 comes into contact with the inner wall surface 165 of the cartridge holder 150 when the liquid cartridge 200 is tilted. In the example of FIG. 17, since the upper end of the inner wall surface 165 of the cartridge holder 150 is chamfered to form the chamfered portion 165C, the lower end of the chamfered portion 165C is the second contact position P2.

In the structure of FIG. 17, the inclination angle θb allowed for the liquid cartridge 200 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150 is given below.
θb = arctan (Gb / Lb)… (4)
The parameter (Gb / Lb) on the right side is the inclination allowed for the liquid cartridge 200 at the upper part in the Z direction.

In the present embodiment, the parameters Ga, Gb, La, Lb described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 17 are set in the following relationship.
Ga <Gb ... (5)
(Gb / Lb) <(Ga / La) ... (6)

According to the present embodiment, as shown by the above equation (5), the gap Gb between the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 in the upper part in the Z direction is the engagement between the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 in the lower part in the Z direction. The gap Ga of the structure (positioning hole 232 and positioning protrusion 151) is set to be larger than the gap Ga. Therefore, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, the liquid cartridge 200 can be mounted by utilizing a relatively large gap Gb, and the mounting operation is easy. Further, since the gap Ga of the engagement structure (positioning hole 232 and positioning protrusion 151) between the liquid cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 150 in the lower portion in the Z direction is relatively small, the liquid supply port arranged on the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 Positioning of the substrate 251 arranged near the 230 (FIG. 4) and the bottom wall portion 211 can be performed with high accuracy, and the possibility of ink leakage from the liquid supply port 230 and poor contact of the substrate 251 is reduced. be able to.

Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown by the above equation (6), the inclination (Gb / Lb) of the liquid cartridge 200 when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted is the lower engaging structure (positioning). It is smaller than the inclination (Ga / La) allowed in the hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151). Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the liquid cartridge 200 is excessively tilted and the positioning hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151 are caught in the liquid cartridge 200, and the mounting operation can be smoothly performed.

In addition to the above equation (6), the following equation may also hold.
{Gb / (Lb-Lc)} <(Ga / La) ... (7)
Here, Lc is the height in the Z direction from the first contact position P1 to the tip of the straight portion 151s of the positioning protrusion 151 (FIG. 17). The parameter {Gb / (Lb-Lc)} on the left side is allowed for the liquid cartridge 200 when the bottom wall portion 211 of the liquid cartridge 200 is lowered to a state where it is in contact with the tip of the straight portion 151s of the positioning protrusion 151 of the cartridge holder 150. Is the inclination. In this embodiment, since the positioning protrusion 151 has a straight portion 151s and a tapered portion 151t provided on the tip end side thereof, Lc is set as described above. However, even when a shape having only the straight portion 151s without the tapered portion 151t is adopted as the shape of the positioning protrusion 151, Lc is moved from the first contact position P1 to the tip of the straight portion 151s of the positioning protrusion 151. Can be defined as the height in the Z direction of. In other words, regardless of whether or not the tapered portion 151t is provided at the tip of the positioning protrusion 151, Lc is defined as the height in the Z direction from the first contact position P1 to the tip of the straight portion 151s of the positioning protrusion 151. It is possible to define.

When the above equation (7) holds, the inclination {Gb / (Lb-Lc)} allowed for the liquid cartridge 200 is the inclination allowed in the lower engaging structure (positioning hole 232 and positioning protrusion 151). Since it is smaller than (Ga / La), the possibility that the liquid cartridge 200 is excessively tilted and the positioning hole 232 and the positioning protrusion 151 are caught can be further reduced, and the mounting operation can be performed more smoothly.

Further, in the present embodiment, the height La of the inner peripheral surface 232in is shortened by forming the chamfered portion 232C (FIG. 16) at the upper end of the inner peripheral surface 232in of the positioning hole 232, so that the bottom of the liquid cartridge 200 The allowable inclination (Ga / La) in the lower engaging structure (positioning hole 232 and positioning protrusion 151) can be increased without reducing the thickness of the entire wall portion 211 to excessively reduce the strength. .. The chamfered portion 232C may be formed at the lower end of the inner peripheral surface 232 in of the positioning hole 232. That is, the height La can be shortened by forming the chamfered portion 232C on at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the inner peripheral surface 232 in of the positioning hole 232.

Here, with reference to FIG. 6, a preferable positional relationship between the locking portion 240 provided on the fifth wall portion 215 and each portion provided on the bottom wall portion 211 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the locking portion 240 is provided only on the fifth wall portion 215 of the fifth wall portion 215 and the sixth wall portion 216 facing in the Y direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the fifth wall portion 215 side of the bottom wall portion 211 is provided with a plurality of electrode contact portions 250 that come into contact with the electrodes 155 provided on the cartridge holder 150 in the mounted state. Further, in the present embodiment, in the bottom wall portion 211, the liquid supply port 230 and the waste liquid introduction port 231 connected to the printer 100 are arranged in the X direction substantially at the center in the Y direction. The waste liquid introduction port 231 is arranged on the third wall portion 213 side, and the liquid supply port 230 is arranged on the fourth wall portion 214 side. The distance from the liquid supply port 230 to the fourth wall portion 214 is longer than the distance from the waste liquid introduction port 231 to the third wall portion 213. In such a liquid cartridge 200 of the present embodiment, the locking portion 240 is located between the liquid supply port 230 and the waste liquid introduction port 231 in the X direction when the liquid cartridge 200 is viewed from the bottom wall portion 211 side. It is preferable that it is provided. Further, the locking portion 240 is located between the liquid supply port 230 and the waste liquid introduction port 231 in the X direction when the liquid cartridge 200 is viewed from the bottom wall portion 211 side, and is located from the liquid supply port 230. Is also preferably provided at a position close to the waste liquid introduction port 231. Further, it is preferable that the locking portion 240 is provided between the two electrode contact portions 250A and 250B that are farthest from each other in the X direction when the liquid cartridge 200 is viewed from the bottom wall portion 211 side. Further, the locking portion 240 is provided between the electrode contact portion 250A closest to the liquid supply port 230 and the waste liquid introduction port 231 in the X direction when the liquid cartridge 200 is viewed from the bottom wall portion 211 side. Is preferable. Further, the locking portion 240 is preferably provided between the waste liquid introduction port 231 and the positioning hole 232 in the X direction when the liquid cartridge 200 is viewed from the bottom wall portion 211 side. Further, the locking portion 240 is preferably provided between the two contact protrusions 630 of the plurality of contact protrusions 630 in the X direction when the liquid cartridge 200 is viewed from the bottom wall portion 211 side. .. If at least a part of these preferable positional relationships is adopted, the liquid cartridge 200 can be smoothly mounted, and the cartridge holder 150 and the liquid cartridge 200 are locked together including the locking portion 240. Since the contact can be made at at least three places, the mounting posture of the liquid cartridge 200 with respect to the cartridge holder 150 can be made more stable.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, the bottom wall portion 211 is attached to the end portion on the fifth wall portion 215 side, and in the mounted state, on the side opposite to the bottom surface 161 side of the cartridge holder 150. An inclined portion 219 is provided, and the electrode contact portion 250 is provided on the inclined portion 219. Therefore, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, the electrode 155 rubs the surface of the electrode contact portion 250, so that foreign matter on the electrode contact portion 250 can be removed. Therefore, the electrode contact portion 250 and the electrode 155 can be brought into good contact with each other.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the locking portion 240 includes a first surface 241 and a second surface 242. The first surface 241 is a surface along the bottom surface 161 (FIG. 9) of the cartridge holder 150 in the mounted state. The second surface 242 is provided on the bottom surface 161 side of the cartridge holder 150 with respect to the first surface 241 in the mounted state, and is inclined so as to be separated from the bottom surface 161 of the cartridge holder 150 as the distance from the first side wall portion 215 increases. Is. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle from the bottom surface 161 of the second surface 242 is larger than the inclination angle from the bottom surface 161 of the inclined portion 219. Therefore, when the liquid cartridge 200 is mounted on the cartridge holder 150, the fixing member 153 can be smoothly guided and engaged from the vicinity of the inclined portion 219 to the locking portion 240.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a force relationship applied to the liquid cartridge 200. The liquid cartridge 200 receives a reaction force that tends to float in the + Z direction by the electrode 155 formed by the spring in the liquid supply port 230, the spring in the waste liquid introduction port 231 and the leaf spring. However, in the present embodiment, the electrode contact portion 250 that contacts the electrode 155 is provided on the first side wall portion 215 side of the bottom wall portion 211, and the fifth wall portion that is substantially directly above the electrode contact portion 250 in the Z direction. The 215 is provided with a locking portion 240 that is fixed to the fixing member 153. Therefore, poor contact due to floating of the liquid cartridge 200 can be suppressed, and the mounted state of the liquid cartridge 200 can be stably maintained.

Further, in the mounted state, a force F1z in the −Z direction and a force F1y in the + Y direction act on the locking portion 240 due to the reaction force of the fixing member 153. On the other hand, a force F2z in the + Z direction and a force F2y in the + Y direction act on the diagonally arranged electrode contact portions 250 due to the reaction force of the electrodes 155. Due to these forces, a force pressing the liquid cartridge 200 in the + Y direction acts on the positioning protrusion 151, and the positioning protrusion 151 receives the reaction force N (= F1y + F2y) of the above-mentioned force in the + Y direction. .. As a result, a frictional force F (= μN) (μ is a friction coefficient) acts around the positioning hole 232, which is a contact portion between the liquid cartridge 200 and the positioning protrusion 151. That is, in addition to the holding force by the fixing member 153, the frictional force F of the positioning protrusion 151 acts on the liquid cartridge 200. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the mounted state of the liquid cartridge 200 can be stably maintained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the side wall position regulating portion 510 regulates the inclination of the liquid cartridge 200 in the cartridge holder 150, so that the liquid cartridge 200 is inclined when the liquid cartridge 200 is inserted and removed from the cartridge holder 150. Even when a user applies force in the direction, it is possible to prevent the fixing member 153 from being deeply engaged with the locking portion 240 and becoming difficult to pull out or insert. Therefore, good insertability can be ensured.

C. Modification example:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications thereof, and can be carried out in various embodiments without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are also possible.

<Modification example 1>
In the above embodiment, the outer surface and the inner surface of the wall portions 212 to 218 are both planar, but at least one of these wall portions has a curved surface at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface. You may. The curved surface may be convex toward the outside or convex toward the inside.

<Modification 2>
The liquid cartridge 200 of the above embodiment is applicable not only to an off-carriage type printer but also to a so-called "on-carriage type" printer in which a cartridge holder is provided on the carriage and the cartridge holder moves together with the carriage. Further, the printer 100 may be a printer to which a plurality of liquid cartridges 200 can be mounted. Further, the use of the printer 100 is not limited to business use, but may be home use.

<Modification example 3>
The present invention is not limited to inkjet printers and their liquid cartridges, but can also be applied to any liquid injection device that consumes liquids other than ink and its liquid cartridges. For example, it can be applied to various liquid injection devices such as the following and their liquid cartridges.
(1) Image recording device such as a facsimile device (2) Color material injection device that injects a color material used for manufacturing a color filter for an image display device such as a liquid crystal display (3) Organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display and Electrode material injection device that injects electrode material used for electrode formation such as surface emission display (FED) (4) Liquid injection device that injects liquid containing bioorganic substances used in biochip manufacturing (5) Precision Sample injection device as a pipette (6) Lubricating oil injection device (7) Resin liquid injection device (8) Liquid injection device that injects lubricating oil pinpointly to precision machinery such as watches and cameras (9) Optical communication element Liquid injection device that injects a transparent resin liquid such as an ultraviolet curable resin liquid onto a substrate to form a microhemispherical lens (optical lens) used for Liquid injection device for injecting liquid (11) A liquid injection device provided with a liquid injection head for ejecting any other minute amount of droplets.

The term "droplet" refers to the state of the liquid discharged from the liquid injection device, and includes those having a granular, tear-like, or thread-like tail. Further, the term "liquid" as used herein may be any material that can be injected by the liquid injection device. For example, the "liquid" may be a material in a liquid state when the substance is in a liquid phase, a material in a liquid state having high or low viscosity, and a sol, gel water, other inorganic solvent, organic solvent, solution, etc. Liquid materials such as liquid resins and liquid metals (metal melts) are also included in "liquid". Further, not only a liquid as a state of a substance, but also a liquid in which particles of a functional material made of a solid substance such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed or mixed in a solvent is included in the "liquid". Further, typical examples of the liquid include ink, liquid crystal, and the like as described in the above-described embodiment. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks, oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks.

100 ... Printer, 110 ... Roll paper storage, 120 ... Liquid cartridge storage, 121 ... Lid, 130 ... Cut paper insertion section, 140 ... Printing medium ejection section, 150 ... Cartridge holder, 151 ... Positioning protrusions, 151s ... Straight part, 151t ... Tapered part, 152 ... Rotation stop protrusion, 153 ... Fixing member, 153a ... Recessed surface, 153b ... Inclined surface, 155 ... Electrode, 156 ... Liquid introduction needle, 157 ... Waste liquid supply needle, 160 ... Groove part, 161 ... Bottom surface, 163 ... Inner wall surface, 164 ... Inner wall surface, 165 ... Inner wall surface, 165C ... Chamfered part, 166 ... Inner wall surface, 167 ... Inner wall surface, 168 ... Inner wall surface, 200 ... Liquid cartridge, 201 ... Handle part, 202 ... Case , 203 ... lid member, 204 ... lower case member, 205 ... partition wall, 207 ... first storage chamber, 208 ... second storage chamber, 211 ... first wall part (bottom wall part), 212 ... second wall part ( Upper wall part), 213 ... 3rd wall part (back wall part), 214 ... 4th wall part (front wall part), 215 ... 5th wall part (1st side wall part), 216 ... 6th wall part (third wall part) 2 side wall part), 217 ... 7th wall part, 218 ... 8th wall part, 219 ... inclined part, 222 ... engaging hole, 224 ... wall part, 230 ... liquid supply port, 231 ... waste liquid introduction port, 232 ... positioning Hole, 232C ... Chamfered part, 232in ... Inner peripheral surface, 233 ... Rotation stop hole, 240 ... Locking part, 241 ... First surface, 242 ... Second surface, 250, 250A, 250B ... Electrode contact part, 251 ... Substrate, 260 ... Mis-mounting suppression protrusion, 270 ... Liquid container, 271 ... Opening, 274 ... Liquid storage member, 275, 276 ... Fusion allowance, 280 ... Waste liquid absorption member, 340 ... Peripheral wall, 400 ... Liquid derivation Member, 510, 520, 530 ... Side wall position regulating part, 630 ... Contact protrusion, 730 ... Contact protrusion

Claims (12)

A liquid cartridge mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, wherein the bottom surface of the cartridge holder has a positioning protrusion protruding toward the liquid cartridge, and the liquid cartridge has a positioning protrusion.
A bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, which has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is the positioning protrusion in the X direction and the Y direction. The bottom wall for positioning and
A side wall portion having a side wall position regulating portion that regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the X direction or the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the holder of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
With
When the direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction from the bottom wall portion of the liquid cartridge to the upper wall portion of the liquid cartridge is referred to as the Z direction.
Ga is defined as the larger of the gaps on both sides of the positioning hole and the positioning protrusion in the X direction and the gaps on both sides in the Y direction when the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder are not tilted from each other.
La is the height of the inner peripheral surface of the positioning hole that can come into contact with the positioning protrusion along the Z direction.
Gb is defined as the larger of the one-sided gap in the X direction and the one-sided gap in the Y direction of the inner wall surface of the holder and the side wall position regulating portion in a state where the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder are not tilted from each other.
The first contact position where the bottom wall portion of the liquid cartridge contacts the bottom surface of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge and the cartridge holder are not tilted from each other, and the side wall position regulating portion when the liquid cartridge is tilted When the difference in height between the second contact position in contact with the inner wall surface of the holder and the height along the Z direction is Lb.
A liquid cartridge in which the relationship of Ga <Gb and (Gb / Lb) <(Ga / La) is established. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1.
A liquid cartridge in which the inner peripheral surface of the positioning hole has a chamfered portion at at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the inner peripheral surface in the Z direction, and the height La is shortened by the chamfered portion. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 or 2.
The positioning protrusion has a straight portion and has a straight portion.
When the height in the Z direction from the first contact position to the tip of the straight portion of the positioning protrusion is Lc,
A liquid cartridge in which the relationship {Gb / (Lb-Lc)} <(Ga / La) is established. A liquid cartridge mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, wherein the bottom surface of the cartridge holder has a positioning protrusion protruding toward the liquid cartridge, and the liquid cartridge has a positioning protrusion.
A bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, which has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is the positioning protrusion in the X direction and the Y direction. The bottom wall for positioning and
A first side wall portion having a locking portion for locking to a fixing member provided on the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
A side wall that faces the first side wall portion in the Y direction and regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. The second side wall part having the position regulation part and
With
The bottom wall portion has a liquid supply port and a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device.
The locking portion is provided between the liquid supply port and the waste liquid introduction port in the X direction when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side.
Liquid cartridge. A liquid cartridge mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, wherein the bottom surface of the cartridge holder has a positioning protrusion protruding toward the liquid cartridge, and the liquid cartridge has a positioning protrusion.
A bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, which has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is the positioning protrusion in the X direction and the Y direction. The bottom wall for positioning and
A first side wall portion having a locking portion for locking to a fixing member provided on the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
A side wall that faces the first side wall portion in the Y direction and regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. The second side wall part having the position regulation part and
An electrode contact portion provided on the first side wall portion side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with an electrode provided on the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
Equipped with a,
The bottom wall portion has a liquid supply port and a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device.
The locking portion is a liquid cartridge provided between the liquid supply port and the waste liquid introduction port in the X direction when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side . The liquid cartridge according to claim 4 or 5.
It is provided on the first side wall side of the bottom wall portion, and has a plurality of electrode contact portions that come into contact with the electrodes provided in the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
The locking portion is a liquid cartridge provided between the two most distant electrode contact portions in the X direction when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side. A liquid cartridge mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, wherein the bottom surface of the cartridge holder has a positioning protrusion protruding toward the liquid cartridge, and the liquid cartridge has a positioning protrusion.
A bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, which has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is the positioning protrusion in the X direction and the Y direction. The bottom wall for positioning and
A first side wall portion having a locking portion for locking to a fixing member provided on the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
A side wall that faces the first side wall portion in the Y direction and regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. The second side wall part having the position regulation part and
An electrode contact portion provided on the first side wall portion side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with an electrode provided on the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
With
It is provided on the first side wall side of the bottom wall portion, and has a plurality of electrode contact portions that come into contact with the electrodes provided in the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
The bottom wall portion has a liquid supply port and a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device.
The locking portion is provided between the electrode contact portion closest to the liquid supply port and the waste liquid introduction port in the X direction when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side. There is a liquid cartridge. A liquid cartridge mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, wherein the bottom surface of the cartridge holder has a positioning protrusion protruding toward the liquid cartridge, and the liquid cartridge has a positioning protrusion.
A bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, which has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is the positioning protrusion in the X direction and the Y direction. The bottom wall for positioning and
A first side wall portion having a locking portion for locking to a fixing member provided on the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
A side wall that faces the first side wall portion in the Y direction and regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. The second side wall part having the position regulation part and
An electrode contact portion provided on the first side wall portion side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with an electrode provided on the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
With
The bottom wall portion has a waste liquid introduction port connected to the liquid injection device.
The locking portion is a liquid cartridge provided between the waste liquid introduction port and the positioning hole in the X direction when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side. A liquid cartridge mounted vertically downward with respect to the cartridge holder of the liquid injection device, wherein the bottom surface of the cartridge holder has a positioning protrusion protruding toward the liquid cartridge, and the liquid cartridge has a positioning protrusion.
A bottom wall portion having a longitudinal direction in the Y direction and a lateral direction in the X direction, which has a positioning hole into which the positioning protrusion is inserted, and the positioning hole is the positioning protrusion in the X direction and the Y direction. The bottom wall for positioning and
A first side wall portion having a locking portion for locking to a fixing member provided on the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
A side wall that faces the first side wall portion in the Y direction and regulates the position of the liquid cartridge in the Y direction by contacting the inner wall surface of the cartridge holder when the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. The second side wall part having the position regulation part and
An electrode contact portion provided on the first side wall portion side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with an electrode provided on the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
With
The bottom wall portion includes a plurality of contact protrusions that come into contact with the bottom surface of the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder.
The locking portion is a liquid cartridge provided between the two contact protrusions in the X direction when the liquid cartridge is viewed from the bottom wall portion side. The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 9.
An electrode contact portion provided on the first side wall portion side of the bottom wall portion and in contact with an electrode provided on the cartridge holder with the liquid cartridge mounted on the cartridge holder is provided.
The bottom wall portion has an inclined portion inclined toward the side opposite to the bottom surface side of the cartridge holder in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder at the end portion on the first side wall portion side. Have and
The electrode contact portion is a liquid cartridge provided on the inclined portion. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 0,
The locking portion is provided on a first surface along the bottom surface of the cartridge holder and on the bottom surface side of the cartridge holder with respect to the first surface in a state where the liquid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. It has a second surface that is inclined so as to be separated from the bottom surface of the cartridge holder as the distance from the first side wall portion is increased.
A liquid cartridge in which the inclination angle of the second surface from the bottom surface is larger than the inclination angle of the inclined portion from the bottom surface. Cartridge holder and
The liquid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
A liquid injection device including.

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