JPH09254403A - Ink cartridge and ink cartridge preservation case - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reuse surely by making ink exist on the periphery of an ink supply port even after preservation for a long period of time. SOLUTION: Ink contained in a porous member is brought down by its own weight to be supplied to a print head through an ink supply port 32a. A housing 32 in which the first-fourth projection parts 32c-32f are formed on an upper surface wall and a back wall is provided so that at least a part of the ink supply port 32a is always located below the center point of the porous member.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink cartridge which contains ink in a porous member and supplies the ink.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a communication device such as a facsimile device or an information processing device such as a personal computer, data such as characters and figures is usually recorded as visual information.
A recording device capable of printing these data on paper is connected. Various recording methods such as an impact method, a heat-sensitive method, and an ink-jet method are adopted for this recording apparatus. In recent years, an ink-jet method which is excellent in quietness and can print on paper of various materials is adopted. Ink-jet recording apparatuses are frequently used.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus, while the main scanning of the print head is carried out, the ink supplied from the ink cartridge to the print head is sprayed onto the paper to perform printing for one band, and then the paper is printed for one band width. By repeating the printing process of sub-scanning, printing is performed on the entire surface of the paper. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the ink cartridge of the ink jet recording apparatus that prints by such an operation is conventionally arranged as shown in FIG.
In order to stabilize the ink supply to 1, the ink supply port 72a is formed in the lower part of the front wall, and the porous member 73 is accommodated by containing the ink, and the ink is lowered by its own weight at the time of printing, The ink is always made to exist near the ink supply port 72a. Then, the conventional ink cartridge 72 is
All outer walls are formed in a flat shape so that they can be stored in any posture such as vertical installation or horizontal installation after factory shipment.

[0004]

However, in the structure formed so that the ink cartridge 72 can be stored in an arbitrary posture as in the conventional case described above, there is no problem in an unused state in which the ink cartridge 72 is filled with ink. When the ink cartridge 72 is once removed from the ink jet recording apparatus and stored after being used for printing, there is a problem that the ink cartridge 72 may not be practically reusable depending on the storage posture.

That is, in the ink cartridge 72 used for printing, the ink descends due to its own weight and exists in the vicinity of the ink supply port 72a, while the air enters above the ink. Therefore, for example, when the ink cartridge 72 is stored in a posture in which the ink supply port 72a is positioned on the upper side, the ink slowly moves in the porous member 73 in the direction away from the ink supply port 72a by its own weight. When the ink is reused after being stored for a long period of time, only air is present in the vicinity of the ink supply port 72a, and it takes a long time before a printable state is reached and the ink cannot be practically used.

Therefore, when the ink cartridge 72 is stored after being used once, a cautionary note that the ink cartridge 72 should be stored with the ink supply port 72a facing downward may be displayed. Ink supply port 7
Since it is common sense to store 2a in a posture in which it is positioned above the ink, the above problem has not been fundamentally solved.

Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide an ink cartridge and an ink cartridge storage case that can be reliably reused even after storage for a long period of time.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 encloses a porous member impregnated with ink, and is detachably attached to a print head to attach to the porous member. In an ink cartridge that supplies the contained ink to a print head through an ink supply port formed on a mounting surface, when placing the ink cartridge
It is characterized in that the casing is formed so that it can be rested only in a posture in which at least a part of the ink supply port is always located below the center point of the porous member. As a result, at least a part of the ink supply port is always located below the center point of the porous member, so that the ink is always present around the ink supply port even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight. Therefore, it can be surely reused even after long-term storage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the first aspect, the casing is formed in a box shape, and the ink supply port is tilted so that the casing is placed horizontally. Also, at least a part of the ink supply port is always formed at a position lower than the center point of the porous member, and the back wall and the top wall facing the mounting surface wall where the ink supply port is formed. Is formed with a protruding portion that tilts the casing. As a result, even an ink cartridge having a housing having a general shape can be reliably reused after being stored for a long time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the second aspect, a projecting portion for inclining the casing is formed on a mounting surface wall of the casing. As a result, the posture in which the mounting surface wall of the housing is directed downward is prohibited by the protruding portion, so that it is possible to prevent the ink supply port from being completely positioned below the ink, and as a result, during storage. Even when a vertical shock is applied to the housing due to vibration or the like, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the ink supply port.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided the ink cartridge according to the first or second aspect, wherein the protruding portion is formed integrally with the casing. Thus, by integrally forming the protruding portion on the housing, it is possible to prevent the increase in the number of processing steps by forming the protruding portion at the same time as molding the housing.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the ink cartridge according to the first or second aspect, wherein the protruding portion is formed by attaching a bolt member to the housing. As a result, it becomes possible to form the projecting portion by attaching the bolt member even to the conventional case having a flat wall surface, and furthermore, the projecting part can be easily formed according to the design change of the case or the like. It is possible to change the shape and size of the part.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided the ink cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the casing is formed in a cylindrical shape having the ink supply port on a circular mounting surface wall, and the ink cartridge is It is characterized in that the center of gravity is set so that the ink supply port is located at the bottom when the container is placed on the cylindrical surface of the housing. As a result, the horizontally placed casing rises so that the ink supply port is always located at the lower portion, so that the ink state can be maintained in a state immediately before the casing is removed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, an ink supply port is provided which contains a porous member impregnated with ink and is detachably mounted on a print head so that the ink contained in the porous member is formed on a mounting surface. In a storage case capable of accommodating an ink cartridge to be supplied to a print head via the storage case, the storage case always positions at least a part of the ink supply port of the accommodated ink cartridge below a center point of the porous member. It is characterized in that it has an outer shape that can be placed only in the posture in which it is placed. As a result, at least a part of the ink supply port can always be positioned below the center point of the porous member and can be rested, so that even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight, the ink will always remain in the ink supply port. Since it exists in the vicinity, it can be reliably reused even after long-term storage.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink supply port including a porous member impregnated with ink, which is detachably attached to a print head and in which the ink contained in the porous member is formed on an attachment surface. In a storage case capable of accommodating an ink cartridge to be supplied to a print head via the storage case, the storage case has a posture in which at least a part of an ink supply port of the ink cartridge is always positioned below a center point of the porous member. It is characterized in that an ink cartridge accommodating portion in which the ink cartridge can be placed is formed. As a result, at least a part of the ink supply port can always be positioned below the center point of the porous member and can be rested, so that even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight, the ink will always remain in the ink supply port. Since it exists in the vicinity, it can be reliably reused even after long-term storage.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The ink jet recording apparatus in which the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment is mounted is connected to an information processing apparatus 1 such as a personal computer as shown in FIG. The information processing device 1 includes a processing device main body 2 having a built-in auxiliary storage device such as a magnetic disk device and a central processing unit, and a CRT for displaying data and the like on a screen.
It has a (cathode-ray tube) 3, a keyboard 4 and a mouse 5 used for inputting and instructing data,
For example, it is connected to a printer 7, which is an inkjet recording device, via a printer cable 6 of Centronics specification.

As shown in FIG. 4, the processing apparatus main body 2 is equipped with, for example, a window system 8 as an operating system (OS). The window system 8 includes an application 9 such as a document creation program, a font driver 10 for managing fonts, a CRT driver 11 for managing the CRT 3, a keyboard driver 12 for managing the keyboard 4, and a mouse driver 13 for managing the mouse 5. One or a plurality of applications 9 can be simultaneously executed in cooperation with various functional groups such as a printer driver 14 that manages the printer 7 which is an inkjet recording device.

The printer driver 14 operates in accordance with a preselected color print mode or monochrome print mode when the "print execution" menu is specified for the data displayed on the screen of the CRT 3, for example. It is possible to form dot image data. For example, in the color print mode, yellow (Y), magenta (M),
Cyan (C) and black (K) four-color dot image data (pixel data arranged in a dot matrix in the horizontal and vertical directions) is formed, and these dot image data are horizontally set for each raster. In the direction (raster direction), 8-bit unit print data is sequentially output from the interface (I / F) unit 15.

The print data output in the raster scan format as described above is input to the I / F (interface) unit 16 of the printer 7. The printer 7 includes a printer controller 17 (determining means) and print buffers 18a to 18d that store print data for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). A print head drive unit 19 and a CR motor drive unit 20. The CR motor drive unit 20 is connected to the CR motor 22,
The CR motor 22 is configured to rotate forward and reverse. On the other hand, the print head drive unit 19 is connected to the print head mechanisms 21a to 21d for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). These print head mechanisms 21a to 21d are
As shown in FIG. 2, nozzles for ejecting ink by displacement of the piezoelectric element have print heads 44a to 44d arranged in, for example, 64 channels in the sub-scanning direction, and the piezoelectric elements of the nozzles of the print heads 44a to 44d. A drive voltage from the print head drive unit 19 in FIG. 4 is applied to each of the piezoelectric elements so as to displace the piezoelectric element.

The above print head mechanisms 21a to 21d are
As shown in FIG. 5, the sheets 25 are arranged in the main scanning direction X.
On the other hand, it is fixed to the carriage 23 so that the ink ejection direction is at a predetermined angle. The carriage 23 includes a guide shaft 24 and a guide plate 2 that are laterally provided in the main scanning direction X.
7 is movably supported by 7 and is connected to a scanning belt 26 driven by a CR motor 22. The CR motor 22 driving the scanning belt 26 causes the carriage 23 to move along the guide shaft 24 in the main scanning direction. By reciprocating in X, the print head mechanisms 21a-21
The main scanning is performed while keeping d at a constant distance from the paper 25.

The paper 25 facing the print head mechanisms 21a to 21d is supported by a platen roller 28 as shown in FIG. The platen roller 28 is
It is provided parallel to the guide shaft 24, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported. In addition, the platen roller 28
A roller gear 29 is fixed to one end. A motor gear fixed to a paper feed motor (not shown) is meshed with the roller gear 29, and the paper feed motor rotates the platen roller 28 in the arrow direction via the roller gear 29 and the like to feed the paper 25. It is adapted to be moved in the sub-scanning direction Y. And such paper 25
Of the print head mechanisms 21a to 21
This is repeated every time the main scanning of d is performed and printing for one band is performed.

Further, the above-mentioned print head mechanisms 21a-21
As shown in FIG. 2, d is a cover member 36 and a cartridge holding member 31, an ink supply member 37 provided in the cartridge holding member 31, and an ink cartridge 30a detachably provided in the cartridge holding member 31.
˜30d. Then, the ink supply member 37
The above-described print heads 44a to 44d are held in the front part of the ink cartridges 30a to 30d detachably mounted on the cartridge holding member 31, and the ink cartridges 30a to 30d are detachable from the print heads 44a to 44d. There is.

Each of the above ink cartridges 30a to 30
The d has a hollow casing 32 and an ink detection sensor (not shown) provided in the casing 32. Case 32
A foam 35 (a porous member) having open cells so as to contain the ink is loaded inside. In addition, the ink supply port 3 is provided below the front wall (mounting surface wall) of the housing 32.
2a is formed. The housing 32 is formed in a box shape in which at least a part of the ink supply port 32a is always positioned below the center point of the foam 35 when the housing 32 is tilted to a horizontal position with the side wall facing downward. There is.

The above-mentioned ink supply member 37 is fitted in the above-mentioned ink supply port 32a in a liquid-tight state via a seal member 39. The ink supply member 37 is formed with an ink guide path 37a that connects the print heads 44a to 44d to the inside of the housing 32. The ink guide path 37a connects the ink of the ink supply member 37 to the print heads 44a to 44d.
It is designed to be supplied to all channels. Further, an atmosphere communication hole 32b is formed on the upper surface wall of the housing 32, and the atmosphere communication hole 32b is formed when the ink is consumed.
A volume of air corresponding to the amount of consumption is sent into the housing 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a first projecting portion 32c and a second projecting portion 32d are integrally formed on the front portion and the rear portion of the upper surface wall of the housing 32, respectively. These first and second projecting portions 32c and 32d are formed in a curved shape so that the center in the width direction of the upper surface wall is the apex, and when placed with the upper surface wall facing downward, 32
Is designed to tilt in the width direction. Also, the housing 3
A third projecting portion 32e and a fourth projecting portion 32f are integrally formed on the upper portion and the lower portion of the rear wall facing the front wall of No. 2, respectively. And these third and fourth
The projecting portions 32e and 32f are formed in a curved shape so that the central portion in the width direction of the back wall is the top portion, like the above-described first and second projecting portions 32c and 32d, and the back wall is formed. The housing 32 is tilted in the width direction when the housing 32 is placed downward.

The operation of the ink cartridge having the above structure will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the unused ink cartridges 30a to 30d are attached to the cartridge holding member 31, so that the ink supply member 37 is inserted into the atmosphere communication hole 32b of the housing 32 and the seal member 3 is inserted.
It will be fitted via 9. As a result, the ink cartridges 30a to 30d and the cartridge holding member 3
The print head mechanisms 21a to 21d including 1 and the like are set in a state in which the ink contained in the form 35 can be supplied to the print heads 44a to 44d via the ink guide path 37a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the print head mechanisms 21a to 21d are moved in the main scanning direction X, and as shown in FIG. 2, ink is ejected from the print heads 44a to 44d. When printing for one band is performed, the ink contained in the foam 35 in the housing 32 is supplied to the print heads 44a to 44d having a negative pressure through the ink guide path 37a, and printing is performed. A volume of air corresponding to the amount of ink consumed due to is taken in from the atmosphere communication hole 32b.

After that, when the housing 32 is removed from the cartridge holding member 31 before the ink is completely consumed, the ink inside the housing 32 is lowered to the lower portion on the ink supply port 32a side by its own weight and the ink. The air that has entered above is in a mixed state. Then, for example, when the case 32 is placed with the upper surface thereof facing downward so that the ink supply port 32a is located above the ink, the first protrusion 32c is placed.
Since the second protruding portion 32d contacts the mounting surface, the housing 32 follows the curved shape of these protruding portions 32c and 32d.
Will be devoted. Further, for example, when the back surface of the housing 32 is placed downward, the third projecting portion 32e and the fourth projecting portion 32f come into contact with the mounting surface, so that these projecting portions 32e and 32f are The housing 32 is tilted along the curved shape.

As a result, the ink cartridges 30a ...
The ink supply port 32d can be mounted only in any one of the posture with the front wall of the housing 32 facing downward, the posture with the bottom wall facing downward, and the posture with the side wall facing downward.
At least a part of a is always located below the center point of the foam 35. Therefore, with such a posture, even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight,
Since the ink always exists around the ink supply port 32a, it is possible to immediately start printing even when the ink is reused after being left for a long time.

In the present embodiment, the protruding portions 32c to 32f are formed on the upper surface wall and the rear surface wall of the housing 32, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the housing is further provided. The front wall of the body 32 may be formed with a projecting portion. In this case, the posture in which the front wall of the housing 32 is directed downward is prohibited by the protruding portion, so that it is possible to prevent the ink supply port 32a from being completely positioned below the ink. As a result, it is possible to prevent ink from leaking from the ink supply port 32a even when a vertical shock is applied to the housing 32 due to vibration or the like during storage. Further, in the present embodiment, the two projecting portions 32c to 32f are formed on the upper surface wall and the rear surface wall of the housing 32, but if the housing 32 can be tilted, only one is provided. The number may be three or more, and further, the projecting portion may be formed on the entire wall surface.

Further, in the present embodiment, the protruding portions 32c to 32f are integrally formed on the housing 32, so that the protruding portions 32c to 32f are formed at the same time when the housing 32 is formed and the number of processing steps is increased. Although it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of protrusions 32c to 32f, the protrusions 32c to 32f may be attached by a bolt member after the casing 32 is molded. Then, in this case, it becomes possible to form the projecting portions 32c to 32f by attaching the bolt member even to the conventional housing 32 having a flat wall surface, and further, the housing 32 and the like. Projection part 32c easily according to design changes
It is possible to change the shape and size of ~ 32f.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case of the box-shaped housing 32 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the housing 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the ink supply port 52a on the front surface (mounting surface wall), and the center of gravity is set so that the ink supply port 52a is located in the lower part. May be. Specifically, the center of gravity may be set such that it is provided so as to overlap the inner wall of the cylindrical surface of the housing 52 and the ink supply port 52a is at the bottom.
The center of gravity may be set by changing the wall thickness of the cylindrical surface so that the ink supply port 52a is located at the bottom. In addition, the grounding portion of the cylindrical surface when the ink supply port 52a is at the bottom may be planar. The housing 52 shown in FIG. 7 further includes a protruding portion 52b.
2b is formed, and the posture with the housing 52 downward is prohibited. Therefore, according to this configuration, since the housing 52 placed horizontally is always raised so that the ink supply port 52a is located in the lower portion, it is possible to maintain the ink state in a state immediately before the housing 32 is removed. it can.

In the above embodiment, the case where the ink cartridge is stored alone has been described. However, the case where a storage case capable of accommodating the ink cartridge is prepared and the ink cartridge is stored in the storage case will be described. . As shown in FIG. 8, the storage case 60 includes a box-shaped casing 61 having a hollow portion having a volume capable of accommodating the ink cartridge 80, and an openable / closable lid 62. The hollow portion is the ink cartridge 80.
Is a recess conforming to the outer shape of the ink cartridge 80 so that the ink can be accommodated only in a predetermined direction. In this embodiment, the mounting surface of the ink cartridge 80 is placed on the front wall of the storage case 60, and the ink supply port 82 is provided.
It can be accommodated only in the direction in which a is located below. In the present invention, the ink cartridge 80 may have any shape, but in order to simplify the description, the ink cartridge 80 is used here.
Has the above-mentioned housing 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the first projecting portion 61a and the second projecting portion 61a are provided on the front and rear portions of the upper surface wall of the housing 61.
The protruding portions 61b are integrally formed. These first and second projecting portions 61a and 61b are formed in a curved shape so that the central portion in the width direction of the upper surface wall becomes the apex, and when placed with the upper surface wall facing downward, 61 is tilted in the width direction. In addition, the housing 61
The front and rear of the back wall opposite the front wall of the
The projecting portion 61c and the fourth projecting portion 61d are integrally formed. And these 3rd and 4th protrusion part 61c * 61d is the above-mentioned 1st and 2nd protrusion part 6 above.
Like 1a and 61b, the flat wall is formed in a curved shape so that the central portion in the width direction is the top, and the housing 61 can be tilted in the width direction when placed with the back wall facing downward. It has become.

As a result, when the storage case 60 accommodating the ink cartridge 80 is placed, the storage case 60 has a front wall downward, a bottom wall downward, and a side wall downward. It can only be placed in one of these positions. That is, the ink supply port 82a of the accommodated ink cartridge 80 can be placed only in a position in which at least a part of the ink supply port 82a is always located below the center point of the foam. Even if the ink is moved downward due to its own weight, the ink is always present around the ink supply port 82a. Therefore, even when the ink is reused after being left for a long time, the printing can be immediately started.

Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the positions, shapes, and numbers of the protruding portions 61a to 61d formed on the housing 61 are not limited to those in the present embodiment, and the same changes as in the example of mounting the ink cartridge alone described above are possible. is there. Also,
A sealing member for sealing the ink supply port 82a may be provided at a portion of the front wall of the storage case 60 facing the ink supply port 82a of the ink cartridge 80. As a result, it is possible to prevent the inflow of air from the ink supply port 82a into the ink cartridge 80 and the leakage of ink.

A second embodiment using a storage case will be described below. The storage case 90 shown in FIG. 9 has ink cartridge housing portions 90a to 90d capable of housing a plurality of ink cartridges 80a to 80d. The ink cartridge housing portions 90a to 90d are respectively provided with ribs or the like so that the ink cartridges 80a to 80d are housed only in a predetermined direction.
A concave portion is formed to match the outer shape of a to 80d. In this embodiment, the mounting surface of the ink cartridge 80 is placed on the front wall of the storage case, and the ink supply port 82 is provided.
The ink cartridges 80a to 80d are placed in the ink cartridge accommodating portion 90a only in the direction in which a is located below.
It can be inserted into ~ 90d.

As a result, the ink cartridges 80a ...
When the 80d is housed in the storage case 60, at least a part of the ink supply port 82a of each of the ink cartridges 80a to 80d can be placed only in a posture in which it is always located below the center point of the foam. In the posture, even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight, the ink is always present around the ink supply port 82a, so that the printing can be immediately started even when the ink is reused after being left for a long time. .

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, a sealing member for sealing the ink supply port 82a may be provided at a portion of the front wall of the storage case 90 facing the ink supply port 82a of the ink cartridges 80a to 80d. As a result, it is possible to prevent the inflow of air and the leakage of ink from the ink supply port 82a into the ink cartridges 80a to 80d.

[0040]

According to the first aspect of the invention, an ink containing a porous member impregnated with ink and detachably attached to the print head and the ink contained in the porous member is formed on the attachment surface. In an ink cartridge which supplies a print head through a supply port, when the ink cartridge is placed in a position, at least a part of the ink supply port is always positioned below a center point of the porous member. Only the housing is formed so that it can be stored. As a result, at least a part of the ink supply port is always located below the center point of the porous member, so that the ink is always present around the ink supply port even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight. Therefore, there is an effect that it can be surely reused even after long-term storage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the first aspect, the casing is formed in a box shape, and the ink supply port is tilted so that the casing is placed horizontally. Also, at least a part of the ink supply port is always formed at a position lower than the center point of the porous member, and the back wall and the top wall facing the mounting surface wall where the ink supply port is formed. In the configuration, a protruding portion that tilts the housing is formed. As a result, even in an ink cartridge having a general-shaped casing,
The effect that it can be surely reused after long-term storage is exhibited.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ink cartridge according to the second aspect, a projecting portion for inclining the casing is formed on a mounting surface wall of the casing. As a result, the posture in which the mounting surface wall of the housing is directed downward is prohibited by the protruding portion, so that it is possible to prevent the ink supply port from being completely positioned below the ink, and as a result, during storage. Even in the case where a vertical shock is applied to the housing due to vibration or the like, it is possible to prevent the ink from leaking from the ink supply port.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the ink cartridge according to the first or second aspect, wherein the protruding portion is formed integrally with the housing. This allows
By integrally forming the protruding portion on the housing, it is possible to prevent the increase in the number of processing steps by forming the protruding portion at the same time as molding the housing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ink cartridge according to the first or second aspect, wherein the protruding portion is formed by attaching a bolt member to the casing. As a result, it becomes possible to form the projecting portion by attaching the bolt member even to the conventional case having a flat wall surface, and furthermore, the projecting part can be easily formed according to the design change of the case or the like. It is possible to change the shape and size of the part.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided the ink cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the casing is formed in a cylindrical shape having the ink supply port on a circular mounting surface wall, and the ink cartridge is The center of gravity is set so that the ink supply port is located at the bottom when the container is placed on the cylindrical surface of the housing. As a result, the housing placed horizontally is always raised so that the ink supply port is located in the lower portion, and therefore, it is possible to maintain the state of ink just before the housing is removed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, an ink supply port is provided which contains a porous member impregnated with ink and is detachably mounted on a print head so that the ink contained in the porous member is formed on the mounting surface. In a storage case capable of accommodating an ink cartridge to be supplied to a print head via the storage case, the storage case always positions at least a part of the ink supply port of the accommodated ink cartridge below a center point of the porous member. It has a configuration such that it has an outer shape that can be placed only in the posture in which it is placed. As a result, at least a part of the ink supply port can always be positioned below the center point of the porous member and can be rested, so that even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight, the ink will always remain in the ink supply port. Since it exists in the vicinity, it has an effect that it can be surely reused even after long-term storage.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink supply port which contains a porous member impregnated with ink and is detachably attached to a print head so that the ink contained in the porous member is formed on the attachment surface. In a storage case capable of accommodating an ink cartridge to be supplied to a print head via the storage case, the storage case has a posture in which at least a part of an ink supply port of the ink cartridge is always positioned below a center point of the porous member. In this configuration, an ink cartridge housing portion in which the ink cartridge can be placed is formed. As a result, at least a part of the ink supply port can always be positioned below the center point of the porous member and can be rested, so that even if the ink moves downward due to its own weight, the ink will always remain in the ink supply port. Since it exists in the vicinity, it has an effect that it can be surely reused even after long-term storage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an ink cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus to which an information processing apparatus is connected.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an information processing device and an inkjet recording device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a main part of the inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holding member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge storage case.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge storage case according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge of another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional ink cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 17 Printer Controller 18a to 18d Print Buffer 19 Head Drive Unit 20 Motor Drive Unit 21a to 21d Print Head Mechanism 22 CR Motor 23 Carriage 24 Guide Shaft 25 Paper 30a to 30d Ink Cartridge 31 Cartridge Holding Member 32 Cartridge Body 32a Ink Supply Port 32b Atmosphere communication hole 32c First projecting portion 32d Second projecting portion 32e Third projecting portion 32f Fourth projecting portion 35 Form 36 Cover member 37 Ink supply member 44a to 44d Print head 52 Housing 52a Ink supply port 52b Projection Installation part 45 Plug member

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A print head including a porous member impregnated with ink and detachably attached to a print head, and the ink contained in the porous member is attached to an ink supply port formed on an attachment surface of the print head. In the ink cartridge to be supplied to the ink cartridge, when the ink cartridge is placed, the housing can be placed only in a posture in which at least a part of the ink supply port is always located below the center point of the porous member. An ink cartridge characterized by being formed. 2. The housing is formed in a box shape, and at least a part of the ink supply port is always provided in the ink supply port even when the housing is tilted to a horizontal position. Protruding portions for tilting the casing are formed on the back wall and the top wall, which are formed at a position lower than the center point of the porous member and which face the mounting surface wall on which the ink supply port is formed. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein 3. The mounting surface wall of the housing is formed with a projecting portion for tilting the housing.
The ink cartridge as described in the above. 4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is formed integrally with the housing. 5. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is formed by attaching a bolt member to the housing. 6. The housing is formed in a cylindrical shape having the ink supply port on a circular mounting surface wall, and the ink supply is provided when the ink cartridge is placed on the cylindrical surface of the housing. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity is set so that the mouth is located at the bottom. 7. A print head including a porous member impregnated with ink, detachably attached to a print head, and the ink contained in the porous member is attached to an ink supply port formed on an attachment surface of the print head. In a storage case capable of accommodating an ink cartridge to be supplied to the storage cartridge, the storage case is only in a position in which at least a part of the ink supply port of the accommodated ink cartridge is always positioned below the center point of the porous member. An ink cartridge storage case having an outer shape that can be stored. 8. A print head including a porous member impregnated with ink, detachably attached to a print head, and the ink contained in the porous member is attached to an ink supply port formed on a mounting surface of the print head. In the storage case capable of accommodating the ink cartridge to be supplied to the ink cartridge, the storage case is configured to store the ink cartridge only in a posture in which at least a part of the ink supply port of the ink cartridge is always located below the center point of the porous member. An ink cartridge storage case, characterized in that an ink cartridge accommodating portion that can be stored is formed.