RU2660070C1 - Liquid supply unit - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: printing equipment.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a liquid supply unit. Carriage includes liquid introduction sections and a guide protrusion section. Guide protrusion section extends from between liquid introduction section toward liquid introduction section. Cartridge includes an ink supply hole connected to the liquid introduction section to supply the magenta ink to the liquid introduction section, an ink supply hole connected to the liquid introduction section to supply the cyan ink to the liquid introduction section, an ink supply hole connected to the liquid introduction section to supply the yellow ink to the liquid introduction section and the first groove. First groove extends from between ink supply hole and the ink supply hole toward ink supply hole to allow the guide protrusion section to be inserted.

EFFECT: such configuration eliminates the spreading of ink from any of the liquid supply holes of the cartridge.

13 cl, 25 dwg

Description

Field and level of technology

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid supply unit.

[0002] An ink cartridge (also referred to simply as a "cartridge") configured to supply ink to a printer as an example of a fluid ejection device is conventionally known as a fluid supply assembly configured to supply fluid to a fluid ejection device. A cartridge containing a plurality of different color inks is provided in order to supply the respective color inks through the respective ink supply ports to the printer, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication (JP 2008-74090A).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The technology proposed in JP 2008-74090A has supply ports for respective color inks sealed by a sealing member to prevent ink from leaking out in a cartridge attachment state. However, during the attachment or detachment of the cartridge, the ink supply port is accessible, so that there is a chance that the ink will leak from the cartridge. In the cartridge attachment state, deterioration of the sealing member may cause ink to leak. In the event that colored ink flows out of the ink supply port, the outflowed ink can spread along the surface of the lower wall of the cartridge and reach the periphery of the ink supply port for other color inks. When attaching or detaching a cartridge, other color inks may become contaminated with leaking ink reaching the periphery of the ink supply port for other color inks. This may result in color mixing of the ink supplied. The cartridge has pins or pins for receiving and sending electrical signals. There is also a need to prevent leaking ink from accessing contacts or contact pins. Accordingly, there is a need to more efficiently prevent leakage of leaking ink. In the fluid supply unit configured to contain and supply fluid, in the fluid ejection device configured to receive fluid supply from the fluid supply unit, and in a system including the fluid supply unit and the fluid ejection device, there are other needs including reducing size, reducing costs, saving resources, simple manufacturing and increasing usability.

[0004] In order to overcome at least part of the problems described above, the invention can be implemented by means of the aspect described below.

[0005] (1) According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a fluid supply assembly configured to supply fluid. The fluid supply unit may be mounted on a structure for installing a fluid supply unit having a first fluid introduction portion, a second fluid injection portion, a third fluid injection portion and a protrusion that is located between the first fluid injection portion and the second fluid injection portion and is located from the intermediate space of the introduction portion the first liquid and the introduction part of the second liquid to the part of the introduction of the third liquid. The fluid supply unit comprises: a first fluid supply port configured to connect to a first fluid injection portion so as to supply a first fluid to a first fluid injection portion; a second fluid supply port configured to connect to a second fluid injection portion so as to supply a second fluid to the second fluid injection portion; a third fluid supply port configured to connect to a third fluid injection portion so as to supply a third fluid to the third fluid injection portion; and a groove formed between the first fluid supply port and the second fluid supply port and extending from the intermediate space of the first fluid supply port and the second fluid supply port to the third fluid supply port, so as to enable insertion of the protrusion into it. In the fluid supply unit of this aspect, in the event of a third fluid flowing out of the third fluid supply port, this configuration allows the leaked third fluid to be guided into the groove that extends to the third fluid supply port and be held in the groove. The fluid supply unit of this aspect, accordingly, eliminates the spreading of the leaked third fluid and prevents contamination of the leaked fluids. The fluid supply unit of this aspect eliminates the spreading of the leaked third fluid by a simple groove design extending from the intermediate space of the first fluid supply port and the second fluid supply port to the third fluid supply port.

[0006] (2) The fluid supply unit of the above aspect may further comprise: a first wall configured to have a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port and a groove; a second wall located opposite the first wall; a third wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and the second wall; a fourth wall, placed with the possibility of intersecting with the first wall and the second wall and located opposite the third wall; the fifth wall, placed with the possibility of intersecting with the first wall and the second wall; and a sixth wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and the second wall and located opposite the fifth wall. When viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the first fluid supply port can be located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall, the second fluid supply port can be located between the first fluid supply port and the sixth wall, the groove can extend from the fourth wall to the third wall, and a third fluid supply port may be located between the groove and the third wall. This configuration makes it possible to direct the leaked third fluid into the groove, which is formed in the first wall and extends to the supply port of the third fluid, and retains it in the groove. The fluid supply unit of this aspect eliminates the spreading of the leaked third fluid along the wall surface of the first wall and prevents contamination of the leaked fluids. In the fluid supply portion of this aspect, a groove is formed between the first fluid supply port located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall, and the second fluid supply port located between the first fluid supply port and the sixth wall, and extends from the fourth wall to the third wall. This configuration also makes it possible to trap the first fluid leaking from the first fluid supply port or the second fluid leaking from the second fluid supply port in the groove, thereby preventing leakage of the leaked first fluid or leaked second fluid and preventing contamination by the leaked first fluid or leaking second fluid. The fluid supply unit of this aspect eliminates the spreading of any of the leaked fluids by a simple groove design formed between the first fluid supply port, which is located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall, and the second fluid supply port, which is located between the first fluid supply port and the sixth wall, and extends from the fourth wall to the third wall.

[0007] (3) The fluid supply unit of the above aspect may further comprise: a contact located on the surface of the outer wall of the third wall and arranged to electrically connect to the electrode on the structure to install the fluid supply unit. When viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the third fluid supply port can be located between the groove and the contact. This configuration delays the leaked third fluid in the groove and prevents the leaked third fluid from spreading along the wall surface of the first wall to the contact, thereby reducing the likelihood that the contact is accessible to the leaked third fluid.

[0008] (4) The fluid supply unit of the above aspect may further comprise: a first partition wall arranged to intersect the first wall and the second wall and located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall; a second partition wall arranged to intersect with the first wall, the second wall and the first partition wall and located between the fourth wall and the third wall; a first fluid chamber defined by at least a first wall, a second wall, a fourth wall, a fifth wall, a first dividing wall, and a second dividing wall and arranged to communicate with the supply port of the first liquid; a second liquid chamber defined by at least a first wall, a second wall, a fourth wall, a sixth wall, a first dividing wall, and a second dividing wall and arranged to communicate with the supply port of the second liquid; and a third fluid chamber defined by at least a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a sixth wall, and a first dividing wall and arranged to communicate with a third fluid supply port. When viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the groove may be located between the fourth wall and the third fluid chamber. This configuration delays the leaked third fluid in the groove so as to prevent leakage of the leaked third fluid along the wall surface of the first wall and to prevent contamination of the leaked fluids, and additionally forces fluids contained in the first to third fluid chambers to be introduced into the first to third parts of the fluid introduction of the structure to install the fluid supply unit.

[0009] (5) In the fluid supply unit of the above aspect, a groove may be formed as a concavity in the first partition wall. This configuration makes it possible to easily form a groove without reducing the capacities of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber to hold respective fluids.

[0010] (6) In the fluid supply unit of the above aspect, when viewed from above of the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the groove may be located between the fourth wall and a specific area in which the first wall is in contact with the third sealing element formed around the periphery of the third fluid introduction portion of the structure for installing the fluid supply assembly. This simple configuration increases the efficiency of trapping the leaked third fluid in the groove and thereby eliminates the spreading of the leaked third fluid along the wall surface of the first wall, as well as the effectiveness of preventing pollution by the leaked third fluid.

[0011] (7) In the fluid supply unit of the above aspect, the fourth wall may have a concavity arranged so that it is continuous with the groove. This configuration has the following advantages. The fluid supply unit generally tilts and approaches downward to the structure for installing the fluid supply unit during the connection of the fluid supply unit to the structure for installing the fluid supply unit. The part on the side of the fourth wall of the groove approaches the protrusion of the structure to install the fluid supply unit before the part on the side of the third wall of the groove. During the attachment of the fluid supply unit, the protrusion, respectively, enters the concavity, continuous with the groove. The insertion of the protrusion into the concavity defines the spatial orientation for the insertion of the fluid supply unit and adjusts the insertion direction of the fluid supply unit. The fluid supply unit of this aspect, accordingly, simplifies the attachment of the fluid supply unit and improves the fit of the fluid supply unit.

[0012] (8) In the fluid supply unit of the above aspect, the concavity of the fourth wall may have a smaller depth in the direction from the first wall to the second wall than the depth of the groove in the direction from the first wall to the second wall. This configuration has the following advantages. During the attachment of the fluid supply unit, the protrusion of the structure for installing the fluid supply unit first enters the concavity of the fluid supply unit, as described above. Setting the concavity depth to a smaller groove depth prevents the fourth wall from being too close to the first fluid introduction portion or the second fluid injection portion of the structure for installing the fluid supply assembly. The fluid supply unit of this aspect, respectively, prevents the fourth wall inadvertently coming into contact with the first fluid introduction part or the second fluid injection part of the structure for installing the fluid supply unit or its periphery during the connection of the fluid supply unit.

[0013] (9) The fluid supply unit of the above aspect may have a first external shape including a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port, a groove and a contact that is electrically connected to the electrode of the structure for installation the fluid supply unit, when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the first direction, the second external form when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the second direction, opposite the first direction, the third external form, including contact in the top view of the fluid supply unit in the third direction orthogonal to the first direction, the fourth external shape when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the fourth direction opposite to the third direction, the fifth external shape when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the fifth direction orthogonal to the first the direction and the third direction, and the sixth external form when viewed from above the node fluid supply in the sixth direction, opposite the fifth direction. A fluid supply unit with any of various shapes retains the leaked third fluid in the groove so as to prevent the leaking third fluid from spreading along the wall surface of the first wall and to prevent contamination of the leaked fluids.

[0014] (10) In the fluid supply unit of the above aspect, the third fluid supply port may be located between the groove and the contact in a plan view of the fluid supply unit in the first direction. This configuration delays the leaked third fluid in the groove and prevents the leaked third fluid from spreading along the wall surface of the first wall to the contact, thereby reducing the likelihood that the contact is accessible to the leaked fluids.

[0015] (11) The fluid supply unit of the above aspect may further comprise: a fluid chamber configured to separately comprise a first fluid, a second fluid, and a third fluid; a first element configured to have a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port and a groove; and a second element disposed on the first element and configured to have a contact terminal including a contact that can be electrically connected to the electrode of the structure to install a fluid supply assembly. A fluid supply assembly having a composite structure including a first element and a second element delays a leaked third fluid in a groove and prevents leakage of a leaked third fluid as described above.

[0016] (12) The fluid supply unit of the above aspect may further comprise: a first element configured to have a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port and a groove; and a second element configured to attach and detach from the first element and have a contact terminal including a contact that can be electrically connected to the electrode of the structure to install the fluid supply unit. A fluid supply assembly having a composite structure including a first element and a second element delays a leaked third fluid in a groove and prevents leakage of a leaked third fluid as described above.

[0017] (13) The fluid supply unit of the above aspect may further comprise: a first element configured to have a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port, a contact terminal including a contact that can be electrically connected to a design electrode for mounting a fluid supply assembly and a groove; and a second element configured to connect to the first fluid supply port, the second fluid supply port and the third fluid supply port, so as to supply the first fluid through the first fluid supply port to the first fluid supply portion, to supply the second fluid through the second fluid supply port to part of the introduction of the second fluid and to supply the third fluid through the port of supply of the third fluid in the part of the introduction of the third fluid. A fluid supply assembly having a composite structure including a first element and a second element delays a leaked third fluid in a groove and prevents leakage of a leaked third fluid as described above.

[0018] (14) According to another aspect, there is provided a fluid supply unit configured to attach and detach from the fluid ejection device. The fluid supply unit comprises: a groove; a fluid supply port through which fluid is supplied to the fluid ejection device; and a contact terminal block configured to electrically connect to the fluid ejection device. A fluid supply port is located between the groove and the terminal block. The fluid supply unit of this aspect delays fluid flowing out of the fluid supply port in the groove and prevents leakage of the fluid flowing out, thereby reducing the likelihood that the terminal block is accessible to the fluid that has leaked.

[0019] (15) According to another aspect, there is provided a fluid supply unit configured to attach and detach from the fluid ejection device. The fluid supply unit comprises: a first wall configured to have a groove and a fluid supply port through which fluid is supplied to the fluid ejection device; a second wall located opposite the first wall; the fourth wall, placed with the possibility of intersecting with the first wall and the second wall; and a third wall, arranged to intersect with the first wall and the second wall, located opposite the fourth wall and configured to have a terminal block of contacts that can be electrically connected to the fluid ejection device. When viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the fluid supply port is located between the groove and the terminal block. The fluid supply unit of this aspect delays fluid flowing out of the fluid supply port in the groove and prevents leakage of the fluid flowing out, thereby reducing the likelihood that the terminal block is accessible to the fluid that has leaked.

[0020] All of the plurality of components included in the aspect of the invention described above are not critical, and some components of the plurality of components may be appropriately modified, excluded or replaced by other components, or some of the limitations may be removed to overcome some or all of the problems described above, or to achieve part or all of the advantages described herein. To overcome part or all of the problems described above, or to achieve part or all of the advantages described herein, part or all of the technical features included in one aspect of the invention described above can be combined with part or all of the technical features included in another an aspect of the invention described below to provide another other independent aspect of the invention.

[0021] The invention can be implemented by any of various other aspects: for example, a fluid ejection device configured to receive a fluid supply from a fluid supply unit, and a system including a fluid supply unit and a fluid ejection device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a general configuration of a fluid ejection system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a liquid ejection system; FIG.

Figure 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an appearance of a carriage in a cartridge attachment state;

4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a carriage in a non-attached state of a cartridge;

5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a carriage in a non-attached state of the cartridge when viewed from the bottom;

6 is a schematic cross-sectional view, along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

7 is a perspective view illustrating a cartridge;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge of FIG. 7;

Fig.9 is a perspective view illustrating the cartridge according to Fig.7 when viewed from the bottom;

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view illustrating the cartridge of FIG. 7 without a circuit printed circuit board when viewed from the bottom;

11 is a schematic end view in cross section illustrating a housing along line 11-11 of FIG. 7;

12 is a perspective view illustrating another cartridge;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge of FIG. 12;

Fig. 14 is an external perspective view illustrating the cartridge of Fig. 12 when viewed from the bottom;

FIG. 15 is an external perspective view illustrating the cartridge of FIG. 12 without a circuit printed circuit board when viewed from the bottom;

FIG. 16 is a schematic end view in cross section illustrating a housing along line 16–16 of FIG. 12;

17 is a schematic end view in cross section illustrating a housing along line 17-17 in FIG. 13;

Fig. 18 is a diagram schematically illustrating the attachment of the cartridges of Fig. 7 and of Fig. 12 to a carriage;

19 are diagrams illustrating a modification of the appearance of the cartridge in six different views;

FIG. 20 are diagrams illustrating a schematic exploded view of another cartridge according to a first modification using an external housing, in a view in the A direction;

21 are diagrams illustrating a bottom perspective view of an outer case in another cartridge according to a second modification using an outer case, in a view in the A direction;

Fig. 22 are diagrams illustrating a bottom perspective view of the inner housings for the respective color inks in the cartridge of the second modification, when viewed in the direction A;

23 is a schematic exploded view of a cartridge of a second modification;

24 is a schematic exploded view illustrating another cartridge according to a third modification using an external housing; and

25 is a schematic exploded view illustrating another cartridge according to a fourth modification using an external housing.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0023] Some aspects of the invention are described below.

[0024] A. Embodiment

A-1. The configuration of the system 1 ejection fluid

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a fluid ejection system 1, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a fluid ejection system 1. The XYZ axes orthogonal to each other are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The X axis indicates the axis along the direction in which the carriage 8, described below, moves back and forth, and more specifically, the axis along the main print scan direction in accordance with the forward movement the back of the carriage 8. The Y axis denotes the axis along the direction of the paper sheet feeding path in the fluid ejection system 1 placed on a horizontal plane such as a table, and more particularly, is the axis along the print sub-scanning direction in accordance with the movement back and forth of the carriage 8. The Z axis indicates the axis along the direction from top to bottom of the fluid ejection system 1 placed on a horizontal plane, for example, on a table. In other illustrations, after FIG. 2, the XYZ axes are shown as mandatory. The XYZ axes in FIGS. 1 and 2 correspond to the XYZ axes in other illustrations. The liquid ejection system 1 includes a printer 10 as a liquid ejection device and two different types of cartridges 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 2, in the liquid ejection system 1 of this embodiment, the cartridges 4 and 5 can be attached and disconnected from the structure 7 for attaching the printer cartridge 10. The cartridge attaching structure 7 is mounted on a carriage 8 equipped with an ejection head 8s for ejecting ink (FIG. 5), and is generally integrated with the carriage 8. In the description below, how cartridge 4 is called “first cartridge 4”, and cartridge 5 is called “second cartridge 5”.

[0025] The first cartridge 4 contains monochrome ink, for example, black ink. The second cartridge 5 contains many different color inks and includes three parts for holding liquid according to this embodiment. The second cartridge 5 of this embodiment contains three different types of color inks, yellow, magenta, and cyan.

[0026] However, the number of cartridges and types of cartridges attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7 are not limited to the configuration of this embodiment. For example, the first four cartridges 4 may be provided according to four different color inks, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and may be attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7. In another example, a cartridge containing other color inks (eg, light reds and light cyan) may be attached to the structure 7 for attaching the cartridge. In an application in which several first cartridges 4 are attached according to respective color inks, attachment of the second cartridge 5 may be omitted.

[0027] The printer 10 is an inkjet printer. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a housing 14, a cover 16 of the paper supply assembly, a protective cover 18 of the recording assembly, a cover 20 of the paper exit assembly and a functional assembly 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 10 has a housing 12 devices.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the casing 14 is configured to surround the periphery of the device body 12 and forms the appearance of the printer 10. A cover 16 of the paper supply unit is provided on the upper surface of the printer 10. A cover 16 of the paper supply unit is located on the upper surface of the case 14 so that it is rotating. The cover 16 of the paper feed assembly can move between the open position relative to the casing 14 (FIG. 19) and the closed position (not shown). When the cover 16 of the paper feed assembly is in a closed position relative to the case 14, the cover 16 of the paper feed assembly, in combination with the upper surface of the housing 14, forms the upper surface of the printer 10.

[0029] When the cover 16 of the paper feed assembly is in an open position relative to the case 14, the cover 16 of the paper feed assembly is inclined with respect to the rear surface side (-Y direction side) of the printer 10. In this state, the rear surface of the cover 16 of the paper feed assembly serves as the mounting surface 16a on which sheets of paper are placed. When the cover 16 of the paper feed unit is in an open position relative to the case 14, the paper slot 26 of the paper supply unit 24 included in the apparatus body 12, as described below, opens in the printer 10. This, accordingly, allows the paper supply unit 24 to feed sheets papers placed on the mounting surface 16a into the paper path. The paper path refers to the paper path during printing. The paper slot 26 has a pair of paper guides 28. A pair of paper guides 28 are configured to adjust the spacing in the width direction (in the X-axis direction) of the printer 10. A pair of paper guides 28 serves to clamp both ends of the paper sheet in the width direction and indicate the position of the paper sheet in the width direction.

[0030] When the cover 16 of the paper feed assembly is in an open position relative to the housing 14, the protective cover 18 of the recording assembly and the functional assembly 22 are accessible to reach on the upper surface of the printer 10. The protective cover 18 of the recording assembly can be moved between the open position relative to the housing 14 (not shown) and a closed position (figure 1). When the protective cover 18 of the recording unit is in an open position relative to the casing 14, the recording unit 6 provided in the device body 12 becomes accessible to the user.

[0031] The functional assembly 22 includes a power-on button and print settings buttons for controlling the printer 10. When the cover 16 of the paper feed assembly is in an open position relative to the housing 14, the functional assembly 22 becomes accessible to the user and allows the user to control the printer 10.

[0032] Further, a cover 20 of the paper exit assembly is provided on the front surface of the casing 14. A cover 20 of the paper exit assembly is arranged on the front surface of the casing 14 so that it is rotatable. The cover 20 of the paper exit assembly can be moved between the open position relative to the housing 14 (FIG. 1) and the closed position (not shown). When the cover 20 of the paper exit assembly is in an open position relative to the case 14, a sheet of paper after recording can be output from the paper exit assembly 9 of the apparatus body 12 to the front of the printer 10.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the apparatus body 12 includes a paper feed unit 24, a recording unit 6, an output paper unit 9, and a controller 60.

[0034] The controller 60 is electrically connected to the paper supply unit 24, the recording unit 6, and the paper exit unit 9 and controls the operations of the respective units in response to instructions input from the function unit 22. The controller 60 also controls the movement of the carriage 8 (moving in the direction of X axis: by driving for the main scan) and by rotating the feed roller shaft (by driving for sub-scanning) through drive motors (not shown). The carriage 8 has a cartridge attachment structure 7 built in from below. Controller 60 also transmits signals to / from circuit printed circuit boards included in cartridges 4 and 5.

[0035] The device body 12 also includes a carriage rail 62 and a carriage actuation unit (not shown) that allow the carriage 8 to be moved along the carriage rail 62. The carriage rail 62 extends in the X-axis direction, i.e. the width direction of the housing 12 of the device, and is housed in the bearing member 409 (FIG. 3) provided on the underside of the carriage 8 to support the carriage 8.

[0036] A carriage 8 having an installed cartridge attachment structure 7 is configured to move back and forth in the width direction of the device body 12 (in the X axis direction, the main scanning direction) by a carriage actuation unit (not shown). Forward-backward movement of the carriage 8 in the width direction of the device body 12 causes the cartridge attachment structure 7 to move back and forth in the width direction of the device body 12. The cartridges 4 and 5, respectively, are moved in the direction of travel (in the X-axis direction) by the printer 10. A type of printer 10 having cartridges 4 and 5 attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7 provided on the carriage 8 for moving the ejection head, similarly to this embodiment, is called a “carriage type”. In another application, the stationary cartridge attachment structure 7 may be provided at a position other than the carriage 8 to supply ink from cartridges 4 and 5 attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7 to the head for ejecting the carriage 8 through flexible tubes. This type of printer is called "outside the carriage." In this application, cartridges 4 and 5 are not limited to detachable cartridges and may be stationary ink tanks. The ink tank may include an ink filling port through which ink can be injected externally.

[0037] In a state of use of the fluid ejection system 1, the X axis denotes an axis along the main scanning direction (left to right direction) in which the carriage 8 moves back and forth; the Y axis indicates the axis along the sub-scanning direction (top to bottom direction) in which sheets of paper are fed; and the Z axis denotes the axis along the vertical direction (top to bottom direction). Up in the vertical direction represents the + Z direction, and down in the vertical direction represents the -Z direction. The state of use of the liquid ejection system 1 denotes the state of the liquid ejection system 1 placed on a horizontal plane. According to this embodiment, the horizontal plane is a plane parallel to the X axis and the Y axis (XY plane).

[0038] A-2. Cartridge Attachment Status and Carriage Design

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the appearance of a carriage 8 in a cartridge attachment state. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a carriage 8 in a non-attached state of the cartridge. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a carriage 8 in a non-attached state of the cartridge when viewed from the bottom. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view, along line 6-6 of FIG. 3. The cartridge attachment structure 7 is mounted at the bottom of the carriage 8 and is excluded from the illustration of FIG. 3.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridges 4 and 5 respectively have covers 401 and 501. The cover 401 has through holes 402a, 402b and 402c formed to pass through the cover 401, an air supply groove 403 located in serpentine form from the through hole 402a to the through hole 402c, and the hole 434 for air exchange. The lid has 501 through holes 502a, 502b, and 502c formed to pass through the cover 502, air supply grooves 503 arranged in serpentine form from the through hole 502a to the through hole 502c, and the air exchange hole 534. In the manufacturing process of the cartridge 4, the through hole 402a is used as a vent to suck in air from the inside of the cartridge 4 and to maintain a reduced pressure inside the cartridge 4. After the manufacture of the cartridge 4, the through hole 402a is used to supply air to the holding member 460 liquid, described below, through an air supply groove 403, a through hole 402c, and an air exchange hole 434. In the manufacturing process of the cartridge 4, the through hole 402b is used as an ink ejection hole through which ink is injected inside the cartridge 4. After the manufacture of the cartridge 4, the through hole 402b is sealed and closed by the sealing member 404. The cartridge 5 is configured to contain three different types color inks, yellow, magenta, and cyan as described above, and accordingly have through holes 502a, 502b, and 502c, grooves 503 for air supply, and holes 534 for air exchange hamster at positions corresponding to respective color ink containing part as described below. Cartridges 4 and 5, respectively, have sealing elements 404 and 504, which should be connected to the upper surfaces of the covers 401 and 501 and close the opening of the above through holes and grooves for air supply.

[0040] The cartridge 4 and 5 connected to the sealing elements 404 and 504 is attached to the carriage 8 through the cartridge attachment structure 7 included in the lower part of the carriage 8, as shown in FIG. 4. In this attachment state, the cartridges 4 and 5 are aligned in the direction of movement of the carriage 8 (in the direction along the X axis). In the attachment state, the engaging member 405, described below as the attachment / detachment mechanism included in the cartridge 4, engages with the engaging lever 801 of the carriage 8. The user can exert external force on the engaging lever 801 of the cartridge to rotate and displace the engaging lever 801 of the cartridge and stop engaging the cartridge 4 with the carriage 8. The user can then disconnect the cartridge 4 from the carriage 8. The cartridge 5 can also be disconnected from the carriage 8 by means of a design and method similar to cing structure and method described above with respect to cartridge 4.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage 8 has a structure 7 for attaching a cartridge. The cartridge attachment structure 7 includes a black ink supply liquid portion 710b, a yellow ink supply liquid part 710y, a magenta ink supply portion 710m, a cyan ink supply cone-shaped portion 710c, and coil springs 720. The coil springs 720 are arranged according to cartridges 4 and 5. The coil spring 720 is compressed in the cartridge attachment state and stretched so as to press up the cartridge 4 or 5 in the state of disengagement of the engaging lever and 801 cartridges. The elastic element 705 is an element made, for example, of an elastomer and having an annular shape, and is mounted in the outer wall section of the base 703 for introducing liquid.

[0042] The respective liquid introducing portions 710 for the respective color inks are provided according to the liquid retaining portions of the cartridges 4 and 5 attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7, and have similar designs with a slight difference in size. The design of the liquid introduction portion 710b is described as an example. The liquid introduction part 710b includes a liquid introduction base 703, a metal mesh 703s and an elastic member 705. The metal mesh 703s is provided as a filter made of metal having corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel, and is located on the upper end of the base 703 for the introduction of fluid with the ability to be in surface contact with the element 406 of the fluid retention on the side of the supply port of the cartridge 4, described below (Fig.6). The ink held in the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side passes through a metal mesh 703s and is supplied to the ejection head 8s provided on the bottom surface of the carriage 8, as shown in FIG. 5. The following describes the relationship between the respective parts 710 of the introduction of fluid and cartridges.

[0043] The cartridge 4 has a circuit printed circuit board 410 at the end in the + Y direction, as shown in FIG. 6. This circuit board 410 is attached to the structure 411 for mounting a circuit board inclined with respect to the first end wall 423. The following describes the attachment of the circuit board 410 to the structure 411 for mounting a circuit board and the location of the circuit board 410. The circuit printed circuit board 410 provided on the cartridge 4 has terminal pins 412 described below. In the state of attaching the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8, the contacts of the terminals 412 are in electrical contact with the electrodes of the electrode unit 810 of the carriage 8. The cartridge 4 has an engaging member 405 provided at the end of the structure 411 for mounting the printed circuit board in the y-axis direction. The engaging member 405 engages with the engaging lever 801 of the cartridge of the carriage 8 in the state of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8.

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a state of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8. The cartridge 4 has a fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side and a fluid holding member 460 serving to absorb and retain fluid. The fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side and the fluid holding member 460 are configured to contact each other. A metal mesh 703s attached to the annular end of the liquid introduction base 703 of the liquid introduction part 710b provided on the lower surface of the cartridge attachment structure 7 is in surface contact with the liquid holding member 406 on the supply port side. The fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side rises in the + Z axis direction through the fluid introducing base 703 to press the fluid holding member 460. This causes the fluid contained in the fluid holding member 460, i.e. black ink being supplied to the head 8s for ejecting the carriage 8 through the metal mesh 703s of the base 703 for introducing the liquid, the liquid introducing part 710b and the suction port 704. Accordingly, the liquid introducing part 710b of the carriage 8 receives the liquid (black ink) introduced from the cartridge 4, and the carriage 8 causes the liquid (black ink) introduced into the liquid introduction part 710b to be ejected from the ejection head 8s. The cartridge 5 likewise has a circuit printed circuit board 510 and other relevant components similar to those of the cartridge 4, and is attached to the carriage 8 as described above.

[0045] The cartridge 4 has a fluid supply port 407 closed by a fluid retention member 406 on the supply port side. The cartridge attachment structure 7 has a liquid impermeable elastic member 705 at the foot of the base 703 for introducing liquid. This resilient member 705 is in contact with a peripheral concave region 407b (FIG. 10) formed around the periphery of the fluid supply port 407 to seal the fluid supply port 407 and prevent ink from flowing out of the fluid supply port 407 in the cartridge attachment state. The liquid supply port 407 is connected to the liquid introduction part 710b to supply black ink to the liquid introduction part 710b, as described below. The following describes the design of attaching the cartridge 4 to the structure 7 for attaching the cartridge carriage 8.

[0046] The cartridge attachment structure 7 is mounted at the bottom of the carriage 8. As shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge attachment structure 7 has a protrusion 721 between the cartridges, a guide protrusion 723 and protrusions 724 on the side of the side wall, extend in the direction along the Y axis. of the illustration of FIG. 4, a protrusion 724 on a side wall side is illustrated in a side wall of a carriage 82 on a back side of a sheet surface. The carriage 8 also has a protrusion 724 on the side of the side wall (not shown) in the side wall 81 of the carriage on the front side of the sheet surface. Each of the protrusion 721 between the cartridges and the protrusions 724 on the side of the side wall extends from the end wall 730 of the structure 7 for attaching the cartridge to the engaging levers 801 of the cartridge and is divided in the middle.

[0047] The guide protrusion 723 extends from the end wall 730 to the fluid introduction part 710y with the possibility of passing between the fluid introduction part 710m and the fluid introduction part 710c. In other words, this guide protrusion 723 is formed between the liquid introduction part 710m and the liquid introduction part 710c adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction, so that it is located between the liquid introduction part 710c and the part between the liquid introduction part 710m and the liquid part 710c the introduction of fluid. The guide protrusion 723 has a lower protrusion height from the lower surface of the structure 7 for attaching the cartridge in an area close to the end wall 730 than the protrusion height between the liquid introduction part 710m and the liquid introduction part 710c. The cartridge 4 is located between the protrusion 724 on the side of the side wall (not shown) close to the side wall 81 of the carriage and the protrusion 721 between the cartridges and is attached to the structure 7 for attaching the cartridge of the carriage 8. The cartridge 5 is placed between the protrusion 721 between the cartridges and the protrusion 724 on the side of the the wall is close to the side wall 82 of the cartridge and is attached to the structure 7 for attaching the cartridge of the carriage 8. The guide protrusion 723 is located in the first groove 580 (Fig.14) of the attached cartridge 5, described below. The cartridge attachment structure 7 also has engagement holes 750 formed in the end wall 730. Two engagement holes 750 are provided for each of the cartridge 4 and cartridge 5. During the attachment of the cartridges 4 and 5, the engagement protrusions 424t and 524t described below are set in these engaging holes 750. The following describes the attachment of the cartridges 4 and 5 and the relationship between the guide protrusion 723 and the cartridge 5.

[0048] A-3. Cartridge Design 4

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cartridge 4. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cartridge 4. FIG. 9 is an perspective view illustrating a cartridge 4 when viewed from the bottom. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a cartridge 4 without a circuit printed circuit board 410 when viewed from the bottom. 11 is a schematic end view in cross section illustrating the housing 420, along line 11-11 of FIG. 7. As illustrated, the cartridge 4 has a housing 420, a cover 401, and a circuit board 410. The cover 401 is attached to the housing 420 in order to close the groove 421 of the housing 420 (Fig. 8). Cartridge 4 also has a fluid retention member 406 on the supply port side, a fluid retention member 460, a sealing member 436 on the back of the lid, and a sealing member 404. Housing 420 and cover 401 are molded polymer products, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and are formed by any suitable molding technology, such as injection molding.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the housing 420 includes a bottom wall 422, a first end wall 423, a second end wall 424, a first side wall 425 and a second side wall 426. The outer wall surfaces for the first side wall 425 and the second side wall 426 is reinforced with ribs 428. The lower wall 422 forms the lower surface of the housing 420 and has a fluid supply port 407 formed in the center. The bottom wall 422 is located opposite the cover 401 (more specifically, the cover element 430, described below). The first end wall 423 rises from the bottom wall 422 with the possibility of intersecting with the cover element 430 for the cover 401. The second end wall 424 rises from the lower wall 422 with the possibility of intersecting with the cover element 430 for the cover 401 and is located opposite the first end wall 423. The first side wall 425 rises from the bottom wall 422 between one edge (edge in the -X direction of Fig. 8) of the first end wall 423 and one edge (edge in the -X direction of Fig. 8) of the second end wall 424 with the possibility of intersecting with the cover element 430 d I cover 401. The second side wall 426 rises from the bottom wall 422 between the other edge (edge in the + X direction of Fig. 8) of the first end wall 423 and the other edge (edge in the + X direction of Fig. 8) of the second end wall 424 with the ability to intersect with the cover element 430 for the cover 401 and is located opposite the first side wall 425.

[0050] This wall configuration can also be expressed as follows. The housing 420 includes a lower wall 422 with a formed fluid supply port 407, a cover 401 opposite the lower wall 422, a first end wall 423 arranged to intersect with a lower wall 422 and a cover 401, and a second end wall 424 arranged to intersect with a lower wall 422 and a cover 401 and located opposite the first end wall 423, the first side wall 425, placed with the possibility of intersecting with the lower wall 422 and the cover 401, and the second side wall 426, placed with the possibility of katsya with the bottom wall 422 and lid 401 and disposed opposite the first side wall 425.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 9, the circuit board 410 has a plurality of contact terminals 412 on the surface of the circuit board and is located on the first end wall 423 of the housing 420. A circuit board 411 for mounting a circuit board is formed on the first end wall 423, as shown in FIG. .10. The circuit board mounting structure 411 is configured to be inclined with respect to the first end wall 423. The circuit board 410 has a rear surface attached to the circuit board mounting structure 411 and is inclined with respect to the first end wall 423. As shown in FIG. 9, the contact pins 412 are arranged in a zigzag fashion in two lines on the circuit board 410. When the cartridge 4 is attached to the carriage 8, as described above, the contacts of the respective contact terminals 412 are electrically connected to the electrodes of the electrode unit 810 provided on the carriage 8, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, the circuit board mounting structure 411 has an opening 413 on the surface side of the outer wall for the first end wall 423. The hole 413 extends in the Z direction along the surface of the outer wall for the first end wall 423 from the upper side edge to the lower edge side of the first end wall 423 (Fig. 8) and is open on the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the first end wall 423. In the state in which the cover 401 is attached to the housing 420, the hole 413 is closed on the upper edge side ervoy end wall 423 projecting outwardly through the cover member 431 401, described below, as shown in Figure 7. The protrusions 414 protruding from the circuit board mounting structure 411 are used to attach the circuit board 410 to the circuit board structure 411. The protrusions 414 are heat-sealed in a state in which the protrusions 414 come from the circuit board 410, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This attaches the circuit board 410 to the circuit board mounting structure 411.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 8, the cover 401 has a cover element 430 and an outwardly protruding element 431. The cover element 430 has a flat plate shape and is configured to close the groove 421 of the housing 420. The outwardly extending element 431 extends outward from the cover element 430 onto the side of the first end wall 423, on which the printed circuit board 410 of the circuit with the contact pins 412 is located, and includes a curved protruding section 432 and an inclined protruding section 433. The curved protruding section 432 bends at approximately an angle of 90 degrees to the cell ntu 430 of the cover and passes in such a way that it protrudes along the first direction from the cover 401 to the housing 420 (directions -Z in FIG. 8). The inclined protruding section 433, continuous with the curved protruding section 432, extends to the location where it is suspended from the terminals 412 of the circuit board 410 when viewed from above of the cover 401 in a first direction from the cover 401 to the housing 420 (in the -Z direction in FIG. 8). In the state in which the cover 401 is attached to the housing 420, the outwardly protruding element 431 is suspended above the hole 413 so that it closes the hole 413 on the upper edge side of the first end wall 423, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10. In the state in wherein the cover 401 is attached to the housing 420, the inclined protruding section 433 of the outwardly protruding member 431 engages with the engaging member 405, as shown in FIG. The outwardly protruding element 431 extends outwardly of at least the contact terminals 412 in the lower line of the circuit printed circuit 410 in a second direction from the second end wall 424 to the first end wall 423 (in the + Y direction of FIGS. 6 and 8). In one modification, the inclined protruding section 433 can extend beyond the illustrated state so that it extends outwardly to all of the terminals 412 of the circuit board 410.

[0054] The cover 401 has an air exchange opening 434 and a plurality of sealing element receiving elements 437, in addition to the through holes 402a, 402b and 402c and the air supply groove 403 described above. The sealing element receiving elements 437 protrude from the upper surface of the cover 401 to a height almost identical to the height of the peripheral walls of the through holes 402a, 402b and 402c and the peripheral wall of the air supply groove 403, and serve as joint seating elements for the sealing element 404.

[0055] An air exchange hole 434 is provided in the outer periphery of the lid member formed by passing a portion of the lid member 430 in the Y direction and is formed so that it passes through the lid 401 on the outer periphery of the lid member. The air exchange hole 434 connects to the through hole 402b through an air supply groove (not shown) on the rear surface of the cover 401. This air supply groove opens the air exchange opening 434 from the rear side of the cover and opens the through hole 402b from the back side of the cover. are sealed by a sealing element 436 on the rear side of the lid. The groove 421 of the housing 420 closed by the cover 401, respectively, is open to air through the air exchange hole 434 through the through hole 402a, the air supply groove 403 and the through hole 402b. This air opening arrangement is described with respect to the fluid holding member 460.

[0056] The fluid holding member 460 is housed in the groove 421 of the housing 420. The lower wall 422 of the housing 420 has stepped semicircular protrusions 427 formed on the periphery of the fluid supply port 407, and the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side is located on the ledges of the semicircular protrusions 427 (FIG. .6). The fluid supply port 407 is respectively closed by the fluid retention member 406 on the supply port side. The lower wall 422 also has arcuate protrusions 429 with an open arcuate shape in a plan view, provided surrounded by respective angles. The fluid retention member 460 is supported by the upper surfaces of the arcuate protrusions 429 at respective angles and the semicircular protrusions 427 and is housed in the housing 420. In a state in which the fluid retention member 460 is arranged in this manner, a cover 401 connected to the sealing member 436 on the rear side of the cover and a sealing member 404 is welded and attached to the housing 420 to complete the cartridge 4 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0057] Both the fluid retention member 406 on the supply port side and the fluid retention member 460 can be made of porous polymeric material. The porous polymeric material is not specifically limited in this document and may be any porous polymeric material having a liquid holding container, for example, foam, such as polyurethane foam or fibrous material from grouped polypropylene fibers. The fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side and the fluid holding member 460 have different fluid holding characteristics. The fluid retention member 406 on the supply port side is configured to have a higher pore density or pore density than the fluid retention member 460. According to the ratio of the absolute values of the pore density, the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side has a greater capillary force than the capillary strength of the fluid holding member 460.

[0058] This ratio of the absolute values of the capillary force between the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side and the fluid holding member 460 causes the ink contained in the fluid holding member 460 to flow in the sequence described below. Ink flows from an element having a lower capillary force to an element having a higher capillary force. As shown in FIG. 6, when the ink contained in the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side is sucked through the base for introducing the spending liquid, the ink contained in the fluid holding member 460 laid on the upper surface of the side of the fluid holding member 406 supply ports are moved to the fluid retention member 406 on the supply port side. The driving force of this ink migration is mainly due to the capillary force of the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side. Such ink migration is not difficult due to the exchange of air through the air exchange hole 434 through the through hole 402a and the air supply groove 403, continuous with the through hole 402a formed according to the location at which the liquid holding member 460 is housed.

[0059] Placing the liquid holding member 406 on the side of the supply port and the liquid holding member 460 having different characteristics in the groove 421 of the housing 420, as described above, in combination with a metal mesh 703s having a greater capillary force than the capillary force of the element 406 holding the liquid on the side of the supply port for the base 703 for introducing the liquid, provides the opportunity to efficiently consume the ink contained in the element 460 fluid retention. In other words, this reduces the remaining amount of unused ink in the fluid holding member 460.

[0060] Provided that the capillary forces of the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side and the fluid holding member 460 are configured to decrease with increasing distance from the fluid introducing base 703, the ratio of the absolute values of the pore density between the respective fluid holding members 406 and 460 is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment. For example, when the fluid holding member 406 on the supply port side and the fluid holding member 460 have identical pore densities, the respective fluid holding members 406 and 460 may be treated with a water repellent or hydrophobic treatment so as to have the absolute capillary strength ratio described above.

[0061] The cartridge 4 also has a groove 450 formed on the lower surface of the lower wall 422 with a fluid supply port 407 (outer wall surface on the direction side -Z), as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This groove 450 extends from the second end side walls 424 to the fluid supply port 407 to reach the periphery of the peripheral concave region 407b without interfering with the groove 421, as shown in FIG. 11. When viewed from above of the cartridge 4 in the direction from the bottom wall to the cover 401 (in the direction along the + Z axis), the fluid supply port 407 is located between the groove 450 and the circuit board 410, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The width of the groove 450 in the direction along the X axis on the bottom wall 422 is set so that it is less than the width of the peripheral concave region 407b in the direction along the X axis. Ink accumulation in the groove 450 limits the ink spreading area. A smaller width of the groove 450 effectively results in a smaller spreading area. The groove 450 may be formed so that it is continuous with the peripheral concave region 407b. This configuration allows ink to be introduced into the groove 450 without flowing out of the peripheral concave region 407b.

[0062] The cartridge 4 also has a pair of engaging protrusions 424t on the lower edge of the outer wall surface of the second end wall 424. During the attachment of the cartridge 4 to the cartridge attachment structure 7, the engaging protrusions 424t enter the end wall 730 of the cartridge attachment structure 7 (FIG. 4) and participate in the positioning of the cartridge 4.

[0063] A-4. Cartridge Design 5

The cartridge 5 has a design different from that of the cartridge 4 by holding three different types of color inks, yellow, magenta, and cyan. In the design description of the cartridge 5, components similar to the components of the cartridge 4 are expressed by similar reference numbers, with the highest digit being changed to 5, and explained only briefly. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cartridge 5. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cartridge 5. FIG. 14 is an perspective view illustrating a cartridge 5 when viewed from the bottom. FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a cartridge 5 without a circuit board 510 of a circuit when viewed from the bottom. FIG. 16 is a schematic end view in cross section illustrating the housing 520 along line 16-16 of FIG. 12. FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional end view illustrating the housing 520 along line 17-17 in FIG. 13. In the illustration of FIG. 17, the groove 521y described below is shown as being located on the front side of the sheet surface in cross section of the housing 520 along line 17-17 of FIG. 13.

[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the cartridge 5 has a housing 520, a cover 501, and a circuit board 510. The cover 501 is attached to the housing 520 in order to close the three grooves 521m, 521c and 521y of the housing 520 (Fig.13). The housing 520 has a partition wall 571 located between the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526, a partition wall 572 located between the partition wall 571 and the second end wall 524, and a partition wall 573 located between the partition wall 571 and the first end wall 523. These dividing walls 571, 572, and 573 form grooves 521m, 521c, and 521y corresponding to the respective color inks, magenta, cyan, and yellow. The cartridge 5 has liquid holding elements 506 on the supply port side located in respective areas defined by semicircular protrusions 527 provided on respective peripheries of the ink supply ports 507m, 507y and 507c formed in the lower wall 522 in the corresponding grooves 521m, 521c and 521y, and also has fluid holding members 560 located on fluid holding members 506 on the supply port side.

[0065] The partition walls 571, 572 and 573 and the grooves 521m 521c and 521y have the following positional relationship in a state in which the cover 501 is connected to the housing 520. The separation partition 571 is arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 522, the cover 501, the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526 and located opposite the first end wall 523 and the second end wall 524. The partition wall 572 is arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 522, the cover 501, the first end wall 524 and the partition wall 571 and located opposite the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526. The groove 521m communicating with the ink supply port 507m is defined by the lower wall 522, the cover 501, the second end wall 524, the first side wall 525, the dividing wall 571 and the dividing wall 572. The groove 521c communicating with the ink supply port 507c is defined by the lower wall 522, the cover 501, the second end wall 524, the second side wall 526, the separation partition 571 and the separation partition 572. The groove 521y communicating with the ink supply port 507y the nile is defined by the lower wall 522, the cover 501, the first end wall 523, the second side wall 526, the dividing wall 571 and the dividing wall 573. In one modification, the dividing wall 573 may be omitted. In this modified application, the groove 521y is defined by the lower wall 522, the cover 501, the first end wall 523 of the first side wall 525, the second side wall 526 and the partition wall 571.

[0066] As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the bottom wall 522, the first end wall 523, the second end wall 524, the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526 of the housing 520 have designs similar to those of the corresponding walls of the cartridge 4. Cartridge 5 has a circuit board 510 located on the side of the first end wall 523 of the housing 520. Similar to the design of the cartridge 4, the circuit board 510 is attached to the structure for mounting the circuit board 511. The circuit board 510 has contact pins 512 having a structure, almost the same as the design of the cartridge 4. The contacts of the corresponding terminals 512 are electrically connected to the electrodes of the electrode unit 810 provided on the carriage 8 when the cartridge 5 is attached to the carriage 8, as described above. The design for mounting the circuit board 511 has a design similar to that of the cartridge 4. The circuit board 510 is attached to the structure for mounting the circuit board 511 by heat sealing the protrusions 514 protruding from the structure for mounting the circuit board 511.

[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the lid 501 has a lid element 530 and an outwardly projecting element 531. The lid element 530 has a flat plate shape and is configured to close the grooves 521m, 521c and 521y of the housing 520. The outwardly extending element 531 extends outwardly from the cover member 530 on the side of the first end wall 523, on which the circuit board 510 of the circuit with contact terminals 512 is located, and includes a curved protruding section 532 and an inclined protruding section 533. The design of these protruding sections 532 and 533 is similar to cartridge design 4. The curved protruding section 532 is bent at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the cover member 530 and extends so that it protrudes along a first direction from the cover 501 to the housing 520 (-Z directions in FIG. 13). The inclined protruding section 533, continuous with the curved protruding section 532, extends to a location where it is suspended from the terminals 512 of the circuit board 510 when viewed from above of the cover 501 in a first direction from the cover 501 to the housing 520 (in the -Z direction in FIG. 13). In the state in which the cover 501 is attached to the housing 520, the outwardly protruding element 531 is suspended above the structural opening 513 for mounting the printed circuit board 511 so that it closes the opening 513 on the upper edge side of the first end wall 523, as shown in FIG. 15. In the state in which the cover 501 is attached to the housing 520, the outwardly protruding member 531 engages with the engaging member 505, as shown in FIG. The outwardly extending member 531 extends outwardly of at least the contact terminals 512 in the lower line of the circuit printed circuit board 510 in a second direction from the second end wall 524 to the first end wall 523 (in the + Y direction of FIGS. 6 and 13). In one modification, the inclined protruding section 533 may extend further so that it protrudes outwardly of all of the terminal pins 512 of the circuit board 510.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 13, the cover 501 has through holes 502a, 502b and 502c, an air supply groove 503 located between the through hole 502a and the through hole 502c, and the air exchange hole 534 provided for each of the grooves 521m , 521c and 521y, corresponding to the respective color inks, magenta, cyan, and yellow, and sealing element receiving elements 537 formed at respective corners of the cover 501. The sealing element receiving elements 537 protrude from the top surface of the cover 501 to a height that is practical identical to the height of the peripheral walls of the through holes 502a, 502b and 502c and the peripheral walls of the air supply grooves 503, and serve as joint seating elements for the sealing member 504.

[0069] Three air exchange holes 534 are aligned in the X axis direction at the outer periphery of the cap element 530 and are formed so that they pass through the cap 501. A through hole 502b provided for each of the color inks, yellow, magenta, and cyan, is formed in such a way that it passes through the cover 501 and is configured to align in the Y axis direction with the corresponding one of the air exchange holes 534 aligned in the X axis direction. The air exchange hole 534 and the corresponding well a large hole 502b aligned in the Y direction is interconnected by an air supply groove (not shown) on the rear surface of the cover 501. This air supply groove, opening the through hole 502b from the back of the cover and opening the opening from the back of the cover 534 for air exchange are sealed by a sealing element 536 on the rear side of the cover. The grooves 521m, 521c and 521y of the housing 520 closed by the cover 501, respectively, are open to air through the corresponding air exchange openings 534 through the through holes 502a, the air supply grooves 503 and the through holes 502b. The through holes 502a, 502b, and 502c and the air supply grooves 503 are sealed on the upper surface side of the cover 501 by a sealing member 504. This air opening arrangement described above allows ink to be contained in the porous fluid holding member 560 located in the groove 521m, 521c, or 521y for each color ink in the case 520 closed by the cap 501 to the fluid holding member 506 on the side of the supply port and then to the fluid introducing part 710m, the fluid introducing part 710c or be 710y introducing liquid (4) of the carriage 8 via a corresponding port 507m, 507c or 507y ink supply. In other words, ink of a corresponding color is respectively supplied through the ink supply port 507m of the groove 521m to the carriage 8 fluid introduction part 710m, through the ink supply port 507c of the groove 521c to the fluid supply part 710c and through the ink supply port 507y of the groove 521y to the fluid supply part 710y . The corresponding ink supply ports 507m, 507c, and 507y have the following positional relationship.

[0070] When viewed from above of the housing 520 or cartridge 5 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 with the ink supply ports 507m, 507c and 507y to the cover 501 (in the + Z direction), the ink supply port 507m is located between the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526. An ink supply port 507c is located between the ink supply port 507m and the second side wall 526.

[0071] As shown in FIGS. 14-17, the cartridge 5 also has a first groove 580 and a second groove 581 on the lower surface of the lower wall 522 (on the surface of the outer wall on the −Z direction side) on which ports 507m, 507c, and 507y are formed. ink supply. A first groove 580 is formed between the ink supply port 507m corresponding to the magenta liquid supply portion 710m and the ink supply port 507c corresponding to the cyan liquid supply part 710c (FIG. 4), and extends from the intermediate space of the ink supply port 507m and the port The ink supply port 507c to the ink supply port 507y. The first groove 580 is formed in the separation wall 572 as a concavity having such a depth that the guide protrusion 723 (FIG. 4) of the cartridge attachment structure 7 is inserted in the state of attaching the cartridge 5 to the cartridge attachment structure 7 (FIGS. 16 and 17) and runs along the length of the dividing wall 572, i.e. between the second end wall 524 and the separation wall 571. The first groove 580 and the ink supply port 507y has the following positional relationship, described below.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 17, the first groove 580 extends from the second end wall 524 to the first end wall 523. As shown in FIGS. 13-15 and 17, the ink supply port 507y is located between the first groove 580 and the first end wall 523. The first to third positional relationships are provided, described below when viewed from above from the housing 520 or cartridge 5 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 to the cover 501 (in the direction along the + Z axis). In a first positional relationship, an ink supply port 507y is located between the first groove 580 and the circuit board 510, as shown in FIG. In a second positional relationship, the first groove 580 is located between the second end wall 524 and the groove 521y, as shown in FIG. In a third positional relationship, the first groove 580 is located between the second end wall 524 and the peripheral concave region 507b, in which the lower wall 522 is in contact with an elastic member 705 formed around the fluid introduction portion 710y (FIG. 4) of the carriage 8. Like cartridge 4, the width the first groove 580 in the direction along the X axis is set so that it is less than the width of the peripheral concave region 507b. The first groove 580 may be formed so that it is continuous with the peripheral concave region 507b.

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 17, a second groove 581 is formed in the second end wall 524 as a concavity continuous with the first groove 580. The second groove 581 has a smaller depth in the direction from the lower wall 522 to the lid 501 than the depth of the first groove 580 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 to the cover 501.

[0074] A-5. Attaching Cartridges

FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically illustrating the attachment of cartridges 4 and 5 to a carriage 8. As illustrated, during the attachment, both cartridges 4 and 5 are inclined so that the outer wall surfaces of the second end walls 424 and 524 face in the -Z direction when inserted into the structure 7 for attaching the carriage cartridge 8. The engaging protrusions 424t and 524t of the respective cartridges 4 and 5 are then inserted into the engaging holes 750 (FIG. 4) in the structure 7 for attaching the carriage cartridge 8. The corresponding cartridges 4 and 5 are pressed the fixtures in the -Z direction to the cartridge attachment structure 7 until the engaging members 405 and 505 engage with the engaging arms 801 of the cartridge, as shown in FIG.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the cartridge 4 of this embodiment, having the configuration described above, has a fluid supply port 407 arranged to supply black ink to the carriage 8 of the printer 10, or more specifically, to the introduction portion 710b liquid structure 7 for attaching a cartridge (figures 4 and 6) of the carriage 8 and the circuit board 410 circuit, electrically connected to the electrode unit 810 of the carriage 8 in the printer 10. A fluid supply port 407 is located between the circuit board 410 and the groove 450 formed on the bottom bottom surface APIS 422 so that it extends from the second end wall 424. The configuration of the cartridge 4 in this embodiment has the following advantages. Cartridge 4 is tilted during attachment, as shown in FIG. A configuration without a groove 450 is likely to create a flow and spreading of the leaked ink along the lower surface of the bottom wall 422 in the event of black ink leaking from the fluid supply port 407. However, the presence of the groove 450 causes the leaked ink to linger in the groove 450 of the bottom wall 422 (FIG. 11) and thereby prevents the ink from leaking from the fluid supply port 407 to flow. Additionally, a groove 450 directs the leaked ink away from the first end wall 423 and, accordingly, reduces the likelihood that the contact pins 412 are accessible to the leaked black ink.

[0076] When viewed from above of the housing 420 or cartridge 4 in the direction from the bottom wall 422 to the cover 401 (in the direction of the + Z axis), the cartridge 4 of the embodiment has a fluid supply port 407 located between the groove 450 and the circuit board 410, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This configuration of the cartridge 4 of the embodiment also delays ink flowing from the fluid supply port 407 in the groove 450 and prevents black ink from spreading, thereby reducing the likelihood that contact pins 412 are accessible to the leaked black ink.

[0077] The cartridge 5 of the embodiment is attachable to the carriage 8. The carriage 8 has liquid introduction portions 710m, 710c and 710y and a guide protrusion 723, as shown in FIG. 4. A guide protrusion 723 is formed between the liquid introduction part 710m and the liquid introduction part 710c and extends from the intermediate space of the liquid introduction part 710m and the liquid introduction part 710c to the liquid introduction part 710y. As shown in FIGS. 13-15, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has an ink supply port 507m provided to supply magenta ink to the liquid introduction portion 710m, an ink supply port 507c provided to supply cyan ink to the introduction portion 710c liquid, and an ink supply port 507y provided to supply yellow ink to the liquid introducing portion 710y. A first groove 580 is formed between the ink supply port 507m and the ink supply port 507c. The first groove 580 extends from the intermediate space of the ink supply port 507m and the ink supply port 507c to the ink supply port 507y and is formed so that it enables insertion of the guide protrusion 723. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment is tilted, as shown in FIG. 18, the course of joining. In case yellow ink leaks from the ink supply port 507y, the leaked ink is directed to the first groove 580 passing to the ink supply port 507y and is delayed in the first groove 580. Accordingly, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment prevents ink from leaking from the ink supply port 507y, and prevents pollution by leaking ink. In the event of ink leaking from the ink supply port 507m or from the ink supply port 507c, the leaked ink is also delayed in the first groove 580. This, accordingly, prevents leakage of the leaked ink. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment may prevent leakage of ink leaking through the simple construction of a first groove 580 extending from the intermediate space of the ink supply port 507m and the ink supply port 507c to the ink supply port 507y.

[0078] The cartridge 5 of the embodiment has a bottom wall 522 with an ink supply port 507m, an ink supply port 507c, an ink supply port 507y and a first groove 580 formed, a cover 501 located opposite the lower wall 522, a first end wall 523 that is intersected with a lower wall 522 and a cover 501, a second end wall 524 arranged to intersect with a lower wall 522 and a cover 501 and located opposite the first end wall 523, a first side wall 525 arranged to intersect with a lower wall 522 and cover 501, and a second side wall 526, arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 522 and cover 501 and located opposite the first side wall 525. As shown in Fig.13-16, when viewed from above of the cartridge 5 in the direction from the bottom walls 522 to cover 501, an ink supply port 507m is located between the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526; an ink supply port 507c is located between the ink supply port 507m and the second side wall 526; the first groove 580 extends from the second end wall 524 to the first end wall 523; and an ink supply port 507y is disposed between the first groove 580 and the first end wall 523. The cartridge 5 of this embodiment allows ink flowing from the ink supply port 507y to the first groove 580 extending to the ink supply port 507y on the bottom wall 522, and retention in the first groove 580. The cartridge 5 of this embodiment accordingly prevents the ink from leaking from the ink supply port 507y along the wall surface of the lower wall 522, and prevents contamination by the leaked ink.

[0079] In the cartridge 5 of this embodiment, a first groove 580 is formed between the ink supply port 507m, which is located between the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526, and the ink supply port 507c, which is located between the ink supply port 507m and the second side wall 526 and extends from the second end wall 524 to the first end wall 523. This configuration also makes it possible to retain ink flowing from the ink supply port 507m, or ink flowing from the ink supply port 507c, in the first groove 580, thereby Keys leaked ink spreading along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 and preventing contamination by leaked ink. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment may prevent leakage of ink leaking out by a simple construction of a first groove 580 formed between the ink supply port 507m, which is located between the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526, and the ink supply port 507c, which is located between the ink supply port 507m and the second side wall 526, and passing from the second end wall 524 to the first end wall 523.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 14, the contacts of the terminals 512 provided on the circuit board 510 located on the outer wall surface of the first end wall 523 in the cartridge 5 of the embodiment can be electrically connected to the electrode unit 810 of the carriage 8 (FIG. 6). When viewed from above from the cartridge 5 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 to the cover 501, the ink supply port 507y is located between the first groove 580 and the circuit board 510. Ink leaked from the ink supply port 507y is delayed in the first groove 580. This configuration prevents leaking ink from flowing along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 and reaching the first end wall 523, thereby reducing the likelihood that the contact pins 512 are accessible to the leaked ink .

[0081] As shown in FIG. 16, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has a first groove 580 formed as a concavity in the partition wall 572 that separates the groove 521m and the groove 521c from each other. This configuration of the cartridge 5 of the embodiment makes it possible to easily form the first groove 580 without reducing the capacities of the ink grooves 521m and 521c.

[0082] When viewed from a top of the cartridge 5 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 to the cover 501, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has a first groove 580 located between the peripheral concave region 507b and the second end wall 524. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment, respectively, increases the ink retention efficiency flowing from the ink supply port 507y in the first groove 580 and, due to this, to prevent leakage of ink flowing out along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 described above, as well as the effectiveness of preventing pollution by ytekshih ink through a simple structure of the first groove 580, is properly positioned.

[0083] As illustrated in FIG. 17, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has a second groove 581 formed in the second end wall 524 so that it is continuous with the first groove 580. When the cartridge 5 is inclined so that it attaches to the carriage 8, as shown in FIG. 18, the second groove 581 approaches the guide protrusion 723 of the structure 7 for attaching the carriage cartridge 8 before the first groove 580. In the cartridge 5 of the embodiment, the second groove 581, continuous with the first groove 580 first, is received draws a guide protrusion 723 during the attachment of the cartridge 5 to the carriage 8. Inserting the guide protrusion 723 into the second groove 581 causes the guide protrusion 723 to serve as a rail in the x-direction. This configuration of the cartridge 5 of the embodiment simplifies the attachment of the cartridge 5 to the carriage 8 and improves the fit of the cartridge 5.

[0084] In the cartridge 5 of the embodiment, the second groove 581 in the second end wall 524 is formed so that it has a smaller depth in the direction from the lower wall 522 to the cover 501 than the depth of the first groove 580 in the direction from the lower wall 522 to the cover 501 As described above, when attaching the cartridge 5 to the carriage 8, the cartridge 5 is inclined, so that the guide protrusion 723 of the structure 7 for attaching the carriage 8 cartridge first enters the second groove 581 of the cartridge 5. Setting the depth of the second groove 581 is less than the depth of the first avki 580 prevents excessive approach of the second end wall 524 to the portion 710m fluid delivery or fluid delivery part 710c structure 7 for attachment of the cartridge. This configuration of the cartridge 5 of the embodiment prevents the second end wall 524 from inadvertently coming into contact with the liquid introducing portion 710m or 710c or with its periphery of the cartridge attaching structure 7 when the cartridge 5 is connected to the carriage 8. This is advantageous in terms of avoiding potential damage.

[0085] The cartridge 5 of the embodiment has a housing 520 and circuit board 510. The housing 520 has slots 521m, 521c, and 521y configured to separately contain magenta ink, cyan ink, and yellow ink. Additionally, in the cartridge 5 of the embodiment, the housing 520 has ink supply ports 507m, 507c, and 507y and a first groove 580, and a circuit printed circuit board 510 is disposed on the housing 520. A cartridge structure 5 including a housing 520 and a circuit printed circuit board 510 according to an embodiment, allows leakage of ink to be retained in the first groove 580 and thereby prevents leakage of ink leakage.

[0086] B. Modifications

The invention may be implemented by various other aspects described below.

[0087] B-1. Modification of the appearance of the cartridge

19 are diagrams illustrating a modification of the appearance of the cartridge 5A in six different views. In the description below, components similar to those of the cartridge 5 of the above embodiment are expressed by like reference numerals and are not described in detail here.

[0088] In a plan view of the cartridge 5 of the above embodiment, the direction from the bottom wall 522 to the cover 501 is set as the first direction. Fig. 19 illustrates a bottom view of the cartridge 5A in this first direction, a top view of the cartridge 5A in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a front view of the cartridge 5A in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction, a rear view of the cartridge 5A in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, a left side view of the cartridge 5A in the fifth direction orthogonal to the first direction and the third direction, and a right-side view of the cartridge 5A in the sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction. As illustrated, in the cartridge 5A, the appearance 520As of the housing 520A has curved ends in left- and right-side views, compared with the appearance 520s of the housing 520 of the cartridge 5 described above. The degree of curvature may exceed the illustrated degree of curvature provided that the area in which the first groove 580 and the supply ports 507m, 507c and 507y are formed remains a flat surface. The cartridge 5A has an ink supply port 507m, an ink supply port 507c, an ink supply port 507y, a first groove 580 and a circuit printed circuit board 510 in a specific part of the housing included in the bottom view, and an ink supply port 507y located between the first groove 580 and the printed circuit board 510 scheme.

[0089] In the cartridge 5A with a different appearance 520As, the positional relationship between the first groove 580 and the ink supply port 507y allows the ink flowed out from the ink supply port 507y to be retained in the first groove 580, and prevents leakage of ink flowing out along the wall surface of the lower wall 522, thereby preventing pollution by leaking ink.

[0090] As shown in a bottom plan view of the cartridge 5A in the first direction, this cartridge 5A also has an ink supply port 507y located between the first groove 580 and the circuit board 510. This configuration allows leakage ink to be retained in the first groove 580 and prevents leakage of ink flowing out along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 to the circuit board 510, thereby reducing the likelihood that the circuit board 510 is accessible to the leaked ink.

[0091] B-2. Cartridge using an external housing

20 are diagrams illustrating a schematic exploded view of a cartridge 5B according to a first modification using an external housing, viewed in the direction A. The cartridge 5B has an external housing 520out and an internal housing 520in. The outer case 520out has an appearance similar to that of the case 520 of the above-described embodiment, with the exception of the bottom wall 522, and has an opening 520h for inserting the case. The inner case 520in has grooves 521m, 521c and 521y configured to separately contain the respective color ink, magenta, cyan and yellow, and has ink supply ports 507m, 507c and 507y and a first groove 580 in the bottom wall 522. These grooves are ink supply ports have configurations similar to those of the case 520 described above. The outer case 520out also has a circuit board 510 electrically connected to the electrode unit 810 of the carriage 8. The outer case 520out can be connected and disconnected from the inner case 520in before inserting the inner case 520in into the hole 520h for inserting the case. The cartridge 5B in the state in which the inner housing 520in is inserted into the housing insertion hole 520h for the outer housing 520out is compatible with the cartridge 5 of the above embodiment. Adjustment pins, ledges, etc. are formed, although not illustrated, between the outer wall of the inner housing 520in and the inner wall of the hole for inserting the housing 520h to position the inner housing 520in in the Z-axis direction.

[0092] When every color ink is consumed and completely wasted, so it needs to be replaced, cartridge 5B of this modification provides ink replenishment by simply replacing the inner 520in case. The cartridge structure 5B, including a separable inner case 520in and an outer case 520out, makes it possible to retain the leaked ink in the first groove 580 and prevents leaking ink from spreading along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 to the circuit board 510, thereby reducing the likelihood that circuit board 510 circuitry is available for leaking ink.

[0093] FIG. 21 are diagrams illustrating a bottom perspective view of the outer case 520out in the cartridge 5C according to the second modification using the outer case, viewed in direction A. FIG. 22 are diagrams illustrating a bottom perspective view of the inner cases for the respective color ink in the cartridge 5C, when viewed in the direction A. FIG. 23 is a schematic exploded view of the cartridge 5C. The 5C cartridge has an external 520out case and 520inm, 520inc and 520iny internal cases. The outer case 520out has an appearance similar to that of the aforementioned case 520 including a bottom wall 522. As illustrated in FIG. 21, ink supply ports 507m, 507c and 507y and a first groove 580 are formed in a lower wall 522 of the outer case 520out. The corresponding ink supply ports and circuit board 510 have similar configurations and are formed at positions similar to those of the housing 520 of the above embodiment. The outer case 520out has a bottom wall 522, a first end wall 523, a second end wall 524, a first side wall 525 and a second side wall 526 surrounding the lower wall 522, and partition walls 571-573 to define grooves 521ma, 521ca and 521ya for reception enclosures with the ability to individually accept the internal 520inm, 520inc, and 520iny enclosures described below. These housing slots 521ma, 521ca, and 521ya are assumed to be fluid tight inside the housings 520inm, 520inc, and 520iny, so that the bottom wall 522 has a flat inner wall surface.

[0094] The inner housing 520inm has an outer shape to allow insertion into the groove 521ma for receiving the housing for the outer housing 520out and has a groove 521m. The groove 521m is formed so that it has an internal shape similar to the internal shape of the groove 521m of the housing 520 of the above embodiment, and causes the liquid holding member 560 and the liquid holding member 506 on the supply port side to be housed therein. The inner case 507ma has a through hole 507ma, which is aligned with the ink supply port 507m of the outer case 520out, and has a sealing element cz arranged to seal the periphery of the through hole 507ma. In the state in which the inner housing 520inm is housed in the groove 521ma for receiving the housing for the outer housing 520out, the magenta ink is supplied from the ink supply port 507m to the through hole 507ma sealed with the sealing member cz to the carriage fluid supply portion 710m (FIG. 4 ) The 520inc inner case and 520iny inner case have similar configurations.

[0095] The inner case 520inm, the inner case 520inc and the inner case 520iny, respectively, are connected to the ink supply port 507m, the ink supply port 507c and the ink supply port 507y. This configuration enables the supply of magenta ink through the ink supply port 507m to the fluid supply portion 710m of the carriage 8 (FIG. 4), enables the supply of cyan ink through the ink supply port 507c to the fluid supply part 710c, and enables the supply of yellow ink through the supply port 507y ink into the liquid introduction part 710y. Placing the inner housings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny in respective grooves 521ma, 521ca and 521ya for receiving the housings for the outer housing 520out completes the cartridge 5C, as shown in FIG. 23. Cartridge 5C is compatible with cartridge 5 of the above embodiment. Adjustment pins, ledges, etc. are formed, although not illustrated, between the inner walls of the grooves 521ma, 521ca, and 521ya for receiving the housings for the outer housing 520out and the outer walls of the inner housings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny to position the inner housings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny in the Z direction.

[0096] When each color ink is consumed and completely spent, so replacement is required, the cartridge 5C of this modification allows ink refill by simply replacing the inner case 520inm, the inner case 520inc or the inner case 520iny. The cartridge 5C of the composite structure, including the separable inner cases 520inm, 520inc and 520iny and the outer case 520out, makes it possible to delay the leaked ink in the first groove 580 and prevents the leaked ink from spreading along the wall surface of the lower wall 522 to the circuit board 510, thereby reducing the likelihood that circuit board 510 is available for leaking ink.

[0097] FIG. 24 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a cartridge 5D according to a third modification using an external housing. The 5D cartridge has an external 520out case and an 520in internal case. The outer casing 520out is substantially similar to the outer casing 520out of the second modification described above, while the inner casing 520in is equivalent to the one-piece casing of the inner casing 520inm, 520inc and 520iny of the above second modification. In this cartridge 5D, the outer case 520out has no dividing walls 571 and 573 and has a dividing wall 572 having a height such that the first groove 580 can be formed. For example, the dividing wall 572 can be configured to have half the height illustrated in FIG. 17, and a first groove 580 is formed in the partition wall 572. The inner housing 520in has a groove 580c located between the through hole 507ma and the through hole 507ca and configured to receive a separation wall 572 with a first groove 580. The composite cartridge 5D also prevents leakage of ink leaking and provides other advantages described above.

[0098] FIG. 25 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a cartridge 5E according to a fourth modification using an external housing. The 5E cartridge has 590Tm, 590Tc, and 590Ty external tanks for the corresponding color inks, magenta, cyan, and yellow, and 590Cm, 590Cc and 590Cy tubes for the corresponding color inks, in addition to the 520out outer case and 520inm, 520inc and 520iny inner cases. The outer case 520out is similar to the outer case 520out of the third modification described above, while the inner cases 520inm, 520inc and 520iny are similar to the inner cases 520inm, 520inc and 520iny of the second modification described above. The outer tanks 590Tm, 590Tc, and 590Ty are configured to contain the respective color ink and supply the contained color ink through internal pumps (not shown) through the 590Cm, 590Cc, and 590Cy tubes to the 520inm, 520inc, and 520iny inner cases. The inner casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny have through holes 507ma, 507ca and 507ya, as described above in the second modification. These through holes 507ma, 507ca, and 507ya are configured to respectively communicate with the ink supply ports 507m, 507c, and 507y of the outer case 520out. An external 590Tm tank and 590Cm tube can connect to the ink supply port 507m; the external tank 590Tc and the tube 590Cc may be connected to the ink supply port 507c; and the external tank 590Ty and the tube 590Cy can be connected to the ink supply port 507y. This configuration enables the supply of magenta ink through the ink supply port 507m to the fluid supply portion 710m of the carriage 8 (FIG. 4), enables the supply of cyan ink through the ink supply port 507c to the fluid supply part 710c, and enables the supply of yellow ink through the supply port 507y ink into the liquid introduction part 710y. The cartridge structure 5E also eliminates leakage of leaked ink and provides the other benefits described above.

[0099] B-3. Other modifications

The present invention is not limited to an inkjet printer or ink cartridges, but is also applicable to any liquid ejection device configured to eject a liquid other than ink and to a cartridge (liquid container) configured to contain another liquid. For example, the invention can be applied to any of various liquid ejection devices and their liquid containers:

(1) an image recording device such as a fax;

(2) a dye ejection device used to produce color filters for an image display device, for example, a liquid crystal display;

(3) an electrode material ejection device used to form electrodes, for example, an organic electroluminescent (electroluminescent) display and a field emission monitor (FED);

(4) a fluid ejection device configured to eject a liquid containing bioorganic material used to make biocrystals;

(5) a sample ejection device used as a precision pipette;

(6) a lubricant oil ejection device;

(7) a device for ejecting a resin solution;

(8) a fluid ejection device for accurately ejecting lubricating oil on high-precision apparatuses such as watches or cameras;

(9) a liquid ejection device configured to eject a solution of a transparent resin, such as a resin solution with UV curable resin, onto a printed circuit board to produce a hemispherical microlens (optical lens) used, for example, for optical communication elements;

(10) a liquid ejection device configured to eject an acid or alkali etch solution to etch a printed circuit board, and the like; and

(11) a liquid ejection device equipped with a liquid ejection head for ejecting a very small volume of drops of any other liquid.

[0100] "Drop" in this document means the state of the fluid pushed out of the fluid ejection device, and may have a granular shape, a teardrop shape, or a wedge-shaped filiform shape. The "fluid" in this document may be any material ejected by a fluid ejection device. A “liquid” can be any material in a liquid phase. For example, materials in a liquid state with high viscosity or low viscosity, liquid materials processed based on sol-gel technology, and other materials in a liquid state, including inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals (metals, passing into a liquid state) are included in the "liquid". "Liquid" is not limited to a liquid state as one of the three states of a substance, but includes solutions, dispersions, and mixtures of functional particles of a solid material, such as pigment dye particles or metal particles, dissolved, dispersed, or mixed with a solvent. Typical examples of a liquid include the ink described in the above embodiment, and a liquid crystal. Inks in this document include common water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as various liquid formulations such as gel inks and hot-melt inks.

[0101] The invention is not limited to any of the embodiments, examples, and modifications described herein, and may be implemented by many other configurations without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the technical features of the embodiments, examples or modifications corresponding to the technical features of the relevant aspects described in the Summary of the Invention may be replaced or combined appropriately to overcome part or all of the problems described above, or to achieve a part or all the benefits described above. Any of the technical features may be excluded appropriately if the technical feature is not described as important in this document.

[0102] In the embodiment and modifications described above, a guide protrusion 723 is provided on the cartridge attachment structure 7, while a first groove 580 into which the guide protrusion 723 is inserted is provided on the cartridge 5. In one modification, the guide protrusion 723 4 shown in FIG. 4 can be replaced by a plurality of protrusions protruding discretely along the length from the intermediate space of the liquid introduction part 710m and the liquid introduction part 710c adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction to part 71 0y fluid injection. The first groove 580 may be formed as one concavity, as shown in FIG. 14, or may be formed as a plurality of concavities into which a plurality of protrusions are individually inserted. The definition of "grooves" includes not only the portion of the recess formed on the cartridge 5, but also the slot completely penetrates through the cartridge 5.

[0103] These applications claim the priority of patent applications (Japan) number: (JP) 2013-260964, filed December 18, 2013; JP 2013-270007, filed December 26, 2013; JP 2013-272477, filed December 27, 2013; JP 2014-015767, filed January 30, 2014; JP 2014-18365, filed February 3, 2014; JP 2014-29769, filed February 19, 2014; JP 2014-31192, filed February 21, 2014; JP 2014-34847, filed February 26, 2014; JP 2014-37928, filed February 28, 2014; JP 2014-37929, filed February 28, 2014; JP 2014-45198, filed March 7, 2014; JP 2014-57360, filed March 20, 2014; JP 2014-61295, filed March 25, 2014; JP 2014-61296, filed March 25, 2014; JP 2014-61297, filed March 25, 2014; and JP 2014-118344, filed June 9, 2014, the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (55)

1. A fluid supply assembly configured to mount a fluid supply assembly having a first fluid injection portion, a second fluid injection portion, a third fluid injection portion, and a protrusion that is located between the first fluid injection portion and the second fluid injection portion and is located between the part of the introduction of the third liquid and the part located between the part of the introduction of the first liquid and the part of the introduction of the second liquid, moreover, the fluid supply unit contains: - a first fluid supply port configured to connect to a first fluid injection portion so as to supply a first fluid to a first fluid injection portion; - a second fluid supply port configured to connect to a second fluid injection portion so as to supply a second fluid to the second fluid injection portion; - a third fluid supply port configured to connect to a third fluid injection portion so as to supply a third fluid to the third fluid injection portion; and - a groove formed between the first fluid supply port and the second fluid supply port and extending from a location between the first fluid supply port and the second fluid supply port to the third fluid supply port so as to enable insertion of the protrusion into it. 2. The fluid supply assembly of claim 1, further comprising: - a first wall configured to have a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port and a groove; - a second wall located opposite the first wall; - a third wall, placed with the possibility of intersection with the first wall and the second wall; - the fourth wall, placed with the possibility of intersection with the first wall and the second wall and located opposite the third wall; - the fifth wall, placed with the possibility of intersection with the first wall and the second wall; and - the sixth wall, placed with the possibility of intersection with the first wall and the second wall and located opposite the fifth wall, at the same time, when viewed from above, the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall: the first fluid supply port is located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall, the second fluid supply port is located between the first fluid supply port and the sixth wall, the groove extends from the fourth wall to the third wall, and a third fluid supply port is located between the groove and the third wall. 3. The fluid supply node according to claim 2, further comprising: - a contact located on the surface of the outer wall of the third wall and placed with the possibility of electrical connection with the electrode on the structure for installing the fluid supply unit, however, when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the third fluid supply port is located between the groove and the contact. 4. The fluid supply unit according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: - the first dividing wall, placed with the possibility of intersection with the first wall and the second wall and located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall; - a second dividing wall, placed with the possibility of intersection with the first wall, the second wall and the first dividing wall and located between the fourth wall and the third wall; - a first fluid chamber defined by at least a first wall, a second wall, a fourth wall, a fifth wall, a first dividing wall and a second dividing wall and arranged to communicate with a supply port of the first liquid; - a second liquid chamber defined by at least a first wall, a second wall, a fourth wall, a sixth wall, a first dividing wall and a second dividing wall and arranged to communicate with the supply port of the second liquid; and a third fluid chamber defined by at least a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a sixth wall, and a first dividing wall and arranged to communicate with a third fluid supply port, however, when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the groove is located between the fourth wall and the third liquid chamber. 5. The fluid supply node according to claim 4, in which the groove is formed in the form of concavity in the first dividing wall. 6. The fluid supply unit according to claim 2 or 3, in which, when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the direction from the first wall to the second wall, the groove is located between the fourth wall and a specific area in which the first wall is in contact with a third sealing element formed around the periphery of the third fluid introduction portion of the assembly installation structure fluid supply. 7. The fluid supply unit according to claim 2 or 3, in which the fourth wall has a concavity arranged so that it is continuous with the groove. 8. The fluid supply according to claim 7, in which the concavity of the fourth wall has a shallower depth in the direction from the first wall to the second wall than the depth of the groove in the direction from the first wall to the second wall. 9. The fluid supply node according to claim 1, moreover, the fluid supply unit has: - the first external form, which includes the first fluid supply port, the second fluid supply port, the third fluid supply port, a groove and a contact that is electrically connected to the electrode of the structure to install the fluid supply unit, when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the first direction - a second external form, when viewed from above, the fluid supply unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction, - a third external form, including contact, when viewed from above the node of the fluid supply in the third direction, orthogonal to the first direction, - a fourth external form, when viewed from above, the fluid supply unit in the fourth direction, opposite the third direction, - a fifth external shape, when viewed from above, the fluid supply unit in a fifth direction orthogonal to the first direction and the third direction, and - the sixth external form, when viewed from above the node of the fluid supply in the sixth direction, opposite the fifth direction. 10. The fluid supply according to claim 9, in which the third fluid supply port is located between the groove and the contact, when viewed from above the fluid supply unit in the first direction. 11. The node fluid supply according to claim 1, additionally containing: - a first element configured to have a liquid chamber separately containing a first liquid, a second liquid and a third liquid, a first liquid supply port, a second liquid supply port, a third liquid supply port and a groove; and - a second element placed on the first element and configured to have a contact terminal including a contact that can be electrically connected to the electrode of the structure to install the fluid supply unit. 12. The fluid supply assembly of claim 1, further comprising: - a first element configured to have a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port and a groove; and - the second element, made with the possibility of attachment and detachment from the first element and have a contact terminal including a contact that can be electrically connected to the electrode of the structure to install the fluid supply unit. 13. The node fluid supply according to claim 1, additionally containing: - a first element configured to have a first fluid supply port, a second fluid supply port, a third fluid supply port, a contact terminal including a contact that can be electrically connected to the structure electrode to install the fluid supply assembly, and a groove; and - a second element configured to connect to the first fluid supply port, the second fluid supply port and the third fluid supply port, so as to supply the first fluid through the first fluid supply port to the first fluid injection portion, to supply the second fluid through the second fluid supply port to part of the introduction of the second fluid and to supply the third fluid through the port of supply of the third fluid in the part of the introduction of the third fluid.

Images