WO2007037451A1

WO2007037451A1 - Ink cartridge, ink jet recording system and set of ink cartridges

Info

Publication number: WO2007037451A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/319619
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shingo Hattori; Tomohiro Kanbe; Toyonori Sasaki
Original assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2005-09-29
Filing date: 2006-09-25
Publication date: 2007-04-05
Also published as: EP1772274B1; EP1772274A2; DE602006002216D1; ATE404376T1; EP1772274A3; EP1772274B2; WO2007037451A9

Abstract

An ink cartridge is configured to be horizontally inserted to an accommodation portion of an ink jet recording apparatus in a mounting direction. The ink cartridge includes a front surface in the mounting direction, an ink storing chamber, an ink supplying part and a detected part. The front surface has a first opening and a second opening formed therethrough. The ink supplying part extends through the first opening and is configured to supply ink from the ink chamber to the ink jet recording apparatus. The detected part is exposed to an outside of the ink cartridge through the second opening and is configured to be detected by a sensor provided in the ink jet recording apparatus. The first opening and the second opening are both offset from a center of the front surface in an alignment direction perpendicular to the mounting direction.

Description

DESCRIPTION

INK CARTRIDGE, INK JET RECORDING SYSTEM AND S

CARTRIDGES

Technical Field

The present invention is related to an ink cartridge, an in system and a set of ink cartridges, more specifically to an ink cartri recording system and a set of ink cartridges which restrict that ink s the ink cartridge is mounted to and removed from an ink jet record adheres to an adjacent extracting member and which thereby prev printing quality is deteriorated Background Art

Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No 2003 25608 di jet printer to which a plurality of ink containers are inserted horizo ink containers are mounted and aligned in the ink jet printer An formed through a side surface of the ink container A fluid inlet cor the ink outlet is formed on a corresponding side surface of the ink jet p extend toward the ink container A mounting portion in the ink divided for mounting the ink containers respectively When the in horizontally inserted and mounted to the divided predetermined posit jet printer, the ink outlet is connected to the fluid inlet so that i container can be supplied to the ink jet printer

Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No 11 291516 di jet printing system to which a plurality of ink containers are verticall the ink containers ane mounted and aligned in the ink jet printing sy outlet is formed in a bottom surface of the ink container so that through the ink outlet An ink inlet is formed at a corresponding sur jet printing system The ink jet printing system has no dividing wall However, in the ink jet printing system having no dividing walls the i are positioned closer to each other to minimize the size of the apparatu the ink scattered from the ink outlet and the ink inlet when the in mounted to and removed from the accommodation area may adhere t ink outlet or the adjacent ink inlet Ink is scattered regardless of direction of the ink container (horizontally or vertically) Therefor dividing walls, it is more likely that the scattered ink adheres to th outlet or ink inlet Especially if the scattered ink adheres to the adj or ink outlet, different color inks are mixed Therefore an ink different color ink is required to be removed completely to print with Otherwise the printing quality is deteriorated

An object of the present invention is to provide an ink cartrid recording system and a set of ink cartridges which restrict that ink s the ink cartridge is mounted to or removed from an ink jet recordi adheres to an adjacent extracting member and also restrict that prin deteriorated

This object is solved by an ink cartridge according to claim 1, recording system according to claim 10 and by a set of ink cartridge claim 14 Further developments are specified in the dependent claims

With the ink cartridge according to the invention, even if in when the ink cartridge in the predetermined accommodation positi therefrom or mounted thereto, it is relatively difficult for the scattered to an extracting member corresponding to the penetration opening o ink cartridge because the penetration openings are offset from the front surface in an alignment direction and thus can be farther sp penetration openings of an adjacent cartridge This prevents de image quality due to mixing of ink This becomes in particular rele supply passage of the dye ink, it takes long time to complete the This is because the pigment ink has high viscosity and is not easi Therefore, the amount of waste ink which is discharged during the p increased If the ink cartridge accommodated in the p accommodation position which is an end portion stores the pigment i is scattered when the ink cartridge is mounted to or remov predetermined accommodation position, it is relatively difficult for the to adhere to the extracting member corresponding to the penetration adjacent ink cartridge which stores the dye ink This reduces ne purge process and time required for the purge process This als amount of ink which is discharged in waste Assuming that the pig black ink and the dye ink is a color ink, if the black ink is mixed with serious influence is caused on the printing quality However, the stored in the ink cartridge which is accommodated in the p accommodation position which is an end portion Therefore, the a which is discharged in waste is reduced

By connecting a pair of casing members wherein a height of wall of one casing member is higher than a height of the extended wa of the casing members, the casing can be manufactured such that th opening is formed at the position offset from the center of the front alignment direction by the predetermined distance

By connecting a pair of casing members which comprise a defi accommodation space which accommodates the valve mechanism can

When the extracting members corresponding to the first ink arranged at a constant interval and the extracting member corresp second ink cartridge is spaced farther from¹ the adjacent extracting m ink is scattered when the second ink cartridge accommodated in apparatus having the first accommodation member This reduces cost

With a set of ink cartridges comprising a first ink cartridge penetration opening is arranged in the center of the front surface an cartridge in which the penetration opening is arranged offset from t penetration opening of the second ink cartridge can be arranged far penetration opening of the first ink cartridge in an accommodation po jet recording apparatus without the necessity to increase the overal accommodation portion Thus, even if ink is scattered from the extra corresponding to the second ink cartridge, it can be restireicted that t to the extracting member corresponding to the adjacent ink cartridge Brief Description of Drawings FlG 1 is an angled diagram showing the external appearance of the device of the present invention FlG 2 is an angled diagram of the refill unit

FIG 3 is a side view showing the state in which the door of the refill opened

FlG 4 is a cross sectional diagram showing the refill unit in Figur

FlG 5 is a cross sectional diagram showing the refill unit in Figur

FlG 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the door of the refill FlG 7 is an angled diagram showing the external appearance of cartridge

FlG 8 is an angled diagram showing the details of the color ink cart FlG 9 IS a diagram showing the protector, where (a) is a top surface protector in Figure 8 as seen from the IXa perspective, FlG 14 is a diagram showing the ink reservoir element where (a) is the ink reservoir element and (b) is a side view of the ink reser

FlG 15 is a diagram showing the supply path formation part w diagram showing a summary of the supply path formation pa of the frame part), (b) is a cross sectional diagram showing th formation part in Figure 15(a) along the XVb XVb line, (c) showing the state in which the amount of ink has been reduce diagram showing the completion of the ink supply

FlG 16 is a diagram showing the ambient air path formation part, angled diagram showing a summary of the ambient air path f (b) is a diagram showing the ambient air path formation part i along the arrow XVIb perspective, and (c) is a diagram showin air path formation part in Figure 16(a) along the arrow XVIc p

FlG 17 is a diagram showing the injection path formation part, diagram showing a summary of the injection path formation p a cross sectional diagram of the injection path formation part i along the XVIIb XVIIb line

FlG 18 is a diagram showing the detection part vicinity, where (a) showing a summary of the detection part vicinity, (b) is a diagram of the detection part in Figure 18(a) along the XVIII and (c) is a cross sectional diagram of the detection part in along the XVIIIc XVIIIc line

FlG 19 is a diagram showing the sensor arm, where (a) is a fro sensor arm and (b) is a diagram showing the sensor arm in along the arrow XIXb perspective

FlG 20 is a diagram showing one part of the ink reservoir element, diagram showing the side of the ink reservoir element, (b) side of the supply cap, (b) is a diagram showing the side surfac cap in Figure 23(a) along the arrow XXIIIb perspective, (c) showing the planar surface of the supply cap, (d) is a diagra bottom surface of the supply cap, and (e) is a cross sectional d supply cap in Figure 23(c) along the XXIIIe XXIIIe line

FlG 24 is a diagram showing the supply joint, where (a) is a diagra side of the supply joint, (b) is a diagram showing the planar supply joint, (c) is a diagram showing the bottom surface of th and (d) is a cross sectional diagram of the supply joint in Figu the XXIVd XXIVd line

FlG 25 is a diagram showing the supply valve, where (a) is a diagra side of the supply valve, (b) is a diagram showing the side of th in Figure 25(a) along the arrow XXVb perspective, (c) is a dia the planar surface of the supply valve, (d) is a diagram showi surface of the supply valve, and (e) is a cross sectional diagram valve in Figure 25(c) along the XXVe XXVe line

FlG 26 is a diagram showing the first supply spring, where (a) showing the side of the first supply spring, (b) is a diagram planar surface of the first supply spring, (c) is a diagram showi surface of the first supply spring, and (d) is a cross sectional d first supply spring in Figure 26(b) along the XXVId XXVId line

FlG 27 is a diagram showing the supply slider, where (a) is a diagra side of the supply slider, (b) is a diagram showing the side slider in Figure 27(a) along the arrow XXVIIb perspective, (c) showing the planar surface of the supply slider, (d) is a diagra bottom surface of the supply slider, and (e) is a cross sectional supply slider in Figure 27(c) along the XXVIIe XXVIIe line and (c) is a cross sectional diagram of the check valve in Figu the XXIXd XXIXd line

FlG 30 is a diagram showing the cover, where (a) is a diagram show the cover, (b) is a diagram showing the planar surface of the diagram showing the bottom surface of the cover, and (d) is a c diagram of the cover in Figure 30(b) along the XXXd XXXd lin

FlG 31 IS a diagram showing the ambient air cap, where (a) is a dia the side of the ambient air cap (b) is a diagram showing t ambient air cap in Figure 3l(a) along the arrow XXXIb persp diagram showing the planar surface of the ambient air cap, (d showing the bottom surface of the ambient air cap, cross sectional diagram of the ambient air cap in Figure 3 XXXIe XXXIe line

FlG 32 is a diagram showing the ambient air joint, where (a) showing the side of the ambient air joint, (b) is a diagram show surface of the ambient air joint, (c) is a diagram showing the b of the ambient air joint, and (d) is a cross sectional diagram o air joint in Figure 32(b) along the XXXIId XXXIId line

FlG 33 is a diagram showing the ambient air valve, where (a) is a dia the side of the ambient air valve, and (b) is a diagram showi surface of the ambient air valve

FlG 34 is a partial cross sectional diagram showing the state in w supply mechanism and the ambient air intake mechanis assembled into the ink supply unit and the ambient air intake

FlG 35 is a diagram showing the manufacturing processes prior t film

FlG 36 is a diagram showing the welding processes for the film, FlG 38 is a diagram showing the attachment process for the case, diagram showing the process to sandwich the frame part by th is a diagram showing the welding process to weld the case

FlG 39 is a diagram showing the manufacturing processes that prior to shipment of the ink cartridge, where (a) is a diagra process to attach the protective cap, and (b) is a diagram showi to package the ink cartridge using the packaging unit

FlG 40 is a diagram showing the method of attaching the ink ca multifunction device

FlG 41 is a diagram showing the state in which the ink cartri attached to the multifunction device

FlG 42 is a diagram showing the operation of the sensor arm corres amount of ink remaining within the ink reservoir chamber, w the state in which there is ink remaining, and (b) shows the s there is no ink remaining

FlG 43 is a diagram showing the operation theory of the diagrammatically

FlG 44 is a cross sectional diagram showing the state in which the has been attached to the multifunction device 1 in the wrong o

FlG 45 is a diagram showing the method of removing the ink cartr mkjet recording device

FlG 46 is a diagram showing the front perspective of the ink cart state in which it is removed from the multifunction device

FlG 47 is a diagram showing the structure to reduce adherence of th detection surface of the detection part of the ink cartridge, w the state in which the ink cartridge has been removed from the is a diagram showing the surface on which the detection part cross sectional diagram showing a summary of the case in Figu the XXXXIXb XXXXIXb line

FlG 50 is a cross sectional diagram showing the state in which each has been attached within the case

FlG 51 IS a diagram showing the combination of the c diagrammatically

FlG 52 is a diagram showing the ink cartridge and refill unit ac second example of embodiment, where (a) is a diagram showi the ink cartridge according to the second example of embodime diagram showing the cross section of the state in which the ink been attached within the refill unit

FlG 53 is an angled diagram showing the external appearance of th according to the third and fourth examples of embodiment, w angled diagram showing the external appearance of the according to the third example of embodiment, and (b) is an a showing the external appearance of the ink cartridge accordin example of embodiment

FlG 54 IS an angled diagram showing the ink cartridge accordin example of embodiment

FlG 55 is a cross sectional diagram showing the state in which the according to the fifth example of embodiment has been attac refill unit

FlG 56 is a cross sectional diagram showing the state in which the according to the sixth example of embodiment has been attac refill unit

FlG 57 is a block diagram showing a summary of the electrical st multifunction device according to the sixth example of embodi FlG 60 is a diagram showing the ink cartridge and refill unit acc ninth example of embodiment FlG 61 is an angled diagram showing the external appearance of the according to the tenth example of embodiment FlG 62 is an exploded perspective diagram showing the ink cartridg the tenth example of embodiment

FlG 63 is a diagram showing the interchange procedure for the ink FlG 64 is a diagram showing the ink reservoir unit according to example of embodiment

FlG 65 is a diagram showing a modified example of the combinati members

FlG 66 is a diagram showing a modified example of the combinati members

FlG 67 is a diagram showing a modified example of the combinati members Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Preferable embodiments of the present invention will be descri with reference to the attached drawings Figure 1 is an oblique vie appearance of multifunction device 1 in which ink cartridge 14 o invention is installed

Printer part 11 is provided on the lower part of multifunction scanner part 12 is provided on the upper part of this printer part 11 device 1 is an MFD (Multi Function Device) in which printer part 1 part 12 are provided as a unit, and it has various functions such function, scanner function, copy function, and facsimile function

Multifunction device 1 is primarily connected to a computer (ext illustrated in the figure), and it records images or documents to re data such as image data recorded on the recording medium to recordi

In multifunction device 1, printer part 11 is configured as an in device, and refill unit 13, which stores ink that is supplied to a recor illustrated in the figure) that discharges ink drops in advance is eq base of the front surface of multifunction device 1 Refill unit 13 h design and is configured such that ink cartridge 14 can be easily repl will be described in detail below

Scanner part 12 is equipped with document bed 15, which functio (Flatbed Scanner), and document cover 16, which is provided on the this document bed 15 (top of figure l) Document cover 16 is e automatic document feeder (ADF Auto Document Feeder, called "A 17, and it is attached to the back side of document bed 15 (back sid using a hinge such that it can be freely opened and closed Theref cover 16 is opened and closed by rotating in the direction of arrow A document bed 15 In this embodiment, document bed 15 constitutes a housing of multifunction device 1, and document cover 16 constitute the top surface of multifunction device 1

Document bed 15 is equipped with a contact glass sheet (not illu figure) between the document bed and document cover 16, and it is an image reading unit (not illustrated in the figure) on the inside placed between document cover 16 and the contact glass sheet, a reading unit reads images from the document by moving along the sheet from the bottom of the contact glass sheet

Document cover 16 is equipped with ADF 17, and this ADF 17 is co that it can consecutively feed up to a prescribed number of doc document tray 18 to paper ejection tray 19 Moreover, ADF 17 structure, so its detailed description will be omitted In this e built in to the front surface Ia side and the bottom surface Ib side of device 1 In this embodiment, refill unit 13 is configured such that it hold four ink cartridges 14, and black, yellow, magenta, and cyan stored in each of these ink cartridges 14 The ink of each color cartridges 14 is supplied to the recording head through ink tube 53 (s

Moreover, opening/closing cover 20 that opens and closes opening the end of front surface Ia (end of the front right side in Figure l) is p front surface of refill unit 13 (front of Figure l) Opening/closin configured such that it can be freely rotated between a position in wh refill unit 13 through opening 21 and a position in which it closes o houses refill unit 13 by folding it over to the front (front direction in F

Opening 22 is formed in the center of front surface Ia of multifun and a paper feed tray (not illustrated in the figure) is positioned insid 22 Gn Figure 1 the state in which the paper feed tray is disengaged i After the recording paper that is sent from the paper feed tray is se side, it is sent to the top and finally fed to the front side, and image onto the recording paper while the recording paper is fed The recor then discharged to a paper ejection tray (not illustrated in the fi provided on the upper part of the paper feed tray inside opening 22

Operation panel 30 is attached to the top surface of the front s multifunction device 1 (upper part of the front surface in Figure l) panel 30 is an operation part for the purpose of performing the operat part 11 and scanner part 12 and it is equipped with various operati and liquid crystal display part 35 The various operation keys 31 3 operation panel 30 are connected to a control device (or a control circ illustrated in the figure) used as a control means for controlling m through flat cables not illustrated in the Figure In addition Image data is stored on the small memory card, and the image data (o related to image data) that is read out from the small memory card i liquid crystal display part 35 The device is configured such that arb displayed on liquid crystal display 35 can then be recorded to recordin operation of operation panel 30

Next, refill unit 13 will be described with reference to Figures 2 6 oblique view of refill unit 13 Figure 3 is a side view of the state in wh refill unit 13 has been opened Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of through line IV IV of Figure 2, and the state in which ink cartridges 1 is illustrated Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of refill unit 13 throu Figure 2, and the state in which ink cartridges 14 are installed is illus 6 is an exploded perspective view of door 41 of refill unit 13 Fig illustrate the state in which needle forming member 48 is removed

As illustrated in Figure 2, refill unit 13 is primarily equipped wit which ink cartridges 14 are inserted and removed, and door 41 whic to this case 40 Case 40 is formed into a roughly rectangular parallel whole, and, as illustrated in Figure 4, accommodating chambers 50 ( that house and hold ink cartridges 14 are partitioned and formed on this embodiment, case 40 has four accommodating chambers 50 cartridges 14 are inserted into and removed from each accommodatin The inner wall surface shape of each accommodating chamber 50 is that it demarcates space corresponding to the outside shape of ink car when each ink cartridge 14 is installed in case 40, it is held inside ca rattling

As illustrated in Figure 2, case 40 is equipped with bottom plate plate parts 43 that are provided on the left and right sides of this bott 42 (side plate part 43 on the back left side is not illustrated in Figure Further, partition wall parts 47 do not need to completely p accommodating chamber 50, so they may be of any shape as long protrudes to the inside from at least one of bottom plate part 42 or cei 44 and divides the space between adjacent accommodating chambers

Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 2, cutout part 40a (opening opened is formed on the back side of case 40 (back right side of Figure forming member 48 is fitted into this cutout part 40a Needle member) that extracts the ink inside ink cartridges 14 is formed on n member 48 based on the number of ink cartridges 14 housed in a chambers 50 of case 40

As illustrated in Figure 5, needle 49 extends along the direction of case 40 and in a roughly horizontal direction (ink cartridge installatio the state in which needle forming member 48 is engaged with cut When an ink cartridge 14 is installed in an accommodating chamber 49 is inserted into ink supply part 120 (see Figure 8) of ink cartridge supply path is formed as supply valve 620 (see Figure 22) of ink supp 500 (see Figure 22) is pressed Needle 49 communicates with ink extr 52 that projects upward on the back side of case 40 (right side of Fig tube 53 is connected to this ink extraction opening 52 Ink tube 53 is c lnkjet recording head (not illustrated in the figure) and it is able to inside ink cartridges 14 to the inkjet recording head

Passage 54, which introduces ambient air into ink cartridges 14, the side wall of case 40 which forms the top of needle 49 (top of Figur ink inside ink cartridges 14 is extracted through needle 49, corresponding to the extracted ink passes through passage 54 and is ink cartridges 14

Further protrusion 55 that projects to the ink cartridge 14 sid height of the ink liquid level (remaining ink) inside ink cartridge 1 between needle 49 and passage 54 This remaining ink detection s transmissive optical sensor that has light emitting part 57a and light 57b, and it is provided according to the number of ink cartridges accommodating chambers 50 Remaining ink detection sensor 57 is position corresponding to detection part 140 (see Figure 8) of ink cartr state in which ink cartridge 14 is housed inside accommodating cha is arranged in a position in which light emitting part 57a and light 57b can sandwich both sides of detection part 140 of ink cartridge 14 accommodating chamber 50 (See Figure 18(b)) Remaining ink detec is connected to a control device, and the amount of remaining ink stor cartridge 14 is constantly monitored by this control device

Rib 44a is provided on ceiling plate part 44, and this improves case 40 Further, ceding plate part 44 is equipped with swing arm m A tension spring is attached between swing arm mechanism 44b an part 44, and swing arm mechanism 44b is always elastically biased i of door 41 (front left side of Figure 2, left side of Figures 3 5) Swing ar 44b is configured such that the ends that project into case 41 (a chamber 50) engage with latch parts 217a and 227a (see Figure 8) of 14, for example in the state in which it is elastically biased It is the to reliably hold ink cartridge 14 that is installed in case 40

Opening 45 is provided on the front surface of case 40 (insertion which ink cartridge 14 is installed) This opening 45 is provided o accommodating chambers 50 In other words, each accommodating successively provided inside case 40 on each opening 45, and the four 14 are respectively inserted into and removed from each accommod 50 through openings 45 Here, the structure of door 41 will be described in detail with refer 6 Door 41 is equipped with door main body 60, pressing retaining m is provided on this door main body 60, door lock member 62 (lock ba (locks) door 41 to case 40, and lock release lever 63 that releases doo fastened state Door main body 60, pressing retaining member 61, doo 62, and lock release lever 63 are each molded using resins

As illustrated in Figure 6, door main body 60 is roughly formed i the shape of a long and thin rectangle The external shape of door m formed according to the shape of opening 45 of case 40 Rotating which is supported on the lower part of the front surface of case 40, is bottom end of door main body 60 (bottom side end in Figure 6) Speci part 42a is formed on the front end of bottom plate part 42 of case 40 ( 3, and 4), and rotating shaft part 64 is fitted into this bearing part 42 can rotate freely As a result, door main body 60 can close opemng 45 b or open opening 45 by folding over

Pullout member 65, which is formed as a unit with door mai provided on the bottom end of door main body 60 This pullout roughly formed into an L shape, and it has extension part 65a and cu Extension part 65a is successively provided on the bottom end of door (rotating shaft part 64), and curved part 65b is successively provid approximately 90° angle with extension part 65a

When door 41 is in the blocked position (state illustrated in Figur curved part 65b projects even further upwards than installation accommodating chamber 50 (bottom surface inside accommodating ch makes contact with the bottom surface of ink cartridge 14» see Figure body 60 rotates around rotating shaft part 64 as a rotational center, a pullout member 65 that is formed in an L shape also rotates around parallel to installation surface 51

Outer wall surface 65c functions as a guide surface that guides in onto installation surface 51 mside accommodating chamber 50 in the door 41 is in the open position As a result, pullout member 65 functio a member for pulling ink cartridge 14 out of accommodating chamber a guiding member when inserting ink cartridge 14 into accommodatin

In this embodiment, two pullout members 65 are provided on e body 60 In other words, pullout members 65 are configured such positioned opposite the width direction of door main body 60 an cartridge 14 by sandwiching it in the width direction Moreover, in thi the spacing between each of the pullout members 65 is set to be sm width direction of ink cartridge 14

Claw 61a is provided on both sides of pressing retaining member protrudes to the outside from the side surface, and claw accommodati which claw 61a is housed, is provided on door main body 60 Claw a part 60a is configured from a groove that extends in a direction t perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of door main body 60 (ver in Figure 6) Claw 61a is fitted into claw accommodating part 60a su slide freely, so pressing retaining member 61 is supported such that i and retreat in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal di main body 60 In other words, pressing retaining member 61 can ch between a projected position in which it is raised from the inside s main body 60 (state illustrated in Figure 3) and a retreated position i retreated from the projected position to the side of door main b illustrated in Figure 4) Moreover, coil spring 66 is placed bet retaining member 61 and door main body 60 Therefore, pressing reta 61 is elastically biased such that it is always in the projected position _^,

18

flat plate, while wall surface 61b of this pressing retaining member 6 makes contact with the side surface of ink cartridge 14 when doo blocked position) is formed into a flat surface, and a pair of projectin formed on this wall surface 61b Therefore, when door 41 is in the blo these strips 61c make contact with and press against the side s cartridge 14

Moreover, pressing retaining member 61 is configured such that blocked position, it presses slightly downward from the center p vertical direction of ink cartridge 14 (vertical direction in Figure 4) I pressing retaining member 61 is provided in a position in which it and presses downward from the center position in the vertical di cartridge 14 This is for the purpose of improving the operationahty which the user operates door 41 For example, when pressing retaini is positioned at or above the center position in the vertical direction o 14, the user operates door 41 by holding it in the vicinity of lock relea the distance between the part that is operated by the user and retaining member 61 becomes small Therefore, the force induced by of pressing retaining member 61 becomes large, and a force that is la operate door 41 therefore becomes necessary On the other hand retaining member 61 is positioned below the center position in the ver of ink cartridge 14, the distance between the part that is operated by pressing retaining member 61 is large, so the user is able to operate small amount of force Moreover, when pressing retaining member 6 too far downward in the vertical direction of ink cartridge 14, it press end of ink cartridge 14, so ink cartridge 14 sometimes slopes inside a chamber 50 making it unable to hold ink cartridge 14 correctly Ho embodiment, pressing retaining member 61 is positioned slightly bel Moreover, as will be described below ink cartridge 14 of this e equipped with ink supply part 120 and ambient air intake part 13 surface opposite the side surface that makes contact with press member 61, and this ink supply part 120 and ambient air intake equipped with valve mechanisms having an elastic force In other wo a biasing force (first and second supply springs 630 and 650 and fir ambient air springs 730 and 750) that presses the valves (supply ambient air valve 720) outward such that they block communicatio interior and exterior or ink cartridge 14 Therefore, in order to r communication between ink cartridge 14 and the exterior, the el pressing retaining member 61 of this embodiment is set such that it the elastic force of the valve mechanisms of ink supply part 120 an intake part 130 As a result, when ink cartridge 14 is in accommodating chamber 50, the ink inside ink cartridge 14 is reliably ambient air can be reliably introduced into ink cartridge 14 Moreov part 120 is on the bottom end and ambient air intake part 130 is on t the position in which ink cartridge 14 is installed in accommodating c pressing retaining member 61 presses against a position that is rela the center position in the vertical direction of ink cartridge 14 comparison to the case in which it presses against either the top or ink cartridge 14, the direction in which the momentum acts sta cartridge 14 can be stabilized and held

Door lock member 62 is attached to the top end of door main unit top side in Figure 6) Door lock member 62 has main shaft part 62a, that projects in the direction of the inside of case 40 continuing from of mam shaft part 62a (upper side of Figure 6), and seat part 62c (con projects in the direction of the outside of case 40 continuing from th Claw 62e is provided on the bottom part of both sides of key par shaft part 62a When door lock member 62 is fitted into door main uni is housed in claw accommodating part 60c provided on door main body accommodating part 60c is configured from a groove that extends prescribed length in the vertical direction Therefore, when door loc slides upward or downward, claw 62e makes contact with the inside claw accommodating part 60c, and the sliding of door lock member 62 direction is thus restricted

The sliding range of door lock member 62 is defined as a result of the length of the groove that constitutes claw accommodating p prescribed dimension When door lock member 62 slides upward w door main body 60 and claw 62e makes contact with the top edge of t surface of claw accommodating part 60c door lock member 62 is in t which it projects upward from the upper end of door main body 60 member 62 slides downward with respect to door main body 60 and cl contact with the bottom edge of the inside wall surface of claw accom 60c, door lock member 62 is in the position in which it retreats to the main body 60 In this specification, the position at which door loc makes contact with the top edge of the inside wall surface of claw a part 60c is defined as the "projected position', and the position at w member 62 makes contact with the bottom edge of claw accommodati defined as the "retreated position"

Coil spring 67 (elastic member) is placed between door lock memb main body 60 Therefore, door lock member 62 is elastically biase always projects upward from door main body 60 - in other words, in t which it is displaced to the projection position

The top surface of key part 62b of door lock member 62 is a slope fitted into lock member fitting part 46 (see Figures 2 and 5), which i the top edge of opening 45 of case 40 Door lock member 62 is elastical that it always projects from door main body 60 due to coil spring 67, s inside lock member fitting part 46, but the position of door lock me intermediate position such that it retreats slightly more to the retr side than the projecting side Door lock member 62 is always elast against lock member fitting part 46 when it is in the intermediate po lock member 62 never easily deviates from lock member fitting part 4

Lock release lever 63 is formed into the shape of a rectangular p attached to the top of the outside of door main body 60 in a state fastened to case 40 Door main body 60 is equipped with accommoda which houses lock release lever 63 This accommodating part 6Od concave part that is provided on door main body 60 This will be de and when lock release lever 63 changes positions lock release lever 6 accommodating part 6Od

Supporting pin 63a is provided on the bottom end of lock release le same time, pin support hole 6Oe, into which supporting pin 63a is fitt on door main body 60 Because supporting pin 63a is fitted into this pi 6Oe, lock release lever 63 is configured such that it can rotate free rotational center of supporting pin 63a Specifically, lock releas configured such that it can be freely rotated and displaced between a p roughly parallel to the outer surface of door main body 60, a position inclined at approximately 45° (degrees) (state of door 41 on right sid and a position in which it is folded over roughly horizontally (state of t from the right side of Figure 2) by moving the lever In this spe position of lock release lever 63 when it is housed inside accommodati defined as the "housed position", and the position of lock release lever " through the intermediate position, and to the retreated position Put around, when door lock member 62 is in the projected position, lock re is placed in the housed position and door 41 is closed, and in the state lock member 62 makes contact with lock member fitting part 46 of release lever 63 can be freely displaced between the housed position a position At this time, the central position of lock release lever 63 is s always moves to the neutral position due to its own weight Becaus lever 63 arrives in the neutral position due to its own weight, it improve the operationahty into the folded position

Here, the outline of the operation of lock release lever 63 will Interlocking cam 63b of lock release lever 63 makes contact with se door lock member 62 In the state in which door 41 is closed (state Figure 4) lock release lever 63 attempts to further rotate door loc through interlocking cam 63b in a direction pressing downward How member 62 is always elastically biased upward by coil spring 67, member 62 is not displaced by the action of the weight of lock release l and door lock member 62 is maintained in the intermediate position

However, when lock release lever 63 is forcibly rotated — for examp in which a user attempting to replace ink cartridge 14 operates an release lever 63 — lock release lever 63 is rotated and displaced to the f When lock release lever 63 is displaced to the folded position, interloc rotates and changes the position centered on supporting pin 63a an part 62c of door lock member 62 downward As a result door lock me downward in opposition to the elastic force of coil spring 67 and is di retreated position When door lock member 62 is displaced to the retre the lock of door 41 is released, and this door 41 changes from the bloc the open position unit 60, rotating is possible with rotating shaft part 64 as the center the point that door 41 is nearly horizontal so the user can easil cartridge 14 Moreover, the two strips 61c that are provided on wall pressing retaining member 61 also operate as guides when housing in inside accommodating chamber 50 in cooperation with a guide part b parts 65b In other words when ink cartridge 14 is to be accommodating part 50, the user may load the bottom surface of in onto strips 61c, place the tip part of ink cartridge 14 between curved then press ink cartridge 14 in the direction of accommodating chambe when ink cartridge 14 is to be removed from accommodating chambe should remove it until the bottom surface of ink cartridge 14 reac strips 61c from between curved parts 65b

When multifunction device 1 is in normal use, door 41 of refill uni and lock release lever 63 is placed in the neutral position Therefore, in Figure 1, when opening/closing cover 20 is opened when replacing 14, lock release lever 63 slopes to the front surface side As a resul advantage that the user can easily operate lock release lever 63 I illustrated in Figure 1, refill unit 13 is placed on front surface Ia of device 1, so if lock release lever 63 is placed in the neutral position (if i front surface side), then it is necessary for a space that is wi accommodate refill unit 13 to be secured inside multifunction device 1 is necessary for refill unit 13 to be placed further back from the rim resulting in the risk that the external dimensions of multifunction become large However, in this embodiment, lock release lever 63 ca between the neutral position and the housed position when door 41 is position with respect to case 40, so refill unit 13 can be placed in the rim of opening 21 This is because even if refill unit 13 placed on the r cartridge 14 However, with regard to the structure of each ink car cartridge 14 that stores black mk is formed such that it is slightly th ink cartridges 14 that store the other colors of ink This is because t black ink is generally the highest and it is expended in large quantitie black ink consists of pigmented inks, while colored inks consist of when black ink is mixed with colored ink, large quantities of colore expended for the recovery process Therefore, the external shape of t formed into a large shape such that colored ink and black ink ca confirmed Moreover, the structures of ink cartridges 14 that store co all formed into the same shapes

First, colored ink cartridges 14 for storing colored ink will be d reference to Figures 7 to 9 Figure 7 is an oblique view showing appearance of a colored ink cartridge 14 Figure 8 is an exploded obliq colored ink cartridge 14 Figure 9 is a diagram showing protector 30 top surface view of protector 300 from the perspective of IXa in Figure a cross sectional view of protector 300 through line IXb IXb in Figu following description, the X direction indicates the longitudinal di cartridge 14 (case 200, ink reservoir element 100), the Y direction height direction of ink cartridge 14 (case 200, ink reservoir element orthogonal to the X direction, and the Z direction indicates the w (thickness direction) of ink cartridge 14 (case 200, ink reservoir eleme is orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction Arrow B illustrat is parallel to the X direction, which indicates the longitudinal di cartridge 14, and it indicates the direction in which ink cartridge 14 is refill unit 13

As illustrated in Figure 7, colored ink cartridge 14 is equipped which covers roughly the entire body of ink reservoir element 100 t be used as resin materials

As illustrated in Figure 8, ink reservoir element 100 is primarily frame part 110, which forms ink reservoir chamber 111 that stores in and reservoir space including ink reservoir chamber 111), ink sup which supplies ink stored in this frame part 110 to multifunction Figure l), ambient air intake part 130, which introduces ambient part 110, detection part 140 (irradiated part), which is provided in o the amount of remaining ink stored inside frame part 110, ink dispen which dispenses ink into frame part 110, and film 160, which is welde of frame part 110 (both top and bottom surfaces in Figure 8) in order reservoir chamber on frame part 110 Descriptions of frame part 11 part 120, ambient air intake part 130, detection part 140, ink dispen and film 160 and the manufacturing process for ink reservoir eleme given below

Case 200 comprises two case elements 210 and 220 that sandwic element 100 from above and below (top and bottom of Figure 8> Z di case member 210 is a member that covers the bottom side surface o element 100 in Figure 8, and second case element 220 is a member t top side surface of ink reservoir element 100 in Figure 8 First an members 210 and 220 are made of resin materials and are manuf injection molding The depths of first and second case members (lengths in the upward direction of Figure 8 (lengths in the Z directio such that they are roughly equivalent, and they are formed such th these depths is roughly equivalent to the thickness of ink reservoir el a result, the distance between ink reservoir element 100 and the ins case 200 becomes small (the gap becomes narrow), so even if pressure inward from the outside of case 200, the amount of deformation of c 210c and 210b are vertical wall parts 21Od and 21Oe (the right side vertical wall part 21Od, and the left side of Figure 8 is vertical wall pa

Two case cutout parts 211 and 212 for the purpose of exposing in 120 and ambient air intake part 130 to the outside of case 200 vertical wall part 210b of first case member 210 Case cutout parts 21 formed into roughly semicircular shapes from the edges of vertical w and case cutout part 211 on the right front side of Figure 8 is a cutout to ink supply part 120, while case cutout part 212 on the left back side a cutout corresponding to ambient air intake part 130 Rectangular ca 213, which is cut out into a rectangular shape, is formed between ca 211 and case cutout part 212, and this is a cutout for inserting r detection sensor 57 (see Figure 5) to the position at which it sandwi part 140 Contact groove 211a, which makes contact with ink suppl formed on the inside surface connecting to case cutout part 211 of firs 210, and contact groove 212b, which makes contact with ambient a 130 is formed on the inside surface connecting to case cutout part 21 member 210 Because these contact grooves 212a and 212b are alignment of ink reservoir element 100 with first case member 210 be

Moreover, two case projecting parts 214a and 214b, which p direction of protector 300 (left front direction and X direction in Figu surface on which case cutout parts 211 213 are formed (vertical wall p formed on first case member 210 Case projecting parts 214a and 21 on both sides of first case member 210 in the Y direction (right front left back side end of Figure 8) such that they sandwich case cutout pa and the ink supply part 120 side (right front side of Figure 8) is case p 214a, while the ambient air intake part 130 side (left back side of Fi projecting part 214b Case projecting part 214a has sloping surface due to its slope

On case projecting part 214a, case projecting cutout part 214al, w into a rectangular shape, is formed on the inside surface that forms t cutout parts 211 to 213 On case projecting part 214b, Case projecti 214bl, which is also cut out into a rectangular shape, is also formed surface that forms the side of case cutout parts 211 to 213 These c cutout parts 214al and 214bl are provided in order to prevent desorption of protector 300 in the state in which protector 300 is att 200, and protruding parts 330al and 330bl of protector 300 which wil below, are fitted into these parts (see Figure 9)

Further, case fitting groove 214b2, which is used as a fitting part i protector fitting part 320 of protector 300 (see Figure 9) described be on case projecting part 214b This case fitting groove 214b2 is for portion of vertical wall part 21Oe from the edge of case projecting part the protector 300 side)

Moreover, rod member 215a, which protrudes in the direction o member 220 (Z direction) in the vicinity of vertical wall part 21Od on t part 120 side (right front side of Figure 8) and determines the p reservoir element 100 sealed inside case 200, and rod members 21 which protrude in the direction of second case member 220 (Z dir vicinity of vertical wall part 21Oe on the ambient air intake part 130 side of Figure 8) and determine the position of ink reservoir element case 200, are formed on first case member 210 The position of ink rese 100 is determined by the three locations of these rod members 215a to can prevent the attachment of ink reservoir element 100 in mistaken

Second case member 220 comprises a plate shaped part that surface 220a and vertical wall parts 220b to 22Oe that are provid symmetrical to first case member 210 As with first case member 2 cutout parts 221 to 223 are formed on vertical wall part 220b, and 221a connected to case cutout part 221 and contact groove 222a con cutout part 222 are also formed Case cutout parts 221 and 222 are fo same shapes as case cutout parts 211 and 212 of first case member semicircular shapes) and case cutout part 223 is formed into the s case cutout part 213 of first case member 210 (roughly rectangular sh case projecting parts 224a and 224b are formed on both sides of cas

221 to 223, and case projecting part 224a has sloping surface 224a2 the direction of case cutout parts 221 to 223 towards the edge from th connects to the outside surface of vertical wall part 21Od of second cas Case projecting cutout part 224al (not illustrated in the figure) is f projecting part 224a, and case projecting cutout part 224b 1 and case 224b2 are formed on case projecting part 224b across a portion of ver 22Oe from the edge of case projecting part 224b On second case memb hole parts 225a to 225c (not illustrated in the figure) having holes i members 215a 215c fit after passing through in the direction of first 210 (Z direction) corresponding to the positions at which rod member of first case member 210 are formed

As described above first case member 210 and second case emb 200 are formed into roughly the same shapes, and when they are i which they hold ink reservoir element 100, roughly circular throu expose a portion of ink supply part 120 to the outside are formed b parts 211 and 221 while roughly circular through holes that expos ambient air intake part 130 to the outside are formed by case cutout

222 Through holes into which remaining ink detection sensor 57 (see be inserted are formed on both sides of detection part 140 (both the t wrong position together with the protrusion that is formed from case 214a and case projecting part 224a and the prevention of the damage as ink supply part 120 is formed by case projecting part 214b and c part 224b These protrusions will be described in detail below Moreo from Figure 8, ink supply part 120 is positioned closer to the protrusio case projecting part 214a and case projecting part 224a than the prot by case projecting part 214b and case projecting part 224b A thr which projecting part 330al of protector 300 (see Figure 9) is loos formed by case projecting cutout parts 214al and 224al, and a thr which projecting part 330bl of protector 300 (see Figure 9) is loos formed by case projecting cutout parts 214bl and 224b 1, while a fit the shape of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped into which first pr part 320 of protector 300 (see Figure 9) is fitted is formed by case 214b2 and 224b2

As is clear from the above explanations, first case member 210 a member 220 do not only have the same overall external appearance formed such that details such as case projecting parts 214a, 214b, 2 and case cutout parts 211 to 213 and 221 to 223 also have the Therefore, when first case member 210 and second case me resin molded, their die shapes are similar, so costs associated with die reduced

Next, the external shape of case 200 will be described On first a members 210 and 220, vertical wall parts 21Od, 21Oe, 22Od, and 22Oe of both sides) in directions (Y direction) that are orthogonal to longitu B (X direction connecting the right back side of Figure 8 and the lef Figure 8> arrow B in Figure 8) are formed into concave shapes, and ste with respect to largest surfaces 210a and 220a (surfaces) of first an longitudinal direction of ink cartridge 14, the longitudinal direction o element 100, and the longitudinal direction of case 200

Here, first and second case welded parts 226 and 227 of second ca described First case welded part 226 is connected to case projecting the same plane, and on the opposite side as case projecting part 224a, part 226a, which is formed into a concave shape in the direction of second case member 220, and engagement part 226b that engages member 65 of door 41 (see Figure 6) when ink cartridge 14 is remo unit 13 (see Figure l) Concave part 226a is a region for securing t range when pullout member 65 rotates Case welded part 227 has la which is formed into a concave shape in roughly intermediat longitudinal direction B of second case member 220, and this latch part that engages with swing arm mechanism 44b (see Figure 2) i which it is installed in refill unit 13

Although a detailed description will be omitted here, concave p illustrated in the figure), engagement part 216b (not illustrated in th latch part 217a (not illustrated in the figure), which are formed wit same shapes as concave part 226a, engagement part 226b, and latc second case member 220, are also formed on first case member 210

Next, protector 300 will be described with reference to Figures 8 a is a diagram that shows protector 300, and Figure 9(a) is a top view of from the perspective of IXa in Figure 8, while Figure 9(b) is a cross se protector 300 through line IXb IXb in Figure 9(a) Protector 300 is protecting ink supply part 120 and ambient air intake part 130, in pa reservoir element 100 when ink cartridge 14 is shipped Protector 300 a resin material and is manufactured using injection molding

As illustrated in Figure 8, protector through hole 310 is formed on through hole 310 of protector 300 (left side in Figure 9(a)) Second pr part 330a, which is fitted into the through hole formed by case pro parts 214al and 224al (see Figure 8) and fastens protector 300 t formed in the vicinity of the end of the opposite side as the side protector fitting part 320 is formed (right side in Figure 9(a)), and se fitting part 330b, which is fitted into the through hole formed by c cutout holes 214bl and 224b 1 (see Figure 8) and fastens protector 300 provided between first protector fitting part 320 and protector throug

Moreover, protector loose insertion parts 340a and 340b whi inserted into the through holes formed by case cutout parts 213 an side wall of detection part 140 (see Figure 8), are formed in roughly positions in longitudinal direction C of protector 300 (Y direction in Fi Protector loose insertion parts 340a and 340b are connected to b formed parallel to longitudinal direction C (top and bottom side walls and they are formed such that they project upward (X direction on th the page in Figure 9(a) and on the side of ink reservoir element 10 Multiple ribs are formed from the bottom surface of protector 300, maintain the strength of protector 300

First protector fitting part 320 is positioned such that it extends parallel to a direction orthogonal to longitudinal direction C of (vertical direction in Figure 9(a)> X direction), and consists of protecto

321 provided from the bottom wall of protector 300 and two protector

322 that are connected to the side wall on the opposite side through hole 310 from protector vertical wall 321 (left side in Fi illustrated in Figure 9(b), each protector vertical wall 322 consists formed parallel to protector vertical wall 321 from the top end of fitting part 320 (top side end in Figure 9(b)) and a bottom part connec longitudinal direction C (Y direction), and the end of protector vertic longitudinal direction C Here, if first protector fitting part 320 is roughly the same shape as the fitting groove formed by case fitting and 224b2 (see Figure 8), the attachment of protector 300 takes time a if protector fitting part 320 is extremely small in comparison to the the position of the attachment direction of protector 300 cannot b However, because it is inserted as it is restricted by protector vertical 322 at one surface (flat surface of protector vertical wall 321) and fou of both sides of protector vertical wall 321 and two ends of protector 322) the installation properties of protector 300 are improved, installation can be prevented

As illustrated in Figure 9(b), protruding parts 330al and 330bl, w away from one another are formed on the edges of second protecto 330a and 330b in the direction in which second protector fitting p 330b mutually separate (edges on the top side of Figure 9(b)), and sha and 330b2, which are formed into roughly cylindrical shapes, are direction of the bottom surface of protector 300 from these edges Figure 9(b)) Shaft parts 330a2 and 330b2 have elasticity because pr formed from a resin material and protector 300 is attached and remo protector fitting parts 330a and 330b are elastically deformed direction

Here, black ink cartridge 14 will be described with reference to F 11 Figure 10 is an oblique view that shows the external appearanc cartridge 14 Figure 11 is an exploded oblique view of black ink cartri

As illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, black ink cartridge 14 is co that its external profile is larger (the thickness (length in the Z direct than that of colored ink cartridges 14 Specifically, second case memb member 1210, and descriptions of second case member 220, ink rese 100 and protector 1300 will be omitted here Only the depth of first 1210 (the thickness of vertical directions (length of Z direction) in differs from that of first case member 210, and the rest of its config same, so it detailed description will be omitted here

As illustrated in Figure 11, first case member 1210 comprises a part that forms largest surface 1210a and vertical wall parts 1210b are provided in roughly orthogonal directions (vertical directions and Figure 11) from the outer edge portions of the four sides of this plat Regarding vertical wall parts 1210b to 121Oe, the vertical wall t protector 1300 side of first case member 1210 is 1210b, the vertica placed opposite this vertical wall part 1210b is 1210c, and the vertical respectively connected to vertical wall parts 1210c and 1210b are vert 121Od and 121Oe (the right side of Figure 11 is vertical wall part 121O side of Figure 11 is vertical wall part 121Od) Black ink cartridge 14 i that the vertical wall heights of vertical wall parts 1210b to 121Oe are the vertical wall heights of vertical wall parts 210b to 21Oe of first cas for colored ink, and the thickness of ink cartridge 14 is accordingly in

As with first case member 210, case cutout parts 1211 and 12 formed into roughly semicircular shapes on vertical wall part 1210b, first case member 1210 in order to expose ink supply part 120 an intake part 130 to the outside of case 200, and case cutout part 1213 out into a rectangular shape, is formed between case cutout part cutout part 1212 Two case projecting parts 1214a and 1214b are fo sides of first case member 1210, and case projecting part 1214a has s 1214a2 Rod members 1215a, 1215b and 1215c, which determine the reservoir element 100, are formed on first case member 1210 strength of case 1200 against pressure from the outside

Moreover, by making the external profile of black ink cartridge that of colored ink cartridge 14, it is possible to differentiate betw cartridge 14 and other ink cartridges 14 Black is a darker color than it is not preferable for it to be mistakenly loaded into refill unit However, because the external profile of black ink cartridge 14 is ma be differentiated from other ink cartridges 14, so mistaken install reduced Further, accommodating chamber 50 inside refill unit according to the size of each ink cartridge 14, so black ink cartrid installed into accommodating chamber 50 corresponding to a colored 14

In black ink cartridge 14, the thicknesses of first case member 12 case member 220 in the vertical direction (Z direction) differ, so ink su ambient air supply part 130, and detection part 140 are positione shifted from the center position in the vertical direction (biased positi

Next, large capacity black ink cartridge 14 will be described wit Figures 12 and 13 Figure 12 is an oblique view that shows the extern of large capacity black ink cartridge 14 Figure 13 is an exploded o large capacity black ink cartridge 14

As illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 the external profile of large ink cartridge 14 is configured such that it is larger (longer in the Z colored and black ink cartridges 14 Specifically the vertical wall hei wall parts 2220b to 222Oe of second case member 2220 are formed s are roughly twice the vertical wall heights of vertical wall parts 2 second case member 220, and second case member 2220, which co 2200, is simply made thicker than second case member 220 for colored Moreover, in first case member 2210, which constitutes case 2200, ri supply part 2130 and detection part 2140 are positioned in the cent the vertical direction

Corresponding to ink cartridges with the three types of sizes desc is desirable for refill unit 13 of multifunction device 1 to be configured equipped with multiple accommodating chambers 50 that hou cartridges 14 and a single accommodating chamber 50 that selectivel ink cartridge 14 and large capacity black ink cartridge 14 (the inner accommodating chamber 50 has a sized corresponding to large capa cartridge 14) This is because the frequency of text printing using onl generally higher than that of color printing However, a type of multif 1 in which refill unit 13 is configured such that it is equipped accommodating chambers 50 that house colored ink cartridges 14 accommodating chamber 50 that houses black ink cartridge 14 may b users that infrequently use text printing This will be described once

Next, ink reservoir element 100 will be described with reference Figure 14 is a diagram that shows ink reservoir element 100, and Fi front view of ink reservoir element 100, while Figure 14(b) is a bac reservoir element 100 The state of ink reservoir element 100 illustr 14 is the position in which ink cartridge 14 is installed in multifunctio Figure l) As illustrated in Figure 14, this is a position in which th direction (X direction) and the width direction (Z direction) of ink car reservoir element 100) are horizontal directions, and it is a state supply part 120, ambient air intake part 130, and detection part 140 on the side surface, ink supply part 120 is positioned on the bottom ambient air intake part 130 is positioned on the ceiling side Ink rese 2100 differs from ink reservoir element 100 only with regard to its thi in the X direction), so its detailed description will be omitted here surfaces that constitute the largest area of ink reservoir element 100 the pair of largest surfaces 210a and 220a of case 200 when loaded Moreover, film 160 is welded to both the front surface side and the ba of frame part 110, so the thickness of ink reservoir element 100 ( Z direction), which is formed into a flat shape, can be reduced in com case in which both sides are blocked by plate materials

First, frame part 110 will be described in detail Frame manufactured by injection molding using a resin material, and it ha because it is formed to be translucent (or transparent) This is becaus below, light that is emitted from light emitting part 57a of remaining sensor 57 positioned on both sides of detection part 140 is trans receiving part 57b in order to detect the amount of remaining ink in element 100

As illustrated in Figure 14(a), outer circumference welded par welds film 160 to the vicinity of the outer edge part and circumference welded parts 411a to 417a, which are provided on the outer circumference welded part 400a, are formed on the front surfac part 110 Outer circumference welded part 400a is a vertical wall th the inner space of frame part 100 (space on the side of first chamb reservoir chamber 111) Moreover, the blackened edge portions circumference welded parts (ribs or first ribs) 411a to 417a illustra 14(a) are welded surface parts (rib fixed parts or first rib fixed parts) surface side edge (blackened portion) of outer circumference welded p welded surface part (fixed part) on the periphery of first opening 112 welded to this welded surface part by ultrasonic welding

As illustrated in Figure 14(b), outer circumference welded par welds film 160 to the vicinity of the outer edge part, and back surface side edge (blackened portion) of the outer circumferenc 400b is the welded surface part (fixed part) on the periphery of the 160 is welded to this welded part by ultrasonic welding

The inside of outer circumference welded parts 400a and 400b c reservoir chamber 111 in which ink is stored The region on the fron illustrated in Figure 14(a) is first chamber Ilia of ink reservoir cha the region on the back surface side illustrated in Figure 14(b) is se 111b of ink reservoir chamber 111 Moreover, outer circumference wel illustrated in Figure 14(a) is first opening 112a of frame part 1 circumference welded part 400b illustrated in Figure 14(b) is second o frame part 110

Frame 110 is primarily equipped with supply path forming part 42 14(a) and 14(b)), which communicates with ink supply part 120 an stored inside ink reservoir chamber 111 to the outside, ambient air c passage forming part 430 (see Figure 14(a)), which communicates wit intake part 130 and introduces ambient air into ink reservoir plate shaped link forming part 440 (see Figures 14(a) and 14(b)), whic roughly the center of frame part 110 (or ink reservoir chamber 111) an vicinity of ambient air intake part 130 to the vicinity of ink dispensing dispensing passage forming part 450 (see Figure 14(b)) which comm ink dispensing part 150 and dispenses ink into ink reservoir cham link forming part 440 partitions first chamber Ilia and second chamb reservoir chamber 111 in a state in which they communicate with on it is a linking plate that is between virtual plane R (not illustrated in which film 160 that is welded to outer circumference welded part 400 virtual plane S (not illustrated in the figure), in which film 160 tha outer circumference welded part 400b extends, and extends in a pla frame part 110 (inner space) is provided as the region containin forming part 420, ambient air communicating passage forming p forming part 440, and dispensing passage forming part 450, but communicating passage forming part 430 is an ambient air passage f ambient air into ink reservoir chamber 111, so it may alternatively be region other than ink reservoir chamber 111 of frame part 110 (inne means that the space from ink reservoir chamber 111 (inner space) de excluding ambient air communicating passage forming part 430 considered the space in which ink is stored

Moreover, on the outer edge of frame part 110 thin plate shap parts are formed in one location on the bottom part (bottom part of Fi bottom part of Figure 14(b)) and in two locations on the top part (top 14(a) and top part of Figure 14(b)) and through holes 460a to 460c, i members 215a to 215c (see Figure 8) of first case member 210 descri inserted, are formed on these protruding parts

First, inner circumference welded parts 411a to 417a will be d reference to Figure 14(a) Inner circumference welded parts 411a to 4 inner circumference welded part 411a which is provided on supply part 420, inner circumference welded part 412a, which is provided o communicating passage forming part 430, and inner circumference 413a to 417a, which are provided on link forming part 440 Moreov surface parts of inner circumference welded parts 411a to 417a are pos same virtual plane as the welded surface part of outer circumferenc 400a, and film 160 can be welded on the same plane (virtual plane R)

Inner circumference welded part 411a is provided on supply path 420, and it consists of a downward sloping vertical wall that slopes that intersects with longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 ( vertical wall that extends from this vertical wall in a direction t orthogonal to longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 (vertical direc 14(a)), which are arranged such that they are roughly T-s circumference welded part 414a is roughly formed into a leftward fac shape and it consists of a vertical wall that is parallel to longitudinal frame part 110, a vertical wall that extends from this vertical wall that is roughly orthogonal to longitudinal direction B of frame pa downward sloping vertical wall that slopes from this vertical wall in a intersects with longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 Inner welded part 415a consists of a vertical wall that is parallel to longitu B of frame part 110, a vertical wall that curves roughly perpendicular faces the direction of the bottom part of frame part 110 from this verti vertical wall that slopes downward from this vertical wall in a intersects with longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 (Y dir circumference welded part 416a is provided in the vicinity of ink di 150, and it consists of a downward sloping vertical wall that slopes that intersects with longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 Inner welded part 417a is provided in the vicinity of ink dispensing pa consists of a vertical wall that extends in a direction that is roughly longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 and a downward slopin that slopes from this vertical wall in a direction that intersects wit direction B of frame part 110

In other words, at least a portion of the vertical walls of inner welded parts 411a to 417a extends in a direction that slopes downwar orthogonal to longitudinal direction B of frame part 110 (in other wor part side of ink reservoir chamber 111 in the position in which ink c installed), and the end of this bottom part side (bottom part side in Fi As illustrated in Figure 14(b), regarding inner circumference wel to 417b inner circumference welded part 411b and inner circumf parts 413b to 417b are formed with roughly the same shapes as inner welded part 411a and inner circumference welded parts 413a to 4 above and in positions corresponding to those of inner circumferenc 411a and inner circumference welded parts 413a to 417a, an circumference welded part 412b is formed with a different shape and position than those of inner circumference welded part 412a Moreov surface parts of inner circumference welded parts 411b to 417b are pos same virtual plane as that of the welded surface part of outer circumf part 400b, and film 160 can be welded on the same plane (virtual pla

Inner circumference welded part 412b comprises inner circumf part 412bl, which consists of a vertical wall that extends from outer welded part 400b in a direction that is roughly orthogonal to longitu B of frame part 110 (Y direction), and inner circumference welded part likewise consists of a vertical wall that extends from outer circumf part 400b in a direction that is roughly orthogonal to longitudinal frame part 110] Inner circumference welded part 412bl and inner welded part 412b2 are provided from plate part 438, which demarcat communicating passage forming part 430 This is because communicating passage forming part 430 is formed only on the front frame part 110, and inner circumference welded part 412b circumference welded part 412b2 are provided in order to suppress the slack in film 160 in the portion corresponding to the back surfac ambient air communicating passage forming part 430 Moreover, as surface side, inner circumference welded parts 411b to 417b become are spread around on the back surface side of frame part 110 as wel outer circumference welded parts 400a and 400b and inner circumf parts 411a to 417a and 411b to 417b are formed with vertical provided on the front surface side or the back surface side, so extre dies are not required when frame part 110 is to be injection molded possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of ink cartridge 14

Next, supply path forming part 420 will be described with referenc Figure 15 is a diagram that shows supply path forming part 420 Fi diagram that shows the outline of supply path forming part 420 (d back surface side of frame part 110), Figure 15(b) is a diagram cross sectional view of supply path forming part 420 through lin Figure 15(a), Figure 15(c) is a diagram that shows the state in which remaining ink has decreased, and Figure 15(d) is a diagram that sho which the supply of ink has been completed

As illustrated in Figure 15(a), supply path forming part 420 equipped with first supply communicating hole 421, which communi supply part 120, supply partition wall 422, which is formed i triangular frame when viewed from the direction perpendicular t Figure 15(a) such that it encloses this first supply communicating h part 427 which covers the region on the inside of supply partition extends parallel to virtual planes R and S between the planes, communicating hole 423, which is formed as a portion of supply partit cut out, supply concave part 424, which is formed by making a portion part of ink reservoir chamber 111 (bottom part of Figure 15(a)> portio of part 400bl that forms the bottom part of ink reservoir chambe circumference welded part 400b) into a concave shape (stepped sha 428 which extends from outer circumference welded part 400b and su wall 422 and extends parallel to virtual planes R and S between th chamber 426, which temporarily stores the ink that is supplied to in 120, and the space formed by supply concave part 424 and plate part part space 424a As illustrated in Figure 14(b), this concave part space than part 400bl that forms the bottom part of ink reservoir cham space) in the height direction (Y direction) of cartridge 14, and it c portion of space that is positioned on the bottommost side (lowes reservoir chamber 111 As illustrated in Figure 15(a), first supply c hole 421 is formed above bottom part 400bl (same height as the top e space 424a), and second supply communicating hole 423 is formed part 400bl In other words, second supply communicating hole 423 is the lower side of ink reservoir chamber 111 (bottom part side) that first supply communicating hole 421 Arm sandwiching part 425 i roughly leftward facing C shape when viewed from the direction pe the page in Figure 15(a), and a portion of the side opposite ink supply side in Figure 15(a)) is opened As illustrated in Figures 14(a) and part 411b and welded part 411a described above are provided such the opposite sides as one another from plate part 428

As illustrated in Figure 15(b), supply partition wall 422 is form when film 160 is to be welded, it separates the inside of frame reservoir chamber 111) and first supply communicating hole 421 In ink supply chamber 426 that is enclosed by supply partition wall 422 with the inside of frame part 110 only through second supply comm 423 As a result, ink that is stored inside frame part 110 is supplied i chamber 426 from second supply communicating passage 423, a supplied to ink supply part 120 from first supply commumcating h illustrated by arrow D in Figure 15(c) (ink flow path))

Next, ink flow path D, through which ink inside frame part 110 the ink can be supplied to ink supply part 120 through s communicating hole 423 In this embodiment, ink supply part 1 cylindrically shaped, as illustrated in Figure 8, and, as described belo ink supply mechanism 500 and check valve 670 are housed insi element 116, while shaft part 672 of check valve 670 (see Figure 29) i first supply communicating hole 421 Therefore, taking into considera occupied by ink supply mechanism 500 and check valve 670, there is formation of first supply communicating hole 421 on the bottom side o chamber 111 (frame part 110) In a configuration in which supply par is not provided, when liquid surface I of the ink drops below communicating hole 421, it becomes impossible to supply the ink, and the ink inside ink reservoir chamber 111 becomes poor However, by s supply partition wall 422 and forming second supply communicating h bottom part side lower than first supply communicating hole 431, it supply ink until liquid surface I of the ink falls below second supply c hole 433, so it is possible to facilitate the full use of the ink

When ink is further supplied from the state illustrated in Figure 1 surface I of the ink drops below the upper end of supply concave becomes lower than second supply communicating hole 423, ambient ink supply chamber 426 enclosed by supply partition wall 422 th supply communicating hole 423, and as a result, additional ink ca supplied (state illustrated in Figure 15(d))

As illustrated in Figure 15(d), a difference of distance tl is pro part 400bl that forms the bottom part of ink reservoir chamber circumference welded part 400b and the lower end of second supply c hole 423 Here, if second supply communicating hole 423 is above p forms the bottom part of ink reservoir chamber 111, additional i markedly reduced Moreover, supply concave part 424 is formed on t part of ink reservoir chamber 111 (see Figure 14), so the ink in chamber 111 flows into supply concave part 424 and accumulates in s part 424 when the amount of ink becomes small Therefore, by estab concave part 424, it is possible to facilitate the full use of the ink msid chamber 111

Debris E remains inside the ink remaining inside supply concave is because the difference of distance t2 is provided between s communicating hole 423 and the bottom part side wall of supply co (side wall on the lower side in Figure 15(d)) As described above, when I of the ink drops below second supply communicating hole 423, cannot be supplied, so the ink that is between second supply comm 423 and supply concave part 424 remains inside supply concave par being supplied to ink supply part 120 Dust or plastic debris that is l frame part 110 when ink cartridge 14 is manufactured sometimes r the ink, but the specific gravity of this dust or plastic debris is greate the ink so it remains in the vicinity of the bottom part of frame part 1 as illustrated in Figure 15(d), debris E remains inside the ink re supply concave part 424 When debris E is supplied to ink supply supplied to multifunction device 1 (see Figure l), there is a possi clogging will occur, making accurate printing impossible However, above because distance t2 is provided between second supply comm 423 and the bottom part side wall of supply concave part 424, deb inside supply concave part 424, so the occurrence of ink clogging can

Next, ambient air communicating passage forming part 430 wil with reference to Figure 16 Figure 16 is a diagram that show communicating passage forming part 430 Figure 16(a) is an obli ambient air intake part 130, second ambient air communicating which is formed into a roughly rectangular parallelepiped that comm ink reservoir chamber 111, and ambient air connection passag communicates with first ambient air communicating chamber 43 ambient air communicating chamber 432 on the side of first surface film 160 is welded (left front side of Figure 16» first surface 437a is a contained in virtual plane R) The chambers and passage of firs communicating chamber 431 and second ambient air communicating and ambient air connection passage 433 are formed as film 160 is front side of Figure 16(a)

First ambient air communicating hole 434, which communicates air intake part 130, is formed on the side of second surface 437b tha surface 437a of first ambient air communicating chamber 431 (secon is the surface of plate part 438 described above) In second communicating chamber 432, second ambient air communicating ho communicates with first chamber Ilia of ink reservoir chamber 111 the side of first surface 437a, and third ambient air communicating h communicates with second chamber 111b of ink reservoir chamber 11 second surface 437b (plate part 438) First ambient air communicati formed on side wall surface 431a of first ambient air communicating on the side of ambient air intake part 130 (left back side in Fi communicating opening 433b is formed on side wall surface 432a of s air communicating chamber 432 on the side of first ambient air c chamber 431 (left back side in Figure 16) As described above, one of of ambient air connection passage 433 (side wall on the lower side in F inner circumference welded part 412a

In ambient air connection passage 433 communicating openings 4 provided (so called labyrinth), the resistance of the flow path whe passes through becomes large As a result, it is possible to reduce the more ink than necessary through ambient air connection passage 433

As is clear from Figure 14(a), ambient air connection passa downward in the direction of second ambient air communicating cha first ambient air communicating chamber 431 Because ambient passage 433 slopes downward, the device is in the position in which in is installed in refill unit 13 of multifunction device 1, ink that has p ambient air connection passage 433 can be naturally returned to chamber 111 due to gravity Moreover, because the cross sectional ar air connection passage 433 is made small the penetration of ink sto reservoir chamber 111 into ambient air connection passage 433 ca Here, when ink penetrates into ambient air connection passage 433, formed, and it is sometimes impossible to introduce ambient air result As described above, because ambient air connection passa downward, even if ink penetrates into the passage, the ink is re reservoir chamber 111, so the formation of meniscuses can be prevented Further, ambient air connection passage 433 is formed as welding of film 160, so at least one of the surfaces is a side wal deformed by bending In other words, ambient air connection p configured such that its cross sectional area changes easily Theref meniscus forms, the meniscus can be easily broken due to the deformation of this film 160, so ambient air can be introduced normal the surface of second ambient air communicating hole 435 is also form so the formation of a meniscus on second ambient air commumcatin be substantially prevented

Third ambient air communicating hole 436 is formed on the upp communicating passage forming part 430 will be described with Figures 16(b) and 16(c) As described above, case 200 of ink cartridg into a cubic shape containing a pair of largest surfaces that oppose o when this is loaded onto a flat bed, the device may assume one o positions in which one of largest surfaces 210a and 220a forms the (bottom surface) At this time, ambient air intake part 130 is position surface of case 200, but, as described below, it is difficult for ink ambient air communicating passage forming part 430 in either of the

Figures 16(b) and 16(c) show the positions of ambient air c passage forming part 430 corresponding to each of the two loading po 16(b) shows the case in which ink cartridge 14 is placed such tha connection passage 433 is positioned on the lower side (the side of Ilia of frame part 110 is the lower side and first surface 437a is the lo Figure 16(c) shows the case in which ink cartridge 14 is placed such air connection passage 433 is positioned on the upper side (the s chamber 111b of frame part 110 is the lower side and second surfa lower side)

As illustrated in Figure 16(b), when ink cartridge 14 is placed such air connection passage 433 is positioned on the lower side during the t of ink cartridge 14, the ink stored inside ink reservoir chamber 111 p second ambient air communicating chamber 432 and ambient air c chamber 433 and penetrates into first ambient air communicating Moreover, as described above, ambient air connection passage 433 through communicating opening 433b, which has markedly smaller side surface of second ambient air communicating chamber 432, so t in which the ink inside ink reservoir chamber 111 does not necessarily ambient air communicating chamber 433 and penetrate into firs ambient air communicating chamber 432, but liquid surface I of th reach the opening position of communicating opening 433b of connection passage 433 As a result, the ink does not flow into connection passage 433 from communicating opening 433b, so the ink into first ambient air communicating chamber 431 Therefore, even i 14 is placed such that ambient air connection passage 433 is positione side, the efflux of ink from ambient air intake part 130 to the o prevented

As described above, by configuring first ambient air communic 431, second ambient air communicating chamber 432, and ambient passage 433 as described above and establishing the opening po ambient air communicating hole 434 and the opening position of c opening 433b in positions that are symmetrical to ambient air conn 433, it is possible to prevent the leakage of ink from ambient air in Further, by making the cross sectional area of ambient air connec small, it is possible to reduce the evaporation of ink and to prevent t into first ambient air communicating chamber 431

Here, link forming part 440 will be explained by returning to Fi forming part 440 connects the vicinity of ambient air intake part dispensing part 150 inside ink reservoir chamber 111, and it is form the center position in ink reservoir chamber 111 Therefore, link for connects two locations that oppose frame part 110, so it is also a member that maintains the strength of frame part 110 Link formi also a divider plate that divides the chamber such that the side of first and the side of second opening 112b are in roughly the same region of plate that divides first chamber Ilia and second chamber 111b of chamber 111 in the state in which they communicate with one anothe to the page in Figure 14(a) and the front side and the back side when direction perpendicular to the page in Figure 14(b)> here, perpendicular to the page is parallel to the Z direction) from this a linking part 441 Further, the upper end of the height direction ( ambient air side linking part 441 communicates with inner circumf part 412a of ambient air communicating passage forming part 430 dispensing side connecting part 442, inner circumference welded par 417a and 417b are respectively provided on the sides of first and se 112a and 112b (front side and back side when viewed in the direction to the page in Figure 14(a) and the front side and the back side when direction perpendicular to the page in Figure 14(b)> here, perpendicular to the page is parallel to the Z direction) from this d linking part 442

First linking communicating hole 443, which communicates chamber Ilia and second chamber 111b, is formed on ambient air si 441, and second through fourth linking communicating holes 4 connect first chamber Ilia and second chamber 111b, are formed on d linking part 442 Here, if linking communicating holes 443 446 are linking forming part 440, first chamber Ilia and second chambe communicate in the center region of ink reservoir chamber 111, so sli sometimes arise in the amounts of ink in first chamber Ilia and se 111b If there are differences in the amounts of ink in first chamber Il chamber 111b, differences arise in the air pressure inside ink reservoi so the adverse effect that ink cannot be smoothly (or accurately) s However by forming linking communicating holes 443 446 such th across link forming part 440, it is possible to make the amounts chamber Ilia and second chamber 111b equivalent and to supply in ambient air into ink reservoir chamber 111 and the part that suppl inside ink reservoir chamber 111 to the outside communicate in the a forming part 440 and without the division of first chamber Ili chamber 111b As a result, the introduction of ambient air and the su be performed in a stable space

Linking rib 418a, which connects multiple inner circumference 412a 417a provided on the side of first opening 112a from link forming linking rib 418b, which connects inner circumference welded part provided on the side of second opening 112b from link forming part 4 on link forming part 440 These linking ribs 418a and 418b are not ill figure, but they are formed into thin walled shapes with vertical lower than inner circumference welded parts 412a 417a and inner welded parts 412b to 417b Further, most of these linking ribs 418a formed on the edge of link forming part 440 As a result, linking ribs connect inner circumference welded parts 412a to 417a and 412b to 4 are formed on the edge of link forming part 440, so they can maintai of link forming part 440 Moreover, linking ribs 418a and 418b ar thin walled shapes and they are formed with vertical walls that a inner circumference welded parts 412a 417a and 412b 417b, so it bec to inhibit the flow of ink

Next, dispensing passage forming part 450 will be explained wit Figure 17 Figure 17 is a diagram that shows dispensing passage for Figure 17(a) is a diagram that shows the outline of dispensing passag 450, and Figure 17(b) is a cross sectional view of dispensing passage 450 through line XVIIb XVIIb in Figure 17(a) In dispensing passage 450, in the position in which ink is dispensed, it is in the highest p reservoir chamber 111, and the dispensed ink flows downward in the d provided edge forms the forms the welded surface part on which film and partitions first dispensing communicating hole 452 with respect t chamber 111, and second dispensing communicating hole 454, wh opening part of dispensing partition wall 453 The opened part cylinder part 451 is opening 451a, which is formed on the outside frame part 110, and the surface that opposes this opening 451a is bot of dispensing cylinder part 451 The region demarcated by dispensing 453 and film 160 is dispensing partition wall flow path 453a

Dispensing partition wall 453 forms the inner circumference which film 160 is welded, and dispensing partition wall flow path 45 dispensing communicating hole 454 are formed in the state in whi welded As with the welded end part of the other inner circumference 411b to 417b, the welded end part of dispensing partition wall 453 is the same virtual plane as the welded end part of outer circumferenc 400b

A detailed description will be given below, but when ink is dispe reservoir chamber 111, ink is dispensed in a state in which seco communicating hole 454 is positioned on top and first dispensing c hole 452 is positioned on bottom (position in which the Y direction is direction in Figure 17(a)) Moreover ink sequentially passes throu cylinder part 451, first dispensing communicating hole 452, dispen wall flow path 453a and second dispensing communicating hole 454 dispensed until liquid surface I of the ink reaches the state illustr 17(a) Dispensing partition wall 453 is formed roughly linearly from fi communicating hole 452 to second dispensing communicating hole 45 ink is dispensed smoothly without resistance

When ink is dispensed such that the inside of ink reservoir decompression process in which the pressure is reduced by aspiratin air inside ink reservoir chamber 111 from dispensing passage formi sometimes performed This is performed in order to reduce the amou air inside ink reservoir chamber 111 to maintain the degree of deaera and to reduce the generation of air bubbles inside the ink The deaera is for the purpose of maintaining the viscosity of the ink at a roughly and this is because, regarding the generation of air bubbles inside the bubbles are supplied to multifunction device 1 (see Figure l), the pres to discharge the ink is not transmitted to the discharge opening (not the figure), so the ink cannot be correctly discharged

In the case in which a subsequent decompression process is perfor ambient air inside ink reservoir chamber 111 is aspirated from dispe forming part 450, the resulting amount of ink is not correct, regardle or not an appropriate amount of ink was dispensed If the amount of i this causes losses to the user of ink cartridge 14, which is not prefera when first dispensing communicating hole 452 is enclosed by roug dispensing partition wall 453 and second dispensing communicatin placed above (upper side in Figure 17(a)) liquid surface I of the dispensing communicating hole 452), there is an amount of distance b surface I of the ink and second dispensing communicating hole 45 inside of ink reservoir chamber 111 is decompressed, so it i substantially prevent the escape of the ink inside ink reservoir cham outside through dispensing passage forming part 450

Here, the structure in the vicinity of detection part 140 will be d reference to Figure 18 Figure 18 is a diagram that shows the vicinit part 140 Figure 18(a) is a diagram that shows the outline of the vicini part 140, Figure 18(b) is a cross sectional view of detection part 14 141a inside enclosure part 141 (lower side in Figure 18(a)), a pair of which are formed by both side walls 141b that are provided on bo bottom wall 141a, an inner side surface which is formed by inner that is provided from bottom wall 141a and connects to both side wal ceiling surface, which is formed ceiling wall 14 Id that connects to th both side walls 141b and the top edge of inner side wall 141c and opposite bottom wall 141a Detection part 140 is also equipped with a part 142, which is provided such that it projects upward from the b formed by bottom wall 141a and supports sensor arm 470 from belo wall 143, which is provided from the inside wall of frame pa circumference welded part 400b) such that it connects to arm suppo and extends in the direction of supply path forming part 420, is p vicinity of detection part 140 As is clear from Figure 18(b), arm suppo is formed in the center of the width direction of the passage inside 140, and it is arranged such that the end of sensor arm 470 (shiel 473c) is also positioned in the center of the passage inside detection details will be described below, but sensor arm 470 rotates according of ink inside ink reservoir chamber 111, and it is a member that is that ink cartridge 14 has been installed in accommodating chamber 5 13 of multifunction device 1 (see Figure 4) and that the amount of has become low by detecting the position of shielding arm part 473c w ink detection sensor 57 (see Figure 5) provided on multifunction described above, detection part 140 is translucent, and light from part 57a can be transmitted to light receiving part 57b Therefore, wh 470 (shielding arm part 473c) is positioned in the light path between part 57a and light receiving part 57b, it blocks the light to be rec receiving part 57b, so it has light blocking properties As a result, As illustrated in Figure 18(b), the thickness of arm supportin formed such that second gap t4 between the inside walls of enclosure of wall surfaces_* inside surfaces of both side walls 141b) and the outsi supporting part 142 is narrower than first gap t3 between the i enclosure 141 (pair of wall surfaces_* inside surfaces of both side walls outside of sensor arm 470 Here, the ink stored inside detection part 1 and when liquid surface I of the ink drops in step with this reducti liquid surface I of the ink falls below detection part 140, the ink in part 140 is depleted, but because first gap t3 between sensor arm 470 141 is minute, ink remains inside detection part 140 due to the surf the ink, and sensor arm 470 sometimes does not rotate normally due tension of the ink Incidentally, the reason that first gap t3 is provide spacing is that, when this spacing is made wide, the spacing between part 57a and light receiving part 57b also widens, and the detection remaining ink detection sensor 57 thus deteriorates Therefore, by supporting part 142 such that first gap t3 > second gap t4, it is ensure surface tension that is generated between arm supporting part 142 part 141 is greater than the ink surface tension that is generated b arm 470 and enclosure part 141 As a result, the ink that remains in part 141 is drawn between arm supporting part 142 and enclosure pa possible to substantially prevent ink from remaining between sensor enclosure part 141 and to suppress the inhibition of the behavior of se Sensor arm 470 therefore behaves normally, so the amount of remain accurately detected

As illustrated in Figure 18(a), bottom wall 141a on the lower par part 141 (lower side in Figure 18(a)) slopes downward in the di reservoir chamber 111, so the bottom surface formed by bottom wa chamber 111 (or supply path forming part 420) In other words, the ju enclosure part 141 and arm supporting part 142 forms a fluid guidin for guiding the ink As a result, it is possible to efficiently make the i inside enclosure part 141 flow downward

As illustrated in Figure 18(a), vertical wall 143 that connects to a part 141 is formed on sloping surface 143a, which slopes downward i of supply path forming part 420 from arm supporting part 141 Slopin constitutes a portion of the inside wall of frame part 110 (outer welded part 400b) Further, as illustrated in the cross sectional view i the junction part of vertical wall 143 and the inside wall of frame part angularly from a cross sectional perspective (roughly a right angle), a such that its thickness is roughly equivalent to that of arm suppor Therefore, vertical wall 143 slopes downward in the direction of forming part 420, and the junction part with the inside wall of fra formed into a roughly right angle, so ink can be efficiently guided in t supply path forming part 420 by this slope and the capillary force I the junction part of vertical wall 143 and the inside wall of frame pa fluid guiding path (guide) for guiding the ink Because the thick supporting part 142 and vertical wall 143 are formed such that the equivalent vertical wall 143 is formed in continuation from arm su 142 As a result, there is no resistance against the guiding of ink t forming part 420, and ink can therefore by efficiently guided

In the case in which sensor arm 470 is rotated upward, sensor ar contact with the ceiling surface formed by ceiling wall 141b, which o wall 141a of detection part 140, and the rotation of sensor arm 470 is t It is therefore possible to prevent sensor arm 470 from jumping out of 140, and the behavior of sensor arm 470 becomes accurate so it Sensor arm 470 is a rotating member that rotates according to remaining ink inside ink reservoir chamber 111, and a portion i remaining ink detection sensor 57 (see Figure 5), which detects t remaining ink stored inside ink reservoir chamber 111 Sensor arm 4 equipped with balance part 471, which is formed from a material specific gravity than that of the ink, attachment part 472, which frame part 110 such that it can oscillate, and arm part 473, which ext attachment part 472 in a direction that is roughly orthogonal to bal (upward in Figure 19(a)), further extends sloping upward, and block possible detection of remaining ink detection sensor 57 Attachment linking part that connects balance part 471 and arm part 473

Roughly cylindrical attachment shaft 472a, which is atta sandwiching part 425 (see Figure 14) of frame part 110, is formed part 472 This attachment shaft 472a is formed with a diameter that i the inside diameter of arm sandwiching part 425 and is larger than th opening of arm sandwiching part 425 As a result, when sensor arm it can be operated with little resistance, and the deviation of sensor arm sandwiching part 425 can be prevented

Arm part 473 consists of vertical arm part 473a, which extends that is roughly perpendicular to balance part 471 (upward in Figure arm part 473b, which slopes upward from this vertical arm part 473a, arm part 473c, which is used as a light blocking part that blocks possible detection of remaining ink detection sensor 57

As illustrated in Figure 19(b), arm part 473 is formed su substantially thinner than balance part 471 and attachment part because, when arm part 473 is formed with a thick profile, the scal part 140 is increased and as a result, ink cartridge 14 becomes vertical arm part 473a and sloping arm part 473b, and the strength by these ribs

Roughly semispherical arm protruding parts 473el and 473e2 shielding arm part 473c in two locations on the top and bottom of th inside detection part 140 (upper side end and lower side end in Figu these arm protruding parts 473el and 473e2 reduce the likelihood of part 473c adhering to the inside wall of detection part 140 due to the s of the ink and becoming unable to rotate In other words, because a parts 473el and 473e2 are formed into semispherical shapes, the o makes contact with the inside wall of detection part 140 is the protruding parts 473el and 473e2, so the effects of the surface tension reduced

Balance part 471 is made of a resin material with a specific gravit than that of the ink, so when liquid surface I of the ink drops in step in the amount of remaining ink, balance part 471 moves in the di bottom part of frame part 110 (direction of the bottom part of ink rese 111» downward in Figures 14(a) and 14(b)) in step with this drop surface I of the ink When balance part 471 moves in the direction part, and arm part 473 moves in the direction of the top part using at 472 as a rotational axis shielding arm part 473c deviates from the ra detection of remaining ink detection sensor 57 and thereby the state i depleted can be detected

1

With a conventional balance part, the inside of the balance part was hollo make the balance part float on liquid surface I of the ink, but with this co working (or molding) of the balance part becomes difficult In contrast embodiment, the materials of sensor arm 470 consist of materials with specific less than that of the ink, so a working process is not required, and it is n manufacture com lex dies so the manufacturin cost of sensor arm 470 can be r intake part 130, and detection part 140 are provided on one of the si frame part 110 (one end surface_* the side surface in the fron installation when ink cartridge 14 is installed) As described above illustrated in Figures 20(a) and 20(b) is the position in which ink c installed inside accommodating chamber 50 of refill unit 13 (s Therefore, in the state in which ink cartridge 14 is installed inside ambient air intake part 130, detection part 140, and ink supply sequentially aligned from top (top of Figure 20(a)) to bottom (bottom o In other words, the elements are aligned in the height direction (Y di cartridge 14

As illustrated in Figure 20(a), width t5 of detection part 140 is for it is shorter than diameter t6 of the opening of ink supply part 120 (o supply cap 600 described below (see Figure 34)) Further, as illustr 20(b), detection part 140 is formed such that it is concave in the dire part 110 (in a position withdrawn to the side of ink reservoir cham respect to ink supply part 120 and ambient air intake part 130

As described above, arm part 473 of sensor arm 470 is positioned o detection part 140 As will be described below, the light path of r detection sensor 57 (see Figure 5) is opened from the light blocking st rotation of arm part 473, and the amount of remaining ink can be result On remaining ink detection sensor 57 light receiving part emitting part 57a are positioned on both sides of detection part 140 right sides in Figure 20(a)), so both side surfaces of detection part 14 the left and right sides in Figure 20(a), front and back side surfaces i form detection surfaces 140a and 140b As is clear from Figure 20(a), t surfaces 140a and 140b are parallel to the height direction (Y dir cartridge 14 when in the position in which ink cartridge 14 is installe to needle 49 of multifunction device 1 is likely to adhere to the opening of ink supply part 120, but after it is removed, the ink that vicinity of the opening of ink supply part 120 sometimes adheres to 140 depending on the position in which the user handles ink cartridge cartridge 14 is once again installed in refill unit 13 in the state in adhered to detection part 140, because ink detection part 140 (dete 140a and 140b) and light receiving part 57b and light emittin remaining ink detection sensor 57 are in close proximity in the inst described above there is a risk that the ink that has adhered to dete will transfer to light receiving part 57b and light emitting part 57a of detection sensor 57 In this way, ink that adheres to remaining ink de 57 blocks light and therefore deteriorates the sensitivity of remainin sensor 57 This deterioration of sensitivity is even more promi cartridges that use pigmented ink

In this embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 20(b), detection part 1 in a position withdrawn to the side of ink reservoir chamber 111 with supply part 120, so it is possible to make it difficult for ink to adhe part 140, even if ink drips from ink supply part 120 In other words, maintains ink cartridge 14 in a position in which ink supply part 120 detection part 140 and the end surface of ink supply part 120 (end su opening 600a of supply cap 600 is formed) is vertical, ink that has a vicinity of the opening of ink supply part 120 is most susceptible to

1 gravity and likely to drop but because detection part 140 is withdraw ink reservoir chamber 111 with respect to ink supply part 120, the i does not head towards detection part 140, so it does not adhere to 140

Because detection surfaces 140a and 140b are vertical when in t Therefore edge part 140c where the side surface of frame part 110 surfaces 140a and 140b intersect is formed at a roughly perpendicula ink adheres to the vicinity of edge 140c, the capillary force of edge 1 the ink because edge 140c is formed at a roughly perpendicular angle, likely to flow to the side of ink supply part 120 through edge 140c possible to reduce the adherence of ink to detection surfaces 140a and

Next, the configuration of the parts of ink reservoir elemen described with reference to Figure 21 Figure 21 is an exploded fro reservoir element 100

As illustrated in Figure 21 ink reservoir element 100 is primaril into four elements The four parts are frame part 110, ink supply m which constitutes ink supply part 120, ambient air intake mechanis constitutes ambient air intake part 130, and ink dispensing plug pressed into dispensing cylinder part 451 of ink dispensing part 150 ( Ink dispensing plug 520 is made of an elastic member such as Pul once it is pressed into dispensing cylinder part 451, it cannot be easily even if the needle is removed or inserted, it is configured such that t needle is blocked

Ink supply element 116, which is formed in a roughly cylindri which a portion of ink supply mechanism 500 is inserted, and ambi element 117 which is formed in a roughly cylindrical shape in whic ambient air intake mechanism 510 is inserted, are formed as a unit 110 Further, protruding parts 116a and 116b (protruding part illustrated in the figure) which protrude in the direction of the outer of ink supply element 116 in order to fasten ink supply mecha symmetrically arranged on ink supply element 116 centered on the ink supply element 115 (arranged on the front and back sides perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of ink supply elem outer circumferential surface of ambient air intake element 117 (Z they slope from this protruding edge part towards the outer circumfe of ink supply element 116 or the outer circumference part of ambi element 117 In other words, when ink supply mechanism 500 an intake mechanism 510 are attached to ink supply element 116 an intake element 117, the easy desorption of ink supply mechanism 50 air intake mechanism 510 can be prevented

Next, the components of ink supply mechanism 500 and ambi mechanism 510 will be described with reference to Figures 22 through is an exploded view of ink supply mechanism 500 and ambie mechanism 510 Figure 22(a) is an exploded view of ink supply mecha Figure 22(b) is an exploded view of ambient air intake mechanism 51

As illustrated in Figure 22(a), ink supply mechanism 500 is e supply cap 600, which is installed on ink supply element 116, sup which is made of an elastic resin material such as rubber into which Figure 2) of multifunction device 1 (see Figure l) is inserted, sup which blocks the flow path of ink when this supply joint 610 and th make contact, first supply spring 630, which is housed inside this su and is made of a resinous elastic material, supply slider 640, which c surface of supply valve 620 and can be operated in a uniaxial directio movement direction of supply valve 620 that is pressed into needle 4 arrow Ol in Figure 22(a), hereafter called the "axial direction Ol mechanism 500"» regarding this direction, as is clear from Figure mechanism 50 becomes parallel to the X direction when ink cartridge second supply spring 650, which is housed inside this supply slid formed with the same material and into the same shape as those ambient air valve 720, which blocks the flow path of ink when this a 710 and the bottom wall make contact and makes contact with b multifunction device 1 (see Figure 5) and opens the flow path (passa air when ink cartridge 14 is installed in multifunction device 1 (refi Figure l), first ambient air spring 730, which is housed inside this am 720 and is made of a resinous elastic material, ambient air slider 740 the open surface of ambient air valve 720 and can be operated direction, which is the movement direction of ambient air valve 720 t (direction of arrow 02 in Figure 22(b), hereafter called the "axial d ambient air supply mechanism 510"» as is clear from Figure 14, ambi 510 becomes parallel to the X direction when ink cartridge 14 is loade ambient air spring 750, which is housed inside this ambient air sli formed with the same material and into the same shape as those of fir spring 730 Ambient air valve 720, first ambient air spring 730, amb 740, and second ambient air spring 750 constitute ambient air valve that actually operates

Below, supply cap 600, supply joint 610, supply valve 620, fir supply springs 630 and 650, supply slider 640, valve seat 660, ch cover 680, ambient air cap 700, ambient air joint 710, ambient air v and second ambient air springs 730 and 750 and ambient air slid described with reference to Figures 23 through 33

Figure 23 is a diagram that shows supply cap 600 Figure 23(a) that shows a side view of supply cap 600, Figure 23(b) is a diagram side view of supply cap 600 from the perspective of arrow XXIIIb in Figure 23(c) is a diagram that shows a plan view of supply cap 600, Fi diagram that shows a bottom view of supply cap 600, and Fig cross sectional view of supply cap 600 through line XXIIIe XXIIIe in which are formed from the linking part of ink storage part 602 to t vicinity of the top (vicinity of the upper side end in Figure 23(a)) an protruding parts 116a and 116b (see Figure 21) of ink supply elem supply cap 600 is secured to ink supply element 116 (see Figure 21), supply securing part 601

As illustrated in Figure 23(b), a pair of supply cap cutout parts (see Figure 23(c) for supply cap cutout part 604b), which are forme line that is roughly orthogonal to the straight line that connects eng 603a and 603b (positions moved approximately 90° with respect to a of ink supply mechanism 500) and are cut out facing the direction part 602 from the top surface of supply securing part 601 (upper e Figure 23(b)), are formed on supply securing part 601

As illustrated in the front view in Figure 23(c) and in the bottom 23(d), insertion hole 605, into which needle 49 (see Figure 2) is inser below), is formed in roughly the center position of ink storage part 60

600 As illustrated in Figure 23(c), the region from the circle that f hole 605 to the circle one step outward is first upper wall 606a, w upper end surface of ink storage part 602, and the region from the circ side that forms first upper wall 606a to the circle one step outward i 606b, which forms a sloping surface that slopes downward in the d bottom surface of ink storage part 602 The region from the circle of that forms this sloping wall 606b to the circle one step outward is lo which forms the lower end surface of ink storage part 602, and the r circle of the outer side that forms lower wall 606c to the circle one st second upper wall 606d, which forms the lower end surface of supply

601 and forms the upper end surface of ink 'storage part 602 The part lower wall 606c and second upper wall 606d is outer circumferent maximum diameter of that of opening 600a, which forms the final exi a result, the inner circumferential surface on the side of axial center wall 606b becomes the insertion path into which needle 49 (see Figure The space of range t7 illustrated in Figures 23(c) and 23(c) (in oth space formed by sloping wall 606b, lower wall 606c, and outer circu 606e) forms ink storing part 607, in which ink can be stored (accumul

When supply cap 600 is attached to ink supply element 116 (s protruding parts 116a and 116b of ink supply element 116 protrud circumferential direction, so supply cap 600 is attached as it increas in the outer circumferential direction Because supply cap cutout p 604b are formed, the diameter of supply cap 600 increases in the dire engagement parts 603a and 603b move away from one another Th supply cap 600 is to be attached, it can be attached without ap pressure, so it is possible to improve the installation efficiency w damage to supply cap 600

Figure 24 is a diagram that shows supply joint 610 Figure 24(a) that shows a side view of supply joint 610, Figure 24(b) is a diagram plan view of supply joint 610, Figure 24(c) is a diagram that shows a supply joint 610, and Figure 24(d) is a cross sectional view of su through line XXIVd XXIVd in Figure 24(b)

As illustrated in Figure 24(a), supply joint 610 is formed in thre side view perspective (perspective of the direction perpendicular t Figure 24(a)) The part illustrated in the bottommost step (lower 24(a)) is joint outer circumference part 611, which is the part that with second upper wall 606d of ink storage part 602 of supply cap 6 23) and the inner circumferential surface of supply securing part 601 outer circumference part of supply joint 610 This joint outer circumfe 613, which makes contact with supply valve 620 (see Figure 25) Sup made of an elastic material such as a resin rubber

As illustrated in Figure 24(b), the axial center of supply joint 61 on axial center Ol of ink supply mechanism 500, and joint contact inner circumference part 612, and joint outer circumference part ar formed towards the outer circumferential direction from this axial ce

As illustrated in Figure 24(d), joint contact part 613 projects fro 612a of joint inner circumference part 612 (surface on the side that with supply valve 620) Joint contact part 613 is formed such that it n tip 613a (upper end part in Figure 24(d)), and this tip 613a makes co bottom surface of supply valve 620 and blocks the flow path of the ink protruding part 614, which protrudes from the inner circumferential s axial center 01, opening 612c, which forms the insertion opening of Figure 2) formed on bottom surface 612b of joint inner circumfer (lower side in Figure 24(d)), and stepped insertion passage 612d w between opening 612c and joint protruding part 614, are formed circumference part 612 As illustrated in Figure 24(c), the portio passage 612d that is formed in a stepped shape is formed with roug spacing from axial center Ol in the outer circumferential dir circumferential surface 614a of joint protruding part 614 is provided direction of axial center Ol of ink supply mechanism 500, and steppe is provided in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of axial ce

As illustrated in Figure 24(d), ink flow path 615, which passes bottom surface 612b of joint inner circumference part 612 to tip 613a part 613 (from the upper side to the lower side in Figure 24(d)), is for joint 610 This ink flow path 615 consists of opening 612c, which bottom surface 612b step part flow path 615a, which is demarcat in a tapered shape towards protruding part flow path 615b Moreover, path 615a is formed in a stepped shape such that the diameter gradu from opening 612c towards the contact surface with inner circumfer 614a of joint protruding part 614 The lower part of step part flow formed in a stepped shape, so even if needle 49 (see Figure 2) is r minute quantity of ink flows through ink flow path 615, the ink i capillary force due to the angular part of this step part, so it is possi ink from dripping to the outside of supply joint 610 When needle 49 i dripping of ink can be likewise prevented, even if ink drips into ink from the tip of needle 49 In this embodiment, supply cap 600 is equi storage part 602, so the portion of the lower half of step part flow pat formed in a stepped shape may alternatively be formed in a tapered s

Protruding part flow path 615b is the flow path with the smalle ink flow path 615, and it is formed into a roughly hollow cylindric inside diameter of this protruding part flow path 615b is formed s slightly smaller than the diameter of needle 49 (see Figure 2) Con path 615c is formed into a roughly hollow cylindrical shape hav diameter that is larger than that of protruding part flow path 615b, a diameter is sufficiently larger than the diameter of needle 49 Be surface 614b is formed on the border of protruding part flow path 61 part flow path 615c, the inside diameter in the direction of axial ce protruding part flow path 615b to contact part flow path 615c drasti As a result, as illustrated in Figure 24(d), joint contact part 613 assum that is cut out into a countersunk shape by its inner circumferential and stepped surface 614b, and tip 613a of joint contact part 613 is po periphery of this cutout part

Needle 49, which is inserted from opening 612c, is guided to the u that elastically adheres to the periphery of needle 49 becomes large, when ink cartridge 14 is installed in multifunction device 1 (see Fig large, and smooth installation thus becomes impossible How embodiment, a configuration that establishes joint protruding part 6 contact with needle 49 only on the inner circumferential surface 614 it is possible to reduce the surface of contact with needle 49 and to s the cartridge in multifunction device 1 Moreover, needle 49 is inserte path 615, so the flow path through which ink actually flows become needle 49 Further, because contact part flow path 615c is f countersunk shape, the displacement of supply joint 610 in the dir center Ol when needle 49 is inserted can be reduced

Figure 25 is a diagram that shows supply valve 620 Figure 25(a that shows a side view of supply valve 620 Figure 25(b) is a diagra side view of supply valve 620 from the perspective of arrow XXVb i Figure 25(c) is a diagram that shows a plan view of supply valve 620, a diagram that shows a bottom view of supply valve 620, and Fig cross sectional view of supply valve 620 through line XXVe XXVe in F

As illustrated in Figure 25(a), supply valve 620 is equipped with wall 621, which forms the bottom surface of supply valve 620 (lower Figure 25(a)), and valve outer circumferential wall 622, which is prov direction of axial center Ol of ink supply mechanism 500 (see Figure valve bottom wall 621

A pair of valve guide grooves 623, into which slider loose inserti supply slider 640 (see Figure 27) is loosely inserted, is formed o circumferential wall 622 As illustrated in Figure 25(c), the pair grooves 623 is symmetrically formed with respect to axial center Ol mechanism 500 Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 25(c) valve projec direction as valve bottom wall 621 and restrict the operation of suppl connected to valve outer circumferential wall 622 Each of the valv parts 625 is equipped with valve hook part 626, which projects towar Ol from its tip (tip of the upper side portion in Figure 25(a)) and supply slider 640

Further, four valve protruding parts 622a, which protrude i shapes in the outer circumferential direction and are formed from bottom of valve outer circumferential wall 622 are formed o circumferential wall 622 with equal spacing along valve outer circu 622 These valve protruding parts 622a are provided in order to smo the operations of supply valve 620 when supply valve 620 is inserted i element 116 (see Figure 21) When there are no valve protruding p inner circumferential surface of ink supply element 116 and circumferential surface 622 sometimes make contact, so the contac ink supply element 116 becomes large, and the resistance at the tim also becomes large Therefore, because valve protruding parts 62 semicircular shapes are provided, only valve protruding parts 622a with the inner circumferential surface of ink supply element 116, and of supply valve 620 inside ink supply element 116 become smooth

Valve constraining parts 625 and valve projecting wall are for they extend upward from valve outer circumferential wall 622 As misalignment of supply slider 640 in the direction orthogonal to t axial center Ol can be prevented Further, the operation of supply sli direction of axial center Ol is restricted by valve constraining par supply spring 630 can be reliably housed and operated As illustra 25(c), four ink flow paths 627, which communicate in the vertical dir bottom wall 621 (direction perpendicular to the page in Figure 25(c)), that it is substantially lower than valve outer circumferential w bearing part 628 is provided in order to ensure that first supply sprin make contact with valve bottom wall 621 when first supply spring 6 in the space inside valve outer circumferential wall 622 This is be supply spring 630 makes contact with valve bottom wall 621, the in blocked and ink no longer flows Therefore, valve bearing part 628 order to secure the ink flow path, and the part is acceptable as long spring 630 does not make contact with valve bottom wall 621, so it is minimum required height, and this prevents increases in the scale of direction of axial center Ol of ink supply mechanism 500

Valve inner circumferential wall 629, which is formed in a rough that covers the outer circumferential surface of spring top part 632 spring 630, is provided on the outside of valve bearing part 628 and o ink flow path 627 This valve inner circumferential wall 629 is provi restrict the movement of first supply spring 630 in a direction that is axial center 01, and first supply spring 630 is accurately bent in t axial center Ol by restricting the movement of first supply spring 630 that is orthogonal to axial center 01

Figure 26 is a diagram that shows first supply spring 630 Fig diagram that shows a side view of first supply spring 630, Figure 26(b that shows a plan view of first supply spring 630, Figure 26(c) is a shows a bottom view of first supply spring 630, and Figure 26(d) is a view of first supply spring 630 through line XXVId XXVTd in Figure 2

First supply spring 630 is formed in a roughly reversed bowl shap hollow cone), and it is primarily equipped with ring shaped spring bo which forms the bottom surface of first supply spring 630 (end of the larger diameter), ring shaped spring top part 632, which is formed w Figure 25) and forms a pressing part that presses supply valve 620 i of supply joint 610 (see Figure 24) The diameter of spring bottom part such that it is larger than the diameter of spring top part 632, so spri

631 forms the base when spring plastic part 633 is elastically deforme

As illustrated in Figure 26(d), ink flow path 634 which communi tip of spring top part 632 (right end surface in Figure 26(d)) to the bot spring bottom part 631 (left end surface in Figure 26(d)), is formed spring 630 This ink flow path 634 consists of top part flow path 6 demarcated by the inner circumferential surface of spring top part 63 flow path 634b, which is demarcated by the inner circumferential su plastic part 633, and bottom part flow path 634c, which is demarcate circumferential surface of spring bottom part 631 As illustrated in Fi area of the opening of this ink flow path 634 gradually increases f spring top part 632 towards the bottom surface of spring bottom part as illustrated in Figures 26(b) and 26(c), top part flow path 634a of s

632 is formed in a circular shape from the perspective of the direction to the page When spring plastic part 633 is curved and formed i reversed bowl shape that is convex on the side moving away from ax spring plastic part 633 can be more easily deformed than in the case i plastic part 633 is a roughly conic shape

The cross sectional shape of top part flow path 634a of spring top also be formed into a roughly quadrilateral shape When the openi

1 path 634a is formed into a roughly quadrilateral shape, the effects contained in the ink can be reduced Here, the air bubbles contained spherical, so when the flow path is blocked by air bubbles that grow l inside diameter of top part flow path 634a, the ink flow path (passage) and it is not possible to send ink to multifunction device 1 (see Figur formed with a diameter with which the effects of air bubbles would be

As illustrated in Figure 26(d), spring top part 632 is formed int thick cylindrical shape that extends in the direction of axial center formed such that the cross sectional shape perpendicular to the dir center Ol (biased direction of first supply spring 630) is uniform Si bottom part 631 is also formed into a relatively thick cylindrical shap in the direction of axial center Ol and it is formed such that the shape perpendicular to the direction of axial center Ol is uniform

As illustrated in Figure 26(d), spring plastic part 633 is formed i reversed bowl shape (or roughly conical shape) that curves (or prescribed angle in the direction of axial center Ol As a result, the respect to loading in the direction of axial center Ol become weak in spring bottom part 631 and spring top part 632 Furthermore, sprin 633 is formed such that it has a thinner profile than spring bottom spring top part 632, so this also reduces the strength Accordingly, wh spring 630 elastically deforms spring plastic 633 plastically deforms

Second supply spring 650 is formed with the same shape as that spring 630, and the composition of second supply spring 650 cons bottom part 651, spring top part 652, spring plastic part 653, and ink (top part flow path 654a, plastic part flow path 654b, and bottom p 654c) Further, first ambient air spring 730 and second supply sprin formed with the same shape as that of first supply spring 630, and the consist of spring bottom parts 731 and 751, spring top parts 732 a plastic parts 733 and 753, ink flow paths 734 and 754 (top part flow p 754a, plastic part flow paths 734b and 754b, and bottom part flow p 754c)

Figure 27 is a diagram that shows supply slider 640 Figure 27(a and it is primarily equipped with slider outer circumferential wall 64 the outer periphery of supply slider 640, a pair of slider projecting 642b, which project from this slider outer circumferential wall 641 i of axial center Ol of ink supply mechanism 500, a pair of slider loose i

643, which extend from slider outer circumferential wall 641 to th slider projecting wall 642a (upper side end in Figure 27(a)) and are lo into valve guide grooves 623 of supply valve 620 (see Figure 25), slider

644, either side on which first and second supply springs 630 and 650 which is formed on the inside of slider outer circumferential wall 6 contact with spring bottom parts 631 and 651 of first and second sp 650, and slider through hole 645, which is formed in the center pos platform part 644 and connects the top and bottom of slider platform clear from Figure 27(c), slider projecting walls 642a and 642b [symmetrically] such that they sandwich axial center 01, and the pair insertion parts 643 is also positioned [symmetrically] such that they s center Ol

The inside diameter of slider outer circumferential wall 641 is for it is roughly equivalent to the outside diameter spring lower parts 6 first and second supply springs 630 and 650, and slider projecting w 642b are formed such that they project from this slider outer circu 641 in the direction of axial center 01, so when first and second supp and 650 are arranged, the movement of first and second springs 630 direction orthogonal to axial center Ol is restricted As a result, fir springs 630 and 650 are elastically deformed in the direction of axial

Slider loose insertion parts 643 are formed such that they direction of axial center Ol of supply slider 640 (formed across circumferential wall 641 and slider protruding part 642), so when th As illustrated in Figure 28(a), valve seat 660 is equipped with val part 661, which forms the bottom surface of this valve seat 660 and with spring top part 632 of second supply spring 650, and valve seat 662, which are placed on the top surface of this valve seat bottom p side in Figure 28(a)) Each valve seat bearing part 662 is equipped sloping surface 662a, which slopes downward as it approaches the c seat 660, and check valve 670, which will be described below, is re valve seat sloping surface 662a

As illustrated in Figure 28(b), six valve seat bearing parts 662 ar prescribed spacing in the circumferential direction of valve seat 66 seat through holes 662b, which pass through the front and back of v are formed on three of the six valve seat bearing parts These fi through holes 662b are formed on a portion other than valve seat s 662a of valve seat bearing part 662 (horizontal portion of valve sea 662) Therefore, because first valve seat through holes 662b are forme that differs from the portion that receives check valve 670, the block flow path can be prevented

Moreover, second valve seat through holes 663, which pass thro bottom part 661, are formed between valve seat bearing parts 662 of Six of these second valve seat through holes 663 are formed symmetry based on the center line (center line Q illustrated in Fi passes through axial center Ol of ink supply mechanism 500 (see Figure 28(b) This second valve seat through holes 663 form an through which ink flows

As illustrated in Figure 28(c), concave valve seat communicatin which connect each of the second valve seat through holes 663, are bottom surface of valve seat bottom part 661 These valve seat c 650 in the direction orthogonal to axial center Ol is restricted

As illustrated in Figure 28(d), a gap is formed between valv surface 662a of valve seat bearing parts 662 and second valve seat 663 in the direction of axial center Ol As a result, even if chec supported on valve seat sloping surface 662a, the flow path of the i Moreover even if the end surface of spring top part 632 of second sup makes contact with the bottom surfaces of second valve seat thro second valve seat through holes 663 are positioned to the outside circumference of valve seat projecting part 664 (virtual line R in Fi the flow path of the ink is secured by valve seat communicating groo seat communicating grooves 664 connect all of the second valve seat 663 so even if there are second valve seat through holes 663 that a valve seat projecting part 665, the ink flow path can be reliably secur

Figure 29 is a figure that shows check valve 670 Figure 29(a) is a shows a side view of check valve 670, Figure 29(b) is a diagram that view of check valve 670, Figure 29(c) is a diagram that shows a botto valve 670, and Figure 29(c) is a cross sectional view of check valve 67 XXIXd XXIXd in Figure 29(a)

Check valve 670 is roughly formed into an umbrella shape fro perspective (perspective in the direction perpendicular to the page in and it consists of umbrella part 671 and shaft part 672 Umbrella p the flow path of the ink by making contact with cover 680 (see Figu illustrated in Figures 29(b) and 29(d), it is equipped with linking par connected to shaft part 672, and wing part 671b, which extends roug in the outer circumferential direction from this linking part 671a and a thin profile As a result when it makes contact with cover 680, w which is formed with a thin profile adheres to cover 680 as it is elasti Shaft part 672 is a part that is inserted into second cover throug Figure 30) of cover 680, which will be described below This sha positioned in the vicinity of cover 680 in the state in which it is att 680, and it has ball part 672a, which is formed into a roughly spheric ball part 672a is formed with a diameter that is greater than that o through hole 684 of cover 680, and it prevents check valve 670 from f it is attached to cover 680 As a result, it is possible to reduce the loss 670 when manufacturing ink cartridge 14, and operationality is impr

Figure 30 is a diagram that shows cover 680 Figure 30(a) is a shows a side view of cover 680, Figure 30(b) is a diagram that shows cover 680, Figure 30(c) is a diagram that shows a bottom view of c Figure 30(d) is a cross sectional view of cover 680 through line X Figure 30(b)

Cover 680 is formed into a roughly cylindrical shape in which the side (side of valve seat 660 (see Figure 28)) is opened Cover 680 is cover outer circumferential wall 681 which forms the outer periphery, part 682, which forms the top surface of cover 680 (upper side in Fig it is formed such that the bottom surface side is opened Valve seat 66 the opening of the bottom surface of cover 680 (lower side in Figu check valve 670 is housed between valve seat 660 and cover 680 In ot space that houses check valve 670 is formed by cover 680 and valve se

As illustrated in Figures 30(b) and 30(c), six first cover through ho pass through the front and back of cover 680 are formed in the ci direction with respect to axial center Ol These first cover through ho flow path through which ink flows, and when umbrella part 671 of c (see Figure 29) makes contact with cover top part 682, first cover thro are blocked, and the ink flow path is thus also blocked ink flow path of second cover through hole 684 formed in t simultaneously blocked

Figure 31 is a diagram that shows ambient air cap 700 Fig diagram that shows a side view of ambient air cap 700, Figure 31(b) that shows a side view of ambient air cap 700 from the perspective of in Figure 3l(a), Figure 3l(c) is a diagram that shows a plan view of a 700, Figure 3l(d) is a diagram that shows a bottom view of ambient ai Figure 3l(e) is a cross sectional view of ambient air cap 700 XXXIe XXXIe in Figure 3l(c)

As illustrated in Figure 3l(a), ambient air cap 700 is equipped cylindrical ambient air securing part 701, which forms the side wall o air cap 700 and is fastened to ambient air intake element 117 (see F ambient air cap bottom wall 702 which forms the bottom wall of a 700 Engagement holes 703a and 703b (see Figure 3l(b) for engageme which are formed from the bottom part of ambient air securing part 7 in Figure 3l(a)) to the vicinity of the top part (vicinity of the end of the Figure 3l(a)) and are engaged with protruding parts 117a and 117b intake element 117 described above when ambient air cap 700 i ambient air intake element 117, are formed on ambient air securing p

As illustrated in Figure 3l(b), ambient air cap cutout parts 7 (ambient air cap cutout part 704b is not illustrated in the figure), whi in positions moved approximately 90° with respect to axial center positions in which engagement holes 703a and 703b are formed and ar the top end of ambient air securing part 701 to the vicinity of the bo formed on ambient air securing part 701

Moreover, as illustrated in the plan view in Figure 31(c) and in th in Figure 3l(d), ambient air cap insertion hole 705, into which joint outer circumferential direction, as with supply cap 600, so ambient attached as it increases in diameter in the outer circumferen Therefore, when ambient air cap 700 is to be attached, it can be att applying strong pressure, so it is possible to improve the installa while reducing damage to ambient air cap 700

Figure 32 is a diagram that shows ambient air joint 710 Fig diagram that shows a side view of ambient air joint 710, Figure 32(b that shows a plan view of ambient air joint 710, Figure 32(c) is a shows a bottom view of ambient air joint 710, and Figure 32(d) is a view of ambient air joint 710 through line XXXIId XXXIId in Figure

As illustrated in Figure 32(a), ambient air joint 710 is formed in f a side view perspective (perspective of the direction perpendicular Figure 32(a)) The part illustrated in the second step from the bottom Figure 32(a)) is joint outer circumference part 711, which is the pa contact with the inner circumferential surface of ambient air securin Figure 31) of ambient air cap 700 and ambient air cap bottom wall the outer circumference part of ambient air joint 710 The part illustr step of this joint outer circumference part 711 is joint inner circumfer which is provided on the mside of ambient air intake element 117 ( and forms the inner circumference part of ambient air joint 710, and joint inner circumference part 712 is illustrated in Figure 32(a) Fu illustrated at the top step of joint inner circumference part 712 is co which makes contact with ambient air valve 720 The part illus bottommost step is joint skirt part 714 formed with a thin profi member that covers the outside surface of valve open part 721a (see ambient air valve 720 and exposes it to the outside from ambient air

As illustrated in Figure 32(b), the axial center of joint outer circu 712a of joint inner circumference part 712 (surface on the side that with ambient air valve 720) Joint contact part 713 is formed such t toward tip 713a (upper end part in Figure 32(d)), and this tip 713a with the bottom surface of ambient air valve 720 and blocks the amb path Moreover, as illustrated in Figure 32(d), joint passage 715, whi the bottom surface of joint inner circumference part 712 to tip 713a o part 713 (upper side to lower side in Figure 32(d)) is formed on am 710 and valve open part 721a of ambient air valve 720 is inserted passage 715

Figure 33 is a diagram that shows ambient air valve 720 Fig diagram that shows a side view of ambient air valve 720, and Fig diagram that shows a bottom view of ambient air valve 720 Ambien has a configuration in which valve open part 721a, which projects fr surface of valve bottom wall 721 and opens the ambient air intake p contact with the side of multifunction device 1 (see Figure l), is ad valve 620 Therefore, detailed descriptions of valve bottom wall 72 circumferential wall 722, valve protruding part 722a, valve guide gro projecting wall 724, valve constraining part 725, valve hook part 72 intake path 727 (part corresponding to ink flow path 627), valve bea and valve inner circumferential wall 729 will be omitted here Illustr that cannot be visually confirmed in the side view (Figure 33 (a)) an (Figure 33(b)) of ambient air valve 720 will also be omitted here

Ambient air valve 720 is equipped with valve open part 721a, from the bottom surface of valve bottom wall 721 Valve open part 721 on axial center 02 of ambient air intake mechanism 510 and is rough a rod shape Roughly semicircular convex part 721b, which projects fr part (lower end surface in Figure 22) to valve bottom wall 721 When ink cartridge 14 is installed in multifunction device 1 and v 721a operates, joint skirt part 714 of ambient air joint 710 also make the end surface of multifunction device 1 and elastically deforms, a communication between the ambient air intake path and the outsid part 714 As a result, ambient air that is introduced from the side of device 1 can be introduced smoothly Moreover, even if joint s elastically deforms toward axial center 02 and makes contact with v 721a the ambient air intake path can be secured by convex part 721b part 721a It is therefore possible to prevent the ambient air intake p blocked and ensure that ambient air is introduced into ink reservoi (see Figure 14)

Next, the state in which ink supply mechanism 500 and ambi mechanism 510 are installed into ink supply element 116 and ambi element 117 will be described with reference to Figure 34 Figure cross sectional view that shows the state in which ink supply mecha ambient air intake mechanism 510 are installed into ink supply ele ambient air intake element 117

As illustrated in Figure 34, ink supply mechanism 500 is inse attached to inner circumferential surface 800 of ink supply ele ambient air intake mechanism 510 is inserted into and attac circumferential surface 810 of ambient air intake element 117

First, ink supply mechanism 500, which is attached to ink suppl will be described On inner circumferential surface 800 of ink suppl projecting wall 801, which projects in the direction of the in circumferential wall 800, is formed on the side of first supply comm 421 of supply path forming part 420, and έhis projecting wall 801 is stepped shape that can house cover 680 Cover 680 is inserted such supply slider 640 on the opposite side of second supply spring 650, a spring 630 is arranged between supply slider 640 and supply valve supply joint 610 is arranged such that it makes contact with the bot supply valve 620, and supply cap 600 is fastened to the outside element 116 such that it makes contact with the bottom surface of th 610 Supply cap 600 is fastened as it engages with protruding parts of ink supply element 116, so the position on the outside of ink supp 500 is determined Therefore, the position of the direction of axial ce supply mechanism 500 is determined by supply cap 600 and stepped s inner circumferential surface 800 of ink supply element 116

The inside diameter of inner circumferential surface 800 of ink s 116 is formed such that it is slightly larger than the outside diam valve 620, and it is configured such that the operation of supply va direction of axial center Ol can be performed smoothly inside ink s 116 As described above four valve protruding parts 622a are forme circumferential surface of supply valve 620, and it is configured contact surface with inner circumferential surface 800 is small The supply valve 620 operates in a diagonal direction with respect to a and makes contact with inner circumferential surface 800, it is possi the state in which supply valve 620 cannot be operated Moreover, a between supply valve 620 and inner circumferential surface 800, so an that passes through the inside of ink supply mechanism 500 and an that flows through the outside of supply valve 620 are formed As circumferential surface 800 of ink supply element 116 is the space t ink flow path chamber

As described above, slider platform part 644 is in a state i sandwiched by spring bottom part 631 of first supply spring 630 and intake element 117, will be described On inner circumferential s ambient air intake element 117, protruding part 811, which pro direction of ambient air intake mechanism 510 (left direction in formed on the end surface of ambient air intake passage forming p side of first ambient air communicating chamber This protrudin configured as a pair of plate shaped member, and it makes contact surface of spring top part 752 of second ambient air spring 750 A ambient air intake path is formed between protruding part 811 and s 752 of second ambient air spring 750 Moreover, the position of ambi mechanism 510 on the side of first ambient air communicatin determined as a result of second ambient air spring 750 making protruding part 811

As with the ink supply mechanism 500 side, ambient air slider 7 on ambient air intake mechanism 510 such that it houses second amb 750, and first ambient air spring 730 is housed by ambient air slid opposite side of second ambient air spring 750, while first ambient ai arranged between ambient air slider 740 and ambient air valve 7 ambient air joint 710 is arranged such that it makes contact wi surface of ambient air valve 720, and ambient air cap 700 is fastened of ambient air intake element 17 such that it makes contact with the on the outer circumferential side from joint skirt part 714 of this am 710 Ambient air cap 700 is fastened as it engages with protruding p 117b of ambient air intake element 117, so the position on the outside intake mechanism 510 is determined Therefore, the position of t axial center 02 of ambient air intake mechanism 510 is determined cap 700 and protruding part 811 of inner circumferential surface 810 intake element 117 explains the welding process of film 160 Figure 36(a) is a diagram th welding surface of frame part 110 onto which film 160 is welded, and a diagram that explains the welding process in which film 160 is we part 110 Figure 37 is a diagram that explains the manufacturing proc after film 160 is welded Figure 37(a) is a diagram that explains t process in which ink supply mechanism 500 and ambient air intake m are attached to frame part 110, Figure 37(b) is a diagram that decompression process, and Figure 37(c) is a diagram that exp dispensing process Figure 38 is a diagram that explains the installa case 200 Figure 38(a) is a diagram that explains the process in w sandwiches frame part 110, and Figure 38(b) is a diagram that explai process in which case 200 is welded Figure 39 is a diagram that manufacturing process performed before ink cartridge 14 is shipped a diagram that explains the process in which protector 300 is attache 39(b) is a diagram that explains the process in which ink cartridge 14 packaging bag 930

As illustrated in Figure 35 in the manufacture of ink cartridge 1 470 is first attached to frame part 110 Frame part 110 and sensor ar molded using injection molding in a preliminary process (molding pro words, each is respectively molded in a first molding process (prepar in which frame part 110 is injection molded and in a second mo (preparatory process) in which sensor arm 470 is injection molded

In sensor arm 470, attachment shaft 472a, which is provided on at 472 of sensor arm 470 is attached to arm sandwiching part 425, which the vicinity of supply path forming part 420 of frame part 110 (se attachment process, preparatory process) Arm sandwiching part 425 opposite side as the side of ink supply element 116 (top of Figure 35) I detection part 140 In other words, once the attachment of senso complete, sensor arm 470 cannot be easily detached, so it is possible manufacturing process of ink cartridge 14 from becoming compl prevent sensor arm 470 from detaching from detection part 140 cartridge is transported As a result, when ink cartridge 14 i multifunction device 1, the empty ink state can be reliably det reliability of the product can be improved

In this embodiment, a supporting part that forms the axis operation of sensor arm 470 is configured as attachment part 472 (att 472a) of sensor arm 470 is supported on arm sandwiching part 425 110, but a configuration in which an attachment shaft is provided frame part 110 and a sandwiching part is provided on the side of s may also be used, and a configuration in which sensor arm 470 and f are attached using a hinge junction would also be acceptable In ot long as sensor arm 470 is attached such that it can rotate with respec 110, its attachment structure may take any form

When the attachment of sensor arm 470 is complete, ink dispensi then pressed inside dispensing cylinder part 451 of ink dispensing dispensing plug 520 pressing process, preparatory process) Ink dispe is pressed such that outside end surface 520a of ink dispensing p roughly the same plane as the outside surface of frame part 110, pressed to a position such that it makes contact with bottom part 451 cylinder part 451 This is because, as described above, fir communicating hole 452 of dispensing passage forming part 450 is side surface of dispensing cylinder part 451, and when ink dispensi pressed to the back of dispensing cylinder part 451, first dispensing c hole 452 becomes block, making it impossible to dispense ink As illustrated in Figure 36(b), film 160 is cut such that it is la external outline of frame part 110, and it covers frame part 110 At 160 is arranged on first opening 112a and second opening 112b witho aspirating film 160 with an aspirator (not illustrated in the figure) fr frame part 110 Ultrasound welded surface 900 of an ultrasonic weldi illustrated in the figure) is then placed on film 160 such that it co circumference parts of first and second openings 112a and circumference welded parts 400a and 400b) from the top of film 160, a welded to frame part 110 When film 160 is welded to each welded p painted black in Figure 37(a) (outer circumference welded parts 400a inner circumference welded parts 411a to 417a and 411b to 417b) are

On frame part 110, multiple inner circumference welded parts 411 411b to 417b are dispersed on the inner circumferential side of outer welded parts 400a and 400b, so if ultrasonic welding is performed wit of the welded parts, the structure of ultrasound welded surface complex, and the manufacturing cost therefore increases How embodiment, ultrasound welded surface 900 of the ultrasonic wel configured such that it covers all of the welded parts (outer circumf parts and inner circumference welded parts), so it is possible to reduc the manufacturing cost of the welding process of film 160

Moreover, film 160 is made of a double layered film comprising a a polyethylene film (called "nylon polyethylene" hereafter), and the si contact with frame part 110 is the polyethylene film later This nylo completely blocks liquids, but it is relatively gas permeable, so a sm gas circulation is possible between ink reservoir chamber 111, whi sealed by film 160, and packaging bag 930 (see Figure 39(b)), described below As a result, gas that is present in the ink inside Frame part 110 is formed from a polyethylene resin, and it is ma type of substance as the film of film 160 on the side of frame part 110 160 and frame part 110 are formed from the same material, both fil welded parts can be fused and welded reliably at the time of ultraso this embodiment, film 160 has a double layer structure Nylon films polyethylene films from the perspective of strength, but their melting so they are deficient from the perspective of welding operationality T film 160 is formed with a double layer structure made of nylon and the strength is secured, and by using the polyethylene layer as the welded to frame part 110, welding can be performed at a low heating so welding operationality is secured Furthermore the nylon layer do the welding operation, so there are fewer changes in the thickness of vicinity of the welded parts, and the strength of the film in the vicinity parts can also be maintained

As illustrated in Figure 37(a), when the welding of film 160 is supply mechanism 500 and ambient air intake mechanism 510 ar frame part 110 Ink supply mechanism 500 is attached to ink suppl (ink supply mechanism 500 attachment process_* preparatory process) air intake mechanism 510 is attached to ambient air intake element air intake mechanism [500] attachment process_* preparatory pr attachment of ink supply mechanism 500 (attachment process), a which cover 680, check valve 670, and valve seat 660 are formed inserted inside ink supply element 116 (position that makes contact surface 801a) At this time, the tip of check valve 670 is inserted in communicating hole 421 (see Figure 34), and it is attached such that i the space enclosed by supply partition wall 422 A component in whic 610, supply valve 620, first supply spring 630, supply slider 640, and ink supply element 116 and supply cap 600 When the attachment of s to ink supply element 116 is complete, the attachment of ink supply m is complete, and ink supply part 120 is constructed

As with the attachment of ink supply mechanism 500 to ink suppl the attachment of ambient air intake mechanism 510 to ambient air i 117 (attachment process) is performed in a process in which a compo ambient air joint 710 ambient air valve 720 first ambient air spring air slider 740, and second ambient air spring 750 are formed as a u air cap 700 is inserted inside inner circumferential surface 810 o intake element 117, and ambient air cap 700 is fixed to the outer c surface of ambient air intake element 117 At this time, ambient pushed to the side of ambient air intake element 117, and engageme and 703b of ambient air cap 700 are engaged with protruding parts of ambient air intake element 117 In ambient air joint 710 circumference part 712 is pressed inside inner circumferential s ambient air intake element 117, and joint outer circumference sandwiched between ambient air intake element 117 and ambient When the attachment of ambient air cap 700 to ambient air intake e complete, the attachment of ambient air intake mechanism 510 is ambient air intake part 130 is completed

As illustrated in Figure 37(b), when the attachment of ink supp 500 and ambient air intake mechanism 510 to supply element 116 an intake element 117 (each attachment process) is complete, a decompr in which the inside of frame part 110 (ink reservoir chamber 111) is de performed In this embodiment, the decompression of the inside of fra performed from the side of ink supply part 120 In the decompression frame part 110, suction tube 911 of pressure reducing device 910 is elastic force of first and second supply springs 630 and 650, and the fl ink is thus blocked, so the decompressed state is maintained

As illustrated in Figure 37(c), when the decompression inside fra complete after the decompression process, ink dispensing needle 920 i ink dispensing plug 520, and ink is dispensed into frame part 110 chamber 111) (ink dispensing process) The inside of ink reservoir c depressurized, so the ink is swiftly dispensed into ink reservoir cha when a prescribed amount of ink has been dispensed, dispensing removed and the ink dispensing process is completed The air press reservoir chamber 111 after ink is dispensed is air pressure pi (fi Moreover, "a prescribed amount of ink" refers to the quantity for surface I of the ink drops below second ambient air communicating third ambient air communicating hole 436 of ambient air communic forming part 430, as illustrated in Figure 37(c) Therefore when ink the penetration of ink into ambient air connection passage 433 can b purpose for not dispensing ink inside ink reservoir chamber 111 u space is left inside ink reservoir chamber 111 is to, as described abov damage or deformation of film 160 Moreover the region below liqui the ink illustrated in Figure 37(c) is the ink space where ink is stored, above liquid surface I of the ink and the space containing communicating passage forming part 430 is the ambient air commu (decompressed space), but the ink space and the ambient air commu change in shape and size depending on the state in which ink cartrid and the amount of remaining ink

Ink is dispensed in the state in which the inside of ink reservoir c decompressed by pressure reducing device 910, so even after the dispe complete, the air pressure inside ink reservoir chamber 111 is in the Here, although it is not illustrated in the figures, the subsequent process that is performed after the ink is dispensed will be d subsequent decompression process is performed using ink dispensi which was inserted into ink dispensing plug 520 In other words, a that supplies ink (not illustrated in the figure) and a pressure reduci reduces the pressure by aspirating the ambient air inside frame illustrated in the figure) are connected to ink dispensing needle 920, ink is completely dispensed, the flow path is switched and decomp pressure reducing device is begun The air pressure p3 (third press reservoir chamber 111 after subsequent decompression is performed the air pressure pi inside ink reservoir chamber 111 after the ink Therefore, the quantity of gas inside ink reservoir chamber 111 furthe a result of the subsequent decompression process, so the generation inside the ink can be prevented and the deterioration of printing qu bubbles can be avoided Moreover, the ink that flows in at the ti dispensing process collides with the inside surface inside ink reservoi so air bubbles are more likely to generate, but the air bubbles generat can be removed Further, the device may also be configured decompression needle (not illustrated in the figure) for performi decompression is provided separately from ink dispensing nee decompression is performed by inserting the decompression needle ink dispensing needle 920

As illustrated in Figure 17, in dispensing passage forming part 45 of second dispensing communicating hole 454 is positioned above liq the ink (top of Figure 17(a)), so even if subsequent decompression is p a pressure reducing device, the ink is never aspirated to the outsid dispensing path Therefore, the amount of ink that is dispensed neve dispensing plug 520, so even if the dispensing needle is mistakenly again, the ink is not dispensed In other words in the manufacturing cartridge 14, it is possible to prevent the dispensing process from be twice and to prevent the occurrence of defective products

As illustrated in Figure 38(a), when the dispensing (or decompress is complete, the manufacture of ink reservoir element 110 is comple 200 is then assembled (case 200 assembly process) Case 200 (first a members 210 and 220) is molded by injection molding, and it is ma advance (third molding process)

As described above, in the assembly of cover 200, rod members 215a to 2 member 210 are inserted into three through-holes 460a to 460c (see Figure 14 f 460b and 460c), which are formed on the outer circumference part of frame p reservoir element 110 is thus installed in first case member 210 At this time, 120 (supply cap 600) and ambient air intake part 130 (ambient air cap 700) engaged with case cutout parts 211 and 212, and the outer wall of ink supply circumferential surface of supply cap 600) and the outer wall of ambient air int (outer circumferential surface of ambient air cap 700) make contact with conta and 212a Second case member 220 is then attached such that case fitting ho 225c (not illustrated m the figure) of second case member 220 engage with ro to 215c of first case member 210 At this time, ink supply part 120 (suppl ambient air intake part 130 (ambient air cap 700) are respectively engaged parts 221 and 222 of second case member 220, and the outer wall of ink suppl circumferential surface of supply cap 600) and the outer wall of ambient air int (outer circumference of ambient air cap 700) make contact with contact grooves

As illustrated in Figure 38(b), when the assembly of first and sec and 220 (assembly process) is complete, first and second case member are welded to one another (case 200 welding process) In the welding and second case members 210 and 220, first case welded part 21 may be used

In this embodiment, first and second case members 210 and 220 after the ink is dispensed into ink reservoir element 100 and first a members 210 and 220 are then welded, so the vibration due to ultras absorbed by the ink Therefore, it is possible to reduce situations welded parts of frame part 110 or film 160 are damaged or film 160 pe of vibration accompanying the welding of case 200 Moreover, wh parts of first and second case members 210 and 220 are partiall generation of vibration due to ultrasonic welding is reduced, so the d part or the peehng of film 160 can be further reduced

As illustrated in Figure 38(b), case projecting parts 214a a projecting part 214a is not illustrated in the figure) and case projecti and 224b (case projecting part 214b is not illustrated in the figure) p from ink supply part 120 and ambient air intake part 130 Theref cartridge 14 is to be installed in inkjet recording device 1, even if ink dropped, case projecting parts 214a, 214b, 224a, and 224b make im ground, so the damage of ink supply part 120 and ambient air intak be prevented Further, the opening of the ambient air intake path or path can also be prevented, so the leakage of ink can be prevented

As illustrated in Figure 39(a), when the welding process of case 2 protector 300 is attached to case 200 (protector 300 attachment protector 300 is removed when ink cartridge 14 is attached to multifu (see Figure l), so it is configured such that it can be freely attached As described above, protruding parts 330al and 330bl of protector 30 through holes formed by case projecting cutout parts 214a and 224a of first and second case members 210 and 220 and through holes f projecting cutout parts 214b and 224b of first and second case membe one open end (end of the right front side of Figure 39(b)), and in process, all of the other opened portions excluding opening 931 are welded in a state in which ink cartridge 14 is enclosed Suction tube 9 reducing device 940 is inserted through this opening 931, and the amb of packaging bag 930 is aspirated and reduced by activating suction p The air pressure of packaging bag 930 due to this decompression is a than the ambient pressure, but it is reduced such that it becomes a (second pressure), which is lower than air pressure p3 that is redu reservoir chamber 111 (or air pressure pi when a subsequent decompr is not performed) When decompression by pressure reducing device 9 suction tube 941 is removed and opening 931 is welded, resulting in a ink cartridge 14 can be shipped The relationship between air pressu the relationship p2 < p3 < pl

Because the air pressure inside packaging bag 930 is made lowe pressure inside ink reservoir chamber 111 as a result of the pa decompression process, film 160 of ink cartridge 14 can be plasticall the side of packaging bag 930 (side of case 200) If the air pressure ins bag 930 is higher than the air pressure inside ink reservoir chamber sometimes hardens and loses flexibility, , or is damaged in the stat inside of ink reservoir chamber 111 is decompressed when ink cartr without being used for a long period of time When film 160 loses shape of ink reservoir chamber 111 do not change, and the air pre nonuniform, so ink cannot be accurately supplied Moreover whe damaged, the ink inside ink reservoir chamber 111 flows to the cartridge 14 However, in this embodiment, the inside of packagi decompressed such that the air pressure is lower than the air press reservoir chamber 111, so film 160 is can be deformed on the side of reservoir chamber 111 This is because, as described above, film 160 nylon polyethylene, which is relatively gas permeable, so the air p space inside ink reservoir chamber 111 and the air pressure of th packaging bag 930 and outside ink reservoir chamber 111 attempt t the equilibrium state, and the gas therefore moves to the outside f reservoir chamber 111 Accordingly, the deaeration of the ink stored i chamber 111 is promoted, and it becomes more difficult for air bubbl so the printing quality can be favorably maintained

In this embodiment, ink cartridge 14 is packaged in packagin decompressed in the state in which protector 300 is attached to case 2 makes direct contact with ambient air intake part 130 (or ink suppl packaging bag 930 deforms due to decompression Valve open part 7 the outside of ambient air intake part 130, so if packaging bag 930 contact with valve open part 721a, valve open part 721a operates an air intake path is sometimes opened If the ambient air intake path ink inside ink reservoir chamber 111 leaks out Moreover, ambient 130 and ink supply part 120 are sometimes damaged in step with the packaging bag 930 However, in this embodiment, protector 300 is at 200, so the damage of ambient air intake part 130 and ink supply p prevented, and the opening of the ambient air intake path can be pre

As described above ink cartridge 14 is manufactured in a process 200 is welded over ink reservoir element 100 after ink is dispen reservoir chamber 111 of frame part 110 With some conventional ink was dispensed from outside the case after the ink reservoir elemen with the case (after the assembly of the ink cartridge is completely such a conventional ink cartridge, it was necessary to prepare a fra according to the amount of ink stored and the color of the ink Ho ink dispensing plug 520 can be prevented

Next, the installation method of ink cartridge 14 into multifunctio be described with reference to Figure 40 Figure 40 is a diagram t method in which ink cartridge 14 is installed into multifunction devic

When ink cartridge 14 is to be attached to multifunction device 1, 930 is first broken, and ink cartridge 14 is removed from the inside of 930 Then protector 300 is removed from case 200 The direction in cartridge 14 (for color, for black, and for large capacity black) is multifunction device 1 is the same

First, the internal structure of refill unit 13 of multifunction de described with reference to Figure 40(a) In refill unit 13, as described 49 is provided at a lower portion of the side of back surface 56 of case 49 projects along installation direction F (arrow F in Figure 40(a)) o 14 As is clear from Figure 40(c), this installation direction F is longitudinal direction (direction of arrow B₅ X direction) of ink cartri is installed into refill unit 13 Remaining ink detection sensor 57 is p needle 49 Remaining ink detection sensor 57 is roughly formed int horseshoe shape, and the open end of the horseshoe shape is light emi which emits light, while the other end is light receiving part 57b (not the figure), which receives light This light emitting part 57a and l part 57b are respectively inserted into through holes formed by cas 213 and 223 and detection part 140, and are attached such that the back surface 56 Remaining ink detection sensor 57 is configured su not output (or outputs) a signal to a control unit provided on multifu when light receiving part 57b receives light that is emitted from light 57a and outputs (or does not output) a signal to the control device wh emitted from light emitting part 57a is blocked and is not received by are sequentially arranged from bottom to top and ink supply part part 140, and ambient air intake part 130 are formed on a single end clear from Figure 40(b) this single end surface is the one side surfa positioned in the front in installation direction F when ink cartridg regular installation position Therefore, because ink supply part 120, 140, and ambient air intake part 130 are provided such that the (located close to each other) on a single end surface, remaining ink de 57, needle 49, and passage 54, which are required on the side of device 1, can be consolidated (located close to each other) onto a single surface 56) If ink supply part 120 were provided on the bottom cartridge 14 and detection part 140 and ambient air intake part 130 on the side surface of ink cartridge 14, it would become necessar needle 49 on the bottom surface side of case 40 of refill unit 13 remaining ink detection sensor 57 and passage 54 on the side of th (back surface 56) of case 40, and the scale of multifunction device 1 as these were provided, being diversified (located relatively far aw other) However, in this embodiment, these parts are consolidated (lo each other), so the scale of multifunction device 1 can be reduced

Ink supply part 120 and detection part 140 are sequentially pr single end surface from top to bottom and by usmgsensor arm 470 remaining ink, the full use of the ink can be improved This is due to reasons

When the amount of remaining ink is detected by irradiating a por cartridge (corresponding to detection part 140 in this embodim photodetector (corresponding to remaining ink detection senso embodiment), if a method in which the presence of ink is detected dir for detecting the amount of remaining ink based on whether or not in the irradiated part is positioned above the ink supply opening, the irradiated part becomes relatively high, so a significant quantity of i when the photodetector detects the absence of ink, and when the use the absence of ink based on the detection results of the photodetector ink that is left over becomes large However, in this embodiment, sen used, so even if the irradiated part is provided in a relatively high absence of ink can be detected in step with the timing in which the act remaining ink becomes low, and the ink supply opening is provided in so there is little leftover ink (The description is given out of place, bu ink detection method using sensor arm 470 will be described in detail

As long as the configuration of the ink cartridge is such that t opening is provided on the bottom surface of the ink cartridge and part is provided on the side surface of the ink cartridge, ink will be ful a method that directly detects the presence of ink is used However there is the separate problem that multifunction device 1 increases in words, only with the invention described in this embodiment can both of the scale of multifunction device 1 and the improvement of the full realized

As described in Figure 40(a), ink cartridge 14 is installed in a pr case protruding parts 214a and 224a (first case welded parts 216 an 200 are inserted to slide on door main body 60, and the back surface o 14 is pushed in installation direction F until most of ink cartridge 14 i refill unit 13 Moreover, as described above, sloping surfaces 214a2 formed on case projecting parts 214a and 224a, so ink cartridge 14 ca inserted due to these sloping surfaces 214a2 and 224a2 As illustra 40(a), a portion of the back surface of ink cartridge 14 is push part 20 a part that is pushed such that it makes contact with pressing retaini cartridge 14 from being inserted diagonally and prevent remaining sensor 57 and needle 49 from being damaged

When the door member 60 is rotated from the state of Figure direction of the arrow illustrated in Figure 40 (b), the pushing retaini of the door member 60 contacts the push part 200a forming a porti surface of the ink cartridge 14, pushing the ink cartridge 14 in th direction F As the door member 60 is rotated further, the door lock the door member 60 fits into the lock member fitting part 46 of the completing the installation of the ink cartridge 14 (the state of Figu middle point p illustrated in Figure 40 (c) is the central position i direction (height direction) of the ink cartridge 14 The position wher retaining member 61 pushes the push part 200a is a position includi point p of the ink cartridge 14 and extending below the middle poi words, the push part 200a is provided at a position above the ink su and below the ambient air intake part 130 in the vertical direct illustration and description of this will be omitted, when the state of reached, the tip of the swing arm mechanism 44b fits into the latch p 227a and retains the ink cartridge 14

Once installation of the ink cartridge 14 is completed, the needle into the ink supply part 120 and ink supply is enabled, the valve ope of the ambient air intake part 130 contacts the back surface 56 o enabling intake of ambient air, and the remaining ink detection inserted through the through hole formed by the case cutout parts 21 the detection part 140, enabling detection of the remaining quantit details of this will be described later

Furthermore, since the remaining ink sensor 57 is inserted through hole formed by the case cutout parts 213 and 223 and the cartridge 14 has been installed (or is being installed) in the refill unit force of the spring members 630, 650, 730 and 750 of the ink supply and the ambient air intake mechanism 510 act in the direction away on which needle 49 is arranged (leftward in Figure 40, in the directi the installation direction) As described above, the pushing retaining configured to have a greater elastic force than the elastic force gen spring members 630, 650 730 and 750, and is thus able to stably cartridge 14 once it has been installed Furthermore, the push par depressed by the pushing retaining member 61 is located substa middle between the ink supply part 120 and the ambient air int allowing a substantially uniform elastic force to be applied to the in 120 and the ambient air intake part 130 This is because the ink c retained at three points in the installation direction of the ink cart point at the front of the refill unit 13 (the pushing retaining membe points at the back of the refill unit 13 (the ink supply part 120 and t intake part 130), with the imaginary line linking these three p substantially an isosceles triangle shape Thus retaining the ink c three points allows the ink cartridge 14 to be retained stably Furt the elastic force of the pushing retaining member 61 is used to r cartridge 14, the load on the surface of the ink cartridge 14 decrease to the case of a mechanical structure where the ink cartridge 14 engagement with its surface Thus, it becomes possible to prevent da cartridge 14 through excessive loads being applied thereto

Furthermore, since the pushing retaining member 61 pushes bel position (midpoint p) in the height direction of the ink cartridge 14, not needed to operate the door member 60, making it possible to sta ink cartridge 14 at a prescribed position The pivot of rotation of the will be able to close the door member with minimum force, but since lower part of the ink cartridge 14 is pushed, the ink cartridge 14 m rotate and be pushed in tilted, so the needle 49 may not be inserted a the ink supply part 120 However, according to the present embodi push part 200a is arranged below the middle position of the ink cartr height direction and above the position corresponding to the ink sup large force is not required to operate the door member, making it pos install the ink cartridge at the prescribed location

Here, referring to Figure 41, the operation of the ink supply mech the ambient air intake mechanism 510 when the ink cartridge 14 is i multifunction device 1 will be described Figure 41 is a drawing il state with the ink cartridge 14 having been installed in the multifun Since Figure 41 is drawing for the purpose of explaining the operat supply mechanism 500 and ambient air intake mechanism 510, the protrusion 55 of the multifunction device 1 and the like have been om drawing

As illustrated in Figure 41 when the ink cartridge 14 is in multifunction device 1 (inside the refill unit 13), the light emitting pa light receiving part 57b (not illustrated) of the remaining ink detec are arranged at positions sandwiching the detection part 140 The

140 consists of translucent or transparent resin material, allowing th from the light emitting part 57a of the remaining ink detection sen through the detection part 140 and be received by the light receiving p the shielding arm part 473c of the sensor arm 470 is arranged in the

141 of the detection part 140, as described above, the remaining ink q detected by the operation of this sensor arm 470 The operation of t will be described later multifunction device 1 via ink extraction opening 52 and ink tube 53 in the tip of the needle 49, a cutout 49a is formed for securing an in that an ink flow path is secured by the cutout 49a even if the tip of contacts the valve bottom wall 621 of the supply valve 620

Here the operation of the ink supply mechanism 500 when the su is depressed by the needle 49 will be described The first supply spri inside the supply valve 620 (and supply slider 640) as described slightly flexed spring flexible part 633 On the other hand, there is no spring flexible part 653 of the second supply spring 650 arranged o side of the supply slider 640 from the first supply spring 630 determine the flexing order of the first and second supply springs 6 other words, the first supply spring 630 with the flexed spring fle flexes more easily than the second supply spring 650, so that when t inserted, the first supply spring 630 flexes first, and the second sup flexes thereafter

Here, the height of the ink supply mechanism 500 in the directi comprises dimensional error from the manufacturing of the various c the more components there are, the more likely that dimensional er However, since the supply slider 640 is brought into contact with t part 626 of the valve member 610, at least the error in the dimensio supply spring 630 becomes irrelevant Thus, dimensional error of t mechanism 500 is reduced and the telescoping operation of th mechanism 500 becomes more stable

Furthermore, the inside diameter of the valve outer circumferent the supply valve 620 and the outside diameter of the slider outer ci wall 641 of the supply slider 640 are formed to be substantially e becomes possible to prevent the occurrence of misalignment in th outer circumferential wall 622 of the supply valve 620 is formed sl than the inside diameter of the ink supply element 116, since the val part 622a is formed outward from the valve outer circumferential w supply valve 620, it becomes possible to prevent misalignment in t displacement when the supply valve 620 operates in the directio Therefore, telescoping operation in the direction of axis Ol becomes m

Furthermore, when the valve bottom wall 621 of the supply depressed by the needle 49 and moves in the direction of valve seat 6 in Figure 41), accompanying this movement the first supply spring deformed so as to become compressed, whereupon the supply slider the direction of valve seat 660 (the direction opposite to the impelli the first supply spring 630 and second supply spring 650), and the spring undergoes flexible deformation This state is the state illustr 41

Once the ink cartridge 14 has been installed in the case 40 of the device 1, the first and second supply springs 630 and 650 also u deformation, forming an ink flow path K indicated by arrow K The in is a flow path formed between the ink reservoir chamber 111 (see Figu supply communicating hole 423, first supply communicating hole 4 through hole 683 (and second cover through hole 684) of cover 680 fi through hole 662b and second valve seat through hole 663 of valve s seat communicating groove 664 of valve seat 660, ink flow path 654 of spring 650, slider through hole 645 of supply slider 640, ink flow pa supply spring member 630, first spring member 930 and valve bea and is a flow path which leads successively through the ink flow path valve 620, cutout 49a of needle 49 and the inside of needle 49 The s the valve outer circumferential wall 622 of the supply valve 620 part 613 has a structure cut out into a countersunk shape, so the di the joint protruding part 614 in the direction of insertion of the ne transmitted directly to the tip 613a of the joint contact part 613 In ot tip 613a of the joint contact part 613 is hardly displaced in the directio but is slightly displaced in a direction away from the needle 49 Th change of the supply joint 610 accompanying insertion of the needle 4 the joint contact parts 613 are displaced away from each other Assu contact part 613 had a shape with a gently sloping surface going f circumferential surface 614a of the joint protruding part 614 to the t joint contact part 613, as the needle 49 was inserted, the joint protru would deform so as to be displaced in the direction of insertion of the deformation of the joint protruding part 614 would be directly tran joint contact part 613, and the joint contact part 613 would be dis direction of insertion together with the joint protruding part 614 A insertion stroke of the needle 49 for forming an ink flow path betwe valve 620 and the joint contact part 613 would become longer, so would have to be made longer Furthermore, as the needle 49 beco becomes more likely to be damaged by contact with other members, of the ink supply mechanism 500 in the direction of axis Ol become increasing its size However in the present embodiment, since the joi 613 is displaced in a direction substantially orthogonal to the directi of the needle 49, the stroke for forming an ink flow path does not ne long Thus, it becomes possible to reduce contact of the needle members, reducing damage as well as reducing the size increase of t mechanism 500

When the ink cartridge 14 is removed form the multifunction needle 49 is withdrawn, whereupon the valve bottom wall 621 of the the step part flow path 615a is minute, the ink is retained by the ca the step part of the step part flow path 615a, so that its outflow to the ink cartridge 14 can be reduced Furthermore, even if it flows out fro flow path 615a, since the opening part of the ink storage part 602 of 600 is wider than the opening 612c of the step part flow path 615a, t out flows into the ink storing part 607 of the ink supply cap 600 becomes possible to reliably prevent ink from flowing out of the ink ca

Next, the ambient air intake mechanism 510 side will be des ambient air intake mechanism 510, when the ink cartridge 14 is in multifunction device 1, the valve opening part 721a of the ambient contacts the back surface 56 of the case 40, depressing the ambient ai a result, the ambient air valve 720 is moved away from the joint cont the ambient air joint 710, forming an ambient air intake path L as arrow L in the drawings Furthermore, when the valve opening pa ambient air valve 720 contacts and is depressed by the back surfac stroke part 714 of the ambient air joint 710 contacts the back surfa joint skirt part 714 undergoes flexible deformation so as to expand ( diameter As a result, it becomes tightly held against the back surfac the outside and inside of the joint skirt part 714 In the back surf inside of the joint skirt part 714, there is formed a passage 54 whi passage for taking in ambient air, which is admitted into the ink rese 111 via this passage 54

The operation of the ambient air intake mechanism 510 when th valve 720 is depressed will be described The first ambient air spri inside the ambient air valve 720 (and the ambient air slider 740), as d has a slightly flexed spring flexible part 733, while there is no flexin flexible part 753 of the second ambient air spring 750 Thus, the fl parts 731 and 751 of the first and second ambient air spring member are formed to be substantially equal Thus, it becomes possib misalignment in the direction orthogonal to axis 02 (the up dow Figure 41) when the first and second ambient air springs 730 and 75 on the slider pedestal part 744 of the ambient air slider 740

Furthermore, while the outside shape of the valve outer circu 722 of the ambient air valve 720 is formed slightly smaller than the of the ambient air intake element 117, since valve protruding part 7 outward from the valve outer circumferential wall 722 of the ambient misalignment in the direction of displacement when the ambient operates in the direction of axis 02 can be prevented Therefor operation in the direction of axis 02 of the ambient air intake mec stabilized

Furthermore, when the ambient air valve 720 is depressed by the part 721a and moves in the direction of protruding part 811 (right 41) along with the movement, the first ambient air spring 730 und deformation so as to become compressed and when the ambient ai depressed, the ambient air slider 740 moves in the direction of protr and the second ambient air spring 750 undergoes flexible deformatio the state illustrated in Figure 41

When the ink cartridge 14 is installed in the case 40 of the multif 1, the first and second ambient air springs 730 and 750 also u deformation, forming an ambient air intake path L illustrated by ambient air intake path L is a flow path passing successively thr formed between the joint passage 715 of the ambient air joint 710, the 727 of the ambient air valve 720, the first ambient air spring 730 bearing part 728> the path formed between the ink flow path 73 passes through the first ambient air communicating chamber 431, c opening 433a, ambient air connection passage 433, communicating second ambient air communicating chamber 432 second communicating hole 435 and third ambient air communicating hol admitted inside the ink reservoir chamber 111 When the ambient air is opened, air is taken in such that the inside of the ink reservoir c brought to ambient air pressure

As described above, the ink flow path K and the ambient air inta formed when the ink cartridge 14 is installed in the multifunct Furthermore, the operation of the ink supply mechanism 500 and th intake mechanism 510 is such that they operate smoothly misalignment relative to the axes Ol and 02 Thus, installation of the 14 is made easier, while allowing the supply of ink and the intake of be carried out reliably

Next, referring to Figure 42 and Figure 43, the method of detectin of ink remaining in the ink reservoir chamber 111 will be described drawing illustrating the operation of the sensor arm 470 according t of ink remaining in the ink reservoir chamber 111 Figure 42 (a) illust with remaining ink, while Figure 42 (b) illustrates the state with no (ink empty) Figure 43 is a drawing schematically illustrating principle of the sensor arm 470

The direction of rotation of the sensor arm 470 is determined by force of the buoyancies and the gravities acting on the right side porti of the shielding arm part 473c) and the left side (on the side of the bal However, in order to simplify the explanation, the description will assuming that all of the forces, which are exerted on the sensor arm balance part 471 That is, in this description, the buoyancies and of the sensor arm 470 is formed from resin material with lower specifi the specific gravity of the ink, the buoyancy generated on the bal increases, and the balance part 471 floats in the ink When the bala inside the ink, as illustrated in Figure 42 (a), the combined force of t buoyancy generated on the balance part 471 cause a rotating force to the clockwise direction (the direction of arrow Gl in Figure 43), but arm part 473c comes into contact with the arm supporting part 143 w the bottom wall 141a of the detection part 140 (enclosure part 14 placed in a position blocking the optical path between the light emi and the light receiving part 57b of the remaining ink detection sensor state when ink is present, whereby the controller (not illust multifunction device 1 discriminates the presence of ink

As the ink inside the ink reservoir chamber 111 passes through the K and decreases in quantity, the liquid surface I of the ink drops surface I of the ink drops, the blocking arm part 473c emerges on the I of the ink, and subsequently, the balance part 471 also emerges surface I of the ink When the balance part 471 emerges on the liqu the ink the buoyancy generated on the balance part 471, which cau arm 470 to rotate in the clockwise direction (the direction of arrow Gl and the gravity generated on the balance part 471 which causes the s to rotate in the counterclockwise direction (the direction of arrow G2 balance each other out, so the overall combined force is balanced Su the liquid surface I of the ink drops further, the balance part 471 mo following the liquid surface I, so the sensor arm 470 rotates counterc rotating operation causes the shielding arm part 473c to move upwa the arm supporting part 143, and an optical path is created bet emitting part 57a and light receiving part 57 of the remaining ink de inside the ink reservoir chamber 111 The ink surface I at this ti higher than the part 400bl forming the bottom of the ink reservoir Furthermore, as discussed above, the ink reservoir chamber 111 and part 120 communicate via the ink supply chamber 426 (see Figure 15 the supply partition wall 422, and the ink reservoir chamber 111 and chamber 426 communicate via the second supply communicat positioned below the bottom part 400bl provided on the supply parti When the liquid surface I of the ink becomes lower than the s communicating hole 423, ambient air enters the area inside the su wall 422, making it impossible to supply ink Thus, in the present e detect the state immediately before ink supply becomes impossible a the sensor arm 470 is designed to rotate so that the out of ink sta when the liquid surface I of the ink is above the second supply comm 423 In this way, positioning the second supply communicating hole part 400bl forming the bottom part of the ink reservoir chamber 1 possible to reliably prevent ink from running out before ink empt Furthermore, when an out of ink state is discriminated, there is har the bottom part 400bl of the ink reservoir chamber 111, with ink r inside the concave part space 424a, which is a relatively narrow spa location below the bottom part 400bl in the ink reservoir chamber 1 quantity of unused ink remaining when an out of ink state is detecte small, eliminating waste

Once the out of ink discrimination has been made, to indicate to the device is out of ink, the out of ink lamp is illuminated or audio is the user that the device is out of ink It is also possible to use a count the controller to remember the number of times ink has been disc detect the quantity of ink remaining by additionally employing a sof intake part 130 and detection part 140 are arranged together on one the ink cartridge 14 This allows the various mechanisms (ink suppl ambient air intake mechanism and remaining ink detection mec arranged together on the refill unit 13 of the multifunction device 1, shape of the refill unit 13 from becoming complicated, and also red Furthermore, the ink supply part 120, being a part which supplies in to flow out to the multifunction device 1, is preferably arranged at th the ink cartridge 14 so as to provide for more complete utilization of the ambient air intake part 130, being a part which takes in ambie ink cartridge 14, is preferably arranged at the upper side of the in Thus, from the standpoint of space efficiency, the detection part 14 arranged between the ink supply part 120 and the ambient air intak the ink cartridge 14 of the present embodiment configured in this position of the center of rotation of the sensor arm 470 is arranged a same position as) the detection part 140, the length of the space balance part 417 and the attachment part 472 will become greater arm 470 will become larger, and the storable quantity of ink will decli On the other hand, if the position of the center of rotation of the sen arranged below the ink supply part 120, the movable range of the ba will become extremely small, making detection of ink empty difficul present embodiment, the position of the center of rotation of the senso "pivot" consisting of the attachment part 472) is arranged above the i 120 and below the detection part 140 Consequently, as described abo is reliably detected and reduction of the ink reservoir capacity due to of the sensor arm 470 is avoided

Furthermore, in the ink cartridge 14 of the present embodiment, part 471 is arranged in the vicinity of the supply partition wall 42 which can be stored in the ink reservoir chamber 111, will decrease present embodiment, the position of the center of rotation of the sen placed in the vicinity of the supply partition wall 422 and the balan positioned at the middle of the ink reservoir chamber 111 in th avoiding the aforementioned enlargement of the sensor arm and adv ink flow

When the sensor arm 470 is attached to the arm sandwiching part ink is available, as illustrated in Figure 42 (a), the top end surface o arm part 473c (the upper end surface in Figure 42) is positioned parallel to the liquid surface of the ink In this state, when the liquid ink drops and reaches the same position as the top end surface of the 473c, the surface tension of the ink acts as a force to retain the shieldi the force by which the surface tension of the ink retains the shieldin greater than the buoyancy of the balance part 473a, the sensor ar operate properly

Thus, in the present embodiment, the top end surface forming the detection part 140 of the shielding arm 473c is given an angle s downward, reducing the portion of the shielding arm 473c that is parallel to the liquid surface of the ink Thus, the force exerted b tension of the ink on the shielding arm 473c can be reduced, allowi arm 470 to operate normally

Here, referring to Figure 44, the case where the ink cartridge 14 is wrong orientation will be discussed Figure 44 is a cross sectional vie the state where the ink cartridge 14 is installed in the multifunctio wrong orientation

As illustrated in Figure 44, when the ink cartridge 14 is inserted i the top and bottom are reversed relative to the proper installation o is longer than the projection distance t8 of the needle 49 from the n member 48 Providing a difference between projection distance t8 distance t9 prevents contact between the tip of the valve openi projecting outward from the ambient air intake part 130 and the tip o The needle 49 is a member for extracting the ink inside the ink car supplying the ink to the ink jet recording head (not illustrated), so if t where needle 49 is damaged or deformed, ink is not accurately printing is not performed accurately Thus, it is not desirable for the damaged or deformed by collision of the needle 49 and the valve open However, by providing a difference between projection distance t8 distance t9 as described above, collision between the needle 49 opening part 721a can be prevented, thus making it possible to prev deformation of the needle 49 and allowing the ink to be reliably suppl

Furthermore, the position of the through hole (detection window) detected part 140 and the case cutouts 213 and 223 in the vertical up down direction in Figure 44) is displaced slightly from the center, the ink cartridge 14 is installed upside down from the prope orientation, the remaining ink detection sensor 57 may collide with th the case 200, which may damage the remaining ink detection sensor since a difference is provided between projection distance t8 and proje t9, it becomes possible to prevent damage to the remaining ink detec due to collision with the outer wall of the case 200, making it possible detect the remaining quantity of ink

Next, referring to Figure 45, the method of removing the ink cart the installed state in multifunction device 1 will be described F drawing illustrating the method of removing the ink cartridge multifunction device 1 Figure 45 (a) and is thus not illustrated) of case 200, so when rotat release lever 63, the tip of the curved part 65b of the pullout membe contacts the latch parts 216b and 226b (latch part 226b is to the rea (b) and is thus not illustrated) of the case 200 (the state of Figure 45 door 41 is rotated further forward (in the direction of the arrow in from the state of Figure 45 (b), the latch parts 216b and 226b of th pulled out by the curved part 65b of the pullout member 65, and a por cartridge 14 projects from inside the case 40 as a result (the state of From this state, the user can easily remove the ink cartridge operabihty of the ink cartridge 14 replacement operation is improved

Here, referring to Figure 46, the mechanism for preventing drippi the ink cartridge 14 is removed from the multifunction device 1 will Figure 46 is a drawing showing the state of removing the ink cartrid multifunction device 1 and a front view of the ink cartridge 14 Fig Figure 46 (b) are drawings illustrating the state change when the ink removed, and Figure 46 (c) shows a front view of the ink cartridge 14

As discussed above, when the ink cartridge 14 is installed in the multifuncti needle 49 is inserted inside the ink supply part 120 The ink supply mechanis valve mechanism impelled by a first supply spring 630 and a second supply spri removing the ink cartridge 14 from the multifunction device 1 (when going Figure 46 (a) to the state of Figure 46 (b)), ink may adhere to the protruding tip or in the worst case, ink may flow out from the ink supply part 120 Since the v in the direction such that it contacts with the joint contact part 613 due to the i the first supply spring 630 and the second supply spring 650 when the needl from the supply joint 610, ink is pushed out in the direction such that it flo protruding part flow path 615b to the step part flow path 615a, so some ink protruding tip 49 of the needle or flow outside the ink supply part 120 Conseq ink cartridge 14 is removed, the ink adhering to the tip of the needle 49 may d 214a and 224a and the ink supply part 120 are positioned relatively other, it is easy to make the ink dripping from the ink supply part 120 case projecting parts 214a and 224a

As illustrated in Figure 46 (c), the insertion hole 605 of the supply ink supply opening into which the needle 49 is inserted and through w out, and the thickness til in the widthwise direction (the left rig Figure 46 (c)> the Z direction) of ink cartridge 14 of the case projecti and 224a is made longer than the diameter tlO of the insertion h diameter of needle 49 is formed to be slightly narrower than the diam through hole 605 ) Furthermore, viewed vertically (form the Y insertion hole 605 is accommodated entirely within the region occupi projecting parts 214a and 224a Thus, when the ink cartridge 14 is re ink adhering to the tip of the needle 49 drips down or if ink flows d insertion hole 605, the dripped ink can be caught by the case projecti and 224a Furthermore, since the case projecting parts 214a and horizontally (in the left right direction of Figure 46 (a) and (b)) in t orientation of ink cartridge 14, and the surface on the ink supply p formed to be substantially flat, the ink adhering to the case projecti and 224a can be prevented from dripping further down As a result, i prevent ink from dripping down into and dirtying the inside of the re the inside of the refill unit 13 is dirtied, the ink cartridge 14 may be installation or removal of the cartridge 14, thus making the user' However such problems can be avoided by preventing the ink from a inside of the refill unit 13 as much as possible

While the configuration described above is desirable for preventi the configuration is not limited thereto, so long as, as illustrated in the case projecting parts 214a and 224a are at least partially locate dirtying of the refill unit 13 In this case, the ink retaining for projecting parts 214a and 224a is weakened, so it can be assumed t has been caught by the case projecting parts 214a and 224a may drip refill unit 13 However, the ink cartridge 14 to be replaced is hardly long time inside the refill unit 13 in a state with the tip of the needle withdrawn from the ink supply part 120, being rather removed qu refill unit 13 so such a problem is unlikely to occur Incidentally, case projecting parts 214a and 224a are formed to be narrow, if the i is installed in the wrong orientation it will collide with the tip of the preventing incorrect installation Furthermore, even if the case pr 214a and 224a are not accurately positioned on line p, so long as th vertically below the ink supply part 120 they will be able to catch th down from the ink supply part 120 to some extent, making it possi dirtying of the inside of the refill unit 13 to a greater extent th projecting parts 214a and 224a were not provided

Next, referring to Figure 47 the structure, which reduces the adh the detection surfaces 140a and 140b of the detection unit 140 of th 14, will be described Figure 47 is a drawing illustrating the str reduces the adhesion of ink to the detection surfaces 140a and 140b o unit 140 of the ink cartridge 14 Figure 47 (a) illustrates the state removing the ink cartridge 14 in/from the refill unit 13 (multifunc Figure 47 (b) is a drawing which illustrates the surface where the det of the ink cartridge 14 is formed_* and Figure 47 (c) is a perspecti cartridge 14 The ink cartridge 14 of Figure 47 (a) is illustrated in sim without showing the detailed structure, as this figure serves to illust shape of the ink cartridge 14 and its positional relationship to the 140 from the state of being positioned inside the ink supply part 120 ( where the ink cartridge 14 is installed), the ink may flow back and sp spattering of ink does not occur every time the ink cartridge 14 i removed, and most of the time no ink may spatter

Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 47 (a) when the ink cartrid installation orientation, the detection part 140 is positioned corresponding to the remaining ink detection sensor 57, so the detect positioned above the ink supply part 120 (or needle 49) The majo spattering from the needle 49 and ink supply part 120 spatters down to the direction of detection part 140) under its own weight, so the adh the detection part 140 can be reduced simply by arranging the dete above the ink supply part 120 Furthermore, the detection surfaces are formed in a plane parallel to the line jointing the center of the dete and the cap insertion hole 605 (see Figure 47 (b)) The majority of the from the cap insertion hole 605 spatters in substantially linear fash ink should spatter from the cap insertion hole 605, not much ink will detection surfaces 140a and 140b, making it possible to reduce the a to the detection surfaces 140a and 140b

Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 47 (b) if the ink cartridge during use and placed such that the positional relationship of the i 120 and ambient air intake part 130 is upside down relative to t orientation of the ink cartridge 14 (the orientation of Figure 47 (a)), down from the insertion hole 605 of the supply cap 600 of the ink su Since the ink dripping form the insertion hole 605 flows under its own flow out in substantially linear fashion in the direction of the detectio adhere to the detection surfaces 140a and 140b of the detection part 1

However, when the detection part 140 is in a state arranged belo Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 14 is installed the ink supp located at the lower part and the ambient air intake part 130 is locate part (the orientation of Figure 47 (a)), so even if there is ink ad detection part 140 during installation or removal of the ink cartridge 1 flow to the ink supply part 120 side, making it possible to reduce the a to the detection surfaces 140a and 140b Moreover, as discussed above, 40 of the detection surfaces 140a and 140b and the side surface 100 part 110 is formed substantially as a right angle, so ink adhering to surfaces 140a and 140b can more easily flow downward due to th capillary force of the edge part 140c Therefore, adhesion of ink to surfaces 140a and 140b can be reduced

Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 47 (c) the detection part 1 inside the case 200 and a space into which the light emitting part receiving part 57b of the remaining ink detection sensor 57 enter is f sides of the detection surfaces 140a and 140b by the case cutouts 213 the detection part 140 is covered by the case 200, so even if ink s adhesion of the spattered ink to the detection surfaces 140a and reduced Moreover, since a portion of the ink supply part 120 projects the case 200, in the installation orientation of ink cartridge 14 (the s 47 (a)), the distance to the detection part 140 becomes farther Thus, t the spattered ink does not reach the detection part 140, making it pos the adhesion of ink to the detection surfaces 140a and 140b Further projecting parts 214a and 224a and the case projecting parts 214b formed at the ends, the ink supply part 120 and ambient air intake located between the case projecting parts 214a and 224a and the c parts 214b and 224b, and the case projecting parts 214a and 224a projecting parts 214b and 224b extend further outward than the in black or a black ink cartridges 14 and color ink cartridges 14, and Fi front view of case 2040, which can accommodate black ink cartridge ink cartridges 14 In the present embodiment, case 40 is arr multifunction device 1, but it is also possible to provide a multifun wherein case 2040 is arranged instead of case 40 Figure 49 is a cross showing the simplified cross section of cases 40 and 2040

Figure 49 (a) is a simplified cross sectional view of case XXXXIXa-XXXXIXa of Figure 48 (a), and Figure 49 (b) is cross sectional view of case 2040 along line XXXXIXb-XXXXIXb of Figure 49 shows a cross section of needle forming member 48 and in with the other elements making up the cases 40 and 2040 being om illustration Furthermore, in Figures 48 to 50, a color ink cartridge is ink cartridge 14c, a black ink cartridge is show as ink cartridge 14k capacity black ink cartridge is illustrated as ink cartridge 14k2

As illustrated in Figure 48 (a), case 40 is configured to accomm cartridges so that they are aligned in case 40 Regarding the arran four ink cartridges, three color ink cartridges 14c are arranged side large capacity black ink cartridge 14k2 or a black ink cartridge 14 adjacent thereto In other words, the large capacity black ink cartrid black ink cartridge 14kl is selectively accommodated at an end p direction of alignment of the ink cartridges (the left right direction in The case 40 illustrated in Figure 48 (a) accommodates a large capa cartridge 14k2

As illustrated in Figure 48 (b), case 2040 is configured to acco arranged ink cartridges Regarding the arrangement of the four i three color ink cartridges 14c are arranged side by side, and a black 14kl is arranged adjacent thereto In other words just as in case 40, Figure 48 (b)) The difference between the lateral width tl4 of ca lateral width tl5 of case 2040 corresponds to the difference between the vertical wall parts 220b to 22Oe of the second case member 220 Figure 11 and the height of the vertical wall parts 2220b to 222Oe of t member 2220 illustrated in Figure 13

Furthermore, case 40 allows a black ink cartridge 14k 1 or a large ink cartridge 14k2 to be installed selectively, while case 2040 installation of black ink cartridge 14kl This implies providing users of multifunction device 1 As already discussed above, since users wh of text printing is low do not need a large capacity black ink cartri preferable to provide such users with a smaller multifunction device 1 allow installation of a large capacity black ink cartridge 14k2 Furt case 2040 for installing black ink cartridges 14k 1 and case 40 for i capacity black ink cartridge 14k2 differ only slightly in external shape of the die used can be shared between the two, providing for a cost re

As illustrated in Figure 49 (a), when the ink cartridges 14c accommodated in case 40, a needle 49 penetrates into the ink supp 500 of each of the ink cartridges 14c and 14k2 The gaps tl6 between penetrating the color ink cartridges 14c are equal, while the gap tl needle 49 penetrating into the large capacity black ink cartridge needle 49 penetrating the adjacent color ink cartridge 14c is formed to distance than gap tl6 The difference between gap tl6 and gap tl7 c the difference between the height of the vertical wall parts 210b to 21 case member 210 illustrated in Figure 8 and the height of the verti 2210b to 221Oe of the first case member 2210 illustrated in Figure 13

As illustrated in Figure 49 (b), when the ink cartridges 14c accommodated inside the case 2040, a needle 49 penetrates inside t cartridge 14k 1 and the needle 49 penetrating into the adjacent color 14c the same as the distance between the needle 49 penetrating capacity black ink cartridge 14k2 of case 40 and the needle 49 penetr adjacent color ink cartridge 14c In other words, this is because the ink supply part 120 of the ink cartridge 14kl and the position of the i 120 of ink cartridge 14k2 are the same relative to the position of the i 120 of the ink cartridge 14c As a result identical needle forming m be provided in case 40 and case 2040 even through the lateral widths cases 40 and 2040 may differ, making the needle forming member component and making it possible to reduce costs when fabricating t 40 and case 2040

Furthermore, as discussed above the ink supply mechanism 5 mechanism impelled by the first supply spring 630 and second supply when the ink cartridge 14 is removed from the multifunction device 1, out from the ink supply part 120 or, in the worst case, ink may spatte needles 49 are arranged continuously, without any partition plates b between the needles 49, so when ink spatters from the ink supply spattered ink ends up adhering to the adjacent needles 49 The needle which supply ink to the multifunction device 1, so when a differe mixed into a needle 49 color change will occur during printing and pr will decline In the present embodiment, the black ink is a pigment t the color inks consist of dye type inks This is because black ink is use text printing, and is thus made from a pigment type ink with low per paper in order to make the edges of the characters clear while col primarily for image printing, so it is made from a dye type i permeability into paper in order to make the granularity of dots less improve the appearance of the coloration Although there is little cartridges 14k 1 and 14k2 holding black ink are arranged at the end i of arrangement in the case 40, and the ink supply part 120 (and shifted away from the color ink cartridges 14c, so even if black ink s the spattered ink would be unlikely to adhere to the adjacent needle decline in printing quality can be suppressed, as can the wasting of of ink for recovery processing

Next, referring to Figure 50, the state of installation of the large ink cartridge 14k2 or black ink cartridge 14kl and color ink cartridg 40 will be described Figure 50 is a simplified cross section illustratin fashion the state of installation of ink cartridges 14c, 14kl and 14k2 i Figure 50 (a) illustrates the state of ink cartridges 14kl and 14c insta and Figure 50 (b) illustrates the state of ink cartridges 14k2 and 1 case 40

As illustrated in Figure 50 (a), in the bottom plate part 42 and cei 44 of the refill unit 13 (case 40), there are formed accommodating g 42c4 and 44cl to 44c4 capable respectively of accommodating the cas 216, 226 and 1216 and the case welded parts 217, 227 and 1217 of ca 1200 Accommodating grooves 42cl to 42c4 and 44cl to 44c4 are all same shape

Furthermore, the space between accommodating grooves 42cl an space between accommodating grooves 42c2 and 42c3 provide a separ tl2, while the space between accommodating grooves 42c3 and 42 separation distance tl3 longer than distance tl2 This is because, above, the black ink cartridge 14k 1 is formed with a larger outer s other color ink cartridges 14c, so the ink supply part 120 and ambi part 130 of the black ink cartridge 14k 1 are at a position shifted by between distance tl2 and distance tl3 in the direction away from t to 121Oe of the first case member 1210 illustrated in Figure 11

Furthermore, a prescribed space X is formed between the outer second case 220 of the black ink cartridge 14k 1 and the inner surf plate part 43 This prescribed space X is formed to allow for the large ink cartridge 14k2 Namely, as illustrated in Figure 50 (b), it serve refill unit 13 to be used for both the black ink cartridge 14kl and the black ink cartridge 14k2

As illustrated in Figure 50 (b), when a large capacity black ink car installed in the refill unit 13 the space that would be formed whe cartridge 14k 1 is installed becomes occupied Furthermore, the positi supply part 120 and ambient air intake part 130 are the same when 14k 1 is installed and when ink cartridge 14k2 is installed Thus, the can be used with black ink cartridges 14kl and 14k2, making it poss fabrication costs

Next, referring to Figure 51, the combination of components ma 200, 1200 and 2200 will be described Figure 51 is a schematic d schematically illustrates the combination of case members 210, 220 1 2220

Figure 51 (a) is a schematic drawing of case 200 According t embodiment, case 200 comprises first and second case members 210 the thicknesses of the first and second case members 210 and 220 vertical wall parts 210b to 21Oe and 220b to 22Oe of the first an members 210 and 220, the left right direction in Figure 5l(a)) bein tl8

Figure 51 (b) is a schematic drawing of case 2200 Case 2200 comp second case members 2210 and 2220, with the thicknesses of the fir case members 2210 and 2220 (the height of vertical wall parts 2210b second case member 220

Thus, according to the present embodiment, three types of cases - 2200 - with different sizes of the outer shape (different inside volum from two first case members of different thickness and two second ca different thickness In the present embodiment the thicknesses of second case members 210 and 220 forming case 200 are equal and t of the first and second case members 2110 and 2220 forming case equal, but making the thicknesses equal in this manner is not an condition for forming three types of cases - 200, 1200 and 2200 - of shape sizes

Namely, so long as the thickness of one side (the first case membe case members making up the largest first ink cartridge (case 2200) i the thickness of one side (the first case member 210) of the case me up the smaller third ink cartridge (case 200), and the thickness of the second case member 2220) of the case members making up the la cartridge is greater than the thickness of the other side (the second 220) of the case members making up the smaller third ink cartridge, cases with different outer shape sizes can be fabricated from four c The conditions described above will be referred to as the first conditio further conditions to these first conditions, four types of cases can from four case members This will be described in detail later

Cases 200, 1200 and 2200 consist of resin material and are manufactur molding Thus, a die corresponding to each case 200, 1200 and 2200 is necessar of dies being necessary if dies are fabricated for all the cases Namely, since and 2200 have a space inside them, at least two members are necessary to c them, for instance, a vessel main body open on one surface and a lid member, opening Thus, with three cases 200, 1200 and 2200 of different size, six types necessar used for black has the same shape as the tip side of the vertical wall 210e of the first case member 210 used for color Therefore, the first 1210 and 210 can be manufactured by using a common die for the m the first case members 1201 and 210, and changing betwee corresponding to the first case member 210 and a member correspond case member 1210 Thus, costs can be reduced as compared to whe molds are fabricated Furthermore, since the first case member 2 capacity black has the same shape as the first case member 1210 without the rib 1218, a common die can be used for the main portion o members 210, 1201 and 2210 In this way, even when there are multip cartridges 144c, 14k 1 and 14k2, a cost reduction can be achieved by dies as much as possible

Furthermore, in cases 200, 1200 and 2200 of different size from ea through holes that allow the ink supply part 120 and ambient air inta project to the outside are made the same shape, and substantially sem cutout parts 211, 212, 221, 222, 1211 1212, 2211 2212, 22 corresponding to one half of these through holes are formed substantially semi circular shape in the first case member 210, secon 220, first case member 1210 for black, first case member 2210 for black and second case member 2220 for large capacity black, a par structure can be used for each of the dies, reducing the costs of design

In the present embodiment, case 1200 was made from the second 220 of case 200 and a first case member 1210 formed to substanti shape as the first case member of case 2200 However, as illustrated i it is also possible to fashion a case 1200α from the first case member 2 and a second case member 1220 formed to substantially the same second case member of case 2200 Since the vertical wall parts 210 cases to be created - a small case for color, a large case for lager capaci medium sized case for black - any sort of combination may be used

Next, referring to Figure 52, a second embodiment will be describe a drawing illustrating the ink cartridge 3014 and refill unit 3013 embodiment Figure 52 (a) is a drawing illustrating the side surf cartridge 3014 of the second embodiment, and Figure 52 (b) shows th in the state with the ink cartridge 3014 installed in refill unit 3013

As illustrated in Figure 52 (a), the ink cartridge 3014 of the secon is configured with a different location of the ambient air intake compared to the ink cartridge 14 of the first embodiment In the ink of the second embodiment, ambient air is taken into the ink cartridge an ambient air intake passage 3131 formed in a labyrinth shape through hole 3130 formed on the top surface of the case 3200

As illustrated in Figure 52 (b), the refill unit 3013 o embodiment is configured with the position of the pushing retaining provided on the door 41 being lower than the position of the pus member 61 provided on the door 41 of the first embodiment This is be no air intake part on the side surface opposite the pushing retaining of the ink cartridge 3014 of the second embodiment, and thus the elast when the ink cartridge 3014 is installed in the refill unit 3013 (the el to the first supply spring 630 and second supply spring 650) acts onl part of the ink cartridge 3014 Thus, in order to stably install the ink inside the refill unit 3013, the pushing retaining member 3061 and t part 120 are configured to be substantially on the same line in t direction (the left right direction in Figure 52 (b)) Being positioned su the same line, the direction in which the elastic force acts is also su the same line reducing tilting of the ink cartridge 3014 and allowing third embodiment, and Figure 53 (b) is a perspective view illustratin appearance of ink cartridge 5014 of the fourth embodiment

As illustrated in Figure 53 (a), the ink cartridge 4014 of the thir has a through hole 4130 for admitting ambient air into the ink c formed in a portion of its top surface (the top surface in Figure 5 admitted through this through hole 4130 passes through a labyrin intake passage 4131 (a relatively long passage with a small inside di admitted inside the ink cartridge 4014 A seal member 4132 is gl cartridge 4014 to prevent deaeration and outflow of the ink inside th 4014 before use To use the ink cartridge 4014, the seal member 413 and then the cartridge is installed in the multifunction device 1

The detection part 4140 (irradiated part) is formed projecting out end surface extending substantially in the vertical direction of the 4014 (the up down direction in Figure 53 (a)), and below that is f supply part 4120 An ink supply opening 4121 into which needle 49 formed on the projecting tip of the ink supply part 4120 The ink car the third embodiment does not have a structure corresponding to element 100, and stores the ink directly inside the case

On the right side of Figure 53(a), there is a cross sectional diagra dashed line within the figure As illustrated in this figure within t part 4120, there is a joint 4122 that forms the insertion part into wh 49 is inserted, a valve 4123 which fills the opening of the joint 4122 arranged in the direction on the inner side of the ink cartridge 401 4122, and a spring component 4124 which biases this valve 4123 in t joint 4122 As a result, the valve mechanism that opens and closed t port 4121 is formed Also, the partition wall 4125 that divides the in explanation of this will be omitted

The detection part 4140 of the third and fourth examples of em contain the sensor arm 470 inside it, as in the first example of emb contains the sensor arm 470, then in the state where the ink cartri 5014 have been attached to the multifunction device 1, it is possible detect the amount of ink remaining Also, in the third and fourt embodiment, the protrusion (first protrusion part) formed from the c parts 214a and 224b and the protrusion (first protrusion part) formed protruding parts 214b and 224b have been omitted, but it is accepta these

Next, the fifth example of embodiment will be described while referring tO 55 Figure 54 is an angled view of the case 200 of the ink cartridge 14 m the embodiment, and Figure 55 is a cross-sectional diagram showing the state i cartridge 14 of the fifth example of embodiment has been attached within the re case 200 of the fifth example of embodiment is constructed such that its edg different m relation to the case protruding parts 214a and 224a of the fi embodiment Therefore, the structure other than the edge part of the case protr and 224a of the fifth example of embodiment is the same as that of the ink car first example of embodiment, and using the same references for the parts that ar first example of embodiment, the explanation of these will be omitted

The case 200 of the fifth example of embodiment forms the second protrud and 224a3 which protrude in the direction of the case protruding parts 214b an direction m Figure 54) towards the case protruding parts 214a and 214b B second protruding parts 214a3 and 224a3, the case protruding parts 214a and 21 truncated L (or V or U) shaped step 214a4 and 224a4 (concave part) as seen fro (in relation to the first case component 210, when seen from the top of Fi downwards, or m relation to the second case component 220, when seen fro protruding parts 214a and 224a and goes to the upper side of the case 55 or to the lower side of the case protruding parts 214a and 224a in thus the ink cartridge 14 is further inserted toward the back side of t right side in Figure 55) Therefore, it is possible to consistently p cartridge's striking the needle 49 and thus prevent destruction or defo needle 49 and the remaining ink detection sensor 57

The steps 214a4 and 224a4 of the fifth example of embodiment ar L shape (or V or U shape) as seen from the side but it is also acce them corresponding to the edge shape of the protrusion 55 In oth acceptable for it to be any shape desired as long as it is a shape that loose when attaching it in the wrong orientation and the edge of th fitted into the steps 214a4 and 224a4

Next, the sixth example of embodiment will be described whil Figures 56 58 Figure 56 is a cross sectional diagram showing the stat ink cartridge 14 of the sixth example of embodiment has been inserte unit 13 Figure 57 is a block diagram showing a summary of the elect of the multifunction device 1 in the sixth example of embodiment flow chart showing the ink cartridge attachment detection process th by the CPU 971 The sixth example of embodiment has an additiona attachment detection sensor 960 in relation to the multifunction devi example of embodiment Therefore, the structure other than the attachment detection sensor 960 of the sixth example of embodiment in the first example of embodiment, and therefore, using the same ref same items as in the first example of embodiment, the explanation o omitted

As illustrated in Figure 56, in the multifunction device 1 of the si embodiment, there is an ink cartridge attachment detection sensor overwritten and which stores the control program and the fixed valu 973 which is the memory that can be overwritten and which is use memory, the EEPROM 974 which is the non volatile memory overwritten and which stores data even after the power source is tur interface 975 which performs electrical connections between the ex and the control board 970, the inkjet printer 976 which perform discharging ink as instructed by the CPU 971, the liquid crystal di which performs each type of display, the remaining ink detection se detects the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge 14, and attachment detection sensor 960 that detects whether the ink cartrid attached or not, and the interface circuit 978 that performs input and type of signal While it is not illustrated in the figure, there are counters and timers included, the updating of the counter values an will be performed according to the processing performed within the C

Within the EEPROM 974, there is an ink cartridge attachment f ink cartridge attachment flag 974 will not only go on when the ink ca been correctly attached, it is a flag that will go off when the ink ca been removed Further, once the ink cartridge attachment flag 9 turned on, it will remain in the on state until it is turned off by the attachment detection sensor 960

The ink cartridge attachment detection process illustrated in Fi interruption process that is executed at the specific intervals (for ins ms) after completion of the initial set up process (not illustrated in th the power source has been turned on for the multifunction device 1 I explanation, the ink cartridge attachment detection sensor 960 will g protruding piece of the ink cartridge attachment sensor is pressed, an when the protruding piece is not pressed Also, the remaining ink de (SlOl), and if the ink cartridge attachment detection sensor 960 is then there is no ink cartridge 14 attached to the multifunction devic the value of the ink cartridge attachment flag 974a to be 0 (S 102), the will display onto the liquid crystal display part 35 that the ink cartri been attached (S 103), and this process will end In the event multifunction device 1 is being used for the first time after shipping the value of the ink cartridge attachment flag 974a has been set to 0

As the result of confirmation by the SlOl process, if the attachment detection sensor 960 is on (SlOl Yes), it means that the 14 has been attached, and then this process will confirm whether t ink cartridge attachment flag 974a is 1 or not (S 104) In the even cartridge 14 is attached from the state of not being attached, the va cartridge attachment flag 974a should be 0 (S 104 No), and then this confirm whether the remaining ink detection sensor 57 is on or not timing in which the ink cartridge 14 is attached (S 105) If the r detection sensor 57 is off (S 105 No), it means that the ink cartridge the state where the shielding arm part 473c has been removed fro light emitting part 57a and the light receiving part 57b has been a other words, the ink cartridge with little ink remaininghas b Therefore, ink empty display will be displayed on the liquid crystal d (S 112), and this process will end

On the other hand, within the S 105 process, if the remaining sensor 57 is on (S 105 Yes), then this process will confirm whether ink detection sensor 57 has been on or not for longer than the spe instance, greater than 10 s) (S 106) If the remaining ink detection been on for longer than the specific time (S 105 Yes), it means that ink detection sensor 57 has been already on for longer than the speci on for longer than the specific time (S 106 No), next, this process whether or not the ink cartridge attachment detection sensor 960 h longer than the specific time (for instance, 10 s) (S 108) As describ processing after "S 104 is No" is a process to be performed in the eve cartridge 14 is attached from the state of not being attached, and cartridge attachment detection sensor 960 has already been on for lo specific time, there may be damage in the ink cartridge attachment de 960 Therefore, if the ink cartridge attachment detection sensor 960 h longer than the specific time (S 108 Yes), then an ink cartridg detection sensor abnormality Will be displayed on the liquid crystal d (S 109), and this process will end

Within the S 108 process unless the ink cartridge attachment de 960 is on for longer than the specific time (S 108 No), when because t the ink cartridge 14 has been correctly attached, the value of the attachment flag 974a will be set to 1 (S 110), and this process will words, the ink cartridge attachment detection sensor 960 and the detection sensor 57 will change in approximately the same timing, value of the ink cartridge attachment flag 974a is set to 1 by detecti of the ink cartridge 14 it will be set to the state in which it is possible the multifunction device 1

Within the SIlO processing, when the ink cartridge attachment fl to 1, in the processing after that, the process of S 104 will go to Yes, a to detect the remaimng ink within the ink cartridge 14 will be perfor words, within the Sill process, whether or not the remaining ink de 57 has become on or not will be confirmed, and if the remaining ink de 57 is on (Sill Yes), then there is ink witnin the ink cartridge 14, an will end as is, and if the remaining ink detection sensor 57 is off (Sill operation executed, such as an operation of the abnormal deletion b cartridge attachment flag 974a will be initialized to 0

As described above, in the sixth example of embodiment, it is not o distinguish and detect the unattached state of the ink cartridge 14 ink is empty, it is also possible to detect any abnormalities in eac when replacing the ink cartridge 14 as the ink cartridge attach sensor 960 will be turned off, the value of the ink cartridge attach will be set to 0, and therefore, it is always possible to accurately dete ink cartridge 14 is attached or whether the ink is empty Also, when ink cartridge 14, when ink is adhered to the light emitting part 57 receiving part 57b of the remaining ink detection sensor 57, it accurately detect any abnormalities of the remaining ink detection s attaching the ink cartridge 14 Also, when removing the ink cartridg cartridge attachment detection sensor 960 is already broken, an ink will be displayed even though the ink cartridge 14 is not attached possible for the user to recognize that there has been some sor occurrence If an abnormal deletion operation is performed, then bec of the ink cartridge attachment flag 974a is set to 0, in the even cartridge 14 is attached next, then it is possible to display the abno ink cartridge attachment detection sensor 960, making it possible made known to the user

As in the first example of embodiment, if there is no ink cartrid detection sensor 960, it is possible for the remaining ink detectio detect the existence or lack of any remaining ink It is also po remaining ink detection sensor 57 to detect that the ink cartridge 14 more correctly, that an ink cartridge with an enough amount of rem been attached) if the remaining ink detection sensor 57 changed fro example of embodiment The ink cartridges 6014 and 7014 of the eighth examples of embodiment are constructed such that the shap surfaces on which the ink supply parts 4120 and 5120 are formed will relation to the ink cartridges 4014 and 5014 of the third and fourt embodiment Therefore, the structure other than the side surfaces on supply parts 4120 and 5120 of the seventh and eighth examples of e formed is the same as the ink cartridges 4014 and 5014 of the thi examples of embodiment, and therefore the same references for the the same as in the third and fourth examples of embodiment will be explanation of these is omitted

As illustrated in Figure 59(a), there is a concave part 6100 formed supply part 4120 (above the ink supply part 4120 in the attached st cartridge 4120 (the state in Figure 59(a)) There is a detection part 6 the central position of this concave part 6100 Therefore on bot detection part 6140, there is a space formed in which the light emi and the light receiving part 57b of the remaining ink detection sen inserted

As illustrated in Figure 59(b), there is a concave part 7100 formed supply part 5120 (above the attached state of the ink cartridge 512 Figure 59(b)) There is a detection part 7140 formed in the central p concave part 7100 Therefore, on both sides of the detection part 71 space formed in which the light emitting part 57a and the light receivi the remaining ink detection sensor 57 can be inserted

Also, the detection parts 6140 and 7140 of the ink cartridges 601 the seventh and eighth examples of embodiment are arranged withi parts 6100 and 7100 formed on the side surfaces, so it is possible adherence of ink that has flown from the ink supply parts 4120 and embodiment can also contain sensor arms inside as in the firs embodiment By using a sensor arm 470, it is possible to accurat amount of ink remaining when the ink cartridges 4014 and 5014 are the multifunction device 1

Next, referring to Figure 60, we will explain the ninth embodiment Figure 60 is a diagram showing the ink cartridge 8014 13 of the ninth example of embodiment The same parts as in the fi embodiment have the same references attached and the explanation o omitted Also, while the structure of the pullout member 65 of the d 60 in the ninth example of embodiment is different to that in the fi embodiment, the explanation of this will be omitted

As illustrated in Figure 60, the ink cartridge 8014 of the nint embodiment has a pushing part 8200a that is configured to contac retaining member 61 of the door main body 60 and that protrude outside from the side surface 1 of the ink cartridge 8014 In oth pushing part 200a of the first example of embodiment was one par range of the side surface 1 of the case 200, but the pressing part 8200 example of embodiment has the structure where there is a spec contacts the pressing retaining member 61 In the ninth example of the structure of the pushing part 8200a is such that it protrudes surface, but it is acceptable to form it in the opposite concave shape In pressing retaining member will be constructed such that it protrudes

1 main body 61

Next, referring to Figures 61 63, the tenth example of embod described Figure 61 is an angled diagram showing the external app ink cartridge 9014 of the tenth example of embodiment Figure 62 i the same structure as the ink cartridge 14 of the first example of em therefore, only the structure that is different in relation to the ink c the first example of embodiment will be described, and using the sa for the same parts as in the first example of embodiment, the expla will be omitted

As illustrated in Figure 61, the ink cartridge 9014 of the ten embodiment has a seal 9100 attached to the outer surface of the case 9100 is attached onto the maximum surface 220a and the vertical wa the second case member 220 and the vertical wall part 210c and surface 210a of the first case member 210 In other words, the seal 91 to the side surface opposing the protector 300 (opposing the edge sur the ink supply part 120, the ambient air intake part 130 and the dete are located) The seal 9100 not only has the model of the ink cartridge it, but it also has imprinted on it the color corresponding to the ink col is possible to visually recognize the color of the ink that is stored cartridge 9014 Therefore, by attaching this seal 9100, it is possible visually recognize the ink color, making it possible to prevent stor cartridge 9104 in the wrong accommodating chamber 50 within the c

As illustrated in Figure 62, within the vertical wall part 210b of member 210, there are engagement parts 9200a and 9200b formed w in the direction of the second case member 220 (in the Z direction, or i direction in Figure 62) On the other hand, within the vertical wall p second case member 220, there are engagement holes 9201a and which engage with the edges of the engagement parts 9200a and 9200

Therefore, when manufacturing the ink cartridge 9014, first, the element 100 is placed within the first case member 210, and fitting th parts 9200a and 9200b of the first case member 210 with the eng of the seal 9100 onto the first and second case members 210 and 220, of the engagement parts 9200a and 9200b with the engagement ho 9201b , Therefore by undoing the union of the engagement parts 92 with the engagement holes 9201a and 9201b, it is possible to undo between the first case member 210 and the second case member 220 I simply perform the undoing of the connection between the engageme and 9200b and the engagement holes 9201a and 9201b by pressing t engagement parts 9200a and 9200b via the engagement holes 920 from the outer side of the vertical wall part 210b on which the case cu to 223 have been formed

Also, as illustrated in Figure 63, because one edge surface of the fi case members 210 and 220 are connected via the seal 9100, it is possi opening and closing operations using the edge of the vertical wall p 220c as an axis (an opening and closing operation in the arrow direc 63, or in the X direction) In other words, the seal part 9100 is a conn to connect the first and second case members 210 and 220, and it ser material, which can open and close the first and second case member Therefore, the replacement of the ink reservoir element 100 is undoing the connection between the engagement parts 9200a and engagement holes 9201a and 9201b, and when the second case memb with respect to the first case member 210, the new ink reservoir e inserted, and then, the first and second case members 210 and 220 are the present tenth example of embodiment, while the ink reservoir e replaced with new one, it is also acceptable to use a product in whic re injected into the ink reservoir element 100

As described above, the ink cartridge 9014 of the tenth example o can easily undergo the replacement of the ink reservoir element 100 attached, it is possible to reduce the possibility of generating printing

Next, referring to Figure 64, the eleventh example of embodi described Figure 64 is a diagram showing the ink reservoir eleme eleventh example of embodiment The ink reservoir element 9300 o example of embodiment is fixed within the first and second case me will omit a detailed explanation and description of the first an members

As illustrated in Figure 64 the ink reservoir element 9300 of example of embodiment is constructed of a hard part 9301 that is fo injection moldemg using a resin material, and a bag element 9 flexibility and which forms a reservoir space to store the ink inside, connected to the hard part 9301 The hard part 9301 has a (irradiation part) 9303 that is to be placed between the light emitting the light receiving part 57b of the remaining ink detection sensor 5 supply part including the ink supply mechanism 500 and the suppl first example of embodiment

Therefore the ink reservoir element 9300 of the eleventh embodiment is manufactured using the hard part 9301 and the bag p therefore, it is possible to have a simplified structure in compariso where the entirety of the ink reservoir element is formed through a m resin material Therefore, it is possible to improve the yield when the ink reservoir element 9300, making it possible to achieve a manufacturing costs

The ink reservoir element 9300 of the eleventh example of e formed using the bag part 9302 which forms the reservoir space to stor so when the ink within the bag part 9302 is reduced, the bag part 93 according to this reduction, and when the ink is depleted, the reservoi contained within the first and second case members, and therefore, i prevent any printing processes from being performed by the multifu while the ink reservoir element 9300 is not contained within the fir case menbers

Above, the present invention was described based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it is easy to reason that it would be possible to improvements or modifications within a scope that does not diverge fr of the present invention

Now, referring to Figures 65 to 67, the modified examples of the c the case members will be described Figures 65 to 67 are diagrams modified examples of the combinations of the case members As descr the present example of embodiment, the three types of cases 200, 1 and 2200 were formed with differing sizes for the outer shapes using of first case members 210 and first case members 1210 and 2210 thicknesses, and the two types of second case members 220 and secon 2220 with different thicknesses In place of this, the combinatio members in this modified example can be formed of four types differing sizes of outer shape from four case members (where the int is different) First, an explanation will be made while referring to illustrated in Figure 65(a), case Cl is formed of a case member 1 member r21 The thickness of the case member 120 is t20 and the th case member r21 is t21, which is thicker than the thickness t20 As Figure 65(b) case C2 is formed of the case member 121 and the case The thickness of the case member 121 is t21 and the thickness of the r22, and case C4 is formed of the case member 121 and the case memb

Therefore, using the four case members 120 and r21 which form th the case members 121 and r22 which form the case C2, the small scal large scale case C2 and the two types of mid sized cases C3 and C4 are the size (thickness) of the outer shape of cases Cl to C4 are all diffe relationship C1<C4<C3<C2 Therefore, it is possible to form fou different outer shapes according to the amount of ink to be stored case members 120, r21 121 and r22

In this way, in the manufacture of four types of cases with differin using the four case members requires a further second condition to b above first condition This second condition is that the difference (t22 the thickness t22 of one side of the case member (case member r22) w largest first ink cartridge (case C2) and the thickness t21 of one si member (case member r21) that forms the smallest third ink cartridg different than the difference (t21 t20) between the thickness t21 of th the case member (case member 121) that forms the largest first ink the thickness t20 of the other side of the case member (case member 1 the smallest third ink cartridge For instance, if the first condition w second condition was not, then the thicknesses would be t20=10 mm and t22=40 mm (t22 t21=15 mm, t21 t20=15 mm), and the thickne the cases would be C 1=35 mm, C2=65 mm, C3=50 mm, and C4=50 only cases with three types of sizes could be manufactured, and if bot second condition is met then the thicknesses would be t20=10 mm, t2 t22=40 mm (t22 t21=20 mm, t21 t20=10 mm), and the thicknesses cases would be C 1=30 mm, C2=60 mm, C3=50 mm, and C4=40 m possible to manufacture cases with four types of sizes

Next, an explanation will be made while referring to Figure 66 As r22, and the case C6 is formed of the case member 121 and the case Further, the difference between the thickness t20 of the case membe thickness t22 of the case member r22 is different than the differenc thickness t21 of the case member 121 and the thickness t20 of the cas fulfilling both the first and second conditions described above

Therefore, using the four case members 120 and r20 which form th the case members 121 and r22 which form the case C2, the small scal large scale case C2 and the two types of mid sized cases C3 and C6 ar the size (thickness) of the outer shape of cases C2, C3, C5, and C6 ar with the relationship C5<C6<C3<C2 Therefore, it is possible to fo with different outer shapes according to the amount of ink to be st four case members 120, r21, 121 and r22

Next, an explanation will be made while referring to Figure 6 illustrated in Figure 67(a) is the same as the case Cl illustrated in explanation of this will be omitted here As illustrated in Figure 67 ( is formed of the case member 122and the case member r22 The thic case members 122 and r22 are formed of t22

By changing the combination of the case members 120 and r21 w case Cl and the case members 122 and r22 which form the case C illustrated in Figure 67(c) and the case C8 illustrated in Figure 67( More specifically, the case C3 is formed of the case member 120 member r22, and the case C8 is formed of the case member 122 and th r21 Further, the difference between the thickness t22 of the case me the thickness t21 of the case member r21 is different than the diffe the thickness t22 of the case member 122 and the thickness t20 of the 120, fulfilling both the first and second conditions described above

Therefore, using the four case members 120 and r21 which form th thicknesses of the case members that are placed on the other side, it form four cases with different outer sizes (different internal capaci four case members

Next, another modified example of the present example of embo explained In the above example of embodiment, by using the elastic and second supply springs 630 and 650 and the first and second ambi 730 and 750, the supply valve 620 and the ambient air valve 720 ar direction of the supply joint 610 and the ambient air joint 710 to bloc path K and the ambient intake path L In contrast, it is also accepta elasticity of the coil spring member that is formed using either a meta resin material to urge the supply valve and the ambient air valve in t the supply joint and the ambient air joint to block the ink flow path an air intake path Also, as long as the coil spring is formed such that at of it is conical, then it is also possible to reduce the scale of t mechanism and the ambient air intake mechanism Also, without usi slider 640 and the ambient air slider 740, it is acceptable to cons supply spring 630 and the second supply spring 650 and the first amb 730 and the second ambient air spring 750 such that they are direct each other, and further, to simplify the structure such that the sup ambient air intake valve are on the bottom plane By using this type is possible to simplify the ink supply mechanism and the ambie mechanism, making it possible to achieve a reduction in manufa Further, it is also acceptable to have a structure in which the first su air) spring and the second supply (ambient air) spring are connecte Also, without using a valve hook 626 and 726 in the supply valve ambient air valve 720, it is acceptable to connect the supply (ambient (740) and the first and second supply (ambient air) springs 630 and Also, in the above example of embodiment, while the space bet protruding part 614 and the joint contact part 613 of the supply formed in a circular base form, it is also acceptable to form a groo periphery of the joint contact part of the supply joint Because any di the joint protruding part will be absorbed by this groove, it is poss displacement in the insertion direction of the joint contact part as th inserted Further, by increasing the inner diameter of the joint c relation to the inner diameter of the joint protruding part, it is poss any transmission of the displacement of the joint protruding par contact part

Also, in the above example of embodiment, while a film 160 wa both sides of the first opening 112a and the second opening 112b of t 110, it is acceptable to close one opening using the side wall, and to 160 onto only the other opening In this case, the second opening 112 by the side wall, and by having the construction in which the film 16 the first opening 112a, it is possible to form a film 160 on the si ambient air connection passage 433, making it possible to reduce the meniscus on the ambient air connection passage 433 Also, in the case second opening 112b with the side wall, that side wall will beco substrate and as this will provide the strength of the frame part, it i have a construction in which the connection formation part (partitio is connected within the ink reservoir chamber, is not used In t acceptable to have an internal weld part only from one surface side substrate

Also, in the above example of embodiment the film 160 that is w frame 110 was constructed of a nylon layer on the frame part 110 side acceptable to apply a water resistant coating onto this nylon layer Therefore, it is acceptable to have a construction in which the communicating passage forming part 430 does not necessarily slop and it is acceptable to have a construction m which it is horizontal in t the ink cartridge 14 is attached

Also, in the above example of embodiment, while all of the wel were performed using ultrasonic welding, in the case that it is possi attachment using an adhesive, it is acceptable to make all attachm adhesive, and it is also acceptable to use a different welding method fo instance, the welding of the case 200 can be substituted with attach adhesive as it is only important to ensure that the first and second 210 and 220 do not separate Industrial Applicability

The ink cartridge, the ink jet recording system and the set of in the present invention are widely used for home and office uses

Claims

1 An ink cartridge configured to be horizontally ins accommodation portion of an ink jet recording apparatus in a moun comprising a front surface in the mounting direction, wherein front surf penetration opening and a second penetration opening formed theret an ink storing chamber, an ink supplying part extending through the first penetratio configured to supply ink from the ink chamber to the ink jet recordi and a detected part exposed to an outside of the ink cartridg second penetration opening and configured to be detected by a sens the ink jet recording apparatus wherein the first penetration opening and the second penetr are both offset from a center of the front surface in an align perpendicular to the mounting direction

2 An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the align extends substantially horizontally when the ink cartridge is mo accommodation portion

3 An ink cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ink c pigment ink in the ink storing chamber

4 An ink cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein th stores black ink

5 An ink cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 4 further com of casing members which are connected to each other to form substantial rectangular parallelepiped, ' wherein the ink storing chamber is provided within the casing, a height of the extended wall of one of the casing members is height of the extended wall of the other of the casing members

6 An ink cartridge according to claim 5, wherein a defining wa formed with each of the casing members so as to form an accommod accommodating a valve mechanism which opens and closes the penetr

7 An ink cartridge according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising member defining the ink storing chamber therein, wherein the ink st is accommodated within the casing, and ink supplying part is a p storing member and is extended outside through the first penetration

8 An ink cartridge according to claim 7, wherein an ink supply formed at an end of the ink supplying part and a valve mechanism w closes the ink supplying opening is accommodated within the ink sup

9 An ink cartridge according to one of claims 1 to 8, further co introducing part configured to introduce air into the ink storing cha the front surface has a third penetration opening formed thereth introducing part extends through the third penetration opening

10 An ink jet recording system comprising ink cartridges, each of which comprising an ink storing cham an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a first accommodati a plurality of extracting members, wherein the ink cartridges are each configured to be horizontally inserted to the first accommodation portion in a moun and aligned along a predetermined alignment direction_* the extracting members are arranged within the first accommo and configured to enter the ink cartridges accommodated wit accommodation portion and extract ink stored in the ink storing cha each of the ink cartridges comprises a front surface in accommodated in the first end accommodation position, a plurality of the first ink cartridges is provided and th extracting members are aligned along the alignment direction, the extracting members corresponding to the first ink c arranged along the alignment direction at a constant interval, and the extracting member corresponding to the second ink cartr away from an adjacent extracting member by a distance consisting o interval and a predetermined distance

11 An ink jet recording system according to claim 10, wherei cartridge has the penetration opening formed at a center of the front alignment direction

12 An ink jet recording system according to one of claims 10 or 1 second ink cartridge has the penetration opening formed offset from the front surface in the alignment direction by a predetermined direction away from an adjacent ink cartridge accommodated accommodation portion

13 The ink jet recording system according to claim 12, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus comprises a second accommo instead of the first accommodation portion, the ink cartridges are each configured to be substantiall inserted to the second accommodation portion and aligned along a alignment direction, the second accommodation portion has a greater thickn thickness of the first accommodation portion in the alignment directio the ink jet recording system further comprising a third configured to be accommodated in a second end accommodation pos an end portion in the alignment direction of the plurality of i an opening is formed at the second accommodation portion and member forming member comprising the aligned extracting members opening_* and the extracting members corresponding to the first ink c arranged along the alignment direction at a constant interval and members corresponding to the second and third ink cartridge is spac the adjacent extracting member by a distance consisting of the con and the predetermined distance

14 A set of ink cartridges, comprising at least a first ink cartridge and a second ink cartridge, wherein the first ink cartridge and the second ink cartridge are be horizontally inserted to an accommodation portion of an ink apparatus in a mounting direction, each of the ink cartridges comprises a front surface in direction and an ink supplying part configured to supply ink to the in apparatus, the front surface has a penetration opening formed through, the ink supplying part extends through the penetration openin the penetration opening of the first ink cartridge is arranged the front surface in an alignment direction perpendicular to the moun and the penetration opening of the second ink cartridge is offset fr of the front surface in the alignment direction

15 A set of ink cartridges according to claim 14 wherein t direction extends substantially horizontally when the respective ink mounted in an accommodation portion

16 A set of ink cartridges according to claim 14 or 15, wherei a cutaway portion_* the plate member forms a first surface having a largest area formed in a substantial rectangular parallelepiped_* the extended wall is extended substantial perpendicularly fr the plate member to form a surface connected to the first surface of th the cutaway portion is formed at an end of the extended wa penetration opening, and a height of the extended wall of one of the casing members of t cartridge is higher than a height of the extended wall of the other members of the second ink cartridge

19 A set of ink cartridges according to claim 18, wherein a de integrally formed with each of the casing members of the ink cartr form an accommodation space for accommodating a valve mechanis and closes the penetration opening

20 A set of ink cartridges according to claim 18 or 19, wherein e cartridges further comprises an ink storing member defining th chamber therein, wherein the ink storing is accommodated withm t the ink supplying part is a part of the ink storing member and is ext through the penetration opening

21 A set of ink cartridges according to claim 20, wherein in e cartridges, an ink supplying opening is formed at an end of the ink s and a valve mechanism which opens and closes the ink supplyi accommodated within the ink supplying part

22 A set of ink cartridges according to one of claims 14 to 21, wh surface of each of the ink cartridges has a second penetration op therethrough and each of the ink cartridges further comprises member exposed to the outside of the ink cartridge through the secon