JP6878811B2 - Printing fluid cartridge - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge having a light attenuating portion and a moving member.

Conventionally, an image recording device that records an image on a recording paper using ink has been known. The image recording device includes an inkjet recording head, and selectively ejects ink droplets from the nozzles of the recording head toward the recording paper. When the ink droplets land on the recording paper, a desired image is recorded on the recording paper. The image recording device is provided with an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head. The ink cartridge can be attached to and detached from the mounting portion provided in the image recording device (Patent Document 1).

The ink cartridge is provided with an arm having a different posture depending on the amount of ink consumed. The posture of the arm can be detected by an optical sensor through a remaining amount detection unit that transmits light. The image recording device can determine that the remaining amount of ink in the ink cartridge has reached a predetermined amount by optically detecting the position of the arm.

On the other hand, electronic components such as a memory module may be provided in order to individually grasp the color, material, remaining amount, maintenance status, etc. of the ink. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the memory module or the like is electrically conductive with the contact provided on the cartridge mounting portion, and the stored data can be read (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-132098 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-212587

If the ink cartridge is dropped on the floor or collides with something, the remaining amount detection unit may be damaged. After the damage, the remaining amount of the ink cartridge may not be detected, or the ink cartridge may not be attached to the image recording device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a means capable of suppressing damage to the light attenuation portion even if the printing fluid cartridge is dropped or collided.

(1) The printing fluid cartridge according to the present invention is arranged on a main body in which the printing fluid is housed, a first surface of the main body, a supply unit for discharging the stored printing fluid, and a second body of the main body. It is arranged on a surface, has a light-attenuating part that attenuates light emitted from the outside, and can move to the first and second positions, and is elastic from the second position to the first position. It includes a moving member that can be restored by force. The moving member has a shorter maximum distance L2 from the second surface at the second position than the maximum distance L1 from the second surface at the first position, and from the detected portion at the first position. It is far from the second surface.

Since the moving member is separated from the second surface from the detected portion at the first position, the moving member is more likely to come into contact with the floor or the like than the detected portion when the printing fluid cartridge falls or collides. Further, by moving the moving member from the first position to the second position, the impact at the time of dropping or collision is reduced.

(2) Preferably, the printing fluid cartridge further comprises an electrical interface disposed on the second surface of the body.

(3) Preferably, the moving member is rotatable with respect to the main body.

(4) Preferably, the moving member is rotatable with respect to the main body by elastic deformation.

According to the above configuration, the moving member can be composed of an integral member.

(5) Preferably, the moving member is connected to the main body and has an elastic connection portion, and is arranged at a position farther from the first surface than the light attenuation portion from the connection portion with the first surface. Includes an engaging surface facing in the opposite direction and an operating portion arranged at a position farther from the first surface than the engaging surface.

According to the above configuration, the moving member acts as a lever, and its elasticity can protect the detected portion.

(6) Preferably, the moving member is an elastic member that is arranged between the moving member and the second surface and is in contact with at least one of the second surface or the moving member at the first position. It is restored to the first position by being urged.

(7) Preferably, the moving member is slidable with respect to the main body, and is urged by an elastic member arranged between the moving member and the second surface to move to the first position. Restore.

(8) Preferably, the printing fluid cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction, and the moving member can be engaged with the cartridge mounting portion.

According to the above configuration, the moving member realizes engagement with the cartridge mounting portion, so that the configuration of the printing fluid cartridge is simplified.

(9) Preferably, the moving member and the light attenuating portion are arranged side by side in the insertion direction. The moving member at the first position can engage with the cartridge mounting portion at a position farther from the second surface than the portion farthest from the second surface of the light attenuation portion.

According to the above configuration, by arranging the moving member and the light attenuation portion side by side in the insertion direction, it contributes to reducing the size in the direction (width direction) orthogonal to the insertion direction, and further, the engaging position. Is higher than the light attenuation portion, so that the printing fluid cartridge can be taken out only by moving the moving member from the first position to the second position.

(10) Preferably, the moving member has an operating portion and an engaging portion that engages with the cartridge mounting portion, and the operating portion is behind the engaging portion in the insertion direction. Located in.

According to the above configuration, the moving member can be easily moved by operating the operation unit.

(11) Preferably, the printing fluid cartridge is arranged on the main body having the upper surface including the second surface and the front surface of the main body in which the printing fluid is housed between the front surface including the first surface and the rear surface. A supply unit that allows the contained printing fluid to flow out, an electrical interface arranged on the upper surface of the main body, and an electric interface arranged on the upper surface of the main body, intersecting the front and rear directions as well as the upward and downward directions. It is movable from the first position and the second position closer to the upper surface of the main body from the first position and the first position, and is elastic from the second position to the first position. A moving member that is restored by force is provided, and the light attenuating portion is arranged at a position closer to the rear surface than the electrical interface, and the moving member is located on the rear surface of the light attenuating portion. It is arranged at a position close to, and at the first position, it is farther from the upper surface than the light attenuation portion.

(12) Preferably, the light attenuating portion is a light-shielding plate that extends from the second surface and blocks light traveling in a direction along the second surface, and the moving member is an extending end of the light-shielding plate. It is located outside.

(13) Preferably, the detected portion extends from the second surface, and an accommodating body capable of accommodating the light attenuating portion inside and allowing light from the outside to access the light attenuating portion. The light attenuating portion has a first position extending from the second surface and attenuating the light emitted from the outside according to the amount of the printing fluid contained in the main body, and the said light attenuating portion. The moving member is capable of changing its posture to a second position out of the optical path of light, and the moving member is farther from the second surface than the portion farthest from the second surface of the housing.

(12) Preferably, the moving member has an engaging portion that engages with the cartridge mounting portion in a mounting posture in which the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. When the moving member is in the first position, it engages with the cartridge mounting portion, and when the moving member is in the second position, it disengages from engaging with the cartridge mounting portion.

According to the present invention, even if the printing fluid cartridge is dropped or collided, damage to the light attenuation portion can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a printer 10 provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110 as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the first modification. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the slider 96 is in the first position in the second modification. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 30 and the cartridge mounting portion 110 showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 and the slider 96 is in the second position in the second modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples in which the present invention is embodied, and the embodiments can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording paper based on an inkjet recording method. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. An ink cartridge 30 (an example of a printing fluid cartridge) may be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The cartridge mounting portion 110 is provided with an opening 112 whose one side is open to the outside. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 through the opening 112.

The ink cartridge 30 contains ink (an example of a printing fluid) that can be used in the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by an ink tube 20 in a state of being mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores the ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects the ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzle 29 by the inkjet recording method.

The recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23 is transported onto the platen 26 by the transport roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink to the recording paper passing over the platen 26. As a result, the image is recorded on the recording paper. The recording paper that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24 by the discharge roller pair 22.

[Ink supply device 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 100 is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21 included in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110 to which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Ink cartridge 30]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 is a container in which ink is stored. The ink cartridge 30 is in the upright state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, that is, with the lower surface in the figure as the bottom surface and the upper surface in the figure as the upper surface, the insertion direction 57 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110. And it is inserted and removed along the taking-out direction 58. The insertion direction 57 and the take-out direction 58 are respectively along the horizontal direction. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 in an upright state. This standing state corresponds to the wearing posture. The direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the insertion direction 57, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is taken out is the take-out direction 58. Further, the downward direction 52 in the standing state corresponds to the direction of gravity. In the present embodiment, the insertion direction 57 and the take-out direction 58 are along the horizontal direction, but the insertion direction 57 and the take-out direction 58 may be directions that intersect the gravity direction, the horizontal direction, and the gravity direction. .. If the insertion direction 57 and the take-out direction 58 are, for example, the gravity direction, the front surface of the ink cartridge 30 faces downward.

[Main body 31]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ink cartridge 30 has a main body 31 having a three-dimensional shape composed of a flat surface or a curved surface, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As a whole, the main body 31 has small dimensions along the left direction 55 and the right direction 56, and the dimensions along the upward direction 51 and the downward direction 52 and the dimensions along the front direction 53 and the rear direction 54 are the left direction 55 and the dimensions. It is a flat shape larger than the dimension along the right direction 56.

When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the wall surface of the main body 31 which is in front of the insertion direction 57 is the front surface 40 (an example of the first surface), and the wall surface of the main body 31 which is in the rear of the insertion direction 57 is the rear surface 41. Is. The front surface 40 and the rear surface 41 face each other in the insertion direction 57 and the take-out direction 58. The front surface 40 and the rear surface 41 connect a pair of left and right side surfaces 37, 38, side surfaces 37, 38 extending in the insertion direction 57 and the extraction direction 58 to the front surface 40 and the rear surface 41, and from the upper end of the front surface 40 to the upper end of the rear surface 41. An upper surface 39 (an example of a second surface) extending along the insertion direction 57 and the removal direction 58, and a lower surface 42 extending from the lower end of the front surface 40 to the lower end of the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 57 and the removal direction 58. It is divided by four walls.

The front surface 40, the rear surface 41, the upper surface 39, the lower surface 42, and the side surfaces 37 and 38 do not necessarily have to be formed of one plane, and the main body 31 is formed in the front direction 53, the rear direction 54, and the upward direction 51. The entire plurality of surfaces that can be recognized as projection surfaces when viewed from each of the downward direction 52, the left direction 55, and the right direction 56 are the front surface 40, the rear surface 41, the upper surface 39, the lower surface 42, and the side surfaces 37, 38, respectively. It may be recognized.

The space formed inside the main body 31 is an ink chamber 36 in which ink is stored. The ink chamber 36 is formed by an internal frame 32 provided inside the main body 31, but the ink chamber 36 may be formed by the internal space of the main body 31 itself without providing the internal frame 32. The ink chamber 36 is located between the front surface 40 and the rear surface 41 of the main body 31.

[Ink supply unit 34]
An ink supply unit 34 (an example of a supply unit) is provided on the lower side of the front surface 40 of the main body 31. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape and projects from the front surface 40 along the front direction 53. In the present embodiment, the ink supply unit 34 is integrally formed with the inner frame 32, and projects outward from the main body 31 through the opening of the front surface 40 of the main body 31. An ink supply port 71 is formed at the protruding end of the ink supply unit 34.

An ink flow path 72 is formed from the ink supply port 71 to the ink chamber 36 through the internal space of the ink supply unit 34. The ink supply port 71 is configured to be openable and closable by an ink supply valve 70. The ink supply valve 70 is urged in the direction of sealing the ink supply port 71 by a coil spring 73 arranged in the ink flow path 72, that is, in the forward direction 53. When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink needle 122 (see FIG. 4) provided on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 to resist the urging force of the coil spring 73. The ink supply valve 70 is moved backward 54. As a result, the tip of the ink needle 122 enters the ink flow path 72, and the ink flows out from the ink chamber 36 to the ink needle 122 through the ink flow path 72.

The ink supply port 71 is not necessarily limited to a configuration that can be opened and closed by the ink supply valve 70. For example, the ink supply port 71 is closed with a film or the like, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink supply port 71 may be opened by the ink needle 122 breaking through the film. Further, although not shown in the present embodiment, the main body 31 may be provided with an atmospheric communication port for using the atmospheric pressure of the ink chamber 36 maintained at a negative pressure as the external atmospheric pressure.

[Remaining amount detection unit 35]
As shown in FIG. 3, the remaining amount detecting unit 35 (an example of the detected unit) includes an accommodating body 33 and a sensor arm 60.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an accommodating body 33 accommodating a part of the sensor arm 60 is provided near the center of the front direction 53 and the rear direction 54 on the upper surface 39 of the main body 31. The housing 33 has a box shape with one side opened so as to pass through the ink chamber 36. The housing 33 is translucent to transmit light that is emitted from the optical sensor 114 (see FIG. 4) and travels in the left direction 55 or the right direction 56 (an example of a direction along the upper surface 39), for example, infrared light. It has a pair of walls made of the resin of the above, and a translucent front wall, upper wall and rear wall for determining the housing 33. The wall constituting the housing 33 transmits light traveling in the left direction 55 or the right direction 56. The accommodating body 33 is integrally formed with the inner frame 32, and projects upward from the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 through an opening formed in the upper surface 39 of the main body 31. The remaining amount detection unit 35 may be a reflective member that reflects light by incident light on the translucent resin at an angle exceeding the critical angle, or may be a prism or the like. .. Further, the light may be infrared light or visible light.

The space between the pair of left and right walls of the housing 33 is hollow so that ink can be stored. As shown in FIG. 3, an indicator portion 62 (light attenuation portion, an example of a light-shielding plate) of the sensor arm 60 is located between the pair of left and right walls of the housing body 33. The sensor arm 60 is provided with a plate-shaped indicator portion 62 at the upper end of the plate-shaped arm main body 61 and a float portion 63 at the rear end. The sensor arm 60 is rotatably supported in the ink chamber 36 by a support shaft 64 extending along the left direction 55 and the right direction 56. The sensor arm 60 rotates according to the amount of ink existing in the ink chamber 36. The posture of the sensor arm 60 can be changed between a posture in which the indicator unit 62 is located in the first position in front of the housing body 33 and a posture in which the indicator unit 62 is located in the second position behind the housing body 33. In FIG. 3, the posture of the sensor arm 60 in which the amount of ink is more than a predetermined amount and the indicator unit 62 is located at the first position is shown by a solid line, and the indicator unit 62 is located at the second position of the sensor arm 60. The posture is indicated by a broken line.

In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the remaining amount detecting portion 35 advances the infrared light in the left direction 55 or the right direction 56 with respect to the optical sensor 114 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The state changes to a state in which the amount of infrared light is transmitted by a predetermined amount or more, and a state in which the remaining amount detection unit 35 blocks or attenuates infrared light to less than a predetermined amount. If the indicator unit 62 is in the second position, the remaining amount detecting unit 35 transmits infrared light, and if the indicator unit 62 is in the first position, the remaining amount detecting unit 35 blocks or attenuates the infrared light. It is determined that the remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber 36 is less than a predetermined amount according to the light transmissive state of the remaining amount detecting unit 35.

The remaining amount detection unit 35 does not have to have the sensor arm 60. In the optical sensor 114, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged so as to face each other in the left direction 55 and the right direction 56. The light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 114 travels in the left direction 55 or the right direction 56, and is received by the light receiving element. When there is more than a predetermined amount of ink in the ink chamber 36, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked or attenuated, and when the remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber 36 is less than the predetermined amount, the light is emitted from the light emitting element. It may be configured so that infrared light is transmitted in a predetermined amount or more. Further, a soft film may be formed instead of the housing 33. That is, the film is inflated when there is ink in the ink chamber 36, and when the rotatable lever comes into contact with the film, the lever is held at a position where it blocks infrared light. On the other hand, when there is no ink in the ink chamber 36, the film is shrunk due to the decompression in the ink chamber 36 due to the decrease in ink, and the rotatable lever rotates downward to a position where infrared light is not blocked. It may be configured to rotate. Further, when there is ink in the housing 33, the infrared light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 114 is reflected so as not to reach the light receiving element, and when there is no ink in the housing 33, the light emitting element The infrared light emitted from the light receiving element may be reflected so as to reach the light receiving element.

[Shading plate 43]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a light-shielding plate 43 is provided in front of the housing 33 on the upper surface 39 of the main body 31. The light-shielding plate 43 is a rib of a thin plate extending upward 51 with the left direction 55 and the right direction 56 as the thickness direction. The dimensions of the shading plate 43 along the left direction 55 and the right direction 56 are smaller than the dimensions of the housing 33 along the left direction 55 and the right direction 56. The light-shielding plate 43 attenuates or blocks light emitted from the optical sensor 115 (see FIG. 4) and traveling to the left 55 or the right 56, for example, infrared light.

The light-shielding plate 43 may be formed with through holes penetrating in the left direction 55 and the right direction 56. Whether or not the through hole is formed depends on, for example, the initial capacity of the ink in the ink chamber 36 of the ink cartridge 30, the composition of the ink, and the like. The through hole of the light-shielding plate 43 transmits the light emitted from the optical sensor 115 in the mounted state of the ink cartridge 30 without attenuating or blocking the light, and causes the light to reach the light receiving portion of the optical sensor. Depending on the light-transmitting state of the light-shielding plate 43, it is determined that the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, or the initial capacity of the ink in the ink chamber 36 of the ink cartridge 30 and the composition of the ink.

[IC board 74]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an IC substrate 74 (an example of an electrical interface) is provided on the upper surface of the main body 31 in front of the light-shielding plate 43. Therefore, the accommodating body 33 is arranged at a position closer to the rear surface 41 of the main body 31 than the IC substrate 74. The IC board 74 conducts with the contact 106 (see FIG. 4) while the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, and conducts with the contact 106 even when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. To do.

An IC and three electrodes 75, a HOT electrode, a GND electrode, and a signal electrode, are mounted on the IC substrate 74. The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit, and among the information about the ink cartridge 30, information that does not need to be updated with the replacement of the ink cartridge 30, for example, data indicating information such as ink color and manufacturer is readable and stored. ..

The HOT electrode, GND electrode and signal electrode are electrically connected to the IC. The HOT electrode, the GND electrode, and the signal electrode extend along the front direction 53 and the rear direction 54, respectively, and are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the left direction 55 and the right direction 56. The HOT electrode, GND electrode, and signal electrode are electrically and accessiblely exposed on the upper surface of the IC substrate 74. That is, the HOT electrode, the GND electrode, and the signal electrode are exposed so as to be accessible from above the ink cartridge 30 in the mounting posture. As shown in FIG. 5, in the mounting posture, the lower surface 42 of the main body 31 is in contact with the bottom surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110 to be supported, so that the IC board 74 provided on the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 is brought into contact with the contact 106. It is held in an electrically conductive state.

[Lock lever 80]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a lock lever 80 (an example of a moving member) is provided behind the accommodating body 33 on the upper surface 39 of the main body 31. The lock lever 80 extends obliquely upward from the rear of the housing 33 toward the upward direction 51 and the rearward direction 54 on the upper surface 39. The lock lever 80 has a substantially flat plate shape in which an engaging surface 81 (an example of an engaging portion) extending downward 52 is formed as a step near the center of the front direction 53 and the rear direction 54. The extending end of the lock lever 80 is an operating portion 82, which is located above the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 and behind the rear surface 41 of the main body 31 in the lock lever 80.

The front end of the lock lever 80 is continuous with the upper surface of the main body 31, and the lock lever 80 is such that the engaging surface 81 and the operating portion 82 approach the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 due to the elastic deformation of the front end portion, that is, downward. It is rotatable to. In FIG. 3, a natural state in which no external force is applied to the lock lever 80 is shown by a solid line, and the position of the lock lever 80 in this state is an example of the first position. For example, when the operating portion 82 of the lock lever 80 is pushed downward by the user, the lock lever 80 rotates so that the engaging surface 81 and the operating portion 82 approach the upper surface 39 of the main body 31. The lock lever 80 in this state is shown by a broken line in FIG. The position of the lock lever 80 in this state is an example of the second position. Therefore, the lock lever 80 at the second position is elastically restored by not applying an external force and returns to the first position. As shown in FIG. 3, the second position is from the distance L1 (an example of the maximum distance L1) of 51 and 52 in the vertical direction between the rear end of the operation portion 82 of the lock lever 80 and the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 in the first position. The distance L2 (an example of the maximum distance L2) between the rear end of the operation portion 82 of the lock lever 80 and the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 in the vertical direction 51 and 52 is short (L1> L2). In other words, the engaging surface 81 of the lock lever 80 is located closer to the upper surface 39 in the second position than in the first position. The engaging surface 81 of the lock lever 80 is arranged above the upper ends of the indicator unit 62 and the accommodating unit 33 of the remaining amount detecting unit 35 at the first position.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rear end of the operating portion 82 of the lock lever 80 at the first position is farther from the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 than the upper end of the housing 33 and the upper end of the shading plate 43. Further, the rear end of the operation portion 82 of the lock lever 80 at the first position is located above the indicator portion 62 of the sensor arm 60.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the mounting posture in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the engaging surface 81 of the lock lever 80 in the first position is located in front of the lock pin 117 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. And make contact. In the mounting posture, an urging force acts on the ink cartridge 30 from the coil spring 73 compressed by the ink supply unit 34 in the ejection direction 58. By engaging the engaging surface 81 with the lock pin 117 from the front, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the mounting posture against the urging force of the coil spring 73. For example, when the user pushes down the operation portion 82 of the lock lever 80 and the lock lever 80 is in the second position, the engaging surface 81 is located below the lock pin 117. As a result, the engagement between the engaging surface 81 and the lock pin 117 is released, and the ink cartridge 30 moves in the taking-out direction 58 by the urging force of the coil spring 73.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIG. 4, the case 101 forming the housing of the cartridge mounting portion 110 has an opening 112 on the front side of the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The case 101 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, but FIG. 4 shows the space of the case 101 that can accommodate one ink cartridge 30. ing.

As shown in FIG. 4, a connecting portion 103 is provided below the final surface 102 of the case 101. The connection portion 103 is arranged at a position corresponding to the ink supply portion 34 of each ink cartridge 30 mounted on the case 101 on the final surface 102.

The connecting portion 103 has an ink needle 122 and a holding portion 121. The ink needle 122 is made of a tubular resin needle. The ink needle 122 is connected to the ink tube 20 on the outer surface side forming the front and back surfaces of the final surface 102 of the case 101. Each ink tube 20 drawn from each ink needle 122 to the outer surface side forming the front and back surfaces of the final surface 102 of the case 101 is pulled upward along the outer surface of the case 101, and then ink is applied to the recording head 21 of the printer 10. Has been postponed for distribution. In addition, in FIG. 4, the ink tube 20 is omitted.

The holding portion 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The ink needle 122 is arranged at the center of the holding portion 121. As shown in FIG. 5, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink supply portion 34 is inserted inside the cylinder of the holding portion 121. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply unit 34 comes into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder of the holding unit 121. As a result, the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding unit 121 at a predetermined interval. When the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding unit 121, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34. As a result, the ink contained in the ink chamber 36 can flow out to the outside. The ink flowing out of the ink chamber 36 flows into the ink needle 122.

As shown in FIG. 4, optical sensors 114 and 115 are provided on the top surface 104 that partitions the internal space of the case 101. The optical sensor 115 is located in front of the optical sensor 114.

Each of the optical sensors 114 and 115 has a light emitting element such as an LED and a light receiving element such as a phototransistor. Each of the light emitting element and the light receiving element is surrounded by a housing. The outer shape of the optical sensors 114 and 115 formed by the housing is horseshoe-shaped. The light emitting element can irradiate light in one direction from the housing, in the present embodiment, in the left direction 55 or the right direction 56. The light receiving element can receive light radiated from one direction to the housing. Such a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged to face each other in a horseshoe-shaped housing in the left direction 55 and the right direction 56 at predetermined intervals.

The light-shielding plate 43 of the ink cartridge 30 and the remaining amount detection unit 35 can enter the space between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element. The light-shielding plate 43 of the ink cartridge 30 can enter the space between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the optical sensor 115. When the remaining amount detecting unit 35 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 114, the optical sensor 114 can detect a change in the amount of transmitted light by the remaining amount detecting unit 35. When the light shielding plate 43 enters the optical path of the optical sensor 115, the optical sensor 115 can detect a change in the amount of transmitted light by the light shielding plate 43 by irradiating the light shielding plate 43 with light.

As shown in FIG. 4, the contact 106 is provided on the top surface 104 of the case 101 at a position closer to the final surface 102 than the optical sensor 115. Three contacts 106 are arranged apart from each other in the left direction 55 and the right direction 56. The arrangement of the three contacts 106 corresponds to the arrangement of the HOT electrode, the GND electrode, and the signal electrode on the IC substrate 74 of the ink cartridge 30. Each contact 106 is made of a member having conductivity and elasticity, and can be elastically deformed upward.

Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the arithmetic unit via an electric circuit. The arithmetic unit includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, or the like, and may be configured as a control unit of the printer 10. A voltage Vc is applied to the HOT electrode by electrically conducting the contact 106 and the HOT electrode. The GND electrode is grounded by electrically conducting the contact 106 and the GND electrode. Electric power is supplied to the IC by conducting the contact 106 with the HOT electrode and the GND electrode. By electrically conducting the contact 106 and the signal electrode, the data stored in the IC can be accessed. The output from the electric circuit is input to the arithmetic unit.

As shown in FIG. 4, a lock pin 117 is provided on the top surface 104 of the case 101 at a position closer to the opening 112 than the optical sensor 114. The lock pin 117 is a cylindrical member extending along the left direction 55 and the right direction 56. The lock pin 117 is located at a position where the ink cartridge 30 does not come into contact with the IC board 74, the light-shielding plate 43, and the remaining amount detection unit 35 in the process of being inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, the IC board 74 and the light-shielding plate in the mounting posture. It is arranged above 43 and the remaining amount detection unit 35. In the mounting posture, the engaging surface 81 of the lock lever 80 at the first position engages with the lock pin 117 to hold the ink cartridge 30 in the mounting posture.

[Action and effect of this embodiment]
In the ink cartridge 30, the lock lever 80 at the first position is separated from the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 by the remaining amount detection unit 35 and the light-shielding plate 43, so that the ink cartridge 30 is placed on the floor with the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 facing downward. The lock lever 80 tends to come into contact with the floor or the like before the remaining amount detection unit 35 and the light-shielding plate 43 when the ink is dropped on the floor or collides with a wall or other member. As a result, damage to the remaining amount detection unit 35 and the light-shielding plate 43 is suppressed. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 falls on the floor or the like, the lock lever 80 moves from the first position to the second position, so that the impact applied to the ink cartridge 30 at the time of dropping or collision is reduced.

Further, since the lock lever 80 can be rotated with respect to the main body 31 by elastic deformation, the lock lever 80 is integrally formed with the main body 31.

Further, the lock lever 80 can protect the remaining amount detecting unit 35 by its elasticity.

Further, since the engaging surface 81 of the lock lever 80 engages with the lock pin 117 of the cartridge mounting portion 110, the configuration of the ink cartridge 30 that can be mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is simplified.

Further, by arranging the lock lever 80 and the light-shielding plate 43 side by side in the insertion direction 57, the size of the left-hand direction 55 and the right-hand direction 56 (width direction) is reduced, and the engaging position is light-shielded. Since it is higher than the plate 43, the ink cartridge 30 can be taken out only by moving the lock lever 80 from the first position to the second position.

Further, since the operation portion 82 of the lock lever 80 is located behind the engaging surface 81 in the insertion direction 57, the lock lever 80 is operated by the operation portion 82 while the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. Easy to move.

[First modification]
The ink cartridge 30 described above can be rotated with respect to the main body 31 instead of the lock lever 80, and is restored to the first position by being urged by a leaf spring 91 (an example of an elastic member). A lock lever 90 (an example of a moving member) may be provided. Even the ink cartridge 30 having such a lock lever 90 has the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body 31 is provided with a support portion 92 that projects upward from the upper surface 39. Near the upper end of the support portion 92, a support shaft 93 extending along the left direction 55 and the right direction 56 is provided. The lock lever 90 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 93.

The lock lever 90 extends obliquely upward from the rear of the housing 33 toward the upper side and the rear side on the upper surface 39. The lock lever 90 has a substantially flat plate shape in which an engaging surface 94 (an example of an engaging portion) extending downward near the center of the front direction 53 and the rear direction 54 is formed as a step. The engaging surface 94 can be engaged with the lock pin of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The extending end of the lock lever 90 is an operating portion 95, which is located above the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 and behind the rear surface 41 of the main body 31 in the lock lever 90.

A leaf spring 91 is interposed between the lock lever 90 and the upper surface 39 of the main body 31. The leaf spring 91 urges the lock lever 90 upward, in other words, in the clockwise direction in FIG. The leaf spring 91 may be in contact with only one of the lock lever 90 and the main body 31 in a natural state in which no external force is applied. Further, the leaf spring 91 may be fixed to the upper surface 39, may be fixed to the back surface of the portion extending between the engaging surface 94 of the lock lever 90 and the operating portion 95, or may be fixed to both. You may be. The lock lever 90 has an upward rotation limit regulated by contact with the support portion 92. FIG. 6 shows the lock lever 90 when it is at the upward rotation limit. The position of the lock lever 90 at this time is the first position. For example, when the operation unit 95 is pushed downward by the user's operation, the lock lever 90 rotates downward against the urging force of the leaf spring 91, and the engaging surface 94 and the operation unit 95 are brought into the main body 31. Approaches the upper surface 39 of. The position of the lock lever 90 at this time is the second position.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, the operation of the lock lever 90 at the second position is performed from the distance L1 (an example of the maximum distance L1) between the rear end of the operation unit 95 of the lock lever 90 at the first position and the upper surface of the main body 31. The distance L2 (an example of the maximum distance L2) between the rear end of the portion 95 and the upper surface of the main body 31 is short (L1> L2).

Further, the rear end of the operation unit 95 of the lock lever 90 at the first position is farther from the upper surface 39 of the main body 31 than the upper end of the remaining amount detection unit 35 and the upper end of the light-shielding plate 43. Further, the rear end of the operation portion 95 of the lock lever 90 at the first position is located above the indicator portion 62 of the sensor arm 60.

[Second modification]
The ink cartridge 30 described above may be provided with a slider 96 (an example of a moving member) slidable with respect to the main body 31 instead of the lock lever 80. Even the ink cartridge 30 having such a slider 96 has the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ink cartridge 30 has a main body 99 that covers the front of the inner frame 32. The rear of the inner frame 32 is covered with a slider 96. The slider 96 has a box shape having an internal space larger than the dimension along the upward direction 51 and the downward direction 52 of the internal frame 32. Therefore, the slider 96 can move in the upward direction 51 and the downward direction 52 with respect to the inner frame 32. A coil spring 97 (an example of an elastic member) is interposed between the upper surface 44 (an example of the second surface) of the inner frame 32 and the slider 96. The coil spring 97 supports the slider 96 so as to hold it in the first position, and forms a space between the upper surface 44 and the slider 96.

The slider 96 is urged upward. The upwardly urged slider 96 abuts on the lower surface of the inner frame 32 to regulate the upward slide limit. This upward slide limit position is an example of the first position.

The slider 96 is formed with an engaging surface 98 extending upward from the upper surface. The engaging surface 98 can be engaged with the lock pin 117 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. As shown in FIG. 8, the slider 96 is pushed downward against the urging force of the coil spring 97, so that the engagement surface 98 and the lock pin 117 are disengaged. This downwardly depressed position is an example of the second position. When the force that pushes the slider 96 downward disappears, the urging force of the coil spring 97 restores the slider 96 to the first position.

From the distance L1 (an example of the maximum distance L1) between the upper end of the engagement surface 98 of the slider 96 at the first position shown in FIG. 7 and the upper surface of the main body 99, the engagement of the slider 96 at the second position shown in FIG. 8 The distance L2 (an example of the maximum distance L2) between the upper end of the surface 98 and the upper surface of the main body 99 is short (L1> L2).

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper end of the engaging surface 98 of the slider 96 at the first position is farther from the upper surface of the main body 99 than the upper end of the remaining amount detection unit 35 and the upper end of the shading plate 43. .. Further, the upper end of the engaging surface 98 of the slider 96 at the first position is located above the indicator portion 62 of the sensor arm 60.

In the above-described embodiment and each modification, the ink cartridge 30 has a remaining amount detection unit 35 and a light-shielding plate 43, but the ink cartridge 30 has either the remaining amount detection unit 35 or the light-shielding plate 43. Only may be provided.

30 ... Ink cartridge (printing fluid cartridge)
31 ... Main body 32 ... Indicator part 62 (light attenuation part)
35 ... Remaining amount detection unit (detected unit)
34 ... Ink supply unit (example of supply unit)
39 ... Top surface (second surface)
40 ... Front (first side)
74 ... IC board (electrical interface)
80 ... Lock lever (moving member)

Claims (13)

The main body that houses the printing fluid and
A supply unit, which is arranged on the first surface of the main body and allows the contained printing fluid to flow out,
A detected portion, which is arranged on the second surface of the main body and has a light attenuating portion for attenuating light emitted from the outside, and a detected portion.
It is provided with a moving member that can be moved to the first position and the second position and can be restored from the second position to the first position by an elastic force.
The moving member has a shorter maximum distance L2 from the second surface at the second position than the maximum distance L1 from the second surface at the first position, and from the detected portion at the first position. It is far from the second side above,
A printing fluid cartridge that is slidable with respect to the main body and is restored to the first position by being urged by an elastic member arranged between the moving member and the second surface. A main body in which the printing fluid is housed between the front and rear surfaces including the first surface and has an upper surface including the second surface.
A supply unit that is located on the front of the main body and allows the contained printing fluid to flow out,
A detected portion, which is arranged on the upper surface of the main body and has a light attenuating portion for attenuating light emitted from directions intersecting the front and rear directions and the upward and downward directions.
With the electrical interface located on the top of the main unit,
It includes a first position and a moving member that can move from the first position to a second position closer to the upper surface of the main body and restores from the second position to the first position by elastic force.
The moving member has a shorter maximum distance L2 from the second surface at the second position than the maximum distance L1 from the second surface at the first position, and from the detected portion at the first position. It is far from the second side above,
The light attenuation portion is arranged at a position closer to the rear surface than the electrical interface.
A printing fluid cartridge in which the moving member is arranged at a position closer to the rear surface than the light attenuation portion, and is separated from the upper surface of the light attenuation portion at the first position. The main body that houses the printing fluid and
A supply unit, which is arranged on the first surface of the main body and allows the contained printing fluid to flow out,
A detected portion, which is arranged on the second surface of the main body and has a light attenuating portion for attenuating light emitted from the outside, and a detected portion.
It is provided with a moving member that can be moved to the first position and the second position and can be restored from the second position to the first position by an elastic force.
The moving member has a shorter maximum distance L2 from the second surface at the second position than the maximum distance L1 from the second surface at the first position, and from the detected portion at the first position. It is far from the second side above,
The detected portion extends from the second surface and has an accommodating body capable of accommodating the light attenuating portion and allowing light from the outside to access the light attenuating portion.
The light attenuation portion extends from the second surface and deviates from the optical path of the light and the first position for attenuating the light emitted from the outside according to the amount of the printing fluid contained in the main body. The posture can be changed to the second position.
The moving member is a printing fluid cartridge that is farther from the second surface than the portion of the housing that is farthest from the second surface. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1 or 3 , further comprising an electrical interface arranged on the second surface of the main body. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the moving member is rotatable with respect to the main body. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 5 , wherein the moving member is rotatable with respect to the main body by elastic deformation. The moving member
A connecting part that is connected to the main body and has elasticity,
An engaging surface that is arranged at a position farther from the first surface than the light attenuation portion from the connection portion and faces in the direction opposite to the first surface.
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 6 , further comprising an operation unit arranged at a position farther from the first surface than the engaging surface. The moving member is arranged between the moving member and the second surface, and is urged by an elastic member that is in contact with at least one of the second surface or the moving member at the first position. The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 5, which is restored to one position by an elastic force. The printing fluid cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction.
The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the moving member is engageable with the cartridge mounting portion. The moving member and the light attenuating portion are arranged side by side in the insertion direction.
The moving member in the first position, in Claim 9 is engageable with the cartridge mounting portion in most above than a portion away from the second surface remote from the second surface position of the optical attenuating portion The printed fluid cartridge described. The moving member has an operating portion and an engaging portion that engages with the cartridge mounting portion.
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the operating portion is located behind the engaging portion in the insertion direction. The light attenuating portion is a light-shielding plate that extends from the second surface and blocks light traveling in a direction along the second surface.
The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the moving member is arranged outside the extending end of the light-shielding plate. The moving member has an engaging portion that engages with the cartridge mounting portion in a mounting posture in which the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion.
The engaging portion engages with the cartridge mounting portion when the moving member is in the first position, and disengages with the cartridge mounting portion when the moving member is in the second position. The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

Images