Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DESCRIPTION
INK CARTRIDGE
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an ink cartridge. In
particular, the present invention is related to an ink cartridge which is
configured to
dispense ink when used in combination with a printer.
Background Art
[0002] A known recording apparatus, such as an ink-jet recording apparatus,
includes an ink-jet recording head and a mounting portion to which a known ink
cartridge is mounted. When the known ink cartridge is mounted to the mounting
portion, the known recording apparatus is configured to dispense ink from a
plurality of
nozzles to record an image on a sheet of paper.
[0003] The known ink cartridge is detachably mounted to the known
recording apparatus. The known ink cartridge includes an ink chamber for
storing ink,
a wall, and an ink supply portion positioned at the wall. In operation, the
ink supply
portion supplies ink from an interior of the ink chamber to the known
recording
apparatus. This known ink cartridge also includes an air intake portion which
is
positioned at the wall and is configured to draw air into the ink chamber from
the
atmosphere.
[0004] The known ink cartridge also includes a cover which encloses the wall
at which the ink supply portion and the air intake portion are positioned, and
protects
the ink supply portion and the air intake portion. Such a known ink cartridge
is
described in US 2006/0203051 Al for example. Before the ink cartridge is
mounted to
the recording apparatus, the cover first needs to be removed. Moreover, when
the ink
cartridge is removed from the recording apparatus with ink remaining therein,
and the
user intends to use the ink cartridge again in the future, the user generally
will re-cover
the ink cartridge using the cover. Nevertheless, if the user is not able to
locate * the
cover, e.g_, if the user misplaced the cover or discarded the cover after the
user mounted
the ink cartridge to the recording apparatus, the user will not be able to re-
cover the ink
cartridge. Consequently, the ink cartridge may become damaged if the 'ink
supply
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portion or the air intake portion contact a surface when the ink cartridge is
accidentally
dropped onto the surface, or the ink cartridge may drip ink onto a surface or
the user.
[0005] Another known ink cartridge is configured to be mounted to an
accommodating chamber of a known recording apparatus, and the accommodating
chamber includes a door which is configured to be opened and closed. After
this
known ink cartridge is mounted to the accommodating chamber and the door is
closed,
the door is configured to latch on to the ink cartridge to remove the ink
cartridge from
the accommodating chamber when the door is opened by a user, which increases
the
ease with which the ink cartridge may be removed from the accommodating
chamber.
Such a known ink cartridge is described in US 2007/0070140 Al for example.
Nevertheless, the user relies on the recording apparatus to remove the ink
cartridge from
the recording apparatus.
Disclosure of the Invention
[0006] Therefore, a need has arisen for an ink cartridge which overcome
these and other shortcomings of the related art. A technical advantage of the
present
invention is that the ink "cartridge may include a movable member which is
movably
attached to a case of the ink cartridge and is configured to protect the ink
supply portion
or the air intake portion, or both, whenever the ink cartridge is not mounted
to the
recording apparatus. Consequently, the ink supply`portion or the air intake
portion, or
both, may not be damaged if the ink cartridge contacts a surface. Another
technical
advantage of the present invention is that the movable member may allow the
ink
cartridge to readily be removed from the recording apparatus.
[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ink cartridge
comprises a case comprising a front face and a rear face opposite the front
face, in
which the case has at least a portion of an ink chamber defined therein, and
the ink
chamber is configured to store ink. The ink cartridge also comprises an ink
supply
portion positioned at the front face of the case, in which the ink supply
portion is
configured to dispense ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior
of the ink
chamber, and an air intake portion positioned at the case, in which the air
intake portion
is configured to draw air into the ink chamber. Moreover, the ink cartridge
comprises
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a movable member configured to move between a first position and a second
position
relative to the case, and at least one resilient member having a first end
which is coupled
to the front face of the case and a second end which is coupled to the movable
member.
Specifically, the at least one resilient member is configured to expand_ and
to contract to
move the movable member relative to the case between the first position and
the second
position.,
[0008] With this configuration, of the ink cartridge, the ink supply portion
may not be damaged if the ink cartridge contacts a surface. Moreover, the ink
cartridge
may readily be removed from a recording apparatus.
[0009] The air intake portion also may be positioned at the front face of the
case. With this configuration, the air intake portion also may not be damaged
if the ink
cartridge contacts a surface.
[0010] The front face of the case may have a first end and a second end
opposite the first end, the at least one resilient member may comprise a first
resilient
member and a second resilient member which expand and contract in the same
direction
as each other, and the first resilient member may be positioned closer to the
first end of
the front face of the case than to the second end of the front face of the
case and the
second resilient member may be positioned closer to the second end of the
front face of
the case than to first end of the front face of the case. With this
configuration, the first
resilient member and the second resilient member may be able to stably and
evenly urge
the movable member.
[0011] The case may comprise a right side face and a left side face opposite
the right side face. The movable member may comprise a front wall facing the
front
face of the case, a right side wall covering at least a portion of the right
side face of the
case, and a left side wall covering at least a portion of the left side face
of the case.
With this configuration, the movable member may readily move relative to the
case
while the right side wall and the left side wall of the movable member are
sliding on the
right side face and the left side face of the case.
[0012] The case also may further comprise a top face and a bottom face
opposite the top face. The movable member also may further comprise a top wall
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covering at least a portion of the top face of the case, and a bottom wall
covering at least
a portion of the bottom face of the case. When the movable member is in the
first
position the ink supply portion is positioned within an inner space defined by
the front
wall, the right side wall, the left side wall, the top wall, and the bottom
wall of the
movable member. With this configuration, the ink supply portion may not drip
ink
onto a surface or a user of the ink cartridge.
[0013] The ink cartridge may further comprise a translucent portion
positioned at the front face of the case, and a signal blocking member
positioned within
the translucent portion for detecting an amount of ink in the ink chamber.
With this
configuration, the translucent portion also may not be damaged if the ink
cartridge
contacts a surface.
[0014] The at least one resilient member may contact the front face of the
case at a predetermined position which is offset from each of the air intake
portion and
the ink supply portion. Other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments
of the
present invention will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art
from the
following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the
accompanying
drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0015] For a more complete understanding of the present iinvention, the needs
satisfied thereby, and the objects, features, and advantages thereof,
reference now is
made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
[0016] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional, pattern diagram of a recording apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Figs. 2(a) and 2(b) are perspective views of an. ink cartridge in which
a
movable member is in a second position and a first position, respectively,
according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] Figs. 2(c) and 2(d) are perspective views of an ink cartridge in which
a
movable member is in a second position and a first position, respectively,
according to
another embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Figs. 3(a) and 3(b) are side views of the ink cartridge of Figs. 2(a)
and
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2(b), respectively.
[0020] Figs. 3(c) and 3(d) are side views of the ink cartridge of Figs. 2(c)
and
2(d), respectively.
[0021] Figs. 4(a) and 4(b) are a front-face perspective view and a rear-face
perspective view of a main body of the ink cartridge of Figs.-2(a) and 2(b).
[0022] Fig. 5 is a side view of the main body of Figs. 4(a) and 4(b).
[0023] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig.
4(a).
[0024] Fig. 7 is a partial, enlarged front-face cross-sectional view of the
body
of Figs. 4(a) and 4(b).
[0025] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in Fig.
2(a).
[0026] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in Fig.
2(b).
[0027] Figs. 10(a) and 10(b) are enlarged, cross-sectional views of an upper
portion and a lower portion, respectively, of the main body of Figs. 4(a) and
4(b).
[0028] Figs. 11(a) and 11(b) are perspective and side views, respectively, of
a
movable member, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] Fig. 12 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of a cartridge mounting
portion of a recording apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0030] Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge being mounted to
the cartridge mounting portion of Fig. 12.
[0031] Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge mounted to the
cartridge mounting portion of Fig. 12, in which a lock lever of the recording
apparatus
is in an open position.
[0032] Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge mounted to the
cartridge mounting portion of Fig. 12, in which the lock lever of the
recording apparatus
is in a closed position.
[0033] Fig. 16 is a block diagram of a main controller of the recording
apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] Figs. 17(a) and 17(b) are exemplary timing diagrams of a sensor
signal outputted from a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor,
respectively, of
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the recording apparatus when a first ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge
mounting
portion.
[0035] Figs. 17(c) and 17(d) are exemplary timing diagrams of a sensor
signal outputted from the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor,
respectively,
of the recording apparatus when a second ink cartridge is mounted to the
cartridge
mounting portion.
[0036] Fig. 18 is a flowchart of a procedure performed by the main controller
of the recording apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a packaging arrangement comprising
the ink cartridge of Figs. 2(a) and 2(b) enclosed in a packaging member,
according to
yet another embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of an ink cartridge mounted to the
cartridge mounting portion, according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge being ejected
from the cartridge mounting portion of Fig. 20.
Explanation of Reference
ink cartridge
10' ink cartridge
main body
21 movable member
22 cover member
23 coil spring
24 coil spring
72 signal blocking portion
80 air intake portion
90 ink supply portion
100 ink chamber
140 translucent portion
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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0040] Embodiments of the present invention and their features and technical
advantages may be understood by referring to Figs. 1-21, like numerals being
used for
like corresponding portions in the various drawings.
[0041] Referring to Fig. 1, a recording apparatus 250 according to an
einbodiment of the present invention is depicted. The recording apparatus 250
comprises a paper feeding apparatus 252, a transferring apparatus 253, a
recording unit
254, and a cartridge mounting portion 276. A paper feed tray 257 is provided
at the
bottom of the recording apparatus 250, and sheets of paper positioned on the
paper feed
tray 257 are fed, one by one, to a path 259 by the paper feeding apparatus
252.
[0042] The transferring apparatus 253 is disposed in the path 259, and
comprises a first pair of transferring rollers 261 and a second pair of
transferring rollers
262. The pair of transferring rollers 261 is positioned on the upstream side
of the
recording unit 254 in a paper-transferring direction, and the pair of
transferring rollers
262 is positioned on the downstream side in the paper-transferring direction.
[0043] A sheet of paper fed to the path 259 is transferred toward a platen 264
by the pair of transferring rollers 261, and the recording unit 254 is
positioned above the
platen 264. An image is recorded on the sheet of paper passing over the platen
264 by
the recording unit 254, and the sheet of paper then is discharged to a paper
discharge
tray 258 positioned on the downstream end of the path 259 by the pair of
transferring
rollers 262.
[0044] The recording unit 254 comprises a carriage 266 and a recording head
272 mounted to the carriage 266. The recording head 272 comprises a sub-tank
268
and a head control board 270, and has a plurality of nozzles 274 formed
therein. The
carriage 266 is slidably supported by a supporting rail, and is configured to
slide in the
direction vertical to the paper plane of Fig. 1. The sub-tank 268 is
configured to store
ink to be supplied to the nozzles 274. When image signals are supplied to the
head
control board 270, ink is discharged from the nozzles 274 toward the sheet of
paper
based on the image signals. The recording apparatus 250 comprises a main
controller
200 (shown in Fig. 16) for controlling the recording apparatus 250, and the
image
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signals are outputted from the main controller 200 and supplied to the head
control
board 270.
[0045] An ink cartridge 16 is configured to be mounted to the cartridge
mounting portion 276. The cartridge mounting portion 276 comprises a plurality
of
cases 280, each of which is configured to receive a corresponding ink
cartridge 10
therein. For example, the cartridge mounting portion 276 comprises four cases
280,
and each case 280 corresponds to an ink cartridge containing a different color
of ink.
The ink cartridge 10 is configured to be mounted to and removed from the
cartridge
mounting portion 276. The ink cartridge 10 comprises a main body 20, and the
main
body 20 comprises an ink chamber 100 configured to store ink therein, and ink
is
supplied from the ink chamber 100 to the recording head 272 via an ink tube
278.
[0046] In an embodiment of the present invention, two different ink
cartridges may have different ink capacities or may store different initial
amounts of ink,
and may store the same color ink, e.g., black ink. For example, a first ink
cartridge 10
and second ink cartridge 10' have different ink capacities or store different
initial
amounts of ink, and store the same color ink. Moreover, the recording
apparatus 250
is configured, such that the ink cartridges 10 and 10' are mounted to the same
case 280
of the cartridge mounting portion 276. The recording apparatus 250 is
configured to
determine which type of ink cartridge is mounted to the case 280.
[0047] Referring to Figs. 2(a), 2(b), 3(a), 3(b), and 4-10(b), the ink
cartridge
has a substantially flat, hexahedron shape. A width of the ink cartridge, as
indicated
by an arrow 31, is relatively short, and each of a height of the ink cartridge
10, as
indicated by an arrow 32, and a depth of the ink cartridge 10, as indicated by
an arrow
33, is greater than the width of the ink cartridge 10. [0048] The ink
cartridge 10 comprises a case, e.g., a main body 20, a
movable member 21, a cover member 22, and at least one coil spring, e.g., a
pair of coil
springs 23 and 24. The main body 20 comprises an ink chamber 100 for storing
ink.
The movable member 21 and the cover member 22 encloses the main body 20
therein.
Each of the main body 20, the movable member 21, and the cover member 22 is
formed
of a resin material, e.g. nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like, and
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combinations thereof.
[0047] The ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the recording apparatus in a
direction indicated by an arrow 30 in an upright state. A front portion 20a of
the main
body is enclosed by the movable member 21, and a rear portion 20b of the main
body
20 is enclosed by the cover member 22. Accordingly, in this embodiment of the
present invention, the front portion 20a is protected by the movable member
21, and the
rear portion 20b is protected by the cover member 22.
[0048] The movable member 21 is configured to slide in the depth direction,
as indicated by the arrow 33, with respect to the main body 20. The movable
member
21 is configured to move with respect to main body 20. Specifically, movable
member
21 is configured to move between a first position, as shown in Figs. 2(b) and
9, in which
movable member 21 is at its furthest position from a front face 41 of the main
body, and
a second position, as shown in Figs. 2(a) and 8, in which movable member 21 is
at its
closest position to the front face 41. When the movable member 21 is at the
first
position; at least a portion of the movable member 21 is positioned further
from the
front face 41 than the ink supply portion 90 is positioned from the front face
'41. In an
embodiment, when a predetermined amount of force greater than the biasing
force of
the coil springs 23 and 24 is applied to the movable member 21, and thereby
the
movable member 21 moves from the first position to the second position, a rod
84 of an
air intake portion 80 contacts the movable member 21 and is pressed by the
movable
member 21, and an ink supply portion 90 emerges from an inside of the movable
member 21 to extend outside the movable member 21. When the predetermined
amount of force is released from the movable member 21, and thereby the
movable
member 21 subsequently moves from the second position to the first position,
the rod 84
separates from the movable member 21, and the ink supply portion 90 returns to
the
inside of the movable member 21. The entire moveable member 21 is configured
to
substantially simultaneously move in a first direction relative to the main
body 20 when
the coil springs 23 and 24 expand, and the entire moveable member 21 is
configured to
substantially simultaneously move in a second direction opposite the first
direction
when the coil springs 23 and 24 contract. Each of the first direction and the
second
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direction is substantially parallel to each of the expansion direction and the
contraction
direction of the coil springs 23 and 24. In another embodiment, discussed in
detail
below and shown in Figs. 2(c), 2(d), 3(c), and 3(d), an opening 180' may be
formed
through a front wall 161 of the movable member 21 adjacent to and in alignment
with
the air intake portion 80, such that a component of the printer may apply the
force to the
rod 84 instead of the movable member 21 applying the force to the rod 84.
[0049] The main body 20 has a substantially flat, hexahedron shape. When
the ink cartridge 10 is mounted to the mounting portion of the recording
apparatus, the
main body 20 is in an upright state. The main body 20 comprises the front face
41, a
rear face 42, a top face 43, and a bottom face 44. The main body 20 also
comprises a
pair of side faces 45 and 46 which oppose each other, and each of the side
faces 45 and
46 is connected to the front face 41, the rear face 42, the top face 43, and.
the bottom
face 44. Each of side faces 45 and 46 has a surface area which is greater than
each of a
surface area of the front face 41, the rear face 42, the top face 43, and the
bottom face
44.
[0050] The main body 20 comprises a frame 50, an arm 70, the air intake
portion 80, and the ink supply portion 90. Moreover, the side face 45 or the
side face
46, or both, comprises a film, e.g., a translucent film. Specifically, the
film is welded
to the frame 50, such that the frame 50 is sealed by the film to define an ink
chamber
100 therein. The frame 50 is formed of a translucent resin material, i.e., a
transparent
or semi-transparent resin material e.g. polyacetal, nylon, polyethylene, or
polypropylene,
and combinations thereof, to allow light to pass therethrough, and the frame
50 is
formed by injection-molding. The frame 50 is sufficiently rigid, such that the
shape of
the frame 50 is not be altered in the expansion and contraction directions of
the coil
springs 23 and 24 when the coil sprints 23 and 24 expand and contract.
[0051] The frame 50 comprises an outer peripheral wall 51 and a plurality of
inner walls 52. The inner walls 52 are positioned within the outer peripheral
wall 51.
The outer peripheral wall 51 and the inner walls 52 are integral and define
the frame 50.
The outer peripheral wall 51 and the inner walls 52 extend from the left side
face 45 to
the right side face 46 of the main body 20. The outer peripheral wall 51 has
an annular
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shape extending along the front face 41, the top face 43, the rear face 42,
and the bottom
face 44, and forms a space inside. Accordingly, an opening 57a is formed on
the left
side face 45 of the frame 50, and an opening 57b is formed on the right side
face 46.
[0052] The films are welded to the side faces 45 and 46 of the frame 50,
respectively, via ultrasonic welding, and the opening 57a and the opening 57b
are
covered by the respective films, such that a space surrounded by the outer
peripheral
wall 51 and the films form the ink chamber 100. Alternatively, the films may
be
omitted, and the frame 50 may have a parallelepiped, container shape, such
that the
frame 50 defines the ink chamber 100 therein.
[0053] The inner walls 52 are positioned within a space surrounded by the
outer peripheral wall 51, and the films are welded to the outer edge portions
of the inner
walls 52 on the sides of the side faces 45 and 46. Accordingly, the film is
prevented
from sagging. Moreover, when the movable member 21 and the cover member 22 are
deformed toward the main body 20, the deformation of the movable member 21 and
the
cover member 22 is restricted by the inner walls 52. Accordingly, damage
to.the main
body 20 and the films is prevented.
[0054] An ink introduction port 150 is formed in the rear face 42 of the frame
50. The ink introduction port 150 has a substantially cylindrical hole formed
therein,
which extends from the rear face 42 toward the ink chamber 100, and the ink
introduction port 150 is in fluid communication with an interior of the ink
chamber 100.
The ink introduction port 150 is configured to introduce ink into the interior
of the ink
chamber 100 therethrough when the ink cartridge 10 is manufactured. After the
ink
chamber 100 is filled with ink, the ink introduction port 150 is closed by
positioning a
plug in the ink introduction port 150.
[0055] A translucent portion 140 is positioned at the front face 41 of the
frame 50 and extends from the ink chamber 100. An amount of ink stored in the
ink
chamber is optically or visually detected through the translucent portion 140.
The
translucent portion 140 is integral with the frame 50, and is formed of the
same material
as the frame 50, e.g., the trarislucent portion 140 is formed of a translucent
resin
material to allow light.to pass therethrough.
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[0056] The translucent portion 140 projects outward from a center portion of
the front face 41 of the main body 20 in a direction opposite from the ink
chamber 100.
The translucent portion 140 is partitioned by five rectangular walls and has a
substantially a hollow box shape. For example, the translucent portion 140 is
partitioned by a front wall 140a, a pair of side walls 140b, top wall 140c,
and bottom
wall 140d. The front wall 140a extends parallel to the front face 41 and is
separated
from the front face 41 by a predetermined distance. The pair of side walls
140b is
connected to the front face 41 and the front wall 140a, the top wall 140c is
connected to
top ends of the front wall 140a and the side walls 140b, and the bottom wall
140d is
connected to bottom ends of the front wall 140a and the side walls 140b.
Moreover,
the width of the front wall 140a is less than the width of the front face 41.
[0057] The translucent portion 140 is configured to be sandwiched between a
light-emitting element (not shown) and a light-receiving element (not shown)
of an
optical sensor (not shown), e.g. photo interrupter, mounted to the recording
apparatus.
Light emitted by the light-emitting element passes through the side walls 140b
and is
received by the light-receiving element.
[0058] The translucent portion 140 has an inner space 142 formed therein,
which is defined by the front wall 140a, the side walls 140b, the top wall
140c and the
bottom wall 140d. There is no wall positioned between the inner space 142 and
the
ink chamber 100, and the inner space 142 is configured to be in fluid
communication
with the interior of the ink chamber 100. A signal blocking portion 72 of the
arm 70 is
configured to selectively enter into and be removed from the inner space 142
based on
an amount of ink within the ink chamber 100.
[0059] The arm 70 is used in detecting the amount of ink stored in the ink
chamber 100. The arm 70 comprises the signal blocking portion 72 at one end
thereof,
and a float portion 73 at the other end thereof. The arm 70 is pivotably
supported at a
rib 74 extending upright from the widthwise center of the outer peripheral
wall 51.
The specific gravity of the float portion 73 is less than the specific gravity
of ink stored
in the ink chamber 100. The float portion 73 has a hollow formed therein, and
floats
on liquid, such that the float portion 73 moves upward and downward based on
the
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amount of ink within the ink chamber 100, and the arm 70 pivots based on the.
movement of the float portion 73. The rib 74 is positioned at the outer
peripheral wall
51 adjacent to a corner of the front face 41 and the bottom face 44. Referring
to Fig. 6,
the rib 74 comprises a supporting portion 77 configured to pivotably support
the arm 70.
[0060] Referring to Figs. 4(a)-6, the arm 70 is positioned, such that the
signal
blocking portion 72 is positioned in the inner space 142 when a sufficient
amount of ink
is stored in the ink chamber 100. For example, the signal blocking portion 72
contacts
the bottom wall 140d of the translucent portion 140 to maintain the signal
blocking
portion 72 within the inner space 142 of the translucent portion. Moreover,
when the
amount of ink in the ink chamber 100 is less than a predetermined amount of
ink, the
float portion 73 moves downward, and the signal blocking portion 72 moves out
of the
inner space 142. Consequently, whether a sufficient amount of ink remains in
the ink
chamber 100 is detected by monitoring whether the signal blocking portion 72
is
positioned within the inner space 142. For example, an optical sensor, such as
a photo
interrupter, is used to monitor whether the signal blocking portion 72 is
positioned
within the inner space.
[0061] Referring to Fig. 7, the air intake portion 80 comprises a cylindrical
valve storage chamber 55 formed in the front face 41 above the translucent
portion 140.
The valve storage chamber 55 is open to the outside of main body 20 at an end
82
thereof. The valve storage chamber 55 extends in the depth direction of the
main body
20, and is in fluid communication with the interior of the ink chamber 100 at
the other
end thereof.
[0062] The air intake portion 80 also comprises a valve mechanism for
selectively opening and closing a path extending from the end 82 of the valve
storage
chamber 55 to the interior of the ink chamber 100. For example, the air intake
portion
80 comprises a valve element 87, a spring 86, a sealing member 83, and a cap
85. The
valve element 87 is configured to slide in the depth direction of the main
body 20 in the
valve storage chamber 55. The valve element 87 comprises a lid 88 and the rod
84.
The cap 85 is attached to the outer edge of the end 82 of the valve storage
chamber 55,
sandwiching the sealing member 83 therebetween. The cap 85 and the sealing
member
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83 have through holes formed therethrough. When the cap 85 and the sealing
member
83 are attached to the outer edge of the end 82, an air communicating port 81
is formed
by the through holes, and an inside, and an outside of the valve storage
chamber 55 is in
fluid communication via air communicating port 81. The rod 84 is inserted into
the air
communicating port 81, and the diameter of the rod 84 is less than the
diameter of the
air communicating port 81, such that a gap for allowing air flow is formed
between the
rod 84 and the interior walls of the air communicating port 81. The rod 84
projects
outward from the center of the lid 88 through the air communicating port 81.
[0063] When the valve element 87 slides in the valve storage chamber 55, the
lid 88 slides between a position in which the lid 88 contacts the sealing
member 83 and
a position in which the lid 88 is separated from the sealing member 83. When
the lid
88 contacts the sealing member 83, the air communicating port 81 is closed,
and when
the lid 88 separates from the sealing member 83, the air communicating port 81
is
opened.
[0064] - In the valve storage chamber 55, the spring 86 urges or biases the
valve element 87 in the direction to close the path extending from the inside
of the valve
storage chamber 55 to the outside of the valve storage chamber 55, thereby
causing the
lid member 88 to contact the sealing member 83. When the rod 84 is pressed
toward
the valve storage chamber 55, the lid 88 of the valve element 87 separates
from the
sealing member 83 against urging force of the spring 86. Accordingly, the path
extending from the inside of the valve storage chamber 55 to the outside of
the valve
storage chamber 55 is opened, and the communication between the interior of
the ink
chamber 100 and the outside of the main body 20 via the air intake portion 80
is
established. With air flowing in and out of the ink chamber 100 via the air
intake
portion 80, the pressure of the interior of the ink chamber 100 is equalized
as the
ambient pressure.
[0065] Referring to Fig. 7, the ink supply portion 90 comprises a cylindrical
valve storage chamber 54 formed in the front face 41 below the translucent
portion 140,
and the valve storage chamber 54 is open to the outside of the main body at an
end 92
thereof. The valve storage chamber 54 extends in the depth direction of the
main body
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WO 2008/123479 15 PCT/JP2008/056262
20, and is in fluid communication with the interior of the ink chamber 100 at
the other
end thereof. -
[0066] The ink supply portion 90 also comprises a valve mechanism for
selectively opening and closing an ink path extending from the end 92 of the
valve
storage chamber 54 to the interior of the ink chamber 100. The ink supply
portion 90
comprises a valve element 97, a spring 96, a sealing member 93, and a cap 95.
[0067] The cap 95 is attached to the outer edge of the end 92 of the valve
storage chamber 54, sandwiching the sealing member 93 therebetween. The cap 95
and the sealing member 93 have through holes formed therethrough. When the cap
95
and the sealing member 93 are attached to the outer edge of the end 92 of the
valve
storage chamber 54, an ink supply port 91 is formed by the through holes, and
the ink
supply port 91 communicates an inside and an outside of the valve storage
chamber 54.
A tube is inserted into the ink supply port 91 when the ink cartridge 10 is
mounted to
the cartridge mounting portion 276.
[0068] In the valve storage chamber 54, the spring 96 urges or biases the
valve element 97 in the direction to close the ink path, such that the valve
element 97
contacts the sealing member 93 and communication between the interior of the
ink
chamber 100 and the outside of the main body 20 is prevented. When the tube is
inserted into the ink supply port 91, the tube pushes the valve element 97,
and the valve
element 97 separates from the sealing member 93 against the urging force of
the spring
96, and the ink supply port 91 is opened. Accordingly, the communication
between
the interior of the ink chamber 100 and the outside of the main body 20 via
the ink
supply portion 90 is established, and the ink in the ink chamber 100 is
supplied through
the tube to the recording apparatus 250.
[0069] A recessed portion 59 is formed in the top face 43 of the frame 50, and
a recessed portion 60 is formed in the bottom face 44 of the frame 50. The
recessed
portions 59 and 60 engage with projecting strips 210 and 211 (shown in Fig.
8),
respectively, formed on the inner surface of the cover member 22 when the rear
portion
20b of the main body 20 is covered by the cover member 22. The projecting
strip 210
is fitted to the recessed portion 59, and the projecting strip 211 is fitted
to the recessed
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portion 60, to provide secure engagement between the rear portion 20b and the
cover
member 22.
[0070] Referring to Fig. 6, a spring storage chamber 110 is formed in the
front face 41 above the valve storage chamber 55, and a spring storage chamber
111 is
formed in the front face 41 below the valve storage chamber 54. The spring
storage
chambers 110 and 111 are substantially cylindrical chambers extending from the
front
face 41 toward an ink chamber 100, such that at least a rear portion of spring
storage
chambers 110 and 111, respectively, define a portion of front face 41.
Referring to Fig.
8, the coil springs 23 and 24 are positioned within the valve storage chambers
110 and
111, respectively. For example, each of the coil springs 23 and 24 is coupled
to the
front face 41 at one end and is coupled to the movable member 21 at the other
end.
Specifically, the coil springs 23 and 24 are coupled to the front face 41 and
the movable
member 21 by direct contact between the coil springs 23 and 24 and the front
face 41
and the movable member 21, or by indirect contact between the coil springs 23
and 24
and. the front face 41 and the movable member 21, i.e., with at least one
other element
positioned between the coil springs 23 and 24 and the front face 41 and the
movable
member 21. The coil springs 23 and 24 are configured to resiliently urge the
movable
member 21 away from the front face 41 by applying a biasing force to the
movable
member 21. Moreover, in order to stably and evenly urge the movable.member 21,
the
spring storage chamber 110 and the spring storage chamber 111 are sufficiently
separated from each other in the height direction of the main body 20, e.g.,
are
positioned adjacent to opposite ends of the front face 41 in the height
direction. In
other words, the coil spring 23 is positioned closer to the upper end of the
front face 41
than to the lower end of the front face 41, and the coil spring 24 is
positioned closer to
the lower end of the front face 41 than to the upper end of the front face 41.
[0071] A supporting member 115 is formed at an front end of the top face 43
of the frame 50. The supporting member 115 supports the movable member 21,
such
that the movable member 21 slides with respect to the main body 20, and the
supporting
member 115 limits the sliding. range of the movable member 21. The movable
member 21 is slidably supported at two points by the supporting member 115 and
a
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supporting member 116 described later. The supporting member 115 is integral
with
the frame 50. The supporting member 115 comprises a first portion 118
extending
vertically upward from the top face 43, a second portion 119 extending from an
top end
of the first portion 118 in the direction of insertion 30 in parallel to the
top face 43, and
a hook portion 120 formed at a front end of the second portion 119 and
extending
upward. A gap 122 is be formed between the second portion 119 and the top face
43,
which allows the second portion 119 to bend in the height direction of the
main body
20.
[0072] The supporting member 116 has substantially the same shape as the
supporting member 115, and is positioned at a front end of the bottom face 44
of the
frame 50. The supporting member 116 is integral with the frame 50, and
comprises a
first portion 124 extending vertically downward from the bottom face 44, a
second
portion 125 extending from an end of the first portion 124 in the direction of
insertion
30 in parallel to the bottom face 44, and a hook portion 126 formed at an
front end of
the second portion 125 and extending downward.
[0073] Referring to Figs. 2(a)-3(b) and Figs. 8-10(b), the movable member 21
and the cover member 22, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
are
depicted. The cover member 22 has a container shape, and is configured to
accommodate the rear portion 20b of the main body 20 therein. The cover member
22
has a flat shape corresponding to the outer shape of the rear portion 20b. The
cover
member 22 comprises a rear wall 212 facing and covering the rear face 42 of
the main
body 20, a top wall 213 facing and covering the top face 43 of the main body
20, a
bottom wa11214 facing and covering the bottom face 44 of the main body 20, a
left wall
215 facing and covering the left side face 45 of the main body 20, and a right
wal1216
facing and covering the right side face 46 of the main body 20. The walls 212-
216
define a space therein which is configured to accommodate the rear portion
20b. In an
embodiment, a portion of the top wa11213 of the cover member 22 and a portion
of the
top face 43 of the main body 20 defines a latching recess 1000 therebetween.
In
another embodiment, a latching recess may be formed in the top face 43 of the
main
body 20, or may be formed in the top wa11213 of the cover member 22.
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[0074] The projecting strips 210 and 211 are positioned on the inner surface
of the cover member 22 adjacent to the opening of the cover member 22. The
projecting strips 210 and 211 are at positions corresponding to the recessed
portions 59
and 60. The projecting strip 210 is fitted to the recessed portion 59 formed
in the top
face 43 of the main body 20, and the projecting strip 211 is fitted to the
recessed portion
60 formed in the bottom face 44 of the main body 20. Accordingly, the main
body 20
and the cover member 22 is securely engaged.
[0075] The movable member 21 has a container shape, and is configured to
accommodate the front portion 20a of the main body 20 therein. The movable
member
21 has a flat shape corresponding to the outer shape of the front portion 20a.
The
movable member 21 comprises a front wall 161 facing the front face 41 of the
main
body 20, a top wall 163 covering the top face 43 of the main body 20, a bottom
wall 164
covering the bottom face 44 of the main body 20, a left wall 165 covering the
left side
face 45 of the main body 20, and a right wall 166 covering the right side face
46 of the
main body 20. The walls .163-166 define a space therein which is configured to
accommodate the front portion 20a.
[0076] The left wall 165 and the right wall 166 extend from the front wall
161 in the depth direction of the main body 20 and cover the left side face 45
and the
right side face 46 of the main body 20. Therefore, when the movable member 21
slides, the left wall 165 and the right wall 166 act as guide surfaces for the
left side face
45 and the right side face 46, such that the movable member 21 slides
smoothly.
[0077] In an embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the
movable member 21 has substantially the same color as the color of ink stored
in the ink
chamber 100, such that the movable member 21 readily indicates the ink color
to a user.
[0078] The movable member 21 comprises a signal blocking arrangement
185, a signal blocking arrangement 186, a cutout 187 formed therethrough,
supporting
bars 168 and 169, slide grooves 171 and 172, a pressing portion 174, and an
opening
180 formed therethrough.
[0079] Referring to Figs. 2(a)-3(b), the cutout 187 is formed at a center of
the
front wall 161, and the cutout 187 is configured to expose the translucent
portion 140 to
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the outside when the movable member 21 is in the second position, such that at
least a
portion of the translucent portion 140 extends through the cutout 187 when the
movable
member 21 is in the second position. For example, the cutout 187 is formed by
removing rectangular portions from the front wall 161 and the side walls 165
and 166,
facing the front wall 140a and the side walls 140b of the translucent portion
140. The
cutout 187 extends from the front wall 161 rearwardly in the direction of
insertion 30.
When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted to the cartridge mounting portion 276
(shown in
Fig. 12), a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element of an optical
sensor 230
(shown in Fig. 12) sandwich the cutout 187. Therefore, light emitted from the
light-emitting element passes through the cutout 187, and the side wall 140b
of the
translucent portion 140 is irradiated with the light.
[0080] The signal blocking arrangement 185 comprises a signal blocking
portion 189 projecting from the front wall 161 in the direction of insertion
30. The
signal blocking portion 189 is bridged over the cutout 187 in the vertical
direction on
the front wall 161. The signal blocking portion 189 has a plate shape, and a
space 190
is formed behind the signal blocking portion 189. The ends of the signal
blocking
portion 189 in the width direction and the cutout 187 forms rectangular
openings in the
side walls 165 and 166, respectively.
[0081] Referring to Fig. 12, the signal blocking portion 189 is configured to
enter into an optical path 231 of the optical sensor 230 provided on the
cartridge
mounting portion 276 during the mounting of the ink cartridge 10 into the
cartridge
mounting. portion 276. The signal blocking portion 189 is formed of a resin
material
which does not allow light to pass therethrough or alters the path of light
traveling
therethrough. For example, the signal blocking portion 189 may be formed of a
resin
material including a black pigment. Alternatively, the signal blocking portion
189 may
be a prism formed of a transparent resin material. The signal blocking
arrangement
186 is configured to enter into an optical path 236 of an optical sensor 235
provided on
the cartridge mounting portion 276 during the mounting of the ink cartridge 10
to the
cartridge mounting portion 276. The signal blocking arrangement 186 is formed
of a
resin material which does not allow light to pass therethrough or alters a
path of light
CA 02679913 2009-08-20
WO 2008/123479 20 PCT/JP2008/056262
passing therethrough. Referring to Figs. 2(a)-3(b), the signal blocking
arrangement
186 is positioned at or adjacent to a distal end of the top wall 163, and the
signal
blocking arrangement 186 projects from the front wall 161 away from the front
wall 161.
The signal blocking arrangement 186 comprises a signal blocking portion 191,
e.g., a
rib portion, and a pair of grooves 192 is formed on opposite sides of the
siginal blocking
portion 191. The signal blocking portion 191 is inserted into the optical path
236 of
the optical sensor 235. The signal blocking portion 191, the signal blocking
portion
189, and the ink supply portion 90 intersect a first plane, e.g. a plane which
is parallel
with the arrow 32 and the arrow 33 of Figs. 2(a)-2(d), and the signal blocking
portion
189 and the signal blocking portion 72 intersect a second plane which is
perpendicular
to the first plane, e.g., a plane which is parallel with the arrow 31 and the
arrow 33 of
Figs. 2(a)-2(d), when a sufficient amount of ink is stored in the ink chamber
100 and the
signal blocking portion 72 is positioned in the inner space 142. With this
configuration,
a later-described procedure for determining the type of the ink cartridge is
readily
performed.
[0082] The projecting portion 181 is positioned at or adjacent to a lower end
of the front wall 161, and projects away from the front wall 161. Distal ends
of the
projecting portion 181 and the signal blocking arrangement 186 contact the
innermost
wall surface of the cartridge mounting portion 176 when the ink cartridge 10
is mounted
to the cartridge mounting portion 276.
[0083] The supporting bar 168 is configured to support the coil spring 23, and
the supporting bar 169 is configured to support the coil spring 24. The
supporting bars
168 and 169 are positioned on a surface of the front wall 161 facing the front
face 41 of
the main body 20. The supporting bar 168 is at a position corresponding to the
spring
storage chamber 110, and the supporting bar 169 is at a position corresponding
to the
spring storage chamber 111.
[0084] Referring to Figs. 10(a) and 10(b), the supporting bars 168 and 169
extend from the surface of the front wall 161 in the depth direction of the
main body 20.
When the front portion 20a of the main body 20 is inserted into the movable
member 21
in a state in which the coil spring 23 is stored in the spring storage chamber
110 and the
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coil spring 24 is stored in the spring storage chamber 111, the supporting bar
168 is
inserted into the coil spring 23 and the supporting bar 169 is inserted into
the coil spring
24. Accordingly, the coil springs 23 and 24 are supported by the supporting
bars 168
and 169, respectively. The direction of expansion and contraction of the coil
springs
23 and 24 is limited to the depth direction of the main body 20.
[0085] The coil springs 23 and 24 are compression coil springs, i.e., the coil
springs 23 and 24 are compressed and stored in the spring storage chambers 110
and
111 when the front portion 20a is inserted into the movable member 21.
Therefore, the
coil springs 23 and 24 urge or bias the movable member 21 in the direction
away from
the front face 41 of the main body 20 independent of the position of the
movable
member 21.
[0086] Referring to Figs. 2(a) and 2(b), the slide groove 171 is formed in the
top wall 163, and a cross-sectional shape of the slide groove 171 is
substantially an
inverted U-shape. Referring to Fig. 10(a), the supporting member 115 is
inserted into
the slide groove 171, and a projecting strip 182 extends from a bottom surface
of the top
wall 163 toward an interior of the slide groove 171. Therefore, the slide
groove 171 is
narrowed in part by the projecting strip 182. The slide groove 172 is formed
in the
bottom wall 164, and a cross-sectional shape of the slide groove 172 is
substantially a
U-shape. As shown in Fig. 10(b), the supporting member 116 is inserted into
the slide
groove 172, and a projecting strip 183 extends from a top surface of the
bottom wall
164 toward an interior of the slide groove 172. Therefore, the slide groove
172 is
narrowed in part by the projecting strip 183.
[0087] . During insertion of the front portion 20a of the main body 20 into
the
movable member 21, the supporting member 115 is inserted into the slide groove
171,
and the supporting member 116 is inserted into the slide groove 172. When the
supporting member 115 is inserted into the slide groove 171, the projecting
strip 182
and the hook portion 120 contact each other. Then, when the supporting member
115
is further inserted, the supporting member 115 bends toward the gap 122, and
the hook
portion 120 climbs over the projecting strip 182 while a bevel 182a of the
projecting
strip 182 and a bevel 120a of the hook portion 120 slide over each other. When
the
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hook portion 120 has cliinbed over the projecting strip 182 once, the movable
member
21 and the main body 20 are not disassembled because the hook portion 120 is
received
by the projecting strip 182 when the disassembly is attempted. The supporting
member 116 is also inserted into the slide groove 172 in the same manner.
[0088] When the front portion 20a is inserted into the movable member 21,
the movable member 21 is urged away from the front face 41 by the coil springs
23 and
24. Therefore, unless an external force is applied to the movable member 21,
the
movable member 21 remains in the first position (shown in Figs. 2(b) and 9)
corresponding to the movable member's 21 furthest distance from front face 41
of the
main body 20. The movable member 21 remains in the first position by the
contact
between the projecting strip 182 and the hook portion 120 and the contact
between the
projecting strip 183 and the hook portion 126. On the other hand, when an
external
force is applied to the front face of the movable member 21, the movable
member 21
slides from the first position to the second position (shown in Figs. 2(a) and
8)
corresponding to the rnovable member's 21 closest distance to front face 41 of
the main
body 20.
[0089] Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the pressing portion 174 is positioned on
the surface of the front wall 161 facing the front face 41 of the main body
20.. The
pressing portion 174 is at a position corresponding to the rod 84 of the air
intake portion
80. The pressing portion 174 is separated from a distal end of the rod 84 when
the
movable member 21 is in the first position, and the pressing portion 174 comes
into
contact with the distal end of the rod 84 while the movable member 21 slides
from the
first position toward the second position. Then, when the movable member 21
further
slides toward the second position, the rod 84 is pushed toward the ink chamber
100 to
open the air communicating port 81.
[0090] The opening 180 is formed through the front wall 161 at a position
adjacent to a lower end of the front wall 161, and is formed at a position
corresponding
to the ink supply portion 90. The diameter of the opening 180 is greater than
the
diameter of the cap 95 of the ink supply portion 90, such that the cap 95 is
inserted into
and through the opening 180. When the movable member 21 is in the first
position,
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the entire ink supply portion 90 is positioned within the movable member 21,
such that
the entire ink supply portion 90 is recessed from the opening 180. As the
movable
member 21 moves from the first position to the second position, at least a
portion of the
ink supply portion 90 moves into and then passes through the opening 180. to
protrude
from the front wall 161. Referring to Figs. 2(a), 2(b), 3(a), and 3(b), in an
embodiment
of the present invention, the air intake portion 80 is covered by the front
wall 161, such
that the air intake portion 80 is not exposed to the outside of the ink
cartridge 10. In
this embodiment, relatively small air holes (not numbered but shown in Figs.
2(a) and
2(b)) are formed in front wall 161 to allow air to be drawn into the air
intake portion 80.
Nevertheless, referring to Figs. 2(c), 2(d), 3(c), and 3(d), an opening 180'
may be
formed through the front wall. 161 adjacent to and aligned with the intake
portion 80.
In this embodiment, when the movable member 21 is in the first position, the
entire air
intake portion 80 is positioned within the movable member 21, such that the
entire air
intake portion 80 is recessed from the opening 180. As the movable member 21
moves
from the. first position to the second -position, the air intake portion
remains entirely
within the movable member 21, however, the air intake portion moves closer to
the
opening 180'. In this embodiment, air is drawn into the ink chamber 100 when a
component of the printer contacts and applies a force to the rod 84 of the air
intake
portion 80 via opening 180'.
[0091] Referring to Figs. 11(a) and 11(b), in an embodiment of the present
invention, ink cartridge 10 may be replaced by ink cartridge 10'.
Specifically, in ink
cartridge 10', the signal blocking arrangement 185 is replaced by a signal
blocking
arrangement 195 which has a different shape than the signal blocking
arrangement 185.
The signal blocking arrangement 195 comprises a signal blocking portion 199
projecting from the front wall 161. The signal blocking portion 199 is bridged
over the
cutout 187 in the vertical direction on the front wall 161. The signal
blocking portion
199 comprises a front wall and a pair of side walls 198 at both ends in the
width
direction. The side walls 198 extend from the front wall of the signal
blocking portion
199 to the front wall 161 of the movable member 21. The side walls 198 and the
cutouts 187 form rectangular openings in the side walls 165 and 166. The
signal
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blocking portion 199 is configured to enter into the optical path 231 of the
optical
sensor 230 provided on the cartridge mounting portion 276 during the mounting
of the
ink cartridge 10 to the cartridge mounting portion 276. The signal blocking
portion
199 is formed of a resin material which does not allow light to pass
therethrough or
alters the path of light passing therethrough. The signal blocking portion
191, the
signal blocking 199, and the ink supply portion 90 intersect a first plane,
e.g. a plane
which is parallel with the arrow 32 and the arrow 33 of Figs. 2(a)-2(d), and
the signal
blocking portion 199 and the signal blocking portion 72 intersect a second
plane which
is perpendicular to the first plane e.g., a plane which is parallel with the
arrow 31 and
the arrow 33 of Figs. 2(a)-2(d), when a sufficient amount of ink is stored in
the ink
chamber 100 and the signal blocking portion 72 is positioned in the. inner
space 142.
With this configuration, a later-described procedure for determining the type
of the ink
cartridge is readily performed.
[0092] Referring to Fig. 12, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, the cartridge mounting portion 276 comprises a plurality, e.g.,
four, cases 280
corresponding to different colors, e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black,
arranged in
parallel in the widthwise direction. Each case 280 comprises a case body 281
and a
lock lever 283. The case body 281 comprises a storage chamber 282 configured
to
selectively store the ink cartridge 10 and 10' therein, and an opening 284 is
formed
through the front side of the case body 281. The case 280 is configured to
allow the
ink cartridge 10 and 10' to be mounted to and removed from the case body 281.
via the
opening 284.
[0093] The optical sensor 230 and the optical sensor 235 are positioned on
the closed end side of the storage chamber 282. The optical sensor 230 is
positioned at
a wall surface 286 which forms the closed end of the storage chamber 282. The
optical sensor 230 is configured (a) to detect the type of the ink cartridge
10 and 10'
mounted to the case 280; and (b) to detect whether the amount of ink in the
ink cartridge
and 10' is less than or equal to a predetermined amount of ink, e.g_, an
amount of ink
sufficient to render an image onto a recording medium. For example, the
optical
sensor 230 comprises a photo interrupter including a light-emitting element
and a
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light-receiving element. The optical sensor 230 is coupled to the main
controller 200,
and electric signals outputted from the light-receiving element is supplied to
the main
controller 200. The optical path 231 is formed between the light-emitting
element and
the light-receiving element of the optical sensor 230. The type of the ink
cartridge is
determined on the output signal, which corresponds to the intensity of
received light, of
the optical sensor 230 when the signal blocking arrangement 185- or the signal
blocking
arrangement 195 is inserted into the optical path 231.
[0094] The optical sensor 235 is positioned at the inner side of a wall
surface
287 which forms the top of the case body 281. The optical sensor 235 is
configured to
detect whether the signal blocking portion 191 of the signal blocking
arrangement 186
is present at a predetermined position, such that whether or not the ink
cartridge 10 and
10' is mounted is determined. For example, the optical sensor 235 comprises a
photo
interrupter comprising a light-emitting element and. a light-receiving
element. The
optical sensor 235 is coupled to the main controller 200, and electric signals
outputted
from the light-receiving element are supplied to the main controller 200. When
light is
blocked by the signal blocking portion 191 in the optical path 236 of the
optical sensor
235, the intensity of light received by the light-receiving element is
substantially
instantaneously reduced.
[0095] A connecting portion 285 is positioned at the lower portion of the wall
surface 286 and is configured to be connected to the ink supply port 91. The
connecting portion 285 projects from the wall surface 286 toward the interior
of the
storage chamber 282. A through hole 288 is formed through the connecting
portion
285, and an ink tube 278 is inserted into the through hole 288. The through
hole 288 is
formed at a position corresponding to the ink supply port 91. A tube is
provided on the
inner side of the connecting portion 285, and when the ink cartridge 10 is
mounted in
the case 280, the tube is inserted into the ink supply port 91, such that the
ink supply
port 91 and the connecting portion 285 are connected to each other.
[0096] A contact portion 240 is positioned at the upper portion of the wall
surface 286, and a contact portion 241 is positioned at the lower portion of
the wall
surface 286. When the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the case 280, the
contact
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WO 2008/123479 26 PCT/JP2008/056262
portion 240 contacts the distal end of the signal blocking arrangement 186,
and the
contact portion 241 contacts the distal end of the projecting portion 181.
[0097] The lock lever 283 is configured to selectively open and close the
opening 284, and to reliably secure the ink cartridge 10 and 10' in the
storage chamber
282. The lock lever 283 is supported at one end, so as to be rotatable about
an axis
290 at the upper edge of the opening 284. The lock lever 283 comprises an
operating
portion 293 and a claw 294. The operating portion 293 is positioned at an
outer
surface 297 of the lock lever 283 adjacent the other end of the lock lever,
and the claw
294 is positioned at the other end of the lock lever 283. A groove 299 is
formed at the
lower edge of the opening 284, and is configured to engage the claw 294.
[0098] Referring to Figs. 2(a), 2(b), 8, and 13-15, a process for mounting or
inserting the ink cartridge 10 into the case 280 is depicted. When the ink
cartridge 10
is inserted into the storage chamber 282 of the case 280, the signal blocking
portion 189
of the signal blocking arrangement 185 first enters into the optical path 231
of the
optical sensor 230. Then, when the ink cartridge 10 is further inserted into
the storage
chamber 282, the signal blocking portion 191 of the signal blocking
arrangement 186
enters into the optical path 236 of the optical sensor 235. At a time when the
signal
blocking portion 191 enters into the optical path 236, the signal blocking
portion 189
has passed through the optical path 231 of the optical sensor 230, and light
emitted from
the light-emitting element passes through the space 190 behind the signal
blocking
portion 189.
[0099] When the ink cartridge 10 is inserted to the closed end of the storage
chamber 282, the distal end of the signal blocking arrangement 186 contacts
the contact
portion 240, and the distal end of the projecting portion 181 contacts the
contact portion
241. At this time, the cutout 187 has entered into the optical path 231.
[0100] When the lock lever 283 is rotated in the direction to close the
opening 284, an inner surface 296 of the lock lever 283 contacts the rear wall
of the
cover member 22 and presses the ink cartridge 10 in the direction of
insertion. At this
time, the coil springs 23 and 24 are compressed. Accordingly, the main body 20
moves in the direction of insertion in a state in which the movable member 21
is
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stationary and the main body 20 moves toward the movable member 21.
[0101] When the main body 20 is further moved in the direction of insertion,
the ink supply port 91 is connected to the connecting portion 285, and the
translucent
portion 140 enters into the cutout 187 and into the optical path 231 of the
optical sensor
230.
[0102] When the lock lever 283 is completely closed, and the claw 294
engages with the groove 299, the lock lever 283 is locked with respect to the
opening
284, and the opening 284 is closed by the lock lever 283. At this time, the
main body
20 of the ink cartridge 10 receives an urging force of the coil springs 23 and
24, and the
rear wall of the cover member 22 is pressed against the inner surface 296 of
the lock
lever 283.
[0103] Referring to Fig. 16, the main controller 200 controls the operation of
the recording apparatus 250. The main controller 200 is a micro computer
comprising
a central processing unit (CPU) 201, a read only memory (ROM) 202, a random
access
memory (RAM) 203, an electrically erasable programmable read only memory
(EEPROM) 204, and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 205.
[0104] The ROM 202 stores a program used by the CPU 201 for controlling
the respective operations of the recording apparatus 250, and a program for
discriminating the type of the ink cartridge 10 and 10'. The RAM 203 is a
storage area
or a work area for temporarily storing the respective data used by the CPU 201
for
executing the programs. The EEPROM 204 stores settings, flags, or the like to
be
retained, even after the power is turned off.
[0105] Referring to Figs. 1 and 16, the head control board 270, the optical
sensor 230, and the optical sensor 235 are coupled to the ASIC 205. A drive
circuit
(not shown) for driving the respective rollers of the paper feeding apparatus
252 and the
transferring apparatus 253, an input unit for entering printing instruction or
the like to
the recording apparatus 250, and a display device for displaying information
relating the
recording apparatus 250, are also connected to the ASIC 205.
[0106] The head control board 270 controls the recording head 272 based on
the signals, e.g., control signal and image signal, supplied from the ASIC
205.
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Accordingly, the ink is selectively discharged at a predetermined timing from
the nozzle
274 of the recording head 272.
[0107] The optical sensor 230 outputs sensor signals based on the intensity of
light received by the light-receiving element. For example, analog electric
signals,
such as voltage signals or current signals, are outputted from the optical
sensor 230
based on the intensity of light received by the light-receiving element. The
sensor
signal outputted from the optical sensor 230 is supplied to the main
controller 200, and
the main controller 200 determines that the sensor signal is a HIGH level
signal when
the electrical level, e.g., voltage value or current value, of the sensor
signal is greater
than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and determines that the
sensor signal
is a LOW level signal when the electrical level is less than the threshold
value. For
example, it is determined.that the sensor signal is a LOW level signal when
the optical
path 231 of the optical sensor 230 is blocked, and that the sensor signal is a
HIGH level
signal when the optical path 231 is not blocked. The intensity of the light
received by
the light-receiving element may be zero when the light emitted by the light-
emitting
element is blocked or the path of the light is altered.
[0108] The optical sensor 235 functions in substantially the same way as the
optical sensor 230, and outputs sensor signals based on the intensity of light
received by
the light-receiving element.
[0109] Referring to Figs. 17(a) and 17(b), exemplary time profiles of signal
levels of the sensor signals outputted from the optical sensor 230 and the
optical sensor
235 during the mounting of the ink cartridge 10 are depicted, and referring to
Figs.
17(c) and 17(c), exemplary time profiles of signal levels of the sensor
signals outputted
from the optical sensor 230 and the optical sensor 235 during the mounting of
the ink
cartridge 10' are depicted.
[0110] As shown in Figs. 17(a) and 17(c), the time profile of the signal level
of the sensor signal outputted from the optical sensor 235 when the ink
cartridge 10 is
mounted to the case 280 is the same as the time profile of the signal level of
the sensor
signal outputted from the optical sensor 235 when the ink cartridge 10' is
mounted to the
case 280. Specifically, when the signal blocking portion 191 enters into the
optical
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path 236 of the optical sensor 235 and blocks or alters the path of the light,
the signal
level changes from HIGH to LOW at the time T1. In the main controller 200,
this
change of the signal level from HIGH to LOW is used as a trigger signal in a
process for
determining.the type of the ink cartridge.
[0111] Referring to Fig. 17(b), when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted to the
case 280, the signal blocking portion 189 enters into the optical path 231 and
blocks or
alters the path of the light at a time TO. At this time, the signal level of
the sensor
signal outputted from the optical sensor 230 changes from HIGH to LOW. Because
the signal blocking portion 189 is a flat plate, the duration in which the
light is blocked
or its path is altered is relatively short. The signal blocking portion 189
passes through
the optical path 231 and the space 190 enters the optical path after the time
TO and
before the time T1. Therefore, at the time Tl, the signal level of the optical
sensor 230
has been restored from LOW to HIGH.
[0112] Subsequently, when the ink cartridge 10 is further inserted, the cutout
187 enters the optical path 231, and when the ink cartridge 10 is completely
mounted to
the case 280, the translucent portion 140 enters the optical path 231 via the
cutout 187
between a time T2 and a time T3. In this state, the position of the signal
blocking
portion 72 is detected. In Fig. 17(b), the signal level when the signal
blocking portion
72 is in the optical path 231 is represented by a solid line (LOW level), and
the signal
level when the signal blocking portion 72 is out of the optical path 231 is
represented by
a broken line (HIGH level).
[0113] Referring to Fig. 17(d), when the ink cartridge 10' is mounted to the
case 280, the signal blocking portion 199 also enters the optical path 231 to
block the
light or alter the path of the light at.the time TO. At this time, the signal
level of the
sensor signal outputted from the optical sensor 230 changes from HIGH to LOW.
Because the signal blocking portion 199 has the side walls 198, the duration
during
which the light is blocked or altered by the signal blocking portion 199 is
greater than
the duration during which the light is blocked or altered by the signal
blocking portion
189. Specifically, at the time T1, the side walls 198 are still in the optical
path 231.
Therefore, at the time T1, the signal level of the sensor signal outputted
from the optical
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sensor 230 is maintained in the LOW state. '
[0114] Subsequently, when the ink cartridge 10' is further inserted, at the
time
T2, the side walls 198 pass through the optical path 231, and the cutout 187
enters the
optical path 231. At this time, the signal level of the optical sensor 230 is
restored
from LOW to HIGH. Then, when the ink cartridge 10' is completely mounted to
the
case 280, the translucent portion 140 enters the optical path 231 via the
cutout 187 at a
time between time T2 and Time T3. In this state, the position of the signal
blocking
portion 72 may be detected. In Fig. 17(d), the signal level when the signal
blocking
portion 72 is in the optical path 231 is represented by a solid line (LOW
level), and the
signal level when the signal blocking portion 72 is out of the optical path
231 is
represented by a broken line (HIGH level).
[0115] The type of the ink cartridge is determined by the main controller 200
based on the time profiles of the optical sensor 230 and the optical sensor
235.
[0116] Referring to Fig. 18, a procedure for determining whether the mounted
ink `cartridge is the ink cartridge 10 or the ink cartridge 10' is depicted.
In Step S 1, the
main controller 200 determines whether the signal blocking portion 189 or 199
has
entered the optical path 231 of the optical sensor 230, e.g., it is determined
whether or
not the signal level of the sensor signal outputted from the optical sensor
230 has
changed from HIGH to LOW. When the main controller 200 determines that the
signal blocking portion 189 or 199 has, entered the optical path 231, Step S2
is
performed. Step S2 is not performed until the main controller 200 determines
that the
signal blocking portion 189 or 199 has entered the optical path 231.
[0117] In the Step S2, the main controller 200 determines whether the signal
blocking portion 191 has entered the optical path 236, e.g., it is determined
whether the
signal level of the optical sensor 235 has changed from HIGH to LOW, which
corresponds to a detection of a trigger signal. When the trigger signal is
detected in
Step S2, in Step S3, the main controller 200 determines whether the signal
level of the
sensor signal outputted from the optical sensor 230 at the time Tl when the
trigger
signal is detected is HIGH or LOW. For example, when the signal level at the
time T1
is HIGH, the main controller 200 determines that the ink cartridge 10 is
inserted in the
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case 280, and when the signal level at the time T1 is LOW, the main controller
determines that the ink cartridge 10' is inserted in the case 280.
[0118] When it is determined that the signal level of the sensor signal
outputted from the optical sensor 230 is HIGH in Step S3, a bit flag
indicating that the
installed ink cartridge corresponds to the ink cartridge 10 is set to a
register, e.g., a
register of the CPU 201 in Step S4. If a bit flag indicating that the
installed ink
cartridge corresponds to the ink cartridge 10' has been set previously, the
bit flag
indicating that the installed ink cartridge corresponds to the ink cartridge
10' is cleared,
and the bit flag indicating that the installed ink cartridge corresponds to
the ink cartridge
is set. On the other hand, when it is determined that the signal level of the
sensor
signal outputted from the optical sensor 230 is LOW, the bit flag indicating
that the
installed ink cartridge corresponds to the ink cartridge 10' is set to the
register in Step S5.
If the bit flag indicating that the installed ink cartridge corresponds to the
ink cartridge
10 has been set previously, the bit flag indicating that the installed ink
cartridge
corresponds to the ink cartridge 10 is cleared, and the bit flag indicating
that the
installed ink cartridge corresponds to the ink cartridge 10' is set. If the
bit flag is set,
the recording apparatus 250 or an information processing apparatus e.g. a
personal
computer connected to the recording apparatus 250, displays which of the ink
cartridges
10 and 10' is inserted, based on the flag.
[0119] If signal level of the optical sensor 235 changes from Low to High, the
determination process may start again. Moreover, the determination process may
be
executed when the lock lever 283 is opened, and the determination process may
conclude when the lock lever 283 is closed.
[0120] The type of the ink cartridge 10 and 10' is determined based on the
signal level of the sensor signal outputted from the optical sensor 230 at the
time T1
when the trigger signal is detected. Therefore, the configuration of the ink
cartridge 10
and 10' allows the recording apparatus 250 to accurately determine the type of
the ink
cartridge 10 or 10' independent of the speed with which the user mounts the
ink
cartridge 10 or 10' to the printer and regardless of whether the user begins
to insert the
ink cartridge into the printer and then partially removes the ink cartridge
before finally
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fully inserting the ink cartridge into the printer.
[0121] The above described process is configured to discriminate between the
two types of the ink cartridges 10 and 10', however, three or more types of
ink
cartridges may be discriminated. Moreover, an ink cartridge containing black
ink and
an ink cartridge containing color ink other than the black ink may be
discriminated, and
an ink cartridge containing pigment ink and an ink cartridge containing dye
ink also
may be discriminated.
[0122] Referring to Fig. 19, a packaging arrangement 230, according to an
embodiment of the present invention, is depicted. The packaging arrangement
230
comprises an ink cartridge, e.g., the ink cartridge 10 (or 10'), and a
packaging member
231. The ink cartridge 10 is accommodated in an interior of the packaging
member
231. The ink cartridge 10 is shipped and sold in the packaging arrangement
230.
[0123] The interior of the ink chatnber 100 is depressurized to a pressure
less
than the atmospheric pressure by, for example, a vacuum pump to reduce an
amount of
air dissolved in the ink in the ink chamber 100. The interior of the packaging
member
231 is also depressurized to a pressure less than the atmospheric pressure by,
for
example, a vacuum pump to prevent air from entering into the ink chamber 100
through
the films covering the side faces 45 and 46.
[0124] The packaging member 231 is liquid-proof but has some gas
permeability. Therefore, air may enter the interior of the packaging member
231 when
the packaging arrangement 230 is left unused for an extended period of time.
Nevertheless, if a depressurized space exists in the interior of the packaging
membeir
231, the interior of the packaging member 231 is maintained at a stable
depressurized
state for an extended period of time.
[0125] The packaging arrangement 230 is manufactured as follows. The ink
cartridge 10 is accommodated in the interior of the packaging member 231 in a
state in
which the movable member 21 is held at the first (extended) position shown in
Fig. 2(b).
While maintaining this state, the pressure in'the interior of the packaging
member 231 is
reduced to a pressure which is less than the atmospheric pressure, and the
packaging
member 231 is sealed. Because the ink cartridge 10 is accommodated in the
packaging
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member 231 in this manner, the depressurized space of a predetermined capacity
is
formed between the front face 41 of the main body 20 and the front wall 161 of
the
movable member 21 in the interior of the packaging member 231. Therefore, the
interior of the packaging member 231 is maintained as the depressurized state
for an
extended period of time.
[0126] Nevertheless, if the interior of the packaging member 231 is
depressurized too much, a pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure
and the
pressure in the interior of the packaging member 231 may become so great that
a
relatively large force acts on the ink cartr,idge 10. In this case, if the
depressurized
space is formed between the front face 41 of the main body 20 and the front
wall 161 of
the movable member 21, the movable member 21 may deform inward and may not be
restored to an original shape. Therefor'e, in another embodiment of the
present
invention, the ink cartridge 10' may be accommodated in the packaging member
231 in
a state in which the movable member 21 is held at the second (retracted)
position shown
in Fig. 2(c). When the movable member 21 is at the second position, the
depressurized
space between the front face 41 of the main body 20 and the front wall 161 of
the
movable member 21 is relatively small, and therefore, the deformation of the
movable
member 21 may be prevented. The size of the packaging arrangement 230 is also
reduced. Because the depressurizes space still exits even though it is
relatively small,
the interior of the packaging member 231 is maintained at a stable
depressurized state
for a reasonable period of time.
[0127] Referring to Figs. 20 and 21 a cartridge mounting portion 1276,
according to another embodiment of the present invention, is depicted. The
cartridge
mounting portion 1276 comprises a lock lever 1283 instead of the lock lever
283 of the
cartridge mounting portion 276. The lock lever 283 comprises a first portion
1291, a
second portion 1292, and a pivot portion 1290 between the first portion 1291
and the
second portion 1292. The pivot portion 1290 is supported at the upper portion
of the
case 280 adjacent to the opening 284 such that the lock lever 1283 pivots
about the
pivot portion 1290. The first potion 1291 extends from the pivot portion to
the outside
of the case 280, and the second portion 1292 extends from the pivot portion
1290 to the
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storage chamber 282. The first potion 1291 is positioned above the second
portion
1292 because the weight of the first portion 1291 is less than the weight of
the second
portion 1292. As shown in Fig. 20, when the ink cartridge 10 is installed in
the
cartridge mounting portion 1276, a portion of the second portion 1292 contacts
a portion
of the latching recess 1000. The main body 20 of the ink cartridge 10 receives
the
urging force of the coil springs 23 and 24 toward the opening 284.
Nevertheless,
because the portion of the second portion 1292 contacts the portion of the
latching
recess 1000 to retain the main body 20 in the case 280 against the urging
force of the
coil springs 23 and 24, the ink cartridge 10 remains in the case 280.
[0128] When a user. intends to remove the ink cartridge 10 from the cartridge
mounting portion 1276, the user applies a downward force to an end portion of
the first
portion 1291. The lock lever 1283 then pivots about the pivot portion 1290, as
shown
in Fig. 21, and the second portion 1292 moves up and separates from the
latching recess
1000. Consequently, the coil springs 23 and 24 expand, and the ink cartridge
10 is
partially ejected from the cartridge mounting portion 1276. The user then
grasps the
rear portion of the ink cartridge 10 and removes the ink cartridge 10 from the
cartridge
mounting portion 1276. Thus, the ink cartridge is readily removed from the
cartridge
mounting portion 1276. Moreover, because the ink cartridge 10 is not
configured to
retain the movable member 21 in the second position by itself, the movable
member 21
moves freely from the second position to the first position when the second
portion
1292 separates from the latching recess 1000, and thereby the ink cartridge 10
is
partially ejected from the cartridge mounting portion 1276.
[0129] While the invention has been described in connection with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other
variations and
modifications of the exemplary embodiments described above may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention. Other embodiments will be apparent
to
those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or practice
of the
invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and the
described
examples are considered merely as exemplary of the invention, with the true
scope of
the invention being indicated by the flowing claims.
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Industrial Applicability
[0130] The ink cartridge of the present invention is widely used for home and
office uses.
