Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIQUID SUPPLY UNIT
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid supply unit.
[0002] An ink cartridge (also simply called "cartridge") configured to
supply ink to a printer as an example of a liquid ejection device has been
known conventionally as a liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid to
the liquid ejection device. A cartridge containing a plurality of different
color inks has been proposed to supply the respective color inks through
respective ink supply ports to the printer as disclosed in Japanese Patent
Publication (JP 2008-74090A).
SUMMARY
[0003] The technique proposed in JP 2008-74090A has the supply ports
for the respective color inks sealed by a seal member to prevent leakage of
ink in the cartridge attachment state. In the course of attachment or
detachment of the cartridge, however, the ink supply port is exposed, so that
there is a possibility that ink is leaked from the cartridge. In the cartridge
attachment state, degradation of the seal member may cause leakage of ink.
In the event of leakage of one color ink from its ink supply port, the leaked
ink may be diffused along the bottom wall surface of the cartridge and reach
the periphery of the ink supply port for another color ink. In the course of
attachment or detachment of the cartridge, the another color ink may be
contaminated with the leaked ink reaching the periphery of the ink supply
port for the another color ink. This may lead to color mixing of the supplied
ink. The cartridge has contacts or terminals for receiving and sending
electric signals. There is also a need to prevent the contacts or the
terminals from being exposed to the leaked ink. There is accordingly a need
to more effectively suppress diffusion of the leaked ink. In a liquid supply
unit configured to contain and supply a liquid, a liquid ejection device
configured to receive supply of a liquid from the liquid supply unit and a
system including the liquid supply unit and the liquid ejection device, there
are other needs including downsizing, cost reduction, resource saving, easy
manufacture and improvement of usability.
[00041 In order to solve at least part of the problems described above,
the
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invention may be implemented by an aspect described below.
[0005] (1) According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid. The liquid supply unit is
mountable on a liquid supply unit mounting structure having a first liquid
introducing part, a second liquid introducing part, a third liquid introducing
part and a projection which is located between the first liquid introducing
part and the second liquid introducing part and is located from between the
first liquid introducing part and the second liquid introducing part to the
third liquid introducing part. The liquid supply unit comprises: a first
liquid supply port configured to be connectable with the first liquid
introducing part such as to supply a first liquid to the first liquid
introducing
part; a second liquid supply port configured to be connectable with the
second liquid introducing part such as to supply a second liquid to the second
liquid introducing part; a third liquid supply port configured to be
connectable with the third liquid introducing part such as to supply a third
liquid to the third liquid introducing part; and a groove formed between the
first liquid supply port and the second liquid supply port and extended from
between the first liquid supply port and the second liquid supply port toward
the third liquid supply port, such as to allow the projection to be inserted
therein. In the liquid supply unit of this aspect, in the event of leakage of
the third liquid from the third liquid supply port, this configuration enables
the leaked third liquid to be guided to the groove which is extended toward
the third liquid supply port and to be kept in the groove. The liquid supply
unit of this aspect accordingly suppresses diffusion of the leaked third
liquid
and prevents contamination of the leaked liquids. The liquid supply unit of
this aspect suppresses diffusion of the leaked third liquid by the simple
structure of the groove extended from between the first liquid supply port
and the second liquid supply port toward the third liquid supply port.
[0006] (2) The liquid supply unit of the above aspect may further
comprise: a first wall configured to have the first liquid supply port, the
second liquid supply port, the third liquid supply port and the groove; a
second wall opposed to the first wall; a third wall arranged to intersect with
the first wall and the second wall; a fourth wall arranged to intersect with
the first wall and the second wall and opposed to the third wall; a fifth wall
arranged to intersect with the first wall and the second wall; and a sixth
wall
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arranged to intersect with the first wall and the second wall and opposed to
the fifth wall. In a plan view of the liquid supply unit in a direction from
the first wall toward the second wall, the first liquid supply port may be
located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall, the second liquid supply
port may be located between the first liquid supply port and the sixth wall,
the groove may be extended from the fourth wall toward the third wall, and
the third liquid supply port may be located between the groove and the third
wall. This configuration enables the leaked third liquid to be guided to the
groove which is formed in the first wall and is extended toward the third
liquid supply port and to be kept in the groove. The liquid supply unit of
this aspect suppresses diffusion of the leaked third liquid along the wall
surface of the first wall and prevents contamination of the leaked liquids.
In the liquid supply unit of this aspect, the groove is formed between the
first
liquid supply port located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall and the
second liquid supply port located between the first liquid supply port and the
sixth wall and is extended from the fourth wall toward the third wall. This
configuration also enables the first liquid leaked from the first liquid
supply
port or the second liquid leaked from the second liquid supply port to be kept
in the groove, thus suppressing diffusion of the leaked first liquid or the
leaked second liquid and preventing contamination by the leaked first liquid
or the leaked second liquid. The liquid supply unit of this aspect suppresses
diffusion of any of the leaked liquids by the simple structure of the groove
formed between the first liquid supply port which is located between the fifth
wall and the sixth wall and the second liquid supply port which is located
between the first liquid supply port and the sixth wall and extended from the
fourth wall toward the third wall.
[0007] (3) The liquid supply unit of the above aspect may further
comprise: a contact located on an outer wall surface of the third wall and
arranged to be electrically connectable with an electrode on the liquid supply
unit mounting structure. In the plan view of the liquid supply unit in the
direction from the first wall toward the second wall, the third liquid supply
port may be located between the groove and the contact. This configuration
keeps the leaked third liquid in the groove and suppresses diffusion of the
leaked third liquid along the wall surface of the first wall toward the
contact,
thus reducing the likelihood that the contact is exposed to the leaked third
liquid.
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[00081 (4) The liquid supply unit of the above aspect may further
comprise: a first partition wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and
the second wall and located between the fifth wall and the sixth wall; a
second partition wall arranged to intersect with the first wall, the second
wall and the first partition wall and located between the fourth wall and the
third wall; a first liquid chamber defined by at least the first wall, the
second
wall, the fourth wall, the fifth wall, the first partition wall and the second
partition wall and arranged to communicate with the first liquid supply port;
a second liquid chamber defined by at least the first wall, the second wall,
the fourth wall, the sixth wall, the first partition wall and the second
partition wall and arranged to communicate with the second liquid supply
port; and a third liquid chamber defined by at least the first wall, the
second
wall, the third wall, the sixth wall and the first partition wall and arranged
to communicate with the third liquid supply port. In the plan view of the
liquid supply unit in the direction from the first wall toward the second
wall,
the groove may be located between the fourth wall and the third liquid
chamber. This configuration keeps the leaked third liquid in the groove so
as to suppress diffusion of the leaked third liquid along the wall surface of
the first wall and prevent contamination of the leaked liquids, and
additionally causes the liquids contained in the first to the third liquid
chambers to be introduced to the first to the third liquid introducing parts
of
the liquid supply unit mounting structure.
[0009] (5) In the liquid supply unit of the above aspect, the groove
may be
formed as a concave in the first partition wall. This configuration enables
the groove to be readily formed without reducing the capacities of the first
liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber for containing the respective
liquids.
[00101 (6) In the liquid supply unit of the above aspect, in the
plan view
of the liquid supply nit in the direction from the first wall toward the
second
wall, the groove may be located between the fourth wall and a specific area
where the first wall is in contact with a third seal element formed around a
periphery of the third liquid introducing part of the liquid supply unit
mounting structure. This simple configuration enhances the effectiveness
of keeping the leaked third liquid in the groove and thereby suppressing
diffusion of the leaked third liquid along the wall surface of the first wall
and
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the effectiveness of preventing contamination by the leaked third liquid.
[0011] (7) In the liquid supply unit of the above aspect, the fourth wall
may have a concave arranged to be continuous with the groove. This
configuration has the following advantageous effects. The liquid supply
unit is generally inclined and approaches downward the liquid supply unit
mounting structure in the course of attachment of the liquid supply unit to
the liquid supply unit mounting structure. A fourth wall-side portion of the
groove approaches a projection of the liquid supply unit mounting structure
earlier than a third wall-side portion of the groove. In the course of
attachment of the liquid supply unit, the projection accordingly enters the
concave continuous with the groove. Insertion of the projection into the
concave defines the insertion attitude of the liquid supply unit and guides
the insertion direction of the liquid supply unit. The liquid supply unit of
this aspect accordingly facilitates attachment of the liquid supply unit and
enhances the fit of the liquid supply unit.
[0012] (8) In the liquid supply unit of the above aspect, the concave of
the
fourth wall may have a shallower depth in the direction from the first wall
toward the second wall than depth of the groove in the direction from the
first wall toward the second wall. This configuration has the following
advantageous effects. In the course of attachment of the liquid supply unit,
the projection of the liquid supply unit mounting structure first enters the
concave of the liquid supply unit as described above. Setting the depth of
the concave shallower than the depth of the groove prevents the fourth wall
from excessively coming close to the first liquid introducing part or the
second liquid introducing part of the liquid supply unit mounting structure.
The liquid supply unit of this aspect accordingly prevents the fourth wall
from carelessly coming into contact with the first liquid introducing part or
the second liquid introducing part of the liquid supply unit mounting
structure or its periphery in the course of attachment of the liquid supply
unit.
[0013] (9) The liquid supply unit of the above aspect may have a first
outer shape including the first liquid supply port, the second liquid supply
port, the third liquid supply port, the groove and a contact which is
configured to be electrically connectable with an electrode of the liquid
supply unit mounting structure, in a plan view of the liquid supply unit in a
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first direction, a second outer shape in a plan view of the liquid supply unit
in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a third outer shape
including the contact in a plan view of the liquid supply unit in a third
direction orthogonal to the first direction, a fourth outer shape in a plan
view
of the liquid supply unit in a fourth direction opposite to the third
direction,
a fifth outer shape in a plan view of the liquid supply unit in a fifth
direction
orthogonal to the first direction and the third direction, and a sixth outer
shape in a plan view of the liquid supply unit in a sixth direction opposite
to
the fifth direction. The liquid supply unit of any of various shapes keeps the
leaked third liquid in the groove, so as to suppress diffusion of the leaked
third liquid along the wall surface of the first wall and prevent
contamination of the leaked liquids.
[0014] (10) In the liquid supply unit of the above aspect, the third liquid
supply port may be located between the groove and the contact in the plan
view of the liquid supply unit in the first direction. This configuration
keeps the leaked third liquid in the groove and suppresses diffusion of the
leaked third liquid along the wall surface of the first wall toward the
contact,
thus reducing the likelihood that the contact is exposed to the leaked
liquids.
[0015] (11) The liquid supply unit of the above aspect may further
comprise: a liquid chamber configured to separately contain the first liquid,
the second liquid and the third liquid; a first member configured to have the
first liquid supply port, the second liquid supply port, the third liquid
supply
port and the groove; and a second member placed on the first member and
configured to have a terminal including a contact that is electrically
connectable with an electrode of the liquid supply unit mounting structure.
The liquid supply unit having the multi-part structure including the first
member and the second member keeps the leaked third liquid in the groove
and suppresses diffusion of the leaked third liquid as described above.
[00161 (12) The liquid supply unit of the above aspect may further
comprise: a first member configured to have the first liquid supply port, the
second liquid supply port, the third liquid supply port and the groove; and a
second member configured to be attachable to and detachable from the first
member and to have a terminal including a contact that is electrically
connectable with an electrode of the liquid supply unit mounting structure.
The liquid supply unit having the multi-part structure including the first
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t 1 A
member and the second member keeps the leaked third liquid in the groove
and suppresses diffusion of the leaked third liquid as described above.
[0017] (13) The liquid supply unit of the above aspect may further
comprise: a first member configured to have the first liquid supply port, the
second liquid supply port, the third liquid supply port, a terminal including
a
contact that is electrically connectable with an electrode of the liquid
supply
unit mounting structure, and the groove; and a second member configured to
be attachable to the first liquid supply port, the second liquid supply port
and the third liquid supply port, such as to supply the first liquid through
the first liquid supply port to the first liquid introducing part, supply the
second liquid through the second liquid supply port to the second liquid
introducing part and supply the third liquid through the third liquid supply
port to the third liquid introducing part. The liquid supply unit having the
multi-part structure including the first member and the second member
keeps the leaked third liquid in the groove and suppresses diffusion of the
leaked third liquid as described above.
[0018] (14) According to another aspect, there is provided a liquid
supply
unit configured to be attachable to and detachable from a liquid ejection
device. The liquid supply unit comprises: a groove; a liquid supply port
through which a liquid is supplied to the liquid ejection device; and a
terminal assembly configured to be electrically connectable with the liquid
ejection device. The liquid supply port is located between the groove and
the terminal assembly. The liquid supply unit of this aspect keeps the
liquid leaked from the liquid supply port in the groove and suppresses
diffusion of the leaked liquid, thus reducing the likelihood that the terminal
assembly is exposed to the leaked liquid.
[0019] (15) According to another aspect, there is provided a liquid
supply
unit configured to be attachable to and detachable from a liquid ejection
device. The liquid supply unit comprises: a first wall configured to have a
groove and a liquid supply port through which a liquid is supplied to the
liquid ejection device; a second wall opposed to the first wall; a fourth wall
arranged to intersect with the first wall and the second wall; and a third
wall
arranged to intersect with the first wall and the second wall, opposed to the
fourth wall and configured to have a terminal assembly which is electrically
connectable with the liquid ejection device. In a plan view of the liquid
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'
supply unit in a direction from the first wall toward the second wall, the
liquid supply port is located between the groove and the terminal assembly.
The liquid supply unit of this aspect keeps the liquid leaked from the liquid
supply port in the groove and suppresses diffusion of the leaked liquid, thus
reducing the likelihood that the terminal assembly is exposed to the leaked
liquid.
[0020] All the plurality of components included in the aspect of
the
invention described above are not essential, but some components among the
plurality of components may be appropriately changed, omitted or replaced
with other components or part of the limitations may be deleted, in order to
solve part or all of the problems described above or in order to achieve part
or
all of the advantageous effects described herein. In order to solve part or
all
of the problems described above or in order to achieve part or all of the
advantageous effects described herein, part or all of the technical features
included in one aspect of the invention described above may be combined
with part or all of the technical features included in another aspect of the
invention described later to provide still another independent aspect of the
invention.
[0021] The invention may be implemented by any of various other
aspects: for example, a liquid ejection device configured to receive supply of
a
liquid from the liquid supply unit and a system including the liquid supply
unit and the liquid ejection device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0022]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a
liquid ejection system;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the internal
configuration of the liquid ejection system;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the appearance
of a carriage in the cartridge attachment state;
Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the carriage in the
non-cartridge attachment state;
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Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the carriage in the
non-cartridge attachment state, viewed from the bottom side;
Fig. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view, taken on a line 6-6 in Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is an appearance perspective view illustrating a cartridge;
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge of Fig.
7;
Fig. 9 is an appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge of
Fig. 7 viewed from the bottom side;
Fig. 10 is an appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge of
Fig. 7 without a circuit substrate viewed from the bottom side;
Fig. 11 is a schematic cross sectional end view illustrating a casing,
taken on a line 11-11 in Fig. 7;
Fig. 12 is an appearance perspective view illustrating another
cartridge;
Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge of
Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is an appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge of
Fig. 12 viewed from the bottom side;
Fig. 15 is an appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge of
Fig. 12 without a circuit substrate viewed from the bottom side;
Fig. 16 is a schematic cross sectional end view illustrating a casing,
taken on a line 16-16 in Fig. 12;
Fig. 17 is a schematic cross sectional end view illustrating the casing,
taken on a line 17-17 in Fig. 13;
Fig. 18 is a diagram schematically illustrating attachment of the
cartridges of Fig. 7 and of Fig. 12 to the carriage;
Fig. 19 is diagrams illustrating a modification of the appearance of a
cartridge in six different views;
Fig. 20 is diagrams illustrating a schematic exploded view of another
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cartridge according to a first modification using an outer casing, with a view
in a direction A;
Fig. 21 is diagrams illustrating a perspective bottom view of an outer
casing in another cartridge according to a second modification using the
outer casing, with a view in a direction A;
Fig. 22 is diagrams illustrating a perspective bottom view of inner
casings for respective color inks in the cartridge of the second modification,
with a view in a direction A;
Fig. 23 is a schematic exploded view of the cartridge of the second
modification;
Fig. 24 is a schematic exploded view illustrating another cartridge
according to a third modification using the outer casing; and
Fig. 25 is a schematic exploded view illustrating another cartridge
according to a fourth modification using the outer casing.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Some aspects of the invention will be described below.
[0024] A. Embodiment
A-1. Configuration of Liquid Ejection System 1
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a
liquid ejection system 1, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically
illustrating the internal configuration of the liquid ejection system 1. XYZ
axes orthogonal to one another are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The X axis
denotes an axis along a direction in which a carriage 8 described later moves
back and force and is more specifically an axis along a main scan direction of
printing accompanied with the back and forth motion of the carriage 8. The
Y axis denotes an axis along a feed path direction of paper sheets in the
liquid ejection system 1 placed on a horizontal plane such as desk and is
more specifically an axis along a sub scan direction of printing accompanied
with the back and forth motion of the carriage 8. The Z axis denotes an axis
along the top-bottom direction of the liquid ejection system 1 placed on the
horizontal plane such as desk. In other illustrations subsequent to Fig. 2,
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the XYZ axes are shown as needed. The XYZ axes in Figs. 1 and 2
correspond to the XYZ axes in the other illustrations. The liquid ejection
system 1 includes a printer 10 as a liquid ejection device and two different
types of cartridges 4 and 5. As shown in Fig. 2, in the liquid ejection system
1 of this embodiment, the cartridges 4 and 5 are attachable to and
detachable from a cartridge attachment structure 7 of the printer 10. The
cartridge attachment structure 7 is mounted on a carriage 8 equipped with
an ejection head 8s for ink ejection (Fig. 5) and is generally integrated with
the carriage 8. In the description below, the cartridge 4 is called "first
cartridge 4' and the cartridge 5 is called "second cartridge 5".
[0025] The first cartridge 4 contains a single color ink, for example,
black
ink. The second cartridge 5 contains a plurality of different color inks and
includes three liquid containing parts according to this embodiment. The
second cartridge 5 of this embodiment contains three different color inks,
yellow, magenta and cyan.
[0026] The number of cartridges and the types of cartridges attached to
the cartridge attachment structure 7 are, however, not limited to the
configuration of this embodiment. For example, four first cartridges 4 may
be provided corresponding to four different color inks, black, cyan, magenta
and yellow and may be attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7. In
another example, a cartridge containing another or other color inks (for
example, light magenta and light cyan) may be attached to the cartridge
attachment structure 7. In the application that the multiple first cartridges
4 are attached corresponding to the respective color inks, attachment of the
second cartridge 5 may be omitted.
[0027] The printer 10 is an inkjet printer. As shown in Fig. 1, the
printer 10 includes a housing 14, a paper feeding unit cover 16, a recording
unit protective cover 18, a paper output unit cover 20 and an operation unit
22. As shown in Fig. 2, the printer 10 has a device body 12.
[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, the housing 14 is arranged to surround the
periphery of the device body 12 and forms the appearance of the printer 10.
The paper feeding unit cover 16 is provided on an upper surface of the
printer 10. The paper feeding unit cover 16 is placed on an upper surface of
the housing 14 to be rotatable. The paper feeding unit cover 16 is movable
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between an open position relative to the housing 14 (Fig. 19 and a closed
position (not shown). When the paper feeding unit cover 16 is at the closed
position relative to the housing 14, the paper feeding unit cover 16, in
combination with the upper surface of the housing 14, forms the upper
surface of the printer 10.
[0029] When the paper feeding unit cover 16 is at the open position
relative to the housing 14, the paper feeding unit cover 16 is inclined
relative
to a rear surface side (-Y-direction side) of the printer 10. In this state, a
rear surface of the paper feeding unit cover 16 serves as a mounting surface
16a on which paper sheets are placed. When the paper feeding unit cover
16 is at the open position relative to the housing 14, a paper slot 26 of a
paper feeding unit 24 included in the device body 12 as described later is
open up in the printer 10. This accordingly enables the paper feeding unit
24 to feed the paper sheets placed on the mounting surface 16a to a paper
feed path. The paper feed path denotes a paper moving path in the course
of printing. The paper slot 26 has a pair of paper guides 28. The pair of
paper guides 28 are arranged to adjust the interval in the width direction
(X-axis direction) of the printer 10. The pair of paper guides 28 serve to
fasten both ends of a paper sheet in the width direction and specify the
position of the paper sheet in the width direction.
[00301 When the paper feeding unit cover 16 is at the open position
relative to the housing 14, the recording unit protective cover 18 and the
operation unit 22 are exposed to be accessible on the upper surface of the
printer 10. The recording unit protective cover 18 is movable between an
open position relative to the housing 14 (not shown) and a closed position
(Fig. 1). When the recording unit protective cover 18 is at the open position
relative to the housing 14, a recording unit 6 provided in the device body 12
is made accessible for the user.
[0031] The operation unit 22 is provided with a power button and print
settings buttons for operating the printer 10. When the paper feeding unit
cover 16 is at the open position relative to the housing 14, the operation
unit
22 is made accessible for the user and allows the user to operate the printer
10.
[00321 Additionally, the paper output unit cover 20 is provided on a front
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surface of the housing 14. The paper output unit cover 20 is placed on the
front surface of the housing 14 to be rotatable. The paper output unit cover
20 is movable between an open position relative to the housing 14 (Fig. 1)
and a closed position (not shown). When the paper output unit cover 20 is
at the open position relative to the housing 14, a paper sheet after recording
can be discharged from a paper output unit 9 of the device body 12 toward
the front side of the printer 10.
[0033] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the device body 12 includes the
paper
feeding unit 24, the recording unit 6, the paper output unit 9 and a
controller
60.
[0034] The controller 60 is electrically connected with the paper
feeding
unit 24, the recording unit 6 and the paper output unit 9 and controls the
operations of the respective units in response to instructions input from the
operation unit 22. The controller 60 also controls the motion of the carriage
8 (motion in the X-axis direction: main scan drive) and the rotation of a feed
roller shaft (sub-scan drive) via drive motors (not shown). The carriage 8
has the cartridge attachment structure 7 incorporated in its bottom. The
controller 60 also transmits signals to and from circuit substrates included
in
the cartridges 4 and 5.
[0035] The device body 12 also includes a carriage guide rail 62 and
a
carriage driving unit (not shown) to make the carriage 8 movable along the
carriage guide rail 62. The carriage guide rail 62 is extended in the X-axis
direction, i.e., the width direction of the device body 12 and is placed in a
bearing element 409 (Fig. 3) provided on the bottom side of the carriage 8 to
support the carriage 8.
[0036] The carriage 8 having the cartridge attachment structure 7
mounted thereon is arranged to move back and forth in the width direction of
the device body 12 (X-axis direction, main scan direction) by the carriage
driving unit (not shown). The back and forth motion of the carriage 8 in the
width direction of the device body 12 causes the cartridge attachment
structure 7 to move back and forth in the width direction of the device body
12. The cartridges 4 and 5 are accordingly moved in a moving direction
(X-axis direction) by the printer 10. The type of the printer 10 having the
cartridges 4 and 5 attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7 provided
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on the carriage 8 for moving the ejection head like this embodiment is called
"on-carriage type". In another application, a stationary cartridge
attachment structure 7 may be provided at a different position from the
carriage 8 to supply inks from the cartridges 4 and 5 attached to the
cartridge attachment structure 7 to the ejection head of the carriage 8 via
flexible tubes. This type of printer is called "off-carriage type". In this
application, the cartridges 4 and 5 are not limited to detachable cartridges
but may be stationary ink tanks. The ink tank may be provided with an ink
filler port through which ink is injectable from outside.
[0037] In the use state of the liquid ejection system 1, the X axis
denotes
an axis along the main scan direction (left-right direction) in which the
carriage 8 moves back and forth; the Y axis denotes an axis along the
sub-scan direction (top-bottom direction) in which paper sheets are fed; and
the Z axis denotes an axis along the vertical direction (top-bottom
direction).
Upward in the vertical direction is +Z direction, and downward in the
vertical direction is -Z direction. The use state of the liquid ejection
system
1 denotes the state of the liquid ejection system 1 placed on a horizontal
plane. According to this embodiment, the horizontal plane is a plane
parallel to the X axis and the Y axis (XY plane).
[0038] A-2. Cartridge Attachment State and Carriage Structure
Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the appearance
of the carriage 8 in the cartridge attachment state. Fig. 4 is a schematic
perspective view illustrating the carriage 8 in the non-cartridge attachment
state. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the carriage 8 in
the non-cartridge attachment state, viewed from the bottom side. Fig. 6 is a
schematic cross sectional view, taken on a line 6-6 in Fig. 3. The cartridge
attachment structure 7 is mounted on the bottom of the carriage 8 and is
omitted from the illustration of Fig. 3.
[0039] As shown in Fig. 3, the cartridges 4 and 5 respectively have
covers
401 and 501. The cover 401 has through holes 402a, 402b and 402c formed
to pass through the cover 401, an air groove 403 arranged in a serpentine
shape from the through hole 402a to the through hole 402c and an air
communication hole 434. The cover 501 has through holes 502a, 502b and
502c formed to pass through the cover 502, air grooves 503 arranged in a
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serpentine shape from the through hole 502a to the through hole 502c and
air communication holes 534. In the manufacturing process of the cartridge
4, the through hole 402a is used as an evacuation hole to suck the air from
inside of the cartridge 4 and keep the inside of the cartridge 4 in the
reduced
pressure. After manufacture of the cartridge 4, the through hole 402a is
used to supply the air to a liquid retaining member 460 described later
through the air groove 403, the through hole 402c and the air communication
hole 434. In the manufacturing process of the cartridge 4, the through hole
402b is used as an ink ejection hole through which ink is injected into inside
of the cartridge 4. After manufacture of the cartridge 4, the through hole
402b is sealed and closed by a seal member 404. The cartridge 5 is
configured to contain the three different color inks, yellow, magenta and cyan
as described above and accordingly have the through holes 502a, 502b and
502c, the air grooves 503 and the air communication holes 534 at positions
corresponding to respective color ink containing parts described later. The
cartridges 4 and 5 respectively have seal members 404 and 504 to be joined
with the upper surfaces of the covers 401 and 501 and cover the openings of
the above through holes and air grooves.
[0040] The cartridge 4 and 5 joined with the seal members 404 and
504
are attached to the carriage 8 via the cartridge attachment structure 7
incorporated in the bottom of the carriage 8, as shown in Fig. 4. In this
attachment state, the cartridges 4 and 5 are aligned in the moving direction
of the carriage 8 (X-axis direction). In the attachment state, an engagement
element 405 described later as an attachment/detaching mechanism
included in the cartridge 4 is engaged with a cartridge engagement arm 801
of the carriage 8. The user may apply an external force to the cartridge
engagement arm 801 to rotate and displace the cartridge engagement arm
801 and release engagement of the cartridge 4 with the carriage 8. The user
can then detach the cartridge 4 from the carriage 8. The cartridge 5 can
also be detached from the carriage 8 by the structure and method similar to
those described above with respect to the cartridge 4.
[0041] As shown in Fig. 4, the carriage 8 has the cartridge
attachment
structure 7. The cartridge attachment structure 7 includes a liquid
introducing part 710b for black ink, a liquid introducing part 710y for yellow
ink, a liquid introducing part 710m for magenta ink, a liquid introducing
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
I
, 3 ,
part 710c for cyan ink, and cone-shaped coil springs 720. The coil springs
720 are placed corresponding to the cartridges 4 and 5. The coil spring 720
is compressed in the cartridge attachment state and is stretched to press up
the cartridge 4 or 5 in the state of releasing the engagement of the cartridge
engagement arm 801. An elastic member 705 is a member made of, for
example, an elastomer and formed in a ring shape and is mounted on an
outer wall section of a liquid introducing base 703.
[0042] The respective liquid introducing parts 710 for the
respective color
inks are provided corresponding to the liquid containing parts of the
cartridges 4 and 5 attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7 and have
similar structures with some difference in size. The structure of the liquid
introducing part 710b is described as an example. The liquid introducing
part 710b includes a liquid introducing base 703, a metal mesh 703s and an
elastic member 705. The metal mesh 703s is provided as a filter made of a
metal having corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel and is placed on an
upper end of the liquid introducing base 703 to be in surface contact with a
supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 of the cartridge 4 described
below (Fig. 6). Ink retained in the supply port-side liquid retaining member
406 passes through the metal mesh 703s and is supplied to the ejection head
8s provided on the bottom surface of the carriage 8 as shown in Fig. 5. The
relationship between the respective liquid introducing parts 710 and the
cartridges will be described later.
[0043] The cartridge 4 has a circuit substrate 410 on a +Y-
direction end,
as shown in Fig. 6. This circuit substrate 410 is fixed to a substrate
mounting structure 411 inclined relative to a first end wall 423. Fixation of
the circuit substrate 410 to the substrate mounting structure 411 and the
location of the circuit substrate 410 will be described later. The circuit
substrate 410 provided on the cartridge 4 has terminals 412 described later.
In the state of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8, contacts of
the
terminals 412 are electrically in contact with electrodes of an electrode
assembly 810 of the carriage 8. The cartridge 4 has the engagement
element 405 provided on an end of the substrate mounting structure 411 in
the Y-axis direction. The engagement element 405 is engaged with the
cartridge engagement arm 801 of the carriage 8 in the state of attachment of
the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8.
16
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A
t .
[0044] Fig. 6 illustrates the state of attachment of the cartridge 4
to the
carriage 8. The cartridge 4 has a supply port-side liquid retaining member
406 and a liquid retaining member 460 serving to absorb and retain the
liquid. The supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the liquid
retaining member 460 are arranged to be in contact with each other. The
metal mesh 703s attached to a ring-shaped end of the liquid introducing base
703 of the liquid introducing part 710b provided on the bottom surface of the
cartridge attachment structure 7 is in surface contact with the supply
port-side liquid retaining member 406. The supply port-side liquid
retaining member 406 is lifted up in the +Z direction by the liquid
introducing base 703 to press the liquid retaining member 460. This causes
the liquid contained in the liquid retaining member 460, i.e., black ink, to
be
supplied to the ejection head 8s of the carriage 8 through the metal mesh
703s of the liquid introducing base 703 of the liquid introducing part 710b
and a suction hole 704. Accordingly, the liquid introducing part 710b of the
carriage 8 receives a liquid (black ink) introduced from the cartridge 4, and
the carriage 8 causes the liquid (black ink) introduced to the liquid
introducing part 710b to be ejected from the ejection head 8s. The cartridge
similarly has a circuit substrate 510 and the other relevant components
like those of the cartridge 4 and is attached to the carriage 8 as described
above.
[0045] The cartridge 4 has a liquid supply port 407 covered by the
supply
port-side liquid retaining member 406. The cartridge attachment structure
7 has the liquid-tight elastic member 705 at the foot of the liquid
introducing
base 703. This elastic member 705 is in contact with a peripheral concaved
area 407b (Fig. 10) formed around the periphery of the liquid supply port 407
to seal the liquid supply port 407 and prevent leakage of ink from the liquid
supply port 407 in the cartridge attachment state. The liquid supply port
407 is connected with the liquid introducing part 710b to supply black ink to
the liquid introducing part 710b as described later. The structure of
attaching the cartridge 4 to the cartridge attachment structure 7 of the
carriage 8 will be described later.
[0046] The cartridge attachment structure 7 is mounted on the bottom
of
the carriage 8. As shown in Fig. 4, the cartridge attachment structure 7 has
an inter-cartridge projection 721 a guide projection 723, and sidewall-side
17
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projections 724 extended in the Y-axis direction. In the illustration of Fig.
4,
the sidewall-side projection 724 is illustrated inside of a carriage sidewall
82
on the back side of the sheet surface. The carriage 8 also has the
sidewall-side projection 724 (not shown) inside of a carriage sidewall 81 on
the front side of the sheet surface. Each of the inter-cartridge projection
721 and the sidewall-side projections 724 is extended from an end wall 730 of
the cartridge attachment structure 7 toward the cartridge engagement arms
801 and is split in the middle.
[0047] The guide projection 723 is extended from the end wall 730 toward
the liquid introducing part 710y to go between the liquid introducing part
710m and the liquid introducing part 710c. In other words, this guide
projection 723 is formed between the liquid introducing part 710m and the
liquid introducing part 710c adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction to
be located between the liquid introducing part 710c and a part between the
liquid introducing part 710m and the liquid introducing part 710c. The
guide projection 723 has a lower projection height from the bottom surface of
the cartridge attachment structure 7 in an area near to the end wall 730
than the projection height between the liquid introducing part 710m and the
liquid introducing part 710c. The cartridge 4 is placed between the
sidewall-side projection 724 (not shown) near to the carriage sidewall 81 and
the inter-cartridge projection 721 and is attached to the cartridge
attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8. The cartridge 5 is placed between
the inter-cartridge projection 721 and the sidewall-side projection 724 near
to the cartridge sidewall 82 and is attached to the cartridge attachment
structure 7 of the carriage 8. The guide projection 723 is placed in a first
groove 580 (Fig. 14) of the attached cartridge 5 described later. The
cartridge attachment structure 7 also has engagement holes 750 formed in
the end wall 730. The two engagement holes 750 are provided for each of
the cartridge 4 and the cartridge 5. In the course of attachment of the
cartridges 4 and 5, engagement projections 424t and 524t described later are
fit in these engagement holes 750. Attachment of the cartridges 4 and 5
and the relationship between the guide projection 723 and the cartridge 5
will be described later.
[0048] A-3. Structure of Cartridge 4
Fig. 7 is an appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge 4.
18
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Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge 4. Fig. 9 is
an appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge 4 viewed from the
bottom side. Fig. 10 is an appearance perspective view illustrating the
cartridge 4 without the circuit substrate 410 viewed from the bottom side.
Fig. 11 is a schematic cross sectional end view illustrating a casing 420,
taken on a line 11-11 in Fig. 7. As illustrated, the cartridge 4 has the
casing
420, the cover 401 and the circuit substrate 410. The cover 401 is fixed to
the casing 420 to cover a recess 421 of the casing 420 (Fig. 8). The cartridge
4 also has the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406, the liquid
retaining member 460, a cover backside seal member 436 and the seal
member 404. The casing 420 and the cover 401 are molded products of a
synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene and are formed by any
adequate molding technique such as injection molding.
[0049] As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the casing 420 includes a bottom wall
422, a first end wall 423, a second end wall 424, a first side wall 425 and a
second side wall 426. The outer wall surfaces of the first side wall 425 and
the second side wall 426 are reinforced by ribs 428. The bottom wall 422
forms the bottom surface of the casing 420 and has the liquid supply port 407
formed at the center thereof. The bottom wall 422 is opposed to the cover
401 (more specifically a cover member 430 described below). The first end
wall 423 rises from the bottom wall 422 to intersect with the cover member
430 of the cover 401. The second end wall 424 rises from the bottom wall
422 to intersect with the cover member 430 of the cover 401 and is opposed to
the first end wall 423. The first side wall 425 rises from the bottom wall
422 between one edge (-X-direction edge in Fig. 8) of the first end wall 423
and one edge (-X-direction edge in Fig. 8) of the second end wall 424 to
intersect with the cover member 430 of the cover 401. The second side wall
426 rises from the bottom wall 422 between the other edge (+X-direction
edge in Fig. 8) of the first end wall 423 and the other edge (+X-direction
edge
in Fig. 8) of the second end wall 424 to intersect with the cover member 430
of the cover 401 and is opposed to the first side wall 425.
[0050] This wall configuration may also be expressed as follows. The
casing 420 includes the bottom wall 422 with the liquid supply port 407
formed therein, the cover 401 opposed to the bottom wall 422, the first end
wall 423 arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 422 and the cover 401,
19
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=
the second end wall 424 arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 422 and
the cover 401 and opposed to the first end wall 423, the first side wall 425
arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 422 and the cover 401 and the
second side wall 426 arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 422 and the
cover 401 and opposed to the first side wall 425.
[0051] As shown in Fig. 9, the circuit substrate 410 has a
plurality of
terminals 412 on the substrate surface and is located on the first end wall
423 of the casing 420. The substrate mounting structure 411 is formed on
the first end wall 423 as shown in Fig. 10. The substrate mounting
structure 411 is arranged to be inclined relative to the first end wall 423.
The circuit substrate 410 has the rear surface fixed to the substrate
mounting structure 411 and is inclined relative to the first end wall 423. As
shown in Fig. 9, the terminals 412 are arrayed zigzag in two lines on the
circuit substrate 410. When the cartridge 4 is attached to the carriage 8 as
described above, the contacts of the respective terminals 412 are electrically
connected with electrodes of the electrode assembly 810 provided on the
carriage 8 as shown in Fig. 6.
[0052] As shown in Fig. 10, the substrate mounting structure 411
has an
opening 413 on the outer wall surface side of the first end wall 423. The
opening 413 is extended in the Z-axis direction along the outer wall surface
of the first end wall 423 from an upper edge side toward a lower edge side of
the first end wall 423 (Fig. 8) and is open on the upper edge side and the
lower edge side of the first end wall 423. In the state that the cover 401 is
fixed to the casing 420, the opening 413 is closed on the upper edge side of
the first end wall 423 by an outward extension member 431 of the cover 401
described later as shown in Fig. 7. Projections 414 protruded from the
substrate mounting structure 411 are used for fixation of the circuit
substrate 410 to the substrate mounting structure 411. The projections 414
are thermally caulked in the state that the projections 414 are extended from
the circuit substrate 410 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This fixes the circuit
substrate 410 to the substrate mounting structure 411.
[0053] As shown in Fig. 8, the cover 401 has the cover member 430
and
the outward extension member 431. The cover member 430 is in a flat
plate-like shape and is arranged to cover the recess 421 of the casing 420.
The outward extension member 431 is extended outward from the cover
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
member 430 on the first end wall 423-side where the circuit substrate 410
with the terminals 412 is located, and includes a bent extension section 432
and an inclined extension section 433. The bent extension section 432 is
bent at approximately 90 degrees to the cover member 430 and is extended to
be protruded along a first direction from the cover 401 toward the casing 420
(-Z direction in Fig. 8). The inclined extension section 433 continuous with
the bent extension section 432 is extended to a location to hang over the
terminals 412 of the circuit substrate 410 in the plan view of the cover 401
in
the first direction from the cover 401 toward the casing 420 (-Z direction in
Fig. 8). In the state that the cover 401 is fixed to the casing 420, the
outward extension member 431 is hung over the opening 413 to close the
opening 413 on the upper edge side of the first end wall 423 as shown in Figs.
6 and 10. In the state that the cover 401 is fixed to the casing 420, the
inclined extension section 433 of the outward extension member 431 is
engaged with the engagement element 405 as shown in Fig. 7. The outward
extension member 431 is protruded to the outer side of at least the terminals
412 in the lower line of the circuit substrate 410 in a second direction from
the second end wall 424 toward the first end wall 423 (+Y direction in Figs. 6
and 8). In one modification, the inclined extension section 433 may be
extended longer than the illustrated state to be protruded to the outer side
of
all the terminals 412 of the circuit substrate 410.
[0054] The cover 401 has the air communication hole 434 and a plurality
of seal member receiving elements 437, in addition to the through holes 402a,
402b and 402c and the air groove 403 described above. The seal member
receiving elements 437 are protruded from the upper surface of the cover 401
to substantially the same height as the height of the circumferential walls of
the through holes 402a, 402b and 402c and the circumferential wall of the air
groove 403 and serve as joint seat elements of the seal member 404.
[0055] The air communication hole 434 is provided in a cover member
outer periphery formed by extending part of the cover member 430 in the
Y-axis direction and is formed to pass through the cover 401 on its cover
member outer periphery. The air communication hole 434 is connected with
the through hole 402b by an air groove (not shown) on the rear surface of the
cover 401. This air groove, the cover backside opening of the air
communication hole 434 and the cover backside opening of the through hole
21
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
402b are sealed by the cover backside seal member 436. The recess 421 of
the casing 420 closed by the cover 401 is accordingly open to the air through
the air communication hole 434 via the through hole 402a, the air groove 403
and the through hole 402b. This arrangement of open to the air is described
in relation to the liquid retaining member 460.
[0056] The liquid retaining member 460 is placed in the recess 421 of the
casing 420. The bottom wall 422 of the casing 420 has step-like
semicircular projections 427 formed on the periphery of the liquid supply
port 407, and the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 is placed on
the steps of the semicircular projections 427 (Fig. 6). The liquid supply port
407 is accordingly covered by the supply port-side liquid retaining member
406. The bottom wall 422 also has arc-shaped projections 429 in an open
arc shape in the plan view provided in the neighborhood of the respective
corners. The liquid retaining member 460 is supported by the upper
surfaces of the arc-shaped projections 429 at the respective corners and the
semicircular projections 427 and is placed in the casing 420. In the state
that the liquid retaining member 460 is placed in this manner, the cover 401
joined with the cover backside seal member 436 and the seal member 404 is
welded and fixed to the casing 420 to complete the cartridge 4 shown in Figs.
6 and 7.
[0057] Both the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the
liquid retaining member 460 may be made of a porous resin material. The
porous resin material herein is not specifically limited but may be any
porous resin material having the capacity of retaining the liquid, for
example,
a foamed material such as polyurethane foam or a fibrous material of
bundled polypropylene fibers. The supply port-side liquid retaining
member 406 and the liquid retaining member 460 have different
characteristics of retaining the liquid. The supply port-side liquid retaining
member 406 is made to have a higher pore density or density of pores than
the liquid retaining member 460. According to the magnitude relationship
of the pore density, the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 has
greater capillary force than the capillary force of the liquid retaining
member
460.
[0058] This magnitude relationship of the capillarity force between the
supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the liquid retaining
22
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
member 460 causes ink contained in the liquid retaining member 460 to flow
in the sequence described below. Ink flows from a member having smaller
capillary force to a member having greater capillary force. As shown in Fig.
6, when ink contained in the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 is
sucked via the liquid introducing base 703 to be consumed, ink contained in
the liquid retaining member 460 laid on the upper surface of the supply
port-side liquid retaining member 406 moves to the supply port-side liquid
retaining member 406. The driving force of such ink migration is mainly
given by the capillary force of the supply port-side liquid retaining member
406. Such ink migration has no difficulty, due to the air communication
through the air communication hole 434 via the through hole 402a and the
air groove 403 continuous with the through hole 402a formed corresponding
to the location where the liquid retaining member 460 is placed.
[0059] Placing the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the
liquid retaining member 460 having different characteristics in the recess
421 of the casing 420 as described above, in combination with using the
metal mesh 703s having greater capillary force than the capillarity force of
the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 for the liquid introducing
base 703, allows for efficient consumption of ink contained in the liquid
retaining member 460. In other words, this reduces the remaining quantity
of unused ink in the liquid retaining member 460.
[0060] As long as the capillary forces of the supply port-side liquid
retaining member 406 and the liquid retaining member 460 are arranged to
decrease with an increase in distance from the liquid introducing base 703,
the magnitude relationship of the pore density between the respective liquid
retaining members 406 and 460 is not limited to the configuration of this
embodiment. For example, when the supply port-side liquid retaining
member 406 and the liquid retaining member 460 have identical pore
densities, the respective liquid retaining members 406 and 460 may be
subjected to water repellent treatment or hydrophobic treatment to have the
magnitude relationship of the capillary force described above.
[0061] The cartridge 4 also has a groove 450 formed on the bottom
surface of the bottom wall 422 with the liquid supply port 407 (outer wall
surface on the -Z direction side) as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This groove 450
is extended from the second end wall 424-side toward the liquid supply port
23
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
. ,
=
407 to reach the periphery of the peripheral concaved area 407b without
interfering with the recess 421 as shown in Fig. 11. In the plan view of the
cartridge 4 in a direction from the bottom wall toward the cover 401 (+Z
direction), the liquid supply port 407 is located between the groove 450 and
the circuit substrate 410 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The width of the
groove 450 in the X-axis direction on the bottom wall 422 is set to be
narrower than the width of the peripheral concaved area 407b in the X-axis
direction. Accumulation of ink in the groove 450 limits the ink diffusion
area. The narrower width of the groove 450 effectively leads to the smaller
diffusion area. The groove 450 may be formed to be continuous with the
peripheral concaved area 407b. This configuration enables ink to be
introduced into the groove 450 without leakage to outside of the peripheral
concaved area 407b.
[0062] The cartridge 4 also has a pair of engagement projections
424t at a
lower edge of the outer wall surface of the second end wall 424. In the
course of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the cartridge attachment structure
7, the engagement projections 424t enter the end wall 730 of the cartridge
attachment structure 7 (Fig. 4) and are involved in positioning of the
cartridge 4.
[0063] A-4. Structure of Cartridge 5
The cartridge 5 has the different structure from that of the cartridge
4 by containing three different color inks, yellow, magenta and cyan. In the
description of the structure of the cartridge 5, the like components to those
of
the cartridge 4 are expressed by like numerical symbols with the digit at a
highest place changed to 5 and are only briefly explained. Fig. 12 is an
appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge 5. Fig. 13 is an
exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge 5. Fig. 14 is an
appearance perspective view illustrating the cartridge 5 viewed from the
bottom side. Fig. 15 is an appearance perspective view illustrating the
cartridge 5 without the circuit substrate 510 viewed from the bottom side.
Fig. 16 is a schematic cross sectional end view illustrating a casing 520,
taken on a line 16-16 in Fig. 12. Fig. 17 is a schematic cross sectional end
view illustrating the casing 520, taken on a line 17-17 in Fig. 13. In the
illustration of Fig. 17, a recess 521y described later is shown to be located
on
the front side of the sheet surface in the cross section of the casing 520
taken
24
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A
'
on the line 17-17 in Fig. 13.
[0064] As illustrated in Fig. 13, the cartridge 5 has the casing 520, the
cover 501 and the circuit substrate 510. The cover 501 is fixed to the casing
520 to cover three recesses 521m, 521c and 521y of the casing 520 (Fig. 13).
The casing 520 has a partition wall 571 located between a first side wall 525
and a second side wall 526, a partition wall 572 located between the partition
wall 571 and a second end wall 524 and a partition wall 573 located between
the partition wall 571 and a first end wall 523. These partition walls 571,
572 and 573 form the recesses 521m, 521c and 521y corresponding to the
respective color inks, magenta, cyan and yellow. The cartridge 5 has supply
port-side liquid retaining members 506 placed in respective areas defined by
semicircular projections 527 provided on the respective peripheries of ink
supply ports 507m, 507y and 507c formed in a bottom wall 522 in the
respective recesses 521m, 521c and 521y, and also has liquid retaining
members 560 placed on the supply port-side liquid retaining members 506.
[0065] The partition walls 571, 572 and 573 and the recesses 521m 521c
and 521y have the following positional relationship in the state that the
cover 501 is joined with the casing 520. The partition wall 571 is located to
intersect with the bottom wall 522, the cover 501, the first side wall 525 and
the second side wall 526 and to be opposed to the first end wall 523 and the
second end wall 524. The partition wall 572 is located to intersect with the
bottom wall 522, the cover 501, the first end wall 524 and the partition wall
571 and to be opposed to the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526.
The recess 521m communicating with the ink supply port 507m is defined by
the bottom wall 522, the cover 501, the second end wall 524, the first side
wall 525, the partition wall 571 and the partition wall 572. The recess 521c
communicating with the ink supply port 507c is defined by the bottom wall
522, the cover 501, the second end wall 524, the second side wall 526, the
partition wall 571 and the partition wall 572. The recess 521y
communicating with the ink supply port 507y is defined by the bottom wall
522, the cover 501, the first end wall 523, the second side wall 526, the
partition wall 571 and the partition wall 573. In one modification, the
partition wall 573 may be omitted. In this modified application, the recess
521y is defined by the bottom wall 522, the cover 501, the first end wall 523
the first side wall 525, the second side wall 526 and the partition wall 571.
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
A
[0066] As illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15, the bottom wall 522, the first
end
wall 523, the second end wall 524, the first side wall 525 and the second side
wall 526 of the casing 520 have the similar structures to those of the
corresponding walls of the cartridge 4. The cartridge 5 has the circuit
substrate 510 located on the first end wall 523-side of the casing 520. As in
the structure of the cartridge 4, the circuit substrate 510 is fixed to a
substrate mounting structure 511. The circuit substrate 510 has terminals
512 having substantially the similar structure to that of the cartridge 4.
Contacts of the respective terminals 512 are electrically connected with
electrodes of the electrode assembly 810 provided on the carriage 8 when the
cartridge 5 is attached to the carriage 8 as described above. The substrate
mounting structure 511 has the similar structure to that of the cartridge 4.
The circuit substrate 510 is fixed to the substrate mounting structure 511 by
thermally caulking projections 514 protruded from the substrate mounting
structure 511.
[0067] As illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, the cover 501 has a cover
member 530 and an outward extension member 531. The cover member
530 is in a flat plate-like shape and is arranged to cover the recesses 521m,
521c and 521y of the casing 520. The outward extension member 531 is
extended outward from the cover member 530 on the first end wall 523-side
where the circuit substrate 510 with the terminals 512 is located, and
includes a bent extension section 532 and an inclined extension section 533.
The structure of these extension sections 532 and 533 is similar to the
structure of the cartridge 4. The bent extension section 532 is bent at
approximately 90 degrees to the cover member 530 and is extended to be
protruded along a first direction from the cover 501 toward the casing 520 (-Z
direction in Fig. 13). The inclined extension section 533 continuous with
the bent extension section 532 is extended to a location to hang over the
terminals 512 of the circuit substrate 510 in the plan view of the cover 501
in
the first direction from the cover 501 toward the casing 520 (-Z direction in
Fig. 13). In the state that the cover 501 is fixed to the casing 520, the
outward extension member 531 is hung over an opening 513 of the substrate
mounting structure 511 to close the opening 513 on the upper edge side of the
first end wall 523 as shown in Fig. 15. In the state that the cover 501 is
fixed to the casing 520, the outward extension member 531 is engaged with
an engagement element 505 as shown in Fig. 12. The outward extension
26
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
i
. ,
member 531 is protruded to the outer side of at least the terminals 512 in the
lower line of the circuit substrate 510 in a second direction from the second
end wall 524 toward the first end wall 523 (-1-Y direction in Figs. 6 and 13).
In one modification, the inclined extension section 533 may be extended
longer to be protruded to the outer side of all the terminals 512 of the
circuit
substrate 510.
[0068] As illustrated in Fig. 13, the cover 501 has through holes
502a,
502b and 502c, an air groove 503 arranged between the through hole 502a
and the through hole 502c and an air communication hole 534 provided for
each of the recesses 521m 52c and 521y corresponding to the respective color
inks, magenta, cyan and yellow, and seal member receiving elements 537
formed at respective corners of the cover 501. The seal member receiving
elements 537 are protruded from the upper surface of the cover 501 to
substantially the same height as the height of the circumferential walls of
the through holes 502a, 502b and 502c and the circumferential walls of the
air grooves 503 and serve as joint seat elements of the seal member 504.
[0069] The three air communication holes 534 are aligned in the X-
axis
direction in the outer periphery of the cover member 530 and are formed to
pass through the cover 501. The through hole 502b provided for each of the
color inks, yellow, magenta and cyan is formed to pass through the cover 501
and is arranged to be aligned in the Y-axis direction with corresponding one
of the air communication holes 534 aligned in the X-axis direction. The air
communication hole 534 and the corresponding through hole 502b aligned in
the Y-axis direction are connected with each other by an air groove (not
shown) on the rear surface of the cover 501. This air groove, the cover
backside opening of the through hole 502b and the cover backside opening of
the air communication hole 534 are sealed by a cover backside seal member
536. The recesses 521m, 521c and 521y of the casing 520 closed by the cover
501 are accordingly open to the air through the respective air communication
holes 534 via the through holes 502a, the air grooves 503 and the through
holes 502b. The through holes 502a, 502b and 502c and the air grooves 503
are sealed on the upper surface side of the cover 501 by the seal member 504.
This arrangement of open to the air described above enables ink contained in
the porous liquid retaining member 560 placed in the recess 521m, 521c or
521y for each color ink in the casing 520 closed by the cover 501 to be
27
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=
supplied to the supply port-side liquid retaining member 506 and then to the
liquid introducing part 710m, the liquid introducing part 710c or the liquid
introducing part 710y (Fig. 4) of the carriage 8 via the corresponding ink
supply port 507m, 507c or 507y. In other words, the corresponding color
inks are respectively supplied through the ink supply port 507m of the recess
521m to the liquid introducing part 710m of the carriage 8, through the ink
supply port 507c of the recess 521c to the liquid introducing part 710c and
through the ink supply port 507y of the recess 521y to the liquid introducing
part 710y. The respective ink supply ports 507m, 507c and 507y have the
following positional relationship.
[0070] In the plan view of the casing 520 or the cartridge 5 in a
direction
from the bottom wall 522 with the ink supply ports 507m, 507c and 507y
toward the cover 501 (+Z direction), the ink supply port 507m is located
between the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526. The ink
supply port 507c is located between the ink supply port 507m and the second
side wall 526.
[0071] As shown in Figs. 14 to 17, the cartridge 5 also has a first
groove
580 and a second groove 581 on the bottom surface of the bottom wall 522
(outer wall surface on the -Z direction side) where the ink supply ports 507m,
507c and 507y are formed. The first groove 580 is formed between the ink
supply port 507m corresponding to the liquid introducing part 710m for
magenta and the ink supply port 507c corresponding to the liquid
introducing part 710c for cyan (Fig. 4) and is extended from between the ink
supply port 507m and the ink supply port 507c toward the ink supply port
507y. The first groove 580 is formed in the partition wall 572 as a concave
having such a depth that the guide projection 723 (Fig. 4) of the cartridge
attachment structure 7 is inserted in the state of attachment of the cartridge
to the cartridge attachment structure 7 (Figs. 16 and 17) and is extended
over the length of the partition wall 572, i.e., between the second end wall
524 and the partition wall 571. The first groove 580 and the ink supply port
507y has the following positional relationship described below.
[0072] As shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 17, the first groove 580 is extended
from the second end wall 524 toward the first end wall 523. As shown in
Figs. 13 to 15 and 17, the ink supply port 507y is located between the first
groove 580 and the first end wall 523. There are first to third positional
28
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
relationships described below in the plan view of the casing 520 or the
cartridge 5 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 toward the cover 501
(+Z direction). In the first positional relationship, the ink supply port 507y
is located between the first groove 580 and the circuit substrate 510 as
shown in Fig. 14. In the second positional relationship, the first groove 580
is located between the second end wall 524 and the recess 521y as shown in
Fig. 17. In the third positional relationship, the first groove 580 is located
between the second end wall 524 and a peripheral concaved area 507b where
the bottom wall 522 comes into contact with the elastic member 705 formed
around the liquid introducing part 710y (Fig. 4) of the carriage 8. Like the
cartridge 4, the width of the first groove 580 in the X-axis direction is set
to
be narrower than the width of the peripheral concaved area 507b. The first
groove 580 may be formed to be continuous with the peripheral concaved
area 507b.
[00731 As illustrated in Fig. 17, the second groove 581 is formed in the
second end wall 524 as a concave continuous with the first groove 580. The
second groove 581 has a shallower depth in a direction from the bottom wall
522 toward the cover 501 than the depth of the first groove 580 in the
direction from the bottom wall 522 toward the cover 501.
[0074] A-5. Attachment of Cartridges
Fig. 18 is a diagram schematically illustrating attachment of the
cartridges 4 and 5 to the carriage 8. As illustrated, in the course of
attachment, both the cartridges 4 and 5 are inclined such that the outer wall
surfaces of the second end walls 424 and 524 face in the -Z direction when
being inserted into the cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8.
The engagement projections 424t and 524t of the respective cartridges 4 and
are subsequently inserted into the engagement holes 750 (Fig. 4) in the
cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8. The respective
cartridges 4 and 5 are pressed in the -Z direction against the cartridge
attachment structure 7 until the engagement elements 405 and 505 are
engaged with the cartridge engagement arms 801 as shown in Fig. 6.
[0075] As shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the cartridge 4 of this embodiment
having the configuration described above has the liquid supply port 407
arranged to supply black ink to the carriage 8 of the printer 10 or more
29
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
specifically to the liquid introducing part 710b of the cartridge attachment
structure 7 (Figs. 4 and 6) of the carriage 8, and the circuit substrate 410
electrically connectable with the electrode assembly 810 of the carriage 8 in
the printer 10. The liquid supply port 407 is located between the circuit
substrate 410 and the groove 450 formed on the bottom surface of the bottom
wall 422 to be extended from the second end wall 424. The configuration of
the cartridge 4 of this embodiment has the following advantageous effects.
The cartridge 4 is inclined in the course of attachment as shown in Fig. 18.
The configuration without the groove 450 is likely to make the flow of and
diffuse the leaked ink along the bottom surface of the bottom wall 422 in the
event of leakage of black ink from the liquid supply port 407. The presence
of the groove 450, however, causes the leaked ink to be kept in the groove 450
of the bottom wall 422 (Fig. 11) and thereby suppresses diffusion of the ink
leaked from the liquid supply port 407. Additionally, the groove 450 guides
the leaked ink in a direction away from the first end wall 423 and
accordingly reduces the likelihood that the terminals 412 are exposed to the
leaked black ink.
[0076] In the plan view of the casing 420 or the cartridge 4 in the
direction from the bottom wall 422 toward the cover 401 (+Z direction), the
cartridge 4 of the embodiment has the liquid supply port 407 located between
the groove 450 and the circuit substrate 410 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
This configuration of the cartridge 4 of the embodiment also keeps black ink
leaked from the liquid supply port 407 in the groove 450 and suppresses
diffusion of the black ink, thus reducing the likelihood that the terminals
412
are exposed to the leaked black ink.
[00771 The cartridge 5 of the embodiment is attachable to the carriage 8.
The carriage 8 has the liquid introducing parts 710m, 710c and 710y and the
guide projection 723 as shown in Fig. 4. The guide projection 723 is formed
between the liquid introducing part 710m and the liquid introducing part
710c and is extended from between the liquid introducing part 710m and the
liquid introducing part 710c toward the liquid introducing part 710y. As
shown in Figs. 13 to 15, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has the ink supply
port 507m provided to supply magenta ink to the liquid introducing part
710m, the ink supply port 507c provided to supply cyan ink to the liquid
introducing part 710c and the ink supply port 507y provided to supply yellow
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
ink to the liquid introducing part 710y. The first groove 580 is formed
between the ink supply port 507m and the ink supply port 507c. The first
groove 580 is extended from between the ink supply port 507m and the ink
supply port 507c toward the ink supply port 507y and is formed to allow for
insertion of the guide projection 723. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment is
inclined as shown in Fig. 18 in the course of attachment. In the event of
leakage of yellow ink from the ink supply port 507y, the leaked ink is guided
to the first groove 580 extended toward the ink supply port 507y and is kept
in the first groove 580. Accordingly the cartridge 5 of the embodiment
suppresses diffusion of ink leaked from the ink supply port 507y and
prevents contamination by the leaked ink. In the event of leakage of ink
from the ink supply port 507m or from the ink supply port 507c, the leaked
ink is also kept in the first groove 580. This accordingly suppresses
diffusion of the leaked ink. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment can suppress
diffusion of leaked ink by the simple structure of the first groove 580
extended from between the ink supply port 507m and the ink supply port
507c toward the ink supply port 507y.
[00781 The cartridge 5 of the embodiment has the bottom wall 522 with
the ink supply port 507m, the ink supply port 507c, the ink supply port 507y
and the first groove 580 formed therein, the cover 501 opposed to the bottom
wall 522, the first end wall 523 arranged to intersect with the bottom wall
522 and the cover 501, the second end wall 524 arranged to intersect with
the bottom wall 522 and the cover 501 and opposed to the first end wall 523,
the first side wall 525 arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 522 and the
cover 501, and the second side wall 526 arranged to intersect with the bottom
wall 522 and the cover 501 and opposed to the first side wall 525. As shown
in Figs. 13 to 16, in the plan view of the cartridge 5 in the direction from
the
bottom wall 522 toward the cover 501, the ink supply port 507m is located
between the first side wall 525 and the second side wall 526; the ink supply
port 507c is located between the ink supply port 507m and the second side
wall 526; the first groove 580 is extended from the second end wall 524
toward the first end wall 523; and the ink supply port 507y is located
between the first groove 580 and the first end wall 523. The cartridge 5 of
this embodiment enables ink leaked from the ink supply port 507y to be
guided to the first groove 580 extended toward the ink supply port 507y on
the bottom wall 522 and to be kept in the first groove 580. The cartridge 5
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CA 02932434 2016-06-01
of this embodiment accordingly suppresses the ink leaked from the ink
supply port 507y from being diffused along the wall surface of the bottom
wall 522 and prevents contamination by the leaked ink.
[0079] In the cartridge 5 of this embodiment, the first groove 580 is
formed between the ink supply port 507m which is located between the first
side wall 525 and the second side wall 526 and the ink supply port 507c
which is located between the ink supply port 507m and the second side wall
526 and is extended from the second end wall 524 toward the first end wall
523. This configuration also enables ink leaked from the ink supply port
507m or ink leaked from the ink supply port 507c to be kept in the first
groove 580, thus suppressing diffusion of the leaked ink along the wall
surface of the bottom wall 522 and preventing contamination by the leaked
ink. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment can suppress diffusion of leaked ink
by the simple structure of the first groove 580 formed between the ink supply
port 507m which is located between the first side wall 525 and the second
side wall 526 and the ink supply port 507c which is located between the ink
supply port 507m and the second side wall 526 and extended from the second
end wall 524 toward the first end wall 523.
[0080] As shown in Fig. 14, the contacts of the terminals 512 provided on
the circuit substrate 510 located on the outer wall surface of the first end
wall 523 in the cartridge 5 of the embodiment are electrically connectable
with the electrode assembly 810 of the carriage 8 (Fig. 6). In the plan view
of the cartridge 5 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 toward the cover
501, the ink supply port 507y is located between the first groove 580 and the
circuit substrate 510. The ink leaked from the ink supply port 507y is kept
in the first groove 580. This configuration suppresses the leaked ink from
flowing along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 and reaching the first
end wall 522, thus reducing the likelihood that the terminals 512 are
exposed to the leaked ink.
[0081] As shown in Fig. 16, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has the
first groove 580 formed as a concave in the partition wall 572 which parts the
recess 521m and the recess 521c from each other. This configuration of the
cartridge 5 of the embodiment enables the first groove 580 to be readily
formed without reducing the capacities of the recesses 521m and 521c for
containing inks.
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CA 02932434 2016-06-01
[0082] In the plane view of the cartridge 5 in the direction from the
bottom wall 522 toward the cover 501, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has
the first groove 580 located between the peripheral concaved area 507b and
the second end wall 524. The cartridge 5 of the embodiment accordingly
enhances the effectiveness of keeping ink leaked from the ink supply port
507y in the first groove 580 and thereby suppressing diffusion of the leaked
ink along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 described above and the
effectiveness of preventing contamination by the leaked ink by the simple
structure of the first groove 580 adequately positioned.
[00831 As illustrated in Fig. 17, the cartridge 5 of the embodiment has
the second groove 581 formed in the second end wall 524 to be continuous
with the first groove 580. When the cartridge 5 is inclined to be attached to
the carriage 8 as shown in Fig. 18, the second groove 581 approaches the
guide projection 723 of the cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8
earlier than the first groove 580. In the cartridge 5 of the embodiment, the
second groove 581 continuous with the first groove 580 first receives the
guide projection 723 in the course of attachment of the cartridge 5 to the
carriage 8. Insertion of the guide projection 723 into the second groove 581
causes the guide projection 723 to serve as a guide rail in the X-axis
direction.
This configuration of the cartridge 5 of the embodiment facilitates
attachment of the cartridge 5 to the carriage 8 and enhances the fit of the
cartridge 5.
[0084] In the cartridge 5 of the embodiment, the second groove 581 in the
second end wall 524 is formed to have the shallower depth in the direction
from the bottom wall 522 toward the cover 501 than the depth of the first
groove 580 in the direction from the bottom wall 522 toward the cover 501.
As described above, in the course of attachment of the cartridge 5 to the
carriage 8, the cartridge 5 is inclined, so that the guide projection 723 of
the
cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8 first enters the second
groove 581 of the cartridge 5. Setting the depth of the second groove 581
shallower than the depth of the first groove 580 prevents the second end wall
524 from excessively coming close to the liquid introducing part 710m or the
liquid introducing part 710c of the cartridge attachment structure 7. This
configuration of the cartridge 5 of the embodiment prevents the second end
wall 524 from carelessly coming into contact with the liquid introducing part
33
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
710m or 710c or its periphery of the cartridge attachment structure 7 in the
course of attachment of the cartridge 5 to the carriage 8. This is
advantageous in terms of avoiding potential damage.
[0085] The cartridge 5 of the embodiment has the casing 520 and the
circuit substrate 510. The casing 520 has the recesses 521m, 521c and 521y
configured to separately contain magenta ink, cyan ink and yellow ink.
Additionally, in the cartridge 5 of the embodiment, the casing 520 has the ink
supply ports 507m 507c and 507y and the first groove 580, and the circuit
substrate 510 is placed on the casing 520. The cartridge 5 of the multi-part
structure including the casing 520 and the circuit substrate 510 according to
the embodiment enables leaked ink to be kept in the first groove 580 and
thereby suppresses diffusions of the leaked ink.
[0086] B. Modifications
The invention may be implemented by various other aspects
described below.
[0087] B-1. Modification of Appearance of Cartridge
Fig. 19 is diagrams illustrating a modification of the appearance of a
cartridge 5A in six different views. In the description below, the like
components to those of the cartridge 5 of the above embodiment are
expressed by the like numerical symbols and are not specifically described
here.
[00881 In the plan view of the cartridge 5 of the above embodiment, the
direction from the bottom wall 522 toward the cover 501 is set to a first
direction. Fig. 19 illustrates a bottom view of the cartridge 5A in this first
direction, a top view of the cartridge 5A in a second direction opposite to
the
first direction, a front view of the cartridge 5A in a third direction
orthogonal
to the first direction, a rear view of the cartridge 5A in a fourth direction
opposite to the third direction, a left side view of the cartridge 5A in a
fifth
direction orthogonal to the first direction and the third direction and a
right
side view of the cartridge 5A in a sixth direction opposite to the fifth
direction.
As illustrated, in the cartridge 5A, appearance 520As of a casing 520A has
curved ends in the left and right side views, compared with appearance 520s
of the casing 520 of the cartridge 5 described above. The degree of
34
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
1
= , ,
curvature may be greater than the degree of curvature illustrated, as long as
the area where the first groove 580 and the ink supply ports 507m 507c and
507y are formed remains as flat surface. The cartridge 5A has an ink
supply port 507m, an ink supply port 507c, an ink supply port 507y, a first
groove 580 and a circuit substrate 510 in a specific part of the casing
included in the bottom view, and the ink supply port 507y is located between
the first groove 580 and the circuit substrate 510.
[0089] In the cartridge 5A of the different appearance 520As, the
positional relationship between the first groove 580 and the ink supply port
507y enables ink leaked from the ink supply port 507y to be kept in the first
groove 580 and suppresses diffusion of the leaked ink along the wall surface
of the bottom wall 522, thus preventing contamination by the leaked ink.
[0090] As shown in the bottom plan view of the cartridge 5A in the
first
direction, this cartridge 5A also has the ink supply port 507y located between
the first groove 580 and the circuit substrate 510. This configuration
enables leaked ink to be kept in the first groove 580 and suppresses diffusion
of the leaked ink along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 toward the
circuit substrate 510, thus reducing the likelihood that the circuit substrate
510 is exposed to the leaked ink.
[0091] B-2. Cartridge Using Outer Casing
Fig. 20 is diagrams illustrating a schematic exploded view of a
cartridge 5B according to a first modification using an outer casing, with a
view in a direction A. The cartridge 5B has an outer casing 520out and an
inner casing 520in. The outer casing 520out has the appearance similar to
that of the casing 520 of the above embodiment except the bottom wall 522
and has a casing insertion opening 520h. The inner casing 520 in has
recesses 521m 521c and 521y configured to separately contain the respective
color inks, magenta, cyan and yellow and has ink supply ports 507m, 507c
and 507y and a first groove 580 in a bottom wall 522. These recesses an ink
supply ports have the similar configurations to those of the casing 520
described above. The outer casing 520out also has a circuit substrate 510
electrically connectable with the electrode assembly 810 of the carriage 8.
The outer casing 520out is attachable to and detachable from the inner
casing 520in through insertion of the inner casing 520in into the casing
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
insertion opening 520h. The cartridge 5B in the state that the inner casing
520in is inserted in the casing insertion opening 520h of the outer casing
520out is compatible with the cartridge 5 of the above embodiment.
Positioning pins, steps and the like are formed, though not being illustrated,
between the outer wall of the inner casing 520in and the inner wall of the
casing insertion opening 520h to position the inner casing 520in in the Z-axis
direction.
{00921 When each color ink is consumed and used up to be replaced, the
cartridge 5B of this modification allows for ink refill by simple replacement
of the inner casing 520in. The cartridge 5B of the multi-part structure
including the separable inner casing 520in and outer casing 520out enables
leaked ink to be kept in the first groove 580 and suppresses diffusion of the
leaked ink along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 toward the circuit
substrate 510, thus reducing the likelihood that the circuit substrate 510 is
exposed to the leaked ink.
[0093] Fig. 21 is diagrams illustrating a perspective bottom view of an
outer casing 520out in a cartridge 5C according to a second modification
using the outer casing, with a view in a direction A. Fig. 22 is diagrams
illustrating a perspective bottom view of inner casings for respective color
inks in the cartridge 5C, with a view in a direction A. Fig. 23 is a schematic
exploded view of the cartridge 5C. The cartridge 5C has an outer casing
520out and inner casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny. The outer casing
520out has the appearance similar to that of the above casing 520 including
the bottom wall 522. As illustrated in Fig. 21, ink supply ports 507m 507c
and 507y, and a first groove 580 are formed in a bottom wall 522 of the outer
casing 520out. The respective ink supply ports and the circuit substrate
510 have similar configurations and are formed at similar positions to those
of the casing 520 of the above embodiment. The outer casing 520out has the
bottom wall 522, a first end wall 523, a second end wall 524, a first side
wall
525 and a second side wall 526 surrounding the bottom wall 522, and
partition walls 571 to 573 to define casing-receiving recesses 521ma, 521ca
and 521ya to individually receive the inner casings 520inm, 520inc and
520iny described below. These casing-receiving recesses 521ma, 521ca and
521ya are supposed to receive the inner casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny
liquid-tightly, so that the bottom wall 522 has the flat inner wall surface.
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CA 02932434 2016-06-01
I
=
[0094] The inner casing 520inm has the external shape to allow for
insertion into the casing-receiving recess 521ma of the outer casing 520out
and has a recess 521m. The recess 521m is formed to have the similar
internal shape to that of the recess 521m of the casing 520 of the above
embodiment and causes the liquid retaining member 560 and the supply
port-side liquid retaining member 506 to be placed therein. The inner
casing 507ma has a through hole 507ma which is aligned with the ink supply
port 507m of the outer casing 520out and has a seal member cz arranged to
seal the periphery of the through hole 507ma. In the state that the inner
casing 520inm is placed in the casing-receiving recess 521ma of the outer
casing 520out, magenta ink is supplied from the ink supply port 507m
through the through hole 507ma sealed with the seal member cz into the
liquid introducing part 710m of the carriage 8 (Fig. 4). The inner casing
520inc and the inner casing 520iny have similar configurations.
[0095] The inner casing 520inm, the inner casing 520inc and the
inner
casing 520iny are respectively connected with the ink supply port 507m, the
ink supply port 507c and the ink supply port 507y. This configuration
allows magenta ink to be supplied through the ink supply port 507m into the
liquid introducing part 710m of the carriage 8 (Fig. 4), allows cyan ink to be
supplied through the ink supply port 507c into the liquid introducing part
710c and allows yellow ink to be supplied through the ink supply port 507y
into the liquid introducing part 710y. Placing the inner casings 520inm,
520inc and 520iny into the corresponding casing-receiving recesses 521ma,
521ca and 521ya of the outer casing 520out completes the cartridge 5C as
shown in Fig. 23. The cartridge 5C is compatible with the cartridge 5 of the
above embodiment. Positioning pins, steps and the like are formed, though
not being illustrated, between the inner walls of the casing-receiving
recesses 521ma, 521ca and 521ya of the outer casing 520out and the outer
walls of the inner casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny to position the inner
casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny in the Z-axis direction.
[0096] When each color ink is consumed and used up to be replaced,
the
cartridge 5C of this modification allows for ink refill by simple replacement
of the inner casing 520inm, the inner casing 520inc or the inner casing
520iny. The cartridge 5C of the multi-part structure including the
separable inner casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny and outer casing 520out
37
CA 02932434 2016-06-01
enables leaked ink to be kept in the first groove 580 and suppresses diffusion
of the leaked ink along the wall surface of the bottom wall 522 toward the
circuit substrate 510, thus reducing the likelihood that the circuit substrate
510 is exposed to the leaked ink.
[0097] Fig. 24 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a cartridge 5D
according to a third modification using the outer casing. The cartridge 5D
has an outer casing 520out and an inner casing 520in. The outer casing
520out is substantially similar to that of the second modification described
above, while the inner casing 520in is equivalent to an integral body of the
inner casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny of the above second modification.
In this cartridge 5D, the outer casing 520out does not have partition walls
571 and 573 and has a partition wall 572 having such a height as to allow for
formation of a first groove 580. For example, the partition wall 572 may be
formed to have half the height illustrated in Fig. 17, and the first groove
580
is formed in the partition wall 572. The inner casing 520in has a recess
580c located between a through hole 507ma and a through hole 507ca and
configured to receive the partition wall 572 with the first groove 580. The
cartridge 5D of the multi-part structure also suppresses diffusion of leaked
ink and other advantageous effects described above.
[0098] Fig. 25 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a cartridge 5E
according to a fourth modification using the outer casing. The cartridge 5E
has external tanks 590Tm, 590Tc and 590Ty for the respective color inks,
magenta, cyan and yellow and tubes 590Cm, 590Cc and 590Cy for the
respective color inks, in addition to an outer casing 520out and inner casings
520inm, 520inc and 520iny. The outer casing 520out is similar to that of the
third modification described above, while the inner casings 520inm, 520inc
and 520iny are similar to those of the second modification described above.
The external tanks 590Tm, 590Tc and 590Ty are configured to contain the
respective color inks therein and supply the contained color inks by means of
internal pumps (not shown) through the tubes 590Cm, 590Cc and 590Cy to
the inner casings 520inm, 520inc and 520iny. The inner casings 520inm,
520inc and 520iny have through holes 507ma, 507ca and 507ya as described
above in the second modification. These through holes 507ma, 507ca and
507ya are arranged to respectively communicate with the ink supply ports
507m, 507c and 507y of the outer casing 520out. The external tank 590Tm
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CA 02932434 2016-06-01
and the tube 590Cm are connectable with the ink supply port 507m; the
external tank 590Tc and the tube 590Cc are connectable with the ink supply
port 507c; and the external tank 590Ty and the tube 590Cy are connectable
with the ink supply port 507y. This configuration allows magenta ink to be
supplied through the ink supply port 507m into the liquid introducing part
710m of the carriage 8 (Fig. 4), allows cyan ink to be supplied through the
ink supply port 507c into the liquid introducing part 710c and allows yellow
ink to be supplied through the ink supply port 507y into the liquid
introducing part 710y. The cartridge 5E of the multi-part structure also
suppresses diffusion of leaked ink and other advantageous effects described
above.
[0099] B-3. Other Modifications
The present invention is not limited to the inkjet printer or its ink
cartridges but is also applicable to any liquid ejection device configured to
eject another liquid but ink and a cartridge (liquid container) configured to
contain another liquid. For example, the invention may be applied to any of
various liquid ejection devices and their liquid containers:
(1) image recording device, such as a facsimile machine;
(2) color material ejection device used to manufacture color filters for
an image display device, e.g., a liquid crystal display;
(3) electrode material ejection device used to form electrodes of, for
example, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display and a field emission
display (FED);
(4) liquid ejection device configured to eject a bioorganic
material-containing liquid used for manufacturing biochips;
(5) sample ejection device used as a precision pipette;
(6) ejection device of lubricating oil;
(7) ejection device of a resin solution;
(8) liquid ejection device for pinpoint ejection of lubricating oil on
precision machines such as watches or cameras;
(9) liquid ejection device configured to eject a transparent resin
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CA 02932434 2016-06-01
=
=
solution, such as an ultraviolet curable resin solution, onto a substrate in
order to manufacture a hemispherical microlens (optical lens) used for, for
example, optical communication elements;
(10) liquid ejection device configured to eject an acidic or alkaline
etching solution in order to etch a substrate or the like; and
(11) liquid ejection device equipped with a liquid ejection head for
ejecting a very small volume of droplets of any other liquid.
[0100]
The "droplet" herein means the state of liquid ejected from the liquid
ejection device and may be in a granular shape, a teardrop shape or a
tapered threadlike shape. The "liquid" herein may be any material
ejectable by the liquid ejection device. The "liquid" may be any material in
the liquid phase. For example, liquid-state materials of high viscosity or
low viscosity, liquid materials in sol-gel process and other liquid-state
materials including inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid
resins and liquid metals (metal melts) are included in the "liquid". The
"liquid" is not limited to the liquid state as one of the three states of
matter
but includes solutions, dispersions and mixtures of the functional solid
material particles, such as pigment particles or metal particles, solved in,
dispersed in or mixed with a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include
ink described in the above embodiment and liquid crystal. The ink herein
includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as various
liquid compositions, such as gel inks and hot-melt inks.
[01011 The invention is not limited to any of the embodiments, the
examples and the modifications described herein but may be implemented by
a diversity of other configurations without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, the technical features of the embodiments,
examples or modifications corresponding to the technical features of the
respective aspects described in Summary may be replaced or combined
appropriately, in order to solve part or all of the problems described above
or
in order to achieve part or all of the advantageous effects described above.
Any of the technical features may be omitted appropriately unless the
technical feature is described as essential herein.
- 40
[0102] In the
embodiment and modifications described above, the guide
projection 723 is provided on the cartridge attachment structure 7, while the
first groove 580 in which the guide projection 723 is inserted is provided on
the cartridge 5. In one modification, the guide projection 723 shown in Fig.
4 may be replaced by a plurality of projections protruded discretely along the
length from between the liquid introducing part 710m and the liquid
introducing part 710c adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction to the
liquid introducing part 710y. The first groove 580 may be formed as a single
concave as shown in Fig. 14 or may be formed as a plurality of concaves in
which the plurality of projections are individually inserted. The definition
of "groove" includes not only a dent portion formed on the cartridge 5 but
also
a slot completely penetrates through the cartridge 5.
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