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Description
Title of Invention: LIQUID CARTRIDGE, LIQUID CONSUMING
APPARATUS, METHOD OF INSERTING LIQUID CARTRIDGE
INTO CARTRIDGE MOUNTING PORTION OF LIQUID
CONSUMING APPARATUS, AND USE OF LIQUID
CARTRIDGE
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge, to a liquid
consuming apparatus, to
a method of inserting the liquid cartridge into a cartridge mounting portion
of a liquid
consuming apparatus, and to a use of the liquid cartridge.
Background Art
[0002] A known ink-jet recording apparatus is configured to record an image
on a medium
by ejecting ink stored in an ink cartridge from nozzles onto the medium. When
ink is
used up, the ink cartridge is replaced.
[0003] A known apparatus, as described in U.S. Patent Number 5,949,459, has
a container
receiving station configured to receive an ink container, and the container
receiving
station has latching features. The ink container has the corresponding
latching features.
When the ink container is inserted into the container receiving station, the
latching
features of the ink container engage the corresponding latching features of
the
container receiving portion, and thereby the ink container is locked in the
container
receiving station against urging forces of springs.
Summary of Invention
[0004] In the known apparatus, the ink container needs to pivot from an
attitude in which the
latching features of the ink container do not engage the corresponding
latching features
of the container receiving portion to an attitude in which the latching
features of the
ink container engage the corresponding features of the container receiving
portion, so
that the ink container is locked against the urging forces of springs.
Therefore, a user
needs to intentionally apply a force to the rear face of the ink container in
a direction
(horizontal direction) opposite the direction in which the springs urge the
ink
container, and in a direction (downward direction) intersecting the direction
in which
the springs urge the ink container, so that the ink container can pivot and
the latching
features can engage the corresponding latching features.
[0005] Because the springs urge a lower portion of the front face of the
ink container, if a
user pushes an upper portion (pointed by an arrow in Patent Number 5,949,459)
of the
rear face of the ink container, the ink container pivots upward about a point
where the
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springs urge the ink container. Therefore a user needs to intentionally have
the ink
container pivot downward after pushing the ink container in the horizontal
direction.
[0006] Therefore, a need has arisen for a liquid cartridge which overcomes
these and other
shortcomings of the related art. A technical advantage of the present
invention is that a
liquid cartridge may readily be locked in a liquid consuming apparatus.
[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a liquid cartridge
is configured to be
inserted into a liquid consuming apparatus in a first direction along a
horizontal
direction against an urging force directed in a second direction opposite the
first
direction, and thereby to be mounted to the liquid consuming apparatus. The
liquid
cartridge comprises: a liquid chamber configured to store liquid therein; a
front face
facing the first direction when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the
liquid consuming
apparatus; a liquid supply portion positioned at the front face and configured
to allow
insertion of a liquid supply tube of the liquid consuming apparatus thereinto;
a seal
member positioned at the liquid supply portion and having a liquid supply
opening
formed therethrough, wherein the seal member is configured to contact an outer
surface of the liquid supply tube while being elastically deformed when the
liquid
supply tube is inserted through the liquid supply opening; an upper face
facing an
upward direction when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the liquid
consuming
apparatus; a lock surface positioned at the upper face and configured to
contact a lock
portion of the liquid consuming apparatus in the second direction; and a rear
face
facing the second direction when the liquid cartridge is inserted into the
liquid
consuming apparatus, wherein the liquid cartridge is configured to pivot about
a pivot
center which is a center of the liquid supply opening, when the liquid
cartridge is
inserted into the liquid consuming apparatus and the liquid supply tube is
inserted
through the liquid supply opening, wherein the liquid cartridge is configured
to pivot
between a first attitude and a second attitude, wherein when the liquid
cartridge is in
the first attitude, the lock surface contacts the lock portion in the second
direction and
movement of the liquid cartridge relative to the liquid consuming apparatus in
the
second direction is restricted, and wherein when the liquid cartridge is in
the second
attitude, the lock surface is positioned further in a downward direction than
the lock
portion, and the rear face comprises a first portion and a second portion
positioned
further in the upward direction than the first portion, wherein the first
portion
comprises a portion positioned further in the downward direction than the
pivot center,
and the first portion is positioned further in the first direction than the
second portion.
[0008] With this configuration, because the first portion is positioned
further in the first
direction than the second portion when the liquid cartridge is inserted into
the liquid
consuming apparatus, a user tends to push the second portion, which is
positioned
closer to the user, and tends not to push the first portion. When the second
portion is
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pushed, a moment of force is applied to the liquid cartridge in the liquid
consuming
apparatus, such that the liquid cartridge pivots about the pivot center from
the second
attitude to the first attitude. The lock surface of the liquid cartridge in
the first attitude
contacts the lock portion in the second direction, and the movement of the
liquid
cartridge relative to the liquid consuming apparatus in the second direction
is re-
stricted, i.e., the liquid cartridge is locked in the liquid consuming
apparatus. A user
can readily insert and lock the liquid cartridge in the liquid consuming
apparatus.
[0009] Optionally, the second portion comprises a letter or symbol thereon,
and the letter or
symbol indicates that the second portion is supposed to be pushed.
[0010] With this configuration, a user is urged to push the second portion.
[0011] Optionally, the following condition is satisfied: FH > GL. G is a
magnitude of a
gravitational force acting on the liquid cartridge at least when the liquid
chamber is
completely filled with the liquid or when the liquid in the liquid chamber is
consumed,
F is a magnitude of the urging force urging the liquid cartridge in the second
direction
when the liquid cartridge is in the first attitude, L is a distance between
the center of
gravity of the liquid cartridge and the pivot center along the first direction
when the
liquid cartridge is in the second attitude, and H is a height of a lower end
of the second
portion from the pivot center along the upward direction perpendicular to the
first
direction when the liquid cartridge is in the second attitude.
[0012] With this configuration, a moment of force generated by the second
portion being
pushed and causing the liquid cartridge to pivot from the second attitude to
the first
attitude becomes greater than a moment of force generated by the gravitational
force
acting on the liquid cartridge and causing the liquid cartridge to pivot from
the first
attitude to the second attitude.
[0013] Optionally, the first portion is a plane intersecting a first
virtual plane at an angle of a
degrees when the liquid cartridge is in the second attitude, and the first
virtual plane is
perpendicular to the first direction. The following condition is satisfied:
(Fcosa)N
>GL. N is a length of a perpendicular line extending from the pivot center to
a second
virtual plane which is perpendicular to the first portion and intersects a
lower end of
the first portion.
[0014] With this configuration, even if the first portion is pushed, a
moment of force
generated by the first portion being pushed and causing the liquid cartridge
to pivot
from the second attitude to the first attitude becomes greater than the moment
of force
generated by the gravitational force acting on the liquid cartage and causing
the liquid
cartridge to pivot from the first attitude to the second attitude.
[0015] Optionally, the liquid cartridge further comprises a receive portion
configured to
receive the urging force directed in the second direction, wherein the receive
portion is
positioned further in the downward direction than the liquid supply portion
when the
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liquid cartridge is in the second attitude.
[0016] With this configuration, an additional moment of force is applied to
the liquid
cartridge, causing the liquid cartridge to pivot from the second attitude to
the first
attitude.
[0017] Optionally, the receive portion is configured to receive the urging
force from an
urging member provided in the liquid consuming apparatus.
[0018] Optionally, the liquid cartridge further comprises an electrical
interface positioned at
the upper face and configured to contact a contact provided in the liquid
consuming
apparatus when the liquid cartridge is in both the first attitude and the
second attitude
in the liquid consuming apparatus, wherein when the liquid cartridge is in the
second
attitude, a position of the pivot center along the first direction and a
position of the
electrical interface along the first direction at least partly overlap.
[0019] With this configuration, the magnitude of a moment of force
generated by an urging
force of the contact and applied to the liquid cartridge is zero or very
small.
[0020] Optionally, the liquid cartridge further comprises an operation
surface positioned at
the upper face and positioned further in the second direction than the lock
surface.
[0021] With this configuration, because the operation surface is positioned
more remote
from the pivot center than the lock surface is, when a user intends to release
the liquid
cartridge from the first attitude, the user can readily operate the operation
surface to
cause the liquid cartridge to pivot from the first attitude to the second
attitude.
[0022] The operation surface faces the upward direction and the second
direction.
[0023] With this configuration, when a user operates the operation surface
to release the
liquid cartridge from the first attitude, the user's force is directed toward
the downward
direction and the first direction. Due to the force directed toward the first
direction, the
lock surface separates from the lock portion. Due to the force directed toward
the
downward direction, the liquid cartridge pivots from the first attitude to the
second
attitude. Therefore, compared to a situation in which the liquid cartridge
pivots from
the first attitude to the second attitude while the lock surface slides on the
lock portion,
the force needed to be applied to the operation surface to cause the liquid
cartridge to
pivot from the first attitude to the second attitude becomes smaller, and the
user can
readily release the liquid cartridge..
[0024] Optionally, the operation surface does not move relative to the
liquid chamber.
[0025] With this configuration, a force applied to the operation surface is
directly
transmitted to the liquid cartridge without changing its direction.
[0026] Optionally, the upper face comprises a sub upper face positioned
further in the
downward direction than the operation surface when the liquid cartridge is in
the first
attitude, the operation surface and the sub upper face at least partly overlap
in the
downward direction, and a space is formed between the operation surface and
the sub
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upper face in the downward direction.
[0027] With this configuration, the operation surface becomes recognizable
to a user.
[0028] Optionally, the operation surface comprises a plurality of elongated
protrusions.
[0029] With this configuration, the operation surface becomes recognizable
to a user, and
the operation surface becomes nonskid when the user operates the operation
surface
with his/her finger.
[0030] Optionally, when the liquid cartridge is in the first attitude, an
upper end of the lock
surface is positioned outside of a virtual circle and a lower end of the lock
surface is
positioned within the virtual circle, wherein the virtual circle has a center
at the pivot
center and intersects the lock portion.
[0031] With this configuration, when the urging force is applied to the
liquid cartridge in the
removal direction while the lock surface contacts the lock portion, the lock
portion
slides on the lock surface toward the lower end of the lock surface.
[0032] Optionally, the liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a
case of the liquid
consuming apparatus, and the lock surface is configured to contact the lock
portion
which does not move relative to the case.
[0033] With this configuration, the liquid cartridge pivots to be locked by
the lock portion
which does not move relative to the case.
[0034] Optionally, a liquid consuming apparatus comprises; the afore-
mentioned liquid
cartridge; and a cartridge mounting portion, wherein the liquid cartridge is
configured
to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion in the first direction
against the
urging force directed in the second direction, and thereby to be mounted to
the
cartridge mounting portion, and the cartridge mounting portion comprises: the
liquid
supply tube configured to be inserted into the liquid supply portion; and the
lock
portion configured to contact the lock surface.
[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, a liquid cartridge
comprises: a liquid
chamber configured to store liquid therein; a front face; a rear face, wherein
the liquid
chamber is positioned between the front face and the rear face, and the rear
face
comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; an upper face; an lower face,
wherein
the liquid chamber is positioned between the upper face and the lower face; a
liquid
supply portion positioned at the front face; a seal member positioned at the
liquid
supply portion and having elasticity, wherein the seal member has a liquid
supply
opening formed therethrough, and the liquid supply opening has a central axis;
a lock
surface positioned at the upper face; and an operation surface positioned at
the upper
face, wherein a distance from the lock surface to the front face in a first
direction is
greater than a distance from the lock surface to the rear face in a second
direction, the
distance from the lock surface to the front face in the first direction is
less than a
distance from the operation surface to the front face in the first direction,
a distance
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from the upper portion to the lower face in a third direction is greater than
a distance
from the lower portion to the lower face in the third direction, a distance
from the
upper portion to the front face in the first direction is greater than a
distance from the
lower portion to the front face in the first direction, the lower portion
comprises a
portion positioned between the central axis of the liquid supply opening and
the lower
face in the third direction, the first direction extends from the rear face
toward the front
face, the second direction is opposite to the first direction and extends from
the front
face toward the rear face, and the third direction is perpendicular to the
first direction
and the second direction and extends from the upper face toward the lower
face.
[0036] With this configuration, the liquid cartridge can readily be locked
in the liquid
consuming apparatus, and also can readily be released.
[0037] Optionally, the lower portion is closer to the front face at a
position closer to the
lower face, or the lower portion becomes closer to the front face as it
approaches to the
lower face.
[0038] With this configuration, even if the lower portion is pushed, a
moment of force
generated by the lower portion being pushed and causing the liquid cartridge
to pivot
from the second attitude to the first attitude becomes greater than a moment
of force
generated by the gravitational force acting on the liquid cartage and causing
the liquid
cartridge to pivot from the first attitude to the second attitude.
[0039] Optionally, the lower portion comprises a plane.
[0040] Optionally, the upper face comprises a sub upper face positioned
further in the third
direction than the operation surface, a position of the operation surface
along the first
direction and a position of the sub upper face along the first direction at
least partly
overlap, or the operation surface and the sub upper face at least partly
overlap in the
third direction, and a space is formed between the operation surface and the
sub upper
face in the third direction.
[0041] With this configuration, the operation surface becomes recognizable
to a user.
[0042] Optionally, the operation surface is viewable when the liquid
cartridge is viewed in
the third direction, and the operation surface is viewable when the liquid
cartridge is
viewed in the first direction.
[0043] With this configuration, when a user operates the operation surface
to release the
liquid cartridge from the first attitude, the user's force is directed toward
the first
direction and the third direction. Due to the force directed toward the first
direction, the
lock surface separates from the lock portion. Due to the force directed toward
the third
direction, the liquid cartridge pivots from the first attitude to the second
attitude.
Therefore, compared to a situation in which the liquid cartridge pivots from
the first
attitude to the second attitude while the lock surface slides on the lock
portion, the
force needed to be applied to the operation surface to cause the liquid
cartridge to pivot
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from the first attitude to the second attitude becomes smaller, and the user
can readily
release the liquid cartridge.
[0044] Optionally, at least a portion of the operation surface protrudes
further than the lock
surface in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction and extending
from the
lower face toward the upper face.
[0045] With this configuration, even when the liquid cartridge falls with
the upper face
facing downward, the lock surface may be protected by the at least a portion
of the
operation surface and may not be damaged.
[0046] Optionally, the operation surface comprises a plurality of
protrusions formed thereon.
Optionally, the plurality of protrusions is a plurality of elongated
protrusions.
[0047] With this configuration, the operation surface becomes recognizable
to a user, and
the operation surface becomes nonskid when the user operates the operation
surface
with his/her finger.
[0048] Optionally, the operation surface does not move relative to the
liquid chamber.
[0049] With this configuration, a force applied to the operation surface is
directly
transmitted to the liquid cartridge without changing its direction.
[0050] Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent to persons
of ordinary skill
in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the ac-
companying drawings.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0051] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, needs
satisfied thereby,
and the objects, features, and advantages thereof, reference now is made to
the
following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
[fig.11Fig. 1 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a printer comprising a
cartridge
mounting portion and an ink cartridge, according to an embodiment of the
present
invention.
[fig.21Fig. 2 is a front view of the cartridge mounting portion.
[fig.3A1Fig. 3A is a perspective view of the ink cartridge, viewed from front
and
above.
[fig.3B1Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the ink cartridge, viewed from front
and
below.
[fig.4A1Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the ink cartridge, viewed from behind
and
above.
[fig.4B1Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the ink cartridge, viewed from behind
and
below.
[fig.51Fig. 5 is a side view of the ink cartridge.
[fig.61Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge, showing
the inside
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of the ink cartridge.
[fig.71Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the
cartridge
mounting portion, in which the ink cartridge has started to be inserted into
the cartridge
mounting portion.
[fig.81Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the
cartridge
mounting portion, in which a second protrusion contacts a slider.
[fig.91Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the
cartridge
mounting portion, in which an ink supply portion has started to enter a guide
portion,
and a rod has started to enter a recess of a front cover.
[fig.10]Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and
the cartridge
mounting portion, in which an ink supply tube is inserted through an ink
supply
opening of the ink supply portion.
[fig.11]Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and
the cartridge
mounting portion, in which the ink cartridge is locked in the cartridge
mounting
portion.
[fig.12]Fig. 12 is a side view of the ink cartridge in the second attitude, in
which a
force is applied to an upper portion of a rear face.
[fig.13]Fig. 13 is a side view of the ink cartridge in the second attitude, in
which a
force is applied to a lower portion of a rear face.
[fig.14]Fig. 14 is a side view of the ink cartridge in the first attitude, in
which a virtual
circle is shown.
[fig.15A]Fig. 15A is a plane view of the ink cartridge viewed in a downward
direction.
[fig.15B]Fig. 15B is a rear view of the ink cartridge viewed in a forward
direction.
Description of Embodiments
[0052] Embodiments of the present invention, and their features and
advantages, may be un-
derstood by referring to Figs. 1-15B, like numerals being used for like
corresponding
parts in the various drawings.
[0053] In the following embodiments, an ink cartridge 30 is inserted into a
cartridge
mounting portion 110 in an insertion direction 51, as an example of a first
direction,
and the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 in
a
removal direction 52, as an example of a second direction, which is oppose to
the
insertion direction 51. In the following embodiments, the insertion direction
51 is a
horizontal direction, and the removal direction 52 is also a horizontal
direction. Nev-
ertheless, in another embodiment, the insertion direction 51 and the removal
direction
52 may not be a horizontal direction. In the following embodiments, a downward
direction 53 is the gravitational direction, and an upward direction 54 is a
direction
opposite to the gravitational direction. Moreover, a right direction 55 is
perpendicular
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to the insertion direction 51 and the downward direction 53, and a left
direction 56 is
opposite to the right direction 55 and perpendicular to the insertion
direction 51 and the
downward direction 53. More specifically, the right direction 55 extends
rightward and
the left direction 56 extends leftward when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in
the
removal direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is in a mounted attitude, as an
example
of a first attitude. The mounted attitude is an attitude that the ink
cartridge 30 takes
when the ink cartridge 30 has been inserted into the cartridge mounting
portion 110 up
to a mounted position and is locked in the cartridge mounting portion 110. Fur-
thermore, the insertion direction 51 is also called a forward direction 57,
and the
removal direction 52 is also called a rearward direction 58.
[0054] <Printer 10>
Referring to Fig. 1, a liquid consuming apparatus, e.g., a printer 10 is an
inkjet
printer configured to record an image on a sheet of recording paper by
ejecting ink
droplets selectively on the sheet of recording paper. The printer 10 comprises
a liquid
consuming portion, e.g., a recording head 21, an ink supply device 100, and an
ink
tube 20 connecting the recording head 21 and the ink supply device 100. The
ink
supply device 100 comprises the cartridge mounting portion 110. The cartridge
mounting portion 110 is configured to allow a liquid cartridge, e.g., the ink
cartridge
30 to be mounted therein. The cartridge mounting portion 110 has an opening
112 and
the interior of the cartridge mounting portion 110 is exposed to the exterior
of the
cartridge mounting portion 110 via opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is
configured to
be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 via the opening 112 in the
insertion
direction 51, and to be removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 via
the
opening 112 in the removal direction 52.
[0055] The ink cartridge 30 is configured to store ink, as an example of
liquid, which is used
by the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are
fluidically
connected via the ink tube 20 when mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the
cartridge
mounting portion 110 has been completed. The recording head 21 comprises a sub
tank
28. The sub tank 28 is configured to temporarily store ink supplied via the
ink tube 20
from the ink cartridge 30. The recording head 21 comprises nozzles 29 and is
configured to selectively eject ink supplied from the sub tank 28 through the
nozzles
29. More specifically, the recording head 21 comprises a head control board
(not
shown) and piezoelectric actuators 29A corresponding to the nozzles 29, and
the head
control board is configured to selectively apply driving voltage to the
piezoelectric
actuators 29A. As such, ink is ejected from the nozzles 29.
[0056] The printer 10 comprises a paper feed tray 15, a paper feed roller
23, a conveying
roller pair 25, a platen 26, a discharge roller pair 27, and a discharge tray
16. A
conveying path 24 is formed from the paper feed tray 15 up to the discharge
tray 16 via
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the conveying roller pair 25, the platen 26, and the discharge roller pair 27.
The paper
feed roller 23 is configured to feed a sheet of recording paper from the paper
feed tray
15 to the conveying path 24. The conveying roller pair 25 is configured to
convey the
sheet of recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 onto the platen 26.
The
recording head 21 is configured to selectively eject ink onto the sheet of
recording
paper passing over the platen 26. Accordingly, an image is recorded on the
sheet of
recording paper. The sheet of recording paper having passed over the platen 26
is
discharged by the discharge roller pair 27 to the paper discharge tray 16
disposed at the
most downstream side of the conveying path 24.
[0057] <Ink supply device 100>
Referring to Fig. 1, the printer 10 comprises the ink supply device 100. The
ink
supply device 100 is configured to supply ink to the recording head 21. The
ink supply
device 100 comprises the cartridge mounting portion 110 to which the ink
cartridge 30
is mountable. In Fig. 1, mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge
mounting
portion 110 has been completed, in other words, the ink cartridge 30 is in the
mounted
attitude (first attitude).
[0058] <Cartridge mounting portion 110>
Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the cartridge mounting portion 110 is configured
to
receive four ink cartridges 30 storing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks,
re-
spectively. The cartridge mounting portion 110 comprises a case 101, and four
ink
supply tubes 102, four sensors 103, four sets of four contacts 106, four
sliders 107, and
four rods 125, corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30, respectively. The
cartridge
mounting portion 110 also comprises a lock portion 145. One common lock
portion
145 is used for the four ink cartridges 30. The number of the ink cartridges
30 is not
limited to four. For instance, in another embodiment, the cartridge mounting
portion
110 may be configured to receive only one ink cartridge 30, six ink cartridges
30, or
eight ink cartridges 30.
[0059] <Case 101>
The case 101 has a box shape and forms the outer shape of the cartridge
mounting
portion 110. The case 101 has an inner space formed therein. The case 101
comprises
an upper portion defining the upper end of the inner space, a lower portion
defining the
lower end of the inner space, and an end surface connected to the upper
portion and the
lower portion. The case 101 has the opening 112 formed opposite from the end
surface
in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The opening 112
can be
exposed to the outside of the printer 10 through a user-interface surface of
the printer
10. The user-interface surface is a surface that a user faces and touches when
the user
uses the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is configured to be inserted into
and removed
from the case 101 through the opening 112. Each of the upper portion and the
lower
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portion of the case 101 has a guide groove 109 formed therein, and the guide
groove
109 extends in the insertion direction 51 from the opening 112. When the ink
cartridge
30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101, an upper end portion of the
ink
cartridge 30 is in the guide groove 109 of the upper portion of the case 101,
and a
lower end portion of the ink cartridge 30 is in the guide groove 109 of the
lower
portion of the case 101, such that the movement of the ink cartridge 30 is
guided in the
insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The case 101 comprises
three
plates 104 extending in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53,
and
the three plates 104 divide the inner space of the case 101 into four
vertically-
elongated spaces. Each of the four spaces receives the corresponding one of
the ink
cartridges 30.
[0060] <Ink supply tube 102>
Referring to Figs. 1 , 2 and 7, the ink supply tube 102 is made of synthetic
resin and
positioned at a lower portion of the end surface of the case 101 at a position
corre-
sponding to an ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 mounted to the
cartridge
mounting portion 110. The ink supply tube 102 extends from the end surface of
the
case 101 in the removal direction 52.
[0061] A cylindrical guide portion 105 is provided to surround the ink
supply tube 102. The
guide portion 105 extends from the end surface of the case 101 in the removal
direction 52, and has an inner space which is open at the distal end of the
guide portion
105. The ink supply tube 102 is positioned at the center of the inner space of
the guide
portion 105. The guide portion 105 has such a shape that it can receive the
ink supply
portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 in the inner space of the guide portion
105.
[0062] Referring to Fig. 10, during the insertion of the ink cartridge 30
into the cartridge
mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51, i.e., while the ink
cartridge 30
moves toward the mounted position, the ink supply portion 34 of the ink
cartridge 30
enters the inner space of the guide portion 105. When the ink cartridge is
further
inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction
51, the ink
supply tube 102 is inserted through an ink supply opening 71 formed in the ink
supply
portion 34. When this occurs, a valve 77 provided in the ink supply portion 34
moves
to open the ink supply opening 71. As a result, the ink supply tube 102 and
the ink
supply portion 34 are connected to each other. Ink stored in an ink chamber 36
of the
ink cartridge 30 flows into ink tube 20 connected to the ink supply tube 102
via an
inner space of a cylindrical wall 73 of the ink supply portion 34 and an inner
space of
the ink supply tube 102. The ink supply tube 102 may have a flat end surface
or
pointed end.
[0063] <Slider 107>
Referring to Figs. 7 to 11, the lower portion of the case 101 comprises a
groove
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bottom wall defining the bottom end of the guide groove 109. The groove bottom
wall
has an opening 111 formed therethrough in the upward direction 54 and the
downward
direction 53 at a positon adjacent to the end surface of the case 101, and the
opening
111 extends in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. The
slider 107
is positioned in the opening 111. The slider 107 extends from a space below
the groove
bottom wall to a space above the groove bottom wall through the opening 111.
The
case 101 comprises a guide rail 113 extending in the insertion direction 51
and the
removal direction 52, and the slider 107 is configured to slide on the guide
rail 113 in
the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 in the opening 111. A
pulling
spring 114 is connected to the case 101 at one end and to the slider 107 at
the other
end. The pulling spring 114 pulls the slider 107 in the removal direction 52.
Therefore,
when an external force is not applied to the slider 107, the slider 107 is
positioned at
the end of the guide rail 113 in the removal direction 52. When an external
force is
applied to the slider 107 in the insertion direction 51, the slider 107 moves
from the
end of the guide rail 113 in the insertion direction 51 along the guide rail
113 in the
opening 111.
[0064] Referring to Fig. 8, during the insertion of the ink cartridge 30
into the cartridge
mounting portion 110 in the insertion direction 51, i.e., while the ink
cartridge 30
moves toward the mounted position, a second protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge
30
moves in the guide groove 109 in the insertion direction 51 and contact the
slider 107.
When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge mounting
portion 110 in
the insertion direction 51, the second protrusion 86 pushes the slider 107 in
the
insertion direction 51, and the slider 107 moves in the insertion direction 51
against an
urging force of the pulling spring 114. The second protrusion 86 of the ink
cartridge 30
receives the urging force in the second direction 52 from the slider 107. The
slider 107
and the pulling spring 114 are an example of an urging member.
[0065] <Lock portion 145>
Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the lock portion 145 is positioned adjacent to the
upper
portion of the case 101 and the opening 112. The lock portion 145 has an
elongated
shape extends in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 in the case
101. For
instance, the lock portion 145 is a metal circular cylinder. The lock portion
145 has a
left end in the left direction 56 and a right end in the right direction 55,
and the case
101 has a left end wall defining the end of the inner space of the case 101 in
the left
direction 56 and a right end wall defining the end of the inner space of the
case 101 in
the right direction 55. The left end of the lock portion 145 is fixed at the
left end wall
of the case 101, and the right end of the lock portion 145 is fixed at the
right end wall
of the case 101. The lock portion 145 does not move relative to the case 101,
e.g., does
not pivot relative to the case 101. The lock portion 145 extends over the four
spaces
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into which the four cartridges 30 are mountable, respectively. A space is
formed
around the lock portion 145 in each of the four spaces. Therefore, the lock
portion 145
is accessible in the upward direction 54 and in the removal direction 52.
[0066] The lock portion 145 is used for locking the ink cartridge 30 in the
mounted position
when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted to the cartridge mounting portion 110.
When the
ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 and
pivots to the
mounted attitude as an example of the first attitude, the ink cartridge 30
contacts the
lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52, and the lock portion 145 locks
or retains
the ink cartridge 30 against the urging force from the slider 107, which
urging force
urges the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52, and against an urging
force of a
coil spring 78 of the ink cartridge 30, which urging force also urges the ink
cartridge
30 in the removal direction 52.
[0067] <Contacts 106>
Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the four contacts 106 are positioned adjacent to
the upper
portion of the case 101 and the end surface of the case 101. Although not
shown in the
drawings, the four contacts 106 are aligned with and spaced apart from each
other in
the left direction 56 and the right direction 55. The arrangement of the four
contacts
106 corresponds to the arrangement of four electrodes 65 of the ink cartridge
30. Each
contact 106 is made of a material having electric conductivity and elasticity
and can be
elastically deformed in the upward direction 54. The four sets of four
contacts 106 are
provided, corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30, respectively. The
number of
contacts 106 in one set is not limited to four, but may be two, three or more
than four,
and the number of electrodes 65 of one ink cartridge 30 is not limited to
four, but may
be two, three or more than four.
[0068] Each contact 106 is electrically connected to an arithmetic unit
(not shown) of the
printer 10 via an electric circuit. The arithmetic unit may comprise a CPU, a
ROM, and
a RAM, and may be used as a controller for controlling the operations of the
printer 10.
When the contacts 106 and the corresponding electrodes 65 contact, voltage may
be
applied to one of the electrodes 65 from the printer 10, or one of the
electrode 65 may
be grounded. When the contacts 106 and the corresponding electrodes 65
contact, data
stored in an IC of the ink cartridge 30 becomes accessible from the printer
10, and the
data can be transmitted to the arithmetic unit via the electric circuit of the
printer 10.
[0069] <Rod 125>
Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the rod 125 is positioned at the end surface of
the case 101
above the ink supply tube 102. The rod 125 extends from the end surface in the
removal direction 52. The rod 125 has a cross-sectional shape taken along a
plane per-
pendicular to the removal direction 52, and the cross-sectional shape of the
rod 125 is
substantially an inversed U-shape, like an upper half of a circle. The rod 125
has a rib
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extending from the uppermost part of the U-shaped portion, and the rib extends
in the
removal direction 52. The rod 125 is inserted into a recess 96 formed in the
ink
cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted to the cartridge mounting
portion
110, i.e., when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounted position.
[0070] <Sensor 103>
Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the sensor 103 is positioned at the upper portion
of the
case 101. The sensor 103 comprises a light emitting portion and a light
receiving
portion. The light receiving portion is spaced apart from the light emitting
portion in
the right direction 55 or the left direction 56. The light emitting portion
and the light
receiving portion faces each other in the right direction 55 and the left
direction 56.
When the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion
110 is
completed, a detection portion 62 of the ink cartridge 30 is positioned
between the
light emitting portion and the light receiving portion.
[0071] The light emitting portion of the sensor 103 is configured to emit
light, e.g., visible
or infrared light. The sensor 103 is configured to output different signals
based on
whether or not the light receiving portion receives the light emitted from the
light
emitting portion. If the light receiving portion does not receive the light
emitted from
the light emitting portion, i.e., if the intensity of light received by the
light receiving
portion is less than a threshold value, the sensor 103 outputs a Low-level
signal, i.e., a
signal whose level is less than a threshold level. On the other hand, if the
light
receiving portion receives the light emitted from the light emitting portion,
i.e., the
intensity of light received by the light receiving portion is greater than or
equal to the
threshold value, the sensor outputs a High-level signal, i.e., a signal whose
level is
greater than or equal to the threshold level.
[0072] <Ink cartridge 30>
Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, the ink cartridge 30 is a container configured to
store ink.
The ink cartridge 30 has an inner space formed therein, and the inner space is
the ink
chamber 36, as an example of a liquid chamber, configured to store ink, as an
example
of liquid. The ink cartridge 30 comprises an inner frame 35, a rear cover 31,
and a front
cover 32. The rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 are attached to each other,
and the
inner frame 35 is enclosed by the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32. The
rear cover
31 and the front cover 32 forms the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30. The
ink
chamber 36 is formed in the inner frame 35. In another embodiment, the ink
cartridge
35 may not have the inner frame 35, and the rear cover 31 and the front cover
32 may
define the ink chamber 36.
[0073] The attitude of the ink cartridge 30 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 and 15 is
the mounted
attitude, as an example of the first attitude. As described below, the ink
cartridge 30
comprises a front face 140, a rear face 41, an upper face 39, 141, and a lower
face 42,
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142, as outer faces of the ink cartridge 30. When the ink cartridge 30 takes
the attitude
shown in Figs. 3 to 6 and 15, the direction extending from the rear face 41 to
front face
140 coincides with the insertion direction 51 and the forward direction 57,
the direction
extending from the front face 140 to the rear face 41 coincides with the
removal
direction 52 and the rearward direction 58, the direction extending from the
upper face
39, 141 to the lower face 42, 142 coincides with the downward direction 53,
the
direction extending from the lower face 42, 142 to the upper face 39, 141
coincides
with the upward direction 54. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and
mounted
to the cartridge mounting portion 110, the front face 140 faces the insertion
direction
51 and the forward direction 57, the rear face 41 faces the removal direction
52 and the
rearward direction 58, the lower face 42, 142 faces the downward direction 53,
and the
upper face 39, 141 faces the upward direction 54.
[0074] Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, the ink cartridge 30 has a width
dimension along the right
direction 55 and the left direction 56, a height dimension along the downward
direction
53 and the upward direction 54, a depth dimension along the forward direction
57 and
the rearward direction 58. The width dimension is less than each of the height
dimension and the depth dimension. The front cover 32 comprises the front face
140,
which faces the insertion direction 51 and the forward direction 57 when the
ink
cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the rear
cover 31
comprises the rear face 41, which faces the removal direction 52 and the
rearward
direction 58 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting
portion
110. The ink chamber 36 is positioned between the front face 140 and the rear
face 41.
[0075] <Rear cover 31>
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the rear cover 31 has a box shape having side
faces 37, 38
spaced apart from each other in the right direction 55 and the left direction
56, the
upper face 39 and the lower face 42 spaced apart from each other in the
downward
direction 53 and the upward direction 54, and the rear face 41. The side faces
37, 38
face the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, respectively, the upper
face 39
faces the upward direction 54, and the lower face 42 faces the downward
direction 53.
The side faces 37, 38, the upper face 39, and the lower face 42 extend from
the rear
face 41 in the insertion direction 51 and the forward direction 57, and the
inner space
of the rear cover 31 is opened toward the insertion direction 51 and the
forward
direction 57. The inner frame 35 is inserted into the inner space of the rear
cover 31
from the opening, i.e., the rear cover 31 covers a rear portion of the inner
frame 35.
The ink chamber 36 is positioned between the upper face 39 and the lower face
42
[0076] The rear face 41 comprises an upper portion 41U, as an example of a
second portion,
and a lower portion 41L, as an example of a first portion. The upper portion
41U is po-
sitioned above the lower portion 41L, i.e., the upper portion 41 is positioned
further in
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the upward direction 54 than the lower portion 41L. In other words, the lower
portion
41L is positioned below the upper portion 41U, i.e., the lower portion 41L is
po-
sitioned further in the downward direction 53 than the upper portion 41U. The
lower
portion 41L is positioned more forward than the upper portion 41U, i.e., the
lower
portion 41L is positioned further in the forward direction 57 than the upper
portion
41U. In this embodiment, each of the upper portion 41U and the lower potion
41L is a
plane, i.e., a flat surface. The upper portion 41U and the lower portion 41L
intersect
each other forming an angle therebetween, which angle is not a right angle.
The lower
portion 41L is inclined relative to the downward direction 53 and the upward
direction
54, such that the lower portion 41L becomes closer to the front face 140 as it
ap-
proaches to the lower face 42, i.e., the lower portion 41L is closer to the
front face 140
at a position closer to the lower face 42. Referring to Fig. 15B, the upper
portion 41U
comprises a letter or symbol thereon, and the letter or symbol indicates that
the upper
portion 41U is supposed to be pushed. For instance, the upper portion 41U
comprises
letters "PUSH" thereon, so that a user may push the upper portion 41U when the
user
inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. An
example of the
symbol may be an arrow or a picture of a finger.
[0077] Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the rear cover 31 comprises a protrusion
43 extending
from the upper face 39. The protrusion 43 is positioned at about the center of
the upper
face 39 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and extends in
the insertion
direction 51 (the forward direction 57) and the removal direction 52 (the
rearward
direction 58). The protrusion 43 comprises a lock surface 151 facing the
removal
direction 52 (the rearward direction 58). The lock surface 151 extends in the
upward
direction 54 and the downward direction 53. The lock surface 151 is configured
to
contact the lock portion 145 of the cartridge mounting portion 110 in the
removal
direction 52 when the ink cartridge is mounted to the cartridge mounting
portion 110.
By the lock surface 151 contacting the lock portion 145 in the removal
direction 52,
the ink cartridge 30 is locked or retained in the cartridge mounting portion
110 against
the urging force of the pulling spring 114 transmitted via the slider 107 and
the urging
force of the coil spring 78.
[0078] The protrusion 43 comprises reinforcing surfaces 152, 153. The
reinforcing surfaces
152, 153 are continuous with and extend from the right end and the left end of
the lock
surface 151 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, respectively.
The re-
inforcing surfaces 152, 153 extend from a virtual plane toward the insertion
direction
51 (the forward direction 57), forming acute angles between the reinforcing
surfaces
152, 153 and the virtual plane, respectively, which virtual plane includes the
lock
surface 151 and extends in the downward direction 53, the upward direction 53,
the
right direction 55, and the left direction 56. The reinforcing surfaces 152,
153 reinforce
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the strength and the rigidity of the protrusion 43, and therefore a likelihood
that the
lock surface 151 is damaged is reduced. Because the reinforcing surfaces 152,
153 do
not extend more rearward than the lock surface 151, i.e., the reinforcing
surfaces 152,
153 do not extend further in the rearward direction 58 than the lock surface
151, the re-
inforcing surfaces 152, 153 may not contact the lock portion 145 of the
cartridge
mounting portion 110. Therefore, if the lock surface 145 slides on the lock
portion 145,
the sliding resistance may not be increased by the reinforcing surfaces 152,
153.
[0079] The protrusion 43 comprises a horizontal surface 154 positioned in
front of the lock
surface 151, i.e., positioned further in the forward direction 57 than the
lock surface
151. The horizontal surface 154 is continuous with the lock surface 151. The
horizontal surface 154 extends in the right direction 55, the left direction
56, the
forward direction 57, and the rearward direction 58. The protrusion 43
comprises an
inclined surface 155 in front of the horizontal surface 154, i.e., positioned
further in the
forward direction 57 than the horizontal surface 154. The inclined surface 155
is
continuous with the horizontal surface 154. The inclined surface 155 faces the
upward
direction 54 and the forward direction 57. Therefore, the inclined surface 155
is
viewable when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53 and
is
viewable when the ink cartridge is viewed in the rearward direction 58.
Because the
horizontal plane 154 is positioned between the lock surface 154 and the
inclined
surface 155, the lock surface 151 and the inclined surface 155 do not
intersect each
other at an acute angle. During the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the
cartridge
mounting portion 110, the lock portion 145 of the cartridge mounting portion
145
slides on the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 and
therefore is
smoothly guided to a position more rearward than the lock surface 151, i.e., a
position
further in the rearward direction 58 than the lock surface 151.
[0080] The protrusion 43 comprises reinforcing surfaces 156, 157. The
reinforcing surfaces
156, 157 are continuous with and extend from the right end and the left end of
the
inclined surface 155 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56,
respectively. The
reinforcing surfaces 156, 157 extend from a virtual plane toward the downward
direction 53 forming acute angles between the reinforcing surfaces 156, 157
and the
virtual plane, respectively, which virtual plane includes the inclined surface
155 and
extends in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The reinforcing
surfaces 156,
157 reinforce the strength and the rigidity of the protrusion 43, and
therefore a
likelihood that the inclined surface 155 is damaged is reduced. Because the
reinforcing
surfaces 156, 157 do not extend more upward than the inclined surface 155,
i.e., the re-
inforcing surfaces 156, 157 do not extend further in the upward direction 54
than the
inclined surface 155, the reinforcing surfaces 156, 157 may not contact the
lock
portion 145 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. Therefore, if the inclined
surface
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155 slides on the lock portion 145, the sliding resistance may not be
increased by the
reinforcing surfaces 156, 157.
[0081] The rear cover 31 comprises an operation portion 90 at the upper
face 39, and the
operation portion 90 is positioned more rearward than the lock surface 151,
i.e., po-
sitioned further in the rearward direction 58 than the lock surface 151. The
upper face
39 comprises a sub upper face 91 positioned at the rear end of the upper face
39. The
sub upper face 91 is positioned below the rest of the upper face 39, i.e., the
sub upper
face 91 is positioned further in the downward direction 53 than the rest of
the upper
face 39. The operation portion 90 is positioned above the sub upper face 91,
i.e., the
operation portion 90 is positioned further in the upward direction 54 than the
sub upper
face 91, with a space formed therebetween. The operation portion 90 extends in
the
upward direction 54 beyond the protrusion 43 from a position adjacent to the
boundary
between the sub upper face 91 and the rest of the upper face 39, and then
extends
obliquely downward, i.e., in the rearward direction 58 and the downward
direction 53.
The rear cover 31 comprises a rib 94 extending between the operation portion
90 and
the sub upper face 91. The rib 94 is continuous with the operation portion 90
and the
sub upper face 91. The rib 94 also extends in the rearward direction 58.
Referring to
Fig. 15B, each of the rib 94, the operation portion 90, and the sub upper face
91 has a
dimension along the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and the
dimension of
the rib 94 is less than each of the dimension of the operation portion 90 and
the
dimension of the sub upper face 91 along the right direction 55 and the left
direction
56.
[0082] The operation portion 90 comprises an operation surface 92 facing
the upward
direction 54 and the rearward direction 58. The position of the operation
surface 92
and the position of the sub upper face 91 along the forward direction 57 and
the
rearward direction 58 at least partly overlap. In other words, the operation
surface 92
and the sub upper face 91 at least partly overlap in the downward direction 53
and the
upward direction 54. In other words, at least a portion of the operation
surface 92 is
aligned with at least a portion of the sub upper face 91 in the downward
direction 53
and the upward direction 54. The sub upper face 91 is positioned further in
the
downward direction 53 than the operation surface 92, and a space is formed
between
the operation surface 92 and the sub upper face 91 in the downward direction
53. The
operation surface 92 comprises a plurality of protrusions, i.e., a plurality
of elongated
protrusions 93, each extending in the right direction 55 and the left
direction 56. The
elongated protrusions 93 are spaced apart from each other in the forward
direction 57
and the rearward direction 58. With the elongated protrusions 93, the
operation surface
92 becomes recognizable to a user, and the operation surface 92 becomes
nonskid
when the user operates the operation surface 92 with his/her finger.
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[0083] Referring to Figs. 15A and 15B, the operation surface 92 is viewable
when the ink
cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53 and when the ink cartridge
30 is
viewed in the forward direction 57 and the insertion direction 51. In other
words, the
operation surface is viewable when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the
direction
extending from the upper face 39 toward the lower face 42 and when the ink
cartridge
30 is viewed in the direction extending from the rear face 41 toward the front
face 140.
The operation surface 92 is a surface a user operates for unlocking or
releasing the ink
cartridge 30 from the locked state in the cartridge mounting portion 110. The
operation
portion 90 is fixed to the rear cover 31, e.g., the operation portion 90 is
integrally
molded with the rear cover 31, and therefore the operation portion 90 does not
move
relative to the rear cover 31, e.g., does not pivot relative to the rear cover
31.
Therefore, a force applied to the operation surface 92 from a user is directly
transmitted to the rear cover 31, without changing its direction. In this
embodiment, the
operation portion 90 also does not move relative to the inner frame 35 or ink
chamber
36, e.g., does not pivot relative to the inner frame 35 or ink chamber 36.
[0084] At least a portion of the operation surface 92 protrudes further in
the upward
direction 54 than the lock surface 151.
[0085] <Front cover 32>
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the front cover 32 has a box shape having side
faces 143,
144 spaced apart from each other in the right direction 55 and the left
direction 56, the
upper face 141 and the lower face 142 spaced apart from each other in the
downward
direction 53 and the upward direction 54, and the front face 140. The side
faces 143,
144 face the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, respectively, the
upper face
141 faces the upward direction 54, and the lower face 142 faces the downward
direction 53. The side faces 143, 144, the upper face 141, and the lower face
142
extend from the front face 140 in the removal direction 52 and the rearward
direction
58, and the inner space of the front cover 32 is opened toward the removal
direction 52
and the rearward direction 58. The inner frame 35 is inserted into the inner
space of the
front cover 32 from the opening. The front cover 32 covers a front portion of
the inner
frame 35, which is not covered by the rear cover 31. The ink chamber 36 is
positioned
between the upper face 141 and the lower face 142.
[0086] The upper face 141 of the front cover 32 and the upper face 39 of
the rear cover 31
constitute the upper face of the ink cartridge 30. The lower face 142 of the
front cover
32 and the lower face 42 of the rear cover 31 constitute the lower face of the
ink
cartridge 30. More specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the mounted
attitude
(first attitude), the lower face 142 of the front cover 32 extends in the
forward direction
57 and the rearward direction 58, and the lower face 42 of the rear cover 31
faces the
downward direction 53 and the rearward direction 58. The lower face 42 is
inclined
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relative to the lower face 142. In this embodiment, each of the lower face 42
and the
lower face 142 is a plane, i.e., a flat surface. The side faces 143, 144 of
the front cover
32 and the side faces 37, 38 of the rear cover 31 constitute the side faces of
the ink
cartridge 30. The front face 140 of the front cover 32 constitutes the front
face of the
ink cartridge 30, and the rear face 41 of the rear cover 31 constitutes the
rear face of
the ink cartridge 30. The front face 140 and the rear face 41 are spaced apart
from each
other in the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58.
[0087] Each of the front face, the rear face, the upper face, the lower
face, and the side faces
of the ink cartridge 30 may not need to form a single flat surface. The front
face of the
ink cartridge 30 is a face that is viewable when the ink cartridge 30 in the
first attitude
is viewed in the rearward direction 58 and positioned more forward than the
center of
the ink cartridge 30 in the first attitude with respect to the forward
direction 57 and the
rearward direction 58, i.e., positioned further in the forward direction 57
than the
center of the ink cartridge 30 in the first attitude with respect to the
forward direction
57 and the rearward direction 58. The rear face of the ink cartridge 30 is a
face that is
viewable when the ink cartridge in the first attitude is viewed in the forward
direction
57 and positioned more rearward than the center of the ink cartridge 30 in the
first
attitude with respect to the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction
58, i.e., po-
sitioned further in the rearward direction 58 than the center of the ink
cartridge 30 in
the first attitude with respect to the forward direction 57 and the rearward
direction 58.
The upper face of the ink cartridge 30 is a face that is viewable when the ink
cartridge
30 in the first attitude is viewed in the downward direction 53 and positioned
above the
center of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the downward direction 53 and
the
upward direction 54, i.e., positioned further in the upward direction 54 than
the center
of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the downward direction 53 and the
upward
direction 54. The lower face of the ink cartridge 30 is a face that is
viewable when the
ink cartridge 30 in the first attitude is viewed in the upward direction 54
and positioned
below the center of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the downward
direction 53 and
the upward direction 54, i.e., positioned further in the downward direction 53
than the
center of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the downward direction 53 and
the
upward direction 54. One of the side faces of the ink cartridge 30 is a face
that is
viewable when the ink cartridge 30 in the first attitude is viewed in the left
direction 56
and positioned to the right of the center of the ink cartridge 30 with respect
to the right
direction 55 and the left direction 56, i.e., positioned further in the right
direction 55
than the center of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the right direction 55
and the left
direction 56. The other one of the side faces of the ink cartridge 30 is a
face that is
viewable when the ink cartridge 30 in the first attitude is viewed in the
right direction
55 and positioned to the left of the center of the ink cartridge 30 with
respect to the
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right direction 55 and the left direction 56, i.e., positioned further in the
left direction
56 than the center of the ink cartridge 30 with respect to the right direction
55 and the
left direction 56.
[0088] The front cover 32 has the recess 96 formed in an upper portion of
the front face 140.
The recess 96 extends from the front face 140 in the rearward direction 58.
The recess
96 is configured to receive the rod 125 when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted
to the
cartridge mounting portion 110. The recess 96 has a cross-sectional shape
taken along
a plane perpendicular to the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction
58, and
the cross-sectional shape of the recess 96 corresponds to the cross-sectional
shape of
the rod 125.
[0089] The front cover 32 has an opening 97 formed through a lower portion
of the front
face 140 in the rearward direction 58. The opening 97 is configured to allow
the ink
supply portion 34 to extend therethrough when the inner frame 35 is inserted
into the
front cover 32, such that the ink supply portion 34 is positioned outside of
the front
cover 32. The position, dimension, and shape of the opening 97 correspond to
those of
the ink supply portion 34.
[0090] The front cover 32 comprises a first protrusion 85 and the second
protrusion 86 po-
sitioned at the front face 140. The first protrusion 85 extends in the forward
direction
57 at the upper end of the front cover 32. The recess 96 is formed in the
distal end of
the first protrusion 57 facing the forward direction 57. The distal end of the
first
protrusion 57 facing the forward direction 57 is a part of the front face 140.
[0091] The second protrusion 86 extends in the forward direction 57 at the
lower end of the
front cover 32. The second protrusion 86 is positioned below the ink supply
portion 34,
i.e., positioned further in the downward direction 53 than the ink supply
portion 34.
The protrusion 86 has a recess 87 formed in its lower face, and the recess 87
opens in
the forward direction 57 and the downward direction 53. A portion of the
second
protrusion 86 defining the recess 87 extends beyond the lower face 142 of the
front
cover 32 in the downward direction 53. During the insertion of the ink
cartridge 30 into
the cartridge mounting portion 110, the slider 107 enters the recess 87 and
contacts the
portion of the second protrusion 86 defining the recess 87. The second
protrusion 86 is
an example of a receive portion.
[0092] The front cover 32 has an opening 98 formed through the upper face
141 in the
downward direction 53. The opening 98 is configured to allow a portion of the
detection portion 62 to extend therethrough when the inner frame 35 is
inserted into the
front cover 32, such that the detection portion 62 is positioned outside of
the front
cover 32. The position, dimension, and the shape of the opening 98 correspond
to those
of the portion of the detection portion 62.
[0093] The ink cartridge 30 comprises an IC board 64 positioned at the
upper face 141 of the
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front cover 32 above the first protrusion 85 and the ink supply portion 34,
i.e., further
in the upward direction 54 than the first protrusion 85 and the ink supply
portion 34.
The IC board 64 comprises four electrodes 65 formed thereon. The four
electrodes 65
are exposed and face the upward direction 54. Each electrode 65 is an example
of an
electrical interface. The four electrodes 65 are aligned with and spaced apart
from each
other in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55. Each electrode 65
is elongated
in the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58. The IC board 64
also
comprises an IC (Integrated Circuit, not shown), and the four electrodes 65
are elec-
trically connected to the IC. The IC stores information about the ink
cartridge 30, such
as the lot number, the manufactured date, the color of ink, etc. The
information can be
read out from the outside.
[0094] During the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge
mounting portion 100
and also when the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting
portion
100 is completed, the four electrodes 65 contact the four contacts 106 of the
cartridge
mounting portion 110.
[0095] <Inner frame 35>
Although not shown in the drawings in detail, the inner frame 35 comprises an
annular or loop shaped wall, and the inner space surrounded by the wall opens
in the
right direction 55 and the left direction 56 at the right and left ends of the
inner frame
35, respectively. Films (not shown) are attached to the right and left ends of
the inner
frame 35, such that the inner space of the inner frame 35 is closed, and the
inner space
becomes the ink chamber 36 configured to store ink therein. The inner frame 35
comprises a front face 40, and the ink supply portion 34 is positioned at the
front face
40. The front face 40 of the inner frame 35 is positioned adjacent to the
front face 140
of the front cover 32, when the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front
cover 32.
[0096] <Ink supply portion 34>
Referring to Fig. 6, the ink supply portion 34 extends from the front face 40
of the
inner frame 35 in the forward direction 57 to the outside of the front cover
32 through
the opening 97 formed through the front face 140 of the front cover 32. The
ink supply
portion 34 has a circular cylindrical outer shape. The ink supply portion 34
comprises
the cylindrical wall 73 having a circular cylindrical shape having an inner
space, a seal
member 76, and a cap 79. The seal member 76 and the cap 79 are attached to the
cylindrical wall 73.
[0097] The cylindrical wall 73 extends from the inside of the ink chamber
36 to the outside
of the ink chamber 36. The inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 opens to the
ink
chamber 36 at the rear end of the cylindrical wall 73. The inner space of the
cylindrical
wall 73 opens to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 at the front end of the
cylindrical
wall 73. Communication between the ink chamber 36 and the outside of the ink
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cartridge 30 is allowed via the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. The
ink supply
portion 34 is configured to supply ink stored in the ink chamber 36 to the
outside of the
ink cartridge 30 through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. The seal
member 76
and the cap 79 are attached to the front end of the cylindrical wall 73.
[0098] The ink supply portion 34 comprises the valve 77 and the coil spring
78 positioned in
the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. The valve 77 and the coil spring
78 are
configured to switch the state of the ink supply portion 34 between a state in
which ink
is allowed to flow out of the ink chamber 30 through the inner space of the
cylindrical
wall 73 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 (see Fig. 11) and a state in
which ink is
prevented from flowing out of the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 to
the outside
of the ink cartridge 30 (see Fig. 6).
[0099] The valve 77 is configured to move in the forward direction 57 and
the rearward
direction 58 to selectively open and close the ink supply opening 71 formed
through
the center of the seal member 76. The coil spring 78 is configured to urge the
valve 77
in the forward direction 57 (the insertion direction 51), such that the valve
77 contacts
the seal member 76 and close the ink supply opening 71 when an external force
is not
applied to the valve 77.
[0100] The seal member 76 is positioned at the front end of the cylindrical
wall 73. The seal
member 76 has substantially a disc shape having the ink supply opening 71
formed
therethrough in the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58 (the
insertion
direction 51 and the removal direction 52). The seal member 76 is made of an
elastic
material such as rubber, elastomer, etc. The diameter of the ink supply
opening 71 is
slightly less than the outer diameter of the ink supply tube 102. The seal
member 76
liquid-tightly contacts the front end of the cylindrical wall 73 while being
pressed by
the cap 79 which is attached to and covers the outside of the cylindrical wall
73.
[0101] Before the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting
portion 110, the
valve 77 closes the ink supply opening 71. When the ink cartridge 30 is
inserted into
the cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink supply tube 102 enters the ink
supply
opening 71. When this occur, the inner surface of the seal member 76 defining
the ink
supply opening 71 liquid-tightly contacts the outer surface of the ink supply
tube 102
while the seal member 76 is elastically deformed by the outer surface of the
ink supply
tube 102. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted, the end of the ink
supply tube
102 passes through the ink supply opening 71 and contacts the valve 77. When
the ink
cartridge 30 is further inserted, the ink supply tube 102 pushes and moves the
valve 77
in the rearward direction 58 against the urging force of the coil spring 78.
When this
occurs, ink is allowed to flow from the ink chamber 36 to the ink supply tube
102
through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. Although not shown in the
drawings,
the ink supply tube 102 has an opening at or adjacent to the end of the ink
supply tube
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102, and the opening extends from the outer surface of the ink supply tube 102
to the
inner space of the ink supply tube 102. Ink flows from the inner space of the
cylindrical wall 73 to the inner space of the ink supply tube 102 via the
opening of the
ink supply tube 102. Ink flows from the ink chamber 36 to the outside of the
ink
cartridge 30 through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 and the inner
space of
the ink supply tube 102.
[0102] The ink supply portion 34 may not necessarily comprise the valve 77
and the coil
spring 78. For instance, in another embodiment, the ink supply opening 71 may
be
closed by a film. In such an embodiment, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted
into the
cartridge mounting portion 110, the ink supply tube 102 penetrates through the
film
and passes through the ink supply opening 71, such that the end of the ink
supply tube
102 is positioned in the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. In yet
another em-
bodiment, the ink supply opening 71 may be closed by the elasticity of the
seal
member 76. In such an embodiment, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into
the
cartridge mounting portion 110, the outer surface of the ink supply tube 102
pushes the
inner surface of the seal member 76 defining the ink supply opening 71
radially, and
thereby opens the ink supply opening 71.
[0103] <Detection portion 62>
Referring to Fig. 6, the inner frame 35 comprises the detection portion 62
extending
from the upper face of the inner frame 35 in the upward direction 54. The
detection
portion 62 is a protrusion having an inner space continuous with the ink
chamber 36.
The detection portion 62 is configured to allow light to pass therethrough in
the right
direction 55 and the left direction 56. The detection portion 62 extends
through the
opening 98 of the front cover 32 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30.
[0104] Referring to Fig. 6, the ink cartridge 30 comprises a detection
member 59 positioned
in the ink chamber 36. The inner frame 35 comprises a pivot shaft 61 extending
in the
right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and the detection member 59 is
supported
by the pivot shaft 61, such that the detection member 59 can pivot about the
pivot shaft
61.
[0105] The detection portion 59 comprises a float 63, and the float 63 has
a specific gravity
which is less than the specific gravity of ink stored in the ink chamber 36.
When the
float 63 is submerged in ink stored in the ink chamber 36, a buoyancy force
acts on the
float 63. When the ink chamber 36 is almost filled with ink, the detection
member 59
pivots counterclockwise in Fig. 6 due to the buoyancy force acting on the
float 63. A
portion of the detection member 59 is positioned in the inner space of the
detection
portion 62 and contacts the wall of the detection portion 62 defining the
front end of
the detection portion 62, such that the detection member 59 does not pivot
further in
the counterclockwise direction. When the detection member 59 is in this
position, the
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portion of the detection member 59 blocks the light of the sensor 103 passing
through
the detection portion 62 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56.
More
specifically, because the portion of the detection member 59 blocks the light,
when the
light emitted from the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 reaches one of
the right
face and the left face of the detection portion 62, the intensity of light
coming out of
the other of the right face and the left face of the detection portion 62 and
reaching the
light receiving portion of the sensor 103 becomes less than the threshold
value, e.g.,
zero. The portion of the detection member 59 may completely prevent the light
from
passing therethrough in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, may
partly
absorb the light, may alter the path of the light, or totally reflect the
light.
[0106] When ink is consumed from the ink chamber 36, the ink surface in the
ink chamber
36 lowers and an upper portion of the float 63 is exposed from the ink
surface. When
the ink surface further lowers, the float 63 moves down, following the
lowering ink
surface. When this occurs, the detection member 59 pivots clockwise in Fig. 6,
and the
portion of the detection member 59 in the inner space of the detection portion
62
moves out of the optical path extending between the light emitting portion and
the light
receiving portion of the sensor 103. When this occurs, the light of the sensor
103 is no
longer blocked by the portion of the detection member 59, and the intensity of
light
received by the light receiving portion of the sensor 103 becomes greater than
or equal
to the threshold value.
[0107] Referring to Fig 5, a distance D1 from the lock surface 151 (more
specifically, the
foremost part of the lock surface 151) to the front face 140 (more
specifically, the
foremost part of the front face 140) in the insertion direction 51 (the
forward direction
57) is greater a distance D2 from the lock surface 151 (more specifically, the
rearmost
part of the lock surface 151) to the rear face 41 (more specifically, the
rearmost part of
the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41) in the removal direction 52 (the
rearward
direction 58). The distance D1 is less than a distance D3 from the operation
surface 92
(more specifically, the foremost part of the operation surface 92) to the
front face 140
(more specifically, the foremost part of the front face 140) in the insertion
direction 51
(the forward direction 57). A distance D4 from the upper portion 41U (more
specifically, the lowermost part of the upper portion 41U) to the lower face
42 (more
specifically, the uppermost part of the lower face 42) in the downward
direction 53 is
greater than a distance D5 from the lower portion 41L (more specifically, the
lowermost part of the lower portion 41L) to the lower face 42 (more
specifically, the
uppermost part of the lower face 42) in the downward direction 53. In this
embodiment
the distance D5 is zero. A distance D6 from the upper portion 41U (more
specifically,
the foremost part of the upper portion 41U) to the front face 140 (more
specifically, the
foremost part of the front face 140) in the insertion direction 51 (the
forward direction
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57) is greater than a distance D7 from the lower portion 41L (more
specifically, the
foremost part of the lower portion 41L) to the front face 140 (more
specifically, the
foremost part of the front face 140) in the insertion direction 51 (the
forward direction
57). The lower portion 41L comprises a portion positioned between a central
axis 72 of
the ink supply opening 71 of the seal member 76 and the lower face 42 in the
downward direction 53. The central axis 72 of the ink supply opening 71
intersects the
center of the ink supply opening 71 and extends in the direction in which the
ink
supply opening 71 penetrates through the seal member 76, i.e., in the forward
direction
57 and the rearward direction 58 in this embodiment. The center of the ink
supply
opening 71 is the center of at least a portion of the ink supply opening 71,
and the inner
surface of the seal member 76 defining the at least a portion of the ink
supply opening
71 contacts the outer surface of the ink supply tube 102 when the ink supply
tube 102
is inserted through the ink supply opening 71. For instance, if the inner
surface of the
seal member 76 defining the ink supply opening 71 has a first inner surface
and a
second inner surface, and the first inner surface contacts the outer surface
of the ink
supply tube 102 while the second inner surface does not, the center of the ink
supply
opening 71 is the center of a portion of the ink supply opening 71 defined by
the first
inner surface, but not by the second inner surface. If the entire inner
surface of the seal
member 76 contacts the outer surface of the ink supply tube 102, the center of
the ink
supply opening 71 is the center of the entirety of the ink supply opening 71.
[0108] <Insertion of ink cartridge 30 into cartridge mounting portion 110>
Referring to Fig. 6, before the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the
cartridge mounting
portion 110, the valve 77 closes the ink supply opening 71. The flow of ink
from the
ink chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 is blocked.
[0109] Referring to Fig. 7, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the case
101 via the opening
112 of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The upper portion 41U of the rear
face 41
of the rear cover 31 is positioned more rearward than the lower portion 41L of
the rear
face 41, i.e., positioned further in the rearward direction 58 than the lower
portion 41L
of the rear face 41. Therefore, the upper portion 41U is positioned closer to
a user than
the lower portion 41L is positioned to the user, and the user tends to push
the upper
portion 41U to insert the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 into
the cartridge
mounting portion 110. Moreover, because the upper portion 41U comprises the
letter
or symbol indicating that the upper portion 41U is supposed to be pushed, the
user is
urged to push the upper portion 41U. A lower portion of the front cover 32 is
po-
sitioned in the guide groove 109 of the lower portion of the case 101. More
specifically, the portion of the second protrusion 86 defining the recess 87
and
extending beyond the lower face 142 of the front cover 32 contacts the groove
bottom
wall of the guide groove 109, and a rear portion of the lower face 142 of the
front
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cover 32 also contacts the groove bottom wall of the guide groove 109.
Therefore, a
front portion of the front cover 32 is slightly lifted up.
[0110] Referring to Fig. 8, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted
into the cartridge
mounting portion 110, the slider 107 enters the recess 87 and contacts the
second
protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30. Because the user pushes the upper
portion 41U of
the rear face 41 of the ink cartridge 30, the ink cartridge 30 pivots
counterclockwise in
Fig. 8 about the contact point between the slider 107 and the second
protrusion 86.
When this occurs, the lower face 142 of the front cover 32 moves away from the
groove bottom wall of the guide groove 109 of the lower portion of the case
101, and
an upper portion of the ink cartridge 30 moves closer to the guide groove 109
of the
upper portion of the case 101.
[0111] Referring to Fig. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted
in the insertion
direction 51 against the urging force of the pulling spring 114 urging the
slider 107 in
the removal direction 52, the cap 79 of the ink supply portion 34 starts to
enter the
guide portion 105, and the rod 125 starts to enter the recess 96.
[0112] Referring to Fig. 10, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted
in the insertion
direction 51 against the urging force of the pulling spring 114 urging the
slider 107 in
the removal direction 52, the ink supply tube 102 enters the ink supply
opening 71 and
pushes the valve 77 away from the seal member 76 against the urging force of
the coil
spring 78. The urging force of the pulling spring 114 is applied to the ink
cartridge 30
via the slider 107 in the removal direction 52, and the urging force of the
coil spring 78
is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52.
[0113] The rod 125 in the recess 96 supports the front cover 32 from below.
The IC board
64 reaches a position below the contacts 106, and electrodes 65 contact the
corre-
sponding contacts 106, respectively, while elastically deforming the contacts
106 in the
upward direction 54. When this occurs, the IC board 64 is urged in the
downward
direction 53 by the elastically deformed contacts 106, but the IC board 64 is
supported
from below by the rod 125. Therefore, the electrodes 65 are accurately
positioned
relative to the contacts 106 in the upward direction 54 and the downward
direction 53.
Nevertheless, the rod 125 may not necessarily support the front cover 32.
[0114] Referring to Fig. 10, the protrusion 43 of the rear cover 31 reaches
the lock portion
145, and the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 slides on the
lock
portion 145. Although a counterclockwise moment of force is applied to the ink
cartridge 30 because the user pushes the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41
in the
insertion direction 51, the sliding contact between the inclined surface 155
and the lock
portion 145 causes the ink cartridge 30 to pivot clockwise about a pivot
center 0 which
is the center of the ink supply opening 71 through which the ink supply tube
102 is
inserted, i.e., the center of a portion of ink supply tube 102, which portion
contacts the
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inner surface of the seal member 76 defining the ink supply opening 71. The
attitude of
the ink cartridge 30 in Fig. 10 is an example of a second attitude. When the
ink
cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, the lock surface 151 is positioned
further in the
downward direction 53 than the lock portion 145 as shown in Fig. 10. The lock
surface
151 may also be positioned further in the removal direction 52 (the rearward
direction
58) than the lock portion 145 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second
attitude as
shown in Fig. 10.
[0115] When the ink cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, the lock
surface 151 of the
protrusion 43 is positioned below the lock portion 145, i.e., positioned
further in the
downward direction 53 than the lock portion 145. When the ink cartridge 30 is
in the
second attitude, the position of the pivot center 0 and the positions of the
electrodes 65
along the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 at least partly
overlap.
Therefore, the magnitude of a moment of force generated by the urging force of
the
contacts 106 pushing down the electrodes 65 and applied to the ink cartridge
30 is zero
or very small. When the ink cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, the lower
face 42 of
the rear cover 31 contacts or is positioned closer to the groove bottom wall
of the guide
groove 109 of the lower portion of the case 101. In this embodiment, when the
ink
cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, the lower face 42 extends in a
horizontal plane.
When the ink cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, the lower portion 41L of
the rear
face 41 is positioned more forward than the upper portion 41U of the rear face
41, i.e.,
positioned further in the insertion direction 51 than the upper portion 41U.
[0116] Referring to Fig. 11, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted
in the insertion
direction 51 against the urging force of the pulling spring 114 urging the
slider 107 in
the removal direction 52 and against urging force of the coil spring 78, the
inclined
surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 are positioned further in the
insertion
direction 51 than the lock portion 145. Because the counterclockwise moment of
force,
which is generated by the user pushing the upper portion 41U of the rear face
41 in the
insertion direction 51, is applied to the ink cartridge 30, when the inclined
surface 155
and the horizontal surface 154 do not contact the lock portion 145, the ink
cartridge 30
pivots counterclockwise about the pivot center 0 which is the center of the
ink supply
opening 71 through which the ink supply tube 102 is inserted.
[0117] When the ink cartridge 30 pivots counterclockwise, the lock surface
151 reaches a
position in which the lock surface 151 and the lock portion 145 face each
other in the
insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. Moreover, when the ink
cartridge
30 pivots counterclockwise, the rear cover 31 contacts the lock portion 145.
When this
occurs, the impact of the contact tells the user that the insertion of the ink
cartridge 30
is completed. When the user stops pushing the ink cartridge 30, the ink
cartridge 30 is
moved in the removal direction 52 by the urging force of the pulling spring
114
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applied via the slider 107 and the urging force of the coil spring 78. When
this occurs,
the lock surface 151 contacts the lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52
and the
movement of the ink cartridge 30 relative to the cartridge mounting portion
110 in the
removal direction 52 is restricted, as shown in Fig. 11. The attitude of the
ink cartridge
30 in Fig. 11 is an example of the first attitude. The mounting of the ink
cartridge 30 to
the cartridge mounting portion 110 is thus completed. The ink cartridge 30 is
locked or
retained in the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the lock surface 151
contacting the
lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52 against the urging force of the
pulling
spring 114 and the urging force of the coil spring 78 in the removal direction
52.
[0118] In the following paragraphs, the pivotal movement of the ink
cartridge 30 from the
second attitude to the first attitude is described in more detail.
[0119] Referring to Fig. 12, the following condition is satisfied:
FH > GL.
G is the magnitude of the gravitational force acting on the ink cartridge 30.
F is the
magnitude of the urging force of the pulling spring 114 and the coil spring 78
urging
the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is
in the first
attitude. L is the distance between the center of gravity M of the ink
cartridge 30 and
the pivot center 0 along the insertion direction 51 when the ink cartridge 30
is in the
second attitude. H is the height of the lower end of the upper portion 41U of
the rear
face 41 from the pivot center 0 along the upward direction 54 which is
perpendicular
to the insertion direction 51 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second
attitude.
[0120] When a user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting
portion 110, the
user needs to push the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 with a
force whose
magnitude U is greater than the magnitude F of the urging force in the removal
direction 52. In other words, the following condition needs to be met: F <U.
Fig. 12 il-
lustrates the ink cartridge 30 when a user pushes the ink cartridge 30 with a
force
whose magnitude is F as a threshold magnitude required for the ink cartridge
30 to be
inserted. Moreover, the user pushes the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41,
i.e.,
pushes a portion above the lower end of the upper portion 41U. Therefore, when
the
ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, a force
is applied
to the portion above the lower end of the upper portion 41U of the ink
cartridge 30 in
the insertion direction 51, whose magnitude U is greater than the magnitude F
of the
urging force. Because the upper portion 41U is substantially perpendicular to
the
insertion direction 51 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, a
counter-
clockwise moment of force is applied to the ink cartridge 30, whose magnitude
is at
least greater than the product FH. Fig. 12 illustrates the ink cartridge 30
when a user
pushes the lower end of the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41 whose height
from
the pivot center 0 along the upward direction 54 is H. On the other hand, a
clockwise
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moment of force, which is generated by the gravitational force, is applied to
the ink
cartridge, whose magnitude is the product GL
[0121] Because the above-described condition FH > GL is met, the overall
moment of force
applied to the ink cartridge 30 is directed counterclockwise when the ink
cartridge 30
is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110. Therefore, when the
inclined
surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 finish sliding on the lock portion
145 and
separate from the lock portion 145 in the insertion direction 51, the
counterclockwise
moment of force causes the ink cartridge 30 to pivot from the second attitude
to the
first attitude.
[0122] The magnitude G of the gravitational force acting on the ink
cartridge 30 varies
depending on the amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 30. Nevertheless,
if the
condition FH > GL is satisfied when a fresh ink cartridge 30 having an initial
amount
of ink is inserted, the condition is also satisfied when a used ink cartridge
30 whose
amount of ink is relatively low is inserted. That is because the product GL
becomes
smaller as the amount of ink is reduced while the product FH is unchanged. In
other
words, the magnitude G is a magnitude of the gravitational force acting on the
ink
cartridge 30 at least when the ink chamber 36 is completely filled with the
initial
amount of ink or when ink in the ink chamber 36 is consumed.
[0123] Moreover, because the second protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30
receives the
urging force of the pulling spring 114 via the slider 107 below the pivot
center 0, the
urging force of the pulling spring 114 also generates an additional moment of
force
causing the ink cartridge 30 to pivot counterclockwise. Nevertheless, even if
the
moment of force generated by the pulling spring 114 were not applied to the
ink
cartridge 30, the overall moment of force applied to the ink cartridge 30
would still be
directed counterclockwise.
[0124] Referring to Fig. 14, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first
attitude, the upper end of
the lock surface 151 is positioned outside of a virtual circle C, and the
lower end of the
lock surface 151 is positioned within the virtual circle C. The virtual circle
C has its
center at the pivot center 0 and intersects the lock portion 145. Therefore,
when the
urging force is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52
while the
lock surface 151 contacts the lock portion 145, the lock portion 145 slides on
the lock
surface 151 toward the lower end of the lock surface 151. That is, the ink
cartridge 30
pivots further counterclockwise when the lock portion 145 and the lock surface
151
contact.
[0125] Referring to Fig. 13, a user may push the lower portion 41L of the
rear face 41
instead of the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41 when the user inserts the
ink
cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110. Nevertheless, because
the
following condition is satisfied, the ink cartridge 30 can pivot
counterclockwise in Fig.
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13:
(Fcosa)N > GL.
The lower portion 41L is a plane intersecting a first virtual plane P1 at an
angle of a
degrees when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, and the first
virtual plane
P1 is perpendicular to the insertion direction 51. N is a length of a
perpendicular line
extending from the pivot center 0 to a second virtual plane P2 which is
perpendicular
to the lower portion 41L and intersects the lower end of the lower portion
41L.
[0126] When a user pushes the lower portion 41L in the insertion direction
51 with a force
whose magnitude is greater than the magnitude F of the urging force, a counter-
clockwise moment of force is applied to the ink cartridge 30, whose magnitude
is at
least greater than the product (Fcosa)N. Because the above-described condition
(Fcosa)N > GL is met, the overall moment of force applied to the ink cartridge
30 is
directed counterclockwise even when the user pushes the lower portion 41L in
the
insertion direction 51.
[0127] When a user wishes to remove the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge
mounting
portion 110, the user pushes down the operation surface 92. Referring to Figs.
15A and
15B, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first attitude, the operation surface
92 is
viewable when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53 and
is
viewable when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the forward direction 57 (the
insertion
direction 51). In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first
attitude, the
operation surface 92 faces the upward direction 54 and the rearward direction
58 (the
removal direction 52). Therefore, when the user pushes the operation surface
92 when
the ink cartridge 30 is in the first attitude to release the ink cartridge 30,
the user's
force is directed toward the downward direction 53 and the forward direction
57 (the
insertion direction 51). Due to the force directed toward the forward
direction 57 (the
insertion direction 51), the lock surface 151 separates from the lock portion
145. Due
to the force directed toward the downward direction 53, the ink cartridge 30
pivots
from the first attitude to the second attitude. Therefore, compared to a
situation in
which the ink cartridge 30 pivots from the first attitude to the second
attitude while the
lock surface 151 slides on the lock portion 145, the force needed to be
applied to the
operation surface 92 to cause the ink cartridge 30 to pivot from the first
attitude to the
second attitude becomes smaller, and the user can readily release the ink
cartridge 30.
[0128] When the ink cartridge 30 pivots from the first attitude to the
second attitude, the
lock surface 151 is positioned below the lock portion 145, i.e., positioned
further in the
downward direction 53 than the lock portion 145. The urging force of the
pulling
spring 114 and the coil spring 78 moves the ink cartridge 30 in the removal
direction
52. When the ink cartridge 30 separates from the slider 107, the urging force
is no
longer applied to the ink cartridge 30, and the ink cartridge 30 stops moving
in the
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removal direction 52. When this occurs, at least the rear cover 31 of the ink
cartridge
30 is positioned outside of the case 101, the user can take the ink cartridge
30 out of
the cartridge mounting portion 110.
[0129] <Advantages>
According to the above-described embodiment, because the lower portion 41L of
the
rear face 41 of the rear cover 31 is positioned further in the insertion
direction 51 than
the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41 of the rear cover 31 when the ink
cartridge 30
is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110, a user tends to push the
upper
portion 41U, which is positioned closer to the user, and tends not to push the
lower
portion 41L. When the upper portion 41U is pushed, a moment of force is
applied to
the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110, such that the ink
cartridge
30 pivots about the pivot center from the second attitude to the first
attitude. The lock
surface 151 of the ink cartridge 30 in the first attitude contacts the lock
portion 145 in
the removal direction 52 and the movement of the ink cartridge 30 relative to
the
cartridge mounting portion 110 in the removal direction 52 is restricted,
i.e., the ink
cartridge 30 is locked in the cartridge mounting portion 110. A user can
readily insert
and lock the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge mounting portion 110.
[0130] Because the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41 comprises the
letter or symbol in-
dicating that the upper portion 41U is supposed to be pushed, a user is urged
to push
the upper portion 41U.
[0131] Because the condition FH > GL is satisfied, a moment of force
generated by the
upper portion 41U of the rear face 41 being pushed and causing the ink
cartridge 30 to
pivot from the second attitude to the first attitude becomes greater than a
moment of
force generated by the gravitational force acting on the ink cartage 30 and
causing the
ink cartridge 30 to pivot from the first attitude to the second attitude.
[0132] Because the condition (Fcosa)N > GL is satisfied, even if the lower
portion 41L of
the rear face 41 is pushed, a moment of force generated by the lower portion
41Lof the
rear face 41 being pushed and causing the ink cartridge 30 to pivot from the
second
attitude to the first attitude becomes greater than the moment of force
generated by the
gravitational force acting on the ink cartage 30 and causing the ink cartridge
30 to
pivot from the first attitude to the second attitude.
[0133] Because the second protrusion 86 is positioned further in the
downward direction 53
than the ink supply portion 34 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the second
position, and
the second protrusion 86 receives the urging force from the pulling spring 114
via the
slider 107, an additional moment of force is applied to the ink cartridge 30,
causing the
ink cartridge 30 to pivot from the second attitude to the first attitude.
[0134] Because the position of the pivot center 0 and the positions of the
electrodes 65
along the insertion direction 51 at least partly overlap when the ink
cartridge 30 is in
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the second attitude, the magnitude of a moment of force generated by the
urging force
of the contacts 106 and applied to the ink cartridge 30 is zero or very small.
[0135] Because the operation surface 92 is positioned more remote from the
pivot center 0
than the lock surface 151 is, a user can readily operate the operation surface
92 to
cause the ink cartridge 30 to pivot from the first attitude to the second
attitude.
[0136] Because the operation surface 92 faces the upward direction 54 and
the removal
direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first attitude, when a user
operates the
operation surface 92 to release the ink cartridge 30 from the first attitude,
the user's
force is directed toward the downward direction 53 and the insertion direction
51. Due
to the force directed toward the insertion direction 51, the lock surface 151
separates
from the lock portion 145. Due to the force directed toward the downward
direction 53,
the ink cartridge 30 pivots from the first attitude to the second attitude.
Therefore,
compared to a situation in which the ink cartridge 30 pivots from the first
attitude to
the second attitude while the lock surface 151 slides on the lock portion 145,
the force
needed to be applied to the operation surface 92 to cause the ink cartridge 30
to pivot
from the first attitude to the second attitude becomes smaller, and the user
can readily
release the ink cartridge 30.
[0137] Because the upper end of the lock surface 151 is positioned outside
of the virtual
circle C and the lower end of the lock surface 151 is positioned within the
virtual circle
C when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first attitude, when the urging force is
applied to
the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52, the lock portion 145 slides
on the lock
surface 151 toward the lower end of the lock surface 151.
[0138] Because the position of the operation surface 92 along the insertion
direction 51 and
the position of the sub upper face 91 along the insertion direction 51 at
least partly
overlap, or the operation surface 92 and the sub upper face 91 at least partly
overlap in
the downward direction 53, and a space is formed between the operation surface
92
and the sub upper face 91, the operation surface 92 becomes recognizable to a
user.
[0139] Because at least a portion of the operation surface 92 protrudes
further in the upward
direction 54 than the lock surface 151, even when the ink cartridge 30 falls
with the
upper face 39, 141 facing the downward direction 53, the lock surface 151 may
be
protected by the at least a portion of the operation surface 92 and may not be
damaged
[0140] <Modified embodiments>
In the above-described embodiment, the upper portion 41U and the lower portion
41L of the rear face 41 are continuous. Nevertheless, the upper portion 41U
and the
lower portion 41L of the rear face 41 may not necessarily be continuous. For
instance,
in another embodiment, the rear face 41 may comprises a portion extending in
the
forward direction 57 or the rearward direction 58 between the upper portion
41U and
the lower portion 41L. Moreover, each of the upper portion 41U and the lower
portion
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41L may not necessarily be a plane, i.e., a flat surface, but may be a curved
surface or
a spherical surface in another embodiment.
[0141] In the above-described embodiment, when the ink cartridge 30 is in
the second
attitude, the upper portion 41U of the rear face 41 is substantially
perpendicular to the
insertion direction 51. The upper portion 41U may not be perpendicular to the
insertion
direction 51 in another embodiment. The upper portion 41U and the lower
portion 41L
may not necessarily recognizable as two different portions, but may be formed
as a
single plane or a single curved surface in another embodiment.
[0142] As described in the above-described embodiment, if the upper portion
41U of the
rear face 41 is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction 51 when
the ink
cartridge 30 is in the second attitude, the force needed to insert the ink
cartridge 30 in
the insertion direction 51 against the urging force becomes smaller. Moreover,
the
volume of the inner space of the rear cover 31 becomes larger, and therefore
the
volume of the ink chamber 36 becomes larger. If the upper portion 41U and the
lower
portion 41L are formed as two different portions, it may be expected that a
user tends
to push the upper portion 41U when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the
cartridge
mounting portion 110.
[0143] In the above-described embodiment, the cartridge mounting portion
110 comprises
the slider 107 and the pulling spring 114, but the slider 107 and the pulling
spring 114
are optional. For instance, in another embodiment, the cartridge mounting
portion 110
may not comprise the slider 107 and the pulling spring 114, and only the coil
spring 78
of the ink supply portion 34 may apply the urging force to the ink cartridge
30 in the
removal direction 52 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge
mounting
portion 110.
[0144] In the above-described embodiment, ink is an example of liquid.
Nevertheless, liquid
is not limited to ink. For example, liquid can be pre-treatment liquid which
is ejected
onto the sheet of paper before ink is ejected in printing. Moreover, liquid
can be water
to be used for washing the recording head 21.
[0145] While the invention has been described in connection with various
example
structures and illustrative embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art
that other variations and modifications of the structures and embodiments
described
above may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Other
structures
and embodiments will be understood by those skilled in the art from a
consideration of
the specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is
intended that the
specification and the described examples are merely illustrative and that the
scope of
the invention is defined by the following claims.
[0146] The present invention also can be defined as follows in order to
achieve the object of
invention.
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[0147] A liquid cartridge (30) comprises: a liquid chamber (36) configured
to store liquid
therein; a front face (140); a rear face (41), wherein the liquid chamber is
positioned
between the front face and the rear face, and the rear face comprises an upper
portion
and a lower portion; an upper face (39, 41); an lower face (142, 42), wherein
the liquid
chamber is positioned between the upper face and the lower face; a liquid
supply
portion (34) positioned at the front face; a seal member (76) positioned at
the liquid
supply portion and having elasticity, wherein the seal member has a liquid
supply
opening formed therethrough, and the liquid supply opening has a central axis;
a lock
surface (151) positioned at the upper face; and an operation surface(92)
positioned at
the upper face, wherein a distance from the lock surface to the front face in
a first
direction is greater than a distance from the lock surface to the rear face in
a second
direction, the distance from the lock surface to the front face in the first
direction is
less than a distance from the operation surface to the front face in the first
direction, a
distance from the upper portion to the lower face in a third direction is
greater than a
distance from the lower portion to the lower face in the third direction, a
distance from
the upper portion to the front face in the first direction is greater than a
distance from
the lower portion to the front face in the first direction, the lower portion
comprises a
portion positioned between the central axis of the liquid supply opening and
the lower
face in the third direction, the first direction (51, 57) extends from the
rear face toward
the front face, the second direction (52, 58) is opposite to the first
direction and
extends from the front face toward the rear face, and the third direction (53)
is per-
pendicular to the first direction and the second direction and extends from
the upper
face toward the lower face.
[0148] Optionally, the lower portion is closer to the front face at a
position closer to the
lower face, or the lower portion becomes closer to the front face as it
approaches to the
lower face.
[0149] Optionally, the lower portion comprises a plane.
[0150] Optionally, the upper face comprises a sub upper face (91)
positioned further in the
third direction than the operation surface, a position of the operation
surface along the
first direction and a position of the sub upper face along the first direction
at least
partly overlap or, the operation surface and the sub upper face at least
partly overlap in
the third direction, and a space is formed between the operation surface and
the sub
upper face in the third direction.
[0151] Optionally, the operation surface is viewable when the liquid
cartridge is viewed in
the third direction, and the operation surface is viewable when the liquid
cartridge is
viewed in the first direction.
[0152] Optionally, at least a portion of the operation surface protrudes
further than the lock
surface in a fourth direction (54) opposite to the third direction and
extending from the
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lower face toward the upper face.
[0153] Optionally, the operation surface comprises a plurality of
protrusions formed thereon.
[0154] Optionally, the plurality of protrusions is a plurality of elongated
protrusions (93).
[0155] Optionally, the operation surface does not move relative to the ink
chamber.
Industrial Applicability
[0156] The liquid cartridge and the liquid consuming apparatus of the
present invention are
widely used for home and office uses.
Reference Signs List
[0157] 30 ink cartridge
34 ink supply portion
36 ink chamber
39 upper face
41 rear face
41L upper portion
41U lower portion
51 insertion direction
52 removal direction
54 upward direction
57 forward direction
58 rearward direction
76 seal member
140 front face
141 upper face
151 lock surface
