CN111086326B - liquid box - Google Patents

Abstract

The liquid cartridge has: a front surface; an upper surface facing an upward direction when the liquid cartridge is installed in the liquid consuming device; a liquid supply facing the first direction at the front surface; a circuit board provided on the upper surface; and a liquid The detection unit detects the state of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge. The liquid detection portion includes an optical access portion configured to be accessed by light traveling from the first point toward the second point. In the upward direction, the upper end of the optical access portion and the upper surface of the circuit board are disposed at higher positions in this order.

Description

Liquid box

The application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application with the application date of 2015, 7 months and 7 days, the invention name of the liquid box and the application number of 201580081479.9.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge.

Background

A conventional inkjet recording apparatus known in the art records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink held in an ink tank from nozzles. Some inkjet recording apparatuses are configured such that a new ink cartridge can be installed each time the ink runs out.

Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2014-19130 discloses a cartridge that is removably attachable to a cartridge attachment unit. The cartridge has a circuit board configured to be electrically connected to a contact mechanism provided in the cartridge attachment unit. The presence of ink in the cartridge may be detected optically.

Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2013-49165 discloses an ink cartridge that is removably attachable to a cartridge attachment unit. The ink cartridge has a rotation member. When the rotation member is engaged with the cartridge attachment unit, the ink cartridge is attached to the cartridge attachment unit and is held in an attached state. The ink cartridge has a detection portion for optically detecting the remaining ink amount. The detection portion is detected by an optical sensor provided in the cartridge attachment unit by attaching the ink cartridge to the cartridge attachment unit. The ink cartridge has an Integrated Circuit (IC) board in which information about the ink cartridge has been stored. When the ink cartridge is attached to the cartridge attachment unit, the IC board is electrically connected to a contact provided in the cartridge attachment unit.

The problem with the cartridge having the circuit board and the ink cartridge having the IC board that have been described above is that, when the cartridge or the ink cartridge is attached to or detached from the cartridge attachment unit, the circuit board or the IC board slides on the contact of the cartridge connection unit, and the conductive member of the circuit board or the IC board is cut off, thereby generating shavings. If these shavings adhere to the optical sensor or the portion detected by the sensor, the detection by the sensor may become inaccurate.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid cartridge which has less influence on detection of a state of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge even if shavings are generated from a circuit board. This object is achieved by a liquid cartridge.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a liquid cartridge includes: a front surface; an upper surface facing in an upward direction when the liquid cartridge is mounted in the liquid consuming apparatus; a liquid outlet portion facing a first direction at a front surface; a circuit board disposed on the upper surface; and a liquid detection portion for detecting a state of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge, wherein the liquid detection portion includes a light incoming portion configured to be incoming by light traveling from a first point toward a second point, wherein an upper end of the light incoming portion and an upper surface of the circuit board are disposed at higher positions in this order in the upward direction.

Therefore, shavings generated from the circuit board are difficult to adhere to the optical access portion, and even if shavings are generated from the circuit board, detection at the optical access portion is less affected.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board may be displaced in the first direction from the light inlet portion.

Therefore, when the liquid cartridge is inserted into or removed from the liquid cartridge attachment unit, the optical access portion does not pass through a region where shavings are generated from the circuit board, so that the shavings are difficult to adhere to the optical access portion.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light inlet portion includes a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein each of the first side surface and the second side surface extends in the first direction, respectively, and intersects the upper surface of the liquid cartridge.

Therefore, the state of the liquid in the liquid cartridge can be detected by the first side surface and the second side surface.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the first side surface in the upward direction may be smaller than a dimension of the first side surface in the first direction, and a dimension of the second side surface of the light inlet portion in the upward direction may be smaller than a dimension of the second side surface of the light inlet portion in the first direction.

Therefore, the size of the light access portion in the downward direction and the upward direction is reduced.

Alternatively, any one of the above-described liquid cartridges may include an intervening wall provided between the circuit board and the optical access portion, and the intervening wall includes a prescribed surface extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction and the upward direction.

Therefore, the intervening wall can block a route in which shavings generated from the circuit board move to the optical access portion.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the prescribed surface of the intervening wall in the second direction may be longer than a distance between the first side surface and the second side surface of the light entrance part in the second direction.

Therefore, the intervening wall can block more of the route for shavings generated from the circuit board to move to the optical access portion.

Alternatively, in any of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the intervening wall in the first direction may be longer than a dimension of the intervening wall in the second direction.

This therefore makes it more difficult for shavings to reach the optical access.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the intervening wall may be disposed closer to the light-accessing portion than to the circuit board in the first direction.

Therefore, shavings generated from the circuit board can be easily blocked by the intervening wall.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid detection portion may be configured to: the state of the light transmitted from the first point to the second point and received into the light receiving portion is changed according to the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

Therefore, the amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge can be detected.

Alternatively, in any one of the above-described liquid cartridges, the light admission portion may be configured to allow light traveling from the first point toward the second point to pass therethrough, and the liquid detection portion may include a light attenuating portion, a portion of which is configured to be located in the light admission portion, wherein the portion of the light attenuating portion is configured to: the state of the light passing through the light admission part is changed depending on whether the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge is less than a specified amount. The entire light attenuating portion may attenuate light, or at least a portion of the light attenuating portion may attenuate light, and the other portion of the light attenuating portion may not attenuate light.

Alternatively, in any of the liquid cartridges described above, the portion of the light attenuating portion may be disposed above the circuit board when the amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge is greater than or equal to a specified amount. This makes it more difficult for shavings to reach the light passing light detecting portion to detect the height of the liquid amount stored in the liquid cartridge.

Alternatively, in any of the liquid cartridges described above, when the amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge is greater than or equal to a specified amount, the intervening wall may extend in the upward direction beyond the portion beyond the light attenuating portion.

This placement of the intervening wall makes it difficult for shavings generated from the circuit board to reach the position of the portion where the light attenuating portion is detected by the sensor.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may be provided with a recess that is displaced from the circuit board in a third direction opposite to the first direction.

Therefore, shavings generated from the circuit board are collected and stay in the concave portion.

This makes the shavings difficult to disperse.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the center of the circuit board may be disposed closer to the second side surface than to the first side surface.

Therefore, the likelihood of the shavings reaching the second side surface is lower than the likelihood of the shavings reaching the first side surface.

Alternatively, in any of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may include a chamber configured to store the liquid in the chamber, wherein the light attenuating portion may be a sensor arm configured to rotate about an axis in the chamber, and when the sensor arm rotates, a portion of the sensor arm changes a state of the light passing through the light inlet portion.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light incoming portion may be made of a transparent material, define an internal space continuous with the chamber, and protrude in an upward direction with respect to an upper surface of the liquid cartridge.

The liquid cartridge may include a body defining a chamber and a cover covering the body, and wherein the light access portion may be provided on the body, and the light access portion protrudes to an outside of the cover through an opening formed through the cover.

Alternatively, in any of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board may overlap the liquid outlet portion when the circuit board is viewed in the upward direction. This enables the liquid cartridge to be designed such that the distance between the circuit board and the optical access portion is extended.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may include a positioning surface configured to restrict movement of the liquid cartridge in an upward direction and a downward direction, and the positioning surface is disposed above the liquid outlet portion in the upward direction, and the positioning surface is disposed below the circuit board in the upward direction.

Therefore, the circuit board is accurately positioned to the contacts in the downward direction and the upward direction.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may be configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment unit of the liquid consuming apparatus in a first direction against a force directed in a third direction opposite to the first direction, and thereby be attached to the cartridge attachment unit in an attached state, and wherein the liquid cartridge may include a locking surface that is provided at an upper surface and is displaced in the third direction from the light entry portion, and the locking surface is configured to contact the locking portion of the liquid consuming apparatus in the third direction, wherein the light entry portion is displaceable in the third direction from the circuit board.

Therefore, in the case where the liquid cartridge is attached to the cartridge attachment unit, the positional accuracy of the circuit board disposed at the leading end in the first direction is high, and therefore the circuit board is reliably connected to the contact. The locking surface provided at the rear end in the first direction can easily perform operations for locking and unlocking, that is, can easily rotate about the rotation center. The range of rotation of the liquid cartridge for locking and unlocking can also be reduced.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may be configured to rotate between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the locking surface is configured to contact the locking portion toward the third direction in the first orientation, and the locking surface is disposed below the locking portion in the second orientation.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the optical access portion may be disposed closer to the lock surface in the first direction than to the circuit board in the first direction. This allows the liquid cartridge to be designed such that the distance between the circuit board and the optical access is extended.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, an upper edge of the light admission portion may be disposed closer to the lock surface than to the circuit board in the upward direction. This makes it easy to secure the inner space of the liquid cartridge.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid detection part may include a prism disposed below the circuit board, wherein the prism is configured to reflect light according to an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge, and wherein the light access part is configured to reflect light traveling from the first point toward the prism or reflect light reflected at the prism toward the second point.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, a dimension of the circuit board in the first direction may be smaller than a dimension of the circuit board in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the upward direction.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board may include a plurality of electrical interfaces that are spaced apart and aligned in the direction and face in the upward direction.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light entrance portion may be configured to be accessed by light traveling from the first point toward the second point in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the upward direction.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the light entrance portion may be provided at the upper surface.

Alternatively, in any of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid detection portion may include a first light attenuating portion.

Alternatively, in any of the liquid cartridges described above, the liquid cartridge may include a second light attenuating portion above the circuit board.

Alternatively, in any one of the liquid cartridges described above, the circuit board may be displaced in the upward direction from the liquid outlet portion by a first distance, and the light access portion may be displaced in the upward direction from the liquid outlet portion by a second distance greater than the first distance.

With the liquid cartridge according to the present invention, even if shavings are generated from the circuit board, the influence on the detection of the state of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge is small.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a printer having a cartridge attaching unit.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing an outer shape of the cartridge attachment unit.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the ink cartridge when viewed from the front and above.

Fig. 3B is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the ink cartridge when viewed from the front and below.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view showing an external shape of the ink cartridge when viewed from the rear and above.

Fig. 4B is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the ink cartridge when viewed from the rear and below.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the ink cartridge.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the ink cartridge.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge attaching unit, showing a state where the ink cartridge starts to be inserted into the cartridge attaching unit.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge attaching unit, showing a state in which the second protrusion is in contact with the slider.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge attachment unit, showing a state where the ink supply unit starts to enter the guide and the lever starts to enter the recess in the front cover.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge attachment unit, showing a state in which an ink needle has entered an ink supply opening in the ink supply unit.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge and the cartridge attaching unit, showing a state in which the ink cartridge is positioned in the cartridge attaching unit.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is in a second orientation, showing the force relationship when a user presses the upper portion of the rear face.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is in a second orientation, showing the force relationship when a user presses the lower portion of the rear face.

Fig. 14 is a side view of the ink cartridge in a first orientation showing the relationship between the virtual arc and the locking surface.

Fig. 15A is a plan view of the ink cartridge when viewed downward.

Fig. 15B is a rear view of the ink cartridge when viewed forward.

Fig. 16A is a perspective view of a modification of the liquid level detection portion, showing a state where ink in the holding chamber is reduced.

Fig. 16B is a perspective view of a modification of the liquid level detection portion, showing a state where the holding chamber is filled with ink.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described appropriately with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is only one example of implementing the present invention; it is to be understood that the embodiments may be appropriately changed without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. In the following description, a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 will be defined as an insertion direction (an example of a first direction) 51, and a direction opposite to the insertion direction 51, that is, a direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge attachment unit 110, will be defined as a removal direction (an example of a third direction) 52. Although in this embodiment, the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 are horizontal, this is not a limitation; the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 may not be horizontal. The direction of gravity will be defined as the downward direction 53 and the direction opposite to the direction of gravity will be defined as the upward direction 54. Directions orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 and the downward direction 53 will be defined as a right direction 55 and a left direction 56 (an example of a second direction). Specifically, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been inserted into the attachment position in the cartridge attachment unit 110, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is in the attachment orientation (an example of the first orientation and the supply orientation), when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the removal direction 52, a direction extending rightward will be defined in the right direction 55, and a direction extending leftward will be the left direction 56. The insertion direction 51 may be referred to as a forward direction 57 and the removal direction 52 may be referred to as a rearward direction 58.

< overview of Printer 10>

As illustrated in fig. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets to a recording sheet according to an inkjet recording method. The printer 10 (an example of a liquid consuming apparatus) includes a recording head 21, an ink supply unit 100, and an ink tube 20 interconnecting the recording head 21 and the ink supply unit 100. The ink supply unit 100 includes a cartridge attachment unit 110 (an example of an attachment unit). In the cartridge attaching unit 110, an ink cartridge 30 (an example of a liquid cartridge) can be attached. The cartridge attachment unit 110 has an opening 112 on one face thereof. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 through the opening 112 in the insertion direction 51, and is removed from the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the removal direction 52.

Ink (an example of liquid) that can be used in the printer 10 is held in the ink cartridge 30. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are interconnected with the ink tube 20. A sub tank 28 is provided in the recording head 21. The subtank 28 temporarily holds ink to be supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink supplied from the subtank 28 from the nozzle 29 according to an ink jet recording method. Specifically, a driving voltage is selectively applied from a head control circuit board provided in the recording head 21 to each of the piezoelectric devices 29A provided corresponding to one nozzle 29.

The printer 10 includes a feed tray 15, a supply roller 23, a conveying roller pair 25, a platen 26, an ejection roller pair 27, and an ejection tray 16. The recording sheet is supplied from the feed tray 15 to the conveying path 24 by the supply roller 23, and then the recording sheet is conveyed onto the platen 26 by the conveying roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink to the recording sheet conveyed on the platen 26. Thus, an image is recorded on the recording sheet. After passing through the platen 26, the recording sheet is discharged by a discharge roller pair 27 to a discharge tray 16 provided at the downstream end of the conveying path 24.

< ink supply Unit 100>

As shown in fig. 1, an ink supply unit 100 is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply unit 100 supplies ink to a recording head 21 included in the printer 10. The ink supply unit 100 has a cartridge attachment unit 110, and the ink cartridge 30 may be attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110. Fig. 1 shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, i.e., a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is in the attachment orientation (first orientation and supply orientation).

< Cartridge attachment Unit 110>

As shown in fig. 2, the cartridge attachment unit 110 can accommodate four ink cartridges 30 corresponding to cyan, magenta, yellow, and black in the casing 101. In addition to the housing 101, as shown in fig. 2 and 7, the cartridge attachment unit 110 includes, for each ink cartridge 30, an ink needle 102, a sensor 103, four contacts 106, a slider 107, and a lock portion 145.

< case 101>

The housing 101 covering the cartridge attachment unit 110 has a box-like shape having a top surface defining a top of an internal space of the housing 101, a bottom surface defining a bottom, a rear surface connecting the top and the bottom together, and an opening 112, the opening 112 being formed at a position where the opening 112 faces rearward in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52, and the opening 112 being capable of being exposed to a surface of a user interface of the printer 10, which the user faces when the user uses the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the case 101 through the opening 112 and removed from the case 101. When the upper and lower edges of the ink cartridge 30 are inserted into the guide grooves 109 formed in the top and bottom surfaces, the ink cartridge 30 is guided in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52 in fig. 7. In the housing 101, three plates 104 partition the internal space into four spaces, which are vertically elongated. One ink cartridge 30 is accommodated in each of the spaces partitioned by the plate 104.

< ink needle 102>

As shown in fig. 2 and 7, an ink needle (an example of a liquid supply tube) 102 made of a tubular resin is provided at a lower portion of the rear face of the housing 101. The ink needle 102 is provided at a position on the rear face of the ink cartridge 101 where the ink needle 102 corresponds to the ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110. The ink needle 102 protrudes from the rear of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52.

A cylindrical guide 105 is provided around the ink needle 102. The guide 105 protrudes from the rear face of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52. The ends of the protrusions are open. The ink needle 102 is disposed in the center of the guide 105. The guide 105 is shaped to advance the ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 inward.

During the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, i.e., during the movement of the ink cartridge 30 to the attachment position, the ink supply portion 34 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the guide 105 (see fig. 10). When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, the ink needle 102 is inserted into the ink supply opening 71 formed in the ink supply portion 34. Thus, the ink supply valve 70 in the ink supply portion 34 is opened. As a result, the ink needle 102 and the ink supply portion 34 are joined together. Then, the ink held in the holding chamber 36 formed in the ink cartridge 30 flows into the ink tube 20 connected to the ink needle 102 through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 formed in the ink supply portion 34 and the inner space of the ink needle 102. The end of the ink needle 102 may be flat or pointed.

< slider 107>

An opening 111 is formed below the lower face of the lower guide groove 109 in the housing 101 and at a position near the rear so as to extend in the insertion direction 51 (or the removal direction 52). The slider 107 is disposed in the opening 111. The slider 107 protrudes upward through the opening 111 from below the lower face of the lower guide groove 109. The slider 107 is engaged with a guide rail 113 provided at a lower portion of the housing 101, and is movable in the opening 111 along the guide rail 113 in the insertion direction 51 and the removal direction 52. An extension spring 114 extends between the slider 107 and the housing 101. When the slider 107 is pulled, the tension spring 114 generates a biasing force in the removal direction 52. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied to the slider 107, the slider 107 is located at an end of the guide rail 113 in the removal direction 52. When an external force is applied to the slider 107 at this position in the insertion direction 51, the slider 107 can move in the opening 111 in the insertion direction 51 along the guide rail 113.

During the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, that is, during the movement of the ink cartridge 30 to the attachment position, the second protrusion 86 formed on the ink cartridge 30 advances along the lower guide groove 109 in the insertion direction 51 and comes into contact with the slider 107 (see fig. 8). When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 is pressed against the second protrusion 86, causing the slider 107 to move in the insertion direction 51 against the biasing force of the tension spring 114. The slider 107 applies a biasing force to the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52. The slider 107 and the tension spring 114 are examples of the biasing member.

< locking part 145>

As shown in fig. 2 and 7, the lock portion 145 extends in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 of the housing 101 near the top surface of the housing 101 and near the opening 112. The locking portion 145 is a rod-like member extending in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55. The locking portion 145 is, for example, a metal cylinder. Both ends of the locking portion 145 in the left and right directions 56 and 55 are fixed to a wall defining both ends of the housing 101 in the left and right directions 56 and 55. Therefore, the lock portion 145 neither relatively rotates with respect to the housing 101 nor causes other relative movement. The locking portions 145 extend in the left direction 56 and the right direction 55 across four spaces in which the four ink cartridges 30 can be accommodated. In each space in which the ink cartridge 30 is accommodated, there is a space around the lock portion 145. Thus, the ink cartridge 30 can be engaged with the locking portion 145 toward the upward direction 54 or the removal direction 52.

The lock portion 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110 at the attachment position. When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 and rotated to the attachment orientation, the ink cartridge 30 engages the lock 145. The lock portion 145 holds the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge attachment unit 110 against a force of the slider 107 pressing the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52 and a force of the coil spring 78 provided in the ink cartridge 30 pressing the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction.

As shown in fig. 2 and 7, four contacts 106 are provided on the top surface of the housing 101 near the rear surface thereof. Although not shown in detail in these figures, the four contact members 106 are spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions 56 and 55. In the ink cartridge 30, four contacts 106 are positioned corresponding to the four electrodes 65, which will be described later with reference to fig. 3A and 4A. Each contact 106 is formed of a conductive and resilient material; the contact 106 is deformable in the upward direction 54. Four sets of four contacts 106 are provided corresponding to the four ink cartridges 30 that can be accommodated in the casing 101. There is no limitation on the number of contacts 106 and the number of electrodes 65; any number of contacts 106 and any number of electrodes 65 may be used.

Each contact 106 is electrically connected to the computing unit with circuitry interposed therebetween. The computing unit includes, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Read Only Memory (ROM), and a Random Access Memory (RAM). The calculation unit may be configured as a control unit for the printer 10. When the contact 106 and its corresponding electrode 65 are electrically connected to each other, the voltage Vc is applied to the electrode 65, the electrode 65 is grounded, or power is supplied to the electrode 65. Data stored in the Integrated Circuit (IC) in the ink cartridge 30 may be accessed due to the electrical connection between the contacts 106 and their corresponding electrodes 65. The output from the circuit is input into a calculation unit.

< rod 125>

As shown in fig. 2 and 7, a lever 125 is provided on the rear face of the housing 101 at a position above the ink needle 102. The rod 125 protrudes from the rear of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52. A cross section of the rod 125 in a direction orthogonal to the removal direction 52 has an inverted U shape resembling the upper half of a cylindrical shape. The rib projects upwardly from the highest position of the rod 125 in the removal direction 52. In a case where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, that is, in a case where the ink cartridge 30 is in the attachment position, the lever 125 is inserted into the recess 96 formed below the IC board 64 in the ink cartridge 30.

< sensor 103>

As shown in fig. 2 and 7, the sensor 103 is provided on the top surface of the housing 101. The sensor 103 has a light emitting section and a light receiving section. The light-emitting section is disposed to the right of the light-sensing section in the right direction 55 or to the left of the light-sensing section in the left direction 56 with a space between the light-emitting section and the light-sensing section. After the attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment unit 110 is completed, the light-accessing portion 62 provided in the ink cartridge 30 is located between the light-emitting portion and the light-sensing portion. In other words, the light emitting section and the light sensing section are oppositely disposed with the light incoming section 62 interposed therebetween, wherein the light incoming section 62 is in the ink cartridge 30 inserted in the cartridge attachment unit 110.

The sensor 103 outputs different detection signals depending on whether or not the light emitted by the light emitting section has been received by the light sensing section. When, for example, the light-sensing section cannot receive the light emitted from the light-emitting section (i.e., the light-receiving intensity of the light-sensing section is lower than a predetermined intensity), the sensor 103 outputs a low-level signal whose signal level is lower than a threshold level. When the light-sensing section is capable of receiving light emitted from the light-emitting section (i.e., the light-receiving intensity of the light-sensing section is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity), the sensor 103 outputs a high-level signal whose signal level is equal to or higher than a threshold level.

The positioning member 108 extends above the guide 105 and below the rod 125 in the left and right directions 56 and 55 of the housing 101. The positioning member 108 protrudes from the rear face of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52. The size of the positioning member 108 in which the positioning member 108 protrudes from the rear face of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52 is smaller than the size of the guide 105 in which the guide 105 protrudes from the rear face of the housing 101 in the removal direction 52. The upper face 115 of the positioning member 108 is in contact with the lower face 89 of the first protrusion 85 in the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110.

< ink Cartridge 30>

The ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 3A and 3B to fig. 6 is a container in which ink is held. The space formed in the ink cartridge 30 is a holding chamber (an example of a liquid holding chamber) 36. The holding chamber 36 is formed with an inner frame 35, and the inner frame 35 is placed in the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 forming the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30. The inner frame 35 is an example of a main body. The rear cover 31, the front cover 32, and the inner frame 35 are examples of the housing.

The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 3A and 3B to 6 and fig. 15A and 15B is an orientation assumed when the ink cartridge 30 is in the attachment orientation (first orientation). As described later, the ink cartridge 30 has a front face 140, a rear face 41, upper faces 39 and 141, and lower faces 42 and 142. In the orientation of the ink cartridge 30 as shown in fig. 3A and 3B through 6, the direction extending from the rear face 41 toward the front face 140 matches the insertion direction 51 and the forward direction 57, the direction extending from the front face 140 toward the rear face 41 matches the removal direction 52, the direction extending from the upper faces 39 and 141 toward the lower faces 42 and 142 matches the downward direction 53, and the direction extending from the lower faces 42 and 142 toward the upper faces 39 and 141 matches the upward direction 54. In the case where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the front surface 140 faces in the insertion direction 51 and the forward direction 57, the rear surface 41 faces in the removal direction 52, the lower surfaces 42 and 142 face in the downward direction 53, and the upper surfaces 39 and 141 face in the upward direction 54.

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B to 6, the ink cartridge 30 is formed with a rear cover 31 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a front cover 32 including a front surface 140, and an inner frame 35 defining a holding chamber 36. The rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 are combined together to form the outer shape of the ink cartridge 30. The inner frame 35 is placed inside the combined rear cover 31 and front cover 32. The ink cartridge 30 is generally flat; the dimensions in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 are smaller, and the dimensions in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 and the dimensions in the forward direction 57 and the backward direction 58 are larger than the dimensions in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The front surface 140 is a surface of the front cover 32 that faces the insertion direction 51 (forward direction 57) when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110. The rear surface 41 is a surface of the rear cover 31 facing the removal direction 52(58) when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110. That is, the rear surface 41 is disposed opposite the front surface 140 of the front cover 32, and the holding chamber 36 is interposed between the rear surface 41 and the front surface 140.

< rear cover 31>

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B and fig. 4A and 4B, the rear cover 31 is formed as a box body having side surfaces 37 and 38 spaced apart from each other in right and left directions 55 and 56, an upper surface 39 facing the upward direction 54, and a lower surface 42 facing the downward direction 53, the upper surface 39 and the lower surface 42 extending from the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51. The rear cover 31 has an opening facing in the forward direction 57. The inner frame 35 is inserted into the rear cover 31 through the opening. That is, the rear cover 31 covers the rear of the inner frame 35. With the inner frame 35 inserted, the lower surface 42 is disposed opposite to the upper surface 39 with the holding chamber 36 interposed therebetween.

The rear surface 41 has an upper portion 41U and a lower portion 41L. The upper portion 41U is located above the lower portion 41L in the upward direction 54. Lower portion 41L is located below upper portion 41U in a downward direction 53. In other words, the lower portion 41L is located in the forward direction 57 from the upper portion 41U. The upper portion 41U and the lower portion 41L are both flat surfaces that intersect each other, but they are not orthogonal to each other. Lower portion 41L is inclined relative to downward direction 53 and upward direction 54 such that lower portion 41L approaches front surface 140 as lower portion 41L approaches lower surface 42. To prompt the user to PUSH the ink cartridge 30, as shown in fig. 15B, a sheet is pasted onto the upper portion 41U to indicate PUSH or other character strings, symbols such as arrows, graphics indicating pressing with a finger, and the like.

As shown in fig. 3A and 4A, a protrusion 43 is formed on the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31. The projection 43 extends in the forward direction 57 and the backward direction 58 from the center of the upper surface 39 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The surface of the projection 43 facing the rearward direction 58 is a locking surface 151. The locking surface 151 extends in a downward direction 53 and an upward direction 54. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the lock surface 151 may be brought into contact with the lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52. When the lock surface 151 is brought into contact with the lock portion 145 in the removal direction 52, the ink cartridge 30 is held in the cartridge attachment unit 110 against the force of the extension spring 14 biasing the ink cartridge 30 through the slider 107 and the force of the coil spring 78 biasing the ink cartridge 30.

The reinforcing surface 152 extends across the locking surface 151 to continue to the end of the locking surface 151 in the right direction 55. The reinforcing surface 153 extends across the locking surface 151 to continue to an end of the locking surface 151 in the left direction 56. The reinforcing surface 152 extends in the forward direction 57 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface including the locking surface 151 and extends in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 and the right direction 55. The reinforcing surface 153 extends in the forward direction 57 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface that includes the locking surface 151 and extends in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 and the left direction 56. Due to the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153, the strength of the protrusion 43 is increased, reducing the risk of damage to the locking surface 151. Since the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 do not extend beyond the locking surface 151 in the rearward direction 58, they do not contact the locking portion 145. Therefore, even if the locking surface 151 slides on the locking portion 145, the presence of the reinforcing surfaces 152 and 153 does not increase the sliding resistance.

On the protrusion 43, a horizontal surface 154 is provided that continues to the locking surface 151 and extends from the locking surface 151 in the forward direction 57. The horizontal surface 154 extends in the right and left directions 55, 56 and the forward and rearward directions 57, 58. The inclined surface 155 is arranged to continue to the horizontal surface 154 and extends from the horizontal surface 154 in the forward direction 57. The inclined surface 155 faces the upward direction 54 and the forward direction 57. Therefore, the inclined surface 155 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53, and the inclined surface 155 is also visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the rearward direction 58. Since the locking surface 151 continues to the inclined surface 155 through the horizontal surface 154, the boundary between the locking surface 151 and the horizontal surface 154 does not become acutely convex. During the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110, the locking portion 145 is smoothly guided by the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 in the rearward direction 58 beyond the locking surface 151 while the locking portion 145 is in contact with the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154.

The reinforcing surface 156 extends across the locking surface 151 to continue to the end of the inclined surface 155 in the right direction 55. The reinforcement surface 157 extends across the locking surface 151 to continue to the end of the inclined surface 155 in the left direction 56. The reinforcement surface 156 extends in the downward direction 53 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface that includes the inclined surface 155 and extends in the right direction 55. The reinforcement surface 157 extends in the downward direction 53 to form an acute angle with respect to a virtual surface that includes the inclined surface 155 and extends in the left direction 56. Due to the stiffening surfaces 156 and 157, the strength of the protrusion 43 is increased, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the inclined surface 155. Since the reinforcing surfaces 156 and 157 do not extend beyond the inclined surface 155 in the upward direction, they do not contact the lock portion 145. Therefore, the presence of the reinforcement surfaces 156 and 157 does not increase the sliding resistance during the sliding of the inclined surface 155 on the lock portion 145.

An operating portion 90 is provided on the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, the operating portion 90 being displaced in the rearward direction 58 from the locking surface 151. A sub upper surface 91 is formed below the other portion of the upper surface 39 in the downward direction 53 at the rear end of the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31. The operating portion 90 is disposed above the sub upper surface 91 with a space therebetween. The manipulation portion 90 is shaped like a flat plate such that the manipulation portion 90 protrudes beyond the protrusion 43 in the upward direction 54 from the vicinity of the boundary between the sub upper surface 91 and the other portion of the upper surface 39, and then the manipulation portion 90 is bent diagonally in the rearward direction 58 and the downward direction 53. A rib 94 is provided between the manipulation part 90 and the sub upper surface 91, and the rib 94 continues to the manipulation part 90 and the sub upper surface 91 and extends in the backward direction 58. As shown in fig. 15A and 15B, the dimension of the rib 94 in the right and left directions 55 and 56 is smaller than the dimension of the manipulation portion 90 and the sub upper surface 91 in the right and left directions 55 and 56.

The operating portion 90 has an operating surface 92 facing in the upward direction 54 and the rearward direction 58. The manipulation surface 92 and the sub upper surface 91 are disposed at the same position in the forward direction 57 and the backward direction 58. In other words, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the downward direction 53, the manipulation surface 92 and the sub upper surface 91 are disposed at the same position. The operating surface 92 has a plurality of protrusions, such as a plurality of ridges 93 extending in the right and left directions 55, 56 and spaced apart from each other in the forward and rearward directions 57, 58. Due to the ridges 93 functioning as a plurality of protrusions, the user can easily recognize the manipulation surface 92. In addition, when the user manipulates the manipulation surface 92 with a finger, the finger does not easily slide on the manipulation surface 92.

As shown in fig. 15A and 15B, the manipulation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53, and the manipulation surface 92 is also visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the forward direction 57. In other words, the manipulation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in a direction advancing from the upper surface 39 toward the lower surface 42, and the manipulation surface 92 is also visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in a direction advancing from the rear surface 41 toward the front surface 140. When the user takes out the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the user manipulates the manipulation surface 92. The manipulation part 90 is fixed to the back cover 31, for example, by being molded together with the back cover 31, so the manipulation part 90 neither rotates with respect to the back cover 31 nor causes other relative movement. Therefore, the force applied to the manipulation surface 92 by the user is transmitted to the rear cover 31 as it is without changing the direction. In this embodiment, the manipulation part 90 does not relatively rotate with respect to the inner frame 35 and the holding chamber 36, nor causes other relative movement.

< front cover 32>

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B and fig. 4A and 4B, the front cover 32 is formed as a box body having side surfaces 143 and 144 extending from the front surface 140 in the rearward direction 58 and spaced from each other in the right and left directions 55 and 56, and also having an upper surface 141 and a lower surface 142 extending from the front surface 140 in the rearward direction 58 and spaced from each other in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. The front cover 32 has an opening facing in a rearward direction 58. The inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32 through the opening. That is, the front cover 32 covers the front portion of the inner frame 35 not covered by the rear cover 31.

In a state where the rear cover 31 and the front cover 32 are combined together, that is, in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is assembled, the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 forms an upper surface of the ink cartridge 30 together with the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31, and the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 forms a lower surface of the ink cartridge 30 together with the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31. Specifically, when the ink cartridge 30 is placed in the attachment orientation (first orientation), the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 extends in the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58, and the lower surface 42 of the rear cover 31 is inclined in the downward direction 53 and the rearward direction 58. The side surfaces 143 and 144 of the front cover 32 form the side surfaces of the ink cartridge 30 together with the side surfaces 37 and 38 of the rear cover 31. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is assembled, the front surface 140 of the front cover 32 (the front surface 140 forms a front surface of the ink cartridge 30) and the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 (the rear surface 41 forms a rear surface of the ink cartridge 30) are spaced from each other in the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58. The front surface, the rear surface, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the side surfaces of the ink cartridge 30 are each not necessarily a single plane. That is, the front surface is a surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation is viewed in the rearward direction 58, and the front surface is positioned so as to be displaced in the forward direction 57 from the center of the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation; the rear surface is a surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation is viewed in the forward direction 57, and the rear surface is displaced in the rearward direction 58 from the center of the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation; the upper surface is a surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation is viewed in the downward direction 53, and the upper surface is displaced in the upward direction 54 from the center of the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation; the lower surface is a surface that is visible when the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation is viewed in the upward direction 54, and the lower surface is displaced in the downward direction 53 from the center of the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation. The same is true for the side surfaces. That is, although in this embodiment, the upper surface 39 as a part of the rear cover 31 is located above the upper surface 141 as a part of the front cover 32, it is not limited thereto, and the upper surfaces 141 and 39 may be at the same position in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54.

A recess 96 recessed in the rearward direction 58 is formed in an upper portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. By attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the lever 125 enters the recess 96. Accordingly, a cross section of the recess 96 in a direction orthogonal to the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58 has a shape corresponding to a cross sectional shape of the rod 125. The recess 96 extends in the rearward direction 58 from the front surface 140. The two concave portions 99 recessed from the upper surface 141 in the downward direction 53 are displaced from the IC board 64 in the rearward direction 58. One of the recesses 99 extends from the IC board 64 in the right direction 55, and the other extends from the IC board 64 in the left direction 56. By attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the lever 125 enters the space defined by the recess 96.

An aperture 97 passing through the front cover 32 in the rearward direction 58 is formed in a lower portion of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The hole 97 is a hole through which the ink supply portion 34 in the inner frame 35 is exposed to the outside in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. Therefore, the hole 97 is formed to correspond to the position, size, and shape of the ink supply portion 34 in the inner frame 35.

The first protrusion 85 and the second protrusion 86 are formed on the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. A first protrusion 85 protrudes in the forward direction 57 from the upper end of the front cover 32. A recess 96 is formed at an end of the first protrusion 85. The end of the first protrusion 85 forms a portion of the front surface 140. The lower surface 89 of the first protrusion 85 is located between the IC board 64 and the ink supply portion 34 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the lower surface 89 is in contact with the upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 in the cartridge attachment unit 110. The lower surface 89 is equivalent to the positioning surface.

The second protrusion 86 protrudes from the front surface 140 in the forward direction 57 at a lower end of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32, i.e., below the ink supply portion 34. A recess 87 that opens in the forward direction 57 and the downward direction 53 is formed in the lower surface of the second protrusion 86. A portion of the recess 87 projects in a downward direction 53 from the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32. During the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110, the slider 107 enters and contacts the recess 87 of the second protrusion 86.

A hole 98 (an example of an opening) passing through the front cover 32 in the downward direction 53 is formed in the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32. The aperture 98 is an aperture through which the light admission part 62 in the inner frame 35 is exposed to the outside in a state where the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32. Therefore, the hole 98 is formed to correspond to the position, size, and shape of the light admission part 62 in the inner frame 35.

Although in this embodiment, an opening (hole 98) is formed in the front cover 32 so as to expose the light admission part 62 in the inner frame 35 from the upper surface 141, an opening through which the light admission part 62 is exposed may be formed only in one of the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31, or may be formed in both the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31. Although the hole 98 is formed such that a portion behind the optical access portion 62 is covered by the back cover 31 in this embodiment, the hole 98 may be formed such that the entire optical access portion 62 is exposed.

The IC board 64 is disposed on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 and above the first protrusion 85, i.e., above the ink supply portion 34. The IC board 64 is electrically connected to four contacts 106 (see fig. 2), the four contacts 106 being aligned in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 in the middle of the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110. In a state where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the IC board 64 is electrically connected to the contact 106. The dimension of the circuit board 64 in the first direction 51 is smaller than the dimension of the circuit board 64 in the left and right directions 56 and 55.

On the IC board 64, an IC (not shown in each drawing) and four electrodes 65 are mounted. The four electrodes 65 are aligned in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The IC as a semiconductor integrated circuit stores information about the ink cartridge 30 such as a lot number, a date and time of manufacture, and data indicating the color of ink and other information in such a manner that the information can be read.

Electrode 65 is electrically connected to the IC. Each electrode 65 extends in a forward direction 57 and a rearward direction 58. The four electrodes 65 are spaced apart from each other in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. Each electrode 65 is exposed to the upper surface of the IC board 64 so as to be accessed. The electrode 65 is an example of an electrical interface.

< inner frame 35>

Although not shown in each drawing, the inner frame 35 is configured in an annular manner with a pair of end surfaces that open in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. A pair of open end surfaces of the inner frame 35 is sealed with a film (not shown), forming a holding chamber 36 in which ink can be held. When the inner frame 35 is inserted into the front cover 32, the front surface 40 defining the holding chamber 36 faces the rear surface of the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The ink supply portion 34 (an example of a liquid outflow unit) is provided below the front surface 40.

< ink supply portion 34>

As shown in fig. 6, the ink supply portion 34 is provided at a lower portion of the front surface 140 to protrude beyond the front surface 40 of the inner frame 35 in the forward direction 57. The ink supply portion 34 has a cylindrical outer shape, and protrudes outward through a hole 97 formed in the front surface 140 of the front cover 32. The ink supply portion 34 has a cylindrical wall 73 in a cylindrical shape having an internal space and also has a seal member 76 and a cap 79 attached to the cylindrical wall 73.

Cylindrical wall 73 extends from the interior to the exterior of holding chamber 36. The end of the cylindrical wall 73 in the removal direction 52 opens in the holding chamber 36. An end of cylindrical wall 73 in insertion direction 51 opens to the outside of ink cartridge 30. Therefore, the cylindrical wall 73 communicates with the holding chamber 36 and the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space. That is, the ink supply portion 34 supplies the ink held in the holding chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. The sealing member 76 and the cap 79 are attached to the end of the cylindrical wall 73 in the insertion direction 51.

The valve body 77 and the coil spring 78 are accommodated in the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. The valve body 77 and the coil spring 78 serve to selectively switch the state of the ink supply portion 34 between a state (see fig. 11) in which ink flows from the holding chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 and a state (see fig. 6) in which ink does not flow from the holding chamber 36 to the outside of the ink cartridge 30 through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73.

When the valve body 77 is moved in the forward direction 57 and the backward direction 58, the ink supply opening 71, which is a through hole formed at the center of the seal member 76, is opened and closed. A coil spring 78 biases the valve body 77 in the forward direction 57. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied, the valve body 77 closes the ink supply opening 71 in the seal member 76.

A sealing member 76 is provided at an end of the cylindrical wall 73. The sealing member 76 is a disk-shaped member having a through hole at the center. The seal member 76 is made of, for example, an elastic material such as a rubber material or an elastomer. A through hole extending in the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58 at the center of the seal member 76 forms a cylindrical inner surface, thereby forming the ink supply opening 71. The inner diameter of the ink supply opening 71 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the ink needle 102. Since the cap 79 is fitted to the outside of the cylindrical wall 73, the sealing member 76 is in contact with the end of the cylindrical wall 73 in a liquid-tight manner.

When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in a state where the valve body 77 closes the ink supply opening 71, the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply opening 71. The outer peripheral surface of the ink needle 102 is in liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface defining the ink supply opening 71 while the ink needle 102 elastically deforms the seal member 76. When the end of the ink needle 102 passes through the seal member 76 and enters the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73, the end is in contact with the valve body 77. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110, the ink needle 102 moves the valve body 77 in the rearward direction 58 against the biasing force of the coil spring 78. This enables the ink held in the holding chamber 36 to flow to the end of the ink needle 102 through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73. Although not shown in each drawing, the ink flows from the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 to the inner space of the ink needle 102 through a through hole formed in the end of the ink needle 102. Thereby, the ink held in the holding chamber 36 can flow out to the outside through the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 and the ink needle 102.

The valve body 77 that closes the ink supply opening 71 is not necessarily provided in the ink supply portion 34. For example, the ink supply opening 71 may be blocked by a film or the like, in which case, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110, the ink needle 102 breaks the film, and the end of the ink needle 102 thereby enters the inner space of the cylindrical wall 73 through the ink supply opening 71. Alternatively, the ink supply opening 71 may be closed due to the elasticity of the seal member 76, in which case the ink supply opening 71 is expanded by being pressed by the ink needle 102 only when the ink needle 102 is inserted.

< liquid level detection section 60>

As shown in fig. 6, the ink cartridge 30 has a liquid level detection portion 60 (an example of a liquid detection portion). The liquid level detection section 60 has an optical access section 62 and a sensor arm 59 (an example of a light attenuation section). The inner frame 35 has an optical access portion 62 extending from the upper surface in the upward direction 54. The light admission portion 62 is a protrusion defining its continuation to the inner space of the holding chamber 36. The light access 62 is translucent so that light can pass through the light access 62 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. In other words, the light incoming section 62 is configured to be accessed by light traveling from the light emitting section toward the light sensing section in the sensor 103 of the printer 10. Specifically, the light-accessing portion 62 has side surfaces 66 and 67 (examples of first and second side surfaces) expanding in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 and the forward direction 57 and the backward direction 58. Light propagating in the direction in which the side surfaces 66 and 67 are separated, that is, in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 passes through the light incoming portion 62. In the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, the distance of the side surfaces 66 and 67 is smaller than the size of the side surfaces 66 and 67. The dimension of the side surfaces 66 and 67 in the upward direction 54 is smaller than the distance of the side surfaces 66 and 67 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. The light access portion 62 is exposed to the outside through a hole 98 in the front cover 32. The side surfaces 66 and 67 extend through the aperture 98 in the front cover 32 in the upward direction 54 above the upper surface 141. Thus, the side surfaces 66 and 67 intersect the upper surface 141.

As shown in fig. 6, a sensor arm 59 (an example of a light attenuating portion) is provided in the holding chamber 36 in the inner frame 35. The sensor arm 59 is supported by a rotation shaft 61 extending in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, and is rotatable about the rotation shaft 61.

The sensor arm 59 has a float 63. The float 63 has a smaller specific gravity than the ink held in the holding chamber 36. Therefore, in the holding chamber 36, the float 63 generates buoyancy while the float 63 is in the ink. In the state where the holding chamber 36 is substantially completely filled with ink, the sensor arm 59 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 6 due to the buoyancy of the float 63. The portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 has entered the interior of the optical access 62. The orientation of the sensor arm 59 is maintained when the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 is in contact with the wall defining the end of the optical access 62 in the forward direction 57. While in this state (an example of a first state), the ink detection portion 60 changes the state of light transmitted from the emitter to the light sensing portion. In more detail, the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 cuts off light that is emitted from the sensor 103 and that would otherwise propagate through the optical access 62 in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56, and performs other processing on the light.

Specifically, when the light emitted from the light emitting portion in the sensor 103 reaches one of the right and left surfaces of the light incoming portion 62, the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 reduces the intensity of the light that is expected to exit from the other of the right and left surfaces of the light incoming portion 62 and reach the light sensing portion to below a predetermined intensity (intensity transmitted light here), for example, to zero. The portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 may completely cut off light so that it does not propagate in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56, may partially absorb light, may attenuate light, may bend the direction of light propagation, or may totally reflect light for changing the state of light transmitted from the emitter to the light sensing section.

When ink in the holding chamber 36 decreases and the liquid level of the ink falls below the position of the float 63, the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 is in an orientation in which the portion 68 cuts off light that would otherwise propagate through the light access 62 and performs other processing on the light, the float 63 falls along with the liquid level. Accordingly, the sensor arm 59 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 6. Due to the clockwise direction, the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 (the portion 68 has entered the interior of the optical access portion 62) moves substantially in the backward direction 58 through the interior space in the optical access portion 62 and reaches the end of the interior space in the optical access portion 62 in the backward direction 58, so that the portion 68 deviates from the optical path extending from the light emitting portion in the sensor 103 to the light receiving section thereof. In this state (an example of the second state), in the present embodiment, it is expected that light propagating from one surface to the other surface of the right and left surfaces of the light incoming portion 62 can pass through the internal space of the light incoming portion 62, and the intensity of light that will reach the light sensing portion in the sensor 103 is equal to or higher than a predetermined intensity (transmitted light at this intensity).

< intervention wall 80>

As shown in fig. 3A and 4A, an intervening wall (an example of a second light attenuating portion) 80 is provided on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32; intervening wall 80 is displaced from IC board 64 in rearward direction 58 and from aperture 98 in forward direction 57. The intervening wall 80 projects in an upward direction 54 from the upper surface 141. The intervening wall 80 has front and rear surfaces 81 and 82 expanding in the right and left directions 55 and 56, side surfaces 83 and 84 expanding in the forward and rearward directions 57 and 58, and an upper surface 88. The dimension D1 (see fig. 5) of the side surfaces 83 and 84 in the forward direction 57 and the rearward direction 58 is greater than the dimension D2 (see fig. 15A) of the front surface 81 and the rear surface 82 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. That is, the intervening wall 80 has a thin plate shape in which the dimension in the forward direction 57 and the backward direction 58 is larger than the dimension in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. In the present embodiment, in the case where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the light emitted from the light emitting portion in the sensor reaches one of the side surfaces 83 and 84 of the intervening wall 80, and the side surfaces 83 and 84 reduce the intensity of light that is expected to exit from the other of the side surfaces of the intervening wall 80 and reach the light sensing portion to below a predetermined intensity (where the intensity transmits light), for example, to zero. That is, the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit is detected by the intervening wall 80, the intervening wall 80 being configured to cut off or attenuate light from the emitter toward the light sensing section.

< Placement of the light admission portion 62, the IC board 64, the intervening wall 80, the locking surface 151, etc. in the ink cartridge 30>

As shown in fig. 3A and 3B to 6 and 15A, the IC board 64 is provided so as to be displaced from the optical access portion 62 in the insertion direction 51 (forward direction 57). On the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, the IC board 64 is disposed closer to the side surface 143 located in the right direction 55 than to the side surface 144 located in the left direction 56. The center of the IC board 64 is disposed closer to the side surface 66 of the optical access portion 62 than to the side surface 67 of the optical access portion 62 in the left direction 56. The light emitting portion of the sensor 103 faces the side surface 67, and the light sensing portion in the sensor 103 faces the side surface 66. The IC board 64 is disposed at the same position as the ink supply portion 34 when viewed in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. In other words, at least a portion of the IC board 64 overlaps the ink supply portion 34 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54.

An intervening wall 80 is disposed above IC board 64 in upward direction 54. In the backward direction 58, the intervening wall 80 is disposed closer to the optical access portion 62 than the IC board 64 is to the optical access portion 62. The intervening wall 80 extends upwardly beyond the upper end of the sensor arm 59, which upper end of the sensor arm 59 is in contact with the wall defining the end of the light entry 62 in the forward direction 57.

The dimension of the rear surface 82 of the intervening wall 80 in the right and left directions is longer than the distance between the side surface 66 and the side surface 67 of the optical access portion 62.

The optical access 62 is displaced from the IC board 64 in the removal direction 52 (displaced from the IC board 64 in the backward direction 58). The light access portion 62 is disposed above the IC board 64 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. In other words, the internal space of the liquid level detection section is disposed above the electrode 65 of the IC board 64. Specifically, the IC board 64 is displaced from the liquid outlet portion 34 by a first distance in the upward direction 54, and the light admission portion 62 is displaced from the liquid outlet portion 34 by a second distance greater than the first distance in the upward direction 54. In more detail, in the case where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the area where the light from the light emitting portion passes through the light incoming portion 62 of the light incoming portion 62 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 is located above the electrode 65 of the IC board. The locking surface 151 is displaced from the optical access 62 in the removal direction 52 (displaced from the optical access 62 in the rearward direction 58). In the upward direction 54, the light access portion 62 is disposed closer to the locking surface 151 than the IC board 64 is to the locking surface 151. The upper end of the light admission portion 62 in the upward direction 54 is closer to the locking surface 151 than the IC board 64 is to the locking surface 151. That is, in the upward direction 54, the height of the upper end of the locking surface 151, the height of the upper end of the optical access portion 62, and the height of the upper surface of the IC board 64 decrease in this order.

The dimension of the locking surface 151 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 in this embodiment is smaller than the dimension of the light-accessing part 62 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. However, since the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 is positioned above the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, the upper end of the locking surface 151 is positioned above the upper surface of the optical access portion 62. Therefore, if the upper surface 39 of the rear cover 31 and the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32 are disposed at the same position in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54, when the dimension of the locking surface 151 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 is made larger than the dimension of the light admission part 62 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54, the upper end of the locking surface 151 is located above the upper end of the light admission part 62.

The lower surface 89 is located above the ink supply portion 34 in the upward direction 54 and below the IC board 64 in the downward direction 53.

< operation of attaching ink cartridge 30 to cartridge attaching unit 110>

The process of attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attaching unit 110 will be described below.

As shown in fig. 7, in the ink cartridge 30 in which the cartridge attachment unit 110 remains to be attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the valve body 77 closes the ink supply opening 71 in the seal member 76. This blocks the flow of ink from holding chamber 36 to the outside of ink cartridge 30.

As shown in fig. 7, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the casing 101 through an opening 112 in the cartridge attachment unit 110. The upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 is positioned from the lower portion 41L in the removal direction 52, i.e., closer to the user, so the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51 while pressing the upper portion 41U. As described above, since the sheet stuck to the upper portion 41U indicates a PUSH or other character string, a symbol such as an arrow, or a figure indicating pushing with a finger, or the like, the user is prompted to PUSH the upper portion 41U. The lower portions of the ink cartridge 30, i.e., the lower portions of the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31, enter the lower guide groove 109 in the casing 101. The second protrusion 86 is provided at a lower portion of the front cover 32. When a portion of the recess 87 protruding in the downward direction 53 from the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 comes into contact with the lower surface of the guide groove 109, the front portion of the front cover 32 is lifted up, and the lower surface 142 is inclined with respect to the insertion direction 51. That is, on the lower surface of the guide groove 109, a part of the recess 87 in the front cover 32 and a part of the lower surface 142 near the lower end are brought into contact with each other.

As shown in fig. 8, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, the recess 87 in the second protrusion 86 in the front cover 32 comes into contact with the slider 107. At this time, the user pushes the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30. This causes the ink cartridge 30 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 8, centered on the contact between the slider 107 and the recess 87 in the second protrusion 86. Due to this rotation, the lower surface 142 of the front cover 32 is moved away from the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109, and the upper portion of the ink cartridge 30 is brought into contact with the upper guide groove 109.

As shown in fig. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted farther in the insertion direction 51 against the biasing force of the tension spring 114 that biases the slider 107 in the removal direction 52, the cap 79 in the ink supply portion 34 starts to enter the guide member 105. The recess 96 in the front cover 32 faces the rod 125, and the rod 125 begins to enter the recess 96. The upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 in the cartridge attachment unit 110 starts to enter the space between the first protrusion 85 on the ink cartridge 30 and the ink supply portion 34.

As shown in fig. 10, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the biasing force of the tension spring 114 that biases the slider 107 in the removal direction 52, the cap 7 in the ink supply portion 34 enters the guide 105 and the ink needle 102 enters the ink supply opening 71, causing the valve body 77 to move away from the seal member 76 against the biasing force of the coil spring 78. In addition to the biasing force of the extension spring 114 applied by the slider 107, the biasing force of the coil spring 78 is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 52.

The upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 in the cartridge attachment unit 110 is in contact with the lower surface 89 of the first protrusion 85 on the front cover 32, and supports the front cover 32 from below. When the IC board 64 reaches the portion below the contacts 106, the contacts 106 elastically deform upward, and the electrodes 65 are thereby electrically connected to their corresponding contacts 106. At this time, although the IC board 64 is biased in the downward direction 53 due to the elastic deformation of the contacts 106, the upper surface 115 of the positioning member 108 supports the front cover 32 from below, and therefore the IC board 64 is accurately positioned to the contacts 106 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. In the process of completing the attachment of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment unit 110, when the contacts 106 are electrically connected to their corresponding electrodes 65 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 51, the contacts 106 slide on their corresponding electrodes 65. Shavings may be generated from the electrodes 65 as the contacts 106 slide over their corresponding electrodes 65.

The protrusion 43 on the rear cover 31 reaches the locking portion 145 and the inclined surface 155 slides on the locking portion 145. When the user presses the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 in the insertion direction 51, a rotational moment is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 10. However, due to the contact between the inclined surface 155 and the lock 145, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 10 against the rotational torque centering on the center of the ink supply opening 71 in the seal member 76 in which the ink needle 102 has been inserted, in other words, centering on the center of the portion of the ink needle 102 that is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the seal member 76, the inner peripheral surface of the seal member 76 defines the ink supply opening 71. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 10 is referred to as a second orientation.

When the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the locking surface 151 of the protrusion 43 is located below the locking portion 145. While the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the above-described rotation center and the IC board 64 are in the same position in the insertion direction 51. Therefore, the biasing force applied to the IC board 64 by the contact 106 cannot be a moment or only a very small moment that rotates the ink cartridge 30. While the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the lower surface 42 of the front cover 32 is in contact with or close to the lower surface of the lower guide groove 109, and therefore, in this embodiment, the lower surface 42 of the front cover 32 is horizontal. While the ink cartridge 30 is in the second orientation, the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 extends from the upper portion 41U in the insertion direction 51.

As shown in fig. 11, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted in the insertion direction 51 against the biasing force of the extension spring 114 and the biasing force of the coil spring 78 that bias the slider 107 in the removal direction 52, the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 of the projection 43 on the rear cover 31 are positioned closer to the rear surface of the housing 101 than to the lock portion 145. Since the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 is pressed by the user in the insertion direction 51, causing a rotational moment to have been applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 11, the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 are separated from the locking portion 145. Therefore, the ink cartridge 30 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 11 centering on the center of the ink supply opening 71 in the seal member 76 into which the ink needle 102 has been inserted. The orientation of the ink cartridge 30 shown in fig. 11 is referred to as a first orientation.

While the ink cartridge 30 is in the first orientation, the locking surface 151 faces the locking portion 145 in the removal direction 52. When the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the second orientation to the first orientation, the rear cover 31 is in contact with the locking portion 145. Due to the shock generated in such contact, the user recognizes that pressing the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 has been completed. If the user cancels pressing the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 78 and the biasing force of the extension spring 114 exerted by the slider 107. With the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation, the locking surface 151 faces the locking portion 145 in the removal direction 52, and thus the locking surface 151 contacts the locking portion 145 when the ink cartridge 30 is slightly moved in the removal direction 52. Thus, the ink cartridge 30 remains in the first orientation, limiting movement in the removal direction 52. That is, the ink cartridge 30 is in a state where the ink cartridge 30 has been positioned in the cartridge attached state unit 110 and has been completely attached to the cartridge attached unit 110.

In this embodiment, the IC board 64 is disposed on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, i.e., above the ink supply opening 71. Therefore, even if the ink in the holding chamber 36 flows out from the ink supply opening 71 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 or removed from the cartridge attachment unit 110, the ink that has flowed out is difficult to adhere to the IC board 64. The holding chamber 36 in the ink cartridge 30 is preferably opened to the atmosphere while the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110. As an example of a structure that opens the holding chamber 36 to the atmosphere, the air path formed in the ink cartridge 30 may communicate with the outside, that is, may be open to the outside, as the ink supply valve 70 moves after the ink needle 102 has been inserted into the ink supply opening 71. Alternatively, the air path formed in the ink cartridge 30 may be sealed from the atmosphere with, for example, an adhesive tape. Then, the user may remove the adhesive tape before attaching the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge attachment unit 110 so that the holding chamber 36 is opened to the atmosphere through the air path.

The operation of the ink cartridge 30 to rotate from the second orientation to the first orientation in the cartridge attachment unit 110 will be described in more detail below.

As shown in fig. 12, the gravity applied to the ink cartridge 30 will be denoted as G; the biasing force of the extension spring 114 and the biasing force of the coil spring 78 that bias the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation in the removal direction 52 will be denoted as F; the distance in the insertion direction 51 between the center of gravity M and the center of rotation O of the ink cartridge 30 placed in the second orientation will be denoted as L; the distance in the upward direction 54 orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 from the lower end of the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30 placed in the second orientation to the plane extending from the rotation center O will be defined as the height H. Then, the following equation is established.

(biasing force F) × (height H) > (gravity G) × (distance L)

In the above equation, the product of the gravity G and the distance L is equal to the magnitude of the moment of rotating the ink cartridge 30 in the clockwise direction in fig. 12.

When the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, the user needs to press the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 with a force greater than at least the biasing force F. That is, if the force with which the user presses the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 is denoted as U, the force U needs to be greater than the biasing force F. When the user holds the ink cartridge 30 at a specific position in the insertion direction 51 against the biasing force F, the biasing force F is equal to the force U. Therefore, when the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110, a force U equivalent to at least the biasing force F is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51. The user presses the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30, i.e., the portion of the upper portion 41U located above the lower end thereof. It will be assumed here that the upper portion 41U of the rear surface 41 is substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 with the ink cartridge 30 placed in the second orientation. Then, a moment at least equivalent to the product of the biasing force F and the height H is applied to the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 12. Since the above equation holds, during the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the insertion direction 51, there is a moment in the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 12. Since the ink cartridge 30 receives the biasing force of the tension spring 114 at the second protrusion 86 through the slider 107, that is, the biasing force of the tension spring 114 at a position below the rotation center O, the biasing force of the tension spring 114 also acts as a moment to rotate the ink cartridge 30 counterclockwise. Even without the biasing force of the extension spring 114, it can be understood that a moment in the counterclockwise direction is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110.

Therefore, as described above, when the inclined surface 155 of the protrusion 43 slides on the lock portion 145 and the inclined surface 155 and the horizontal surface 154 move away from the lock portion 145 in the insertion direction 51, the ink cartridge 30 changes from the second orientation to the first orientation due to the moment in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 12.

As shown in fig. 14, when the ink cartridge 30 is in the first orientation, the upper end of the locking surface 151 is positioned outwardly beyond a virtual circular arc C whose center is the rotation center O, which passes through the locking portion 145. The lower end of the locking surface 151 is located inside the virtual circular arc C. With the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation, the lower end of the locking surface 151 is more inward in the virtual arc C, i.e., the lower end of the locking surface 151 is closer to the rotation center O than the upper end of the locking surface 151 is. Therefore, the locking portion 145 slides toward the lower end of the locking surface 151 due to the biasing force exerted in the removing direction 52. As a result, the ink cartridge 30 is rotated to be placed in the first orientation in a state where the locking portion 145 and the locking surface 151 are in contact with each other.

It will be assumed that, during the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110, the user pushes the lower portion 41L of the rear surface 41 of the rear cover 31, instead of pushing the upper portion 41U. As shown in fig. 13, the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 placed in the second orientation intersects with a first virtual plane P1 orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 (orthogonal to the drawing sheet of fig. 13) at an angle α. A normal length extending from the rotation center O toward a second virtual plane P2 orthogonal to the lower portion 41L (orthogonal to the drawing sheet of fig. 13) at the lower end of the lower portion 41L will be denoted as N. Then, the following equation is established.

(biasing force F) x cos α × (Length N) > (gravity G) × (distance L)

In the above equation, the product of the gravity G and the distance L is equal to the magnitude of the moment of rotating the ink cartridge 30 in the clockwise direction in fig. 12, as in the above equation.

When the user inserts the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge attachment unit 110, if the user presses the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51 with a force U equivalent to at least the biasing force F, a moment having a strength equivalent to at least the product of the cos α component of the biasing force F and the length N is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 13. Since the above equation is established, even if the user presses the lower portion 41L of the ink cartridge 30 in the insertion direction 51, a moment is exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the counterclockwise direction in fig. 13.

When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge attachment unit 110, the user presses the manipulation surface 92 downward. As shown in fig. 15A and 15B, in the case where the ink cartridge 30 is placed in the first orientation, the manipulation surface 92 is visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the downward direction 53, and the manipulation surface 92 is also visible when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed in the forward direction 57 (insertion direction 51). With the ink cartridge 30 placed in the first orientation, the manipulation surface 92 faces the upward direction 54 and the removal direction 52. Therefore, when the user manipulates the manipulation surface 92 to remove the ink cartridge 30 located in the cartridge attachment unit 110, a force is applied in the downward direction 53 and the insertion direction 51 on the ink cartridge 30. Due to the force applied in the insertion direction 51, the locking surface 151 is separated from the locking portion 145. As a result of the force being applied in the downward direction 53, the ink cartridge 30 rotates from the first orientation to the second orientation. When the force that the user applies to the manipulation surface 92 to rotate the ink cartridge 30 from the first orientation to the second orientation is reduced as compared to the case where the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation while the locking surface 151 causes the lock portion 145 to slide.

When the ink cartridge 30 is rotated from the first orientation to the second orientation, the locking surface 151 is located below the locking portion 145. Then, the ink cartridge 30 is moved in the removal direction 52 in the cartridge attachment unit 110 by the biasing force of the tension spring 114 and the coil spring 78. During removal of the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge attachment unit 110, the contacts 106 slide over their corresponding electrodes 65 as the ink cartridge 30 moves in the removal direction 52 while the contacts 106 remain electrically connected to their corresponding electrodes 65. Shavings may be generated from the electrodes 65 as the contacts 106 slide over their corresponding electrodes 65.

When the ink cartridge 30 is separated from the slider 107, the biasing force exerted on the ink cartridge 30 in the removing direction 52 is eliminated, so the inertial force exerted on the ink cartridge 30 disappears, and the movement of the ink cartridge 30 in the removing direction 52 is terminated. At this time, at least the rear cover 31 of the ink cartridge 30 is positioned outwardly beyond the opening 112 in the housing 101 of the cartridge attachment unit 110, so that the user can grip the rear cover 31 and can take out the ink cartridge 30 from the cartridge attachment unit 110.

< effects in this example >

With the ink cartridge 30 according to this embodiment, the light incoming portion 62 of the liquid level detection portion 60 is disposed above the IC board 64 in the upward direction 54 when the ink cartridge 30 is in the attached orientation. Therefore, shavings generated from the IC board 64 due to sliding with the contacts 106 are difficult to adhere to the optical access portion 62, and even if shavings are generated from the IC board 64, detection by the optical access portion 62 is less affected.

Since the IC board 64 is disposed further forward in the insertion direction 51 than the optical access portion 62, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 or removed from the cartridge attachment unit 110, the optical access portion 62 does not pass through a portion where shavings are generated from the IC board 64, i.e., the vicinity of the contact 106, and thus the shavings are difficult to adhere to the optical access portion 62.

Since the light incoming portion 62 has the side surfaces 66 and 67, the state of the amount of ink remaining in the holding chamber 36 can be detected by the side surfaces 66 and 67.

Since the size of the side surface 66 in the upward direction 54 is smaller than the size of the side surface 66 in the insertion direction 51, and the size of the side surface 67 of the light inlet 62 in the upward direction 54 is smaller than the size of the side surface 67 of the light inlet 62 in the insertion direction 51, the sizes of the light inlet 62 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 are reduced.

Since the intervening wall 80 is provided between the IC board 64 and the optical access portion 62, the intervening wall 80 restricts a route along which shavings generated from the IC board 64 move to the optical access portion 62.

Since the rear wall 82 of the intervening wall 80 has a dimension in the right and left directions larger than the distance between the first side surface 66 and the second side surface 67 of the optical access 62, the intervening wall can more restrict the route along which shavings generated from the IC board 64 move to the optical access 62.

Since the dimension of the intervening wall 80 in the forward direction 57 and the backward direction 58 is larger than the dimension of the intervening wall 80 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56, the distance from the IC board 64 to the optical access 62 is lengthened. This makes it more difficult for shavings to reach the optical access portion 62.

Since the intervening wall 80 is disposed closer to the optical access portion 62 than the IC board 64 is to the optical access portion 62 in the removal direction 52, shavings generated by the IC board 64 can be easily restricted by the intervening wall 80.

Since the liquid level detection part 60 is configured to change the state of the light passing from the first point toward the second point and entering the light receiving part 62 according to the amount of the liquid stored in the ink cartridge 30, the amount of the liquid stored in the ink cartridge 30 can be detected.

Since the light incoming portion 62 is configured to allow the light traveling from the first point toward the second point to pass through the light incoming portion 62, and the liquid detection portion 60 further includes the sensor arm 59, a part 68 of the sensor arm 59 is configured to be located in the light incoming portion 62, wherein the part 68 of the light attenuating portion 59 is configured to change the state of the light passing through the light incoming portion 62 depending on whether the amount of the liquid stored in the ink cartridge 30 is less than a specified amount, the amount of the liquid stored in the ink cartridge 30 can be detected based on the state of the light passing through the light incoming portion 62 and the position of the sensor arm 59.

Since the portion 68 of the sensor arm 59 is disposed above the circuit board 64 when the amount of liquid stored in the cartridge 30 is greater than or equal to a specified amount. This makes it more difficult for shavings to reach the level at which light passes through the light detecting portion 62 to detect the amount of liquid stored in the cartridge 30.

Because intervening wall 80 extends upwardly beyond sensor arm 59, sensor arm 59 is in contact with the wall defining the end of optical access 62 in forward direction 57, intervening wall 80 is positioned between IC board 64 and sensor arm 59. This placement of the intervening wall 80 makes it difficult for shavings generated from the IC board 64 to reach the position where the sensor arm 59 is detected by the sensor 103.

Since the recess 99 is displaced from the IC board 64 in the removing direction 52 on the upper surface 141 of the front cover 32, shavings generated by the IC board 64 remain in the recess 99. This makes the shavings difficult to spread.

The center of the IC board 64 is disposed closer to the side surface 66 than to the side surface 67 of the light incoming portion 62. The light emitting portion in the sensor 103 faces the side surface 67, and the light sensing portion in the sensor 103 faces the side surface 66, as described above. The distance that shavings generated from the IC board 64 move to the side surface 67 is greater than the distance that shavings move to the side surface 66. The light emitted from the light emitting portion in the sensor 103 when the light exits from the side surface 66 of the light entrance portion 92 is diffused to a greater extent than when the light enters the side surface 67 of the light entrance portion 62. Therefore, the probability of the swarf moving toward the flank surface 66 is lower than the probability of the swarf moving toward the flank surface 67. Therefore, on the side surface 66, even if shavings have moved to the optical access portion 62, the detection result of the sensor 103 has a small influence.

The rotation shaft 61 of the sensor arm 59 overlaps with the light incoming portion 62 when viewed in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. Therefore, the portion of the optical access portion 62 for rotation of the sensor arm 59 decreases in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. Therefore, the size of the IC board 64 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54 decreases. As a result, the internal space of the optical access portion 62 can be saved.

The IC board 64 overlaps with the ink supply portion 34 when viewed in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54. This enables the ink cartridge 30 to be designed such that the distance between the IC board 64 and the optical access portion 62 is extended.

Since the lower surface 89 of the first protrusion 85 is configured to restrict the movement of the ink cartridge 30 in the upward direction 54 and the downward direction 53, and the lower surface 89 of the first protrusion 85 is disposed upward in the upward direction 54 with respect to the ink outlet portion 34 and downward in the upward direction 54 with respect to the circuit board 64, the IC board 64 is accurately positioned to the contacts 106 in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54.

The optical access portion 62 is displaced from the IC board 64 in the removing direction 52, and the locking surface 151 is displaced from the optical access portion 62 in the removing direction 52. Therefore, when the circuit board 64, the optical access portion 62, and the locking surface 151 intersect a virtual plane parallel to the insertion direction 51 and the upward direction 54, the size of the ink cartridge 30 in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction 51 can be reduced. In the case where the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment unit 110, the positional accuracy of the IC board 64 provided at the front end in the insertion direction 51 is high, so the IC board 64 is reliably connected with the contact 106. The locking surface 151 provided at the rear end in the insertion direction 51 can easily perform the locking and unlocking operations, i.e., can easily rotate about the rotation center O. The range of rotation of the ink cartridge 30 for locking and unlocking can also be reduced.

In the removing direction 52, the optical access portion 62 is disposed closer to the locking surface 151 than the IC board 64 is to the locking surface 151. This enables the ink cartridge 30 to be designed such that the distance between the IC board 64 and the optical access portion 62 is extended. Therefore, a large space for a member, such as the sensor arm 59, for changing the states of the ink supply portion 34 and the optical access portion 62 can be secured.

Since the upper end of the optical access portion 62 is closer to the locking surface 151 than the IC board 64 is to the locking surface 151 in the upward direction 54, the optical access portion 62 can be disposed at a high position as much as possible, so that the internal space of the holding chamber 36 can be easily secured.

The ink cartridge 30 includes a portion of the sensor arm 59 as a first light attenuating portion and an intervening wall 80 as a second light attenuating portion, and the first and second light attenuating portions are disposed above the circuit board 64. This enables a sensor for detecting the insertion of the ink cartridge 30 and a sensor 103 for detecting the state of liquid in the ink cartridge 30 to be provided in the upper region of the cartridge attachment unit 110. This enables both sensors to be provided on the same circuit board. Having a common circuit board contributes to cost and space reduction compared to the case where two circuit boards are provided for two sensors, respectively.

< modification >

In the above-described embodiments, the aspect has been pointed out: when the sensor arm 59 rotates in the optical access portion 62, the passing state of light passing through the optical access portion 62 changes. However, the change of the passage state of light through the optical access 62 may be achieved by using other means than the sensor arm 59. For example, the light attenuation as a change of state of the light passing through the light inlet 62 may be achieved by using a light attenuation portion that is movable due to a change of liquid level in the liquid holding chamber, or by using a side surface of the light attenuation portion to block the light completely. Alternatively, the light attenuating portion may absorb part of the light, may refract the light, or may totally reflect the light to attenuate the light. Another method may be used. The user can visually check the liquid level detection portion to grasp the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid holding chamber.

For example, the liquid level detection portion may include a light guide path as described in Japanese unexamined patent application publication No. 2005-313447. In this case, the incident portion 67 or the emitting portion 68 in this disclosure is equivalent to the optical access portion. Also, the liquid level detection part may include a reflection part and a prism. That is, the optical access portion may function as a reflecting member that reflects light that travels from the first point to the second point and enters the optical access portion 62. Fig. 16A and 16B are perspective views of the vicinity of the liquid detection portion in the ink cartridge; a cross-section of a portion in front of the reflecting member 800 is shown. Although not shown in fig. 16A and 16B, an IC board is provided on the upper surface 414 of the ink cartridge and in front of the reflection member 800, and the reflection member 800 is provided behind and above the IC board as a part of the optical access portion. As shown in fig. 16A, the reflective member 800 is disposed at a distance above the upper surface 414 of the ink cartridge. The reflection member 800 has reflection portions 801 and 802, and the reflection portions 801 and 802 are formed of, for example, aluminum foil and can thus reflect light. The upper surface 414 is made of a member through which light can pass. A prism 390 is formed at the upper end of the holding chamber 36. The prism 390 is disposed below the circuit board 64. The prism 390 is configured to reflect light according to the amount of liquid stored in the cartridge 30, and the reflection member 800 is configured to reflect light traveling from the emitting portion toward the prism (390A) or reflect light at the prism (390B) toward the light sensing portion.

In fig. 16B, the holding chamber 36 is completely filled with ink. When the ink comes into contact with the faces 390A and 390B of the prism 390 facing the holding chamber 36, light (indicated by a broken line in fig. 16B) emitted in the right direction 55 from the light emitting portion in the sensor 103 is reflected in the downward direction 53 on the reflection portion 801, passes through the surface 390A of the prism 390, and enters the holding chamber 36. If the ink in the holding chamber 36 decreases and does not contact the surface 390A or 390B of the prism 390, as shown in fig. 16A, the light emitted from the light emitting portion in the sensor 103 and reflected on the reflection portion 801 in the downward direction 53 is reflected on the surface 390A of the prism 390 in the right direction 55, propagates in the prism 390, is reflected on the surface 390B in the upward direction 54, and reaches the reflection portion 802. The light reflected on the reflection portion 802 reaches the light sensing portion in the sensor 103. As described above, the intensity of light received by the sensor 103 varies depending on the amount of ink remaining in the holding chamber 36, and therefore the decrease in the amount of remaining ink can be detected based on the detection signal from the sensor 103. Also, in this modification, since the reflection portions 801 and 802 are provided above the IC board, shavings generated from the IC board can be prevented from adhering to the reflection portions 801 and 802.

The optical access portion may be defined as follows. Assume that there are position a and position B aligned in right direction 55 and left direction 56. When light (e.g., visible light or infrared light) traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 is emitted from the position a, the light reaches the position B at the intensity I. When the light inlet is located between the position a and the position B and the amount of liquid stored in the chamber 36 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, the light emitted from the position a and traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 reaches one of the right side surface and the left side surface of the light inlet. When this occurs, the light coming out of the other of the right and left side surfaces of the optical access portion reaches the position B with an intensity less than half of I, for example, with zero intensity. On the other hand, when the light incoming portion is located between the position a and the position B, and the amount of liquid stored in the chamber 36 is less than the predetermined amount, the light emitted from the position a and traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 reaches one of the right side surface and the left side surface of the light incoming portion. When this occurs, the light coming out of the other of the right and left side surfaces of the optical access portion reaches the position B with an intensity greater than or equal to half of I.

For example, the light emitting portion of the sensor 103 is placed at the position a, and the light receiving portion (light sensing portion) of the sensor 103 is placed at the position B. When the light receiving portion of the sensor 103 is constituted by a phototransistor, for example, when the phototransistor receives light of intensity I, the collector current value of the phototransistor is C. When the light inlet is located between the position a and the position B and the amount of liquid stored in the chamber 36 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, the light emitted from the position a and traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 reaches one of the right side surface and the left side surface of the light inlet. When this occurs, the light coming out of the other of the right and left side surfaces of the optical access portion reaches the position B with an intensity less than half of I, which causes the collector current value of the phototransistor to become less than half of C, for example, to zero. On the other hand, when the light incoming portion is located between the position a and the position B and the amount of liquid stored in the chamber 36 is less than the predetermined amount, the light emitted from the position a and traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56 reaches one of the right side surface and the left side surface of the light incoming portion. When this occurs, the light coming out of the other of the right and left side surfaces of the optical access portion reaches the position B with an intensity greater than or equal to half of I, which causes the collector current value of the phototransistor to become greater than or equal to half of C. In the above embodiment, the side surface 66 corresponds to a right side surface of the optical access portion, and the side surface 67 corresponds to a left side surface of the optical access portion.

The maximum size of the light incoming portion in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56 (in the above-described embodiment, the maximum distance between the side surface 66 and the side surface 67 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56) is smaller than the maximum size of the ink cartridge 30 (in the above-described embodiment, the maximum distance between the side surface 143 or 37 and the side surface 144 or 38 in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56). With this configuration, thereby, the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion (light sensing portion) of the sensor 103 can be placed close to each other, and therefore the detection accuracy of the liquid amount becomes high.

The light access intersects with light traveling in the right direction 55 or the left direction 56, while the electrode 65 is accessed in the downward direction 53 perpendicular to the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. Therefore, if the electrode 65 is accessed by the contact 106 in the downward direction 53 and the ink cartridge 30 should change its orientation, the ink cartridge 30 changes its orientation in the downward direction 53 and the upward direction 54, rather than in the right direction 55 and the left direction 56. Therefore, when the electrode 65 is accessed, the angle at which the light intersects the optical access does not change. If the angle at which the light intersects the light access changes, this change will affect the detection of the amount of liquid. However, since the direction in which light travels is perpendicular to the direction in which the electrode 65 is accessed, the angle at which the light intersects with the optical access portion does not change, and the influence on the liquid amount detection is reduced.

Although the slider 107 and the tension spring 114 are provided in the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the above-described embodiment, this arrangement is optional. For example, the cartridge attachment unit 110 may be free of the slider 107 and the tension spring 114, and only the coil spring 78 in the ink supply portion 34 may be used to bias the ink cartridge 30 inserted into the cartridge attachment unit 110 in the removal direction 52.

Although in the above-described embodiment, the IC board 64 and the locking surface 151 are provided on different covers, the front cover 32 and the rear cover 31, the IC board 64 and the locking surface 151 may be provided on the same cover member.

Although the rear surface 82 of the intervening wall 80 has a Y-shaped portion and the Y-shaped rear surface 82 covers the front of the optical access portion 62, in other embodiments the rear surface 82 of the intervening wall may have an I-shaped portion instead of a Y-shaped portion. In other words, the dimension of the intervening wall 80 in the left and right directions may be smaller than the distance of the side surfaces 66 and 67 of the optical access portion.

Although the ink has been described as an example of the liquid in the above-described embodiment, a pretreatment liquid ejected to a recording sheet during printing, for example, before the ink is ejected, may be held in a liquid cartridge. Alternatively, water for cleaning the recording head 21 may be held in the liquid cartridge.

Claims (20)

1. A liquid cartridge comprising: front surface; an upper surface that faces upward when the liquid cartridge is installed in the liquid consuming device; a liquid outlet portion facing a first direction at the front surface; a circuit board, the circuit board being disposed on the upper surface; a locking surface configured to retain the liquid cartridge in the liquid consuming device; and a liquid detection part for detecting the state of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge; wherein the liquid detection portion includes an optical access portion configured to be accessed by light traveling from a first point toward a second point, Wherein, in the upward direction, the height of the upper end of the light access portion and the height of the upper surface of the circuit board decrease in this order. 2. The liquid cartridge of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is displaced in the first direction from the light access portion. 3. The liquid cartridge of claim 1 or 2, wherein the light access portion comprises a first side surface and a second side surface, wherein each of the first side surface and the second side surface A side surface extends in the first direction and intersects the upper surface of the liquid cartridge. 4. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an intervening wall provided between the circuit board and the light access part, and the intervening wall is included between the A designated surface extending in a second direction where the first direction and the upward direction intersect. 5 . The liquid cartridge according to claim 4 , wherein a dimension in the second direction of the designated surface of the intervening wall is larger than a first side surface and a second side surface of the light access portion. 6 . The distance between them in the second direction is long. 6. The liquid cartridge of claim 4, wherein a dimension of the intervening wall in the first direction is longer than a dimension of the intervening wall in the second direction. 7. The liquid cartridge of claim 4, wherein the intervening wall is disposed closer to the light access portion in the first direction than to the circuit board. 8. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid detection portion is configured to change from the first point toward the second point according to the amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge The state of the light transmitted and connected to the optical access part. 9. The liquid cartridge of claim 1 or 2, wherein the light access portion is configured to allow the light traveling from the first point towards the second point to pass through the light access portion, And the liquid detection portion further includes a light attenuating portion, a portion of the light attenuating portion is configured to be located in the light access portion, wherein the portion of the light attenuating portion is configured to depend on being stored in the Whether or not the amount of liquid in the liquid cartridge is less than a specified amount changes the state of the light passing through the light access portion. 10. The liquid cartridge according to claim 9, wherein when the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge is greater than or equal to the prescribed amount, the portion of the light attenuating portion is provided on the above the circuit board. 11. The liquid cartridge of claim 4, wherein the light access portion is configured to allow the light traveling from the first point toward the second point to pass through the light access portion, and the The liquid detection portion further includes a light attenuating portion, a portion of the light attenuating portion is configured to be located in the light access portion, wherein the portion of the light attenuating portion is configured to depend on being stored in the light access portion whether the amount of liquid in the liquid cartridge is less than a specified amount, changing the state of the light passing through the light access portion; and Wherein, when the amount of the liquid stored in the liquid box is greater than or equal to the prescribed amount, the intervening wall extends upward beyond the portion of the light attenuation portion in the upward direction. 12. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid cartridge is provided with a recess which is displaced from the circuit board in a third direction opposite to the first direction. 13. The liquid cartridge of claim 3, wherein a center of the circuit board is disposed closer to the second side surface than to the first side surface. 14. The liquid cartridge of claim 9, further comprising a chamber configured to store the liquid in the chamber, wherein the light attenuating portion is a sensor arm, the sensor arm is configured to rotate about an axis in the chamber, and as the sensor arm rotates, the portion of the sensor arm changes the state of the light passing through the light access portion. 15. The liquid cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the light access portion is made of a transparent material, defines an interior space continuous with the chamber, and is located at a position relative to the upper surface of the liquid cartridge. The above protrudes in the upward direction. 16. The liquid cartridge of claim 15, further comprising a body defining the chamber and a cover covering the body, and wherein the light access portion is provided on the body, and the light access portion is The inlet portion protrudes to the outside of the cover through an opening formed through the cover. 17. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit board overlaps the liquid outlet portion when the circuit board is viewed in the upward direction. 18. The liquid cartridge of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a positioning surface configured to limit movement of the liquid cartridge in the upward and downward directions, and wherein the positioning surface is The upward direction is provided above the liquid outlet portion, and the positioning surface is provided below the circuit board in the upward direction. 19. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light access portion is configured to pass from the first direction and the upward direction in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the upward direction. point of the optical access that travels towards the second point. 20. The liquid cartridge of claim 1, wherein, in the upward direction, a height of an upper end of the locking surface, a height of an upper end of the light access portion, and the upper surface of the circuit board The heights decrease in this order.

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