DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
CARTRIDGE
Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a cartridge configured to contain
printing material.
Related Art
[0002]
A printer as one typical example of printing device is configured to
eject ink fi:om a print head onto a record subject (e.g., printing paper) for
printing. One known method of ink supply to the print head uses ink
cartridges containing ink (hereinafter simply called "cartridges").
Operating the print head with no supply of ink from the cartridge to the
print head may damage the print head or cause various other troubles. In
order to prevent such problem, detection means for detecting that the
cartridge has no ink or little ink is provided on the cartridge or the printer
(for example, PTLl and PTL2). The state where the cartridge has no ink or
little ink is herein called "out-of'ink state".
[0003]
JP-A-2008-270750 is a first example of related art (also called
"PTLl"). JP-A-2007-136807 is a second example of related art (also caUed
"PTL2").
SUMMARY
Technical Problem
[0004]
PTLl discloses a system using piezoelectric detection means to detect
the out-of-ink state. This system detects a change in volume of a detection
chamber provided in the cartridge with the piezoelectric detection means, so
as to detect the out-of-ink state. The system of PTLl, however, requires the
cartridge to have power supply means to the piezoelectric detection means
and electrical conduction means (e.g., wiring or electrode terminals) to allow
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signal transmission between the piezoelectric detection means and the
printer. This complicates the structure of the cartridge, which may lead to
size expansion of the cartridge and increase in manufacturing cost of the
cartridge.
[0005]
PTL2 discloses a system using an optical detection mechanism to
detect the out-of-ink state. This system provides a structure having a
positional change with a change in volume of a sub-tank and detects a
displacement of the structure with an optical sensor, so as to detect the
out-of-ink state. In the system of PTL2, however, deviation of the positional
relationship among the sub-tank, the structure and the optical sensor from
the designed accurate positional relationship may result in poor detection of
the out-of-ink state.
[0006]
These problems are not characteristic of the cartridge containing ink
for printing but are also found in various printing devices configured to eject
various liquids other than ink as the printing material and their cartridges.
[0007]
Consequently, by taking into account the above problems, there is a
need to prevent size expansion of the cartridge and the printing device.
There is also a need to enable positioning of the cartridge relative to the
cartridge mounting structure of the printing device with high accuracy.
There is further a need to accurately detect the out-of-printing material
state.
[0008]
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application
No.2010-285972, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
Solution to Problem
[0009]
In order to achieve at least part of the foregoing, the present
invention provides various aspects and embodiments described below.
[0010]
First aspect
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A cartridge adapted to be removably attached to a cartridge
mounting structure comprising a printing material supply tube fixed to a
device front wall member and having a central axis extended in a
predetermined direction, a rod provided on the device side wall member and
having an axis parallel to the central axis and movable in a direction of the
axis, and a sensor configured to detect displacement of the rod, wherein
three mutually orthogonal special axes are X axis, Y axis and Z axis,
directions along the X axis, the Y axis and the Z axis are respectively X-axis
direction, Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction, a negative Y-axis direction
represents a direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge
mounting structure, and a positive Y-axis direction represents a direction in
which the cartridge is removed from the cartridge mounting structure,
the cartridge comprising^
a casing including^
two faces opposed to each other in the Y-axis direction, one of
the two faces being a front face having an substantially rectangular shape
located on the negative Y-axis side and having a length in the Z-axis
direction greater than a length in the X-axis direction, and an another one of
the two faces being a rear face located on the positive Y-axis side;
two faces opposed to each other in the Z-axis direction and
arranged to intersecting the front face and the rear face, one of the two faces
being a first side face located on a positive Z-axis side, and an another one of
the two faces being a second side face located on a negative Z-axis sideJ and
two faces opposed to each other in the X-axis direction and
intersecting the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second
side face, one of the two faces being a third side face located on a positive
X-axis side, and an another one of the two faces being a fourth side face
located on a negative X-axis side!
a printing material containing portion provided inside the casing;
a first insertion hole formed in the front face and adapted to receive
the rod;
a second insertion hole formed in the front face and adapted to
receive the printing material supply tube, wherein a printing material
supply port adapted to be inserted the printing material supply tube therein
is located at the second insertion hole; and
a printing material flow path provided inside the casing, having the
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printing material supply port at one end, and having the other end connected
with the printing material containing portion, wherein
the first insertion hole is located on the front face at a middle position
between the first side face and the second side face.
[0011]
According to the first aspect, the cartridge does not have any
piezoelectric detection mechanism to detect that the cartridge has no
printing material or little printing material (out'of-printing material state).
The cartridge accordingly does not need to have the power supply means or
the electrical conduction means (e.g., wiring or electrode terminals) for
transmission of signals between the detection mechanism and a printer or
printing device. This advantageously simplifies the structure of the
cartridge and enables size reduction of the cartridge. This also reduces the
manufacturing cost of the cartridge.
In the cartridge according to the first aspect, the first insertion hole
is located on the front face at the middle position between the first side face
and the second side face of the casing. Positioning of the cartridge is thus
performed at the middle position along the longitudinal direction of the front
face. If positioning of the cartridge is performed at a location closer to one
end along the longitudinal direction of the front face of the casing, the
positional misalignment is prevented only at the one end closer to the
positioning location, while there may be a significant positional
misalignment at the other end farther from the positioning location. In the
cartridge according to the first aspect, however, positioning of the cartridge is
performed at the middle position along the longitudinal direction of the front
face, so as to prevent the positional misalignment at both ends along the
longitudinal direction almost equivalently. This enables the cartridge to be
positioned relative to the cartridge mounting structure with high accuracy
and high efficiency.
[0012]
The "middle position" in the wording of "middle position between the
first side face and the second side face" or "middle position between the first
device side wall member and the second side wall member" may not be the
exactly middle position but may be substantially middle position with no
substantial bias to either of the first and second side faces. For example,
the "middle position" may include the position slightly deviated from the
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center position between the first side face and the second side face in the
Z-axis direction. More specifically, the "middle position" may include the
position where the central axis of the first insertion hole is within a range of
10% from the center position along the distance between the first side face
and the second side face in the Z-axis direction. In order to locate the
central axis of the first insertion hole at the middle position as exactly as
possible, it is preferable that the "middle position" includes the position
where the central axis of the first insertion hole is within a range of 7.5%
from the center position along the distance between the first side face and
the second side face in the Z-axis direction.
[0013]
Second aspect
The cartridge according to the first aspect, further comprising:
a detection chamber provided in the midstream of the printing
material flow path and configured to vary volume with a change in internal
pressure; and
a lever member arranged to abut an apex of the rod and configured to
be displaced with a variation in volume of the detection chamber and thereby
moving the rod in the axial direction.
In the cartridge according to the second aspect, the rod used for
detection of the out-of-printing material state is inserted into the first
insertion hole, so that positioning of the cartridge relative to the cartridge
mounting structure is performed at the middle position along the
longitudinal direction on the front face of the casing. This effectively
prevents the positional misalignment between the cartridge and the rod and
ensures accurate detection of the out-of-printing material state. The rod
used for detection of the out-of-printing material state is also used for
positioning of the cartridge relative to the cartridge mounting structure.
This does not require any additional member for positioning and reduces the
total number of parts, thus enabling size reduction of the cartridge and size
reduction of the printing device, to which the cartridge is attached.
[0014]
Third aspect
The cartridge according to either one of the first aspect and the
second aspect, wherein
the first insertion hole is further adapted to receive a rod cover
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arranged to surrounding periphery of the rod.
The cartridge according to the second aspect effectively prevents the
rod from coming into contact with the wall member surrounding the first
insertion hole and ensures smooth movement of the rod with a change in
volume of the detection chamber, thus enabling detection of the
out-of-printing material state with high accuracy.
[0015]
Fourth aspect
The cartridge according to any one of the first aspect to the third
aspect, wherein
the casing further comprising^
a protective case having an opening on the negative Y-axis side and
accommodating the printing material containing portion therein; and
a cap provided on the negative Y-axis side of the casing and attached
to the protective case to close the opening of the protective case, wherein
the second insertion hole and the first insertion hole are provided in
the cap.
In the cartridge according to the fourth aspect, the casing includes
the protective case and the cap, and the second insertion hole and the first
insertion hole are provided on the cap. The side of the protective case
accommodating the printing material containing portion has the greater
total weight than the side of the cap. Continuously forming the side face of
the casing from the front face (negative Y-axis end) to the rear face (positive
Y-axis end) may tilt the cartridge with the rear face lower than the front face.
When the protective case accommodating the printing material containing
portion and the cap are provided as discrete members, a clearance between
the cap and the protective case enables the protective case to be slightly
moved relative to the cap. Even when the printing material containing
portion has a relatively large weight, only the protective case is slightly
tilted, but the cap is kept in the proper attitude without any tilting. This
structure advantageously reduces the possibility that the positions of the
second insertion hole and the first insertion hole formed in the cap relative to
the cartridge mounting structure are deviated from the designed correct
positions in the attached state of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting
structure.
[0016]
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Fifth aspect
The cartridge according to the fourth aspect, further comprising^
cartridge-side terminals adapted to contact with device-side
terminals provided on the cartridge mounting structure in the attached state,
wherein
the cartridge-side terminals are provided on the cap.
In the cartridge according to fifth aspect, the cartridge-side terminals
are provided on the cap with the less possibility of deviation from the correct
position. This ensures stable electrical connection between the
cartridge-side terminals and the device-side terminals in the attached state.
[0017]
Sixth aspect
The cartridge according to either one of the fourth aspect and the
fifth aspect, wherein
the cap has a first side face forming a part of the first side face of the
casing and a second side face forming a part of the second side face of the
casing,
a first projection protruded in the positive Z-axis direction is provided
on the first side face of the cap, the first projection is adapted to be guided by
a first rail provided on the first device side wall member and extended in the
Y-axis direction, in the course of insertion of the cartridge to the cartridge
mounting structure and in the course of removal of the cartridge from the
cartridge mounting structure,
a second projection protruded in a negative Z-axis direction is
provided on the second side face of the cap, the second projection is adapted
to be guided by a second rail provided on the second device side wall member
extended in the Y-axis direction, and having a different length in the X-axis
direction from the first rail, in the course of insertion of the cartridge to the
cartridge mounting structure and in the course of removal of the cartridge
from the cartridge mounting structure, and
the first projection and the second projection have different lengths
in the X-axis direction.
The cartridge according to the sixth aspect has the first projection
and the second projection having different lengths in the X-axis direction.
The length of the first rail in the X-axis direction corresponds to the length of
the first projection in the X-axis direction, while the length of the second rail
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in the X-axis direction corresponds to the length of the second projection in
the X-axis direction. This structure effectively prevents attachment of the
cartridge in the wrong attitude, i.e., upside down of the first side face and the
second side face, to the cartridge mounting structure.
[0018]
Seventh aspect
The cartridge according to the sixth aspect, wherein
the protective case has a first side face forming another part of the
first side face of the casing and a second side face forming another part of the
second side face of the casing,
a first case-side projection protruded in the positive Z-axis direction
is provided on the first side face of the protective case, wherein the first
case-side projection is adapted to be guided by the first rail, in the course of
insertion of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure and in the
course of removal of the cartridge from the cartridge mounting structure,
a second case-side projection protruded in the negative Z-axis
direction is provided on the second side face of the protective case, wherein
the second case-side projection is adapted to be guided by the second rail, in
the course of insertion of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure
and in the course of removal of the cartridge from the cartridge mounting
structure, and
one part located on the positive Y-axis side of at least one of the first
case-side projection and the second case-side projection has a protrusion
protruded in the X-axis direction, such that the one part to has a greater
length in the X-axis direction than a length in the X-axis direction of another
part located on the negative Y-axis side of the one part.
In the cartridge according to the seventh aspect, at least one of the
first case-side projection and the second case-side projection has one part
having the greater length in the X-axis direction than the length in the
X-axis direction of the other part. A certain clearance is accordingly
provided between the projection of the cartridge and the corresponding rail of
the cartridge mounting structure. For attachment of the cartridge to the
cartridge mounting structure, this allows smoother insertion of the cartridge
into the cartridge mounting structure. The one part having the greater
length in the X-axis direction, in cooperation with the corresponding rail,
effectively restricts the motion of the positive Y-axis side of the cartridge in
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the X-axis direction after attachment of the cartridge to the cartridge
mounting structure.
[0019]
Eighth aspect
The cartridge according to any one of the first aspect to the seventh
aspect, wherein
the first insertion hole has one open end on the negative Y-axis side,
the open end is provided at a position to receive the rod before the printing
material supply port receiving the printing material supply tube.
In the cartridge according to the eighth aspect, the printing material
supply tube is connected with the printing material supply tube, after the
cartridge is guided to the correct position in the cartridge mounting
structure by means of the rod. This structure effectively prevents the apex
of the printing material supply tube from hitting against the different
position of the cartridge from the printing material supply port and thereby
protects the printing material supply tube from being damaged. This
structure also reduces the positional misalignment between the central axis
of the printing material supply tube and the central axis of the printing
material supply port and does not make any significant clearance between
the printing material supply port and the periphery of the printing material
supply tube. This advantageously reduces the possibihty of leakage of the
printing material from such clearance.
[0020]
Ninth aspect
The cartridge according to the eighth aspect, wherein
the one open end of the first insertion hole is located on the negative
Y-axis side to the printing material supply port.
In the cartridge according to the ninth aspect, even when the positive
Y-axis apex of the printing material supply tube fixed to the device front wall
member and the positive Y-axis apex of the rod are located at an identical
position in the Y-axis direction, the predetermined positional relationship
between the printing material supply port and the one open end of the first
insertion hole allows insertion of the rod into the first insertion hole, prior to
insertion of the printing material supply tube into the printing material
supply port.
[0021]
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Tenth aspect
The cartridge according to either one of the eighth aspect to the ninth
aspect, further comprising:
a cartridge-side identification member configured to identify type of
the cartridge, based on whether the cartridge-side identification member is
fit with a device-side identification member provided on the cartridge
mounting structure, wherein
the cartridge'side identification member is configured to fit with the
device-side identification member after the first insertion hole receiving the
rod and before the printing material supply port receiving the printing
material supply tube.
[0022]
In the cartridge according to the tenth aspect, when the wrong type
of the cartridge different from the correct type of the cartridge is inserted
into the cartridge mounting structure, the cartridge-side identification
member bums into the device-side identification member, so as to interfere
with further insertion of the wrong type of the cartridge. This structure
advantageously reduces the possibility that the wrong type of the cartridge is .
connected with the printing material supply tube. The fit between the
device-side identification member and the cartridge-side identification
member starts after insertion of the rod into the first insertion hole for
positioning the cartridge relative to the cartridge mounting structure. This
effectively prevents the positional misalignment between the device-side
identification member and the cartridge-side identification member. This
structure reduces the possibility of bad fit that the cartridge-side
identification member hits against the device-side identification member
when the correct type of the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting
structure. This structure, on the other hand, causes the cartridge-side
identification member to hit against the device-side identification member
when the wrong type of the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting
structure, so as to interfere with further insertion of the cartridge. This
structure advantageously reduces the possibility that the wrong type of the
cartridge is connected with the printing material supply tube.
[0023]
Eleventh aspect
The cartridge according to the tenth aspect, wherein
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an end of the cartridge-side identification member in the negative
Y-axis direction is provided on the positive Y-axis side to the one open end of
the first insertion hole and on the negative Y-axis side to the printing
material supply port.
In the cartridge according to the eleventh aspect, even when the
positive Y-axis apex of the printing material supply tube, the positive Y-axis
apex of the rod and the positive Y-axis end of the device-side identification
member are located at an identical position in the Y-axis direction, the
predetermined positional relationship among the printing material supply
port, the one open end of the first insertion hole and the end of the
cartridge-side identification member in the negative Y-axis direction allows
the fit between the cartridge-side identification member and the device-side
identification member after insertion of the rod into the first insertion hole
but before insertion of the printing material supply tube into the printing
material supply port.
[0024]
In the cartridge according to either one of the tenth aspect and the
eleventh aspect, it is preferable that the cartridge-side identification member
has at least one rib and is formed in a different pattern, which is specified by
the number and the positions of ribs, corresponding to the type of the
cartridge.
The cartridge-side identification member is simply formed by the
pattern of ribs.
[0025]
Twelfth aspect
The cartridge according to any one of the first aspect to the eleventh
aspect, wherein
the first insertion hole has a predetermined length in the Y-axis
direction, and
the one open end on the negative Y-axis side of the first insertion hole
has a smaller area than an area of an another open end on the positive Y-axis
side of the first insertion hole.
In the cartridge according to the twelfth aspect, the one open end on
the negative Y-axis side of the first insertion hole to receive the rod first is
wider than the other open end on the positive Y-axis side. This structure
enables the rod to readily enter the first insertion hole through the wider one
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open end on the negative Y-axis side, and insertion of the rod into the other
open end on the positive Y-axis side ensures accurate positioning of the
cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure
[0026]
Thirteenth aspect
The cartridge according to the twelfth aspect, wherein
the first insertion hole includes one side portion extending from a
joint to the one open end on the negative Y-axis side and an another side
portion extending from the joint to the another open end on the positive
Y-axis side,
the one side portion is formed in a truncated cone shape having a
cross section in the shape of a circle parallel to the X axis and the Z axis,
the another side portion is formed in a columnar shape having a cross
section parallel to the X axis and the Z axis, which is defined by a
combination of a pair of straight lines opposed to each other in the Z-axis
direction and a pair of arcs opposed to each other in the X-axis direction, and
at the joint, a distance between the pair of straight lines defining a
part of the cross section of the another side portion is smaller than a
diameter of the circle defining the cross section of the one side portion, and a
diameter of the pair of arcs defining another part of the cross section of the
another side portion is equal to the diameter of the circle defining the cross
section of the one side portion.
In the cartridge according to the thirteenth aspect, the area of the
cross section of the one side portion gradually decreases from the one open
end on the negative Y-axis side toward the joint. The shape of the cross
section changes to have the smaller length in the Z-axis direction but keep
the same length in the X-axis direction at the joint or at the entrance of the
other end portion. The shape and the area of the cross section do not
change between the joint and the other open end on the positive Y-axis side.
This structure enables the rod to be smoothly guided from the one side
portion to the other side portion. The other side portion has a clearance
between the rod and the first insertion hole in the X-axis direction in order to
smoothly guide the rod to the other open end on the positive Y-axis side,
while stabilizing the position of the rod in the Z-axis direction to enable the
cartridge to be accurately positioned relative to the cartridge mounting
structure.
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[0027]
The present invention may be implemented by diversity of aspects
and embodiments in addition to the various aspect of the cartridge described
above, for example, a method of manufacturing the cartridge, a printing
device, and a printing material supply system including the cartridge and
the printing device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a printing
material supply system;
Fig. 2 is a front view of a cartridge mounting structure;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the cartridge mounting structure;
Fig. 4 illustrates the method of detecting the out-of-ink state;
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cartridge;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the
cartridge;
Fig. 7A is a front view of the cartridge;
Fig. 7B shows part of a 7X-7X cross section of the cartridge in Fig. 7A,
taken on a plane that is parallel to the X axis and the Y axis and includes a
central axis Ce of a first insertion hole;
Fig. 7C shows part of a 7Z-7Z cross section of the cartridge in Fig. 7A,
taken on a plane that is parallel to the Z axis and the Y axis and includes the
central axis Ce of the first insertion hole;
Fig. 7D illustrates a cross section of one side portion and the other
side portion of the first insertion hole at a joint, taken on a plane parallel to
the Z axis and the X axis;
Fig. 8 illustrates the internal structure of the cartridge;
Fig. 9A is a first view schematically illustrating attachment of the
cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure;
Fig. 9B is a second view schematically illustrating attachment of the
cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure;
Fig. 9C is a third view schematically illustrating attachment of the
cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure;
Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a
printing material supply unit;
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Fig. 11 illustrates supplying ink to the cartridge mounting structure!
Fig. 12 illustrates supplying ink to the cartridge mounting structure!
Fig. 13 illustrates the structure of a lever member; ^
Fig. 14 is a first view illustrating detection of the out-of-ink state!
Fig. 15 is a second view illustrating detection of the out-of-ink state!
Fig. 16 is a third view illustrating detection of the out-of-ink state!
and
Fig. 17 illustrates a cartridge according to a first modification.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0029]
Some embodiments of the invention are described below with
reference to the accompanied drawings:
A. First Embodiment
B. Modifications
[0030]
A. First Embodiment
A-1. General Configuration of Printing Material Supply System
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a printing
material supply system 1. Mutually orthogonal XYZ axes are shown in Fig.
1. In the subsequent drawings, the XYZ axes are shown as needed basis.
The XYZ axes in the other drawing correspond to the directions of the XYZ
axes in Fig. 1. The printing material supply system 1 includes a printer 10
serving as a printing device and cartridges 50.
[0031]
According to this embodiment, the printer 10 is an Inkjet printer
configured to eject ink from a head 22. Each of the cartridges 50 is
configured to contain ink as printing material. The ink contained in the
cartridge 50 flows through a tube 24 and is supplied to the head 22 on a
carriage 20. The printer 10 mainly includes a cartridge mounting structure
42, a controller 60, the carriage 20, the head 22 and a driving mechanism 30.
The printer 10 also has operation buttons 15 pressed by the user for various
operations of the printer 10.
[0032]
The cartridges 50 are removably attached to the cartridge mounting
structure 42. According to this embodiment, four cartridges 50 respectively
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containing four different color inks (i.e., black, yellow, magenta and cyan) are
attached to the cartridge mounting structure 42. An access cover 13 is
provided on the front face (i.e., the face on the positive Y-axis side) of the
printer 10 according to the embodiment. When the user pulls down (i.e., in
the positive Y-axis direction) the positive Z-axis side of the access cover 13,
the user can access the cartridge mounting structure 42 to attach or detach
the cartridges 50. In the attached state of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge
mounting structure 42, ink can be supplied through the tube 24 to the head
22 provided on the carriage 20. According to this embodiment, a pump
mechanism (not shown) of the printer 10 sucks the ink contained in the
cartridge 50 to supply the ink to the head 22. The tube 24 is provided for
each type of ink (i.e., each of the plurality of different ink colors).
[0033]
Ejection nozzles are provided for each type of ink on the head 22.
Ink is ejected from the ejection nozzles on the head 22 onto printing paper 2
to print data, such as character strings and images. The process of
attachment of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting structure 42 and
the detailed structures of the cartridge 50 and the cartridge mounting
structure 42 will be described later. According to this embodiment, the
printer 10 has the cartridge mounting structure 42 that does not move in
conjunction with the carriage 20 and is accordingly the "off-carriage" type.
The present invention is also applicable to the "on-carriage" type of printers,
wherein the cartridge mounting structure 42 is provided on the carriage 20
and is moved along with the carriage 20.
[0034]
The controller 60 serves to control the respective parts of the printer
10 and to receive and send signals from and to the respective cartridges 50.
The carriage 20 moves the head relative to the printing paper 2.
[0035]
The driving mechanism 30 moves back and forth the carriage 20 in
response to control signals from the controller 60. The driving mechanism
30 includes a timing belt 32 and a drive motor 34. Transmitting the power
of the drive motor 34 via the timing belt 32 to the carriage 20 moves the
carriage 20 back and forth in a main scanning direction (X-axis direction).
The printer 10 has a feeding mechanism to feed the printing paper 2 in a
sub-scanning direction (Y-axis direction). The printing paper 2 moves in the
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sub-scanning direction by the feeding mechanism during printing, and the
printing paper 2 after printing exits through an opening slot 12 onto a front
cover 11.
[0036]
An area called home position is set at a specific position out of a
printable area along the main scanning direction of the carriage 20. A
maintenance mechanism to ensure normal printing is provided at the home
position. The maintenance mechanism includes a cap member 5 which is
pressed against a surface with nozzles (nozzle surface) on the bottom side of
the head 22 (i.e., the side facing the printing paper 2) to define an enclosed
space surrounding the ejection nozzles, a lift mechanism (not shown) which
lifts up and down the cap member 5 to be pressed against the nozzle surface
of the head 22, and a suction pump (not shown) which applies a negative
pressure to the enclosed space defined by pressing the cap member 5 against
the nozzle surface of the head 22.
[0037]
According to this embodiment, in the use state or use attitude of the
printing material supply system 1, the Y axis represents the axis along the
sub-scanning direction (front-rear direction), in which the printing paper 2 is
fed, the Z axis represents the axis along the direction of gravity (vertical
direction), and the X axis represents the axis along the main scanning
direction or the moving direction of the carriage 20 (left-right direction).
According to this embodiment, the positive Y-axis direction represents the
sub-scanning direction (forward direction), the negative Y-axis direction
represents its reverse direction (backward direction), the positive Z-axis
direction represents the direction going from the bottom to the top along the
direction of gravity (upward direction), and the negative Z-axis direction
represents its reverse direction (downward direction). The positive X-axis
direction represents the direction going from the right side to the left side,
when the printing material supply system 1 is viewed from the fi"ont side
(positive Y-axis side), and the negative X-axis direction represents its reverse
direction. According to this embodiment, the plurality of cartridges 50 are
arrayed in the X-axis direction.
[0038]
A-2. Detailed Structure of Cartridge Mounting Structure
16
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
Fig. 2 is a front view of the cartridge mounting structure 42. Fig. 3
is a side view of the cartridge mounting structure 42. Fig. 4 illustrates a
method of detecting out-of-ink. A rod cover (described later) is omitted from
the illustration of Fig. 4. The detailed structure of the cartridge mounting
structure 42 is described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4. The X-axis direction,
the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are also expressed as the width
direction, the height direction and the length direction of the cartridge
mounting structure 42.
[0039]
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cartridge mounting structure 42 has
the outer shape of an approximate rectangular parallelepiped. The
cartridge mounting structure 42 includes a device front wall member 432, a
first device side wall member 434 provided in the direction intersecting the
device front wall member 432, and a second device side wall member 436
provided in the direction intersecting the device front wall member 432 and
opposed to the first device side wall member 434. The cartridge mounting
structure 42 further includes a third device side waU member 438 provided
in the direction intersecting the device front wall member 432, the first
device side waU member 434 and the second device side wall member 436,
and a fourth device side wall member 439 provided in the direction
intersecting the device front wall member 432, the first device side wall
member 434 and the second device side wall member 436 and opposed to the
third device side wall member 438. The respective wall members 432, 434,
436, 438 and 439 define a space 450 to receive the cartridges 50. The space
450 is parted into four chambers 450a to 450d to individually receive the four
cartridges 50. The cartridge mounting structure 42 also has an opening 440
opposed to the device front wall member 432 across the space 450 (Fig. 3).
Each of the cartridges 50 passes through the opening 440 to be attached to or
detached from the cartridge mounting structure 42. The direction of
insertion of the cartridge 50 into the cartridge mounting structure 42 is the
negative Y-axis direction, while the direction of removal of the cartridge 50
from the cartridge mounting structure 42 is the positive Y-axis direction.
[0040]
In the specification hereof, the term "intersect" or "cross" means one
of the state that two elements actually cross each other, the state that an
extension of one element intersects the other element, and the state that
17
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
extensions of two elements cross each other.
[0041]
The positional relationship of the respective wall members is further
described. The device front wall member 432 is located on the negative
Y-axis side of the space 450. According to this embodiment, the device front
wall member 432 is erected relative to the horizontal plane (i.e., the plane
parallel to the X axis and the Y axis). The first device side wall member 434
is located on the positive Z-axis side of the space 450. According to this
embodiment, the first device side wall member 434 is the horizontal plane.
The second device side wall member 436 is located on the negative Z-axis
side of the space 450. According to this embodiment, the second device side
wall member 436 is the horizontal plane. The third device side wall
member 438 is located on the positive X-axis side of the space 450.
According to this embodiment, the third device side wall member 438 is
erected relative to the horizontal plane. The fourth device side wall
member 439 is located on the negative X-axis side of the space 450.
According to this embodiment, the fourth device side wall member 439 is
erected relative to the horizontal plane.
[0042]
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, printing material supply tubes 46 and rods
45 are provided on the device front wall member 432. The printing material
supply tube 46 and the rod 45 are arrayed in the Z-axis direction orthogonal
to the Y-axis direction. The printing material supply tube 46 is provided on
the positive Z-axis side of the rod 45. The direction going from the rod 45 to
the printing material supply tube 46 along the Z axis is accordingly the
positive Z-axis direction, and its reverse direction is the negative Z-axis
direction. The printing material supply tube 46 and the rod 45 are
protruded in the positive Y-axis direction to the same length from the device
front wall member 432. In other words, an apex 46c of the printing
material supply tube 46 and a positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45 are
located at an identical position P in the Y-axis direction. Rod covers 47
structured to cover the peripheries of the respective rods 45 and springs 49
are also provided on the device front wall member 432. The rod 45, the rod
cover 47 and the spring 49 are collectively called a rod-shaped member 48.
[0043]
The printing material supply tube 46 is connected with the cartridge
18
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
50 in the attached state of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting
structure 42. Therefore, ink is flowed through the printing material supply
tube 46 to the printer 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the printing material supply
tube 46 includes a base end 46a fastened to the device front wall member 432
and a peripheral end 46b connected with the cartridge 50. The printing
material supply tube 46 also has a central axis Ca extended in the Y-axis
direction. The direction going from the base end 46a to the peripheral end
46b along the Y axis is the positive Y-axis direction, and its reverse direction
is the negative Y-axis direction.
[0044]
The rod 45 is used to detect the out-of-ink state of the cartridge 50.
The rod 45 has an axis Cb extended along the Y-axis direction. The rod 45 is
movable along the direction of the axis Cb (Y-axis direction). The
displacement of the rod 45 in the Y-axis direction is detected with a sensor.
The position of the rod 45 in the Y-axis direction in the out-of-ink state where
the cartridge 50 has little link is changed from the position of the rod 45 in
the Y-axis direction in the state where ink remains in the cartridge 50.
Detecting the displacement of the rod 45 accordingly detects the out-of-ink
state. The "out-of-ink" state herein means not only the state where ink is
completely used up but the state where a little amount of ink remains. The
rod 45 is arranged to pass through the device front wall member 432. One
portion of the rod 45 located on the positive Y-axis side of the device front
wall member 432 is called positive Y-axis side portion 45b, whilst the other
portion of the rod 45 located on the negative Y-axis side of the device front
wall member 432 is called negative Y-axis side portion 45a. The rod cover
47 is a cylindrical member arranged to surround the periphery of the rod 45.
The spring 49 is located between a spring bearing 45d provided on the
positive Y-axis side portion 45b of the rod 45 and the device front wall
member 432 to press the rod 45 in the positive Y-axis direction. The spring
49 is set around the periphery of the rod 45 and is covered by the rod cover 47.
The following description of the rod 45 can be regarded as the description of
the rod-shaped member 48.
[0045]
The rod 45 is located on the device front wall member 432 at a middle
position between the first device side wall member 434 and the second device
side wall member 436. More specifically, the rod 45 is located in the Z-axis
19
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
direction at the middle position of the hne segment connecting the inner
surface of the first device side wall member 434 with the inner surface of the
second device side wall member 436. In other words, the central axis Cb of
the rod 45 is arranged at the middle position in the Z-axis direction between
the first device side wall member 434 and the second device side wall
member 436. The "middle position" may not be the exactly middle position
but may be substantially middle position with no substantial bias to either of
the first and second device side wall members 434 and 436. For example,
the "middle position" may include a range within 10% from a center position
Vm along a distance in the Z-axis direction between the inner wall surfaces
of the first device side wall member 434 and the second device side wall
member 436. In order to locate the central axis Cb at the middle position as
exactly as possible, it is preferable that the "middle position" includes a
range within 7.5% from the center position Vm along the distance in the
Z-axis direction between the inner wall surfaces of the first device side wall
member 434 and the second device side wall member 436.
[0046]
The method of detecting the displacement of the rod 45 is described
with reference to Fig. 4, prior to the description of the other components.
According to this embodiment, an optical detection mechanism 300 is used to
detect the displacement of the rod 45. The detection mechanism 300
includes the rod 45, a light shield 138 and a sensor 136. The sensor 136 is
provided on the negative Y-axis side of the device front wall member 432.
The sensor 136 is, for example, a transmissive photosensor in a concave
shape. The sensor 136 includes a Hght-emitting element and a
light-receiving element (not shown) arranged to be opposed to each other.
The arrow of broken line represents the direction of light transmission.
[0047]
The fight shield 138 is provided on a negative Y-axis end of the rod 45.
When the rod 45 is moved toward the cartridge 50 (i.e., in the positive Y-axis
direction) by the force of the spring 49, the light shield 138 is inserted
between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the
sensor 136 to shield the light emitted from the light-emitting element. The
light-receiving element of the sensor 136 then does not receive the light
emitted from the light-emitting element and accordingly detects the change
in position of the rod 45. The transmissive photosensor is used for the
20
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
sensor 136 according to this embodiment. The sensor 136 is, however, not
limited to the photosensor but may be any other means capable of detecting
the displacement of the rod 45. For example, a detection piece in a shape
like the light shield 138 may be used to turn on and off a mechanical switch
and thereby detect the displacement of the rod 45. The displacement of the
rod 45 may be detected by a detection mechanism other than the optical
detection mechanism, for example, a mechanical detection mechanism or an
electrical detection mechanism. The detection of the out-of-ink state in
relation to the detection of the displacement of the rod 45 will be described
later.
[0048]
Referring back to Figs. 2 and 3, the detailed structure of the cartridge
mounting structure 42 is further discussed. The first device side wall
member 434 has first rails 402 extended from its positive Y-axis end in the
negative Y-axis direction. The first rails 402 are grooves formed in the first
device side wall member 434. The second device side wall member 436 has
second rails 404 extended from its positive Y-axis end in the negative Y-axis
direction. The first rail 402 and the second rail 404 have different length or
widths in the X-axis direction. According to this embodiment, the first rail
402 has a length Ta in the X-axis direction, which is less than a length Tb of
the second rail 404 in the X-axis direction as shown in Fig. 2.
[0049]
The cartridge mounting structure 42 also has contact mechanisms
410, device-side identification members 420 and restriction members 406.
In the description hereinafter, the "device-side identification member 420"
may simply be called "identification member 420". The contact mechanism
410 is provided at a corner where the first device side wall member 434
intersects the device front wall member 432. The contact mechanism 410
includes a plurality of device-side terminals 414 and a holder member 412 to
hold the device-side terminals 414. The plurality of device-side terminals
414 are electrically connected with the controller 60 of the printer 10 (Fig. l).
[0050]
The identification members 420 are provided on the second device
side wall member 436. The identification members 420 are used to identify
whether the correct types of cartridges 50 are attached to the respective
chambers 450a to 450d of the space 450. The identification members 420
21
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
are formed in different shapes corresponding to the ink colors contained in
the cartridges 50 attached to the respective chambers 450a to 450d. More
specifically, the identification member 420 has at least one rib 422 and is
formed in a different pattern, which is specified by the number and the
positions of the ribs 422, corresponding to the type of the cartridge 50 (ink
color in this embodiment). In Fig. 2, rectangles of each identification
member 420 represent the available positions of the ribs 422, and hatched
rectangles represent the positions where the ribs 422 are actually placed.
When the correct type of the cartridge 50 is inserted into each of the
chambers 450a to 450d of the space 450, a cartridge-side identification
member formed as a pattern of ribs on the cartridge 50 fits the identification
member 420. Such fit enables the correct types of cartridges 50 to be
attached to the respective chambers 450a to 450d. When the wrong type of
the cartridge 50 is inserted into each of the chambers 450a to 450d of the
space 450, the ribs of the cartridge-side identification member hit against the
ribs 422 of the identification member 420 to interfere with attachment of the
cartridge 50. Such hitting effectively prevents attachment of any wrong
type of the cartridge 50 to the respective chambers 450a to 450d. A positive
Y-axis end 422c of the identification member 420 is arranged at the same
position P in the Y-axis direction as those of the apex 46c of the printing
material supply tube 46 and the positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45.
[0051]
The restriction members 406 abut the cartridge 50 and reduce the
possibility that the cartridge 50 is excessively pressed into the space 450.
The restriction members 406 are arranged on both sides in the X-axis
direction of the identification member 420. The restriction members 406
are extended from the second device side wall member 436 toward the first
device side wall member 434.
[0052]
A-3. Structure of Cartridge
A-3-1. Description on Primary Components of Cartridge
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge 50. Fig. 6 is a
perspective view showing the appearance of the cartridge 50. Fig. 7A is a
front view of the cartridge 50. Figs. 7B and 7C are partial sectional views
schematically illustrating a first insertion hole 53. Fig. 7B shows part of a
22
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
7X-7X cross section of the cartridge 50 in Fig. 7A, taken on a plane that is
parallel to the X axis and the Y axis and includes a central axis Ce of the first
insertion hole 53. Fig. 7C shows part of a 7Z-7Z cross section of the
cartridge 50 in Fig. 7A, taken on a plane that is parallel to the Z axis and the
Y axis and includes the central axis Ce of the first insertion hole 53. Fig. 7D
illustrates a cross section of one side portion 53y and the other side portion
53t at a joint 53h, taken on a plane parallel to the Z axis and the X axis. Fig.
8 illustrates the internal structure of the cartridge 50. Figs. 9A to 9C
illustrate attachment of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting structure
42 in time series in this order. The X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction and
the Z-axis direction are also expressed as the width direction, the length
direction and the height direction of the cartridge 50.
[0053]
As shown in Fig. 5, the cartridge 50 includes a printing material
containing portion 70, a cartridge casing 72 and a printing material supply
unit 74.
[0054]
The printing material containing portion 70 is structured to contain
ink and is formed in a bag-like shape of a liquid-impermeable (e.g.,
ink-impermeable) film. The printing material supply unit 74 is mounted on
the printing material containing portion 70.
[0055]
As shown in Fig. 8, the printing material supply unit 74 includes a
printing material filler port 76, a printing material detection mechanism 80,
a printing material delivery tube 78 and a printing material flow path 90,
which are formed integrally. The printing material filler port 76 is used to
pour ink into the printing material containing portion 70 during
manufacture of the cartridge 50 and is closed after ink pouring. The
printing material detection mechanism 80 is used for detection of the
out-of-ink state with the detection mechanism 300. The detailed structure
of the printing material detection mechanism 80 will be described later.
The printing material flow path 90 is used to lead the ink contained in the
printing material containing portion 70 to the printer 10. Along the flow
direction of ink from the printing material containing portion 70 to the
printer 10, the printing material flow path 90 has an upstream end 77 open
in the printing material containing portion 70 and a downstream end 78f
23
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
open to the outside. The downstream end 78f is also called printing
material supply port 78f. The printing material flow path 90 accordingly
has the printing material supply port 78f at one end. The other end of the
printing material flow path 90 is connected with the printing material
containing portion 70. The printing material flow path 90 serves as the flow
path connecting the printing material containing portion 70 to the outside.
A downstream edge portion of the printing material flow path 90 including
the printing material supply port 78f forms the printing material delivery
tube 78 in a cylindrical shape. The printing material supply port 78f is
located in a second insertion hole 51 as described later.
[0056]
As shown in Fig. 5, the cartridge casing 72 includes a protective case
84 and a cap 82. The protective case 84 is designed to receive a most part of
the printing material containing portion 70 therein. The protective case 84
is an approximate rectangular parallelepiped member having an opening 75
on its negative Y-axis side. The cap 82 is attached to the protective case 84
to seal the opening 75 of the protective case 84. The cap 82 is not securely
fastened to the protective case 84 but is slightly movable relative to the
protective case 84 by a clearance between the cap 82 and the protective case
84.
[0057]
As shown in Fig. 6, the cartridge 50 has the approximate rectangular
parallelepiped outer shape. The dimensions of the cartridge 50 descend in
the order of the length direction (Y-axis direction), the height direction
(Z-axis direction) and the width direction (X-axis direction). The cartridge
50 has six outer surfaces 532, 534, 536, 538, 539 and 540. More specifically,
the cartridge 50 has a front face 532, a rear face 540, a first side face 534, a
second side face 536, a third side face 538 and a fourth side face 539. The
respective faces 532, 534, 536, 538, 539 and 540 are substantially flat
surfaces. The front face 532 and negative Y-axis parts of the side faces 534,
536, 538 and 539 are formed by the cap 82. The rear face 540 and positive
Y-axis parts of the side faces 534, 536, 538 and 539 are formed by the
protective case 84. The parts of the first to fourth side faces 534, 536, 538
and 539 formed by the cap 82 are called first to fourth side faces of the cap 82.
The parts of the first to fourth side faces 534, 536, 538 and 539 formed by the
protective case 84 are called first to fourth side faces of the protective case 84.
24
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
The respective faces 532, 534, 536, 538, 539 and 540 may not be perfectly flat
surfaces. For example, the peripheries of the opening ends of the first
insertion hole 53 and the second insertion hole 51 formed in the front face
532 may be slightly protruded as peripheral rims from the front face 532.
[0058]
The front face 532 and the rear face 540 are opposed to each other in
the Y-axis direction. The front face 532 is located on the negative Y-axis
side and the rear face 540 is located on the positive Y-axis side. The rear
face 540 faces the front face 532. The front face 532 is located on the
negative Y-axis side of the printing material containing portion 70. In the
attached state of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting structure 42, the
front face 532 faces the device front wall member 432. The rear face 540 is
located on the positive Y-axis side of the printing material containing portion
70. The first side face 534 is located on the positive Z-axis side of the
printing material containing portion 70. The first side face 534 and the
second side face 540 intersect the front face 532 and the rear face 540. The
first side face 534 and the second side face 540 are opposed to each other in
the Z-axis direction. The first side face 534 is located on the positive Z-axis
side and the second side face 540 is located on the negative Z-axis side. The
first side face 534 is located on the positive Z-axis side of the printing
material containing portion 70, whilst the second side face 536 is located on
the negative Z-axis side of the printing material containing portion 70. The
third side face 538 and the fourth side face 539 intersect the front face 532,
the rear face 540, the first side face 534 and the second side face 540. The
third side face 538 and the fourth side face 539 are opposed to each other in
the X-axis direction. The third side face 538 is located on the positive X-axis
side and the fourth side face 539 is located on the negative X-axis side. The
third side face 538 is located on the positive X-axis side of the printing
material containing portion 70, whilst the fourth side face 539 is located on
the negative X-axis side of the printing material containing portion 70.
[0059]
As shown in Fig. 7A, the second insertion hole 51 for insertion of the
printing material supply tube 46 and the first insertion hole 53 for insertion
of the rod 45 in the attached state of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge
mounting structure 42 are formed in the front face 532 formed by the cap 82.
As shown in Fig. 8, the second insertion hole 51 has a preset length in the
25
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
Y-axis direction and is adapted to receive the printing material supply tube
46 (Fig. 3) inserted therein. Such insertion connects the printing material
supply tube 46 with the printing material delivery tube 78 and supplies the
ink contained in the printing material containing portion 70 through the
printing material supply tube 46 and the tube 24 to the head 22. The state
that the printing material supply tube 46 is connected with the printing
material delivery tube 78 means that ink can be flowed from the printing
material delivery tube 78 to the printing material supply tube 46.
[0060]
The first insertion hole 53 is formed in the front face 532 at a middle
position between the first side face 534 and the second side face 536. In
other words, the first insertion hole 53 is located at the middle position in the
Z-axis direction on the line segment connecting the first side face 534 with
the second side face 536. Namely, the central axis Ce of the first insertion
hole 53 is accordingly located at the middle position in the Z-axis direction
between the first side face 534 and the second side face 536. The "middle
position" may not be the exactly middle position but may be substantially
middle position with no substantial bias to either of the first side face 534
and the second side face 536. For example, the "middle position" may
include a range within 10% from a center position Vh along a distance Th in
the Z-axis direction between the first side face 534 and the second side face
536. The "middle position" is not limited to the case where Tha and Thb are
perfectly equal to each other, i.e., Tha= Thb= 0.5xTh, where Tha represents
the distance from the first side face 534 to the central axis Ce of the first
insertion hole 53 and Thb represents the distance from the second side face
536 to the central axis Ce of the first insertion hole 53. The "middle
position" includes the position satisfying either 0.4xTh ^ Tha ^ 0.6xTh or
0.6xTh ^ Thb ^ 0.4xTh. This range ensures the sufficient advantageous
effects of the invention. When the middle position is in this range, there is
no apparent bias of the first insertion hole 53 to either of the first side face
534 and the second side face 536 at a glance. In order to locate the central
axis Ce of the first insertion hole 53 at the middle position as exactly as
possible, it is preferable that the "middle position" includes a range within
7.5% from the center position Vh along the distance Th in the Z-axis
direction between the first side face 534 and the second side face 536.
[0061]
26
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
As shown in Figs. 7B and 7C, the first insertion hole 53 has a preset
length in the Y-axis direction. The first insertion hole 53 has an open end
53f on the negative Y-axis side and an open end 53g on the positive Y-axis
side. The first insertion hole 53 also has one side portion 53y located on the
negative Y-axis side and the other side portion 53t located on the positive
Y-axis side of the one side portion 53y. The one side portion 53y and the
other side portion 53t are respectively located on the negative Y-axis side and
on the positive Y-axis side across a joint 53h as the boundary. The one side
portion 53y includes the open end 53f on the negative Y-axis side, and the
other side portion 53t includes the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side.
In other words, the portion from the joint 53h to the open end 53f on the
negative Y-axis side is the one side portion 53y, whilst the portion from the
joint 53h to the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side is the other side
portion 53g. As shown in Figs. 7A and 7D, the one side portion 53y has a
cross section parallel to the X axis and the Z axis in the shape of a circle.
The diameter of the circle gradually decreases in the positive Yaxis direction
from the open end 53f. As shown in Fig. 7B, the one side portion 53y also
has a cross section parallel to the X axis and the Y axis and a cross section
parallel to the Z axis and the Y axis in the shape of a trapezoid having the
longer negative Y-axis side defined by the open end 53f and the shorter
positive Y-axis side defined by the open end 53g. The one side portion 53y is
accordingly a truncated cone. The other side portion 53t has a cross section
parallel to the X axis and the Z axis in a non-circular shape. As shown in
Figs. 7A and 7D, the cross section of the other side portion 53t parallel to the
X axis and the Z axis is in a shape defined by the combination of a pair of
straight lines 53p, 53p opposed to each other in the Z-axis direction and two
arcs 53q, 53q opposed to each other in the X-axis direction. The other side
portion 53t has the same cross section from the joint 53h to the open end 53g
on the positive Y-axis side. In other words, the other side portion 53t is
formed in a columnar shape. As shown in Figs. 7B and 7C, the cross section
of the other side portion 53t parallel to the X axis and the Y axis and the
cross section of the other side portion 53t parallel to the Z axis and the Y axis
are both in rectangular shapes. The rectangular cross section parallel to
the X axis and the Y axis shown in Fig. 7B has the smaller area than the
rectangular cross section parallel to the Z axis and the Y axis shown in Fig.
7C. As shown in Fig. 7D, with respect to the cross sections of the other side
27
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
portion 53t and the one side portion 53y parallel to the X axis and the Z axis
at the joint 53h, the distance between the pair of straight lines 53p, 53p
defining part of the cross section of the other side portion 53t is smaller than
the diameter of the circle defining the cross section of the one side portion
53y, whilst the diameter of the pair of arcs 53q, 53q defining the remaining
part of the cross section of the other side portion 53t is equal to the diameter
of the circle defining the cross section of the one side portion 53y. The term
"equal" herein includes "substantially equal". Namely, the term "equal"
covers a potential variation in dimensions caused by manufacturing errors.
The cross section of the first insertion hole 53 parallel to the X axis and the Z
axis accordingly varies in the following manner from the open end 53f on the
negative Y-axis side to the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side. This
cross section is the shape of a circle in the one side portion53y. The area of
this circle gradually decreases from the open end 53f on the negative Yaxis
side toward the joint 53h. The cross section is then changed to the shape
defined by the combination of the pair of straight lines 53p, 53p and the pair
of arcs 53q, 53q at the joint 53h or at the entrance of the other side portion
53t. With this shape change, the cross section has the smaller length in the
Z-axis direction, since the distance between the pair of straight lines 53p,
53p is smaller than the diameter of the circle defining the cross section of the
one side portion 53y. The cross section, however, has the same length in the
X-axis direction, since the diameter of the pair of arcs 53q, 53q is equal to the
diameter of the circle defining the cross section of the one side portion 53y.
There is no change in shape and area of the cross section from the joint 53h
to the open end 53 on the positive Y-axis side. The rod 45 is inserted into
the first insertion hole 53 from its negative Yaxis side toward the positive
Y-axis side. The open end 53f on the negative Y-axis side or the entrance is
made wider to readily receive the rod 45. The open end 53g on the positive
Y-axis side is made narrower, so that insertion of the rod 45 to the open end
53g on the positive Y-axis side allows positioning of the cartridge 50 with
high accuracy. The area of the cross section in the one side portion 53y
gradually decreases from the open end 53f on the negative Y-axis side toward
the joint 53h. The cross section changes the shape at the joint 53h or the
entrance of the other side portion 53t to have the smaller length in the Z-axis
direction but keep the same length in the X-axis direction as that of the one
side portion 53y. There is no change in shape and area of the cross section
28
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
from the joint 53h to the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side. This
structure enables the rod 45 to be smoothly guided from the one side portion
53y to the other side portion 53t. The other side portion 53t has a clearance
between the rod 45 and the first insertion hole 53 in the X-axis direction in
order to smoothly guide the rod 45 to the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis
side, while stabilizing the position of the rod 45 in the Z-axis direction to
enable the cartridge 50 to be accurately positioned relative to the cartridge
mounting structure 42.
[0062]
As shown in Figs. 7A and 8, the cartridge 50 further has a
cartridge-side identification member 520 (also called "identification member"
520) on the cap 82. The identification member 520 is provided in a corner
section 55 with a recess where the front face 532 intersects the second side
face 536. Like the device-side identification member 420, the identification
member 520 has at least one rib 522 and is formed in a different pattern
corresponding to the color of ink contained in the cartridge 50. More
specifically, as shown in Fig. 7A, the recess of the corner section 55 is parted
into eight areas (shown by lattice in Fig. 7A), and the ribs 522 are placed in
part or all of the eight areas. The areas where the ribs 522 are placed
depend on the ink color of the cartridge 50. The areas where the ribs 522
are placed are hatched as one example of the rib pattern in Fig. 7A. The
identification member 520 is omitted from the illustration of Figs. 5 and 6.
A negative Y-axis end of the cartridge-side identification member 520 is
called "end face 520f' as shown in Fig. 8.
[0063]
The relationship among the printing material delivery tube 78, the
first insertion hole 53 and the identification member 520 is described with
reference to Fig. 8 and Figs. 9A to 9C, prior to description of the other
components of the cartridge 50. The portion of the rod 45 located on the
negative Y-axis side of the device front wall member 432 (i.e., the negative
Y-axis side portion 45a shown in Fig. 3) is omitted from the illustration of
Figs. 9Ato 9C. The cartridge 50 is structured, such that the rod 45 is
inserted into the first insertion hole 53 before the printing material supply
tube 46 is inserted into the printing material supply port 78f in the course of
attachment of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting structure 42.
According to this embodiment, the open end 53f of the first insertion hole 53
29
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
is located on the negative Y-axis side to the printing material supply port 78f
as shown in Fig, 8. This structure enables the rod 45 to be inserted into the
first insertion hole 53 first as shown in Fig. 9A.
[0064]
The cartridge 50 is also structured, such that the fit between the
cartridge-side identification member 520 and the device-side identification
member 420 starts afi;er insertion of the rod 45 into the first insertion hole 53
but before insertion of the printing material supply tube 46 into the printing
material supply port 78f in the course of attachment of the cartridge 50 to
the cartridge mounting structure 42. According to this embodiment, the
end face 520f of the cartridge-side identification member 520 is located on
the positive Y-axis side to the open end 53f on the negative Y-axis side of the
first insertion hole 53 and on the negative Y-axis side to the printing
material supply port 78f as shown in Fig. 8. This structure sequentially
triggers the insertion of the rod 45 into the first insertion hole 53 as shown in
Fig. 9A, the start to fit between the cartridge-side identification member 520
and the device-side identification member 420 as shown in Fig. 9B, and the
insertion of the printing material supply tube 46 into the printing material
supply port 78f to be connected with the printing material delivery tube 78
as shown in Fig. 9C. In the state where the attachment of the cartridge 50
to the cartridge mounting structure is completed (i.e., in the attached state)
shown in Fig. 9C, the rod cover 47 as well as the rod 45 is inserted into the
first insertion hole 53.
[0065]
Almost simultaneously with the timing when the printing material
supply tube 46 is connected with the printing material delivery tube 78, the
cartridge 50 abuts the restriction members 406 (Fig. 2) to prevent further
motion of the cartridge 50 in the negative Y-axis direction. According to this
embodiment, the restriction members 406 abut the negative Y-axis side face
(front face 532) of the cartridge 50 (Fig. 9C).
[0066]
In the attached state of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting
structure 42, cartridge-side terminals 202 on a circuit board 200 are
electrically connected with the device-side terminals 414, so as to enable
signal transmission between the circuit board 200 and the controller 60 of
the printer 10 (Fig. l).
30
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
[0067]
The components of the cartridge 50 are further described with
reference to Figs. 5 to 8. As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the cartridge 50 has the
circuit board 200 on the cap 82. More specifically, the circuit board 200 is
provided in a corner section 52 where the front face 532 intersects the first
side face 534. As shown in Fig. 7A, the circuit board 200 has a plurality of
cartridge-side terminals 202 provided on its surface and a memory unit 204
provided on its rear face. Information on the cartridge 50 (for example, ink
color) is stored in the memory unit 204. In the attached state, the plurality
of cartridge-side terminals 202 are respectively in contact with the
corresponding device-side terminals 414. This enables signal transmission
between the circuit board 200 and the controller 60 (Fig. l).
[0068]
As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the first side face 534 consists of a first side
face 534a of the cap 82 and a first side face 534b of the protective case 84.
[0069]
A first cartridge projection 56 is provided on the first side face 534.
The first cartridge projection 56 is protruded from the first side face 534 in
the positive Z-axis direction and is extended in the Y-axis direction. The
first cartridge projection 56 includes a first projection 56a provided on the
first side face 534a of the cap 82 and a first case-side projection 56b provided
on the first side face 534b of the protective case 84. The first projection 56a
is protruded in the positive Z-axis direction from the first side face 534a of
the cap 82. The first case-side projection 56b is protruded in the positive
Z-axis direction from the first side face 534b of the protective case 84 and is
extended in the Y-axis direction. The first cartridge projection 56 (56a and
56b) is guided by the first rail 402 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the course of insertion of
the cartridge 50 into the cartridge mounting structure 42 (Figs. 2 and 3) and
in the course of removal of the cartridge 50 from the cartridge mounting
structure 42.
[0070]
The second side face 536 consists of a second side face 536a of the cap
82 and a second side face 536b of the protective case 84. A second cartridge
projection 58 is provided on the second side face 536. The second cartridge
projection 58 is protruded from the second side face 536 in the negative
Z-axis direction and is extended in the. Yaxis direction. The second
31
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
cartridge projection 58 includes a second projection 58a provided on the
second side face 536a of the cap 82 and a second case-side projection 58b
provided on the second side face 536b of the protective case 84. The second
projection 58a is protruded in the negative Z-axis direction from the second
side face 536a of the cap 82. The second case-side projection 58b is
protruded in the negative Z-axis direction from the second side face 538b of
the protective case 84 and is extended in the Y-axis direction. The second
cartridge projection 58 (58a and 58b) is guided by the second rail 404 (Figs. 2
and 3) in the course of insertion of the cartridge 50 into the cartridge
mounting structure 42 (Figs. 2 and 3) and in the course of removal of the
cartridge 50 from the cartridge mounting structure 42.
[0071]
As shown in Fig. 7A, the first cartridge projection 56 (56a and 56b)
has a length Tc in the X-axis direction, which is different from a length Td of
the second cartridge projection 58 (58a and 58b) in the X-axis direction.
More specifically, the length Td of the second cartridge projection 58 (58a and
58b) in the X-axis direction is greater than the length Tc of the first cartridge
projection 56 (56a and 56b) in the X-axis direction. Correspondingly, as
shown in Fig. 2, the length Tb, of the second rail 404 formed in the cartridge
mounting structure 42 to guide the second cartridge projection 58 (58a and
58b), in the X-axis direction, is greater than the length Ta, of the first rail
402 formed in the cartridge mounting structure 42 to guide the first
cartridge projection 56 (56a and 56b), in the X-axis direction. In other
words, the length Ta of the first rail 402 in the Z-axis direction corresponds
to the length Tc of the first cartridge projection 56 (56a and 56b) in the X-axis
direction. The length Tb of the second rail 404 in the X-axis direction
corresponds to the length Td of the second cartridge projection 58 (58a and
58b) in the X-axis direction. The length Td of the second cartridge
projection 58 (58a and 58b) in the X-axis direction is smaller than the length
Tb of the second rail 404 in the X-axis direction and is greater than the
length Ta (56a and 56b) of the first rail 402 in the X-axis direction. The
length Tc of the first cartridge projection 56 (56a and 56b) in the X-axis
direction is smaller than the length Ta of the first rail 402 in the X-axis
direction. There is accordingly the relationship of Tc< Ta< Td< Tb. This
structure advantageously prevents attachment of the cartridge 50 in the
wrong attitude, i.e., upside down in the Z-axis direction, to the cartridge
32
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
mounting structure 42. In the state where the first side face 534 and the
second side face 536 are upside down, the second cartridge projection 58 or
more specifically the second projection 58a provided on the second side face
536a of the cap 82 is not inserted or fit in the first rail 402. This prevents
upside-down attachment of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting
structure 42.
[0072]
As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the first projection 56a and the first
case-side projection 56b are arranged across a gap 56c in the Y-axis direction.
Similarly the second projection 58a and the second case-side projection 58b
are arranged across a gap 58c in the Y-axis direction. As shown in Fig. 8, in
the attached state, leaf springs Sp provided on the cartridge mounting
structure 42 enter the gaps 56c and 58c to press the cartridge 50 toward the
device front wall member 432.
[0073]
According to this embodiment, the first cartridge projection 56 or
more specifically the first case-side projection 56b is formed in a continuous
shape extended in the Y-axis direction. Similarly the second cartridge
projection 58 or more specifically the second case-side projection 58b is
formed in a continuous shape extended in the Y-axis direction. This
continuous shape extended in the Y-axis direction is, however, not essential.
Only the first projection 56a and the second projection 58a provided on the
respective negative Y-axis ends of the first side face 534 and the second side
face 536 are sufficient to prevent attachment of the cartridge 50 in the wrong
attitude, i.e., upside down in the Z-axis direction, to the cartridge mounting
structure 42. In order to prevent inclination of the cartridge 50 to the
cartridge mounting structure 42 during attachment or detachment, it is
required to provide at least two projections arranged across a certain
interval in the Y-axis direction on the first side face 534 and at least two
projections arranged across a certain interval in the Y-axis direction on the
second side face 536. The projections of the continuous shape extended in
the Y-axis direction are not essential.
[0074]
A-3-2. Description on Printing Material Supply Unit
Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of
33
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_ming
the printing material supply unit 74. The printing material detection
mechanism 80 includes a detection chamber 100 in an substantially
cylindrical shape. The detection chamber 100 is provided in the midstream
of the printing material flow path 90 (Fig. 8). The detection chamber 100
has a flow inlet 102, through which ink flows in from the printing material
containing portion 70, and a flow outlet 104, through which ink flows out to
the printing material supply port 78f. An upper end face of the detection
chamber 100 is covered with a film 118 of a flexible material. The film 118
is deformed corresponding to a change in internal pressure of the detection
chamber 100, so as to vary the internal volume of the detection chamber 100.
[0075]
The printing material detection mechanism 80 also has a check valve
106 and a spring 108, which are located in the detection chamber 100. The
check valve 106 prevents the backflow of ink flowing in through the flow
inlet 102 into the detection chamber 100. The spring 108 presses the film
118 outward of the detection chamber 100. More specifically, the spring 108
is provided in the compressed state in the detection chamber 100 and is
positioned by being set on a protrusion 110 protruded upward from the
bottom face of the detection chamber 100. A pressure-receiving plate 112 is
placed between the spring 108 and the film 118. The pressure-receiving
plate 112 includes a pressure-receiving element 114 which transmits the
pressing force of the spring 108 to the film 118 and a restricting element 116
which restricts the motion of the check valve 106, which are joined together
and integrally formed. Fitting the restricting element 116 of the
pressure-receiving plate 112 in the flow inlet 102 of the detection chamber
100 restricts the upward motion of the check valve 106 and positions the
pressure-receiving element 114 between the spring 108 and the film 118.
The pressure-receiving element 114 and the restricting element 116 are
integrally formed according to this embodiment, but may be provided as
separate elements.
[0076]
The printing material detection mechanism 80 further has a lever
member 120, which is provided outside the detection chamber 100 to be in
contact with the film 118 forming one end face (upper end face in the
drawing) of the detection chamber 100. The lever member 120 has a shaft
hole 122 on one end. Fitting a shaft pin 126 provided on the outer surface of
34
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
the detection chamber 100 in the shaft hole 122 causes the lever member 120
to be supported by the shaft pin 126 in a pivotally rotatable manner. The
lever member 120 has a guide hole 124 on the other end. A guide pin 128
fixed to the printing material supply unit 74 is inserted into the guide hole
124, so as to guide the pivotal rotation of the lever member 120. A convex
132 is provided on the upper surface of the lever member 120 (i.e., the
surface opposite to the surface facing the film 118) to serve as an abutting
element to abut the positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45 (Figs. 3 and 4) on
the cartridge mounting structure 42. In vertical projection of the cartridge
50 to the plane parallel to the X axis and the Z axis, the convex 132 and the
first insertion hole 53 overlap each other at least partly. The ink contained
in the printing material containing portion 70 with the printing material
detection mechanism 80 of this structure is supplied to the cartridge
mounting structure 42 as described below.
[0077]
Fig. 11 is a first sectional view illustrating the state that ink
contained in the printing material containing portion 70 is supplied to the
cartridge mounting structure 42. Fig. 12 is a second sectional view
illustrating the state that ink contained in the printing material containing
portion 70 is supplied to the cartridge mounting structure 42. For the
better understanding, the lever member 120 and the restricting element 116
of the pressure-receiving plate 112 are omitted from the illustration of Figs.
11 and 12. A supply pump (not shown) is built in the cartridge mounting
structure 42 to suck ink from the cartridge 50 and pressure-feed the sucked
ink to the carriage 20. Fig. 11 shows the state where the supply pump of
the cartridge mounting structure 42 does not work, and Fig. 12 shows the
state where the supply pump of the cartridge mounting structure 42 works.
[0078]
As shown in Fig. 11, when the supply pump of the cartridge mounting
structure 42 does not work, the spring 108 presses up the film 118 to increase
the volume of the detection chamber 100. With an increase in volume of the
detection chamber 100, ink flows into the detection chamber 100 through an
inflow path 140 arranged to connect the printing material containing portion
70 with the flow inlet 102. The check valve 106 is placed in the flow inlet
102 to allow the inflow of ink into the detection chamber 100 but prohibit the
backflow of ink. The arrows of broken line represent the ink flow.
35
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
[0079]
When the supply pump of the cartridge mounting structure 42 works,
ink is sucked via the printing material delivery tube 78 and flows out of the
detection chamber 100 through an outflow path 142 arranged to connect the
flow outlet 104 with the printing material delivery tube 78 to be supplied to
the cartridge mounting structure 42. In the cartridge 50 according to the
embodiment, the inner diameter of the outflow path 142 is set to be greater
than the inner diameter of the inflow path 140. The ink inflow into the
detection chamber 100 does not keep up with the ink outflow from the
detection chamber 100, so that the detection chamber 100 has negative
pressure. The film 118 is accordingly deformed against the pressing force of
the spring 108 to be pulled inward of the detection chamber 100 as shown in
Fig. 12.
[0080]
The negative pressure in the detection chamber 100 is gradually
cancelled by the ink flow of ink from the printing material containing portion
70 through the inflow path 140 into the detection chamber 100. The film
118 is then pressed outward of the detection chamber 100 again by the
pressing force of the spring 108 to restore the volume of the detection
chamber 100. After a predetermined time period has elapsed since the stop
of the supply pump of the cartridge mounting structure 42, the state of the
detection chamber 100 is returned to the state of Fig. 11. When the supply
pump of the cartridge mounting structure 42 works again, the detection
chamber 100 has negative pressure to pull the film 118 inward of the
detection chamber 100 again as shown in Fig. 12.
[0081]
When ink in the printing material containing portion 70 is consumed
and used up, no ink flows from the printing material containing portion 70 to
the detection chamber 100, irrespective of the negative pressure. In this
case, even after the predetermined time period has elapsed since the stop of
the supply pump of the cartridge mounting structure 42, the negative
pressure of the detection chamber 100 is not canceled, and the film 118 is
kept to be pulled inward of the detection chamber 100 as shown in Fig. 12.
[0082]
As described above, when the printing material containing portion 70
is in the out-of-ink state, the film 118 forming one end face of the detection
36
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
chamber 100 is kept deformed to be pulled inward of the detection chamber
100. Detecting the displacement of the film 118 with the detection
mechanism 300 (Fig. 4) accordingly results in detecting the out-of-ink state
in the printing material containing portion 70. The displacement of the film
118 is relatively small and is amplified by the lever member 120 according to
the embodiment as described below.
[0083]
Fig. 13 illustrates the structure of the lever member 120 provided on
the cartridge 50 according to the embodiment. The lever member 120 has
the shaft hole 122 on one end. The lever member 120 is pivotally rotated
about the shaft hole 122, in which the shaft pin 126 (Fig. lO) provided on the
outer surface of the detection chamber 100 is inserted. The lever member
120 has the guide hole 124 on the other end. The guide pin 128 (Fig. 10)
fixed to the printing material supply unit 74 is inserted into the guide hole
124. During pivotal rotation of the lever member 120, the guide pin 128
moves along the guide hole 124, so as to guide the pivotal rotation of the
lever member 120. This structure accordingly restricts the pivotal rotation
of the lever member 120 with high accuracy.
[0084]
A hemispherical projection 130 is provided on the lower surface of the
lever member 120 facing the film 118 to be in contact with the film 118. The
convex or abutting element 132 is provided on the surface of the lever
member opposite to the surface facing the film 118. The abutting element
132 abuts the positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45 (Figs. 3 and 4) on the
cartridge mounting structure 42. A distance D2 between the shaft hole 122
as the pivot point of rotation of the lever member 120 and the abutting
element 132 is set to be greater than a distance Dl between the shaft hole
122 and the hemispherical projection 130. The displacement of the film 118
in contact with the hemispherical projection 130 is amplified by a lever ratio
R= D2/D1 (R >1, 3.1 in this embodiment) to determine the displacement of
the abutting element 132. The displacement of the film 118 amplified by
the lever member 120 is transmitted to the rod 45 provided in the cartridge
mounting structure 42 as described above. The amplified displacement of
the film 118 corresponds to the moving distance of the rod 45. For accurate
detection of the out-of-ink state with the detection mechanism 300, it is
required to make the rod 45 abut the lever member 120 at the exact designed
37
XX040A0436-Wl_specificatioti_for_filing
position. When the rod 45 abuts the lever member 120 at the position
different from the abutting element 132, the positional relationship between
the light shield 138 and the sensor 136 is significantly deviated from the
designed positional relationship, which leads to erroneous detection of the
out-of'ink state.
[0085]
A-4. Detection of Out-Of-Ink State
Detection of the out-of-ink state is described in detail with reference
to Figs. 14 to 16. Fig. 14 is a first view illustrating detection of the
out-of-ink state and shows the state before the cartridge 50 or more
specifically the cartridge 50 containing a sufficient amount of ink is attached
to the cartridge mounting structure 42. Fig. 15 is a second view illustrating
detection of the out'of-ink state and shows the state when the cartridge 50
containing a sufficient amount of ink is attached to the cartridge mounting
structure 42. Fig. 16 is a third view illustrating detection of the out-of-ink
state and shows the state when the ink cartridge 50 attached to the cartridge
mounting structure 42 has no ink or little ink (i.e., out-of-ink state).
[0086]
In the state of Fig. 14, the spring 49 presses the rod 45 toward the
cartridge 50. When the cartridge 50 is not attached to the cartridge
mounting structure 42 (Fig. 3), the rod 45 moves toward the cartridge 50 by
the pressing force of the spring 49. The light shield 138 of the rod 45
accordingly enters between the light-emitting element and the
light-receiving element of the sensor 136 to shield the light emitted fi:'om the
light-emitting element. This light-shielding state is equivalent to the
out-of-ink state described later with reference to Fig. 16. The printer 10 is
controlled to be incapable of printing in this state. For attachment of the
cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting structure 42, the cartridge 50 is
inserted in the direction of the arrow, i.e., in the negative Y-axis direction.
For detachment of the cartridge 50 from the cartridge mounting structure 42,
on the other hand, the cartridge 50 is pulled in the opposite direction to the
arrowed direction, i.e., in the positive Y-axis direction. The cartridge 50
shown in Fig. 14 contains a sufficient amount of ink.
[0087]
In the state of Fig. 15 when the cartridge 50 containing a sufficient
38
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
amount of ink is attached to the cartridge mounting structure 42, the
positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45 abuts the abutting element 132 of the
lever member 120 provided on the cartridge 50. A pressing force A' applied
to the abutting element 132 of the lever member 120 by a pressing force A of
the spring 108 of the cartridge 50 is set to be greater than a pressing force B
of the spring 49. When the positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45 abuts the
lever member 120, the rod 45 accordingly moves toward the depth of the
cartridge mounting structure 42 (i.e., in the negative Y-axis direction)
against the pressing force B of the spring 49. The light shield 138 of the rod
45 is then away from the sensor 136 to allow light transmission. The sensor
136 detects attachment of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting
structure 42, based on the change from the light-shielding state to the Hght
transmission state with the movement of the light shield 138 of the rod 45.
This state is maintained until the printing material containing portion 70
has no ink or little ink. The printer 10 is controlled to be capable of printing
in this state, unless there is any other abnormality arising in the cartridge
50 or the printer 10. The types of "other abnormality" and the method of
detecting such abnormalities are known in the art and are not specifically
described here.
[0088]
As shown in Fig. 16, when there is no ink or little ink in the printing
material containing portion 70, no ink flows from the printing material
containing portion 70 to the detection chamber 100, so that the detection
chamber 100 has negative pressure. The pressing force A of the spring 108
of the cartridge 50 is set to be smaller than a force C produced by the
negative pressure in the state of no ink or little ink in the printing material
containing portion 70. This force C works to keep the film 118 pulled
inward of the detection chamber 100. Deformation of the film 118 to
decrease the volume of the detection chamber 100 displaces the rod 45 in the
positive Y-axis direction by the pressing force B of the spring 49.
Accompanied with such displacement, the rod 45 turns the lever member 120
following the deformation of the film 118 and keeps the lever member 120 in
its closed position. The rod 45 accordingly moves toward the cartridge 50
and causes the hght shield 138 of the rod 45 to enter between the
light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the sensor 136.
The sensor 136 detects no ink or little ink (out-of-ink state) in the printing
39
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
material containing portion 70, based on the light-shielding state by the light
shield 138 of the rod 45 (i.e., movement of the rod 45). The printer 10 is
controlled to be incapable of printing in this state.
The displacement of the film 118 itself in the Y-axis direction is
relatively small but is amplified by the preset lever ratio R= D2/D1 (R >1, Fig.
13) at the abutting element 132 on the lever member 120. This structure of
the embodiment enables a significant displacement of the rod 45 even when
the displacement of the film 118 itself in the Y-axis direction is relatively
small. The pressing force B of the spring 49 applied to the rod 45 is
amplified by the lever ratio R of the lever member 120. With a change from
the state of Fig. 15 to the state of Fig. 16, the lever member 120 is smoothly
turned with a relatively small force, which ensures prompt detection of the
out-of-ink state.
[0089]
A-5. Advantageous Effects
As described above, the cartridge 50 of the embodiment does not have
any piezoelectric detection mechanism to detect the out'of-ink state. The
cartridge 50 accordingly does not need to have the power supply means or
the electrical conduction means (e.g., wiring or electrode terminals) for
transmission of signals between the detection mechanism and the printer 10.
This advantageously simplifies the structure of the cartridge 50 and enables
size reduction of the cartridge 50. Moreover, this enables size reduction of
as printing device, to which the cartridges 50 are attached. This also
reduces the manufacturing cost of the cartridge 50. Reducing the
manufacturing cost of the mass-produced replaceable cartridges 50
compared with printer 10 results in reducing the manufacturing cost of the
whole printing material supply system 1.
[0090]
The first insertion hole 53, in which the rod 45 is inserted, is provided
on the front face 532 at the middle position between the first side face 534
and the second side face 536 (Fig. 7). Inserting the rod 45 used for detection
of the out-of-printing material state into the first insertion hole 53 enables
positioning of the cartridge 50 relative to the cartridge mounting structure
42 in the middle along the longitudinal direction of the firont face 532 of the
cartridge 50. This effectively prevents the positional misalignment of the
40
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
cartridge 50 relative to the rod 45 and ensures accurate detection of the
out-of-ink state with the detection mechanism 300.
[0091]
The front face 532 of the cartridge 50 has the greater length in the
Z-axis direction than in the X-axis direction. When the first insertion hole
53 is formed at the position closer to either the first side face 534 or the
second side face 536, there may be difficulty in accurately positioning the
cartridge 50. For example, when the first insertion hole 53 is formed at the
position closer to the first side face 534, inserting the rod 45 into the first
insertion hole 53 restricts the backlash or shaky motion of the first side face
534-side of the cartridge 50 but does not restrict the backlash or shaky
motion of the second side face 534-side of the cartridge 50, which is away
from the first insertion hole 53. The second side face 534-side of the
cartridge 50 may thus be deviated from the designed attachment position.
According to the structure of the embodiment, however, the first insertion
hole 53 is provided at the middle position between the first side face 534 and
the second side face 536, so as to restrict the backlash or shaky motion of
both the first side face 534-side and the second side face 536-side of the
cartridge 50 almost equivalently. This ensures accurate and efficient
positioning of the cartridge 50 relative to the cartridge mounting structure
42.
[0092]
According to the embodiment, the rod 45 used for detection of the
out-of-ink state also serves as the member for positioning the cartridge 50 to
the cartridge mounting structure 42. The printing material supply system
1 accordingly does not need to have any additional positioning member.
This reduces the total number of parts required for the printing material
supply system 1. The rod 45 serves as both the member for detecting the
out-of-ink state and as the member for positioning the cartridge 50 to the
cartridge mounting structure 42. The cartridge 50 accordingly does not
need to have any additional positioning member. This reduces the number
of parts required for the cartridge 50 and enables size reduction of the
cartridge 50 and the printing device 10, to which the cartridges 50 are
attached.
[0093]
In the attached state, the rod cover 47, as well as the rod 45 moving
41
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
along the Y-axis direction, is inserted into the first insertion hole 53. This
prevents the rod 45 fi"om coming into contact with the wall member
surrounding the first insertion hole 53 and ensures smooth movement of the
rod 45 with a change in volume of the detection chamber 100, thus enabling
detection of the out-of-ink state with high accuracy.
[0094]
As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, according to this embodiment, the
cartridge casing 72 includes the cap 82 and the protective case 84. The
protective case 84 accommodates the printing material containing portion 70
therein. The cap 82 has the second insertion hole 51 and the first insertion
hole 53, in which the corresponding elements provided on the cartridge
mounting structure 42 are inserted. The side of the protective case 84 has
the greater total weight than the side of the cap 82. Continuously forming
the first side face 534 of the cartridge casing from the front face 532
(negative Y-axis end) to the rear face 540 (positive Y-axis end) may tilt the
cartridge with the rear face 540 lower than the front face 532. According to
this embodiment, however, the protective case 84 to accommodate the
printing material containing portion 70 and the cap 82 and the protective
case 84 are formed as discrete members arranged across the clearance.
This clearance allows the protective case 84 to be slightly moved relative to
the cap 82. Even when the printing material containing portion 70 has a
relatively large weight, only the protective case 84 is slightly tilted, but the
cap 82 is kept in the proper attitude without any tilting. This structure
advantageously reduces the possibility that the positions of the second
insertion hole 51 and the first insertion hole 53 formed in the cap 82 relative
to the cartridge mounting structure 42 are deviated fi"om the designed
correct positions in the attached state of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge
mounting structure.
[0095]
According to this embodiment, the cartridge-side terminals 202 are
provided on the cap 82 with the less possibility of deviation from the correct
position. This ensures stable electrical connection between the
cartridge-side terminals 202 and the device-side terminals 414 in the
attached state.
[0096]
As shown in Figs. 6 and 7A, according to this embodiment, the first
42
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_ming
projection 56a protruded in the positive Z-axis direction is provided on the
first side face 534a of the cap 82, and the second projection 58a protruded in
the negative Z-axis direction is provided on the second side face 536a of the
cap 82. The first projection 56a is guided by the first rail 402 formed in the
first device side wall member 434 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the course of insertion of
the cartridge 50 into the cartridge mounting structure 42 (Figs. 2 and 3) and
in the course of removal of the cartridge 50 from the cartridge mounting
structure 42. The second projection 58a is guided by the second rail 404
formed in the second device side wall member 436 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the
course of insertion of the cartridge 50 into the cartridge mounting structure
42 (Figs. 2 and 3) and in the course of removal of the cartridge 50 from the
cartridge mounting structure 42. The length Tc of the first projection 56a in
the X-axis direction is different from the length Td of the second projection
58a in the X-axis direction. The length Ta of the first rail 402 in the X-axis
direction corresponds to the length Tc of the first projection 56a in the X-axis
direction, whilst the length Tb of the second rail 404 in the X-axis direction
corresponds to the length Td of the second projection 58a in the X-axis
direction. This structure effectively prevents attachment of the cartridge 50
in the wrong attitude, i.e., upside down of the first side face 534 and the
second side face 536 in the Z-axis direction, to the cartridge mounting
structure 42.
[0097]
According to this embodiment, the open end 53f on the negative
Y-axis side of the first insertion hole 53 is provided at the position that allows
insertion of the rod 45 prior to insertion of the printing material supply tube
46 into the printing material supply port 78f (Figs. 8 and 9A). The printing
material supply tube 46 is thus connected with the printing material supply
port 78f, after the cartridge 50 is guided to the correct position in the
cartridge mounting structure 42 by means of the rod 45. This structure
effectively prevents the apex 46c of the printing material supply tube 46 (Fig.
3) from hitting against the different position of the cartridge 50 from the
printing material supply port 78f and thereby protects the printing material
supply tube 46 from being damaged. This structure also reduces the
positional misalignment between the central axis Ca of the printing material
supply tube 46 (Fig. 3) and the central axis Ce of the printing material
supply port 78f (Fig. 7A) and does not make any significant clearance
43
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XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
between the printing material supply port 78a and the periphery of the
printing material supply tube 46. This advantageously reduces the
possibility of ink leakage from such clearance.
According to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the apex 46c of the
printing material supply port the printing material supply tube 46 and the
positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45 are located at the same position P in
the Y-axis direction. The open end 53f of the first insertion hole 53 is
provided on the negative Y-axis side to the printing material supply port 78f
as shown in Fig. 8. This structure ensures easy attachment of the cartridge
50 to the cartridge mounting structure 42. The rod 45 is inserted into the
first insertion hole 53 prior to insertion of the printing material supply tube
46 into the printing material supply port 78f, thus allowing effective
positioning of the cartridge 50 relative to the cartridge mounting structure
42.
[0098]
As shown in Fig. 7A, the cartridge 50 of the embodiment has the
cartridge-side identification member 520 to identify the type of the cartridge
50, based on whether the cartridge-side identification member 520 fits the
device-side identification member 420. When the wrong type of the
cartridge 50 is inserted into the cartridge mounting structure 42, the
identification members 520 and 420 bump into each other, so as to interfere
with further insertion of the wrong type of the cartridge 50. This structure
advantageously reduces the possibility that the wrong type of the cartridge
50 is connected with the printing material supply tube 46 and the wrong
color ink is supplied through the printing material supply tube 46. As
shown in Figs. 9A and 9B, the fit between the device-side identification
member 420 and the cartridge-side identification member 520 starts after
insertion of the rod 45 into the first insertion hole 53. This effectively
prevents the positional misalignment between the device-side identification
member 420 and the cartridge-side identification member 520. This
structure reduces the possibility of bad fit that the cartridge-side
identification member 520 hits against the device-side identification member
420 when the correct type of the cartridge 50 is inserted into the cartridge
mounting structure 42. This structure, on the other hand, causes the
cartridge-side identification member 520 to hit against the device-side
identification member 420 when the wrong type of the cartridge 50 is
44
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
inserted into the cartridge mounting structure 42, so as to interfere with
further insertion of the cartridge 50. This structure advantageously
reduces the possibihty that the wrong t5^e of the cartridge 50 is connected
with the printing material supply tube 46 and the wrong color ink is supplied
through the printing material supply tube 46.
[0099]
According to the embodiment, the positive Y-axis end 422c of the
device-side identification member 420, as well as the apex 46c of the printing
material supply tube 46 and the positive Y-axis apex 45c of the rod 45 are
located at the same position P in the Y-axis direction. The end face 520f of
the cartridge-side identification member 520 is provided on the positive
Y-axis side to the open end 53f of the first insertion hole 53 and on the
negative Y-axis side to the printing material supply port 78f. This structure
ensures easy attachment of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge mounting
structure 42. The fit between the cartridge-side identification member 520
and the device-side identification member 420 starts after insertion of the
rod 45 into the first insertion hole 53 but before insertion of the printing
material supply tube 46 into the printing material supply port 78f.
According to this embodiment, the cartridge-side identification member 520
and the device-side identification member 420 are simply formed by the
pattern of the ribs 522 and by the pattern of the ribs 422.
[0100]
As shown in Fig. 7B, according to this embodiment, the first insertion
hole 53 has the predetermined length in the Y-axis direction, and the area of
the open end 53f on the negative Y-axis side is smaller than the area of the
open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side. In other words, the open end 53f
on the negative Y-axis side to receive the rod 45 first is wider than the other
open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side. This structure enables the rod 45
to readily enter the first insertion hole 53 through the wider open end 53f,
and insertion of the rod 45 into the other open end 53g on the positive Y-axis
side ensures accurate positioning of the cartridge 50 to the cartridge
mounting structure 42.
[0101]
As shown in Fig. 7B and 7C, according to this embodiment, the first
insertion hole 53 includes the one side portion 53y between the joint 53b and
the open end 53f on the negative Y-axis side and the other side portion 53t
45
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
between the joint 53h and the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side. The
one side portion 53y is formed in the shape of a truncated cone having the
circular cross section parallel to the X axis and the Z axis. As shown in Figs.
7B, 7C and 7D, the other side portion 53t is formed in the columnar shape
having the cross section parallel to the X axis and the Z axis, which is
defined by the combination of the pair of straight lines 53p, 53p opposed to
each other in the Z-axis direction and the pair of arcs 53q, 53q opposed to
each other in the X-axis direction. At the joint 53h, the distance between
the pair of straight lines 53p, 53p defining part of the cross section of the
other side portion 53t is smaller than the diameter of the circle defining the
cross section of the one side portion 53y. At the joint 53h, the diameter of
the pair of arcs 53q, 53q defining the remaining part of the cross section of
the other side portion 53t is equal to the diameter of the circle defining the
cross section of the one side portion 53y. In the one side portion 53y, the
area of the cross section gradually decreases from the open end 53f on the
negative Y-axis side toward the joint 53h. The shape of the cross section
changes to have the smaller length in the Z-axis direction but keep the same
length at the joint 53h or at the entrance of the other side portion 53g in the
X-axis direction. The shape and the area of the cross section do not change
between the joint 53h and the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side. This
structure enables the rod 45 to be smoothly guided from the one side portion
53y to the other side portion 53t. The other side portion 53t has a clearance
between the rod 45 and the first insertion hole 53 in the X-axis direction in
order to smoothly guide the rod 45 to the open end 53g on the positive Y-axis
side, while stabilizing the position of the rod 45 in the Z-axis direction to
enable the cartridge 50 to be accurately positioned relative to the cartridge
mounting structure 42. Positioning of the cartridge 50 relative to the
cartridge mounting structure in the X-axis direction depends on the fit
between the second cartridge projection 58 and the second rail 404, whilst
positioning of the cartridge 50 relative to the cartridge mounting structure in
the negative Y-axis direction depends on the abutment of the cartridge 50
(front face 532 in this embodiment) with the restriction members 406.
[0102]
B. Modifications
The foregoing has described the invention in detail with reference to
46
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
the illustrative embodiment. The invention is, however, not hmited to the
above embodiment, but a multiplicity of variations and modifications may be
made to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention.
Some examples of possible modifications are described below. The
modifications described below are all on the basis of the above embodiment,
so that the advantageous effects and various embodiments described above
are similarly applicable to these modifications. The like parts and
components to those of the above embodiment are expressed by the like
symbols and are not specifically described here.
[0103]
B-1. First Modification
Fig. 17 illustrates a cartridge 50a according to a first modification.
The lengths of the first cartridge projection 56 and the second cartridge
projection 58 in the X-axis direction are constant and unchanged over the
whole length according to the above embodiment but may be partly increased.
According to this modification, the first case-side projection 56b provided on
the first side face 534b of the protective case 84 has a pair of protrusions 57
protruded in the X-axis direction on the rear face 540-side, i.e., on the
positive Y-axis side. An length Te of the first cartridge projection 56 at the
location with the protrusions 57 in the X-axis direction is smaller than the
length Ta of the first rail 402 (Fig. 2) in the X-axis direction. Although not
being illustrated, the second case-side projection 58b similarly has a pair of
protrusions. An length Tf (not shown) of the second cartridge projection 58
at the location with the protrusions (not shown) in the X-axis direction is
smaller than the length Tb of the second rail 404 (Fig. 2) in the X-axis
direction. The lengths satisfy the relationship of Tc< Te< Ta< Td< Tf< Tb in
the X-axis direction. Forming clearances between the first and second
cartridge projections 56 and 58 and the first and second rails 402 and 404
ensures smoother insertion of the cartridge 50a into the cartridge mounting
structure 42. The locations of the first and second cartridge projections 56
and 58 having the greater lengths (i.e., the locations with the protrusions) in
the X-axis direction, in cooperation with the first rail 402 and 404, effectively
restrict the motion of the positive Y-axis side of the cartridge 50a in the
X-axis direction after attachment of the cartridge 50a to the cartridge
mounting structure 42.
47
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
[0104]
B-2. Second Modification
According to the above embodiment, the first insertion hole 53 is
formed on the fii-ont face 532 at the middle position between the first side face
534 and the second side face 536. It is further preferable to locate the first
insertion hole 53 on the front face 532 at the middle position of the third side
face 538 and the fourth side face 539. This allows positioning of the
cartridge 50 by the first insertion hole 53 and the rod 45 with the higher
accuracy. The "middle position between the third side face 538 and the
fourth side face 539" may not be the exactly middle position but may be
substantially middle position with no substantial bias to either of the third
and fourth side faces 538 and 539. For example, the "middle position" may
include the position of the central axis Ce of the first insertion hole 53 within
a range of 10% from the center position along the distance in the X-axis
direction between the third side face 538 and the fourth side face 539. In
order to locate the central axis Ce at the middle position as exactly as
possible, it is preferable that the "middle position" includes a range within
7.5% from the center position along the distance in the X-axis direction
between the third side face 538 and the fourth side face 539.
[0105]
B-3. Third Modification
The open end 53g on the positive Y-axis side of the first insertion hole
53 is parallel to the plane parallel to the X axis and the Z axis according to
the above embodiment, but may be inclined to this plane. As shown in Figs.
14 and 15, when the printing material containing portion 70 contains ink at
or above a certain level, the abutting element 132 of the lever member 120 is
protruded in the negative Y-axis direction. The open end 53g on the positive
Y-axis side of the first insertion hole 53 may be inclined to make its positive
Z-axis side more recessed than its negative Z-axis side in the negative Y-axis
direction, in order to prevent interference of the abutting element 132 of the
lever member 120 with the open end 53g. The "area of the inclined open
end 53g" means the area of the open end 53g projected to the plane parallel
to the X axis and the Z axis.
[0106]
48
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
B-4. Fourth Modification
The present invention is not restricted to the inkjet printer and its
ink cartridge but is appHcable to any of various printing devices configured
to eject a liquid other than ink and its Hquid container, for example, printing
devices and their liquid containers given below:
(1) image recording device, such as a facsimile machine!
(2) printing device configured to eject color material used to
manufacture color filters for image display devices, e.g., liquid crystal
displays;
(3) printing device configured to eject electrode material used to form
electrodes of, for example, organic EL (electroluminescence) displays and
field emission displays (FED);
(4) printing device configured to eject a bioorganic
material-containing liquid used to manufacture biochips;
(5) sample printing device used as a precision pipette;
(6) printing device of lubricating oil;
(7) printing device of resin solution;
(8) printing device for pinpoint spray of lubricating oil at precision
machinery including watches and cameras;
(9) printing device configured to eject transparent resin solution,
such as ultraviolet curable resin solution, onto the substrate, so as to
manufacture a hemispherical microlens (optical lens) used for, for example,
optical communication elements;
(10) printing device configured to spray an acidic or alkaline etching
solution, in order to etch the substrate; and
(11) printing device equipped with printing head for ejecting a very
small volume of droplets of another arbitrary liquid.
[0107]
The "liquid droplet" means a state of liquid ejected from the printing
device and may be in a granular shape, a teardrop shape or a tapered
threadlike shape. The "liquid" herein may be any material ejectable by the
printing device. The "liquid" may be any material in the liquid phase. For
example, liquid-state materials of high viscosity or low viscosity, sols, gel
water, various inorganic solvents and organic solvents, solutions, liquid
resins and liquid metals (metal melts) are included in the "liquid". The
"liquid" is not restricted to the liquid state as one of the three states of
49
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
matter but includes solutions, dispersions and mixtures of the functional
soUd material particles, such as pigment particles or metal particles, solved
in, dispersed in or mixed with a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid
include ink described in the above embodiment and liquid crystal. The
"ink" includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as
various liquid compositions, such as gel inks and hot'melt inks.
Reference Signs List
[0108]
1...printing material supply system
5...cap member
10...printer
11...front cover
12...opening slot
13...access cover
15...operation buttons
20... carriage
22...head
24...tube
30...driving mechanism
32...timing belt
34...drive motor
42...cartridge mounting structure
45...rods
45a...negative Y-axis side portion
45b...positive Y-axis side portion
45c... apex
46...printing material supply tube
46a...base end
46b...peripheral end
46c... apex
47...rod cover
48...rod-shaped member
49... spring
50... cartridge
50a...cartridge
51...second insertion hole
50
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
52...corner section
53...first insertion hole
53f...open end
53g...open end
53h... joint
53p...straight lines
53q...arcs
53t...other end portion
53y...end portion
55...corner section
56a...first projection
56b...first case-side projection
56c... gap
57.. .protrusions
58...second cartridge projection
58a...second projection
58b...second case-side projection
58c... gap
60... controller
70...printing material container
72...cartridge casing
74...printing material supply unit
75...opening
76...printing material filler port
77...upstream end
78...printing material delivery tube
78f...printing material supply port
80...printing material detection mechanism
82...cap
84...protective case
90...printing material flow path
100...detection chamber
102...flow inlet
104...flow outlet
106...check valve
108...spring
51
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
110...protrusion
112...pressure-receiving plate
114...pressure-receiving element
116...restricting element
118...film
120...lever member
122...hole
124...guide hole
126...pin
128...guide pin
130... projection
132...convex
136... sensor
138...light shield
140...inflow path
142...outflow path
200...circuit board
202...cartridge-side terminals
300... detection mechanism
300...optical detection mechanism
402...first rail
404...second rail
406...restriction member
410...contact mechanisms
412...holder member
414...device-side terminals
420...device-side identification member
422...rib
422c...end
432...device front wall member
434...first device side wall member
436...second device side wall member
438...third device side wall member
439...fourth device side wall member
440... opening
450...space
52
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
450a... chamber
520...cartridge-side identification member
520f...end face
522...rib
534...first side face
534a...first side face of the cap
534b...first side face of the protective case
536...second side face
536a... second side face of the cap
536b...second side face of the protective case
538...third side face
538b...second side face
539...fourth side face
540...rear face
A...pressing force
B...pressing force
C... negative pressure
Ca...central axis
Cb...central axis
Ce ...central axis
Ta...length in the X-axis direction
Tb...length in the X-axis direction
Tc...length in the X-axis direction
Td...length in the X-axis direction
Te...length in the X-axis direction
Tf...length in the X-axis direction
Th... distance
Tha... distance
Thb... distance
Vh.. .center position

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A cartridge adapted to be removably attached to a cartridge
mounting structure comprising a printing material supply tube fixed to a
device front wall member and having a central axis extended in a
predetermined direction, a rod provided on the device front wall member and
having an axis parallel to the central axis and movable in a direction of the
axis, and a sensor configured to detect displacement of the rod, wherein
three mutually orthogonal special axes are X axis, Y axis and Z axis,
directions along the X axis, the Y axis and the Z axis are respectively X-axis
direction, Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction, a negative Y-axis direction
represents a direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge
mounting structure, and a positive Y-axis direction represents a direction in
which the cartridge is removed from the cartridge mounting structure,
the cartridge comprising:
a casing including:
two faces opposed to each other in the Y-axis direction, one of
the two faces being a front face having an substantially rectangular shape
located on the negative Y-axis side and having a length in the Z-axis
direction greater than a length in the X-axis direction,, and an another one of
the two faces being a rear face located on the positive Y-axis side;
two faces opposed to each other in the Z-axis direction and
intersecting the front face and the rear face, one of the two faces being a first
side face located on a positive Z-axis side, and an another one of the two faces
being a second side face located on a negative Z-axis side,' and
two faces opposed to each other in the X-axis direction and
intersecting the front face, the rear face, the first side face and the second
side face, one of the two faces being a third side face located on a positive
X-axis side, and an another one of the two faces being a fourth side face
located on a negative X-axis side;
a printing material containing portion provided inside the casing;
a first insertion hole formed in the front face and adapted to receive
the rod;
a second insertion hole formed in the front face and adapted to
receive the printing material supply tube, wherein a printing material
supply port adapted to be inserted the printing material supply tube therein
54
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
is located at the second insertion holeJ and
a printing material flow path provided inside the casing, having the
printing material supply port at one end, and having the other end connected
with the printing material containing portion, wherein
the first insertion hole is located on the front face at a middle position
between the first side face and the second side face.
2. The cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising^
a detection chamber provided in the midstream of the printing
material flow path and configured to vary volume with a change in internal
pressure; and
a lever member arranged to abut an apex of the rod and configured to
be displaced with a variation in volume of the detection chamber and thereby
moving the rod in the axial direction.
3. The cartridge according to either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein
the first insertion hole is further adapted to receive a rod cover
surrounding periphery of the rod.
4. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
the casing further comprising:
a protective case having an opening on the negative Y-axis side and
accommodating the printing material containing portion therein.' and
a cap provided on the negative Y-axis side of the casing and attached
to the protective case to close the opening of the protective case, wherein
the second insertion hole and the first insertion hole are provided in
the cap.
5. The cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising:
cartridge-side terminals adapted to contact with device-side
terminals provided on the cartridge mounting structure in the attached state,
wherein
the cartridge-side terminals are provided on the cap.
6. The cartridge according to either one of claims 4 and 5, wherein
the cap has a first side face forming a part of the first side face of the
55
XX040A0436-Wl_speclfication_for_filing
casing and a second side face forming a part of the second side face of the
casing,
a first projection protruded in the positive Z-axis direction is provided
on the first side face of the cap, the first projection is adapted to be guided by
a first rail provided on the first device side wall member and extended in the
Y-axis direction, in the course of insertion of the cartridge to the cartridge
mounting structure and in the course of removal of the cartridge from the
cartridge mounting structure,
a second projection protruded in a negative Z-axis direction is
provided on the second side face of the cap, the second projection is adapted
to be guided by a second rail provided on the second device side wall member,
extended in the Y-axis direction, and having a different length in the X-axis
direction from the first rail, in the course of insertion of the cartridge to the
cartridge mounting structure and in the course of removal of the cartridge
from the cartridge mounting structure, and
the first projection and the second projection have different lengths
in the X-axis direction.
7. The cartridge according to claim 6, wherein
the protective case has a first side face forming another part of the
first side face of the casing and a second side face forming another part of the
second side face of the casing,
a first case-side projection protruded in the positive Z-axis direction
is provided on the first side face of the protective case, the first case-side
projection is adapted to be guided by the first rail, in the course of insertion
of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure and in the course of
removal of the cartridge from the cartridge mounting structure,
a second case-side projection protruded in the negative Z-axis
direction is provided on the second side face of the protective case, the second
case-side projection is adapted to be guided by the second rail, in the course
of insertion of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting structure and in the
course of removal of the cartridge from the cartridge mounting structure,
and
one part located on the positive Y-axis side of at least one of the first
case-side projection and the second case-side projection has a protrusion
protruded in the X-axis direction, such that the one part has a greater length
56
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filing
in the X-axis direction than a length in the X-axis direction of another part
located on the negative Y-axis side of the one part.
8. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein
the first insertion hole has one open end on the negative Y-axis side,
the open end is provided at a position to receive the rod before the printing
material supply port receiving the printing material supply tube.
9. The cartridge according to claim 8, wherein
the one open end of the first insertion hole is located on the negative
Y-axis side to the printing material supply port.
10. The cartridge according to either one of claims 8 and 9, further
comprising:
a cartridge-side identification member configured to identify type of
the cartridge, based on whether the cartridge-side identification member is
fit with a device-side identification member provided on the cartridge
mounting structure, wherein
the cartridge-side identification member is configured to fit with the
device-side identification member after the first insertion hole receiving the
rod and before the printing material supply port receiving the printing
material supply tube.
11. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein
an end of the cartridge-side identification member in the negative
Y-axis direction is provided on the positive Y-axis side to the one open end of
the first insertion hole and on the negative Y-axis side to the printing
material supply port.
12. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein
the first insertion hole has a predetermined length in the Y-axis
direction, and
the one open end on the negative Y-axis side of the first insertion hole
has a smaller area than an area of an another open end on the positive Y-axis
side of the first insertion hole.
57
XX040A0436-Wl_specification_for_filmg
13. The cartridge according to claim 12, wherein
the first insertion hole includes one side portion extending firom a
joint to the one open end on the negative Y-axis side and another side portion
extending from the joint to the another open end on the positive Y-axis side,
the one side portion is formedjin a truncated cone shape having a
cross section in the shape of a circle'parallel to the X axis and the Z axis,
the another side portion is formed in a columnar shape having a cross
section parallel to the X axis and the Z axis, which is defined by a
coxnbination of a pair of straight lines opposed to each other in the Z"axis
direction and a pair of arcs opposed to each other in the X-axis direction, and
at the joint, a distance between the pair of straight fines defining a .
part of the cross section of the another side portion is smaller than a
diameter of the circle defining the cross section of the one end portion, and a
diameter of the pair of arcs defining another part of the cross section of the
another side portion is equal to the diameter of the circle defining the cross
section of the one end portion.