LIQUID SUPPLY UNIT
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid supply unit.
[00021 An inlr cartridge (may be simply called "cartridge") configured to
supply ink to a printer as an example of a liquid ejection device has been
known conventionally as a liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid to
the liquid ejection device. Recently, a cartridge containing a plurality of
different color inks has been proposed and configured such that the
respective color inks are supplied through corresponding supply ports to the
printer (for example, Japanese Patent Publication (JP 2003-182118A)).
SUMMARY
[0003] The above proposed technique is configured to keep waste ink in
addition to the plurality of color inks and enhance the attachment to the
liquid ejection device such as printer. The proposed technique, howevel; has,
the following requirements. The cartridge has an engagement part for
engagement of the cartridge and a connection part for transmission of data
signals to and from the printer, in addition to a casing for containing inlr.
Downsizing of the entire cartridge including the engagenlent part and the
connection part would result in downsizing of a cartridge attachment
structure of the printer and thereby the entire printer, as well as downsizing
of a package for transportation and resource saving.
[0004] In the above proposed technique, the engagement part for
engagement of the cartridge is provided outside of one side wall of the
cartridge. This, however, interferes with downsizing of the entire cartridge
by the engagement part-occupying area of the engagement part outside of
the side wall. The same applies to the connection part-occupying area of the
connection part for transn~issionof data signals to and from the printer,
which is provided outside of the side wall. In the technique proposed in
Japanese Patent Publication (JP 2008-74090&, an area provided inside of
the cartridge is irrelevant to the structure of containing ink, and a
connection part is provided on the wall surface of this area. This, however,
interferes with downsizing of the entire cartridge by providing this area
irrelevant to the structure of containing ink. In the cartridges of the above
proposed conf~gurationsa, n external force due to, for example, a fall is
directly applied to the engagement part and may damage the engagement
part. By taking into account these circumstances, there is a need to
downsize the entire liquid supply unit such as cartridge. In a liquid supply
unit configured to contain and supply a liquid, a liquid ejection device
configured to receive supply of a liquid from the liquid supply unit and a
system including the liquid supply unit and the liquid ejection device, there
are other needs including downsizing, cost reduction, resource saving, easy
manufacture and improvement of usability.
[00051 In order to solve at least part of the problems described above, the
invention may be implemented by aspects described below.
[0006] (1) According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a
liquid supply unit configured to supply liquid. The liquid supply unit is
mountable to a liquid ejection device comprising a first liquid introducing
part, a second liquid introducing part, a third liquid introducing part and a
fourth liquid introducing part. The liquid supply unit comprises: a &st
wall comprising a first liquid supply section configured to be in contact with
the first liquid introducing part, a second liquid supply section configured to
be in contact with the second liquid introducing part, a third liquid supply
section configured to be in contact with the third liquid introducing part and
a fourth liquid supply section configured to be in contact with the fourth
liquid introducing part; a second wall arranged to intersect with the first
wall and configured to have a first portion and a second portion; a third wall
arranged to intersect with the first wall and to be opposed to the second wall;
and a contact part located on the second portion and configured to be in
electrically contact with the liquid ejection device. In a plan view of the first
wall in a first direction toward the first wall, a distance between the third
wall and the first portion is greater than a distance between the third wall
and the second portion. In the liquid supply unit of this aspect, the contact
part configured to be in electrically contact with the liquid ejection device is
located on the second portion of the second wall. This configuration enables
the contact part-occupying area of the contact part outside of the second
portion to be overlapped with the range of the difference between the
distance from the third wall to the first portion and the distance from the
third wall to the second portion in the plan view in the direction. This
configuration allows for downsizing of the entire liquid supply unit including
the first to the fourth liquid supply sections and the contact part in the plan
view in the first direction.
[0007] (2) In the liquid supply unit of the above aspect, the fkst portion
may be protruded more than the contact part in a direction from the third
wall toward the second wall. This aspect enables the first portion to serve
to protect the contact part even when an external force due to, for example, a
fall is applied to the second wall side having the first portion.
[00081 (3) The liquid supply unit of either of the above aspects may
further comprise an engagement part located on the second portion and
allowed to engage with the liquid ejection device. This configuration
enables the engagement part-occupying area of the engagement part outside
of the second portion to be overlapped with the range of the difference
between the distance from the third wall to the first portion and the distance
from the third wall to the second portion in the plan view in the direction.
This configuration allows for downsizing of the entire liquid supply unit
including the first to the fourth liquid supply sections and the contact part in
the plan view in the first direction and additionally enables the first portion
to serve to protect the contact part and the engagement part.
[00091 (4) According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided
a liquid supply unit configured to supply liquid. The liquid supply unit is
mountable to a liquid ejection device having a first liquid introducing part, a
second liquid introducing part, a third liquid introducing part, a fourth liquid
introducing part and an engagement arm. The engagement arm is
configured to be rotated and displaced to be engaged with the liquid supply
unit. The liquid supply unit comprises: a h s t wall having a first liquid
supply section configured to be in contact with the first liquid introducing
part, a second liquid supply section configured to be in contact with the
second liquid introducing part, a third liquid supply section configured to be
in contact with the third liquid introducing part and a fourth liquid supply
section configured to be in contact with the fourth liquid introducing part; a
second wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and configured to have a
first portion and a second portion; a third wall arranged to intersect with the
first wall and to be opposed to the second wall; and an engagement part
located on the second portion and allowed to engage with the engagement
arm. In a plan view of the first wall in a first direction toward the first wall,
a distance between the third wall and the first portion is greater than a
distance between the third wall and the second portion. In the liquid
supply unit of this aspect, the engagement part allowed to engage with the
liquid ejection device is located on the second portion of the second wall.
This configuration enables the engagement part-occupying area of the
engagement past outside of the second portion to be overlapped with the
range of the difference between the distance from the third wall to the first
portion and the distance from the third wall to the second portion in the plan
view in the direction. This configuration allows for downsizing of the entire
liquid supply unit including the first to the fourth liquid supply sections and
the engagement part in the plan view in the fkst direction.
[0010] (5) In the liquid supply unit of any of the above aspects, in a
course of attachment of the liquid supply unit to the liquid ejection device,
the third wall may have a supporting point at which the liquid supply unit is
rotated and moved with respect to the liquid ejection device. In the plan
view of the first wall in the direction toward the first wall, the first liquid
supply section and the third liquid supply section may be located between
the third wall and the first portion, and the second liquid supply section and
the fourth liquid supply section may be located between the third wall and
the second portion. A length of the fourth liquid supply section in a second
direction from the third wall toward the second wall may be longer than a
length of the second liquid supply section in the second direction. This
configuration provides the following advantages. The fourth liquid supply
section near to the supporting point comes into contact with the fourth liquid
introducing part in the initial stage of attachment to the liquid ejection
device, i.e., in the stage having the large moving amount of the liquid supply
unit. This p r ~ ~ dtehes l ong distance of friction against the fourth liquid
introducing part in the second direction. The second liquid supply section
farther from the supporting point, on the other hand, comes into contact with
the second liquid introducing part in the final stage of attachment to the
liquid ejection device, i.e., in the stage having the small moving amount of
the liquid supply unit. This provides the short distance of friction against
the second liquid introducing part in the second direction. Setting the
length of the fourth liquid supply section in the second direction to be longer
than the length of the second liquid supply section in the second direction
can respond to the longer distance of friction. This ensures the contact of
the second liquid supply section farther from the supporting point with the
second liquid introducing part.
[00111 (6) The liquid supply unit of any of the above aspect may further
comprise: a first liquid chamber connected with the first liquid supply
section; a second liquid chamber connected with the second liquid supply
section; a third liquid chamber connected with the third liquid supply
section; and a fourth liquid chamber connected with the fourth liquid supply
section. The first liquid chamber may have a larger capacity than capacity
of the second liquid chamber. This configuration allows for downsizing of
the entire liquid supply unit with the difference in capacities of the liquid
chambers.
[00121 (7) The liquid supply unit of any of the above aspect may further
comprise: a first liquid chamber connected with the first liquid supply
section; a second liquid chamber connected with the second liquid supply
section; a third liquid chamber connected with the third liquid supply
section; and a fourth liquid chamber connected with the fourth liquid supply
section. The first liquid chamber, the third liquid chamber and the fourth
liquid chamber may have larger capacities than capacity of the second liquid
chamber. The first liquid chambel; the third liquid chamber and the fourth
liquid chamber may contain color inks, and the second liquid chamber may
contain blaclc ink. In color printing using a plurality of different color inks,
the amounts of consumption of the color inks, i.e., magenta ink, yellow inlc
and cyan ink, are generally larger than the amount of consumption of black
ink. In the liquid supply unit of this aspect, black ink is contained in the
second liquid chamber of the smaller capacity, and the color inks are
contained in the first, the third and the fourth liquid chambers of the larger
capacities than the capacity of the second liquid chamber. This
configuration allows for downsizing of the entire liquid supply unit and
additionally enhances the flexibility of color printing.
[00131 (8) The liquid supply unit of either of the above aspect, in the plan
view of the first wall in the first direction, the first liquid chambel; the third
liquid chamber and the fourth liquid chamber may be formed in square
shape. This configuration provides the following advantages. In the case
that ink as a liquid is supplied from each of the first, the third and the fourth
liquid chambers to corresponding one of the first, the third and the fourth
liquid introducing parts, the liquid chamber in rectangular shape causes a
difference between the distance from the longer side end of the liquid
chamber to the liquid introducing part and the distance from the shorter side
end of the liquid chamber to the liquid introducing part. This results in a
difference in ink supply efficiency, which is increased with an increase in
ratio of the longer side to the shorter side. Forming the liquid chamber in
square shape, however, causes no significant difference between the above
distances. This configuration accordingly allows for downsizing of the
entire liquid supply unit and additionally enhances the supply efficiency of
ink contained in the first, the third or the fourth liquid chamber. Forming
the liquid chamber in square shape also increases the volume efficiency of
the liquid chamber and is thus advantageous for further downsizing of the
entire liquid supply unit.
[00141 All the plurality of components included in the aspect of the
invention described above are not essential, but some components among the
plurality of components may be appropriately changed, omitted or replaced
with other components or part of the limitations may be deleted, in order to
solve part or all of the problems described above or in order to achieve part or
all of the advantageous effects described herein. In order to solve part or all
of the problems described above or in order to achieve part or all of the
advantageous effects described herein, part or all of the technical features
included in one aspect of the invention described above may be combined
with part or all of the technical features included in another aspect of the
invention described later to prov~dest 111 another independent aspect of the
invention.
100151 The invention may be implemented by any of various other
aspects: for example, a liquid ejection device configured to receive supply of a
liquid from the liquid supply unit and a system including the liquid supply
unit and the liquid ejection device.
BRlEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a
liquid ejection system;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the intcrnal
configuration of the liquid ejection system;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the appearance
of a carriage in the cartridge attachment state;
Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the carriage in the
non-cartridge attachment state;
Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the carriage in the
non-cartridge attachment state, viewed in a different direction from that of
Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view talren on a line 6-6 in Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a cartridge;
Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the
cartridge, viewed from the bottom surface side;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the
cartridge without a circuit substrate mounted thereto, viewed from the
bottom surface side;
Fig. 11 is a side view illustrating the cartridge, viewed in the +X
direction;
Fig. 12 is a plan view illustrating the cartridge with removal of a
cover, viewed in the -Z direction;
Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating the cartridge with the supply
port-side liquid retaining members placed therein, viewed in the -Z direction;
Fig. 14 is a diagram schematically illustrating attachment of the
cartridge to the carriage;
Fig. 15 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a cartridge using an
outer casing according to a first modification;
Fig. 16 is a plan view illustrating an inner casing talren in a direction
A in Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating another cartridge using an
outer casing according to a second modification, viewed from the bottom
surface side of the outer casing, and a view taken in a direction of arrow A;
Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating inner casings of respective
colors in the cartridge of the second modification, viewed from the bottom
surface side, and a view taken in a direction of arrow A;
Fig. 19 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the cartridge of the
second modification; and
Fig. 20 is a schematic exploded view illustrating another cartridge
using an outer casing according to a third modification.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Some aspects of the invention are described below in the following
sequence:
A. Embodiment
B. Modifications
[0018] A. Embodiment
A-1. Configuration of Liquid Ejection System 1
Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general configuration of a
liquid ejection system 1, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically
illustrating the internal configuration of the liquid ejection system 1. XYZ
axes orthogonal to one another are shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The X axis
denotes an akis along a direction in which a carriage 8 described later moves
back and force and is more specifically an axis along a main scan direction of
printing accompanied with the back and forth motion of the carriage 8. The
Y axis denotes ail axis along a feed path direction of paper sheets in the
liquid ejection system 1 placed on a horizontal plane such as desk and is
more specifically an axis along a sub scan direction of printing accompanied
with the back and forth motion of the carriage 8. The Z axis denotes an axis
along the top-bottom direction of the liquid ejection system I placed on the
horizontal plane such as desk. In other illustrations subsequent to Fig. 2,
the XYZ axes are shown as needed. The XYZ axes in Figs. 1 and 2
correspond to the XYZ axes in the other illustrations. The liquid ejection
system 1 includes a printer 10 as a liquid ejection device and a cartridge 4.
As shown in Fig. 2, in the liquid ejection system 1 of this embodiment, the
cartridge 4 is detachably mounted to a cartridge attachment structure 7 of
the printer 10. The cartridge attachment structure 7 includes ejection
heads for ink ejection (not shown) and is generally integrated with the
carriage 8. The cartridge 4 has the inside divided into four liquid
containing parts which respectively contain four different color inks, black,
yellow, magenta and cyan. The structure of the cartridge 4 will be described
later.
[00191 The number and the type of the cartridges mounted to the
cartridge attachment structure 7 are, however, not limited to the
configuration of this embodiment. For example, a cartridge containing
another combination of four color inks (including, for example, light magenta
and light cyan) but the combination of black, cyan, magenta and yellow color
inks may be provided separately and may be used in combination with the
cartridge 4 containing black ink.
[00201 The printer 10 is an inkjet printer. As shown in Fig. 1, the
printer 10 includes a housing 14, a paper feeding unit cover 16, a recording
unit protective cover 18, a paper output unit cover 20 and an operation unit
22. As shown in Fig. 2, the printer 10 has a device body 12.
[00211 As shown in Fig. 1, the housing 14 is arranged to surround the
periphery of the device body 12 and forms the appearance of the printer 10.
The paper feeding unit cover 16 is provided on an upper surface of the
printer 10. The paper feeding unit cover 16 is placed on an upper surface of
the housing 14 to be rotatable. The paper feeding unit cover 16 is movable
between an open position relative to the housing 14 (as shown in Fig. 1) and
a closed position (not shown). When the paper feeding unit cover 16 is at
the closed position relative to the housing 14, the paper feeding unit cover 16,
in combination with the upper surface of the housing 14, forins the upper
surface of the printer 10.
[00221 When the paper feeding unit cover 16 is at the open position
relative to the housing 14, the paper feeding unit cover 16 is inclined relative
to a rear surface side (-Y-direction side) of the printer 10. In this state, a
rear surface of the paper feeding unit cover 16 serves as a mounting surface
1Ga on which paper sheets are placed. When the paper feeding unit cover
16 is at the open position relative to the housing 14, a paper slot 26 of a
paper feeding unit 24 included in the device body 12 as described later is
open up in the printer 10. This accordingly enables the paper feeding unit
24 to feed the paper sheets placed on the mounting surface 16a to a paper
feed path. The paper feed path denotes a paper moving path in the course
of printing. The paper slot 26 has a pair of paper guides 28. The pair of
paper guides 28 are arranged to adjust the interval in the width direction
(X-axis direction) of the printer 10. The pair of paper guides 28 serve to
fasten both ends of a paper sheet in the width direction and specify the
position of the paper sheet in the width direction.
LO0231 When the paper feeding unit cover 16 is at the open position
relative to the housing 14, the recording unit protective cover 18 and the
operation unit 22 are exposed to be accessible on the upper surface of the
printer 10. The recording unit protective cover 18 is movable between an
open position relative to the housing 14 (not shown) and a closed position (as
shown in Fig. 1). When the recording unit protective cover 18 is at the open
position relative to the housing 14, a recording unit 6 provided in the device
body 12 is made accessible for the user.
(00241 The operation unit 22 is provided with a power button and print
settings buttons for operating the printer 10. When the paper feeding unit
cover 16 is at the open position relative to the housing 14, the operation unit
22 is made accessible for the user and allows the user to operate the printer
10.
[00251 Additionally, the paper output unit cover 20 is provided on a front
surface of the housing 14. The paper output unit cover 20 is placed on the
front surface of the housing 14 to be rotatable. The paper output unit cover
20 is movable between an open position relative to the housing 14 (as shown
in Fig. 1) and a closed position (not shown). When the paper output unit
cover 20 is at the open position relative to the housing 14, a paper sheet after
recording discharged from a paper output unit 9 of the device body 12 is
guided, by the paper output unit cover 20, toward the front side of the printer
10.
[0026] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the device body 12 includes thc paper
feeding unit 24, the recording unit 6, the paper output unit 9 and a controller
60.
[0027] The controller 60 is electrically connected with the paper feeding
unit 24, the recording unit 6 and the paper output unit 9 and controls the
operations of the respective units in response to instructions input from the
operation unit 22. The controller 60 also controls the motion of the carriage
8 (motion in the X-axis direction: main scan drive) and the rotation of a feed
roller shaft (sub-scan drive) via drive motors (not shown). The carriage 8
has the cartridge attachment structure 7 incorporated in its bottom. The
controller 60 also transmits signals to and from circuit substrates included in
the cartridge 4.
[OO28l The device body 12 also includes a carriage guide rail 62 and a
carriage driving unit (not shown) to make the carriage 8 movable along the
carriage guide rail 62. The carriage guide rail 62 is extended in the X-axis
direction, i.e., the width direction of the device body 12 and is placed in a
bearing element 409 (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) provided on the bottom side
of the carriage 8 to support the carriage 8.
[0029] The carriage 8 having the cartridge attachment structure 7
mounted thereon is arranged to move back and forth in the width direction of
the device body 12 (X-axis direction, main scan direction) by the carriage
driving unit (not shown). The back and forth motion of the carriage 8 in the
width direction of the device body 12 causes the cartridge attachment
structure 7 to move back and forth in the width direction of the device body
12. The cartridge 4 is accordingly moved in the width direction of the device
body 12 (X-axis direction) by the carriage 8. The type of the printer 10
having the ejection'heads and the cartridge conveyed by the carriage 8 like
this embodiment is called "on-carriage type". In another application, a
stationary cartridge attachment structure 7 may be provided at a different
position fromthe carriage 8 to supply the inks from the cartridge 4 attached
to the cartridge attachment structure 7 to the ejection heads of the carriage 8
via flexible tubes. This type of printer is called "off-carriage type". In this
application, the cartridge 4 is not limited to the detachable cartridge but may
be a stationary ink tank. The ink tank may be configured to have an ink
filler port through which ink is injectable f?om outside.
[0030] In the use state of the liquid ejection system 1, the X axis denotes
an axis along the main scan direction (left-right direction) in which the
carriage 8 moves back and forth; the Y axis denotes an axis along the
sub-scan direction (front-back direction) in which paper sheets are fed; and
the Z axis denotes an axis along the vertical direction (top-bottom direction).
Upward in the vertical direction is +Z direction, and downward in the
vertical direction is -Z direction. The use state of the liquid ejection system
1 denotes the state of the liquid ejection system 1 placed on a horizontal
plane. According to this embodiment, the horizontal plane is a plane
parallel to the X axis and the Y axis (XY plane).
[00311 A-2. Cartridge Attachment State and Carriage Structure
Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the appearance
of the carriage 8 in the cartridge attachment state. Fig. 4 is a schematic
perspective view illustrating the carriage 8 in the non-cartridge attachment
state. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the carriage 8 in
the non-cartridge attachment state, viewed in a different direction from that
of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view taken on a line 6-6 in Fig.
3. The cartridge attachment structure 7 is mounted on the bottom of the
carriage 8 and is thus omitted from the illustration of Fig. 3.
[00321 As shown in Fig. 3, the cartridge 4 includes a cover 401 and has
through holes 402a, 402b and 402c formed to pass through the cover 401,
four air grooves 403 arranged in a serpentine shape from the respective
through holes 402c to the corresponding through holes 402b, and air
communication holes 434 connected with the respective air grooves 403 on
the rear surface of the cover 401. In the manufacturing process of the
cartridge 4, the through holes 402a serve as evacuation holes to suck the air
from inside of the cartridge 4 and keep the inside of the cartridge 4 in the
reduced pressure. After manufacture of the cartridge 4, the through holes
402a are sealed and closed by a seal member 404. In the manufacturing
process of the cartridge 4, the through holes 402c serve as ink injection holes
through which inks are injected into inside of the cartridge 4. After
manufacture of the cartridge 4, the through holes 402c are used to supply the
air to liquid retaining members 460 described later via the air grooves 403,
the through holes 402b and the air communication holes 434. As explained
above, the cartridge 4 is configured to contain the four different color inks,
black, yellow, magenta and cyan in respective liquid containing parts for the
respective color inks described later. The through holes 402a and 402c and
the air grooves 403 are provided at positions corresponding to the respective
liquid containing parts. The through holes 402b are provided at respective
ends of the air grooves 403 to be aligned in the X-axis direction. The air
communication holes 434 are provided to be arrayed in the Y-axis direction
with the through holes 402b aligned in the X-axis direction. The cartridge 4
has the seal member 404 to be joined with the upper surface of the cover 401
and thereby cover the openings of the above through holes and air grooves.
LO0331 The cartridge 4 joined with the seal member 404 is attached to the
carriage 8 via the cartridge attachment structure 7 placed on the bottom of
the carriage 8, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the description below,
attachment of the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8 is regarded as synonymous
with attachment of the cartridge 4 to the cartridge attachment structure 7.
In the attachment state of the cartridge 4, an engagement portion 405
described later as an attachmentldetachment mechanism included in the
cartridge 4 is engaged with a cartridge engagement arm 801 of the carriage 8.
The user may apply an external force to the cartridge engagement arm 801
to rotate and displace the cartridge engagement arm 801 and release
engagement of the cartridge 4 with the carriage 8. The user can then
detach the cartridge 4 from the carriage 8.
200341 As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the carriage 8 has the cartridge
attachment structure 7. The cartridge attachment structure 7 includes a
liquid introducing part 710b for black ink, a liquid introducing part 710y for
yellow ink, a liquid introducing part 710m for magenta ink, a liquid
introducing part 710c for cyan ink, and a cone-shaped coil spring 720. The
cartridge 4 is mountable on this cartridge attachment structure 7. The coil
spring 720 is provided on the cartridge engagement arm 801-side. The coil
spring 720 is compressed in the cartridge attachment state and is stretched
to press up the cartridge 4 in the state of releasing the engagement of the
cartridge engagement arm 801. Elastic members 705 are members made of,
for example, an elastomer and formed in a ring shape and are mounted on
outer wall sections of respective liquid introducing bases 703.
[0035] The respective liquid introducing parts 710 for the respective color
inks are provided corresponhng to the liquid containing parts of the
cartridge 4 attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7 and have
similar structures. The structure of the liquid introducing part 710b is
described as an example. The liquid introducing part 710b includes a liquid
introducing base 703, a metal mesh 703s and an elastic member 705. The
metal mesh 703s is provided as a filter made of a metal having corrosion
resistance, such as stainless steel and is placed on an upper end of the liquid
introducing base 703 to be in surface contact with a supply port-side liquid
retaining member 406 of the cartridge 4 described later (as shown in Fig. 6).
Ink retained in the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 passes
through the metal mesh 703s and is supplied to the non-illustrated ejection
head provided on the bottom surface of the carriage 8. The supply port-side
liquid retaining member 406 is accordingly connected with the liquid
introducing part 710 through the surface contact with the metal mesh 703s.
The relationship between the respective liquid introducing parts 710 and the
cartridge 4 will be described later.
[0036] The cartridge 4 has a circuit substrate 410 on a +Y-direction end,
as shown in Fig. 6. This circuit substrate 410 is fixed to a substrate
mounting structure 411 inclined with respect to a first end wall 423.
Fixation of the circuit substrate 410 to the substrate mounting structure 411
and the location of the circuit substrate 410 will be described latex The
circuit substrate 410 provided on the cartridge 4 has terminals 412 described
later. In the state of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8, contact
portions of the terminals 412 are electrically in contact with electrodes of an
electrode assembly 810 provided on the carriage 8. The cartridge 4 has the
engagement portion 405 provided on an end of the substrate mounting
structure 411 in the Y-axis direction. The engagement portion 405 is
engaged with the cartridge engagement arm 801 of the carriage 8 in the
state of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the carriage 8. The carriage 8
including the electrode assembly 810 may be called carriage unit.
[0037] Fig. 6 illustrates the state of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the
carriage 8. The cartridge has a supply port-side liquid retaining member
406 and a liquid retaining member 460 which serve to absorb and retain the
liquid and are provided in each recess as described later. The supply
port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the liquid retaining member 460
are arranged to be in contact with each other. The liquid introducing part
710b provided on the bottom surface of the cartridge attachment structure 7
is in surface contact with the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406
via the metal mesh 703s attached to a ring-shaped end of the liquid
introducing base 703. The supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 is
lifted up in the +Z direction by the liquid introducing base 703 to press the
liquid retaining member 460. This causes the liquid contained in the liquid
retaining member 460, i.e., black ink, to be supplied to the ejection head of
the cartridge attachment structure 7 through the supply port-side liquid
retaining member 406, the metal mesh 703s of the liquid introducing base
703 of the liquid introducing part 710b and a suction hole 704. ' Accordingly,
the liquid introducing part 710b receives a liquid (black ink) introduced from
the cartridge 4, and the carriage 8 causes the liquid (black ink) introduced to
the liquid introducing part 710b to be ejected from the ejection head. The
same applies to the liquid introducing parts 710c, 710m and 710y shown in
Figs. 4 to 6.
[00381 The cartridge 4 has liquid supply ports 407b, 407c, 407m and 407y
respectively covered by the corresponding supply port-side liquid retaining
members 406. The cartridge attachment structure 7 has the Liquid-tight
elastic members 705 at the foot of the respective liquid introducing bases 703.
The elastic members 705 are in contact with peripheral concaved areas 408
(as shown in Fig. 9) formed around the peripheries of the respective liquid
supply ports 407b, 407c, 407m and 407y to seal the liquid supply ports 407b,
407c, 407m and 407y and prevent leakage of inks from the liquid supply
ports 407b, 407c, 407m and 407y in the cartridge attachment state. In the
cartridge attachment state, each of the liquid supply ports 407b, 407c, 407m
and 407y is connected with corresponding one of the liquid introducing parts
710b, 710c, 710m and 710y described above to supply the ink to the
corresponding liquid introducing part. The structure of attaching the
cartridge 4 to the cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8 will be
described later.
[0039] The cartridge attachment structure is mounted on the bottom of
the carriage 8. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cartridge attachment
structure 7 includes a guide projection 723 and sidewalkside projections 724.
The sidewall-side projections 724 are placed inside of carriage side walls 81
and 82 on both sides in the X-axis direction of the carriage 8 to face each
other as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The sidewall-side projections 724 are
extended from an end wall 730 of the cartridge attachment structure 7 in the
+Y direction toward thc cartridge engagement arm 801.
[0040] The guide projection 723 is extended from the end wall 730 in the
+Y direction between the liquid introducing part 710y and the liquid
introducing part 710c toward the coil spring 720. In other words, the guide
projection 723 is placed between the liquid introducing part 710y and the
liquid introducing part 710c which are adjacent to each other in the X-axis
direction. The guide projection 723 has a lower projection height from the
bottom surface of the cartridge attachment structure 7 in an area near to the
end wall 730 than the projection height between the liquid introducing part
710y and the liquid introducing part 710c. The cartridge 4 enters between
the sidewall-side projections 724 placed inside of the respective carriage side
mralls 81 and 82 and arranged to face each other and is attached to the
cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8. The guide projection 723
enters a bottomed groove 480 described later (as shown in Fig. 9) of the
attached cartridge 4. The cartridge attachment structure 7 has
engagement holes 750 formed in the end wall 730. The two engagement
holes 750 are provided, and engagement projections 424t described later are
fit in these engagement holes 750 in the course of attachment of the
cartridge. The attachment of the cartridge 4 and the relationship between
the guide projection 723 and the cartridge 4 will be described later.
I00411 A-3. Structure of Cartridge 4
Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a cartridge
4. Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cartridge 4. Fig.
9 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the cartridge 4, viewed
from the bottom surface side. Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the
appearance of the cartridge 4 without the circuit substrate 410 mounted
thereto, viewed fiom the bottom surface side. Fig. 11 is a side view
illustrating the cartridge 4, viewed in the +X direction. Fig. 12 is a plan
view illustrating the cartridge 4 with removal of the cover 401, viewed in the
-Z direction. Fig. 13 is a plan view illustrating the cartridge 4 with the
supply port-side liquid retaining members 406 placed therein, viewed in the
-Z direction. As illustrated, the cartridge 4 has a casing 420, the cover 401
and the circuit substrate 410. The cover 401 is fixed to the casing 420 to
cover recesses 421b, 421y, 421c and 421m for the respective color inks of the
casing 420 (as shown in Figs. 8 and 12). The cartridge 4 also has the supply
port-side liquid retaining members 406 for the respective color inks, the
liquid retaining members 460 for the respective color inks, a cover backside
seal member 436 and the seal member 404. The casing 420 and the cover
401 are molded products of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene or
polypropylene and are formed by any adequate molding technique such as
injection molding.
[0042] As shown in Figs. 8 to 12, the casing 420 includes a bottom wall
422, a first end wall 4.23, a second end wall 424, a first side wall 425, a
second side wall 426, a partition wall 471 placed between the first side wall
425 and the second side wall 426, and a partition wall 472 arranged to
intersect with the partition wall 471 and placed between the first end wall
423 and the second end wall 424. These partition walls of the casing 420
form the recesses 421b, 421y, 421m and 421c corresponding to the respective
color inks, black, yellow, cyan magenta and cyan. The outer wall surfaces of
the first side wall 425 and the second side wall 426 are reinforced by ribs 428.
The bottom wall 422 forms the bottom surface of the casing 420 and has the
liquid supply ports 407b, 407y, 407m and 407c for the respective color inks,
black, yellow, cyan magenta and cyan and the peripheral concaved areas 408.
The bottom wall 422 is arranged to be opposed to the cover 401. The first
end wall 423 rises from the bottom wall 422 and is arranged to intersect with
a cover member 430 of the cover 401. In the plan view of the bottom wall
422 in the direction toward the bottom wall 422 (hereinafter this direction is
called first direction), the first end wall 423 includes a first wall surface
portion 423a and a second wall surface portion 42313 adjacent to the first wall
surface portion 423a in the X-axis direction. The distance between the
second end wall 424 and the first wall surface portion 423a of the first end
wall 423 in the Y-axis direction is set to be greater than the distance between
the second end wall 424 and the second wall surface portion 423b in the
Y-axis direction. The second end wall 424 rises from the bottom wall 422
and is arranged to intersect with the cover 401 and to be opposed to the first
end wall 423. The first side wall 425 rises from the bottom wall 422
between one edge (-X-direction edge in Fig. 8) of the first end wall 423 and
one edge (-X-direction edge in Fig. 8) of the second end wall 424 and is
arranged to intersect with the cover 401. The second side wall 426 rises
from the bottom wall 422 between the other edge (+X-direction edge in Fig.
8) of the first end wall 423 and the other edge (+X-direction edge in Fig. 8) of
the second end wall 424 and is arranged to intersect with the cover 401 and
to be opposed to the first side wall 425.
LO0431 The wall configuration and the above respective recesses may all
be expressed as follows. The casing 420 includes: the bottom wall 422
having the liquid supply ports 407b, 407y, 407m and 407c for the respective
color inlrs formed therein and the supply port-side liquid retaining members
406 provided corresponding to the respective liquid supply ports; the cover
401 opposed to the bottom wall 422; the first end wall 423 arranged to
intersect with the bottom wall 422 and the cover 401 and to have the first
wall surface portion 423a and the second wall surface portion 42313; the
second end wall 424 arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 422 and the
cover 401 and to be opposed to the first end wall 423; the first side wall 425
arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 422 and the cover 401; and the
second side wall 426 arranged to intersect with the bottom wall 422 and the
cover 401 and to be opposed to the first side wall 425. In the plan view of
the bottom wall 422 of the casing 420 in the first direction, the recess 421m
and the recess 421y are arrayed in the Y-axis direction between the second
end wall 424 and the first wall surface portion 423a, and the recess 421b and
the recess 421c are arrayed in the Y-axis direction between the second end
wall 424 and the second wall surface portion 423b. In the casing 420, the
supply port-side liquid retaining members 406 and the liquid retaining
members 460 are stacked in this sequence to be placed on the liquid supply
ports 407b, 407c, 407m and 407y of the recesses 421b, 421c, 421m and 42ly
arranged as described above. As shown in Fig. 13, the supply port-side
liquid retaining members 406 are laid to cover the liquid supply ports 407b,
407c, 407m and 407y of the above respective recesses, and the liquid
retaining members 460 are stacked on the supply port-side liquid retaining
members 406.
LO0441 The cartridge 4 of the embodiment has the first wall surface
portion 423a and the second wall surface portioil 423b of the different
distances in the Y-axis direction. Accordingly, in the cartridge 4, the length
of the recess 421c and the length of the liquid retaining member 460 placed
therein in a direction from the second end wall 424 toward the first end wall
423 (hereinafter this direction is called second direction) are set to be longer
than the length of the recess 421b and the length of the liquid retaining
member 460 placed therein in the second direction. In the cartridge 4, the
capacity of the recess 421c and the volume of the liquid retaining member
460 placed therein are set to be greater than the capacity of the recess 421b
and the volume of the liquid retaining member 460 placed therein. In the
plan view of the bottom wall 422 of the cartridge 4 in the first direction, as
shown in Fig. 12, the recesses 421c, 421y and 421m, as well as the liquid
retaining members 460 placed therein are formed in square shape.
LO0451 As shown in Fig. 9, the circuit substrate 410 has a plurality of
terminals 412 on the substrate surface and is located on the second wall
surface portion 42313 of the first end wall 423 of the casing 420. The
substrate mounting structure 411 is formed on the second wall surface
portion 423b as shown in Fig. 10. The substrate mounting structure 411 is
arranged to be inclined with respect to the second wall surface portion 423b.
The circuit substrate 410 has the rear surface fixed to the substrate
mounting structure 411 and is inclined with respect to the second wall
surface portion 42313. As shown in Fig. 9, the terminals 412 are arrayed
zigzag in two lines on the circuit substrate 410. When the cartridge 4 is
attached to the carriage 8 as described above, the contact portions of the
respective terminals 412 are electrically connected with respective electrodes
of the electrode assembly 810 provided on the carriage 8 as shown in Fig. 6.
The shape and the arrangement of the terminals 412 are not limited to those
of Fig. 9. The terminals 412 may have any configuration which Genables
their contact portions to be electrically connectable with the electrode
assembly 810.
[0046] As shown in Fig. 10, the substrate mounting structure 411 is
provided on the second wall surface portion 4231, of the first end wall 423.
The engagement element 405 of the substrate mounting structure 411 is
accordingly provided on the second wall surface portion 423b to be engaged
with the cartridge engagement arm 801 of the carriage 8. The substrate
mounting structure 411 also has an opening 413 formed on the outer wall
surface side of the second wall surface portion 423b. The opening 413 is
extended in the Z-axis direction along the outer wall surface of the second
wall surface portion 423b i?om an upper edge side toward a lower edge side
of the second wall surface portion 4231, (as shown in Fig. 8) and is open on
the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the second wall surface
portion 423b. In the state that the cover 401 is fixed to the casing 420, the
opening 413 is closed on the upper edge side of the second wall surface
portion 423b by an outward extension member 431 of the cover 401 described
later as shown in Fig. 9. Projections 414 protruded from the substrate
mounting structure 411 are used for fixation of the circuit substrate 410 to
the substrate mounting structure 411. As shown in Fig. 9, the projections
414 are thermally caulked in the state that the projections 414 are extended
from the circuit substrate 410. This fixes the circuit substrate 410 to the
substrate mounting structure 411. The first wall surface portion 423a of
the first end wall 423 is protruded more than the circuit circuit substrate 410
fixed to the substrate mounting structure 411 in the direction from the
second end wall 424 toward the first end wall 423.
[00471 As shown in Fig. 8, the cover 401 has the through holes 402a, 402b
and 402c, the air grooves 403 formed between the respective through holes
402c and the corresponding through holes 402b, the air communication holes
434 and seal member receiving elements 437 around the periphery of the
cover 401, which are provided for the respective recesses 421b, 421m, 421c
and 421y described abovc. The seal member receiving elements 437 are
protruded from the upper surface of the cover 401 to substantially the same
height as the height of the circumferential walls of the through holes 402a,
402b and 402c and the circumferential wall of the air grooves 403 and serve
as joint seat elements of the seal member 404.
[0048] The four air con~municationh oles 434 are aligned in the X-axis
direction along the outer periphery of the cover member 430 and are formed
to pass through the cover 401. The through holes 402b for the respective
color inks, black, yellow, magenta and cyan are formed to pass through the
cover 401 at the respective ends of the air grooves 403 for the respective
colors and to be arrayed in the Y-axis direction with the air communication
holes 434 aligned in the X-axis direction. The air communication holes 434
and the through holes 402b arrayed in the Y-axis direction are conllccted by
air grooves (not shown) on the rear surface side of the cover 401. The cover
backside openings of the air grooves and the through holes 402b and the
cover backside openings of the air communication holes 434 are sealed by the
cover backside seal member 436. The recesses 421b, 421~1, 421c and 4.21~
of the casing 420 closed by the cover 401 are accordingly open to the air
through the through holes 402c, the air grooves 403 and the air
cominunication holes 434. The through holes 402a, 402b and 402c and the
air grooves 403 are sealed on the upper surface side of the cover 401 by the
seal member 404. This arrangement of open to the air described above
enables ink contained in the porous liquid retaining member 460 placed in
each of the recesses 421b, 421m, 421c and 421y for the respective color inks
of the casing 420 closed by the cover 401 to be supplied to the supply
port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the liquid introducing part 710b,
the liquid introducing part 710m, the liquid introducing part 710c or the
liquid introducing part 710y of the carriage 8 via the corresponding Liquid
supply port (as shown in Fig. 4). More specifically, the liquid supply port
407b of the recess 421b is connected with the liquid introducing part 710b of
the carriage 8 to supply the corresponding color ink. Similarly the liquid
supply port 407c of the recess 421c, the liquid supply port 407y of the recess
421y and the liquid supply port 407m of the recess 421m are respectively
connected with the liquid introducing part 710c, the liquid introducing part
710y and the liquid introducing part 710m to supply the corresponding color
inlts. In the state that the supply port-side liquid retaining members 406
and the liquid retaining members 460 are placed in the respective recesses
as described above, the cover 401 joined with the cover backside seal member
436 and the seal member 404 is welded and fixed to the casing 420 to
complete the cartridge 4 shown in Figs 6 and 7.
[0049] Both the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the
liquid retaining member 460 may be made of a porous resin material. The
porous resin material herein is not specifically limited but may be any
porous resin material ha"ing the capacity of retaining the liquid, for example,
a foamed material such as polyurethane foam or a fibrous material of
bundled polypropylene fibers. The supply port-side liquid retaining
member 406 and the liquid retaining member 460 have different
characteristics of retaining the liquid. The supply port-side liquid retaining
member 406 is made to have a higher pore density or density of pores than
the liquid retaining member 460. According to the magnitude relationship
of the pore density, the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 has
greater capillary force than the capillary force of the liquid retaining member
[00501 This magnitude relationship of the capillarity force between the
supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the liquid retaining
member 460 causes inlr contained in the liquid retaining member 460 to flow
in the sequence described below. Ink flows from a member having smaller
capillary force to a member having greater capillary force. As shown in Fig.
6, when ink contained in the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 is
sucked via the liquid introducing base 703 to be consumed, ink contained in
the liquid retaining member 460 laid on the upper surface of the supply
port-side liquid retaining member 406 moves to the supply port-side liquid
retaining member 406. The driving force of such ink migration is mainly
given by the capillary force of the supply port-side liquid retaining member
406. Such ink migration has no difficulty, due to the air communication
through the through hole 402c formed corresponding to the location where
the liquid retaining member 460 is placed, the air groove 403 continuous
with the through hole 402c and the air communication hole 434.
[00511 Placing the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 and the
liquid retaining member 460 having different characteristics in each of the
recesses 421b, 421c, 42ly and 421m of the casing 420 as described above, in
combination with using the metal mesh 703s having greater capillary force
than the capillarity force of the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406
for the liquid introducing base 703, allows for efficient consumption of inlr
contained in the liquid retaining member 460. In other words, this reduces
the remaining quantity of unused ink in the liquid retaining member 460.
[0052] As long as the capillary forces of the supply port-side liquid
retaining member 406 and the liquid retaining member 460 are arranged to
decrease wiih an increase in distance from the liquid introducing base 703,
the magnitude relationship of the pore density between the respective liquid
retaining members 406 and 460 is not limited to the configuration of this
embodiment. For example, when the supply port-side liquid retaining
member 406 and the liquid retaining member 460 have identical pore
densities, the respective liquid retaining meinbcrs 406 and 460 may be
subjected to water repellent treatment or water phobic to have the
magnitude relationship of the capillary force described above.
LO0531 Additionally, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the cartridge 4 has a
bottomed groove 480 provided on the bottom surface of the bottom wall 422
(outer wall surface on the -Z direction side) in which the liquid supply ports
407b, 407m, 407c and 407y are formed. The bottomed groove 480 is a
recessed groove formed in the partition wall 472 and is extended in the +Y
direction from the first end wall 423-side. The bottomed groove 480 is
formed to have specific depth and length that allow the guide projection 723
of the cartridge attachment structure 7 to be inserted therein in the state
that the cartridge 4 is attached to the cartridge attachment structure 7.
[00541 The cartridge 4 has a pair of engagement projections 424t
provided at the lower edge of the outer wall surface of the second end wall
424. In the course of attachment of the cartridge 4 to the cartridge
attachment structure 7, the engagement projections 424t enter the end wall
730 of the cartridge attachment structure 7 (as shown in Fig. 4) and serve as
the supporting point, at which the cartridge 4 is rotated and moved with
respect to the cartridge attachment structure 7, to be involved in positioning
of the cartridge 4.
Lo0551 A-4. Attachment of Cartridge
Fig. 14 is a diagram schematically illustrating attachment of the
cartridge 4 to the carriage 8. As illustrated, in the course of attachment of
the cartridge 4, the cartridge is inclined such that the outer wall surface of
the second end wall 424 faces in the -Z direction when being inserted into the
cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8. The engagement
projections 424t of the cartridge 4 are subsequently fit in the engagement
holes 750 formed in the cartridge attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8 (as
shown in Fig. 4). The cartridge 4 is then pressed in the -Z direction against
the cartridge attachment structure 7 until the engagement element 405 is
engaged with the cartridge engagement arm 801 as shown in Fig. 6. In this
state, the engagement projections 424t fit in the engagement holes 750 serve
as the supporting point, at which the cartridge 4 is rotated and moved while
being pressed as described above.
[00561 The cartridge 4 of the embodiment having the configuration
described above is mountable to the printer 10 having the liquid introducing
parts 710b, 710c, 710y and 710m or nlore specifically the cartridge
attachment structure 7 of the carriage 8. The cartridge 4 has the liquid
supply ports 407b, 407c, 407y and 407111 formed in the bottom wall 422 of the
casing 420 and allowed to be in contact with these liquid introducing parts
710b, 710c, 710y and 710m, and the circuit substrate 410 provided on the
second wall surface portion 42313 of the first end wall 423 intersecting with
the bottom wall 422 (as shown in Fig. 9) and allowed to be in electrically
contact with the electrode assembly 810 of the carriage 8. In the cartridge 4
of the embodiment, in the plan view of the bottom wall 422 in the first
direction toward the bottom wall 422, the distance between the second end
wall 424 and the first wall surface portion 423a of the first end wall 423 is set
to be greater than the distance between the second end wall 424 and the
second wall surface portion 42313. In the cartridge 4 of the embodiment
having this configuration, the circuit substrate 410 is located on the second
wall surface portion 4231, of the first end wall 423, so that the
contact-occupying area of the circuit substrate 410 outside of the second wall
surface portion 42310 is overlapped with the range of the above difference in
distance in the plan view in the first direction. This configuration of the
embodiment accordingly allows for downsizing of the entire cartridge 4
including the liquid supply ports 407 for the respective color inks and the
circuit substrate 410 in the plan view in the first direction.
[00571 In the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, the above difference
between the distances of the first wall surface portion 423a and the second
wall surface portion 42313 of the first end wall 423 causes the first wall
surface portion 423a to be protruded more than the circuit substrate 410 in
the direction from the second end wall 424 toward the first end wall 423.
This configuration of the cartridge 4 of the embodiment enables the circuit
substrate 410 to be protected by the first wall surface portion 423a even
when an external force due to, for example, a fall is applied to the first end
wall 423-side.
[00581 In the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, the engagement element
405 to be engaged with the carriage 8 of the printer 10 is provided on the
second wall surface portion 423b of the first end wall 423. Accordiilgly, in
the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, the engagement element-occupying area
of the engagement element 405 outside of the second wall surface portion
42313 is overlapped with the range of the above difference in distance in the
plan view in the first direction. This configuration of the embodiment
accordingly allows for downsizing of the entire cartridge 4 in the plan view in
the first direction and enables the circuit substrate 410 and the engagement
element 405 to be protected by the first wall surface portion 423a.
[00591 In the course of attachment of the cartridge 4 of the embodiment
to the carriage 8 of the printer 10 or more specifically to the cartridge
attachment structure 7, the engagement projections 424t of the second end
wall 424 are fit in the engagement holes 750 of the cartridge attachment
structure 7 to serve as the supporting point, at which the cartridge 4 is
rotated and moved. Additionally, in the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, as
shown in Fig. 12, in the plan view of the bottom wall 422 in the first direction
toward the bottom wall 422, the length of the liquid supply port 407c in the
second direction kom the second end wall 424 toward the first end wall 423
is set to be longer than the length of the liquid supply port 407b in the second
direction. This configuration provides the following advantages. With
respect to the liquid supply port 407c near to the engagement projection 424t
seiving as the supporting point, in the initial stage of attachment to the
cartridge attachment structure 7, i.e., in the stage having the large moving
amount of the cartridge 4, the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406
comes into contact with the liquid introducing part 710c. This provides the
long distance of friction against the liquid introducing part 710c in the
second direction. With respect to the liquid supply port 407b farther &om
the engagement projection 424t serving as the supporting point, on the other
hand, in the final stage of attachment, i.e., in the stage having the small
moving amount of the cartridge 4, the supply port-side liquid retaining
member 406 comes into contact with the liquid introducing part 710b. This
provides the short distance of friction against the liquid introducing part
710b in the second direction. Setting the length of the liquid supply port
407c to be longer than the length of the liquid supply port 407b in the second
direction can respond to the longer distance of friction. This ensures the
corltact between the liquid introducing part 710b and the supply port-side
liquid retaining member 406 with respect to the liquid supply port 407b
farther kom the supporting point.
[0060] In the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, the recess 421c for cyan ink
and the recess 421b for black ink are arrayed between the second end wall
424 and the second wall surface portion 42313 of the first end wall 423 as
shown in Fig. 12, and the capacity of the recess 421c is made larger than the
capacity of the recess 421b. This configuration of the cartridge 4 of the
embodiment allows for downsizing of the entire cartridge 4 with the
difference in capacities of the recesses.
[0061] In the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, as shown in Fig. 12, the
recess 421y for yellow ink and the recess 421m for magenta ink are arrayed
between the second end wall 424 and the first wall surface portion 423a of
the first end wall 423, and the recess 421c for cyan ink and the recess 421b
for black ink are arrayed between the second end wall 424 and the second
wall surface portion 42313. Additionally, in the cartridge 4 of the
embodiment, the recesses 421y, 421m and 421c are made to have the larger
capacities than the capacity of the recess 421b. The respective color inks
are contained in these recesses 421y, 421m and 421c of the larger capacities,
and the blaclr ink is contained in the recess 421b. This configuration
provides the following advantages. In color printing using a plurality of
different color inks, the amounts of consumption of the color inks, i.e.,
magenta inlr, yellow ink and cyan inlr, are generally larger than the amount
of consumption of black ink. In the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, blaclr ink
is contained in the recess 421b of the smaller capacity, and the respective
color inks are contained in the recesses 421c, 421y and 421m of the larger
capacities. This configuration of the cartridge 4 of the embodiment allows
for downsizing of the entire cartridge 4 and additionally enhances the
flexibility of color printing.
[0062] In the cartridge 4 of the embodiment, in the plan view of the
bottom wall 422 in the first direction, the recesses 421c, 421y and 421m are
formed in square shape. This provides the followiilg advantages. In the
case that each color inlr is supplied from the liquid retaining member 460
placed in the corresponding recess 421c, 421y or 421m through the supply
port-side liquid retaining members 406 to the liquid introducing part 710c,
710y or 710m, the recess 421c, 421y or 421m formed in rectangular shape
causes a difference between the distance from the longer side end of the
liquid retaining member 460 placed in the recess 421c, 421y or 421m to the
corresponding liquid introducing part 710c, 710y or 710m and the distance
from the shorter side end of the liquid retaining member 460 to the
corresponding liquid introducing part 710c, 710y or 710m. This results in a
difference in ink supply efficiency, which is increased with an increase in
ratio of the longer side to the shorter side. Forming the recesses 421c, 421y
and 421n1 and the liquid retaining members 460 placed thercin in square
shape, however, causes no significant difference between the above distances.
This configuration of the cartridge 4 of the embodiment allows for
downsizing of the entire cartridge 4 as described above and moreover
enhances the supply efficiency of inlr retained in the liquid retaining member
460 placed in the recess 421c, 42ly or 421m. Forming the recesses 421c,
421y and 421m and the liquid retaining members 460 placed therein in
square shape in the plan view also increases the volume efficiency of the
liquid retaining members 460. This is advantageous for further downsizing
of the entire cartridge 4.
LO0631 B. Modifications
The invention may be implemented by any of various aspects
described below.
LO0641 B-1. Cartridges Using Outer Casing
Fig. 15 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a cartridge 4A using
an outer casing according to a first modification. Fig. 16 is a plan view
illustrating an inner casing taken in a direction A in Fig. 15. This cartridge
4A includes an outer casing 420out and an inner casing 420in. The outer
casing 420out has the appearance similar to that of the casing 420 described
above except the bottom wall 422 and includes a casing insertion opening
420h in addition to a first wall surface portion 423a and a second wall
surface portion 4231, of a first end wall 423. The inner casing 420in has a
recess 421b, 42Lm, 421c and 421y formed to contain the respective color inks,
black, magenta, cyan and yellow, and additionally has liquid supply ports
407b, 407m 407c and 407y and a bottomed groove 480 formed in the bottom
wall 422. Tbe inner casing 420in has a side wall in step-like outer shape
conforining to the outer shape of the first wall surface portion 423a and the
second wall surface portion 423b. The arrangement of the respective
recesses and the shapes of the liquid supply ports are simllar to the casing
420 described above. The outer casing 420out has a circuit substrate 410
provided on the second wall surface portion 423b and arranged to be in
electrically contact with the electrode assembly 810 of the carriage 8. The
inner casing 420in is detachably mounted to the outer casing 420out by
insertion of the inner casing 420in into the casing insertion opening 420h.
The cartridge 4A having the inner casing 420in inserted in the casing
insertion opening 420h of the outer casing 420out is compatible with the
cartridge 4 described above. Positioning pins, steps or the like (not shown)
may be formed between the outer wall surface of the inner casing 420in and
the inner wall surface of the casing insertion opening 420h to position the
inner casing 420in in the Z-axis direction.
[0065] With respect to the cartridge 4A of this modification, in response
to consumption of the respective color inks, replacement of only the inner
casing 420in is needed for inlr refill. The multi-part configuration of the
cartridge 4A divided into the inner casing 420in and the outer casing 420out
has the advantageous effects such as downsizing described above.
[0066] Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating another cartridge 4B
using an outer casing according to a second modification, viewed from the
bottom surface side of the outer casing, and a view taken in a direction of
arrow A. Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating inner casings of
respective colors in the cartridge 4B of the second modification, viewed from
the bottom surface side, and a view taken in a direction of arrow A. Fig. 19
is a schematic exploded view illustrating the cartridge 4B of the second
modification. The cartridge 4B includes an outer casing 420out and inner
casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny. The outer casing 420out has
the appearance including the bottom wall 422, similar to that of the casing
420 described above. As shown in Fig. 17, the outer casing 4200ut has
liquid supply ports 407b, 407m 407c and 407y and a bottomed groove 480
formed in the bottom wall 422 and a circuit substrate 4.10 arranged to be in
electrically contact with the electrode assembly 810 of the carriage 8. The
shapes of the respective liquid supply ports and the position and the shape of
the circuit substrate 410 are similar to those of the casing 420 described
above. The outer casing 420out has casing receiving recesses 421ba, 421ma:
421ca and 421ya formed by the bottom wall 422, the first end wall 423, the
second end wall 424, the first side wall 425 and the second side wall 426
surrounding the bottom wall 422, and the partition walls 471 and 472 to
individually receive the inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny
described below. These casing receiving recesses 421ba, 421ina, 421ca and
421ya should be arranged to receive the respective inner casings 420inb,
420inm, 420inc and 420iny in the liquid tight state, so that the inner wall
surface of the bottom wall 422 forms a plane.
[0067] The inner casing 420inb has the appearance allowed to be
inserted in the casing receiving recess 421 ba of the outer casing 420out and a
recess 421b having the inner shape similar to that of the recess 421b of the
casing 420 described above to receive the liquid retaining member 460 and
the supply port-side liquid retaining member 406 placed therein. The inner
casing 420inb has a through hole 407ba which is to be aligned with the liquid
supply port 407b of the outer casing 420out and has its circumference sealed
by a seal member cz. In the state that the inner casing 420inb is placed in
the casing receiving recess 421ba of the outer casing 420out, black ink is
supplied through the through hole 407ba sealed with the seal member cz and
the liquid supply port 407b to the liquid introducing part 710b of the carriage
8 (as shown in Fig. 4). The same applies to the inner casings 420inc, 420iny
and 420inm.
[00681 The assembly of the inner casing 420inb, the inner casing 420inm,
the inner casing 420inc and the inner casing 420iny is mountable to the
liquid supply port 407b, the liquid supply port 407m, the liquid supply port
407c and the liquid supply port 407y. Black ink is supplied through the
liquid supply port 407b to the liquid introducing part 710b of the carriage 8
(as shown in Fig. 4). Similarly, magenta ink is supplied through the liquid
supply port 407m to the liquid introducing part 710m of the carriage 8; cyan
ink is supplied through the liquid supply port 407c to the liquid introducing
part 710c; and yellow ink is supplied through the liquid supply port 407y to
the liquid introducing part 710y. The cartridge 4B is obtained by placing
the inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny in the corresponding
casing receiving recesses 421ba, 421ma, 421ca and 421ya of the outer casing
420out, as shown in Fig. 19. The obtained cartridge 4B is compatible with
the cartridge 4 described above. Positioning pins, steps or the like (not
shown) may be formed between the inner wall surfaces of the casing
receiving recesses 421ba, 421ma, '21ca and 421ya of the outer casing 420out
and the outer wall surfaces of the inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and
420iny to position the respective inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and
420iny in the Z-axis direction.
[0069] With respect to the cartridge 4B of this modification, in response
to consumption of the respective color inks, replacement of only the inner
casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny is needed for ink refill. The
multi-part configuration of the cartridge 4B divided into the inner casings
420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny has the advantageous effects such as
downsizing described above. The inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and
420iny of the second modification may be integrated as an integral
component.
[00701 Fig. 20 is a schematic exploded view illustrating another cartridge
4C using an outer casing according to a third modification. This cartridge
4.C has the inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny placed in the
outer casing 420out of the second modification, and additionally has external
tanks 490Tb, 490Tm, 490Tc and 490% for the respective color inks, black,
magenta, cyan and yellow and tubes 490Cb, 490Cm, 490Cc and 490Cy for
the corresponding color inks. The external tanks 490Tb, 490Tm, 490Tc and
490% contain the respective color inks and supply the contained inks by
built-in pumps (not shown) through the tubes 490Cb, 490Cm, 490Cc and
490Cy to the inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny. As
described above, the inner casings 420inb, 420inm, 420inc and 420iny have
the through holes 408ba, 407ma, 407ca and 407ya (as shown in Fig. 191,
which are arranged to communicate with the liquid supply ports 407b, 407n1,
407c and 407y of the outer casing 420out. Accordingly, the external tank
490Tb and the tube 490Cb are mountable to the liquid supply port 407b; the
external tank 49OTm and the tube 490Cm are mountable to the liquid supply
port 407m; the external tank 490Tc and the tube 490Cc are mountable to the
liquid supply port 40,7c; and the external tank 490% and the tube 490Cy are
mountable to the liquid supply port 407y. Black ink is supplied through the
liquid supply port 407b to the liquid introducing part 710b of the carriage 8
(as shown in Fig. 4). Similarly, magenta ink is supplied through the liquid
supply port 407m to the liquid introducing part 710m of the carriage 8; cyan
ink is supplied through the liquid supply port 407c to the liquid introducing
part 710c; and yellow ink is supplied through the liquid supply port 407y to
the liquid introducing part 710y. The multi-part configuration of the
cartridge 4C has the advantageous effects such as downsizing described
above.
[0071] B-2. Other Modifications
The present invention is not limited to the inkjet printer or its inli
cartridges but is also applicable to any liquid ejection device configured to
eject another liquid but inlr and a cartridge (liquid container) configured to
contain another liquid. For example, the invention may be applied to any of
various liquid ejection devices and their liquid containers:
(1) image recording device, such as a facsimile machine;
(2) color material ejection device used to manufacture color filters for
an image display device, e.g., a liquid crystal display;
(3) electrode material ejection device used to form electrodes of, for
example, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display and a field emission
display (FED);
(4) liquid ejection device configured to eject a bioorganic
material-containing liquid used for manufacturing biochips;
(5) sample ejection device used as a precision pipette;
(6) ejection device of lubricating oil;
(7) ejection device of a resin solution;
(8) liquid ejection device for pinpoint ejection of lubricating oil on
precision machines such as watches or cameras;
(9) liquid ejection device configured to eject a transparent resin
solution, such as an ultraviolet curable resin solution, onto a substrate in
order to manufacture a hemispherical microlens (optical lens) used for, for
example, optical communication elements;
(10) liquid ejection device configured to eject an acidic or alkaline
etching solution in order to etch a substrate or the lilte; and
(11) liquid ejection device equipped with a liquid ejection head for
ejecting a very small volume of droplets of any other liquid.
100721 The "droplet" herein means the state of liquid ejected from the
liquid ejection device and may be in a granular shape, a teardrop shape or a
tapered threadlike shape. The "liquid" herein may be any material
ejectable by the liquid ejection device. The "liquid" may be any material in
the liquid phase. For example, liquid-state materials of high viscosity 01,
low viscosity, liquid materials in sol-gel process and other liquid-state
materials including inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid
resins and liquid metals (metal melts) are included in the "liquid". The
"liquid" is not limited to the liquid state as one of the three states of matter
but includes solutions, dispersions and mixtures of the functional solid
material particles, such as pigment particles or metal particles, solved in,
dispersed in or mixed with a solvent. Typical examples of the liquid include
ink described in the above embodiment and liquid crystal. The ink herein
includes general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as various
liquid compositions, such as gel inks and hot-melt inks.
LO0731 The invention is not limited to any of the embodiment, the
examples and the modifications described herein but may be implemented by
a diversity of other configurations without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, the technical features of the embodiment,
examples or modifications corresponding to the technical features of the
respective aspects described in Summary may be replaced or combined
appropriately, in order to solve part or all of the problems described above or
in order to achieve part or all of the advantageous effects described above.
Any of the technical features may be omitted appropriately unless the
technical feature is described as essential herein.
LO0741 This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Applications
No. (JP) 2014-53248 filed on March 17, 2014, entire disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
XX040A2215-W l_rcvised_l~nglish_Spec
What is Claimed is:
1. A liquid supply unit configured to supply liquid and mountable to a
liquid ejection device comprising a first liquid introducing part, a second
liquid introducing part, a third liquid introducing part and a fourth liquid
introducing part, the liquid supply unit comprising:
a first wall comprising a first liquid supply section configured to be in
contact with the first liquid introducing part, a second liquid supply section
configured to be in contact with the second liquid introducing part, a third
liquid supply section configured to be in contact with the third liquid
introducing part and a fourth liquid supply section configured to be in
contact with the fourth liquid introducing part;
a second wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and configured
to have a first portion and a second portion;
a third wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and to be
opposed to the-second wall; and
a contact part located on the second portion and allowed to be in
electrically contact with the liquid ejection device, a distance between the
third wall and the first portion is greater than a distance between the third
wall and the second portion in a plan view of the first wall in a first direction
toward the first wall.
2. The liquid supply unit according to claim 1,
wherein the first portion is protruded more than the contact part in a
direction from the third wall toward the second wall.
3. The liquid supply unit according to either claim 1 or claim 2,
further comprising:
an engagement part located on the second portion and allowed to
engage with the liquid ejection device.
4. Aliquid supply unit configured to supply liquid and mountable to a
liquid ejection device comprising a first liquid introducing part, a second
liquid introducing part, a third liquid introducing part, a fourth liquid
introducing part and an engagement arm, the engagement arm configured to
be rotated and displaced to be engaged with the liquid supply unit, the liquid
supply unit comprising:
a first wall comprising a first liquid supply section configured to be in
contact with the first liquid introducing part, a second liquid supply section
configured to be in contact with the second liquid introducing part, a third
liquid supply section configured to be in contact with the third liquid
introducing part and a fourth liquid supply section configured to be in
contact with the fourth liquid introducing part;
a second wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and configured
to have a first portion and a second portion;
a third wall arranged to intersect with the first wall and to be
opposed to the second wall; and
an engagement part located on the second portion and configured to
engage with the engagement arm a distance between the third wall and
the first portion being greater than a distance between the third wall and the
second portion in a plan view of the first wall in a first direction toward the
first wall.
5. The liquid supply unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
...
wherein in a course of attachment of the liquid supply unit to the
liquid ejection device, the third wall has a supporting point at which the
liquid supply unit is rotated and moved with respect to the liquid ejection
device,
in the plan view of the first wall in the direction toward the first wall,
the first liquid supply section and the third liquid supply section are
located between the third wall and the first portion, and
the second liquid supply section and the fourth liquid supply section
are located between the third wall and the second portion, wherein
a length of the fourth Liquid supply section in a second direction from
the third wall toward the second wall is longer than a length of the second
liquid supply section in the second direction.
6. The liquid supply unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further
comprising:
a first liquid chamber connected with the first liquid supply section;
a second liquid chamber connected with the second liquid supply
section;
a third liquid chamber connected with the third liquid supply section;
and
a fourth liquid chamber connected with the fourth liquid supply
section, wherein
the first liquid chamber has a larger capacity than capacity of the
second liquid chamber.
7. The liquid supply unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further
comprising:
a first liquid chamber connected with the first liquid supply section;
a second liquid chamber connected with the second liquid supply
section;
a third liquid chamber connected with the third liquid supply section;
and
a fourth liquid chanlber connected with the fourth liquid supply
section, wherein
the first liquid chambel; the third liquid chamber and the fourth
liquid chamber have larger capacities than capacity of the second liquid
;.,, ,a, ,! , 'v,,,,,.,J ',,! ~ : . " ' I ,; i C chamber,
~. the first liquid chamber, the third liquid chamber and the fourth
liquid chamber coiltaiil color inks, and
the second 1i.quid chamber coiltains blaclr iillr.
8. The liquid sul~plyu nit according to either claim G or claim 7,
wherein in the 11la11 view of the first wall in the first direction, the
first liquid chamber, the third liquid chamber and the fourth liquid chamher
are formed in square shape.