Patent Grant
11673398
The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2020-160618, filed Sep. 25, 2020, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a technology for a cartridge, a printing system, and a printing device.
In the related art, a technology for a cartridge including a liquid supply portion and a cartridge terminal has been known (JP-A-2013-129175).
Here, the liquid supply portion is coupled to a liquid introduction portion of a printing device, and the cartridge terminal comes into contact with a device side terminal of the printing device to be electrically coupled to each other. However, when the cartridge is mounted in the printing device, locations of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion or locations of the cartridge terminal and the device side terminal may be deviated from each other.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device including a liquid introduction portion that receives a liquid, a device side terminal, a device side terminal positioning portion, and a device side supply portion positioning portion. The cartridge includes a cartridge side terminal electrically coupled to the device side terminal, a liquid supply portion that is coupled to the liquid introduction portion and that makes the liquid flow to the liquid introduction portion, a terminal positioning portion that performs positioning by receiving the device side terminal positioning portion to regulate movement of the cartridge side terminal with respect to the device side terminal, and a supply portion positioning portion that performs positioning by receiving the device side supply portion positioning portion to regulate movement of the liquid supply portion with respect to the liquid introduction portion. A first direction is a direction intersecting a second direction, the first direction being a direction in which the terminal positioning portion extends, the second direction being a direction in which the supply portion positioning portion extends.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing system. The printing system includes a printing device that includes a cartridge mounting portion; and the cartridge according to the above aspect.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing device mounted with a cartridge including a cartridge side terminal, a liquid supply portion, a terminal positioning portion, and a supply portion positioning portion. The printing device includes a cartridge mounting portion that forms an accommodation chamber accommodating the cartridge and that has a support member supporting the cartridge. The cartridge mounting portion includes a liquid introduction portion coupled to the liquid supply portion, a device side terminal electrically coupled to the cartridge side terminal, a device side terminal positioning portion that performs positioning by being received by the terminal positioning portion to regulate movement of the cartridge side terminal with respect to the device side terminal, and a device side supply portion positioning portion that performs positioning by being received by the supply portion positioning portion to regulate movement of the liquid supply portion with respect to the liquid introduction portion, and a device first direction is a direction intersecting a device second direction, the device first direction being a direction in which the device side terminal positioning portion extends, the device second direction being a direction in which the device side supply portion positioning portion extends.
The printing system 1 includes a printing device 10 and a cartridge 4 that supplies ink, which is a liquid, to the printing device 10.
The printing device 10 of the present embodiment is an ink jet printer that ejects ink from an ejection head 22. The printing device 10 is a large printer that performs printing on large sheets (A2 to A0 and the like) such as a poster. The printing device 10 includes a cartridge mounting portion 6, a control portion 31, a carriage 20, the ejection head 22, and a drive mechanism 30. In addition, the printing device 10 includes an operation button 15 for a user to operate the printing device 10.
A plurality of cartridges 4 are separately and detachably mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6. In the present embodiment, four types of cartridges 4 corresponding to inks of four colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, that is, four cartridges 4 in total are mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6. A cartridge 4 containing black ink is also referred to as a cartridge 4K, a cartridge 4 containing yellow ink is also referred to as a cartridge 4Y, a cartridge 4 containing magenta ink is also referred to as a cartridge 4M, and a cartridge 4 containing cyan ink is also referred to as a cartridge 4C. In the present embodiment, the cartridge 4K is configured to be able to contain a more liquid than the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y. Therefore, the cartridge 4K is also referred to as a first type of cartridge 4A, and the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y are also referred to as a second type of cartridge 4B.
The printing device 10 includes a replacement cover 13 on a front surface on a +Y direction side. When a +Z direction side of the replacement cover 13 is tilted toward a front side which is the +Y direction side, an opening of the cartridge mounting portion 6 appears and attachment and detachment of the cartridge 4 is possible. When the cartridge 4 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6, ink can be supplied to the ejection head 22 provided on the carriage 20 via tubes 24 as liquid flow pipes. In the present embodiment, for example, the ink is supplied to the ejection head 22 by a head difference between a liquid level of the ink in a liquid storage portion 699 and the ejection head 22. Note that in another embodiment, the ink may be supplied to the ejection head 22 by a head difference between a liquid level in the cartridge 4 and the ejection head 22 or may be supplied to the ejection head 22 by a pump mechanism (not illustrated) of the printing device 10 sucking the ink in the cartridge 4. Note that the tubes 24 are provided for the respective types of ink. Note that a state in which the cartridge 4 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6 and the ink as the liquid can be supplied to the printing device 10 is also referred to as a “mounted state”.
The ejection head 22 is provided with nozzles for each type of ink. The ejection head 22 ejects the ink from the nozzles toward a printing sheet 2 to print data such as characters or images. Note that a state of mounting the cartridge 4 in the cartridge mounting portion 6 or detailed configurations of the cartridge 4 and the cartridge mounting portion 6 will be described later. Note that in the present embodiment, the printing device 10 is a so-called “off-carriage type” printer in which the cartridge mounting portion 6 does not move together with the carriage 20. The present disclosure can also be applied to a so-called “on-carriage type” printer in which the cartridge mounting portion 6 is provided on the carriage 20 and moves together with the carriage 20.
The control portion 31 controls each portion of the printing device 10 or transmission and reception of a signal to and from the cartridge 4. The carriage 20 moves the ejection head 22 relative to the printing sheet 2.
The drive mechanism 30 reciprocates the carriage based on a control signal from the control portion 31. The drive mechanism 30 includes a timing belt 32 and a drive motor 34. By transmitting power of the drive motor 34 to the carriage 20 via the timing belt 32, the carriage 20 reciprocates in a main scanning direction, which is a direction along the X direction. In addition, the printing device 10 includes a transport mechanism for moving the printing sheet 2 in a sub-scanning direction, which is the +Y direction. When printing is performed, the printing sheet 2 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the transport mechanism, and the printing sheet 2 after printing is completed is discharged onto a front cover 11.
In addition, a region referred to as a home location is included at a location outside a printing region where the carriage 20 is moved in the main scanning direction, and a maintenance mechanism that performs maintenance for normally executing the printing is mounted at the home location. The maintenance mechanism includes a cap member 8 that is pressed against a surface, on which the nozzles are formed, on a bottom surface side of the ejection head 22 to form a closed space so as to surround the nozzles, an elevating and lowering mechanism (not illustrated) that elevates and lowers the cap member 8 in order to press the cap member 8 against the nozzle surface of the ejection head 22, a suction pump (not illustrated) that introduces a negative pressure into the closed space formed by the cap member 8 being pressed against the nozzle surface of the ejection head 22, or the like.
In the present embodiment, in a use state of the printing system 1, an axis along the sub-scanning direction in which the printing sheet 2 is transported is the Y axis, an axis along a gravity direction is the Z axis, and an axis along a moving direction of the carriage 20 is the X axis. Here, the “use state of the printing system 1” refers to a state in which the printing system 1 is installed on a horizontal surface. In addition, in the present embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is the +Y direction, an opposite direction to the +Y direction is the −Y direction, the gravity direction is the −Z direction, and an antigravity direction is the +Z direction. The X direction and the Y direction are directions along a horizontal direction. In addition, when the printing system 1 is viewed from a front side, a direction from a right side to a left side is the +X direction, and an opposite direction to the +X direction is the −X direction. In addition, in the present embodiment, an insertion direction D1 in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6 for mounting is the −Y direction, and a direction in which the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6 is the +Y direction. Therefore, a −Y direction side of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is also referred to as a rear side, and a +Y direction side of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is also referred to as a front side. In addition, in the present embodiment, an arrangement direction of the plurality of cartridges 4 is the X direction.
As illustrated in
The liquid introduction portion 642 receives the liquid supplied from the cartridge 4. The liquid introduction portion 642 is a tubular member and has an internal flow path for making the liquid flow therein. The liquid introduction portion 642 has a base end portion 642a and a tip portion 642b. The tip portion 642b is formed with an opening communicating with the internal flow path, and the ink of the liquid supply portion 442 flows to the internal flow path through the opening. The base end portion 642a is coupled to the liquid storage portion 699 and makes the ink that has flowed through the internal flow path flow to the liquid storage portion 699. The liquid storage portion 699 is located on a −Z direction side of the accommodation chamber 61. The liquid storage portion 699 communicates with the ejection head 22 via the tube 24 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The plurality of device side terminals 721 (nine device side terminals in the present embodiment) are provided. Each of the plurality of device side terminals 721 is a conductive metal plate member. The device side terminal 721 has a terminal rotation fulcrum Rp, and a portion in contact with a cartridge side terminal 521 of the circuit board 50, which is an end portion, can be elastically deformed using the terminal rotation fulcrum Rp as a fulcrum. A direction in which the portion is elastically deformed is a direction along the Y direction and the Z direction. The terminal holding portion 750 holds the plurality of device side terminals 721. The connector 739 is electrically coupled to the plurality of device side terminals 721. In addition, the connector 739 is electrically coupled to the control portion 31 of the printing device 10 by wiring (not illustrated). As a result, the circuit board 50 and the control portion 31 can perform data communication therebetween.
The holding mechanism 73 includes an urging member 780 and an attaching member 782. The urging member 780 is formed of a coil spring. The urging member 780 is arranged at inner side of the attaching member 782. In addition, the device side terminal portion 70 is attached to the attaching member 782. The urging member 780 is compressed in a state in which the insertion of the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting portion 6 is completed. As a result, the urging member 780 applies, to the device side terminal portion 70 via the attaching member 782, an external force Fa in a direction toward a removal direction side of the cartridge 4, which is the first device wall 67 side. Since the device side terminal portion 70 is pressed against the circuit board 50 by the external force Fa, contact between the device side terminal 721 and the cartridge side terminal 521 is maintained well.
As described above, the holding mechanism 73 holds the device side terminal portion 70 so that the device side terminal portion 70 is displaceable in a direction along the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge 4. In addition, one end portion of the urging member 780 adjacent to the device side terminal portion 70 is configured to be slightly movable in the X direction and the Z direction intersecting the insertion direction D1. As a result, the device side terminal portion 70 is held by the holding mechanism 73 so as to be slightly movable in the X direction and the Z direction intersecting the insertion direction D1.
A mounting process of the cartridge 4 to the cartridge mounting portion 6 includes a terminal coupling process and a supply portion coupling process executed after the terminal coupling process. The terminal coupling process is a process of bringing and electrically coupling the device side terminal 721 and the cartridge side terminal 521 into contact with and to each other by moving the cartridge 4 in the −Y direction to insert the cartridge 4 into the accommodation chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 through the insertion/removal opening 674 of the first device wall 67. The supply portion coupling process is a process of coupling the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442 to each other by rotationally moving, in a state of maintaining the electrical coupling between the device side terminal 721 and the cartridge side terminal 521 as illustrated in
In the supply portion coupling process, a device side supply portion positioning portion 644, which is a projection included in the cartridge mounting portion 6, enters a supply portion positioning portion 448 included in the cartridge 4 and having a recessed shape, so that the movement of the liquid supply portion 442 in a direction intersecting the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion 442 is regulated. As a result, positioning of the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642 is performed. The device side supply portion positioning portion 644 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The device side supply portion positioning portion 644 has one end portion 644a as a base end portion and the other end portion 644b as a tip portion. The one end portion 644a is located adjacent to the liquid storage portion 699. The one end portion 644a is located more adjacent to the accommodation chamber 61 than the other end portion 644b is.
In the mounted state of the cartridge 4, a main wall 613 forming a bottom portion of the support member 610 is inclined with respect to the Y direction. Specifically, the main wall 613 of the support member 610 is inclined so as to be located closer to the −Z direction side, which is a lower side, as the main wall 613 extends toward a +Y-axis direction. The main wall 613 is parallel to the Y direction in an initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting portion 6 to which the cartridge 4 is not mounted.
The cartridge mounting portion 6 includes a device urging member 625 that applies an external force Ft1 to the support member 610 in order to return the support member 610 to a location of the initial arrangement state in the mounted state of the cartridge 4. The device urging member 625 is a coil spring provided between the support member 610 and the liquid storage portion 699 and is in a compressed state in the mounted state. The device urging member 625 applies in the compressed state the external force Ft1 having a +Z direction component to the support member 610. On the other hand, in the mounted state of the cartridge 4, a cartridge engaging portion 497 of the cartridge 4 engages with a mounting engaging portion 697 of the cartridge mounting portion 6, so that the mounted state is maintained. The mounting engaging portion 697 is formed on an engagement forming body 677 of the cartridge mounting portion 6.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first device wall 67 faces the second device wall 62 in the Y direction. Inside the first device wall 67, the insertion/removal opening 674 through which the cartridge 4 passes when the cartridge 4 is inserted into or removed from the accommodation chamber 61 is formed.
A device top wall 63 forms a wall of the accommodation chamber 61 on the +Z direction side. A device bottom wall 64 faces the device top wall 63 in the Z direction and forms a wall of the accommodation chamber 61 on the −Z direction side. The device bottom wall 64 is formed by the support member 610. The device bottom wall 64 has a plurality of openings 614. In the present embodiment, four openings 614 are formed according to the slots 61C, 61M, 61Y, and 61K. The device top wall 63 and the device bottom wall 64 intersect the second device wall 62 and the first device wall 67. In the present disclosure, the term “cross” or “intersect” means any one of (i) a state in which two elements intersect or actually cross each other, (ii) a state in which one element crosses the other element when one element has extended, and (iii) a state in which mutual elements intersect each other when the mutual elements have extended.
A first device side wall 65 forms a wall of the accommodation chamber 61 on the +X direction side. A second device side wall 66 faces the first device side wall 65 in the X direction and forms a wall of the accommodation chamber 61 on the −X direction side. The first device side wall 65 and the second device side wall 66 intersect the second device wall 62, the first device wall 67, the device top wall 63, and the device bottom wall 64.
As illustrated in
The main wall 613 forms a bottom portion located on the gravity direction side and having a recessed shape. The openings 614 are formed at an end portion of the main wall 613 adjacent to the first device wall 67. The openings 614 penetrate through the main wall 613 in a thickness direction of the main wall 613.
As illustrated in
The device guide portions 602 guide the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1 and a removal direction. The device guide portion 602 is provided for each support member 610. The device guide portions 602 are provided on each of the first support side wall 611 and the second support side wall 612. The device guide portions 602 are projections provided on the first support side wall 611 and the second support side wall 612. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The device side supply portion positioning portion 644 illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Two device side terminal positioning portions 756 are provided for each of the slots 61C to 61K. One of the two device side terminal positioning portions 756 is also referred to as a first device side terminal positioning portion 756t, and the other of the two device side terminal positioning portions 756 is also referred to as a second device side terminal positioning portion 756w. The first device side terminal positioning portion 756t and the second device side terminal positioning portion 756w are columnar members extending in a device first direction DD1, respectively. In the present embodiment, the device first direction DD1 is the Y direction, and is the direction along the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge. The device first direction DD1 is a direction intersecting the device second direction DD2. The first device side terminal positioning portion 756t is provided on the first holding portion side wall 750ft. The second device side terminal positioning portion 756w is provided on the second holding portion side wall 750fw.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
An outer shape of the first type of cartridge 4A is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The first type of cartridge 4A includes a main body 41 forming an outer shell and a circuit board 50 attached to the main body 41. The main body 41 is formed by the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 described above. The main body 41 of the first type of cartridge 4A has a front wall 42, a rear wall 47, the top wall 43, the bottom wall 44, a first side wall 45, a second side wall 46, and a corner portion 89. Each wall 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 is also referred to as each surface 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47. The front wall 42 and the rear wall 47 face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. The top wall 43 and the bottom wall 44 face each other in the Z direction. The Z direction is parallel to the central axis CA2 along an extending direction of the liquid supply portion 442. The first side wall 45 and the second side wall 46 face each other in the X direction. The X direction is a direction orthogonal to the Y direction and the Z direction. Here, the Y direction is also referred to as a first facing direction, and the Z direction is also referred to as a second facing direction.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first type of cartridge 4A further includes the liquid containing portion 450 containing a liquid, the liquid supply portion 442, a cartridge side identification member 430, the supply portion positioning portion 448, the circuit board 50, and a cartridge guide portion 447 that are illustrated in
The liquid supply portion 442 illustrated in
The liquid supply portion 442 has an internal flow path 449, and the liquid of the liquid containing portion 450 is made to flow to the liquid introduction portion 642, which is the outside. A supply base end portion 442e2, which is a base end portion of the liquid supply portion 442, is coupled to the container bottom wall 431, which is the bottom wall of the liquid container 401. A tip opening 442e1, which is a tip portion of the liquid supply portion 442, opens toward the outside. A valve mechanism (not illustrated) that opens/closes the internal flow path 449 is arranged in the internal flow path 449 of the liquid supply portion 442. The valve mechanism has a valve seat, a valve body, and an urging member sequentially arranged from the tip opening 442e1. The valve seat is an annular member formed of rubber or elastomer. The valve body is a columnar member and closes a valve hole formed in the valve seat. The urging member is a coil spring that urges the valve body toward the valve seat. In the mounted state of the cartridge 4, the liquid introduction portion 642 pushes the valve body in a direction away from the valve seat, so that the valve mechanism is opened.
The cartridge side identification member 430 illustrated in
The supply portion positioning portion 448 performs positioning by receiving the device side supply portion positioning portion 644 to regulate the movement of the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642. Specifically, in the supply portion coupling process, the supply portion positioning portion 448 performs positioning of the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642 by receiving the device side supply portion positioning portion 644 to regulate the movement of the supply portion positioning portion 448 in a direction intersecting the coupling direction D2. The supply portion positioning portion 448 is a recess portion formed in the bottom wall 44 and recessed from an outer surface of the bottom wall 44. A section of the supply portion positioning portion 448 has a rectangular shape. Note that in another embodiment, the supply portion positioning portion 448 may be a recess portion penetrating through the bottom wall 44. A second direction CD2, which is a direction in which the supply portion positioning portion 448 extends, is in the Z direction. In the present embodiment, the supply portion positioning portion 448 extends from the bottom wall 44 toward the top wall 43 in the +Z direction. In the present embodiment, the second direction CD2 is parallel to the second facing direction. The direction in which the supply portion positioning portion 448 extends is a direction along a direction in which the liquid introduction portion 642 is received. The supply portion positioning portion 448 is located in the region RY between the middle portion MP of the cartridge 4 and the end portion on the rear wall 47 side in the insertion direction D1.
The supply portion positioning portion 448 is a recess portion having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Regarding the supply portion positioning portion 448, an opening area of an entrance portion formed on an outer surface side of the bottom wall 44 is greater than an opening area on a bottom side of the recess portion, which is a side deeper than the entrance portion. As a result, in the supply portion coupling process, the supply portion positioning portion 448 can easily receive the device side supply portion positioning portion 644. The supply portion positioning portion 448 is located on an opposite side of the liquid supply portion 442 or the insertion opening 446 from the cartridge side terminal 521 of the circuit board 50 in the insertion direction D1. In the present embodiment, the supply portion positioning portion 448 is formed in the vicinity of the rear wall 47 in the bottom wall 44.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The recess portion bottom wall 988 has a portion inclined with respect to the Y direction. In the present embodiment, the inclined portion is inclined with respect to the Y direction so as to be located on the +Z direction side toward the recess portion front wall 982. The circuit board 50 is arranged on this inclined portion.
The pair of recess portion side walls 902t and 902w are walls coupled to the recess portion bottom wall 988. The pair of recess portion side walls 902t and 902w face each other in the X direction. A first recess portion side wall 902t is coupled to a −X direction side end portion of the recess portion bottom wall 988. A second recess portion side wall 902w is coupled to a +X direction side end portion of the recess portion bottom wall 988. When the first recess portion side wall 902t and the second recess portion side wall 902w are used without distinction, the first recess portion side wall 902t and the second recess portion side wall 902w are referred to as a recess portion side wall 902. An entrance opening, which is an opening formed in the recess portion front wall 982, is an entrance when the device side terminal portion 70 is inserted into the recess portion 90.
The pair of recess portion side walls 902t and 902w are provided with a pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w, respectively. The pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are provided so as to face each other in an X-axis direction. When the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are used with distinction, the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are also referred to as a first terminal positioning portion 906t and a second terminal positioning portion 906w, and when the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are used without distinction, the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are also referred to as a terminal positioning portion 906. The terminal positioning portion 906 is a groove formed in the recess portion side wall 902. The first terminal positioning portion 906t is a groove having a shape recessed from a surface of the first recess portion side wall 902t. The second terminal positioning portion 906w is a groove having a shape recessed from a surface of the second recess portion side wall 902w. Note that a shape of the terminal positioning portion 906 is not limited to the groove as long as the terminal positioning portion 906 can receive the device side terminal positioning portion 756. For example, in another embodiment, the terminal positioning portion 906 may be composed of two convex portions arranged at intervals in the Z direction. The device side terminal positioning portion 756 is received between the two convex portions.
A first direction CD1, which is a direction in which the terminal positioning portion 906 extends, is the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
The first terminal positioning portion 906t receives the first device side terminal positioning portion 756t illustrated in
The device side terminal positioning portion 756 is received by the terminal positioning portion 906, so that the device side terminal positioning portion 756 and the terminal positioning portion 906 come into contact with each other. As a result, the movement of the cartridge side terminal 521 with respect to the device side terminal 721 in the Z direction and the X direction, which are the directions intersecting the insertion direction D1, is regulated. That is, the device side positioning portion 906 receives the device side terminal positioning portion 756, so that the relative movement of the cartridge side terminal 521 and the device side terminal 721 in a direction intersecting the first direction CD1, which is the direction along the insertion direction D1, is regulated. The movement is regulated, so that positioning of the cartridge side terminal 521 with respect to the device side terminal 721 in the Z direction and the X direction, which are the directions intersecting the insertion direction D1, is performed. The terminal positioning portion 906 has an end wall 916 on the +Y direction side. The cartridge 4 is further pushed toward the insertion direction D1 from an abutting location where a tip portion of the device side terminal positioning portion 756 abuts on the end wall 916, so that the terminal coupling process is completed. The cartridge 4 is further pushed toward the insertion direction D1 from the abutting location, so that the holding mechanism 73 is pushed toward the insertion direction D1. As a result, the device side terminal portion 70 moves toward the insertion direction D1 following the movement of the cartridge 4. In a state in which the terminal coupling process is completed, the urging member 780 illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6, a surface of the device guide portion 602 on the +Z direction side and the cartridge guide portion 447 come into contact with each other, so that the movement of the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1 is guided in a state in which a posture of the cartridge 4 is maintained. A surface of the first device guide portion 602a on the +Z direction side comes into contact with the first cartridge guide portion 447a, and a surface of the second device guide portion 602b on the +Z direction side comes into contact with the second cartridge guide portion 447b.
As illustrated in
An adapter 402 of the second type of cartridge 4B has the same configuration as the adapter 402 of the first type of cartridge 4A except for a pattern shape formed by a cartridge side identification member 430. As a result, the adapter 402 can be commonly used for the cartridges 4A and 4B having different capacities.
As illustrated in
When the cartridge 4 is further pushed in the insertion direction D1 from a state illustrated in
When the cartridge 4 rotationally moves in the coupling direction D2, the reception of the device side supply portion positioning portion 644 by the supply portion positioning portion 448 is started before the coupling between the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442 is started. Thereafter, the positioning of the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642 is started. That is, the movement of the liquid supply portion 442 intersecting the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion 442 is regulated. In the supply portion coupling process, when the device side supply portion positioning portion 644 is inserted into the liquid introduction portion 642, a case where the cartridge 4 moves minutely in the Y direction can occur. In this case, the urging member 780 expands and contracts, so that the device side terminal portion 70 moves so as to follow the movement of the cartridge side terminal 521. As a result, contact between the cartridge side terminal 521 and the device side terminal 721 can be maintained well.
As illustrated in
In addition, in the mounted state, the mounted state of the cartridge 4 is maintained by engaging the mounting engaging portion 697 with the cartridge engaging portion 497. The user rotates the cartridge 4 in a decoupling direction D3, which is a direction opposite to the coupling direction D2 with the rotation fulcrum 698 as the fulcrum, by lifting the rear wall 47 side of the cartridge 4. As a result, the mounting engaging portion 697 is displaced by being pushed by the main body of the cartridge 4, so that the engagement between the mounting engaging portion 697 and the cartridge engaging portion 497 is released.
According to the above embodiment, the positioning of the cartridge side terminal 521 and the device side terminal 721 can be performed by the device side terminal positioning portion 756 and the terminal positioning portion 906, and the positioning of the liquid supply portion 442 and the liquid introduction portion 642 can be performed by the device side supply portion positioning portion 644 and the supply portion positioning portion 448. In addition, the first direction CD1 and the second direction CD2 intersect each other, so that the liquid supply portion 442 and the cartridge side terminal 521 do not need to be provided on the same wall of the cartridge 4, and a degree of freedom in arrangement of the liquid supply portion 442 and the cartridge side terminal 521 is thus improved. For example, as in the present embodiment, the liquid supply portion 442 can be provided at the bottom wall 44, and the cartridge side terminal 521 can be provided on a recess portion 90 configuring a wall different from the bottom wall 44. In addition, regarding the printing device 10, the device first direction DD1 in which the device side terminal positioning portion 756 extends and the device second direction DD2 in which the device side supply portion positioning portion 644 extends intersect each other. As a result, the liquid introduction portion 642 and the device side terminal 721 do not need to be provided on the same wall of the cartridge mounting portion 6, and a degree of freedom of arrangement is thus improved. In addition, the first direction CD1 and the second direction CD2 are not parallel to each other, but intersect each other, so that a regulation direction of the movement of the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642 and a regulation direction of the movement of the cartridge side terminal 521 with respect to the device side terminal 721 have different direction components. That is, in the mounting process, components in the regulation direction of the movement of the cartridge side terminal 521 with respect to the device side terminal 721 are an X direction component and a Z direction component orthogonal to the Y direction. On the other hand, in the mounting process, the regulation direction of the movement of the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642 includes at least an X direction component and a Y direction component.
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In addition, in the present embodiment, the adapter 402 that can be commonly used for different types of liquid containers 401 and 401B is provided with the terminal positioning portion 906, the supply portion positioning portion 448, the cartridge side identification member 430, or the cartridge engaging portion 497, which are elements cooperating with the cartridge mounting portion 6. As a result, even though the types of liquid containers 401 are different from each other, the same type of adapter 402 can be used, and a manufacturing cost of the cartridge 4 can thus be reduced. In addition, as a result, a structure of the liquid containers 401 and 401B may be simplified.
In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In the above embodiment, as illustrated in
In the above embodiment, as illustrated in
The present disclosure is not limited to an ink jet printer and an ink cartridge thereof, but can be applied to any printing device that ejects a liquid other than ink, and a cartridge thereof. For example, the present disclosure can be applied to the following various printing devices and cartridges thereof.
(1) Image recording device such as facsimile machine
(2) Printing device that ejects color material used for manufacturing color filter for image display device such as liquid crystal display
(3) Printing device that ejects electrode material used for forming electrode such as organic electroluminescence (EL) display or field emission display (FED)
(4) Printing device that ejects liquid containing bioorganic substance used for manufacturing biochip
(5) Sample printing device as precision pipette
(6) Printing device of lubricating oil
(7) Printing device of resin liquid
(8) Printing device that ejects lubricating oil onto precision machine such as watch or camera in pinpoint manner
(9) Printing device that ejects transparent resin liquid such as ultraviolet curable resin liquid onto substrate in order to form microhemispherical lens (optical lens) or the like used for optical communication element or the like
(10) Printing device that ejects acidic or alkaline etchant in order to etch substrate or the like
(11) Printing device including liquid ejecting head that ejects other arbitrary minute amounts of droplets
Note that the “droplet” refers to a state of the liquid discharged from the printing device, and includes those leaving a trail in a granular shape, a tear shape, or a thread shape. In addition, the “liquid” mentioned here may be any material that can be ejected by the printing device. For example, the “liquid” may be a material in a state when a substance is in a liquid phase, and materials in a liquid state in which viscosity is high or low and materials in a liquid state such as sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals are also included in the “liquid”. In addition, not only a liquid as one state of a substance, but also a liquid in which particles of a functional material formed of a solid substance such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent is included in the “liquid”. In addition, typical examples of the liquid can include the ink as described in the above embodiment, liquid crystal, or the like. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks, oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks.
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be realized by various configurations without deviating from the spirit thereof. For example, technical features of an embodiment corresponding to technical features in each of aspects described below can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the problems described above or achieve some or all of the effects described above. In addition, when the technical feature is not described as essential in the present specification, the technical feature can be appropriately deleted.
(1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device including a liquid introduction portion that receives a liquid, a device side terminal, a device side terminal positioning portion, and a device side supply portion positioning portion. The cartridge includes a cartridge side terminal that is electrically coupled to the device side terminal, a liquid supply portion that is coupled to the liquid introduction portion and that makes the liquid flow to the liquid introduction portion, a terminal positioning portion that performs positioning by receiving the device side terminal positioning portion to regulate movement of the cartridge side terminal with respect to the device side terminal, and a supply portion positioning portion that performs positioning by receiving the device side supply portion positioning portion to regulate movement of the liquid supply portion with respect to the liquid introduction portion. A first direction is a direction intersecting a second direction, the first direction being a direction in which the terminal positioning portion extends, the second direction being a direction in which the supply portion positioning portion extends. According to this aspect, positioning of the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal can be performed by the terminal positioning portion, and positioning of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion can be performed by the supply portion positioning portion. As a result, it is possible to reduce a possibility that locations of the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal or locations of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion will be deviated from each other. In addition, the first direction and the second direction intersect each other, so that the liquid supply portion and the cartridge side terminal do not need to be provided on the same wall of the cartridge, and a degree of freedom in arrangement of the liquid supply portion and the cartridge side terminal is thus improved.
(2) In the above aspect, the cartridge may further include a front wall located on a side of an insertion direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, a rear wall that faces the front wall in a first facing direction along the insertion direction, a bottom wall at which the liquid supply portion is arranged, a top wall facing the bottom wall in a second facing direction intersecting the first facing direction, and a corner portion where the front wall and the bottom wall intersect each other and where the cartridge side terminal is arranged. The first direction may be parallel to the first facing direction, and the second direction may be parallel to the second facing direction. According to this aspect, positioning of the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal can be performed by the terminal positioning portion extending in the first direction parallel to the first facing direction, and positioning of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion can be performed by the supply portion positioning portion extending in the second direction parallel to the second facing direction.
(3) In the above aspect, the terminal positioning portion may be a groove formed in the corner portion, and the supply portion positioning portion may be a recess portion formed in the bottom wall. According to this aspect, the terminal positioning portion and the supply portion positioning portion can be easily formed.
(4) In the above aspect, the supply portion positioning portion may be located on an opposite side of the liquid supply portion from the cartridge side terminal in the insertion direction. According to this aspect, when the cartridge is rotationally moved with a side of the cartridge side terminal as a rotation fulcrum to couple the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion to each other, a distance between the rotation fulcrum and the supply portion positioning portion can be increased. By increasing the distance between the rotation fulcrum and the supply portion positioning portion, a curvature of a movement locus of the supply portion positioning portion at the time of rotationally moving the cartridge can be decreased. As a result, the supply portion positioning portion can easily receive the device side terminal positioning portion.
(5) In the above aspect, the cartridge may further include a cartridge guide portion that extends along an insertion direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion and that is guided in the insertion direction by the cartridge mounting portion. According to this aspect, the cartridge can be smoothly moved in the insertion direction by the cartridge guide portion.
(6) In the above aspect, in a mounted state that the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, a tip opening of the liquid supply portion may be arranged at a location lower than a location of the cartridge side terminal. According to this aspect, even though the liquid is leaked from the tip opening of the liquid supply portion, a possibility that the leaked liquid will adhere to the cartridge side terminal can be reduced.
(7) In the above aspect, in an insertion direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, the cartridge side terminal may be located on a side of the insertion direction with respect to the liquid supply portion. According to this aspect, the cartridge side terminal can be easily designed so that a coupling between the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion is made after an electrical coupling between the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal is made.
(8) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing system. The printing system includes a printing device that includes a cartridge mounting portion; and the cartridge according to the above aspect. According to this aspect, positioning of the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal can be performed by the terminal positioning portion, and positioning of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion can be performed by the supply portion positioning portion. As a result, it is possible to reduce a possibility that locations of the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal or locations of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion will be deviated from each other. In addition, the first direction and the second direction intersect each other, so that the liquid supply portion and the cartridge side terminal do not need to be provided on the same wall of the cartridge, and a degree of freedom in arrangement of the liquid supply portion and the cartridge side terminal is thus improved.
(9) According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing device mounted with a cartridge including a cartridge side terminal, a liquid supply portion, a terminal positioning portion, and a supply portion positioning portion. The printing device includes a cartridge mounting portion that forms an accommodation chamber accommodating the cartridge and that has a support member supporting the cartridge. The cartridge mounting portion includes a liquid introduction portion coupled to the liquid supply portion, a device side terminal electrically coupled to the cartridge side terminal, a device side terminal positioning portion that performs positioning by being received by the terminal positioning portion to regulate movement of the cartridge side terminal with respect to the device side terminal, and a device side supply portion positioning portion that performs positioning by being received by the supply portion positioning portion to regulate movement of the liquid supply portion with respect to the liquid introduction portion, and a device first direction is a direction intersecting a device second direction, the device first direction being a direction in which the device side terminal positioning portion extends, the device second direction being a direction in which the device side supply portion positioning portion extends. According to this aspect, positioning of the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal can be performed by the device side terminal positioning portion, and positioning of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion can be performed by the device side supply portion positioning portion. As a result, it is possible to reduce a possibility that locations of the cartridge side terminal and the device side terminal or locations of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion will be deviated from each other. In addition, the device first direction and the device second direction intersect each other, so that the liquid introduction portion and the device side terminal do not need to be provided on the same wall of the cartridge mounting portion, and a degree of freedom in arrangement of the liquid supply portion and the device side terminal is thus improved.
(10) In the above aspect, the printing device may further include a first device wall that has an insertion/removal opening which is an entrance/exit of the accommodation chamber, a device bottom wall that is formed by the support member, that has an opening, and that intersects the first device wall, and a displacement mechanism that displaces, by the support member being moved, the opening toward a gravity direction such that a tip portion of the liquid introduction portion and a tip portion of the device side supply portion positioning portion are arranged in the accommodation chamber through the opening. The liquid introduction portion and the device side supply portion positioning portion may be located on an opposite side of the support member from the accommodation chamber. According to the present embodiment, the device side terminal positioning portion and the device side supply portion positioning portion are located on the opposite side of the support member from the accommodation chamber, so that it is possible to prevent the liquid introduction portion and the device side supply portion positioning portion from colliding with the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the accommodation chamber.
The present disclosure can be realized in an aspect such a method of manufacturing a cartridge and a mechanism that mounts a cartridge in a cartridge mounting portion, in addition to the above aspects.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2020-160618 | Sep 2020 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220097389 A1 | Mar 2022 | US |
