INK CARTRIDGE HOLDING DEVICE

Abstract

An ink cartridge holding device includes: a holder holding the ink cartridge and having an opening so as to allow the ink cartridge to be inserted and withdrawn through the opening; a door which is attached to the holder and is pivotable between (a) an open position at which the opening is uncovered for permitting insertion and withdrawal and (b) a closed position at which the opening is covered for inhibiting the insertion and withdrawal; a locking member which is attached to the door and is displacable between (A) an engaging position in which the locking member is engaged with the holder for locking the door at the closed position and (B) a releasing position in which the locking member is released from the holder so as to allow the door to be pivoted from the closed position. The locking member is displaced, when the door is pivoted from the open position to the closed position, from the releasing position to the engaging position via a transitional state in which a pressing portion presses a pressing-force receiving surface while the pressing portion is moved relative to and along the pressing-force receiving surface. The pressing-force receiving surface of the locking member is a curved surface whose inclination continuously varies in a direction in which the pressing-force receiving surface and the pressing portion are moved relative to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and optional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagonal view showing a Multi Function Device (MFD) as an ink recording apparatus which has an ink cartridge holding device and an ink cartridge holder as an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the MFD schematically showing an inner constitution thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view of the MFD schematically showing an inner constitution of a scanner section thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view of the MFD schematically showing an inner constitution of a printer section thereof;

FIG. 5 is a diagonal view of a refill unit of the MFD as the ink cartridge holding device;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an opening-losing lid and the refill unit of the MFD;

FIG. 7A is a view schematically showing a shape of a partition wall as one of various examples which is applicable to the ink cartridge holder;

FIG. 7B is a view showing a shape of the partition wall as another one of various examples;

FIG. 7C is a view showing a converted shape of the partition wall as another one of various examples;

FIG. 7D is a view showing a converted shape of the partition wall as another one of various examples;

FIG. 7E is a view showing a shape of the partition wall as another one of various examples;

FIG. 7F is a view showing a shape of the partition wall as another one of various examples;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a case of the refill unit as the ink cartridge holder;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IXA-IXA indicated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IXB-IXB indicated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a body of the refill unit;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the body of the refill unit;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a door unit of the refill unit;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the door member of the refill unit;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIV-XIV indicated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a the door unit;

FIG. 16 is a view schematically showing a movement of a locking member and a release lever of the refill unit;

FIG. 17A is a view schematically showing a movement of the locking member and the release lever of the refill unit;

FIG. 17B is a view schematically showing a movement of the locking member and the release lever of the refill unit;

FIG. 17C is a view schematically showing a movement of the locking member and the release lever of the refill unit;

FIG. 17D is a view schematically showing a movement of the locking member and the release lever of the refill unit;

FIG. 18A is a diagonal view of a converted release lever of the refill unit as an example;

FIG. 18B is a view schematically showing a movement of the locking member and the converted release lever of the refill unit;

FIG. 19 is a side view of an ink cartridge;

FIG. 20 is a diagonal view of the ink cartridge;

FIG. 21A is a view showing a structure for fitting a lower portion of the ink cartridge and a lower portion of the case to each other;

FIG. 21B is a view showing a structure for fitting the ink cartridge and a pair of drawer portions to each other; and

FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing a construction of a conventional ink cartridge and conventional cartridge holder.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge holding device for holding an ink cartridge, comprising: a holder holding the ink cartridge and having an opening so as to allow the ink cartridge to be inserted thereinto and withdrawn therefrom through the opening;a door which is attached to the holder and is pivotable between (a) an open position at which the opening is uncovered for permitting insertion and withdrawal of the ink cartridge through the opening into and from the holder and (b) a closed position at which the opening is covered for inhibiting the insertion and withdrawal of the ink cartridge through the opening,a locking member which is attached to the door and is displacable between (A) an engaging position in which the locking member is engaged with the holder for locking the door at the closed position and (B) a releasing position in which the locking member is released from the holder so as to allow the door to be pivoted from the closed position,wherein the locking member is displaced, when the door is pivoted from the open position to the closed position, from the releasing position to the engaging position via a transitional state in which a pressing portion that is a part of the holder presses a pressing-force receiving surface provided on a part of the locking member while the pressing portion is moved relative to and along the pressing-force receiving surface, andwherein the pressing-force receiving surface of the locking member is a curved surface whose inclination continuously varies in a direction in which the pressing-force receiving surface and the pressing portion of the holder are moved relative to each other.

2. The ink cartridge holding device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member which is provided on the door for biasing the locking member in a direction away from the releasing position toward the engaging position and is arranged such that the pressing portion of the holder presses the pressing-force receiving surface of the locking member due to a biasing force of the biasing member that is applied to the locking member.

3. The ink cartridge holding device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing-force receiving surface of the locking member is configured such that a gradient of variation of a pressing force of the pressing portion acting onto the pressing-force receiving surface gradually becomes smaller as the door is pivoted from the open position toward the closed position.

4. The ink cartridge holding device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing-force receiving surface of the locking member is configured such that velocity of a pivot movement of the door gradually becomes greater, the pivot movement of the door being restrained by pressing action of the pressing portion of the holder against the pressing-force receiving surface, where the door is pivoted with a force applied to the door being constant.

5. The ink cartridge holding device according to claim 1, which is configured such that the ink cartridge is pressed by pivot movement of the door from the open position to the closed position, whereby the ink cartridge is inserted into the holder up to a predetermined position in an interior of the holder.

6. The ink cartridge holding device according to claim 5, wherein the holder has an ink extracting portion which is to be connected to the ink cartridge for extracting ink stored therein and an air introducing portion which is to be connected to the ink cartridge for introducing air thereinto, and which is configured such that the air introducing portion is connected to the ink cartridge before the ink extracting portion is connected to the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is inserted into the holder.

7. The ink cartridge holding device according to claim 6, which is configured such that the ink extracting portion is not yet connected to the ink cartridge at a timing at which the pressing portion of the holder starts to press the pressing-force receiving surface of the locking member when the ink cartridge is inserted into the holder up to the predetermined position by the pivot movement of the door from the open position to the closed position.