JP2001080090A - Image recording device and cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] Cost reduction is not sufficient. SOLUTION: Cartridges 1y, 1m, 1c of each color,
1k includes a box-shaped case main body 12, a lid member 13 covering an opening of the case main body 12, and a pin member 14 for color type identification.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and a cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, as an ink jet recording apparatus used as an image forming apparatus (image recording apparatus) such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, a plotter, etc., a nozzle hole for discharging ink droplets and a discharge chamber in which the nozzle hole communicates. This is an inkjet head having (a pressure chamber, a pressurized liquid chamber, a liquid chamber, an ink flow path, etc.) and energy generating means for generating energy for pressurizing ink as a recording material in the discharge chamber. The recording head is mounted on the carriage, the carriage is moved in the main scanning direction, and the recording medium (the medium to which the ink droplets adhere) is transported in the sub-scanning direction.
There is known a serial type in which an image is recorded on a recording medium by discharging ink droplets from a recording head.

In such a serial type ink jet recording apparatus, ink must be supplied to a recording head mounted on a carriage, and generally, an ink cartridge (or ink tank) for supplying ink together with the recording head to the carriage. ), A large-capacity ink cartridge is provided in the main body of the recording apparatus, and ink is supplied to a recording head or a small-capacity tank mounted on the carriage via a tube, or a small-capacity sub-tank is provided in the carriage. A large-capacity main tank is provided on the main body side of the recording apparatus, and ink is supplied from the main tank to the sub-tank in a stand system. The term “cartridge” used in the present specification is a general term for ink cartridges, ink tanks, tanks, cartridges, and the like in all of these forms (carriage mounting system, tube supply system, stand system, etc.). It is.

In a color ink jet recording apparatus using a plurality of color inks, a cartridge of each color must be correctly mounted on a carriage or a main body of the recording apparatus.
JP-A-6-73962 discloses a configuration in which a plurality of ribs are provided on the front end surface of an ink cassette and a groove corresponding to the rib position is provided in a cassette storage portion of a recording apparatus main body. As described, a plurality of cutout grooves that can be cut by a cutter are provided on the front end surface of an ink cassette. As described in JP-A-10-86402, ribs are formed above and below the front end of an ink cassette. There is known a configuration in which the upper rib is used for a color type, the lower rib is used for up / down detection, and a corresponding groove is provided in the recording apparatus main body.

[0005]

However, in the above configuration, since the cartridge can be inserted to a certain depth in the main body mounting portion, an error may not be noticed if all are inserted at different positions. At the same time, the cartridge case has to be individually manufactured for each color, which causes a problem of high cost.

In the above configuration, the cartridge case can be used in common, but the operation of cutting off the cutout portion with a knife or the like is required, which is troublesome and costly. There is a problem in that if burrs or the like remain in the resection part, it may cause malfunction.

In the above configuration, the above-mentioned problem of being pressed into a certain degree is solved, but a cover member forming the end of the cartridge case requires a number of colors for the cover member.
Further, there is a problem that the rib shape on the lid side and the groove shape on the recording apparatus main body side are complicated, and the cost is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a cartridge capable of reducing costs and an image recording apparatus to which the cartridge can be applied.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a cartridge according to the present invention comprises a box-shaped case body for accommodating a recording material or a holding member holding the recording material, and an opening of the case body. And a pin member for identifying the color type of the recording material.

Here, the pin member is preferably formed integrally with the lid member. Further, it is preferable that the case member has a number of pin holes corresponding to a color type into which the pin member is pressed. Further, it is preferable that the case body has a notch on a surface facing the side on which the pin member is mounted.

An image recording apparatus according to the present invention has a holder member for holding a cartridge, and a guide for guiding a color type identification pin member provided on the cartridge in an insertion direction in a cartridge holding portion of the holder member. The groove is provided at a position corresponding to the color type.

Here, in the cartridge holding portion of the holder member, when a notch portion is formed in the cartridge, a convex portion corresponding to the formed notch portion is formed along the cartridge insertion direction. Is preferred.

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the plurality of cartridges are configured such that components for identifying a color type and for identifying a vertical position have the same shape.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a plan view of a main part showing a state in which a cartridge to which the present invention is applied is mounted on an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a right side view of FIG.

In this image recording apparatus, cartridges 1y, 1m, 1c, and 1k of respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) are installed in the main body of the recording apparatus.
And a holder member 2 which can be exchangeably mounted. The holder member 2 is fixed to the main body of the recording apparatus, and supplies ink as a recording material in the cartridge 1 to a recording head (not shown) via a tube 4 connected to a joint 3.

The recording head may be one mounted on a carriage or a linear so-called line head. Further, when an ink jet head that discharges ink droplets is used as a recording head, an electromechanical conversion element such as a piezoelectric element is used as an energy generation unit that generates energy for pressurizing the ink. To pressurize the ink, to pressurize the ink in the ink flow path by generating bubbles by film boiling using an electro-thermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, and to face the diaphragm forming the wall of the ink flow path An electrode or the like that displaces the diaphragm with electrostatic force to pressurize the ink in the ink flow path can be used.

Each color cartridge 1y, 1m, 1c, 1
k is a box-shaped case body 12 for accommodating an ink bag holding ink as a recording material, as shown in FIGS.
And a lid member 13 that covers the opening of the case body 12,
And a pin member 14 for identifying the color type of the recording material mounted on the case body 12.

A supply port 15 corresponding to the joint 3 of the holder member 2 is provided on the back side of the case body 12, and four pin holes are provided on the upper side of the case body 12 as shown in FIG. 16 (codes 16y, 16m, 16c, 16 for each color)
Use k. ) Are formed, and these pin holes 16y, 16
The pin member 14 is press-fitted into the pin hole 16 corresponding to the color of the ink contained among m, 16c, and 16k.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the pin member 14 is formed integrally with the lid member 13 with the support portion 17 interposed therebetween. The support portion 17 has a notch in the cover in order to separate the mold for the cover member 13 up and down. As shown in FIG. 9, the pin member 14 is bent from the inside of the case main body 12 with the support portion 17 bent.
Is lightly press-fitted into the pin hole 16.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a notch 18 is formed in the lower corner of the case body 12, that is, on the surface facing the pin hole 16, in the cartridge insertion direction. ing. Further, the front upper end portion 19 and the lower end portion 20 of the case body 12 are slightly projected from the other upper and lower surfaces. Furthermore, the case body 12 and the lid member 13 are formed with concave portions 22 and 23 respectively on the front side.

The case body 12 and the lid member 13 having the pin member 14 can be formed by injection molding of a resin such as PP (polypropylene) or PS (polystyrene).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the holder member 2 has cartridge holding portions 30 into which the cartridges 1y, 1m, 1c, and 1k are inserted. A guide groove 31 is formed to guide the color type identifying pin member 14 provided in each of the inserted cartridges 1y, 1m, 1c, and 1k in the insertion direction.

Each cartridge holding portion 30 of the holder member 2 has a projection 32 corresponding to the notch 18 formed in each of the cartridges 1y, 1m, 1c and 1k along the cartridge insertion direction.

As described above, the cartridges 1y, 1m, 1m
c and 1k each have a box-shaped case main body 12, a lid member 13 for covering the opening of the case main body 12, and a pin member 14 for identifying the color type of the recording material. Cartridge can be configured, the components can be shared, and the cost can be significantly reduced.

A pin member 14 is formed integrally with the lid member 13 via a supporting portion 17, and the pin member 14 is bent from the supporting portion 17 so that a pin hole of the case body 12 is formed from the inside of the case body 12. Light press-fitting into 16 reduces the number of parts, lowers costs, makes quality uniform, enables stable production, and changes the color of each color simply by changing the press-fit position of the pin member. , And there is no hindrance to the production plan of each color cartridge.

On the other hand, in the holder member 2 of the image recording apparatus, guide grooves 31 for guiding the color type identifying pin members 14 provided in the cartridges 1y, 1m, 1c, and 1k of the respective colors to be inserted in the insertion direction are provided for the respective colors. Since the cartridges are formed at the corresponding positions, the cartridge of each color can be
Can be attached to

In each cartridge holding section 30 of the holder member 2, a projection 32 corresponding to the notch 18 formed in the cartridge 1y, 1m, 1c, 1k is formed along the cartridge insertion direction. The cartridges can be mounted without making any mistake in the vertical direction.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus and its ink cartridge. However, for example, a thermal printer and its ink sheet cassette, a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile and its toner cartridge, etc. Can also be applied. Further, the present invention is applied to the tube-supply type image recording apparatus and cartridge, but can also be applied to a carriage mounting type and a stand type.

[0029]

As described above, according to the cartridge of the present invention, a box-shaped case main body for accommodating a recording material or a holding member holding the recording material, and a lid member for covering the opening of the case main body. And a pin member for identifying the color type of the recording material, so that the cost can be reduced by the use of common components, and the die investment and production equipment (jigs) can be significantly reduced. .

Here, by integrally molding the pin member with the lid member, the number of parts can be further reduced, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the case body has a number of pin holes corresponding to the color type in which the pin member is press-fitted, the color type can be identified simply by changing the pin hole in which the pin member is press-fitted. It can be aimed at.

According to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, there is provided a holder member for holding a cartridge, and the holder member is provided with a color guide groove for guiding a color type identification pin member provided in the cartridge in the insertion direction. Since the cartridge is provided at a position corresponding to the type, the cartridge components can be shared, and erroneous mounting can be prevented. Here, when the cutout portion is formed in the cartridge, the holder member can prevent the cartridge from being erroneously mounted in the up-down direction by forming the protrusion corresponding to the cutout portion in the insertion direction of the cartridge. Become like

Further, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the components for identifying the color type of the plurality of cartridges and determining the vertical position have the same shape. Cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part plan view showing a state in which a cartridge to which the present invention is applied is mounted on an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right perspective explanatory view of a cartridge to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory left perspective view of the cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the cartridge.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of a corner of a case body of the cartridge.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory perspective view of a corner of a lid member of the cartridge.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory perspective view of a corner portion of the cartridge.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a main part of a holder member of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

1y, 1m, 1c, 1k ... cartridge, 2 ... holder member, 12 ... case body, 13 ... lid member, 14 ... pin member, 16y, 16m, 16c, 16k ... pin hole, 18 ...
Notch portion, 30: cartridge holding portion, 31: guide groove, 32: convex portion.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A cartridge detachably mounted on an image recording apparatus, comprising: a box-shaped case main body containing a recording material or a holding member holding the recording material; a lid member covering an opening of the case main body; And a pin member for identifying a color type of the recording material. 2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said pin member is formed integrally with said lid member. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the case member has a number of pin holes corresponding to a color type for press-fitting the pin member. 4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the case body has a cutout on a surface facing a side on which the pin member is mounted. 5. An image recording apparatus in which a cartridge of a plurality of colors for holding a recording material can be mounted, the image recording apparatus having a holder member for holding the cartridge, the cartridge holding portion of the holder member being provided in the cartridge. An image recording apparatus comprising: a guide groove for guiding a color type identification pin member in an insertion direction at a position corresponding to a color type. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a protrusion corresponding to a notch formed in the cartridge is formed in a cartridge holding portion of the holder member along an insertion direction of the cartridge. An image recording apparatus, comprising: 7. An image recording apparatus in which a plurality of cartridges accommodating recording materials of a plurality of colors are mounted, wherein the plurality of cartridges have the same shape for a component for identifying a color type and for identifying a vertical position. An image recording apparatus characterized by the following.