JP2013075485A - Printing liquid cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing fluid cartridge capable of preventing dripping of a printing fluid when the printing fluid cartridge is taken out from a cartridge mounting portion by a structure that is not easily damaged.
An ink cartridge 30 extends along a front-rear direction 53, a main body 31 that stores ink, a locking surface 46 that is orthogonal to a support surface 47 of the main body 31 and that engages with an engaging member 145. The front end portion 81 and the rear end portion 82 are provided. The front end portion 81 and the rear end portion 82 are pivotable about a shaft 83 having the left-right direction 51 as an axial direction, and the engagement between the locking surface 46 and the engaging member 145 can be released. And a release lever 80. The distal end portion 81 rotates between a first position away from the support surface 47 and a second position that contacts the support surface 47. The distal end portion 82 is on the support surface 47 side from the outward end of the locking surface 46 in the first position.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion.

  Conventionally, an image recording apparatus that records an image on recording paper using ink is known. This image recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head, and selectively ejects ink droplets from a nozzle of the recording head toward a recording sheet. The ink droplets land on the recording paper, whereby a desired image is recorded on the recording paper. This image recording apparatus is provided with an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head. The ink cartridge is detachable from a mounting portion provided in the image recording apparatus.

  When the ink in the ink cartridge runs out, the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting portion of the image recording apparatus, and a new ink cartridge for storing ink is mounted on the mounting portion. There is a known lock structure for positioning the ink cartridge in the mounting portion and for holding the mounting state of the ink cartridge. Also, a biasing member that biases the ink cartridge in a direction in which the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting portion in a state where the ink cartridge is locked by the lock structure is known. When the ink cartridge is removed from the mounting portion, the lock by the lock structure is released, and the ink cartridge moves toward the opening by the force received from the urging member. This makes it easy for the user to take out the ink cartridge from the mounting portion.

  Further, the ink cartridge may jump out of the mounting portion due to the force that the ink cartridge receives from the biasing member via the slider. There is a possibility that the ink cartridge may fall on the floor or the like and be damaged. In order to prevent these, a configuration for preventing the ink cartridge from popping out is known (Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-110777 A

  In the configuration described in Patent Literature 1, the mounting mechanism (29) is provided with an operation lever (30). The control lever (30) is provided with a restricting locking portion (30b). The restricting locking portion (30b) serves as a concave portion of the ink cartridge (22) when the ink cartridge (22) is detached. It is latched by the regulated latching portion (22a). This prevents the ink cartridge (22) from being urged in the attaching / detaching direction by the spring (36).

  However, when the mounting mechanism (29) is provided with an operation lever, it is necessary to secure a space where the user can operate the opening mechanism around the opening of the mounting mechanism (29). It has become.

  Further, the configuration described in Patent Document 1 is merely stopped at the locked portion (22a) for restriction on the movement of the ink cartridge (22) that has popped out vigorously due to the urging force of the spring. When the operation lever is locked to the restriction locked portion (22a), the ink cartridge (22) may come out of the ink supply needle vigorously. When the ink supply needle is detached from the ink cartridge (22), there may be a problem that ink drops from the ink supply needle.

  By the way, when the user handles the ink cartridge, it is assumed that the user accidentally drops it on the floor or the like. If the ink cartridge parts are damaged due to the impact of dropping the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge may not be usable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent printing fluid from dripping when the printing fluid cartridge is taken out from the cartridge mounting portion with a structure that is not easily damaged. It is to provide a fluid cartridge.

  The present invention relates to a printing fluid cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion having an engaging member capable of engaging a printing fluid cartridge against an external force. The printing fluid cartridge has a main body that stores the printing fluid, an outward direction that intersects a first surface that is an outer surface of the main body, a second surface that engages with the engagement member, and the second surface. It extends along the intersecting direction and has a first end on the second surface side and a second end opposite to the first end, and is parallel to the first surface and the second surface. A pivot member that pivots around a support shaft having a direction as an axial direction and can release the engagement between the second surface and the engagement member. The first end rotates between a first position separated from the first surface and a second position closer to the first surface than the first position, and at the first position, , Located on the first surface side from the outward end of the second surface.

  In the mounted state in which the printing fluid cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion, the printing fluid cartridge receives an external force. The engaging member engages with the second surface to hold the printing fluid cartridge in the mounted state against an external force.

  When the printing fluid cartridge is replaced, the user rotates the rotating member so that the first end is at the first position. When the first end of the rotating member is in the first position, the engagement between the printing fluid cartridge and the engaging member is released. Since the user operates the rotating member, the printing fluid cartridge that is moved by the external force is stopped by the user's hand.

  The first end in the first position is closer to the first surface than the protruding end of the second surface of the main body. Therefore, the first end of the rotating member does not protrude outward from the main body.

  According to the present invention, since the engagement between the engaging member and the printing fluid cartridge is released when the user rotates the turning member, the printing fluid cartridge that pops out due to an external force is removed from the pipe through which the printing fluid flows. It can be held by the user's hand before coming off, and can be prevented from falling from the cartridge mounting portion. Moreover, since the 1st end of a rotation member does not protrude the outermost part of a main body, it can prevent that a 1st end is damaged by dropping.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a printer 10 including an ink supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 packaged in the packaging material 13. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the ink cartridge 30 taken out from the packaging material 13. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the cartridge mounting part 110. FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views illustrating a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110. 7A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, and FIG. 7B illustrates a process in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110. It is sectional drawing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example in which the present invention is embodied, and it is needless to say that the embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Overview of Printer 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 records an image by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto a recording sheet based on an ink jet recording method. The printer 10 includes an ink supply device 100. The ink supply device 100 is provided with a cartridge mounting portion 110. The ink cartridge 30 can be mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The cartridge mounting portion 110 is provided with an opening 112 whose one surface is open to the outside. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into or removed from the cartridge mounting part 110 through the opening 112.

  The ink cartridge 30 stores ink that can be used by the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected by the ink tube 20 in a state where the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110. The recording head 21 is provided with a sub tank 28. The sub tank 28 temporarily stores the ink supplied through the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 selectively ejects the ink supplied from the sub tank 28 from the nozzles 29 by the ink jet recording method.

  The recording paper fed from the paper feed tray 15 to the transport path 24 by the paper feed roller 23 is transported onto the platen 26 by the transport roller pair 25. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto a recording sheet that passes over the platen 26. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording paper. The recording sheet that has passed through the platen 26 is discharged by a discharge roller pair 22 to a discharge tray 16 provided on the most downstream side of the transport path 24.

[Ink cartridge 30]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the ink cartridge 30 is a container for storing ink. As shown in FIG. 2, the ink cartridge 30 is packaged in the packaging material 13 during storage and transportation after manufacture. The packaging material 13 is obtained by processing a sheet material having low gas permeability into a bag shape, such as a synthetic resin film deposited with aluminum. The periphery of the ink cartridge 30 is sealed with the packaging material 13. Further, the air existing between the packaging material 13 and the ink cartridge 30 is decompressed. Here, the space between the packaging material 13 and the ink cartridge 30 does not need to be a vacuum, and may be a pressure sufficiently lower than the atmospheric pressure. Such depressurization is performed for the purpose of maintaining the state of the depressurized air layer in order to prevent the air existing in the air layer of the ink chamber 36 from being dissolved in the ink. The ink cartridge 30 is taken out from the packaging material 13 in use.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a space formed inside the ink cartridge 30 is an ink chamber 36 that stores ink. The ink chamber 36 may be formed by an internal frame that is a member different from the casing of the main body 31 that forms the appearance of the ink cartridge 30, or may be formed by the casing of the main body 31.

  3 and 4, the ink cartridge 30 is indicated by an arrow 50 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion 110 with the lower surface in the drawing as the bottom surface and the upper surface in the drawing as the top surface. (See FIG. 5, hereinafter referred to as “insertion and removal direction 50”). The insertion and removal direction 50 is along the horizontal direction. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 while standing. This standing state corresponds to the mounting posture. The direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit 110 is the insertion direction 56 along the horizontal direction, and the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is removed is the extraction direction 55. Further, the vertical direction 52 in the standing state corresponds to the gravity direction (vertical direction). In other words, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 110 along the insertion / removal direction 50 and is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 along the insertion / removal direction 50. In the present embodiment, the insertion and removal direction 50 is along the horizontal direction, but the insertion and removal direction 50 may be a gravity direction or a direction that intersects the horizontal direction and the gravity direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ink cartridge 30 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 31. The ink cartridge 30 is generally thin in the left-right direction 51 and has a flat shape in which the up-down direction 52 and the front-rear direction 53 are larger than the left-right direction 51. The wall on the front side of the insertion direction 56 when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 is the front wall 40, and the wall on the rear side of the insertion direction 56 is the rear wall 42. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 face each other in the insertion and extraction direction 50. The front wall 40 and the rear wall 42 connect a pair of left and right side walls 37, 38 extending in the insertion and extraction direction 50, the side walls 37, 38 and the front wall 40 and the rear wall 42, and from the upper end of the front wall 40 to the rear wall. The upper wall 39 extends toward the upper end of the front wall 42, and the lower wall 41 extends from the lower end of the front wall 40 toward the lower end of the rear wall 42. The insertion and removal direction 50 is parallel to the front-rear direction 53. The outer surface of the front wall 40 corresponds to the front surface. The outer surface of the rear wall 42 corresponds to the rear surface. The outer surface of the upper wall 39 corresponds to the upper surface. The outer surface of the lower wall 41 corresponds to the bottom surface.

[Main unit 31]
An ink supply unit 34 is provided below the front wall 40 of the main body 31. The ink supply unit 34 has a cylindrical outer shape, and projects outward from the front wall 40 along the insertion and extraction direction 50. An ink supply port 71 is formed at the protruding end of the ink supply unit 34.

  An ink flow path 72 extending from the ink supply port 71 through the internal space of the ink supply unit 34 in the insertion and extraction direction 50 to the ink chamber 36 is formed. The ink supply port 71 is configured to be opened and closed by an ink supply valve 70. When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 110, the ink needle 122 (see FIG. 5) provided in the cartridge attachment portion 110 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 and the ink supply valve 70 is opened. As a result, the ink flows out from the ink chamber 36 through the ink flow path 72 to the ink needle 122 provided in the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  The ink supply port 71 is not necessarily limited to a configuration that can be opened and closed by the ink supply valve 70. For example, the ink supply port 71 is closed with a film or the like, and the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110. The ink supply port 71 may be opened by the ink needle 122 breaking through the film.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a protrusion 86 is provided on the lower end of the front wall 40 of the main body 31. Accordingly, the protrusion 86 is disposed below the ink supply unit 34. The width of the protrusion 86 is the same as the width of the front wall 40. The protrusion 86 protrudes from the front wall 40 in a direction away from the rear wall 42 (insertion direction 56). The tip of the protrusion 86 protrudes to the front side of the ink supply port 71 that is the tip of the ink supply unit 34 in a direction away from the rear wall 42 (insertion direction 56). When the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protruding end of the protrusion 86 contacts the slide member 135 (see FIG. 5) of the cartridge mounting portion 110. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protrusion 86 is fitted into the guide groove 109 (see FIG. 5), and the ink cartridge 30 is guided in the insertion direction 56 by this fitting.

  A locking portion 45 is formed near the center of the upper wall 39 of the main body 31 in the front-rear direction 53. The locking portion 45 has a locking surface 46 that extends in the left-right direction 51 and the vertical direction 52 of the ink cartridge 30 and a support surface 47 that is recessed downward from the upper wall 39. The locking surface 46 and the support surface 47 are in a crossing relationship. The locking surface 46 extends upward from the front end of the support surface 47 and is connected to the upper wall 39. In the present embodiment, the locking surface 46 and the support surface 47 are orthogonal to each other. An engagement member 145 described later is engaged with the locking surface 46 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110. The locking portion 45 receives a biasing force that pushes the ink cartridge 30 in the removal direction 55. In the present embodiment, the locking surface 46 receives an urging force by being arranged so as to intersect the take-out direction 55. The support surface 47 corresponds to the first surface. The locking surface 46 corresponds to the second surface.

  In the locking portion 45, a pair of ribs 48 and 49 protrude upward from the support surface 47 from the locking surface 46 to the rear wall 42 side. Each of the ribs 48 and 49 extends from the locking surface 46 to the vicinity of the support shaft 83 of the release lever 80. That is, the ribs 48 and 49 are positioned laterally with respect to the axial direction of the support shaft 83. The upper ends of the ribs 48 and 49 each form the same surface as the outer surface of the upper wall 39. One of the side surfaces of each rib 48, 49 forms the same surface as the outer surface of the side walls 37, 38. A space recessed from the upper wall 39 is formed by the locking surface 46, the support surface 47, and the pair of ribs 48 and 49. A distal end portion 81 of a release lever 80, which will be described later, is accommodated in this recessed space. Each of the ribs 48 and 49 is fitted into the guide groove 108 (see FIG. 5) when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110, and the ink cartridge 30 is guided in the insertion direction 56 by this fitting. The ribs 48 and 49 correspond to projecting pieces.

  A release lever 80 is provided on the locking portion 45 of the main body 31. The release lever 80 has, for example, a bent flat plate shape, and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction 53. The release lever 80 is bent into an upwardly convex (mountain-folded) shape and downwardly convex (valley-folded) shape, and the shaft is located at a position bent into a downwardly convex (valley-folded) shape on the front wall 40 side. 83. The shaft 83 is rotatably attached to the main body 31 in the vicinity of the support surface 47 of the locking portion 45. The release lever 80 can rotate around the shaft 83. In the release lever 80, the front end portion 81 on the front wall 40 side extends from the shaft 83 to the locking surface 46 side. The rear end portion 82 of the release lever 80 extends from the shaft 83 to the rear wall 42 side.

  Between the shaft 83 and the rear end portion 82, a bent portion 84 is formed that is bent in an upward convex (mountain shape) shape. From the vicinity of the bent portion 84 to the rear end portion 82, the release lever 80 has a flat plate thickness that is thicker than other portions such as the front end portion 81. By increasing the thickness in the vicinity of the bent portion 84, the rigidity in the vicinity of the bent portion 84 is enhanced. The tip 81 corresponds to the first end. The rear end portion 82 corresponds to the second end.

  When the release lever 80 is rotated about the shaft 83, the distal end portion 81 moves between a first position that is away from the support surface 47 of the locking portion 45 and a second position that contacts the support surface 47. Rotate. In a state where no external force is applied to the release lever 80, the tip end 81 of the release lever 80 is in the first position due to its own weight. 3 and 4, the release lever 80 with the tip 81 in the first position is shown. Similarly, when the release lever 80 is rotated about the shaft 83, the rear end portion 82 is between a position away from the support surface 47 of the locking portion 45 and a position where the rear end portion 82 abuts on the support surface 47. Rotate. Regardless of the rotation position, the rear end portion 82 is located near the upper side of the rear wall 42, and the user can operate the rear end portion 82 from the rear wall 42 side.

  In a state where the front end portion 81 of the release lever 80 is in the first position and the rear end portion 82 is in contact with the support surface 47, the ridge line of the bent portion 84, that is, the upper end is from the front end portion 81 with respect to the support surface 47. Located on the top (outside).

[Ink supply apparatus 100]
As shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply device 100 is provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 supplies ink to the recording head 21 provided in the printer 10. The ink supply device 100 includes a cartridge mounting unit 110 in which the ink cartridge 30 can be mounted. FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Cartridge mounting part 110]
As shown in FIG. 5, the case 101 forming the housing of the cartridge mounting unit 110 has an opening 112 on the front side of the printer 10. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted into and removed from the case 101 through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is provided on the bottom surface defining the bottom of the internal space of the case 101 by inserting the upper wall 39 side into the guide groove 108 provided on the top surface defining the top of the internal space of the case 101. By inserting the lower wall 41 side into the guide groove 109 thus formed, the guide groove 109 is guided in the insertion and removal direction 50. Each of the guide grooves 108 and 109 is recessed from the top surface and the bottom surface in the vertical direction, and extends linearly along the insertion and extraction directions 50. The widths of the guide grooves 108 and 109 are slightly wider than the width of the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 (outside dimension in the left-right direction 51), and are substantially constant in the insertion and extraction directions 50.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a connection portion 103 is provided below the end surface 102 of the case 101. The connection portion 103 is disposed at a position corresponding to the ink supply portion 34 of each ink cartridge 30 attached to the case 101 on the final surface.

  The connection unit 103 includes an ink needle 122 and a holding unit 121. The ink needle 122 is made of a tubular resin needle. The ink needle 122 is connected to the ink tube 20 on the outer surface side that forms the front and back surfaces of the case 101. Each ink tube 20 drawn out from each ink needle 122 to the outer surface side that is the front and back of the case 101 is extended to the recording head 21 of the printer 10 so that ink can flow. In FIG. 5, the ink tube 20 is omitted.

  The holding part 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape. An ink needle 122 is disposed at the center of the holding part 121. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 110, the ink supply unit 34 is inserted inside the cylinder of the holding unit 121. At this time, the ink supply unit 34 is inserted while being positioned with respect to the holding unit 121 by the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply unit 34 coming into contact with the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the holding unit 121. When the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding unit 121, the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34. As a result, the ink stored in the ink chamber 36 can flow out. The ink that has flowed out of the ink chamber 36 flows into the ink needle 122.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the slide member 135 is disposed in a space 130 formed on the lower end side of the end surface of the cartridge mounting portion 110. The space 130 is continuous with the internal space of the cartridge mounting unit 110. The slide member 135 is slidable along the insertion / removal direction 50 in the space 130.

  The slide member 135 has an abutting piece 137 that protrudes upward from the upper surface of a base portion 136 that forms a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The base 136 is located below the bottom surface of the guide groove 109 and does not contact the protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30. The contact piece 137 protrudes to the upper side from the guide groove 109 and can contact the protrusion 86.

  A coil spring 140 is provided in the space 130. The coil spring 140 is connected to the base 136 of the slide member 135 and the end surface of the space 130 on the opening 112 side. The coil spring 140 elastically biases the ink cartridge 30 toward the opening 112, that is, in the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 is extracted from the cartridge mounting portion 110, that is, toward the opening 112. When the coil spring 140 has a natural length, that is, when no external force is applied to the slide member 135, the slide member 135 is disposed at a predetermined position on the opening 112 side. In the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge mounting portion 110, the protrusion 86 of the ink cartridge 30 comes into contact with the slide member 135, and the slide member 135 is pressed toward the end wall side of the space 130. As a result, the coil spring 140 is extended and the slide member 135 is slid to the position on the end wall side. The extended coil spring 140 urges the ink cartridge 30 toward the ejection direction 55 via the slide member 135.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the engaging member 145 is provided in the case 101. The engaging member 145 is for holding the ink cartridge 30 mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 110 in a mounted state. The engaging member 145 is provided above the opening 112 of the case 101.

  For example, the engaging member 145 is formed to be swingable about the support shaft 147. The support shaft 147 is provided, for example, at the end of the engagement member 145 on the opening 112 side. For example, the support shaft 147 is attached to the case 101. As a result, the engaging member 145 is rotatably supported on the upper side of the case 101 near the opening 112 so as to approach / separate from the opening 112 side around the support shaft 147.

  The engagement end 146 is disposed on the other end side of the support shaft 147 of the engagement member 145. The engagement end 146 can be engaged with the locking portion 45 of the ink cartridge 30. When the engagement end 146 engages with the locking portion 45, the ink cartridge 30 is held at the mounting position against the case 101 against the urging force of the slide member 135. The rotation position (see FIG. 7A) of the engagement member 145 where the engagement end 146 is engageable with the engagement portion 45 is referred to as a lock position, and the engagement end 146 is the engagement portion. A position that does not engage with 45 (see FIG. 7B) is referred to as an unlock position.

  The engagement member 145 has a lower end portion 148 extending from the engagement end portion 146 toward the support shaft 147. The lower end portion 148 extends toward the opening 112 to a position where the ink cartridge 30 can contact the tip end portion 81 of the release lever 80 in a state where the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 110. When the engaging member 145 is in the locked position, the outer surface of the lower end portion 148 extends substantially along the horizontal direction.

  The engaging member 145 rotates downward in the gravity direction by its own weight or a coil spring (not shown). When the distal end portion 81 of the release lever 80 moves upward, the engaging member 145 rotates upward about the support shaft 147 and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. Although not shown in each drawing, for example, the movable range of the engagement member 145 is restricted so as not to move downward from the unlock position.

[Installation operation of ink cartridge 30]
Hereinafter, the operation of mounting the ink cartridge 30 on the cartridge mounting unit 110 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, when the ink cartridge 30 is used, the packaging material 13 is broken and the ink cartridge 30 is taken out from the packaging material 13. Then, the ink cartridge 30 in the mounted posture is inserted into the case 101. At the time of insertion, the protruding end of the protrusion 86 at the foremost side of the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the opening 112. As shown in FIG. 6A, the protrusion 86 is inserted into the guide groove 109 by inserting the protruding end 87 into the guide groove 109 that opens to the opening 112. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 56, the upper wall 39 side of the main body 31 is inserted into the guide groove 108. The protrusion 86 is inserted into the guide groove 109, and the upper wall 39 side of the main body 31 is viewed in the guide groove 108, whereby the ink cartridge 30 is moved in the left-right direction in the case 101 (perpendicular to the paper surface with respect to FIGS. Direction). By supporting the bottom surface of the protrusion 86 on the bottom surface of the guide groove 109, the ink cartridge 30 is positioned in the case 101 in the downward direction.

  Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the end surface side of the case 101, the lower end portion 148 of the engaging member 145 rides on the upper wall 39 of the main body 31. Thereby, the engaging member 145 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 6 and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted to the end surface side of the case 101, the engaging member 145 slides on the upper wall 39 toward the locking portion 45.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the protrusion 86 contacts the contact piece 137 of the slide member 135 in the process of mounting the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting portion 110. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the end surface 102 side, the contact piece 137 is pressed toward the back side. Thereby, the slide member 135 moves to the back side while the coil spring 140 is elastically extended. When the coil spring 140 is elastically extended, a biasing force in the take-out direction 55 is applied to the protruding end of the protrusion 86 via the contact piece 137.

  The ink supply unit 34 of the ink cartridge 30 is in contact with the holding unit 121, and the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 of the ink supply unit 34. When the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71 to contact the valve 70 and the ink cartridge 30 is moved in the insertion direction 56, the valve 70 is pushed by the ink needle 122 and is separated from the ink supply port 71. Then, when the ink supply unit 34 is inserted into the holding unit 121 and the ink needle 122 is inserted into the ink supply port 71, the main body 31 of the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the case 101 at a predetermined position. The Although not shown in each figure, since the ink introduction port is provided at the tip of the ink needle 122, the ink flows from the ink chamber 36 into the ink needle 122 through the ink introduction port.

  When the ink cartridge 30 reaches the mounting position, the pair of ribs 48 and 49 of the main body 31 are fitted into the guide groove 108 as shown in FIG. Further, the locking surface 46 of the locking portion 45 of the main body 31 passes through the engaging end 146 of the engaging member 145 in the insertion direction 56. As a result, the engaging member 145 rotates clockwise in FIG. 7 and is positioned at the engaging portion 45, and the lower end portion 148 pushes down the distal end portion 81 of the release lever 80. As a result, the front end 81 of the release lever 80 is rotated from the first position to the second position, and the rear end 82 is separated from the support surface 47 and is rotated upward. When the distal end portion 81 is in the second position, the engagement end portion 146 of the engagement member 145 that is rotated clockwise contacts the locking surface 46. When the engaging member 145 is engaged with the locking surface 46, the ink cartridge 30 is held at the mounting position against the bias of the coil spring 140. In this way, the mounting of the ink cartridge 30 to the cartridge mounting unit 110 is completed.

  When the ink in the ink chamber 36 of the ink cartridge 30 is consumed, the used ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110 and a new ink cartridge 30 is mounted.

  When the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110, the rear end portion 82 of the release lever 80 is pushed downward by the user. Thereby, the front-end | tip part 81 of the cancellation | release lever 80 is rotated from a 2nd position to a 1st position. As the distal end portion 81 rotates, the engaging member 145 is pushed up by the distal end portion 81 of the release lever 80. As a result, the engagement member 145 is rotated until the engagement end 146 of the engagement member 145 is above the locking surface 46, that is, until the engagement end 146 is separated from the locking surface 46. That is, the engagement member 145 is rotated from the lock position to the unlock position, and the holding of the ink cartridge 30 by the engagement member 145 is released.

  When the engagement end 146 of the engagement member 145 is separated from the locking surface 46, the external force applied to the main body 31 via the protrusion 86, that is, the urging force by the coil spring 140 causes the main body 31 to move in the take-out direction. Try to move to 55. On the other hand, since the user pushes down the release lever 80 downward, the urging force by the coil spring 126 or the like is received by the user's hand through the release lever 80. Then, when the user takes out the main body 31 in the removal direction 55, the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, when the user rotates the release lever 80, the engagement between the engagement member 145 and the ink cartridge 30 is released, so that the ink cartridge that pops out due to an external force is released from the ink needle 122. The ink cartridge 30 can be held by the user's hand and the ink cartridge 30 can be prevented from dropping from the cartridge mounting portion 110.

  In the ink cartridge 30, the distal end portion 81 of the release lever 80 in the first position is closer to the support surface 47 than the upper end (projecting end) of the locking surface 46 of the main body 31. Accordingly, since the tip 81 of the release lever 80 does not protrude to the outermost side of the main body 31, even if the ink cartridge 30 is dropped on the floor, the tip 81 of the release lever 80 is prevented from being damaged. it can.

  In addition, since the bent portion 83 of the release lever 80 is positioned outside the support surface 47 with respect to the support portion 47 when the front end portion 81 is at the first position, the ink cartridge 30 is placed on the floor from the rear end portion 82 side. The tip 81 is protected by the bent portion 83 even if it is dropped. The vicinity of the bent portion 83 is thicker than other portions such as the distal end portion 81 of the release lever 80, and thus has high rigidity and is not easily damaged by an impact caused by dropping. Further, since the rear end portion 82 is in contact with the support surface 47 when the front end portion 81 is at the first position, the rear end portion 82 is not easily damaged by an impact caused by dropping.

  Further, since ribs 48 and 49 projecting outward from the support surface 47 are provided on the side of the shaft 83 of the release lever 80, the distal end portion 81 of the release lever 80 is also formed by the ribs 48 and 49. Protected from the impact of falling on the floor. Further, when the ink cartridge 30 is depressurized and sealed by the packaging material 13, there is no space between the packaging material 13 and each member of the ink cartridge 30, and the packaging material 13 comes into close contact so as to press the ink cartridge 30. The front end 81 of the release lever 80 is protected by the ribs 48 and 49 even against such close contact of the packaging material 13.

[Modification]
In the present embodiment, the locking surface 46 functions as the second surface according to the present invention, but the ribs 48 and 49 may function as the second surface. That is, even if the distal end portion 81 of the release lever 80 in the first position is outside the locking surface 46, if the ribs 48 and 49 are outside the distal end portion 81, the same as described above An effect is produced.

10 ... Printer (image recording device)
13: Packaging material 30: Ink cartridge (printing fluid cartridge)
31 ... Main body 40 ... Front wall (front)
42 ... rear wall (rear surface)
46 ... locking surface (second surface)
47 ... Support surface (first surface)
48, 49 ... rib (projection piece)
80 ... release lever 81 ... tip (first end)
82 ... rear end (second end)
83 ... axis 84 ... bent part

Claims (10)

A printing fluid cartridge mounted on a cartridge mounting portion having an engaging member capable of engaging a printing fluid cartridge against an external force,
A main body for storing the printing fluid;
A second surface that extends outwardly intersecting a first surface that is an outer surface of the main body, and engages with the engagement member;
The second surface is extended along a direction intersecting the second surface, and has a first end on the second surface side and a second end opposite to the first end, and the first surface and the first surface A pivot member that pivots about a support shaft whose axial direction is parallel to the two surfaces, and is capable of releasing the engagement between the second surface and the engagement member;
The first end rotates between a first position separated from the first surface and a second position closer to the first surface than the first position, and at the first position, A printing fluid cartridge located on the first surface side from the outward end of the second surface.   The said rotation member has a bending part located in the said 2nd end side when the said 1st end is a 1st position on the outer side with respect to the said 1st surface from the said 1st end. Printing fluid cartridge.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the rotating member has a flat plate shape elongated in a direction connecting the first end and the second end, and the bent portion is thicker than other portions. .   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the rotating member is configured such that the second end when the first end is in the first position is in contact with an outer surface of the main body. The first end is on the support shaft side of the rotating member from the first surface,
A protruding piece protruding outward from the first surface is provided on the side of the first end in the axial direction of the support shaft,
The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the protruding end of the protruding piece is located outside the first end at the first position.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the protruding piece is provided with a pair on both axial sides of the first end.   The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the pair of protrusions are guides for guiding the printing fluid cartridge to a mounting position in the cartridge mounting portion.   The printing fluid cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the printing fluid cartridge is sealed with a packaging material, and the internal space between the packaging material and the main body is depressurized to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. The main body has a front surface that is a front side in an insertion direction, and a rear surface that is separated from the front surface.
The printing fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member is disposed at a position operable from the rear surface side. A main body for storing the printing fluid;
A second surface extending outwardly intersecting the first surface which is the outer surface of the main body;
A rotating member provided on the first surface so as to be rotatable around a support shaft, and having a first end on one side in a direction intersecting the support shaft and a second end opposite to the first end; Comprising
The first end rotates between a first position separated from the first surface and a second position closer to the first surface than the first position, and at the first position, The printing fluid cartridge located on the first surface side from the outward end of the second surface.

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