Ink jet recorder and ink cartridge

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to an ink cartridge identification technique for supplying ink to a recording head that ejects ink droplets in response to a print signal in an appropriate negative pressure state.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Inkjet recording devices are usually equipped with an inkjet recording head that ejects ink droplets in response to a print signal on a carriage that reciprocates in the width direction of the recording paper, so that ink is supplied from an external ink tank to the recording head. It is configured in. Such an ink storage container such as an ink tank is detachably mounted on a carriage in a small recording device, and is installed in a box in a large recording device via an ink supply tube. It is connected to the recording head.

【0003】

The ink tank mounted on the carriage is usually configured by accommodating a porous material such as a sponge and impregnating it with ink in order to reduce the pressure change due to the ripple of ink due to the reciprocating movement of the carriage as much as possible. Has been done.

【0004】

In addition, even when ink is supplied from a large-capacity ink bag installed in the box via the ink supply tube, the carriage is prevented from changing the ink pressure due to the bending of the tube due to the reciprocating movement of the carriage. It is configured to supply ink to the recording head via a sub-tank having a damping function for preventing a change in ink pressure due to the movement of the carriage. For this reason, the former has a problem that the size and weight of the ink tank are larger than the amount of ink that can be accommodated by the amount of accommodating the porous material, and the latter has a problem of shaking. There is a problem that the structure becomes complicated because a mechanism for preventing the pressure change of the ink due to the movement is required. Further, the recording head and the ink have been improved with the aim of improving the print quality, and the ink suitable for the recording head has been specified by the manufacturer. On the other hand, since the ink cartridge is configured as a rectangular parallelepiped container in terms of the structure of the recording device, it is not easy to identify an ink cartridge suitable for the recording device, and there is a problem that a selection error occurs. In order to solve such a problem, a convex portion is formed in the ink cartridge holder of the recording device, and a concave portion that engages with these convex portions is formed in the ink cartridge, and the ink is ink only when the convex portion engages with the concave portion. The supply needle is configured to penetrate the ink supply port.

【0005】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, if the weight of the ink cartridge is reduced, that is, the capacity is reduced in order to enable high-speed printing, there is a problem that the number of types of recesses that can be formed in the narrow bottom portion is limited. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is an inkjet recording apparatus capable of increasing the types of shapes for conformity determination by utilizing a relatively narrow space. And to provide an ink cartridge suitable for this.

【0006】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve such a problem, the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention<u style="single">Insertion of the identification piece in an ink cartridge provided with an ink supply port for accommodating ink inside and a plurality of identification piece insertion areas corresponding to a plurality of identification pieces formed in a cartridge mounting area of a recording device. The region is prevented from entering the identification piece other than the predetermined shape at a predetermined position in the first direction parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the identification engaging portions is formed, and the plurality of identification piece insertion regions are arranged so as to be arranged in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.</u>【0007】

[Action]

Since the identification pieces are arranged using the space three-dimensionally, the number of combinations increases.

【0008】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Therefore, the details of the present invention will be described below based on the illustrated examples. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the ink cartridge 1 of the present invention, respectively, showing the structure of the front and back surfaces of the container body 8 constituting the ink cartridge 1, and FIG. 3 shows the structure seen from the bottom surface. It is divided into upper and lower parts by a wall 2 extending in the horizontal direction, a first ink storage chamber 3 is formed in the lower region, and a differential pressure valve storage chamber 4 serving as a negative pressure generating mechanism described later and a filter chamber for accommodating filters are formed in the upper part. The fifth and second and third ink storage chambers 15 and 16 are formed.

【0009】

The differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 4 and the filter chamber 5 are separated by a wall 6 in the thickness direction, and a valve seat 6a formed of a convex portion and a through hole 6b are formed on the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber side. Further, a frame portion 10 for fixing the filter 18 is formed on the filter chamber side.

【0010】

The upper and lower chambers are filtered by a maze of walls 11a and 11b extending vertically on one side and walls 11c and 11d extending horizontally, more specifically via a flow path orbiting in a vertical plane. It communicates with the opening 5a in the upper region of chamber 5.

【0011】

On the other hand, the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 4 connected to the filter chamber 5 by the through hole 6b is communicated with the ink supply port 14 by a flow path 13 formed so as to be isolated from the first ink accommodating chamber 3. Further, the above-mentioned ink storage chambers 15 and 16 are arranged so as to sandwich the differential pressure valve storage chamber 4 and the filter chamber 5, and the bubbles contained in the ink rising from the first ink storage chamber 3 are collected from these ink storage chambers 15. , 16 is designed to be trapped.

【0012】

A flow path 21 is provided in the upper part of the container body 8 by forming a wall 20 extending in the horizontal direction so as to form a slight gap with the outer wall of the container body 8, and the flow path 21 is provided via the capillary 22. It is connected to the air opening 17. Further, the flow path 21 is communicated with the first ink accommodating chamber 3 via the breathable film 24a and the tubular portion 25. That is, the first ink storage chamber 3 is connected to the atmosphere opening 17 via the tubular portion 25, the breathable film 24a, and the capillary 22.

【0013】

The capillary 22 is formed by sealing a meandering groove formed on the surface of the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber side with an air-shielding film 37, one end 22a of which is connected to the atmospheric opening 17, and the other end of which is a breathable membrane. It communicates with a region partitioned by 24a and an air-shielding film 24b via a groove 23c. The breathable membrane 24a is stretched in the middle of the recess 23 formed in the container body 8. Specifically, a membrane support portion 23a is formed in the middle stage of the recess 23, and a breathable membrane 24a is stretched therein, and an air-shielding membrane 24b is stretched on the upper surface 23b of the recess 23 to be shielded from the outside air. There is.

【0014】

The flow path 21 is communicated with the first ink accommodating chamber 3 via the tubular portion 25. An opening 26 is provided in the upper portion of the tubular portion 25 and is sealed by an elastically deformable air-shielding membrane 27, and a normally closed valve (not shown) is housed in the tubular portion 25. With this configuration, the film 27 is elastically deformed by the operating rod that enters when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the recording device, and the valve is opened. As a result, the first ink storage chamber 3 communicates with the flow path 21. To do.

【0015】

On the lower surface where the ink supply port 14 is formed, a recess 30 that opens to the lower surface side is formed immediately below the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 4, and an identification protrusion 31 for identifying the ink cartridge is formed therein. Ink injection ports 33 and 34 for filling ink during manufacturing are also formed on the lower surface thereof.

【0016】

As shown in FIG. 4, the recess 30 has coordinates with a region divided into three in the longitudinal direction X of the container, two in the width direction Y of the container, and six in the height direction Z of the container. A plurality of identification protrusions 31-1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4 constituting the identification engagement portion by selecting points are coordinate points (X1, Y2, Z1), (X1, Y1). , Z6), (X3, Y2, Z3), and (X3, Y1, Y2, Z5). Needless to say, by setting the coordinate points uniquely according to each type of ink cartridge, for example, the type of ink, it is possible to prevent mistakes such as mounting ink cartridges having different types of ink. be able to.

【0017】

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show examples of a differential pressure valve as a negative pressure applying means in a valve closed state and a valve open state, respectively, in which an annular thick portion 40a is provided on the outer periphery. In addition, a thick-walled portion 40c having a through hole 40b in the center and a membrane valve 40 having a substantially S-shaped bent portion 40d in the vicinity of the thick-walled portion are fixed to a cylindrical holder 41 to provide a differential pressure valve. It is fitted in the containment chamber 4. A coil spring 42 is inserted between the thick portion 40c at the center and the container body 72. The coil spring 42 separates the membrane valve 40 from the valve seat 6a when a constant negative pressure acts on the ink supply port 14 due to the consumption of ink in the recording head (FIG. 5 (b)), and also causes the recording head to receive ink. The elastic pressure is adjusted so that the membrane valve 40 can be brought into contact with the valve seat 6a at the end of supply (Fig. 5 (a)).

【0018】

The container body 8 configured in this way is formed into a sealed container by sealing the surface on the filter chamber side with a lid 36 and the surface on the differential pressure valve chamber side with an air-shielding film 37. With the supply port 14 sealed with a film that can be crushed by inserting an ink supply needle, ink injection means are connected to the ink injection ports 33 and 34 on the bottom surface to fill the ink, and after filling, these ink injection ports 33 and 34 are sealed with a stopper or an air-shielding film to form an ink cartridge 1.

【0019】

FIG. 6A shows an embodiment of the ink cartridge holder 50 suitable for the ink cartridge 1 described above, and the base 51 has a front surface of the ink cartridge and a wall 52 corresponding to both side surfaces adjacent to the front surface. , 53, 54, and a convex portion 55 is provided at a position facing the vertical concave portion of the ink cartridge, and the identification piece 56 for detecting the ink cartridge type is formed so as to extend in the insertion / removal direction of the ink cartridge. There is.

【0020】

Specifically, the identification piece 56 is composed of a plurality of pieces 56-1, 56-2, and 56-3, each of which is an identification protrusion 31 formed in a recess 30 of the ink cartridge from the surface of the carriage. -1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4, that is, the length that reaches the lower surface, that is, when receiving a compatible ink cartridge, the identification protrusion 31-1, 31-2, which is the identification engagement part, The size is selected so that it does not collide with 31-3 and 31-4. As a result, when an ink cartridge suitable for this carriage is installed, it can be installed in the holder 50, and when an incompatible ink cartridge is installed, it can be further moved to the ink supply needle. Cooperate with the carriage identification piece to block it.

【0021】

In this embodiment, when the ink cartridge 1 is mounted on the ink cartridge holder 50, the three front surfaces are guided by the walls 52, 53, 54 and the concave portion is guided by the convex portion 55, as shown in FIG. 6 (b). The valve body 27 is positioned at a predetermined position, and the valve body 27 is pressed by an operating rod of a recording device (not shown) to open the valve. As a result, the first ink storage chamber 3 is opened to the atmosphere via the capillary and the flow path 21.

【0022】

In this state, when ink is consumed by the recording head and a negative pressure acts on the ink supply port 14, the membrane valve 40 receives a differential pressure and separates from the valve seat 6a against the urging force of the coil spring 42. The ink in the first ink accommodating chamber 3 passes through the filter 18 and flows into the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 4 from the through hole 6b, passes through the through hole 40b of the membrane valve 40, passes through the flow path 13, and enters the ink supply port 14. It flows in.

【0023】

On the other hand, when a negative pressure acts on the filter chamber 5 due to the outflow of ink from the ink supply port 14, the ink in the first ink storage chamber 3 extends in the vertical direction partitioned by the wall 11 as shown in FIG. Via A, a flow path B extending horizontally at the top, a flow path C formed by a wall partitioning the filter chamber 5 and a wall 2 extending horizontally, a vertical flow path D, and a horizontal flow path E. The ink in the first ink storage chamber 3 is sucked into the upper part of the filter chamber 5. In this way, the ink in the first ink storage chamber 3 passes through the two ink storage chambers 15 and 16 and flows out from the bottom thereof, so that the ink bubbles are stagnated in the upper part of the ink storage chambers 15 and 16 and are filtered. Removed as much as possible before flowing into chamber 5.

【0024】

When the ink is consumed in this way, the ink in the first ink storage chamber 3 located at the lower part is sucked up by the upper filter chamber 5, and then is supplied to the ink supply port 14 via the differential pressure valve mechanism.

【0025】

On the other hand, when the ink of the ink cartridge 1 is consumed or the ink cartridge 1 is removed in order to change the ink type in the middle, the inside of the tubular portion 25 that communicates the first ink chamber 3 and the flow path 21 Since the valve body loses the support of the operating rod on the recording device side and closes, and the membrane valve 40 is also urged by the spring 42 and is in contact with the valve seat 6a, ink leaks from the ink supply port 14. Is prevented.

【0026】

In the above-described embodiment, the identification protrusion is integrally formed on the ink cartridge, but as shown in FIG. 8, a recess 60 is formed in the container body 8 constituting the ink cartridge 1, and the recess 60 is formed. A frame body 61 that can be inserted and fixed on the inner circumference of the 60 is configured as a separate body, and an identification protrusion 31 is formed on the inner surface of the frame body 61 to form an identification block 62. According to this embodiment, by preparing the identification blocks 62 in which the positions of the identification protrusions 31 are different according to the type of the ink cartridge 1, the container body 8 is commonly used as a container for various inks. can do.

【0027】

9 (a), (b), and 10 (a) to (d) show the appearance of one embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention, respectively, and the ink cartridge 71 has one side. It is mainly composed of a flat, rectangular bottomed box-shaped container body 72 with an opening and a lid 73 for sealing the opening. An ink supply port 74 is formed on the tip side in the insertion direction to the carriage, and on the bottom surface in this embodiment so as to be biased to one side in the longitudinal direction, and locking members 75 and 76 are formed on the upper side side, respectively.

【0028】

A storage means 77 is provided in the recess 72b below the locking member 75 on the ink supply port side, and a valve accommodating chamber 78 is formed below the locking member 76. A slit portion 79 extending in the insertion / removal direction of the ink cartridge 71 is formed in the vicinity of the ink supply port 74 and in the central region of the container body 72.

【0029】

On the other hand, the carriage 200 on which the ink cartridge 71 is mounted is configured by providing the recording head 201 on the bottom surface as shown in FIG. 11 and providing the ink supply needle 202 communicating with the recording head 201. A cartridge pressing member, a leaf spring 203 in this embodiment, is provided in a region away from the region where the ink supply needle 202 is provided, and a convex piece 204 for positioning is provided between the ink supply needle 202 and the leaf spring 203. Is formed so as to extend in the insertion / removal direction of the ink cartridge 71. An electrode 206 is arranged on the side wall 205 on the side of the ink supply needle 202, a recess 207 that engages with the protrusion 75a of the locking member 75 is formed on the electrode 206, and the side wall 208 on the opposite side is the ink cartridge 71. A recess 209 is formed that engages with the protrusion 76a of the locking member 76.

【0030】

By adopting such a structure, as shown in FIG. 12A, when the ink supply port 74 is inserted as the back side and pressed against the leaf spring 203, the slit portion 79 is restricted to the convex piece 204. Therefore, even if the leaf spring 203 provided biased to one side receives a rotational force (arrow A in the figure) so that the side of the ink supply port 74 is downward, the posture is the specified insertion / removal direction. In the example, it is regulated to be parallel in the vertical direction.

【0031】

Further, when the ink cartridge 71 is pushed against the leaf spring 203, the protrusion 75a of the locking member 75 falls into the recess 207 against the elasticity of the entire locking member 75 as shown in FIG. 12 (b). The locking member 76 also engages the recess 209.

【0032】

On the other hand, when the ink cartridge 71 is removed from the carriage 200 by replacement or the like, if the locking member 75 is repressed toward the container body 72, the protrusion 75a of the locking member 75 separates from the recess 207. The ink supply needle 202 can be removed without applying a bending force or the like.

【0033】

13 and 14 show an embodiment of a flow path formed in the container body 72 constituting the ink cartridge 71, wherein the container body 72 is in a substantially horizontal direction, more specifically, an ink supply port. It is divided into upper and lower parts by a wall 80 extending so that the side of 74 is slightly downward. The first ink storage chamber 81 is provided in the lower region, and the upper portion is formed with a frame portion 84 so as to form an atmospheric communication passage 83 with a certain gap from the wall 82 of the container body 72 so that the wall 80 is the bottom surface. It is partitioned by. The frame portion 84 is divided by a vertical wall 85 having a communication port 85a formed at the bottom, and one region is formed as a second ink storage chamber 86 and the other region is formed as a third ink storage chamber 87. ..

【0034】

The second ink storage chamber 86 and the bottom surface 72a of the container body 72 are connected by a suction flow path 88 whose lower end communicates with the first ink storage chamber 81 and whose upper end communicates with the bottom of the second ink storage chamber 86. There is.

【0035】

A wall 89 having communication ports 89a and 89b is formed at the lower part of the suction flow path 88. Further, at a position facing the suction flow path 88, an opening 90 for injecting ink from the outside into the container body 72 and an opening 91 for communicating with the first ink accommodating chamber 81 and exhausting the ink at the time of ink injection are formed. ing.

【0036】

The third ink storage chamber 87 is separated from the upper surface 84a of the frame portion 84 by a wall 92 and walls 94, 96, 85, and the fourth ink storage chamber 93 is formed by walls 94, 96, 97. It is partitioned. The wall 92 is continuously partitioned by the wall 94 for accommodating the filter 125, and the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 103 (FIG. 15) is further partitioned by the wall 95 on the other surface facing the filter chamber. The wall 95 is provided with a through hole 95a for guiding the ink that has passed through the filter 125 to the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 103 formed in a dorsoventral relationship with the filter chamber 104.

【0037】

A partition wall 96 having a communication port 96a with the wall 80 is provided at the lower part of the wall 94, and a partition wall 97 with a communication port 97a at the lower part is provided between the wall 94 and the ink flow path 98. Is formed. The upper part of the ink flow path 98 communicates with the surface side of the ink cartridge 71 through the through hole 99.

【0038】

The through hole 99 is separated by a wall 100 formed so as to be continuous with the wall 97 as shown in FIG. 14, and is communicated to the upper part of the filter chamber 104 through the recess 100a as shown in FIG. ing. More specifically, the through hole 99 communicates with the region 101 partitioned by the walls 100, 94, 92 through the recess 100a, and through the communication port 94a at the top of the wall 94 partitioning the filter chamber 104, the filter chamber 104. It communicates with the upper part of.

【0039】

The lower portion of the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 103 and the ink supply port 74 are connected by a flow path composed of a recess 105 formed on the surface as shown in FIG. 15 (a) and an air-shielding film covering the recess 105. ing. In the figure, reference numeral 105a indicates a deep portion that has entered the ink supply port side.

【0040】

Further, on the surface of the container body 72, a narrow groove 106 meandering so as to increase the flow path resistance as much as possible, a wide groove 107 around the narrow groove 106, and a region facing the second ink storage chamber 86. A rectangular recess 108 is formed. A frame portion 109 and a rib 110 are formed in the rectangular recess 108 at a position further lowered, and a breathable film having ink repellency and breathability is attached to these to form an air ventilation chamber. ing. A through hole 111 is formed in the bottom surface of the recess 108, and is communicated with an elongated region 113 (FIG. 13) partitioned by a wall 112 of the second ink storage chamber 86. Further, the narrow groove 106 is communicated in the region of the recess 108 on the surface side of the breathable film. The other end of the region 113 is communicated with the valve accommodating chamber 78 via a through hole 114, a groove 115 for communication, and a through hole 116 (FIG. 15 (b)).

【0041】

A plurality of windows 78a formed in the lower end of the valve accommodating chamber 78 on the insertion side of the ink cartridge, as shown in FIG. 14 in this embodiment, are formed and opened, and are provided in the carriage 200 of the recording device main body. The identification pieces 210, 211, 212 (FIG. 11) and the identification block 140, which will be described later, are attached so that the valve operating rod can enter.

【0042】

FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional structure in the vicinity of the differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 103 described above. The differential pressure valve accommodating chamber 103 is composed of a spring 120 and an elastically deformable material such as an elastomer, and has a through hole 121 in the center. A membrane valve 122 equipped with is housed. The membrane valve 122 includes an annular thick portion 122a and a frame portion 124 integrally formed with the thick portion 122a around the membrane valve 122, and is fixed to the container body 72 via the frame portion 124 and also has a spring. One end of the 120 is supported by the spring receiving portion 122b of the membrane valve 122, and the other end is supported by the spring receiving portion 123a of the lid 123 of the accommodating chamber.

【0043】

In the figure, reference numeral 125 indicates a filter provided in the filter chamber 104, and reference numerals 126 and 127 indicate an air-shielding film attached to the surface of the container body 72 and the opening surface side, respectively. The film 126 is adhered to the frame portions 80, 84, walls 85, 92, 94, 96, 97, 100, and 112 in FIG. 14 by welding or the like to form ink storage chambers 86, 87, 93 located at the upper part. ing.

【0044】

With such a configuration, the ink that has passed through the filter 125 passes through the ink flow port 95a and is blocked by the membrane valve 122. When the pressure of the ink supply port 74 drops in this state, the membrane valve 122 separates from the valve seat portion 95b against the urging force of the spring 120, so that it passes through the through hole 121 and passes through the flow path formed by the recess 105. It flows into the ink supply port 74 via the ink supply port 74.

【0045】

When the ink pressure of the ink supply port 74 rises to a predetermined value, the membrane valve 122 loses the urging force of the spring 120 and is repelled by the valve seat portion 95b, and the ink flow is blocked. By repeating such an operation, ink can be discharged to the ink supply port 74 while maintaining a constant negative pressure.

【0046】

FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional structure of the valve accommodating chamber 78 for air communication, in which a through hole 130 is bored in the wall for partitioning the valve accommodating chamber 78, and an elastic member such as rubber is formed therein. The pressing member 131 is movably inserted around the pressing member 131 while being supported by the container body 72. At the tip of the pressing member 131 on the approach side, the lower end is fixed by a protrusion 133, the central portion is supported by an elastic member 132 such as a leaf spring regulated by the protrusion 134, and the valve body is constantly urged into the through hole 130. 135 are arranged.

【0047】

Further, the identification block 140 shown in FIG. 18 is mounted adjacent to the valve accommodating chamber 78 for air communication and so that the pressing member 131 of the valve body 135 can be displaced. A plurality of identification blocks 140 are parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge 71 and have a certain width of the ink cartridge 71 on a substrate fixed to the recess 150 (FIG. 15) of the container body 72 by the claws 140a and 140b. In this embodiment, three grooves 141, 142, and 143 are formed, and an arm 144 that displaces the pressing member 131 is integrally formed at a fixed position in one specific groove 142. In the groove 142 where the arm 144 is arranged, one of the adjacent grooves is on the entry side (lower side in the figure) of the identification piece, and in this embodiment, the opening is widened with D so as to be integrated with the groove 141. Has been done. As a result, when the ink cartridge 71 is mounted, even if the position of the operating rod 213 is slightly changed, it can be caught by the wide opening and entered into the groove 142.

【0048】

The arm 144 can be rotated by the rotation fulcrum 144a so as to be located slightly inward, and the pull-out side, in this embodiment, the upper side is configured to project diagonally into the approach path of the operating rod 213 (FIG. 21). ing. Further, identification protrusions 141a, 142a, 143a are formed in the grooves 141 to 143 so as to face the tips of the identification pieces 210, 211, and 212 of the carriage 200.

【0049】

With such a configuration, the positions of the arms 144 are fixed, while the positions of the protruding portions 141a, 142a, and 143a are shown in FIGS. 19 (a) (a) to (f) (f'). Change within the grooves 141, 142, 143, and set the position of the tip of the identification pieces 210, 211, 212 correspondingly to the protrusions 141a, 142a, 143a of the mountable ink cartridge 71. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink cartridge 71 containing the non-conforming ink from being installed.

【0050】

Since the positions of the protrusions 141a, 142a, and 143a can be changed not only in the insertion / removal direction of the ink cartridge 71 but also in the thickness direction of the ink cartridge 71, the protrusions 141a, 142a, and 143a can be three-dimensionally changed. It can be arranged, and many ink types can be identified without causing an expansion of the identification region forming area. Further, if the depths of the grooves 141, 142, and 143 (in the thickness direction of the container body 2) are set to a size that allows a plurality of the above-mentioned identification pieces 210, 211, and 212 to be inserted for each groove, more types can be identified. It becomes possible.

【0051】

20 and 21 show an embodiment of a carriage in which ink cartridges are mounted, and a plurality of ink cartridges, one black ink cartridge and three color ink ink cartridges, are mounted in this embodiment. It is configured to be possible. That is, a slightly wider first mounting area 220 is provided on one side, and second to fourth mounting areas 221 to 223 of the same width are adjacent to the first mounting area 220, and ribs 224 to 226 and ribs 227 to both ends are provided. It is partitioned by 229.

【0052】

As described above based on FIG. 11, the ink cartridge mounting area is provided with the ink supply needle 202 communicating with the recording head 201, and the area away from the area where the ink supply needle 202 is provided is pressed. A member, a leaf spring 203 in this embodiment, is provided, and a convex piece 204 for positioning is formed between the member and the ink supply needle 202 so as to extend in the insertion / removal direction of the ink cartridge.

【0053】

Further, an electrode 206 is arranged on the side wall 205 on the side of the ink supply needle 202, and a recess 207 that engages with the protrusion 75a of the locking member 75 is formed above the electrode 206.

【0054】

In this embodiment, the positioning convex piece 204 has a side portion 204a formed parallel to the surface of the ink cartridge 71 as shown in FIG. 22 (a), which provides positioning reliability and a thin and long convex piece. It is configured to ensure the strength of 204. Corresponding to this, the slit portion 79 of the ink cartridge 71 has a recess 79a formed in a region where the tip of the ink cartridge 71 in the insertion direction faces at least the side portion 204a as shown in FIG. 22 (b). It extends to the surface side.

【0055】

Around the ink supply needle 202, ribs 74a having a "U" -shaped cross section formed so as to sandwich the ink supply port 74 of the ink cartridge 71, and ribs 202a that engage with 74a are formed. Therefore, the ink supply needle 202 can be held in the state of being inserted into the ink supply port 74.

【0056】

When the ink cartridge 71 is attached to the carriage 200 configured in this way, the identification pieces 210, 211, and 212 of the carriage 200 enter the grooves 141, 142, and 143 of the identification block 140, and the operating rod 213 enters the groove 142. enter in. When the ink cartridge 72 fits in this mounting area, the ink supply port 74 of the ink cartridge 71 moves to a position where it can engage with the ink supply needle 202, and in this process, the operating rod 213 moves the identification block 140. The arm 144 is pressed to open the valve body 135 of the valve accommodating chamber 78 for air communication. As a result, the first ink storage chamber 81 of the ink cartridge 71 can be communicated with the atmosphere, and ink can be supplied to the recording head as described above.

【0057】

On the other hand, when an ink cartridge that does not fit in the mounting area is loaded, the identification protrusions of the grooves 141, 142, and 143 of the identification block 140 before the ink supply port 74 of the ink cartridge 71 engages with the ink supply needle 202. One of the portions 141a, 142a, and 143a collides with the identification pieces 210, 211, and 212 of the carriage 200 to prevent the movement. As a result, it is possible to notice the mounting error before the ink supply port 74 engages with the ink supply needle 202 and before the operating rod 213 presses the arm 144 of the identification block 140.

【0058】

The function of the above-mentioned identification block will be described in detail. For example, as in the identification block 140 shown in FIG. 19, three identification piece insertion regions, that is, grooves 141, 142, and 143 are prepared, and the number of identifiable regions of each insertion region, that is, the number of coordinates is shown in FIG. 18 (c). In the case of three cases as shown in, 27 different patterns can be set as shown in Table 1.

[table 1]<img he="153" id="000002" wi="152" file="2_0003553034.tif" img-format="tif" img-content="drawing" />In Table 1, the symbols a, b, and c indicate three identification piece insertion regions (corresponding to grooves 141, 142, and 143 in this embodiment), and the numerical values 1, 2, and 3 are the cartridge insertion / removal directions, respectively. The relative positions of the identification pieces of, that is, the coordinates 1 to 3 in FIG. 18 (c) are shown.

【0059】

On the other hand, one of the identification piece insertion regions, in the above embodiment, the coordinates that can be set in the groove 142 are 2 because the arm 144 that displaces the pressing member 131 of the air release valve is arranged on the most advanced side of the groove 142. Therefore, as shown in Table 2, only 18 patterns can be set.

[Table 2]<img he="162" id="000003" wi="152" file="3_0003553034.tif" img-format="tif" img-content="drawing" /> 【0060】

As shown in FIG. 23, the identification pieces 210, 211, and 213 corresponding to the above-mentioned identification block 140 have a relative height H of 1 and a relative length L on the inner side of the groove of 3 (pattern A). Relative height H is 2 and the relative length L on the back side of the groove is 2 (pattern B), or relative height H is 2 and the relative length L1 on the back side below the groove is 2. , And the relative length L2 on the upper side of the groove is 1 (pattern B'), the relative height H is 3, and the relative length L on the back side of the groove is 1 (pattern C). That is, 18 types of cartridges can be identified depending on which of the grooves 141, 142, and 143 is supported. When the pattern of the identification piece has the shape shown in FIGS. 23 (d) to (f), it is smaller than the patterns A to C, so that it can enter the groove for identifying these patterns A to C, which is incompatible. Ink cartridges cannot be reliably eliminated, but they can be used depending on the combination of patterns.

【0061】

Then, the depths of the grooves 141, 142, and 143 of the identification block corresponding to the above-mentioned identification pieces A to C are set to 3 with respect to the pattern A, and the relative length L'is set to 3, and the patterns B and B'are set to 3. By restricting the coordinate points indicated by cross-hatching in the figure so that the relative length L'is 1 for the pattern C and 2 for the one, these three types of patterns A to C Can be reliably identified to prevent erroneous insertion of the ink cartridge 71 (note that pattern B'does not match in a form that completely matches the groove of the identification block corresponding to pattern B, but can be inserted. Therefore, only one of pattern B and pattern B'can be used in combination with other patterns A and C).

【0062】

Similarly, when four grooves are formed in the identification block 140, the depths of the grooves 141, 142, and 143 are set to the relative length of 4, and the relative height of each groove in the insertion / removal direction of the ink cartridge. As shown in 25 (a) to (d), the relative height H is 1, the relative length L is 4 (pattern E), the relative height H is 2, and the relative length L is 3 (pattern F ~). Prepare an identification piece with F ), relative height H of 3, relative length L of 2 (pattern G to G), and relative height H of 4, relative length L of 1 (pattern J). To do.

【0063】

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 26 (a) to 26 (d), except for the identification piece J having the highest relative height as described above, the depth of the groove, that is, the relative length L is hatched in the cross in the figure. By regulating the areas shown, it can be reliably identified.

【0064】

That is, when there are coordinate points of N (N is an integer of 3 or more) in the direction parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge and in the depth direction of the ink cartridge, the identification piece of the first pattern is the insertion of the ink cartridge. For an integer i of 2 i (n-1), the first coordinate point in the axial direction parallel to the direction and the end reaching the nth coordinate point in the axial direction parallel to the depth of the ink cartridge are provided. The position where the i-pattern identification piece reaches the axial i-th coordinate point parallel to the ink cartridge insertion direction and the axial (n-i + 1) coordinate point parallel to the ink cartridge depth direction. The identification piece of the nth pattern reaches the nth coordinate point in the axial direction parallel to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge and the first coordinate point in the axial direction parallel to the depth direction of the ink cartridge. It suffices to form an end portion.

【0065】

By the way, the ink cartridge 71'loaded in the wide mounting area 220 is basically the same as the ink cartridge 71 loaded in the second and fourth mounting areas shown in FIGS. 10 to 17. Although it is structured, as shown in FIG. 27, the container body 72'has the same shape of the opening surface and is configured to be larger by the depth W. As a result, the amount of ink that can be stored can be increased simply by changing the depth W of the container body 72'.

【0066】

The ink supply port 74'and the storage means 77'are set so that their arrangement centers are at a fixed position W1 from the surface of the container body 72', that is, the bottom, like other ink cartridges. Since the identification block 140'is attached to the surface side of the container body 72', it is naturally arranged at the same position.

【0067】

Further, the locking members 75'and 76'are the same as the ink supply port 74' as shown in FIG. 28 (a) so that the pressing force acts on the ink supply port 74'during loading. It is biased toward the 72'side. Further, the tongue portion 230a is formed in the region of the decorative film 130 (FIG. 16 (a)) attached to the container body 2 facing the ink injection ports 90 and 91', and as shown in FIG. 28 (b). The tongue portion 230a may be sealed with ink inlets 90'and 91'.

【0068】

In the above-described embodiment, the identification protrusion is integrally formed with the identification block, but a hole may be provided in the identification block and a pin may be inserted therein.

【0069】

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of grooves are formed in the identification block, and identification protrusions are formed in the grooves. However, as shown in FIG. 29, the outer shapes of the identification pieces A, B, and C are formed. It is clear that the same effect can be obtained even if the block 220 is formed as a block 220 having a recess corresponding to the above. In this case, by forming a gap between the ink cartridge 71 and the ink cartridge 71 so that the operating rod 213 that opens the valve body 135 can enter, or by forming a recess and a through hole in the block itself, the valve body Blocks can be placed in the vicinity.

【0070】

When it is not necessary to arrange the identification block close to the opening and closing of the valve body, an identification piece made of a convex piece is provided in the container constituting the ink cartridge, and the above-mentioned identification block is attached to the corresponding portion of the carriage. , May be fixed. Further, by combining the identification piece and the identification block and the storage means of the ink cartridges, it is possible to determine the suitability of the ink cartridges that do not cause a mounting error based on the information stored in the storage means. Further, the identification engaging portion does not need to be in contact with the identification piece, and the clearance may be set so as to be distinguishable from other identification pieces.

【0071】

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the differential pressure valve is used as the negative pressure generating means has been described, but the negative pressure is maintained by impregnating the porous material such as sponge with ink by the capillary force of the pores. However, it is clear that it has the same effect.

【0072】

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the identification regulating unit is arranged by using the space three-dimensionally, the number of combinations is large, and various types of ink cartridges suitable for the recording device can be mounted without mistakes.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams showing the front and back structures of an embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention, respectively.

2A and 2B are views showing the side forming members sealing the ink cartridges of the same as above, respectively, with the side forming members removed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the bottom surface of the same ink cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view showing an erroneous insertion prevention forming region formed in the same ink cartridge as above.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are cross-sectional views showing an embodiment of a differential pressure valve constituting a negative pressure generating mechanism, respectively, in a valve closed state and a valve open state.

6A and 6B are a diagram showing an ink cartridge holder suitable for the same ink cartridge with a part cut out, and a diagram showing a state in which the ink cartridge is mounted.

FIG. 7 is a front view centering on an ink flow path on the filter chamber side formed in an ink cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

9 (a) and 9 (b) are views showing the appearance of the front and back surfaces of an embodiment of the ink cartridge of the present invention, respectively.

10A to 10B are a top view, a front view, a bottom view, and a side view of the same ink cartridge, respectively.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a carriage on which the same ink cartridge is mounted.

12 (a) and 12 (b) are diagrams showing a process of mounting an ink cartridge on a carriage, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the structure of the bottom surface of the container body constituting the same ink cartridge.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the structure of an opening surface of a container body constituting the same ink cartridge.

FIG. 15 (a) is a perspective view showing the structure of the surface of the container body constituting the same ink cartridge, and FIG. 15 (b) is a view showing a through hole formed in a groove for communication. ..

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing a cross-sectional structure of a negative pressure generating means accommodating chamber.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged view showing a cross-sectional structure of a valve accommodating chamber for air communication.

18 (a) and 18 (b) are a perspective view and a front view showing an embodiment of the identification block, respectively, and FIG. 18 (c) shows coordinate points set in the identification block. It is a figure which shows.

19A and 19B are perspective views and front views showing the morphology of the convex portions that can be identified by the identification block, respectively.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a carriage configured to accommodate a plurality of ink cartridges.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the same as above with different directions of the carriage.

22 (a) and 22 (b) are enlarged views showing the vicinity of the ink supply needle of the same carriage and the vicinity of the ink supply port of the ink cartridge, respectively.

FIGS. 23 (a) to (c) and (d) to (f) are diagrams showing shapes suitable for identification pieces and incompatible shapes, respectively.

FIG. 24 (a) to (c) is a diagram showing a regulation unit in which the identification piece is formed in the identification block for identification in the same as above.

FIG. 25 ( a) to (d) are diagrams showing other examples of identification pieces, respectively.

FIG. 26 (a) to (d) are diagrams showing a regulation portion in which the identification piece of the same as above is formed in the identification block for identification by the identification block.

27A to 27C are a perspective view and a bottom view showing another embodiment of the same ink cartridge, respectively.

28 (a) and 28 (b) are views showing a sealing structure of an ink injection port of the same ink cartridge, respectively.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the identification block.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Ink cartridge 8 Container body 14 Ink supply port 15, 16 Ink storage chamber 31 Identification protrusion 31-1 to 31-4 Identification protrusion 50 Ink cartridge holder 56-1 to 56-3 Identification piece 61 Frame 62 For identification Block 71 Ink cartridge 72 Container body 77 Storage means 78 Valve storage chamber 140 Identification block 141 to 143 Groove 141a to 143a Identification protrusion 144 Arm 202 Ink supply needle 206 Electrode 210 to 212 Identification piece 213 Operating rod