Ink cartridge and recording device Number:7,152,966 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent An ink cartridge is used mounted in a recording device with a hollow needle, a lever, a protruding wall, and an optical sensor. The lever and the optical sensor are located on either side of the hollow needle, but closer to the opening through which the ink cartridge is mounted. The ink cartridge is formed with two grooves open to the front and lower surfaces of the ink cartridge at positions that correspond to the protruding wall and the optical sensor. A light blocking member is disposed in the groove that corresponds to the optical sensor. When the ink cartridge is mounted into the recording device, one groove accommodates and is guided by the protruding wall. The other groove accommodates the sensor so that the light blocking member protrudes into the optical sensor. Also, the front surface of the ink cartridge abuts the lever, which uncovers the hollow needle so that ink supply hole in the front surface of the ink cartridge is inserted with the hollow needle.<H recording, cartridge, Ink, cartridge, a, 7152966.html, Patent, pto, 7152966

Title: Ink cartridge and recording device

Abstract: An ink cartridge is used mounted in a recording device with a hollow needle, a lever, a protruding wall, and an optical sensor. The lever and the optical sensor are located on either side of the hollow needle, but closer to the opening through which the ink cartridge is mounted. The ink cartridge is formed with two grooves open to the front and lower surfaces of the ink cartridge at positions that correspond to the protruding wall and the optical sensor. A light blocking member is disposed in the groove that corresponds to the optical sensor. When the ink cartridge is mounted into the recording device, one groove accommodates and is guided by the protruding wall. The other groove accommodates the sensor so that the light blocking member protrudes into the optical sensor. Also, the front surface of the ink cartridge abuts the lever, which uncovers the hollow needle so that ink supply hole in the front surface of the ink cartridge is inserted with the hollow needle.

Patent Number: 7,152,966 Issued on 12/26/2006 to Sasaki, et al.

Inventors: Sasaki; Toyonori (Anjo, JP), Iijima; Shota (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Nagoya, JP)

Appl. No.: 11/002,467

Filed: December 3, 2004

Related U.S. Patent Documents


Application Number	Filing Date	Patent Number	Issue Date
10255618	Sep., 2002	6899418

Foreign Application Priority Data


Mar 28, 2002 [JP]			2002-090322
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018535
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018535
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018537
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018538
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018539
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018540
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018541
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018542
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018543
Jul 10, 2002 [JP]			2002-018544
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-018548
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019749
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019750
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019751
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019752
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019753
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019754
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019755
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019756
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019757
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019758
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019759
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019760
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019761
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019762
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-019763
Jul 23, 2002 [JP]			2002-214079
Jul 26, 2002 [JP]			2002-218192
Aug 01, 2002 [JP]			2002-225294

Current U.S. Class: 347/86

Current International Class: B41J 2/175 (20060101)

Field of Search: 347/84-87

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


4074284	February 1978	Dexter et al.
4183031	January 1980	Kyser et al.
4342042	July 1982	Cruz-Uribe et al.
4509062	April 1985	Low et al.
4604633	August 1986	Kimura et al.
4673955	June 1987	Ameyama et al.
4777497	October 1988	Nozu et al.
5283593	February 1994	Wehl
5473350	December 1995	Mader et al.
5623290	April 1997	Iida et al.
5729256	March 1998	Yamanaka et al.
5896151	April 1999	Miyazawa et al.
6142617	November 2000	Barinaga et al.
6168262	January 2001	Clark et al.
6170937	January 2001	Childers et al.
6338552	January 2002	Sato et al.
6481837	November 2002	Askren et al.
6554402	April 2003	Trafton et al.
6609461	August 2003	Horii et al.
2002/0047882	April 2002	Karlinski et al.
2003/0184622	October 2003	Sasaki et al.
2003/0184623	October 2003	Sasaki et al.

Foreign Patent Documents


1189415	Aug., 1998	CN
0 689 936	Jan., 1996	EP
0 742 102	Nov., 1996	EP
0 834 402	Apr., 1998	EP
A 58-053473	Mar., 1983	JP
A 59-143646	Aug., 1984	JP
A-59-192573	Aug., 1984	JP
59-204564	Nov., 1984	JP
A-59-204566	Nov., 1984	JP
A 59-209878	Nov., 1984	JP
A-61-054942	Mar., 1986	JP
A 61-158460	Jul., 1986	JP
A 61-277459	Dec., 1986	JP
A 61-277460	Dec., 1986	JP
63-207652	Aug., 1988	JP
A 64-20149	Jan., 1989	JP
A-213349	Sep., 1990	JP
A-3-184873	Aug., 1991	JP
B2 3-60670	Sep., 1991	JP
3-505999	Dec., 1991	JP
A 3-506000	Dec., 1991	JP
0 4344250	Nov., 1992	JP
A-5-261935	Oct., 1993	JP
06 099588	Apr., 1994	JP
A 7-214791	Aug., 1995	JP
A 8-230204	Sep., 1996	JP
A 9-20014	Feb., 1997	JP
10 202896	Apr., 1998	JP
B2 2768817	Apr., 1998	JP
2002 086753	Mar., 2002	JP
WO 90/08564	Aug., 1990	WO

Other References

US. Appl. No. 10/255,617, filed Sep. 27, 2002, Sasaki et al. cited by oth- er .
U.S. Appl. No. 10/255,606, filed Sep. 27, 2002, Sasaki et al. cited by oth- er .
U.S. Appl. No. 10/255,646, filed Sep. 27, 2002, Sasaki et al. cited by oth- er .
U.S. Appl. No. 10/255,604, filed Sep. 27, 2002, Sasaki et al. cited by oth- er.

Primary Examiner: Feggins; K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

Parent Case Text

This is a Division of application Ser. No. 10/255,618 filed Sep. 27, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,418. The entire disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An ink cartridge for use with a recording device that includes a hollow needle and an air supply member, the air supply member being adjacent to the hollow needle and having an air supply hole connected to an air pressure source, the ink cartridge being detachably mountable in the recording device, the ink cartridge comprising: a case provided therein with an ink chamber; a flexible film that forms a portion of the ink chamber; a resilient plug member that closes off the ink chamber, the hollow needle piercing the resilient plug member and supplying ink from the ink chamber to the recording device when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device; an opening portion formed in the case at a position adjacent to the plug member, the opening portion being in fluid communication with a space that is defined inside the case to be adjacent to the ink chamber; and a portion that abuts the air supply member so that the air supply hole covers the opening portion when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device.

2. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the recording device further includes a resilient ring-shaped seal member provided at a tip of the air supply hole that abuts the case of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, a portion of the case that abuts against the seal member when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device is substantially flat.

3. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the recording device further includes a resilient ring-shaped seal member provided at a tip of the air supply hole that abuts the case of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, a spring member that is provided at the air supply hole and urges the seal member toward the case when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, and a lock member that locks the ink cartridge at a mounted position in the recording device, the case of the ink cartridge includes an indentation portion that engages with the lock member against urging force of the spring member when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device.

4. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein a positional relationship between the resilient plug member and the opening portion is determined dependently on the positional relationship between the hollow needle and the air supply hole with respect to directions for connecting and disconnecting the ink cartridge to and from the hollow needle and the air supply hole to ensure that when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, the air supply hole and the opening portion are in fluid communication after the hollow needle and the resilient plug member connect and the air supply hole and the opening portion separate before the hollow needle and the resilient plug member separate.

5. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the recording device further includes an open portion with an opening that opens in a horizontal direction to outside, a floor surface that extends in the horizontal direction, a ceiling surface that extends in the horizontal direction, an ink cartridge mounting portion being defined by the open portion, the floor surface, and the ceiling surface, a cover selectively covering and uncovering the hollow needle with respect to the open portion; a lever positioned nearer the open portion than is the cover, the lever, in order to move the cover to uncover the needle, protruding into the ink cartridge mounting portion from a position that is on the floor surface and that is shifted from the needle axial direction in a direction that is parallel with the floor surface; and a protruding wall positioned on the floor surface adjacent to the lever, the protruding wall extending in the needle axial direction, the lever protruding from the floor surface into the ink cartridge mounting portion at a position shifted, in a direction parallel with the floor surface, from an imaginary extension of the axial needle extending in the needle axial direction, the hollow needle and the air supply hole being disposed at positions in confrontation with the open portion, the ink cartridge being detachably mountable in the ink cartridge mounting portion, the ink cartridge further comprises: a lower surface adapted to abut against the floor surface and slide from the open portion to the hollow needle of the recording device when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion; a front surface having the opening portion and the ink supply hole; a protruding wall indentation portion open to the front surface and the lower surface for accommodating the protruding wall when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion, the protruding wall indentation portion being shifted, with respect to a view from the front surface side, from the ink supply hole in a direction parallel with the lower surface, the opening portion being positioned between the ink supply hole and the protruding wall indentation portion; and an operation portion provided at a position that is adjacent to the protruding wall indentation portion and that corresponds to the position of the lever when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion and that is for operating the lever when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion.

6. A combination, comprising: a recording device that includes a hollow needle and an air supply member, the air supply member being adjacent to the hollow needle and having an air supply hole connected to an air pressure source; and an ink cartridge that is detachably mountable in the recording device, the ink cartridge comprising: a case provided therein with an ink chamber; a flexible film that forms a portion of the ink chamber; a resilient plug member that closes off the ink chamber, the hollow needle piercing the resilient plug member and supplying ink from the ink chamber to the recording device when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device; an opening portion formed in the case at a position adjacent to the plug member, the opening portion being in fluid communication with a space that is defined inside the case to be adjacent to the ink chamber; and a portion that abuts the air supply member so that the air supply hole covers the opening portion when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recording device further includes a resilient ring-shaped seal member provided at a tip of the air supply hole that abuts the case of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, and a portion of the case that abuts against the seal member when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device is substantially flat.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recording device further includes a resilient ring-shaped seal member provided at a tip of the air supply hole that abuts the case of the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, a spring member that is provided at the air supply hole and urges the seal member toward the case when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, and a lock member that locks the ink cartridge at a mounted position in the recording device, and the case of the ink cartridge includes an indentation portion that engages with the lock member against urging force of the spring member when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein a positional relationship between the resilient plug member and the opening portion is determined dependently on the positional relationship between the hollow needle and the air supply hole with respect to directions for connecting and disconnecting the ink cartridge to and from the hollow needle and the air supply hole to ensure that when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device, the air supply hole and the opening portion are in fluid communication after the hollow needle and the resilient plug member connect and the air supply hole and the opening portion separate before the hollow needle and the resilient plug member separate.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the recording device further includes: an open portion with an opening that opens in a horizontal direction to outside, a floor surface that extends in the horizontal direction, a ceiling surface that extends in the horizontal direction, an ink cartridge mounting portion being defined by the open portion, the floor surface, and the ceiling surface; a cover selectively covering and uncovering the hollow needle with respect to the open portion; a lever positioned nearer the open portion than is the cover, the lever, in order to move the cover to uncover the needle, protruding into the ink cartridge mounting portion from a position that is on the floor surface and that is shifted from the needle axial direction in a direction that is parallel with the floor surface; and a protruding wall positioned on the floor surface adjacent to the lever, the protruding wall extending in the needle axial direction, the lever protruding from the floor surface into the ink cartridge mounting portion at a position shifted, in a direction parallel with the floor surface, from an imaginary extension of the axial needle extending in the needle axial direction, the hollow needle and the air supply hole being disposed at positions in confrontation with the open portion, the ink cartridge being detachably mountable in the ink cartridge mounting portion, and the ink cartridge further comprises: a lower surface adapted to abut against the floor surface and slide from the open portion to the hollow needle of the recording device when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion; a front surface having the opening portion and the ink supply hole; a protruding wall indentation portion open to the front surface and the lower surface for accommodating the protruding wall when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion, the protruding wall indentation portion being shifted, with respect to a view from the front surface side, from the ink supply hole in a direction parallel with the lower surface, the opening portion being positioned between the ink supply hole and the protruding wall indentation portion; and an operation portion provided at a position that is adjacent to the protruding wall indentation portion and that corresponds to the position of the lever when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion and that is for operating the lever when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording device and to an ink cartridge mountable in the recording device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Ink cartridges are provided for supplying ink required for recording operations to recording devices.

Japanese Patent No. 2,768,817 discloses a recording device with an open portion provided on its front surface. A plurality of ink cartridges for ejecting different colored inks are aligned in the open portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,617 discloses a recording device with an upwardly-opened open portion. Grooves corresponding to a plurality of ink cartridges are provided in side edges that confront the open portion. The ink cartridges are inserted from above by being aligned with the grooves and dropped into the open portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is desirable to make the recording device more compact. It is also desirable that the ink cartridges also be provided thinner and smaller and also easier to attach to and detach from the recording device.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a recording device with a more flat ink cartridge mounting portion so that the recording device is more compact and wherein ink cartridges can be easily attached and detached, and to provide an ink cartridge that is thinner and smaller and that can be easily mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion of the recording device.

In order to achieve the above-described objectives, an ink cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention is for use with a recording device that includes an ink cartridge mounting portion; a connection portion that supplies ink to a recording head; and a sensor portion including a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion in confrontation with each other. The sensor portion protrudes into the ink cartridge mounting portion.

The ink cartridge according to the first aspect includes an outer shape portion and a light blocking member. The outer shape portion substantially matches the inside of the ink cartridge mounting portion when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion. The outer shape portion includes a contour that receives the sensor portion. The light blocking member is disposed within the contour of the outer shape portion. The light blocking member moves corresponding to amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge to either enter between and move out from between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. With this configuration, the ink cartridge has a flat configuration without the light blocking member protruding from the ink cartridge. As a result, the ink cartridge is easily mounted in or removed from the recording device.

It is desirable that a sensor indentation portion receives the sensor portion be provided in the contour. With this configuration, the ink cartridge can be simply produced with a flat shape.

It is desirable that the outer shape further include a sensor indentation portion that is open in a direction for connecting the ink supply hole with a connection portion in the ink cartridge mounting portion. The light blocking member extends in the sensor indentation portion in a direction parallel with a direction for connecting the ink supply hole. With this configuration, the ink cartridge can be simply produced with a flat shape.

It is desirable that a fixing wall be provided in the sensor indentation portion. The fixing wall includes an internal groove that extends parallel with direction of insertion into the open portion so that the fixing portion is inserted between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion. The groove accommodates the light blocking member in a movable condition. With this configuration, the light blocking member is blocked off from outside so there is no fear of ink leaks. Moreover, the amount of remaining ink can be reliably detected.

An ink cartridge according to a second aspect of the present invention is for use with a recording device that includes an open portion with an opening that opens in a horizontal direction to outside; a floor surface that extends in the horizontal direction; a ceiling surface that extends in the horizontal direction; an ink cartridge mounting portion being defined by the open portion, the floor surface, and the ceiling surface; a connection portion that supplies ink to a recording head, the connection portion being positioned in confrontation with the open portion and extending in a connection portion axial direction; and protrusion portions provided at horizontal ends of the ink cartridge mounting portion. The protrusion portions protrude away from the ceiling surface toward the floor surface.

The ink cartridge according to the second aspect of the present invention is detachably mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion and includes a lower surface, a front surface, and an upper surface. The lower surface is adapted to abut against the floor surface and slide from the open portion to a connection portion of the recording device. The front surface has an ink supply hole connectable with the connection portion. The upper surface extends higher toward the ceiling surface at portions that correspond to in between the protrusion portions of the recording device than at portions that correspond to the protrusion portions. With this configuration, the ink cartridge can be configured in a more flat shape. The ink cartridge can be slid more stably across the floor surface of the ink cartridge mounting portion and so can be mounted and detached more easily. The ink cartridge can be inserted into the open portion without mistakenly inserting the ink cartridge upside down.

When the recording device further includes a spring member that is provided at a position nearer the connection portion side of the ceiling surface than the protrusion portions and that protrudes downward, the It is desirable that an upper surface be provided that corresponds to the protrusion portions and that extends in a direction for inserting the ink cartridge into the ink cartridge mounting portion so as to slidingly abut the spring member. With this configuration, the ink cartridge can be slid more stably across the floor surface of the ink cartridge mounting portion and so can be mounted and detached more easily.

It is desirable that the ink cartridge further include an ink-holding portion and a flexible film. The ink-holding portion is disposed in an inner portion that corresponds to the portions of the upper surface that extends higher toward the ceiling surface. The flexible film covers the ink-holding portion. With this configuration, a large amount of ink can be stored even if the ink cartridge has a flat shape.

It is desirable that the front surface have a protruding shape that is higher at portions that correspond to in between protrusion portions and lower at portions that correspond to the protrusion portions. The ink supply hole is formed substantially in the horizontal center of the higher portion of the front surface. Because the ink supply hole has a large diameter, the ink supply hole can be easily connected to the recording device.

An ink cartridge according to a third aspect of the present invention is for use with a recording device that includes a hollow needle and an air supply member. The air supply member is adjacent to the hollow needle and has an air supply hole connected to an air pressure source.

The ink cartridge according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a case, a flexible film, a resilient plug member, an opening portion, a portion that abuts the air supply member. The case is provided therein with an ink chamber. The flexible film forms a portion of the ink chamber. The resilient plug member closes off the ink chamber. The hollow needle pierces the resilient plug member and supplies ink from the ink chamber to the recording device. The opening portion is formed in the case at a position adjacent to the plug member. The opening portion is open to the ink chamber. The portion that abuts the air supply member does so in a manner that the air supply hole covers the opening portion when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording device. With this configuration, the ink cartridge can be configured in a flat shape. Also the recording head of the recording device can be returned to a good operating condition because a positive pressure can be applied to the ink in the ink cartridge when a purge operation is performed by the recording device.

When the recording device further includes a resilient ring-shaped seal member provided at a tip of the air supply hole that abuts the case of the ink cartridge, then it is desirable that a portion of the case that abuts against the seal member be substantially flat. With this configuration, the air supply hole and the opening portion in the case can be reliably brought into fluid communication.

When the recording device further includes a resilient ring-shaped seal member provided at a tip of the air-supply hole that abuts the case of the ink cartridge, a spring means provided on the air supply hole that urges the seal member toward the case, and a lock means, then it is desirable that the case of the ink cartridge include an indentation portion that engages with the lock means against urging force of the spring means. With this configuration, the indentation portion engages with the lock means of the recording device when the ink cartridge is mounted into the recording device and the front surface of the ink cartridge abuts the air supply hole against the operation of the spring means. As a result, the ink cartridge is maintained at a predetermined position regardless of the urging force of the spring means and the air supply hole and the hollow needle can be maintained in a connected condition.

When the recording device further includes lock means that locks the ink cartridge at a mounted position in the ink cartridge mounting portion, then it is desirable that directions for connecting and disconnecting the ink cartridge to and from the hollow needle and the air supply hole are related so that the air supply hole and the opening portion are in fluid communication after the hollow needle and the resilient plug member connect and the air supply hole and the opening portion separate before the hollow needle and the resilient plug member separate. With this configuration the air supply hole and the opening portion are connected after the hollow needle is inserted into the resilient plug member when the ink cartridge is mounted into the recording device. Also, the hollow needle separates from the resilient plug member after the air supply hole and the opening portion separate when the ink cartridge is removed. Even if the ink cartridge is removed while the air pressure source is operating, ink can be prevented from leaking when the hollow needle is separated from the resilient plug member.

It is desirable that the ink cartridge further include a lower surface, a front surface, a protruding wall indentation portion, and an operation portion in the case that the recording device further includes an open portion with an opening that opens in a horizontal direction to outside, a floor surface that extends in the horizontal direction, a ceiling surface that extends in the horizontal direction, an ink cartridge mounting portion being defined by the open portion, the floor surface, and the ceiling surface, a cover selectively covering and uncovering the hollow needle with respect to the open portion, a lever positioned nearer the open portion than is the cover, the lever, in order to move the cover to uncover the needle, protruding into the ink cartridge mounting portion from a position that is on the floor surface and that is shifted from the needle axial direction in a direction that is parallel with the floor surface, and a protruding wall positioned on the floor surface adjacent to the lever, the protruding wall extending in the needle axial direction, the lever protruding from the floor surface into the ink cartridge mounting portion at two positions that sandwich therebetween an imaginary extension of the axial needle extending in the needle axial direction, the hollow needle and the air supply hole being disposed at positions in confrontation with the opening portion.

In this case, the lower surface is adapted to abut against the floor surface and slide from the open portion to the hollow needle of the recording device. The front surface has the opening portion and the ink supply hole. The protruding wall indentation portion opens to the front surface and the lower surface for accommodating the protruding wall. The protruding wall indentation portion is shifted, with respect to a view from the front surface side, from the ink supply hole in a direction parallel with the lower surface. The opening portion is positioned between the ink supply hole and the protruding wall indentation portion. The operation portion is provided at a position that is adjacent to the protruding wall indentation portion and that corresponds to the position of the lever and that is for operating the lever. With this configuration, the ink cartridge can be configured in a more flat shape while the ink cartridge is provided with the operation portion, the indentation portion, the opening portion, and the resilient plug member. Further, the ink cartridge can be slid more stably across the floor surface of the ink cartridge mounting portion and so can be mounted and detached more easily.

An ink cartridge according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is for use with a recording device that includes an open portion with an opening that opens in a horizontal direction to outside; a floor surface that extends in the horizontal direction; a ceiling surface that extends in the horizontal direction; a plurality of ink cartridge mounting portions aligned mutually next to each other on substantially the same planar surface of the floor surface; a hollow needle that supplies ink to a recording head, the hollow needle being positioned in confrontation with the open portion.

The ink cartridge according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is detachably mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion and includes a lower surface, a front surface, and a rear end portion. The lower surface is adapted to slide following the floor surface from the open portion side in a direction for connecting the ink supply hole to the connection portion. The front surface has an ink supply hole connecting with the hollow needle. The rear end portion is on a side opposite from the front surface. The rear end portion is exposed from the open portion when the ink cartridge is in a mounted condition. The rear end portion has a width in a direction in which the plurality of cartridge mounting portions are aligned that is narrower than width of the front surface. Because the rear end portion of the ink cartridge has a narrow width, a space will be opened between the rear end portions of ink cartridges when a plurality of ink cartridges are aligned. The rear end portion of a single desired ink cartridge can be easily grasped and pulled out. Also, when mounting the ink cartridge into the recording device, the user grasps the rear end portion, inserts the ink cartridge into the mounting portion, and slides the ink cartridge over the floor surface to align the ink cartridge between the other ink cartridges.

When the floor surface of the recording device extends further than the ceiling surface in a direction opposite from the hollow needle side, then it is desirable that the rear end portion be located on a portion of the floor surface that extends beyond the ceiling surface. With this configuration, when the ink cartridge is inserted into the open portion of the ink cartridge mounting portion, the ink cartridge abuts against the portion of the floor surface that extends beyond the open portion and slides over the floor surface and so can be easily inserted into the open portion.

An ink cartridge according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is for use with a recording device that includes an open portion with an opening that opens in a horizontal direction to outside; a floor surface that extends in the horizontal direction; a ceiling surface that extends in the horizontal direction; a connection portion that supplies ink to a recording head, the connection portion being positioned in confrontation with the open portion. The floor surface extends further than the open portion in a direction opposite from the connection portion side.

The ink cartridge according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is detachably mounted in the ink cartridge mounting portion and includes a lower surface, a front surface, and a rear end portion. The lower surface is adapted to slide following the floor surface from the open portion side in a direction for connecting the ink supply hole to the connection portion. The front surface has an ink supply hole connecting with the hollow needle. The rear end portion is on a side opposite from the front surface. The rear end portion is located on a portion of the floor surface that protrudes from the open portion. The rear end portion is formed on an upper surface thereof with an upwardly protruding rib for catching by a user's finger. With this configuration, when mounting the ink cartridge, the user can remove the ink cartridge by pressing the rib and sliding its lower surface over the floor surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from reading the following description of the embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing overall configuration of a multifunction device mounted with an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the multifunction device of FIG. 1 with an upper cover of a flat bed type retrieval device opened up;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view showing the multifunction device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the multifunction device of FIG. 1 with the flat bed type retrieval device removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lower surface of a cover body of the multifunction device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the multifunction device with the cover body opened up;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the multifunction device with the flat bed type retrieval unit and also the cover body removed;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing configuration of a printer engine of the multifunction device;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing configuration of an ink cartridge accommodation portion of the multifunction device;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing configuration of one ink cartridge mounting portion in the ink cartridge accommodation portion;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing configuration of a mechanism that is provided below the floor surface of the ink cartridge mounting portion and that is for protecting needles, for locking the condition where the needles are protected, and for preventing ink cartridges from falling out of the ink cartridge mounting portion;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to the present embodiment from the rear end;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge according to the present embodiment from the front end;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the ink cartridge with its lid separated from its main case;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the main case before a flexible film is attached thereto;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing a sensing mechanism provided in an indentation portion of the main case;

FIG. 17 is an operational diagram indicating operation of the sensing mechanism of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an underside view of the main case;

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the ink cartridge of the present embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a view taken from arrow A of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line B--B of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line C--C of FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line D--D of FIG. 19;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line E--E of FIG. 19;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line F--F of FIG. 19;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line G--G of FIG. 19;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line H--H of FIG. 19;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge taken along line I--I of FIG. 19;

FIG. 29 is a view showing the relationship between bulging portions formed on partition walls of the ink cartridge mounting portion, height of the ink cartridge, and a curved convex wall formed on the ceiling surface of the ink cartridge mounting portion when the ink cartridge is inserted into a mounting portion opening;

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing a condition wherein a pull-out lock protrusion portion is retracted by an ink cartridge front surface wall when the ink cartridge is inserted into a mounting portion opening of an ink cartridge mounting portion;

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the condition shown in FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view showing condition wherein a needle protection lock member releases locked condition of a needle protection plate by a lock release portion hitting a needle protection lock release lever when a guide groove of the ink cartridge engages with a guide protrusion wall and the ink cartridge is slid;

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing condition wherein an ink introduction hollow needle is inserted into an ink supply hole after the front surface of the ink cartridge presses the needle protection plate and the needle plate retracts after the lock of the needle protection plate is released;

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view showing condition wherein the front surface of the ink cartridge abuts a rubber cap of a positive pressure application member in association with engagement of a pull-out holding lock protrusion portion into a pull-out holding lock indentation portion after the ink introduction hollow needle is inserted into an ink supply hole;

FIG. 35 is a plan view of the condition shown in FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view showing the ink cartridge in a vacuum packaged condition;

FIG. 37(a) is a side view showing processes of a method for attaching a flexible film according to the present embodiment to an opening peripheral portion;

FIG. 37(b) is a side view showing processes of a method for producing the bulging shape in the flexible film;

FIG. 38 is a view showing a modification of the process for producing the bulging shape in flexible film;

FIG. 39(a) is a cross-sectional view showing processes of fitting a rubber plug with a back-flow prevention valve completely into an ink supply hole and a rubber plug for ink injection partially into an ink injection hole, and removing air from an ink accommodation portion and injecting ink;

FIG. 39(b) shows a plug peak portion of the ink rubber plug for ink injection fitted to the edge of the ink injection hole;

FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view showing positional relationship of an edge (ink accommodation peripheral portion) of a spherical surface shape at the outer side of a curved portion of the lid, the inner edge of the opening peripheral portion, and the flexible film;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to a first modification of the embodiment, wherein a guide groove and a sensor accommodation groove are open to the side walls;

FIG. 42 is a plan view showing a recording device modified for use with the ink cartridge of FIG. 41, wherein the position of the needle protection lock release lever in the ink cartridge mounting portion is changed in correspondence with the modified ink cartridge;

FIG. 43(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a second modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 43(b) is a perspective view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 43(a);

FIG. 44(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a third modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 44(b) is a perspective view showing the ink cartridge of 44 FIG. (a);

FIG. 45(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a fourth modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 45(b) is a perspective view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 45(a);

FIG. 46(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a fifth modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 46(b) is a perspective view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 46(a);

FIG. 47(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a sixth modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 47(b) is a side view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 47(a);

FIG. 48(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a seventh modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 48(b) is a side view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 48(a);

FIG. 49(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to an eighth modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 49(b) is a side view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 49(a);

FIG. 50(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a ninth modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 50(b) is a side view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 50(a);

FIG. 51(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a tenth modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 51(b) is a side view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 51(a);

FIG. 52(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to an eleventh modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 52(b) is a side view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 52(a);

FIG. 53(a) is a plan view showing an ink cartridge according to a twelfth modification of the embodiment;

FIG. 53(b) is a side view showing the ink cartridge of FIG. 53(a).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Next, an ink cartridge 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a multifunction device 1 that uses the ink cartridge 200 will be described while referring to FIGS. 1 to 40.

First, the multifunction device 1 that uses the ink cartridge 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. FIG. 1 shows the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment. The multifunction device 1 includes a scanner function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. The multifunction device 1 has a slim and compact configuration including a retrieval unit 10 and an ink jet recording unit 20. The ink jet recording unit 20 is disposed on the retrieval unit 10. A control panel 12 is provided on the retrieval unit 10. The ink jet recording unit 20 is provided with a sheet-supply tray 22. The multifunction device 1 is provided with a telephone 24 and an antennae 26. The telephone 24 is capable of wireless transmission with a cordless handset (not shown) using the antennae 26. The telephone 24 is capable of connecting with a public telephone circuit and serving as a transfer point for the cordless handset (not shown) while the cordless handset is used for a telephone call.

It should be noted that a power source, a main substrate, an NCU substrate, and two media board devices 28 shown in FIG. 7 are provided in the ink jet recording unit 20 in addition to recording mechanisms for performing recording operations. The main substrate is for controlling operations of the multifunction device 1. The NCU substrate is for controlling connection with the public telephone circuit for the facsimile function and the telephone function. Two media slots 29 are provided at the front surface of the ink jet recording unit 20. By inserting an external memory medium into either of the media slots 29, the external medium can be freely detachably mounted in the corresponding one of the media board devices 28. The media board devices 28 retrieve data, such as data taken by a digital camera, from the external memory medium, whereupon the data is used for printing and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the retrieval unit 10 is a flat head type retrieval unit and includes a retrieval unit case 14. The retrieval unit case 14 includes a document glass 15 on which a document to be scanned is placed. A contact image sensor 16 is disposed below the document glass 15. Configuration is provided for generating scanning movements of the contact image sensor 16. An upper cover 17 for covering the upper surface of the document glass 15 is provided openable and closable with respect to the retrieval unit case 14.

The control panel 12 is provided on the upper surface to the front of the retrieval unit case 14. An operator inputs commands for operations, such as a copy operation, a facsimile operation, or a scanner operation, of the multifunction device 1 through the control panel 12.

It should be noted that an attachment means (not shown) is provided for enabling the flat head type retrieval unit 10 to be disconnected from the ink jet recording unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ink jet recording unit 20, which is below the retrieval unit 10, includes a housing 30. The sheet-supply tray 22 protrudes from inside the housing 30 to above the rear portion of the housing 30. A sheet-supply roller 23 is provided in the sheet-supply tray 22 so that one sheet of time can be supplied. A printer engine 60 is provided as a recording portion at a position where sheets are received from the sheet-supply tray 22. A sheet-discharge portion D is provided to the front of the printer engine 60. Sheets recorded on by the printer engine 60 are discharged from the sheet-discharge portion D. It should be noted that a sheet-discharge tray 34 is freely detachably mounted on the sheet-discharge portion D. The sheet-discharge tray 34 serves as a portion of a sheet transport pathway. An ink cartridge holding portion P into which the ink cartridges 200 (FIG. 12) are mounted is disposed between the sheet-discharge portion D and the base of the housing 30. In this way, the ink cartridge holding portion P is disposed at a position lower than the printer engine 60.

As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 30 is covered from above by a cover 40. The cover 40 has an engine cover portion 42 and a cartridge holding cover portion 44. The engine cover portion 42 covers the printer engine 60 from above. The cartridge holding cover portion 44 is provided below the sheet-discharge portion D and covers the ink cartridge holding portion P from above. The front surface of the engine cover portion 42 is opened to form a sheet-discharge port 46. The cartridge holding cover portion 44 is positioned below the pathway along which sheets recorded by the printer engine 60 are transported, that is, below the sheet-discharge tray 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge holding cover portion 44 functions as a ceiling surface of the ink cartridge holding portion P. As will be described later, the ink cartridge holding portion P is formed between the cartridge holding cover portion 44 and a cartridge holding portion base wall 32 so that the ink cartridges 200 can be inserted to the rear side of the ink cartridge holding portion P from a front surface opening portion O. A front surface cover 50 is provided to selectively cover (FIG. 4) and open (FIG. 6) the front surface opening portion O. The front surface cover 50 includes an upper surface wall 52 and a front surface wall 54. When the front surface cover 50 is closed as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface wall 52 is aligned on the same imaginary plane as the cartridge holding cover portion 44 and the front surface wall 54 extends vertically downward from the upper surface wall 52.

As shown in FIG. 5, four curve-shaped protruding ribs 47 are formed on the lower surface of the cartridge holding cover portion 44. The curved shape of the curve-shaped protruding ribs 47 is formed to follow the shape of the upper surface of the four ink cartridges 200 mounted in the ink cartridge holding portion P. Also, a pair of notches 48 are formed in left and right ends of the cartridge holding cover portion 44.

As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of arms 56 provided to the front surface cover 50 are received by the notches 48 when the front surface cover 50 is opened up. As will be described later, five partition walls 110 are aligned on the base wall 32 in the ink cartridge holding portion P. A pivot shaft 57 protrudes from the two end position partition walls 110. The pair of arms 56 of the front surface cover 50 are pivotably attached to the pivot shaft 57 so that the user can freely open and close the front surface cover 50.

Seven vertical ribs 58 are formed to the rear side of the front surface cover 50 so as to extend vertically when the cover 50 is closed. The vertical ribs 58 extend from the front surface wall 54 of the front surface cover 50 to a portion of the upper surface wall 52. Four of the seven vertical ribs 58 are formed at positions that correspond to the widthwise center of the mounted ink cartridges 200. Accordingly, when the front surface cover 50 is closed from the open condition shown in FIG. 6, the corresponding vertical ribs 58 automatically press any partially inserted ink cartridges 200 deep into the ink cartridge holding portion recording sheet recording sheet P, so that the ink cartridges 200 are accurately inserted even when one of the ink cartridges 200 is incompletely inserted into the ink cartridge holding portion P. Although not shown in the drawings, a plurality of lateral ribs is also formed at the rear surface of the front surface cover 50. The lateral-ribs extend in the horizontal direction in intersection with the seven vertical ribs 58 and are for reinforcing the seven vertical ribs 58.

The cartridge holding portion base wall 32 extends further forward than the cartridge holding cover portion 44 in order to guide the ink cartridges 200 into the front surface opening portion O. The portion of the cartridge holding portion base wall 32 that extends further forward than the cartridge holding cover portion 44 is formed with indentations 102 at positions that correspond to the partition walls 110. The indentations 102 have either a quarter or half circle shape when viewed in plan. The indentations 102 have a narrower width than grasping portions 202 of the ink cartridges 200 housed in the ink cartridge holding portion P so that the user can more easily grasp the ink cartridges 200 housed in the ink cartridge holding portion P using his or her fingers.

FIG. 7 shows the multifunction device 1 with the cover 40 and the front surface cove