Abstract:
An ink container for supplying through an ink supply port ink accommodated in a main body of the container, the ink container including a substrate mounted on a surface of the main body of the container, and a contact portion and a storing element electrically connected with contact the portion, the contact portion and the storing element being provided on the substrate, Characterized In That the contact portion is disposed at a position more remote from the ink supply port than the storing element.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
   The present invention relates to an ink container and an ink container holder. 
   As for an ink container, there is such an ink container as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,975 that is mounted into the main assembly of an apparatus through a rotational movement. An ink container of this type is preferable as an ink container for a recording apparatus, in particular, a recording apparatus of a space saver type. It is mounted into the main assembly of a recording apparatus as shown in  FIGS. 10(   a )– 10 ( d ). That is, the ink container  100  storing ink in its actual container portion (which hereinafter will be referred to as container proper) is mounted into the ink container holder  120  having the recording head  110 , through a rotational motion. Then, the holder  120  is mounted onto the carriage of a recording apparatus of a serial scan type. The ink within the ink container  100  is supplied to the recording head  110  through the ink outlet  100 A located at the bottom of the ink container, and the built-in ink tube  121  of the holder  120 . The top end of the ink tube  121  is fitted with a filter. 
   The procedure for mounting the ink container  100  is as follows. First, the ink container  100  is inserted downward into the holder  120 , at an angle, through the opening of the holder  120 , as shown in  FIG. 10(   a ), so that the front surface of the ink container  100  remains in contact with the rib  120 A of the holder  120 , and also, that the rounded corner  100 B of the ink container  100  remains in contact with the internal surface of the side wall of the holder  120 . As a result, the ink container  100  is rotationally moved downward as indicated by an arrow mark as shown in  FIG. 10(   b ). During this movement of the ink container  100 , the rounded front corner  100 C of the ink container  100  comes into contact with the internal surface of the holder  120 , and the ink tube  121  of the holder  120  enters the ink outlet  10 A. More specifically, the ink container  100  rotates about the contact area between its front wall and the rib  120 A of the holder  120 , with the bottom front portion of the ink container  100  moving frontward (rightward in drawing), until the top wall  100 D of the ink container  100  comes into contact with the overhang  122  of the holder  120  as shown in  FIG. 10(   c ). The bottom portion of the overhang  122  has a curved portion  122 A and a flat horizontal portion  122 B. After the contact is made between the top wall  100 B of the ink container  100  with the curved portion  122 A of the overhang  122  of the holder  120 , as shown in  FIG. 10(   c ), the ink container  100  further rotates until its top wall  100 D comes into contact with the flat horizontal portion  122 B of the overhang  122  of the holder  1  as shown in  FIG. 10(   d ). When the ink container  100  is in the position shown in  FIG. 10(   d ), the ink container  100  is firmly held in the holder  120  by the reactive force which the elastic plate  123  located at the bottom of the internal space of the holder  120  generates as the elastic plate  123  is pressed downward by the bottom of the ink container  100  after the contact is made between the elastic plate  123  and the bottom of the ink container  100  shown in  FIG. 10(   a ). In other words, it requires only a very small space to firmly hold the ink container  100 . 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,535 discloses an ink container equipped with a storage element. This ink container also is mounted into a holder through a rotational motion, although the method by which it is rotated is different from the method by which the ink container disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,975 is rotated. As this ink container is mounted into the holder, the electrical contacts on the ink container side come into contact with the electrical contacts on the holder side, establishing thereby electrical connection between the storage element on the ink container side and the counterpart on the recording apparatus side. The storage element is capable of storing various data, for example, data regarding the amount of the ink remainder in the ink container to which the storage element belongs, data specific to the ink container to which the storage element belongs, etc. Ink containers having a storage element are disclosed also in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 10-323995 and U.S. Published Patent Application No. AA2001,026,301. 
   In the case of a rotational insertion type ink container equipped with a storage element, the locations of the electrical contacts on the ink container side have the following effect upon the contact pressure between the electrical contacts on the ink container side and the electrical contacts on the holder side. 
     FIGS. 11(   a ) and  11 ( b ) are schematic views of a hypothetical ink container  100  which is equipped with a storage element, and which is mounted into a recording apparatus through a rotational motion about the rotational center O. The ink container in  FIG. 11(   a ) and the ink container in  FIG. 11(   b ) are different in the location of the electrical contact  110 . The rotational center O is the point (line) about which the ink container  100  rotates when the ink container  100  is mounted or dismounted. The rotational center O is located near the bottom wall of the ink container  100 , which has the ink outlet  100 A. In order to assure that electrical connection is established between the storage element of the ink container  100  and the counterpart of the holder, it is desired that as the ink container  100  is mounted into the holder, a large amount of contact pressure is generated, and maintained, between the electrical contact  101  on the ink container side and the electrical contact on the holder side. In the case of the ink container  100  in  FIG. 11(   a ), its electrical contact  101  is placed close to the bottom of the ink container  100 , whereas, in the case of the ink container  100  in  FIG. 11(   b ), its electrical contact is located close to the top of the ink container  100 . Assuming that the two ink containers are equal in the amount of force to be applied thereto in the direction indicated by an arrow mark A in the drawing in order to mount them in the holders, the contact pressure generated between the ink container in  FIG. 11(   a ) and the holder is greater than the contact pressure generated between the ink container in  FIG. 11(   b ) and the holder. On the other hand, in the case of the ink container in  FIG. 11(   a ), its electrical contact  101  is closer to the ink outlet  100 A, being therefore higher in the likelihood of being contaminated, than the electrical contact  101  of the ink container in  FIG. 11(   b ). 
   More specifically, a small amount of the ink from the ink container  100  is scattered when the ink container  100  is mounted or dismounted, and also, during a recording operation. The scattered ink is likely to adhere to the bottom of the ink container  100 , and bottom portions of the side walls of the ink container  100 . Further, there is the possibility that the ink having adhered to the interior of the holder will rise to the electrical contact  101  because of the capillary force which is generated as the ink adheres to the corners (joints between the front wall and side walls) of the ink container. As the ink adheres to the electrical contact  101 , it is possible that the ink will change the resistance of the contact area, through which electrical contact is established between the storage element  101  and the counterpart of the holder, causing the storage element  101  to malfunction. In addition, in the case of a storage element having two or more electrical contacts  101 , there is the possibility of a short circuit. There is also the possibility that the ink having adhered to the electrical contacts  101  will increase in viscosity due to the evaporation of its volatile ingredients, adversely affecting the electrical connection between the storage element  100  and the counterpart of the holder. 
   In other words, for the purpose of securing a proper amount of contact pressure at the electrical contact  101 , the electrical contact  101  is desired to be located closer to the bottom of the ink container  100 , whereas for the purpose of preventing the electrical contact  101  from being contaminated by the scattered ink, the electrical contact is desired to be located closer to the top of the ink container  100 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  show hypothetical ink containers which are equipped with a storage unit  102  structured as shown in  FIG. 14 , and which are made different in the location of the storage unit  102  for the purpose of describing the effect of the location of the storage unit  102 . 
   The storage units  102  in these drawings are provided with a storage element  102 A, and a connective pad  102 B as an electrical contact. The storage unit  102  in  FIG. 13  is located at a level higher than those in  FIGS. 12(   a ) and  12 ( b ); it is located farther from the ink outlet  100 A than those in  FIGS. 12(   a ) and  12 ( b ). The holder  120  is provided with a connector  124 , which is attached to the portion of the connector  124 , which corresponds in location to the connective pad  10 B of the storage unit  102 . The connector  124  is provided with a contact terminal  124 A, in the form of a brush, as an electrical contact. 
   If the ink container  100  fails to be completely mounted in the ink container holder  120 , it is possible that the ink container  100  will remain tilted in the ink container holder, with the corner of the top wall  100 D stuck at a point between the top and bottom (front and rear) ends of the curved portion  122 A of the overhang portion  122  of the holder  120  as shown in  FIG. 12(   a ). In such a case, it is possible that the ink outlet  100 A of the ink container  100  will not be properly engaged with the ink tube  121 , causing the ink to be inadequately supplied, more specifically, allowing air to enter the ink tube. Further, since the ink container  100  remains tilted in the ink container holder  120 , it is possible that the ink container  100  will partially stick out of the holder  120 . Thus, if a recording operation is carried out with the ink container  100  in the above described condition, a part of the ink container  100  will come into contact with the internal structure of the recording apparatus, which might result in damage to the recording apparatus and, ink container  100 , and also, damage to recorded images. When the ink container  100  has failed to be completely mounted in the holder, as shown in  FIG. 12(   a ), the connective pad  102 B of the storage unit  102  fails to come into contact with the contact terminal  124 A of the connector  124 , making it impossible to obtain data from the storage element  16 . Thus, when data cannot be obtained from the storage element  16 , it is determined that the ink container  100  has failed to be completely mounted, and a user is informed of the incomplete mounting of the ink container  100  and the need for remounting of the ink container  100 . 
   However, if the ink container  100  is mounted as shown in  FIG. 12(   b ), that is, virtually completely, except for being tilted at a very small angle, it is possible that the connective pad  102 B will fall into the moving range of the contact terminal  124 A, that is, the connective pad  102 B will come into contact with the contact terminal  124 A. Even if the contact between the connective pad  102 B and contact terminal  124 A is very slight, data can be obtained, making it impossible to detect the incomplete mounting of the ink container  100 . 
   On the other hand, when the storage unit  102  is located as shown in  FIG. 13 , that is, it is located far away from the ink outlet  18 , more specifically, as far away as possible from the rotational center, about which the ink container  100  is rotated as it is mounted into the holder, even if the angle at which the ink container  100  is incompletely mounted is very small, the distance between the connective pad  102 B and contact terminal  124 A becomes substantial; the connective pad  102 B does not come into contact with the contact terminal  124 A. Therefore, the incomplete mounting of the ink container  100  can be detected. However, the distance the connective pad  102 B must be moved relative to the contact terminal  124 A in order for the pad  102 B and terminal  124 A to be placed in contact with each other, becomes greater, making greater the possibility that the contact terminal  124 A will accidentally come into contact with the portion of the ink container  100  outside the boundary of the connective pad  102 B. 
   For example, in the case of the ink container  100 , shown in  FIG. 14 , the storage unit  102  of which is attached in the recess  100 E of the storage unit  102 , there is the possibility that when the ink container is mounted into, and dismounted from, the ink holder  120 , the contact terminal  124 A will encounter the gap between the wall of the recess  100 E and the storage unit  102 , as shown in  FIGS. 14(   a ) and  14 ( b ). More specifically, when the ink container  100  is mounted, the contact terminal  124 A comes into contact with the storage unit  102  in a manner of rubbing the storage unit  102  upward, encountering thereby the gap, whereas when the ink container  100  is dismounted, the contact terminal  124 A becomes separated from the storage unit  102  in a manner of rubbing the storage unit  102  downward, also encountering the gap. Therefore, it is possible that when the ink container  100  is mounted or dismounted, the contact terminal  124 A will hang up in the gap between the wall of the recess  100 E and the storage unit  102 , becoming thereby damaged. Further, if the recess  100 E is expanded downward as shown in  FIG. 15 , there is the possibility that when the ink container  100  is mounted, the contact terminal  124 A will come into contact with the corner  102 C- 1  of the substrate C of the storage element  102  as shown in  FIGS. 15(   a ) and  15 ( b ), and also, that when the ink container  100  is removed, the contact terminal  124 A will come into contact with the corner  124 A- 1  of the recess  100 E as shown in  FIGS. 15(   c ) and  15 ( d ). Therefore, it is possible that when the ink container  100  is mounted or dismounted, the contact terminal  124 A will be damaged. 
   Moreover, if the ink container  100 , the recess  100 E of which is shown in  FIG. 14  or  15 , and is located close to the top of the ink container  100  in order to position the storage unit  102  close to the top of the ink container  100 , is manufactured by injection molding, the ink capacity of the ink container  100  substantially reduces due to the structure of the metallic molds. More specifically, when injection molding the container proper of the ink container  100 , which is open at the top, the portion  100 G of the wall  100 F ( FIG. 14(   a )) of the container proper, which corresponds in position to the recess  100 E, bulges inward. Since the mold is extracted upward, the thickness of the portion of the wall  100 F between the portion  100 G and the bottom of the container proper is the same as the thickness T of the portion  100 G. Thus, the higher the location of the recess  100 E relative to the ink container  100 , the longer the portion of the wall  100 F of the ink container  100 , the thickness of which is the same as the thickness T of the inwardly bulging portion  100 G, and therefore, the smaller the ink capacity of the ink container  100  by an amount equal to the amount by which the volume of the wall  100 F is increased by the inward bulging of the wall portion  100 G. In addition, in the case of an ink container filled with an ink retaining member (ink absorbent member), the ink retaining member is compressed by the bulging portion  100 G, being reduced in ink capacity, which in turn reduces the ink capacity of the ink container  100 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a combination of an ink container and an ink container holder, the electrical contacts of which are optimized in position in consideration of the reliability in the electrical connection between the ink container and ink container holder, and also, in consideration of the possibility of the ink adhesion. 
   According to one of the aspects of the present invention made to accomplish the above described object, an ink container, which is provided with an ink outlet through which the ink stored in the container proper of the ink container is delivered, and a storage unit comprising a substrate attached to the front surface of the container proper, electrical contacts, and a storage element electrically connected to the electrical contacts, is characterized in that the electrical contacts are located farther from the ink outlet than the storage element. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, the electrical contacts of the ink container are located farther from the ink outlet than the storage element, in consideration of the ink adhesion. Therefore, the electrical contacts of an ink container and the contact portion of an ink container holder are optimally positioned relative to each other and the ink container, while assuring that the electrical connection is reliably maintained between the electrical contacts of the ink container and the electrical contact portion of the ink container holder. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, the ink container holder is provided with a member for protecting the connector of the ink container holder. Therefore, not only is the ink prevented from adhering to the connector and its adjacencies, but also, the contact terminals of the connector are prevented from being damaged. Therefore, satisfactory electrical connection is always maintained between the ink container and ink container holder. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, the electrical contacts of the ink container are placed on the front surface of the substrate, and the storage unit is placed on the rear surface of the substrate. Therefore, the electrical contacts of the ink container can be place as far away as possible from the ink outlet, assuring that the incomplete mounting of the ink container can be detected, while minimizing the possibility of the ink adhesion, and also, making it possible to reduce in size the portion of the wall of the ink container made to bulge inward to accommodate the storage unit, in order to minimize the reduction of the ink capacity attributable to the presence of the bulge. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, the electrical contacts of the storage unit are placed on the front surface of the substrate so that they overlap with the storage element mount on the rear surface of the substrate, in terms of the direction parallel to the surfaces of the substrate. Therefore, the substrate can be reduced in size, making it possible to reduce in size and cost the storage unit comprising the substrate, storage element, and electrical contacts. 
   These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1(   a ) and  1 ( b ) are front and side views, respectively, of the ink container in the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the ink container shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 3(   a ),  3 ( b ), and  3 ( c ) are front, side, and rear views, respectively, of the storage unit in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4(   a ) is a perspective view of an ink jet cartridge in which the ink container shown in  FIG. 1  is mountable;  FIG. 4(   b ), a perspective view of the ink jet cartridge, shown in  FIG. 4(   a ), in which two of the ink containers shown in  FIG. 1  have been mounted;  FIG. 4(   c ) is a perspective view of the ink jet cartridge as seen from below. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the ink jet cartridge shown in  FIG. 4 , in which the ink container has been normally mounted. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the ink jet cartridge, shown in  FIG. 4 , in which the ink container has been mounted at an angle. 
       FIGS. 7(   a ),  7 ( b ),  7 ( c ), and  7 ( d ) are schematic drawings for depicting the movement of the electrical contact of the ink container, made during the mounting and dismounting of the ink container. 
       FIGS. 8(   a ),  8 ( b ), and  8 ( c ) are front, side, and sectional views, respectively, of the ink container in the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 9(   a ) and  9 ( b ) are schematic drawings for depicting the movement of the electrical contact of the ink container, shown in  FIG. 8 , made during the mounting and dismounting of the electrical contact. 
       FIGS. 10(   a ),  10 ( b ),  10 ( c ), and  10 ( d ) are schematic drawings for depicting the movement of an ink container in accordance with the prior art, made during the mounting of the ink container into the ink container holder. 
       FIGS. 11(   a ) and  11 ( b ) are schematic drawings for hypothetically depicting the effect of the positional relation between the rotational center of the ink container and the electrical contact of the ink container. 
       FIGS. 12(   a ) and  12 ( b ) are schematic sectional views of al ink container having a storage unit, which has hypothetically failed to be completely mounted. 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic sectional view of the ink container, shown in  FIG. 12 , which has failed to be completely mounted. 
       FIGS. 14(   a ) and  14 ( b ) are schematic drawings for depicting the movement of the ink container, shown in  FIG. 12 , made during the mounting and dismounting of the ink container. 
       FIGS. 15(   a ),  15 ( b ),  15 ( c ), and  15 ( d ) are schematic drawings for depicting the movements of the electrical contact and its adjacencies of the ink container, shown in  FIG. 12 , made during the mounting and dismounting of the ink container. 
       FIG. 16(   a ) is a side view of the ink container in the third embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 16(   b ) is a side view of the ink container in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a sectional view of the ink container, in the first embodiment of the present invention, being mounted into a holder. 
       FIG. 18  is a sectional view of the ink container which is being mounted into the holder having a connector provided with a rib. 
       FIG. 19  is a schematic sectional view of the electrical junction between the ink container and ink container holder, in the third embodiment of the present invention, showing the state of the connection. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings. 
   (Embodiment 1) 
     FIGS. 1(   a ) and  1 ( b ) are front and side views of the ink container  7  in the first embodiment of the present invention. This ink container  7  is provided with a storage unit attachment recess  23 , which is a part of the side wall of the ink container  7  perpendicular to the bottom wall of the ink container  7  having an ink outlet  18 . In this recess  23 , a storage unit  14  is attached. More specifically, the storage unit  14  is attached to the bottom of the recess  23  so that the outward surface of the storage unit  14  becomes flush with the outward surface of the side wall of the ink container  7 . The storage unit  14  comprises: a substrate  17  holding wiring on both the front and rear surfaces, a storage element  16  mounted on the rear surface of the substrate  17 ; and connective pads  15  placed on the front surface of the substrate  17 . The storage element  16  is capable of storing the information regarding the ink container and the ink therein, for example. Storable also in the storage element  16  are the data regarding the amount of the ink remaining in an ink container, and the data specific to the ink container to which the storage element  16  is attached. A referential number  39  designates a sealing member for sealing the storage element  16 , and the connective pads  15  are for establishing electrical connection between the storage element  16  and a connector  19  by being placed in contact with the contact terminals  20  ( FIG. 5)  of the connector  19  of the ink container holder  1 . 
   The storage unit  14  is provided with a plurality of connective pads  15 , which are located on the opposite side of the substrate  17  from the ink outlet  18 , that is, closer to the top end of the substrate  17 , being on the top side of the storage element  16 . More specifically, the connective pads  15  are placed on the substrate  17  so that as the storage unit  14  is attached to the ink container, they will be positioned on the opposite side of the substrate  17  from the ink outlet  18 , and the storage element  16  is placed on the substrate  17  so that as the storage unit  14  is attached to the ink container, it will be positioned on the ink outlet  18  side of the substrate from the center of the substrate  17  in terms of the vertical direction ( FIGS. 3(   a ),  3 ( b ), and  3 ( c )). The storage element mount of the substrate  17  includes the sealing member  39 . The storage element mount partially overlaps with the connective pads  15 , as shown in  FIG. 3(   a ), as seen from the direction perpendicular to the substrate  17 . 
     FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the ink container  7 . The ink container  7  comprises a container proper  26 , and a lid  27  welded to the edge of the top opening of the container proper. In the container proper  26 , an ink holding member  29  for holding ink, and an ink guiding member  30  for guiding the ink held in the ink holding member  29  to the ink outlet  18 , are located. The ink container  7  also comprises a cap attachment recesses  25 , which are parts of the side wall of the ink container  7 . The recesses  25  are where the ink container cap  31  latches to prevent the ink in the ink container  7  from evaporating through the ink outlet  18 . Designated by a referential number  32  is a rubber seal attached to the ink container cap  31  to seal the joint between the ink outlet  18  of the ink container  7 , and the ink tube of the holder. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5  are drawings which depict an example of an ink jet cartridge  8  in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 4(   a ) is a perspective view of the ink container holder  1 , which comprises an ink jet recording head  5 , and into the container compartment of which an ink container is removably mountable. The holder  1  comprises a black ink container compartment  2  and a color ink container compartment  3 .  FIG. 4(   b ) is a perspective view of the ink jet cartridge  8 . The black ink container  7  (which hereinafter may be referred to as black container), and the color ink container  6  (which hereinafter may be referred to as color container) which holds yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, are mounted into the compartments  2  and  3 , respectively, of the holder  1 ; the combination of the holder  1  and black and color containers make up the ink jet cartridge  8 . 
     FIG. 4(   c ) is a perspective view of the ink jet cartridge  8  as seen from below. The ink jet recording head  5  is provided with a black ink ejecting portion  9  enabled to eject the black ink supplied from the black container  7 , and a color ink ejecting portion  10  enabled to eject yellow, magenta, and cyan inks supplied from the color container  6 . The recording elements of the ink ejecting portions  9  and  10  are connected to a circuit board  12  by the flexible cable  11 . 
   As the ink jet cartridge  8  is mounted onto the carriage of a recording apparatus of a serial scan type, the connective pads  13  of the circuit board  12  become connected to the unshown control circuit of the main assembly of the recording apparatus. Upon reception of the drive signals from the recording apparatus of a serial scan type, the recording elements corresponding to the received drive signals eject ink through the ink ejecting portions  9  and  10 . As for the recording elements, electrothermal transducers (heater), piezoelectric elements, etc., can be used. When electrothermal transducers are employed, ink can be made to bubble by the heat generated by the electrothermal transducers, so that ink is ejected from the ink ejecting portions  9  and  10  by the energy from the bubbles. A recording apparatus of a serial scan type records an image on recording medium by alternately repeating the operation which ejects ink from the recording head  5  while moving the ink jet cartridge, along with the carriage, in the primary scanning direction, and the operation which moves the recording medium in the secondary direction intersectional to the primary scanning direction. 
     FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the ink jet cartridge  8 , into the ink container holder  1  of which the ink container has been properly mounted. The mounting of the ink container  7  into the holder  1  also involves such a rotational movement of the ink container  7  as the above described rotational movement of the ink container shown in  FIG. 10 . That is, as the ink container  7  is inserted into the holder  1 , it is made to follow the downwardly facing slope of the ink container guiding portion  35  of the holder  1 , being thereby rotated as indicated by an arrow mark in  FIG. 5 . When the ink container  7  is in the position shown in  FIG. 5 , the ink outlet  18  of the ink container  7  is correctly coupled with the ink inlet  21  of the ink jet recording head  5 , making it possible for ink to be supplied to the ink jet recording head  5 . 
   As the ink container  7  is correctly mounted into the holder  1 , the connective pads  15  on the ink container side become connected with the contact terminals  20  of the connector  19  on the holder side. Then, the holder  1 , into which the ink container  7  has been correctly mounted, is mounted onto the carriage of the recording apparatus. As a result, the electrical connection is established between the recording element  16  and the control portion of the recording apparatus, through these connective pads  15  and contact terminals  20 . 
     FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the combination of the ink container  7  and holder  1 , in which the ink container  7  has been mounted into the holder  1  at a slight angle. As described above, the connective pads  15  of the storage unit  14  are located on the portion of the substrate  17  close to the top of the substrate  17 , that is, on the top side of the storage element  16 . Therefore, if the ink container  7  remains slightly tilted as shown in  FIG. 6 , the connective pads  15  remain separated from the contact terminals  20 , preventing the storage element  16  from being accessed for the data therein. Thus, whether or not the ink container  7  has been completely mounted can be determined by detecting whether or not the storage element  16  is accessible after the mounting of the ink container  7 . For example, in the case of an ink container  7 , the connective pads  15  of which are placed on the portion of the substrate  17  close to the bottom edge of the substrate  17 , even if the ink container  7  is mounted in the holder  1  at a slight angle as shown in  FIG. 6 , that is, even if the ink container is incompletely mounted, there is the possibility that there will be physical contacts between the connective pads  15  and the contact terminals  20 , making it impossible to detect the incomplete mounting of the ink container  7 . 
   The bottom of the recess  23  of the container proper  26  is provided with a small recess  23 A, which accommodates the storage element  16  and sealing member  39  located on the rear surface of the substrate  17 . Thus, the portion of the wall of the container proper  26  having the small recess  23 A is bulged inward to give this portion of the wall a thickness equal to that of the other portion of the wall of the container proper, creating thereby the bulge  36  ( FIG. 2 ). When manufacturing the container proper  26  by injection molding, the mold is removed upward, requiring therefore the bulge  36  to extend to the bottom wall of the container proper  26 . Therefore, the presence of the bulge  36  reduces the ink capacity of the ink container  7  by an amount equal to the volume of the bulge  36 . The amount by which the ink capacity of the ink container  7  is reduced can be reduced by reducing the length by which the bulge  36  extends downward, and the length by which the bulge  36  extends downward can be reduced by reducing the distance between the storage element  16  and the bottom edge of the substrate  17 , that is, by increasing the amount by which the storage element  16  is positioned lower than the connective pads  15 . Therefore, even though the connective pads  15  are located as close as possible to the top edge of the substrate  17  in order to assure that the incomplete mounting of the ink container  7  can be detected, while preventing the contamination by ink, the ink container  7  is provided with a satisfactory ink capacity. 
     FIG. 7  shows the movement of the connective pads  15  of the storage unit  14  toward the contact terminals  12  of the connector  19 , made during the mounting of the ink container  7  ( FIGS. 7(   a ) and  7 ( b )), and the movement of the connective pads  15  of the storage unit  14  away from the contact terminals  12  of the connector  19 , made during the dismounting of the ink container  7  ( FIGS. 7(   c ) and  7 ( d )). During the mounting of the ink container  7 , first, the contact terminals  20  come into contact with the flat portion  33  of the substrate  17 , slide on the flat portion  33 , and then, come into contact with contact pads  15 , as shown in  FIG. 7(   b ). During the dismounting of the ink container  7 , the contact terminals  20  become separated from the connective pads  15 , briefly slide on the flat portion  33 , and become completely separated from the storage unit  14 , as shown in  FIG. 7(   d ). Therefore, the front surface of the substrate  17 , that is, the opposite surface of the substrate  17  from the surface of the substrate on which the storage element  16  is located, is utilized as the portion for guiding the contact terminals  20 , preventing thereby the contact terminals  20  from colliding with the top edge of the recess  23  and the corner of the substrate  17  Therefore, the contact terminals  20  are not damaged by the top edge of the recess  23  and the corner of the substrate  17 . As will be evident from the above description of this embodiment, this embodiment makes it possible to prevent the contact terminals  20  from colliding with the portions of the ink container  7 , by which the contact terminals  20  might be damaged, should the contact terminals  20  collide with them. 
   (Embodiment 2) 
     FIGS. 8(   a ),  8 ( b ), and  8 ( c ) are front, side, and sectional views of the ink container  7  in the second embodiment of the present invention. The ink container  7  in this embodiment is provided with a recess  34 , which is a part of one of the side walls of the container proper  26  perpendicular to the bottom wall of the ink container  7  having the ink outlet  18 , and which serves not only as the recess in which the storage unit is attached, but also, as the recess, with the top edge of which the ink container cap  31  latches. The reduction in the ink capacity of the ink container  7  attributable to the provision of the storage unit attachment recess, and the recess, with the top edge of which the ink container cap  31  latches, can be reduced by reducing the distance between the two recesses. Further, the reduction in the ink capacity of the ink container  7  attributable to the provision of the two recesses can be further reduced by uniting the two recesses, as in this embodiment, in order to further reduce the distance from the storage element mount to the ink outlet  18 . 
   With the employment of this structural arrangement, when mounting or dismounting the ink container  7 , the contact terminals  20  do not come into contact with the corner  24  of the substrate  17 , and the corner  38  of the recess  34 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , being thereby prevented from being damaged by the corners. More specifically, during the mounting of the ink container  7 , first, the contact terminals  20  come into contact with the flat portion  33  of the substrate  17 , slide on the flat portion  33 , and then, come into contact with the connective parts  15 , being prevented thereby from coming into contact with the corner  24  of the substrate  24 . Similarly, during the dismounting of the ink container  7 , first, the contact terminals  20  become separated from the connective pads  15 , briefly slide on the flat portion  33 , and then, become completely separated from the ink container  7 . Therefore, the contact terminals  20  are not damaged during the mounting and dismounting of the ink container  7 . 
   (Embodiments 3 and 4) 
     FIG. 17  is a sectional view of the combination of an ink container  7  having a storage unit, and an ink container holder  1 , in which the former is being mounted into the latter. If the ink container  7  is insert into the holder  1  at a certain angle, the corner  39  of the ink container  7 , which is close to the ink outlet  18  of the ink container  7 , sometimes comes into contact with the contact terminals  20  of the connector  19 , damaging thereby the contact terminals  20 , although the occurrence of such an incident is very rare. Also, if the ink container  7  is inserted into the holder  1  at a certain angle, the ink adhering to the adjacencies of the ink outlet  18  of the ink container  7  comes into contact with the contact terminals  20 , adhering to (contaminating) the contact terminals  20 , which sometimes results in the corrosion of the contact terminals  20  and/or the occurrences of short circuit. Therefore, if the connector  19  is provided with a rib  40  for protecting the contact terminals  20  during the mounting of the ink container  7  as shown in  FIG. 18 , the corner  39  of the ink container  7  comes into contact with the rib  40 , correcting thereby the attitude in which the ink container  7  is being mounted, before it comes into contact with the contact terminals  20 . Therefore, the corner  39  rarely comes into contact with the contact terminals  20 , and should the corner  39  come into contact with the contact terminals  20 , the contact will not generate impact high enough to damage the contact terminals  20 . In other words, the provision of the rib  19  improves the reliability of the connector  19 . 
     FIG. 19  is a schematic sectional view of the combination of the connector  19  of the holder  1 , and the storage unit attachment recess of the ink container  7 , corresponding in position to the connector  19 , in this embodiment, depicting the electrical connection between the connector  19  and storage unit  14 . Normally, in order to protect the contact terminals  20 , the rib  40  is positioned above the contact terminals  20 . Therefore, in order to prevent the rib  40  from coming into contact with the ink container  7 , the portion of the side wall of the ink container  7  facing the rib  40  needs to be provided with a recess.  FIG. 16(   a ) is a side view of the ink container in the third embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit attachment recess of which is similar to the one in the first embodiment, and is expanded upward to accommodate the rib  40 .  FIG. 16(   b ) is a side view of the ink container in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit attachment recess of which is similar to the one in the second embodiment, and is expanded upward to accommodate the rib  40 . In these embodiments of the present invention, the connective pads  15  are located on the portion of the substrate  17  close to the top edge of the substrate  17 . Therefore, it is possible to expand the recess  23  in order to accommodate the rib  40 . Therefore, it is possible to improve the connector  19  in reliability. 
   (Miscellanies) 
   An ink container may be integrated with an ink jet cartridge which integrally comprises a recording head. In such a case, an ink jet cartridge integrally comprising an ink container and a recording head is to be mounted into the carriage of a recording apparatus. 
   The storage element  16  may be mounted on the front surface of the substrate  17  as are the connective pads  15 . In such a case, in order to prevent the storage element  16  from coming into contact with the contact terminals  20 , the storage element  16  is to be mounted outside the reach of the contact terminals  20 , and the connective pads  15  are to be placed on the substrate  17  in such a manner that as the ink container  7  is mounted into the holder  1 , the connective pads  15  will be placed above the storage element  16  in terms of the vertical direction of the recording apparatus. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth, and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims. 
   This application claims priority from 
   Japanese Patent Application No. 271426/2003 filed Jul. 7, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference.