INK CARTRIDGE

An ink cartridge includes a box-shaped case main body including side walls and an opened upper portion, a plate-shaped cover attachably/detachably covering an opening of the case main body and including cover side walls on long sides, inserted into insides of main body side walls on long sides of the case main body in a mounted state, and a replaceable ink bag. The cover includes, on the cover side walls on the two long sides, engagement claws protruding toward the main body side walls facing in the mounted state. The case main body includes, on the main body side walls, engagement holes engageable with the engagement claws, and slide portions including inclined surfaces extending in a long-side direction and inclined upward, near the engagement holes on inside surfaces of the main body side walls, to slide and guide the engagement claws during attachment/detachment of the cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to ink cartridges to supplying ink to recording heads of inkjet printers.

2. Description of the Related Art

An inkjet printer is an apparatus that is capable of performing printing by reciprocating a recording head that receives supply of ink from an ink cartridge, in a width direction of a recording sheet. In the inkjet printer performing a large amount of printing, the ink cartridge is upsized, and the large ink cartridge cannot be mounted on a carriage.

Therefore, a method in which the ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a main body of the ink jet printer, and the ink is supplied from the ink cartridge to the recording head through a tube has been adopted. The ink cartridge includes a case main body and a cover that constitute a container housing an ink bag (pouch). When the ink in the ink bag is used up, the cover of the ink cartridge is opened, a new ink bag is housed in the case main body, and then, an opening of the case main body is closed by the cover.

An open/close structure of such an ink cartridge has been proposed in, for example, JP-B-5586737, which discloses an open/close structure including hooks provided on long sides of the cover and locking units provided on long sides of the case main body. Each of the locking units includes a groove and an elastic locking portion. In the open/close structure, a positioning projection is provided on a short side of the cover, and a positioning hole is provided on a short side of the case main body.

In the ink cartridge including the above-described open/close structure, the cover is assembled to the case main body by inserting the positioning projection of the cover into the positioning hole of the case main body, and turning the cover around the inserted portion. As a result, the hooks of the cover engage with the respective elastic locking portions of the case main body to push and open the elastic locking portions, and the hooks are inserted into the grooves of the case main body. Thus, the cover is assembled to the case main body.

To detach the cover from the case main body, a finger is inserted into an operation hole provided in the cover, the cover is slid in a long-side direction to cause the hooks and the grooves to disengage from each other, and the cover is turned up and separated from the case main body.

The replaceable ink bag housed in the case main body of the ink cartridge includes an ink supply connector (spout), and the connector is fitted into and fixed to a U-shaped fitting groove of an adapter provided on the case main body (for example, see JP-A-2004-025900).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the open/close structure of the ink cartridge proposed in JP-B-5586737, each of the elastic locking portions of the locking units provided on the case main body is an L-shaped cantilever piece. Therefore, the hooks of the cover are easily separated from the elastic locking portions, and the elastic locking portions may be broken by an external force.

When the cover is detached from the case main body, in a state where the cover is slid in the long-side direction and the hooks and the grooves disengage from each other, the cover is in the state of closing the case main body, and no gap is formed between the cover and the case main body. Thus, it is necessary to insert a finger into the operation hole of the cover in order to detach the cover from the case main body, and the operation hole is necessary in the cover.

In a fitting structure in which the ink supply connector of the ink bag is fitted to the adapter of the case main body as disclosed in JP-A-2004-025900, when a user replaces the ink bag, a position of the ink supply connector of the ink bag is not clear, and the ink supply connector may be fitted to the adapter in an incomplete state. In addition, there is a problem that the user cannot clearly recognize completion of fitting of the ink supply connector to the adapter. Furthermore, there is a problem that the ink supply connector is easily separated from the fitting groove of the adapter.

Example embodiments of the present invention provide ink cartridges in each of which a cover can be surely attached to a case main body and can be easily detached from a case main body, and provide ink cartridges in each of which an ink supply connector of an ink bag is accurately positioned and surely fitted to an adapter of a case main body, and completion of fitting of the ink supply connector to the adapter can be clearly recognized by the user.

An ink cartridge according to an example embodiment of the present invention includes a box-shaped case main body including side walls facing each other and an opening, a cover attachably/detachably covering the opening of the case main body and including cover side walls superimposed on main body side walls of the case main body in a mounted state, a replaceable ink bag housed in a space defined by the case main body and the cover, one or more engagement claws on one of the cover side walls and the main body side walls, and protruding toward the other of the main body side walls and the cover side walls facing in the mounted state, one or more engagement holes on the other of the main body side walls and the cover side walls and engageable with the one or more engagement claws, and slide portions including, near the engagement holes, inclined surfaces extending toward ends of the main body side walls or the cover side walls from the engagement holes to slide and guide the engagement claws when the case main body and the cover are detached from each other.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the cover is easily and surely attached to the case main body via a one-touch action by being simply pushed down while the engagement claws are aligned with the respective engagement holes of the case main body, and detachment (separation) of the cover from the case main body is surely prevented.

When the cover is slid, the engagement claws of the cover and the engagement holes of the case main body disengage from each other. When the engagement claws are slid along the inclined surfaces of the slide portions, the cover floats from the case main body, and a gap gradually increases therebetween. Therefore, the user can insert a hand into the gap, lift up the cover, and easily detach the cover from the case main body with high workability.

According to example embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to surely attach the cover to the case main body, and to easily detach the cover from the case main body.

In addition, it is possible to accurately position and surely fit the ink supply connector of the ink bag to the fitting groove of the case main body, and to enable the user to clearly recognize completion of fitting of the ink supply connector to the adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating a state where a cover of an ink cartridge according to an example embodiment of the present invention is opened. An illustrated ink cartridge1includes a rectangular or substantially rectangular box-shaped case main body2including an opened surface (upper surface inFIG.1), a detachable rectangular or substantially rectangular plate-shaped cover3covering an opening2aof the case main body2, and a replaceable ink bag4housed in a space defined by the case main body2and the cover3. Arrow directions inFIG.1are defined as a “front-rear” direction, a “right-left” direction, and an “up-down” direction.

On each of right and left edges (long sides or cover side walls) of the cover3, a plurality (for example, three) of engagement claws (hooks)5integrally protrude downward (toward case main body2) at equal or substantially equal intervals along a longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). In other words, six engagement claws5in total are provided on the cover3, for example. At three positions (three positions corresponding to engagement claws5of cover3, namely, six positions in total, for example) on each of right and left long side walls (main body side walls)2A of the case main body2, rectangular or substantially rectangular engagement holes6are provided.

The cover3is attached to the case main body2by causing the engagement claws5to engage with the respective engagement holes6of the case main body2, and the cover3is detached from the case main body2by causing the engagement claws5to disengage from the respective engagement holes6. In the following, an attachment and detachment structure (attachment/detachment structure) of the cover3to the case main body2is described with reference toFIG.2toFIG.4.

FIG.2is an enlarged detailed view of a portion A inFIG.1,FIG.3is a diagram as viewed from an arrow B inFIG.2, andFIG.4is a diagram as viewed from an arrow C inFIG.2. As illustrated inFIG.2andFIG.3, a guide protrusion7is integrally provided along a right edge (one edge in long-side direction (right edge inFIG.3)) of each engagement hole6on inner surfaces of the long side walls (left wall inFIG.2andFIG.3)2A of the case main body2along the front-rear direction. As illustrated inFIG.4, the guide protrusion7includes a tapered surface7ainclined toward the inside (right side inFIG.4) of the case main body2. The tapered surface7aof the guide protrusion7deflects the corresponding engagement claw5of the cover3in a direction in which the engagement claw5of the cover3and the corresponding engagement hole6of the case main body2disengage from each other when the cover3is detached from the case main body2as described below.

A slide portion8extending rearward (rightward inFIG.3) from a bottom surface of each engagement hole6is provided on the inner surfaces of the long side walls2A of the case main body2. The slide portion8includes a linear straight surface8ahorizontally extending rearward from the corresponding guide protrusion7, and an inclined surface8bextending rearward and inclined obliquely upward from the straight surface8a.

An engagement protrusion9horizontally extending in the front-rear direction is integrally provided above each engagement hole6on the inner surfaces of the long side walls2A of the case main body2. The engagement protrusion9guides the corresponding engagement claw5of the cover3to the engagement hole6of the case main body2when the cover3is attached to the case main body2as described below, and inhibits detachment (separation) of the engagement claw5of the cover3from the engagement hole6.

Although only the attachment/detachment structure for the cover3provided on a portion (portion A inFIG.1) of the case main body2is illustrated and described above, the attachment/detachment structure at each of the other five positions of the case main body2(for example, five positions where engagement holes6are provided) have the same structure, and therefore, illustration and description of the attachment/detachment structures at the other five portions are omitted.

Next, a method of attaching the cover3to the case main body2in the ink cartridge1according to an example embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference toFIGS.5A to5C.

FIGS.5A to5Care partial vertical cross-sectional views illustrating the method of attaching the cover in a step order. To attach the cover3to the case main body2, the cover3is moved downward (in illustrated arrow direction) relative to the case main body2so as to cover the case main body2from above as illustrated inFIG.5A. As a result, as illustrated inFIG.5B, claw portions5aat front ends (lower ends) of the engagement claws5of the cover3come into contact with respective tapered surfaces9aof the engagement protrusions9of the case main body2. When the cover3is pushed downward (in illustrated arrow direction) with predetermined force from the state, the engagement claws5of the cover3are deflected and deformed to the inside (left side inFIG.5B). Thus, the engagement claws5pass through the respective engagement protrusions9of the case main body2and are moved downward.

When the cover3is pushed down until the cover3completely covers the case main body2, and the claw portions5aof the engagement claws5of the cover3pass through the respective engagement protrusions9and are aligned with the engagement holes6of the case main body2as illustrated inFIG.5C, the engagement claws5return to original states via an elastic restoring force, and the claw portions5aat the front ends engage with the respective engagement holes6. Accordingly, the cover3is surely attached to the case main body2and covers the opening2a(seeFIG.1) of the case main body2from above, and detachment (separation) of the cover3from the case main body2is surely prevented.

As described above, the cover3is easily and surely attached to the case main body with one-touch action by being simply pushed down while the engagement claws are aligned with the respective engagement holes of the case main body, and detachment (separation) of the cover3from the case main body is surely prevented.

Next, a method of detaching the cover3attached to the case main body2by the above-described method, from the case main body2is described with reference toFIGS.6A to6CtoFIG.8.

FIGS.6A to6Care partial side views illustrating the method of detaching the cover in a step order (diagrams of case main body as viewed from inside).FIG.7is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D inFIG.6A.FIG.8is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E inFIG.6B.

To detach the cover3from the case main body2in the state where the engagement claws5of the cover3engage with the respective engagement holes6of the case main body2and detachment of the cover3from the case main body2is inhibited (seeFIG.6AandFIG.7), the cover3is horizontally slid rearward (in illustrated arrow direction) as illustrated inFIG.6BandFIG.8. As a result, the claw portions5aof the engagement claws5of the cover3engage with the respective tapered surfaces7aof the guide protrusions7. Thus, the engagement claws5are deflected to the inside of the case main body2(front side inFIG.6B), and are allowed to pass through the respective guide protrusions7of the cover3. Therefore, as illustrated inFIG.6BandFIG.8, the engagement claws5of the cover3and the engagement holes6of the case main body2disengage from each other.

When the cover3is further slid rearward (in arrow direction inFIG.6B) from the above-described state, the engagement claws5of the cover3are slid along the respective slide portions8. While the engagement claws5of the cover3are slid on the straight surfaces8aof the slide portions8, the cover3maintains the state covering the case main body2. When the engagement claws5are slid in an arrow direction inFIG.6Calong the respective inclined surfaces8bof the slide portions8, the cover3floats from the case main body2, and a gap gradually increased is generated therebetween. In the above-described manner, when the cover3floats from the case main body2and the predetermined gap is formed therebetween from the state where the engagement claws5of the cover3and the engagement holes6of the case main body2disengage from each other, the user can insert a hand into the gap, lift up the cover3, and easily detach the cover3from the case main body2with high workability.

As described above, in the ink cartridge1according to the present example embodiment, the cover3can be surely attached to the case main body2, and the cover3can be easily detached from the case main body2.

Next, a structure to mount the ink bag4on the ink cartridge1according to the present example embodiment, in particular, a structure to mount an ink supply connector10of the ink bag4on an adapter11of the case main body2is described below with reference toFIG.9toFIG.13.

FIG.9is a front view illustrating a state before the ink bag is mounted.FIG.10is a partial plan view illustrating the same state.FIG.11is a partial front view illustrating a state where the ink bag is mounted.FIG.12is a front view illustrating a state after the ink bag is mounted.FIG.13is a partial front view illustrating the same state.

The ink supply connector10made of a resin is attached to a width-direction center portion at one end of the ink bag4in a longitudinal direction. Ink inside the ink bag4is supplied to an unillustrated recording head of the inkjet printer through an unillustrated tube connected to the ink supply connector10. As illustrated inFIG.10, the ink supply connector10includes, at a front end portion, two flange portions10aand10bthat are integrally provided and are separated in an axis direction (up-down direction inFIG.10). A cylindrical fitting portion10chaving an outer diameter ød smaller than an outer diameter of each of the flange portions10aand10bis integrally provided between the flange portions10aand10b. Further, a rectangular or substantially rectangular coupling plate10dis integrally provided at a connection portion (base end portion) of the ink supply connector10with the ink bag4.

On the other hand, the adapter11that is made of a resin and is separate from the case main body2is provided on the case main body2. As illustrated inFIG.9, a fitting plate11A perpendicularly stands at a width-direction (right-left direction) center at a front end (lower end inFIG.10) of the adapter10. A U-shaped fitting groove11aincluding an upper opening in a front view is provided along the up-down direction in the fitting plate11A. Further, as illustrated inFIG.10, a pair of right and left guide walls11B integrally extend from a rear side of the fitting plate11A (upper part inFIG.10). Concave fitting grooves11bto which the coupling plate10dof the ink supply connector10is fitted are provided to face each other at intermediate portions of the respective guide walls11B in the front-rear direction.

In the present example embodiment, as illustrated inFIG.11, a pair of stopper protrusions12each including a claw shape are integrally provided on an inner surface on an opening side of the fitting groove11aprovided in the fitting plate11A of the adapter11. The pair of stopper protrusions12face each other with a gap δ (<ϕd) smaller than the outer diameter od of the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10.

The ink bag4is mounted by fitting the ink supply connector10of the ink bag4to the fitting groove11aprovided in the fitting plate11A of the adapter11from above. More specifically, when the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10is fitted to the fitting groove11aof the adapter11from above, the fitting portion10cpasses through the gap δ between the stopper protrusions12provided on the inner surface of the fitting groove11aof the adapter11while deflecting the stopper protrusions12to expand the gap δ therebetween as illustrated inFIG.11because the outer diameter ϕd of the fitting portion10cis greater than the gap δ between the stopper protrusions12(δ<ϕd). Thereafter, the fitting portion10cis fitted to the fitting groove11aof the adapter11as illustrated inFIG.12andFIG.13.

As described above, in the state where the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10is fitted to the fitting groove11aof the adapter11, detachment of the ink supply connector10from the fitting groove11ais surely prevented by the pair of stopper protrusions12provided on the inner surface of the fitting groove11abecause the gap δ between the pair of stopper protrusions12is smaller than the outer diameter ϕd of the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10(δ<ϕd). At this time, as illustrated inFIG.13, the coupling plate10dof the ink supply connector10is fitted to the fitting grooves11bprovided in the pair of guide walls11B of the adapter11, and the ink supply connector10is surely positioned with respect to the adapter11.

As described above, by the structure to mount the ink supply connector10on the adapter11according to the present example embodiment, it is possible to accurately position and surely fit the ink supply connector10of the ink bag4to the adapter11of the case main body2, to surely prevent detachment of the ink supply connector10from the adapter11, and to enable the user to clearly recognize completion of fitting of the ink supply connector10to the adapter11.

As illustrated inFIG.14, a supporting protrusion13including a claw shape may be provided on a bottom portion of the fitting groove11aprovided in the adapter11, and the ink supply connector10may be supported at three points by two stopper protrusions12and one supporting protrusion13. When the ink supply connector10is supported at the three points as described above, the ink supply connector10can be more accurately positioned with respect to the adapter11.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.15, a pair of mountain-shaped stopper protrusions14facing each other may be integrally provided on portions of the inner surface of the fitting groove11aof the adapter11. In this example, in a state before the ink supply connector10is fitted to the fitting groove11a, a gap (initial gap) δ between the pair of stopper protrusions14is set smaller than the outer diameter ϕd (seeFIG.16) of the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10(δ<ϕd).

Therefore, when the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10is fitted to the fitting groove11aof the adapter11from above, the fitting portion10cpasses through the gap between the pair of stopper protrusions14provided on the inner surface of the fitting groove11awhile pushing and expanding the gap between the pair of stopper protrusions14, and is surely fitted to the fitting groove11aas illustrated inFIG.16. At this time, the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10is pressed by the pair of stopper protrusions14, predetermined frictional resistance force acts on pressed portions, and detachment of the ink supply connector10from the fitting groove11ais surely prevented by the frictional resistance force.

In addition, the guide protrusions7are provided along the edges of the engagement holes6, and the guide protrusions7include the tapered surfaces7adeflecting the engagement claws5in the direction in which the engagement claws5disengage from the respective engagement holes6during detachment of the cover3. Therefore, the cover3can be easily detached from the case main body2with high workability.

The slide portions8include the straight surfaces8alinearly extending along the case main body2between the engagement holes6and the inclined surfaces8b. Therefore, the cover3can be easily detached from the case main body2with high workability.

The mounting structure in which the ink supply connector10of the ink bag4is fitted to the U-shaped fitting groove11aof the case main body2to fix the ink supply connector10to the case main body2is provided, and the pair of stopper protrusions facing each other with the gap smaller than the outer diameter of the fitting portion of the ink supply connector10are provided on the inner surface of the fitting groove11a. Therefore, it is possible to accurately position and surely fit the ink supply connector10of the ink bag4to the fitting groove11aof the case main body2, to surely prevent detachment of the ink supply connector10from the case main body2by the stopper protrusions, and to enable the user to clearly recognize completion of fitting of the ink supply connector10to the adapter11.

In addition, the mounting structure is provided on the adapter11of the case main body2and fixes the ink supply connector10to the case main body2. Therefore, it is possible to accurately position and surely fit the ink supply connector10of the ink bag4to the adapter11, to surely prevent detachment of the ink supply connector10from the adapter11, and to enable the user to clearly recognize completion of fitting of the ink supply connector10to the adapter11.

In addition, since the protrusion13supporting the fitting portion10cof the ink supply connector10is provided on the bottom portion of the fitting groove11a, it is possible to further accurately position the ink supply connector10to the adapter11.

It is apparent that the applicability of the present invention is not limited to the above-described example embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical ideas recited in the claims, the specification, and the drawings. For example, in the present example embodiment, the engagement claws are provided on the cover, and the engagement holes are provided in the case main body. However, the engagement holes may be provided in the cover, and the engagement claws may be provided on the case main body. In addition, any of the main body side walls and the cover side walls may be provided on the inside or the outside. Further, box shapes having the side walls substantially equal in length to each other may be superimposed and used as the cartridge. The shape is not limited to the rectangular or substantially rectangular shape as long as the side walls facing each other and parallel or substantially parallel to each other are provided, and the case main body and the cover can be slid to each other.