SYSTEM, CASE, AND LIQUID CONTAINER

A system, having a liquid container and a case, is provided. The case has a tubular body extending along a mounting/demounting direction and entering the liquid container through a supply port, a liquid receiver located below an end of the tubular body, and a movable member contacting and being moved by the liquid container moving along the mounting/demounting direction. The liquid receiver is movable between a first position, at which the liquid receiver is one of in contact with and in proximity to the end of the tubular body, and a second position, at which the liquid receiver is separated farther from the end of the tubular body than the first position. The movable member moves the liquid receiver from the first position to the second position by contacting and being moved by the liquid container moving in the mounting orientation.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-154489 filed on Sep. 28, 2022. The entire content of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

A printer having an ink cartridge and a mountable compartment in which the ink cartridge is mountable is known. The ink cartridge may contain ink and may have an ink supplying portion connected with an ink supplying needle in the mountable compartment and a protrusive portion located below the ink supplying portion. The protrusive portion may protrude by a larger amount than the ink supplying portion from a sideward face of the ink cartridge in a mounting direction, which is a direction to mount the ink cartridge in the mountable compartment. In this arrangement, when the ink cartridge is demounted from the mountable compartment, the ink may drip down from a tip of the ink supplying portion, but the ink may be caught on an upper face of the protrusive portion.

In the following paragraphs, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that a printer10described below is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and various connections may be set forth between elements in the following description. These connections in general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect.

In the following paragraphs, an ink cartridge30is movable to be mounted in and demounted from a cartridge case110along a horizontal direction being a mounting/demounting direction, i.e., a direction intersecting orthogonally with the direction of gravity. Therefore, a front-rear direction8and a widthwise direction9may be understood as the horizontal direction, although the front-rear direction8may not necessarily be equal to the horizontal direction. Meanwhile, an upright direction intersecting orthogonally with the front-rear direction8may be defined as a vertical direction7. Moreover, in the following paragraphs, a state where the ink cartridge30is mounted in the cartridge case110and usable, may be equal to a state, in which the ink cartridge30inserted in the cartridge case110is located at a mounted position. The mounted position is a position, at which an ink needle102being an example of a tubular body located in the cartridge case110is coupled with an outflow port47of the ink cartridge30. In the following paragraphs, further, a mounted posture of the ink cartridge30, in the state where the ink cartridge30is mounted in the cartridge case110and usable, may also be called a usable posture.

In the following paragraphs, furthermore, a term “frontward” may mean an orientation, in which the ink cartridge30is inserted into the cartridge case110along the front-rear direction8, and the frontward orientation in the present embodiment is an example of mounting orientation. A term “rearward” may mean an orientation, in which the ink cartridge30is removed from the cartridge case110along the front-rear direction8, and the rearward orientation in the present embodiment is an example of demounting orientation. An expression “face frontward” may mean facing or being oriented in an orientation, which includes a frontward component, and an expression “face rearward” may mean facing in an orientation, which includes a rearward component. An expression “face downward” may mean facing in an orientation, which includes a downward component, and an expression “face upward” may mean facing in a direction, which includes an upward component. For example, a phrase “a front face faces frontward” may mean not only that the front face faces frontward but also that the front face faces toward a side in a direction slanting with resect the frontward direction.

<Overall Configuration of Printer10>

As shown inFIG.1, the printer10is an image forming apparatus in an inkjet style, which may record images on a sheet by discharging ink droplets at the sheet, and may be, for example, an inkjet printer. The printer10has a system1, which includes the cartridge case110being an example of case and the ink cartridge30being an example of liquid container. The system1may include a plurality of ink cartridges30and the cartridge case110, in which the plurality of ink cartridges30are mountable. The cartridge case110has an opening91, which is formed on one side of the cartridge case110. The ink cartridges30may be inserted frontward through the opening91into the cartridge case110and pulled rearward through the opening91to be removed from the cartridge case110.FIG.1shows one of the ink cartridges30completely mounted in the cartridge case110. In other words, the ink cartridge30inFIG.1is in a mounted state. The posture of the ink cartridge30in the mounted state is the usable posture. In the following paragraphs, solely one of the ink cartridges30may be described representatively.

The ink cartridge30may store liquid. For example, the ink cartridge30may store ink to be used in the printer10. In the state where the ink cartridge30is completely mounted in the cartridge case110, the ink cartridge30and a recording head21are connected through an ink tube20. The recording head21may discharge the ink supplied from the ink cartridge30through a plurality of nozzles29. In particular, driving voltages may be applied by a head-controlling board (not shown) in the recording head21selectively to a plurality of piezoelectric devices29A, which are arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of nozzles29. Thereby, the ink droplets may be discharged selectively through the nozzles29. Thus, the recording head21may consume the ink contained in the ink cartridge30, which is mounted in the cartridge case110.

The printer10has a feeder tray15, a feeder roller23, a conveyer roller pair25, a platen26, an ejection roller pair27, and an ejection tray16. The feeder roller23may feed a sheet on the feeder tray15to a conveyer path24. The sheet fed to the conveyer path24may reach the conveyer roller pair25. The conveyer roller pair25may convey the sheet reaching the conveyer roller pair25to an upper side of the platen26. The recording head21may discharge the ink selectively at the sheet being conveyed to the platen26. Thereby, an image may be recorded on the sheet. The sheet passing over the platen26may reach the ejection roller pair27. The ejection roller pair27may eject the sheet reaching the ejection roller pair27at the ejection tray16, which is located at a most downstream position in the conveyer path24.

The cartridge case110has a case body101, ink needles102, first locking members104, an ink receiver111being an example of liquid receiver, and a movable member106, as shown inFIG.1. The cartridge case110may accommodate the ink cartridges30.

The case body101has a shape of a box that forms frames of the cartridge case110. The opening91may optionally be exposable to a user-interface plane, which is a plane of the printer10a user may face when using the printer10.

As shown inFIG.2, the case body101has a plurality of slots108aligning in the widthwise direction9. WhileFIG.2shows three (3) slots108, the case body101in practice has four (4) slots108. In other words, one of the four slots108is not shown inFIG.2. The slots108are formed of a covering wall171, a plurality of partition walls109, and the case body101.

The covering wall171is located at a lower position on an end face103of the case body101. The covering wall171includes an upper wall172extending rearward from the end face103of the case body101and a rear wall173extending downward from a rearward end of the upper wall172. The upper wall172has a form of a plate spreading in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9. The upper wall172ranges from a left-side wall to a right-side wall of the case body101. The rear wall173has an upper-rearward wall174, which extends downward from the rearward end of the upper wall172, and a lower-rearward wall175, which extends frontward from a lower end of the upper-rearward wall174and bends downward. The upper-rearward wall174has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the widthwise direction9. The upper-rearward wall174ranges from the left-side wall to the right-side wall of the case body101. The lower-rearward wall175has a form of a plate, which spreading in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9, bent into an L shape. The lower-rearward wall175ranges from the left-side wall to the right-side wall of the case body101. Four (4) through holes144are formed through the lower-rearward wall175in the front-rear direction8. The through holes144are equally spaced from one another in the widthwise direction9. In each of the through holes144, each of the ink needles102is inserted.

The plurality of partition walls109extend upward from an upper face of the upper wall172. The partition walls109are located to be equally spaced from one another. Each of the partition walls109has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the front-rear direction8. Each partition wall109ranges from a front end of the upper wall172to a position in vicinity of a rear end of the upper wall172. In the slots108, covers32of ink cartridges30storing inks in colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow may be removably inserted. In other words, the slots108and the ink cartridges30containing the inks in different colors are in one-to-one correspondence. The covers32of the ink cartridges30will be described later.

In the covering wall171, slits176are located at positions in one-to-one correspondence to the slots108. Each of the slits176is located at a center in the widthwise direction9of the corresponding one of the slots108. Each slit176has a smaller slit177located in the upper wall172and a larger slit178located in the upper-rearward wall174. The smaller slit177is formed through the upper wall172in the vertical direction7. The smaller slit177extends along the front-rear direction8. The smaller slit177ranges from the front end to the rear end of the upper wall172. The smaller slit177is open rearward at the rear end of the upper wall172. The larger slit178is formed through the upper-rearward wall174in the front-rear direction8. The larger slit178extends along the vertical direction7. The larger slit178ranges from an upper end and a lower end of the upper-rearward wall174. The larger slit178is continuous with the smaller slit177at the upper end of the upper wall172. The larger slit178is open downward at the lower end of the upper-rearward wall174. A dimension of the larger slit178in the widthwise direction9is larger than a dimension of the smaller slit177in the widthwise direction9.

In the case body101, at a position lower than the through holes144, a supporting board161is formed. The supporting board161has a form of a plate spreading in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9. The supporting board161ranges from the left-side wall to the right-side wall of the case body101. The supporting board161supports the ink cartridges30from below when the ink cartridges30are mounted in the cartridge case110. On an upper face of the supporting board161, a plurality of rails162are provided. The rails162extend along the front-rear direction8. Each rail162ranges from a rear end of the supporting board161to a rearward face of the lower-rearward wall175. The rails162adjoining in the widthwise direction9may regulate a position of the ink cartridge30in the widthwise direction9when the ink cartridge30is being mounted in the cartridge case110.

In an upper-end area on the lower-rearward wall175, spring-supporting portions181are provided. The spring-supporting portions181are located frontward with respect to the larger slits178. Each spring-supporting portion181has a supporting face182spreading in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, each ink needle102is in a tubular form and is located at a lower position in the end face103of the case body101. The ink needle102is located at a position lower than the slot108. The ink needle102is located at a position corresponding to the outflow port47of the ink cartridge30mounted in the cartridge case110. The ink needle102protrudes from the end face103of the case body101along the front-rear direction8, and a tip102A of the ink needle102is open rearward. A form of the tip102A of the ink needle102may be either plane or pointy.

The first locking members104protrude downward from a ceiling105of the case body101. The first locking members104are located at positions in a rearward-end area on the ceiling105of the cartridge case110.

As shown inFIGS.1and3-5, the ink receiver111is located at a position lower than the ink needles102. The ink receiver111has an ink-receivable portion112and a contact portion113. The ink-receivable portion112has a form of a container or a tray, which is open upward and frontward. The ink-receivable portion112has a bottom base121, a left-side wall122, a right-side wall123, and a rear wall124. The bottom base121has a form of a plate spreading in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9. The bottom base121is longer in the front-rear direction8than in the widthwise direction9. The bottom base121is located at a position in the widthwise direction9to coincide with a center of the ink needle102in the widthwise direction9.

The left-side wall122extends upward from a leftward end of the bottom base121. The left-side wall122has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the front-rear direction8. The left-side wall122ranges from a rear end to a front end of the bottom base121. A frontward part of an upper face of the left-side wall122extends in parallel with the upper face121A of the bottom base121. A rearward part of the upper face of the left-side wall122slants to be lower rearward so that a height of the left-side wall122from the upper face121A of the bottom base121decreases toward a rear end thereof. A front end of the left-side wall122has a first contact face122A and a second contact face122B. The first contact face122A is located to be higher than the second contact face122B. The first contact face122A is located on an upper side of the front end of the left-side wall122. The first contact face122A faces obliquely upper-frontward in a state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally (seeFIG.5). The second contact face122B is located on a lower side of the front end of the left-side wall122. The second contact face122B faces frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally. In other words, the second contact face122B spreads orthogonally to the upper face121A of the bottom base121.

The right-side wall123extends upward from a rightward end of the bottom base121. The right-side wall123has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the front-rear direction8. The right-side wall123ranges from the rear end to the front end of the bottom base121. A frontward part of an upper face of the right-side wall123spreads in parallel with the upper face121A of the bottom base121. A rearward part of the upper face of the right-side wall123slants to be lower rearward so that a height of the right-side wall123from the upper face121A of the bottom base121decreases toward a rear end thereof. The right-side wall123faces the left-side wall122along the widthwise direction9. A front end of the right-side wall123has a third contact face123A and a fourth contact face123B. The third contact face123A is located to be higher than the fourth contact face123B. The third contact face123A is located on an upper side of the front end of the right-side wall123. The third contact face123A faces obliquely upper-frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally (seeFIG.5). The third contact face123A spreads in parallel with the first contact face122A. The fourth contact face123B is located on a lower side of the front end of the right-side wall123. The fourth contact face123B faces frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally. In other words, the fourth contact face123B spreads orthogonally to the upper face121A of the bottom base121.

The rear wall124extends upward from a rear end of the bottom base121. The rear wall124has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the widthwise direction9. A frontward face124A of the rear wall124slants with respect to the upper face121A of the bottom base121by an obtuse angle θ (seeFIG.4). In other words, the frontward face124A of the rear wall124faces obliquely upper-frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally. The rear wall124ranges from the rightward end to the leftward end of the bottom base121. The rear wall124is connected to the rear ends of the left-side wall122and the right-side wall123. The rear wall124is located at a position lower than a tip102A of the ink needle102. A guide groove127is located through the rear wall124and the bottom base121.

The guide groove127is located at a center of the rear wall124and the bottom base121in the widthwise direction9. The guide groove127has a rear groove128located in the rear wall124and a bottom groove129located in the bottom base121. The rear groove128is recessed rearward from the frontward face124A of the rear wall124. The rear groove128extends from an upper end to a lower end of the rear wall124along the vertical direction7. An upper end of the rear groove128is open at an upper face of the rear wall124. Therefore, the ink may enter the rear groove128from an upper side easily. The bottom groove129is recessed downward from the upper face121A of the bottom base121. The bottom groove129extends from the rear end to the front end of the bottom base121along the front-rear direction8. The bottom groove129is connected with the lower end of the rear groove128at the rear end of the bottom base121. The front end of the bottom groove129is open frontward at a front face of the bottom base121.

The contact portion113protrudes downward from a lower face of the bottom base121. The contact portion113is located in a frontward area on the lower face of the bottom base121. The contact portion113has a left-side contact portion114and a right-side contact portion115located apart in the widthwise direction9on the lower face of the bottom base121. The left-side contact portion114is located on a leftward end on the lower face of the bottom base121. The left-side contact portion114has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the front-rear direction8. The left-side contact portion114has a substantially trapezoidal form, of which lower base is smaller than an upper base thereof in a view along the widthwise direction9. The left-side contact portion114has a fifth contact face114A and a sixth contact face114B. The fifth contact face114A adjoins the lower face of the bottom base121on a frontward side of the left-side contact portion114. The fifth contact face114A faces slightly obliquely upper-frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally. The sixth contact face114B adjoins the fifth contact face114A at a lower end of the fifth contact face114A. The sixth contact face114B faces obliquely lower-frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally.

The right-side contact portion115is located on a rightward end on the lower face of the bottom base121. The right-side contact portion115has the same form as the left-side contact portion114. The right-side contact portion115has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the front-rear direction8. The right-side contact portion115has a substantially trapezoidal form, of which lower base is smaller than an upper base thereof in a view along the widthwise direction9. The right-side contact portion115has a seventh contact face115A and an eighth contact face115B. The seventh contact face115A adjoins the lower face of the bottom base121at a frontward side of the right-side contact portion115. The seventh contact face115A faces slightly obliquely upper-frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally. The seventh contact face115A spreads in parallel to the fifth contact face114A. The eighth contact face115B adjoins the seventh contact face115A at a lower end of the seventh contact face115A. The eighth contact face115B faces obliquely lower-frontward in the state where the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally. The eighth contact face115B spreads in parallel to the sixth contact face114B.

The ink receiver111is pivotably supported by the case body101to pivot on an axis A, which extends along the widthwise direction9. The axis A is located in an end area in the ink receiver111(seeFIGS.4and5). The ink receiver111is pivotable between a proximal position being an example of first position, at which the ink receiver111is in proximity to the tip102A of the ink needle102(seeFIG.4), and a retracted position being an example of second position, at which the ink receiver111is separated farther from the ink needle102than the proximal position (seeFIG.5).

The proximal position is a position, at which the rear wall124of the ink receiver111is located to be closer to a lower side of the tip102A of the ink needle102. The rear wall124of the ink receiver111, when located at the proximal position, is located slightly rearward from an end face99of the ink needle102in the front-rear direction8. Optionally, a rearward face of the rear wall124may be located at a position coincident with the end face99of the ink needle102in the front-rear direction8when the ink receiver111is at the proximal position. Optionally, the rearward face of the rear wall124may be located at a position slightly frontward from the end face99of the ink needle102in the front-rear direction8when the ink receiver111is at the proximal position. The upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the proximal position slants to be lower frontward with respect to a horizontal plane. In other words, the upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the proximal position faces obliquely upper-frontward. An angle between the upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the proximal position and the horizontal plane may be, for example, 35 degrees. The upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the proximal position is an example of receiver face.

The retracted position is a position, at which the upper face121A of the bottom base121lies horizontally. Optionally, the retracted position may be a position, at which the upper face121A of the bottom base121slants slightly to be lower frontward. In other words, in the ink receiver111located at the retracted position, the upper face121A of the bottom base121may face slightly obliquely upper-frontward. In the case where the upper face121A of the bottom base121faces slightly obliquely upper-frontward, an angle between the upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the retracted position and the horizontal plane may be, for example, 5 degrees.

The movable member106as shown inFIGS.2and4-6may restrict a pivoting behavior of the ink receiver111. The movable member106may solely be provided to correspond to one of the slots108located most leftward inFIG.2, or optionally, a plurality of movable members106may be provided to the slots108in one-to-one correspondence (seeFIG.10). The movable member106is located frontward with respect to the ink receiver111. The movable member106has a larger block141located in the larger slit178in the upper-rearward wall174, a smaller block143located in the smaller slit177in the upper wall172, and a contact block146contacting the ink receiver111.

The larger block141is located between the ink receiver111and the lower-rearward wall175in the front-rear direction8. The larger block141has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the widthwise direction9. The larger block141has a size that ranges from a position higher than the ink needle102to a position lower than the ink needle102. A frontward face and a rearward face of the larger block141are in a rectangular form, which is larger in the vertical direction7than in the widthwise direction9. An upper part of the larger block141is located in the larger slit178. A dimension of the larger block141in the widthwise direction9is slightly smaller than a dimension of the larger slit178in the widthwise direction9. Thereby, a position of the larger block141in the widthwise direction9is regulated. The frontward face of the larger block141may contact front ends of the left-side wall122and the right-side wall123of the ink receiver111. The rearward face of the larger block141may contact a rearward face of the lower-rearward wall175. Thereby, the larger block141may be located at a correct position in the front-rear direction8. At a center of the larger block141in the widthwise direction9, a through hole148is formed through in the front-rear direction8. The through hole148is an elongated hole longer in the vertical direction7than in the widthwise direction9. Dimensions of the through hole148in the vertical direction7and the widthwise direction9are larger than an outer diameter of the ink needle102. In the through hole148, the ink needle102is inserted.

The spring-supporting block142extends frontward from an upper end of the larger block141. The spring-supporting block142has a form of a plate spreading in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9. A lower face of the spring-supporting block142faces an upper face of a spring-supporting portion181in the vertical direction (seeFIG.4). The spring-supporting block142is urged upward by a coil spring183, which is supported by the supporting face182of the spring-supporting portion181. Therefore, an upper face142A of the spring-supporting block142is pressed against a lower face of the upper wall172.

The smaller block143extends upward from the upper face142A of the spring-supporting block142. The smaller block143is located at a center of the upper face142A of the spring-supporting block142in the widthwise direction9. The smaller block143has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the front-rear direction8. The smaller block143ranges from a rear end to a front end of the upper face142A of the spring-supporting block142. A dimension of the smaller block143in the widthwise direction9is slightly smaller than a dimension of the smaller slit177in the widthwise direction90. A rear end of the smaller block143forms a slant face147, which faces obliquely upper-rearward.

The contact block146extends rearward from a lower end of the larger block141. The contact block146has a form of a plate spreading in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9. The contact block146may contact the contact portion113in the ink receiver111.

The movable member106is movable along the vertical direction7. In particular, the movable member106may move from an upper position, at which the upper face142A of the spring-supporting block142is urged by the urging force of the coil spring183against the lower face of the upper wall172, to a lower position, to which the movable member106is moved downward from the upper position against the urging force of the coil spring183. At the upper position, as shown inFIG.4, the first contact face122A of the left-side wall122and the third contact face123A of the right-side wall123in the ink receiver111may contact the rearward face of the larger block141. Moreover, at the upper position, the fifth contact face114A of the left-side contact portion114and the seventh contact face115A of the right-side contact portion115may contact a rear end of the contact block146. With the contacts, the pivoting behavior of the ink receiver111may be restricted.

When the movable member106moves from the upper position toward the lower position, the rear end of the contact block146separates downward from the fifth contact face114A and the seventh contact face115A, and the ink receiver111pivots from the proximal position toward the retracted position by a weight thereof. At the lower position, as shown inFIG.5, the second contact face122B of the left-side wall122and the fourth contact face123B of the right-side wall123in the ink receiver111may contact the rearward face of the larger block141. Moreover, at the lower position, the sixth contact face114B of the left-side contact portion114and the eighth contact face115B of the right-side contact portion115may contact the rear end of the contact block146of the movable member106. With the contacts, the pivoting behavior of the ink receiver111may be restricted.

Each of the ink cartridges30is a container to store liquid, e.g., the ink. As shown inFIGS.7and8, each ink cartridge30has a container body31and a cover32.

The container body31has a form of a thin parallelepiped, of which dimension in the widthwise direction9is smaller than dimensions thereof in the vertical direction7and in the front-rear direction8.

The container body31has a front wall40, a rear wall41paired with the front wall40in the front-rear direction8, a leftward wall42connecting the front wall40and the rear wall41, a rightward wall43paired with the leftward wall42in the widthwise direction9, an upper wall44connecting the front wall40and the rear wall41, and a lower wall45paired with the upper wall44in the vertical direction7. An outer face of the front wall40faces frontward. An outer face of the rear wall41faces rearward. An outer face of the leftward wall42faces leftward. An outer face of the rightward wall43faces rightward. An outer face of the upper wall44faces upward. An outer face of the lower wall45faces downward.

The front wall40, the rear wall41, the leftward wall42, the rightward wall43, the upper wall44, and the lower wall45delimit a reservoir chamber46in a space inside the container body31. The reservoir chamber46is located between the front wall40and the rear wall41. The front wall40, the rear wall41, the leftward wall42, the rightward wall43, the upper wall44, and the lower wall45are substantially translucent allowing the user to visually recognize a liquid surface of the ink contained in the reservoir chamber46from outside. The container body31may be formed integrally in, for example, synthetic resin.

At a lower position in the front wall40, the outflow port47being an example of supply port, through which the ink may flow outward, is formed. The outflow port47is located at a widthwise center in the front wall40. The outflow port47may be open externally, or, optionally, the outflow port47may be closable with, for example, a valve.

Inside the container body31, an ink flow path48is formed to extend from the outflow port47along the front-rear direction8. The ink flow path48connects the outflow port47and a lower end of the reservoir chamber46. In other words, a frontward end of the ink flow path48forms the outflow port47. The ink contained in the reservoir chamber46may flow outward through the ink flow path48and from the outflow port47.

In the upper wall44, an air release path49, which connects an upper end of the reservoir chamber46and the outside of the reservoir chamber46, is formed. Through the air release path49, the air may be exchanged between the outside and the inside of the reservoir chamber46. Through the air release path49, air pressure of an air layer in the reservoir chamber46is equated with the atmospheric pressure. An opening of the air release path49on the outer face of the upper wall44is oriented upward. Optionally, the air release path49may be closable with, for example, a valve, a semi-translucent film, etc.

In a frontward end area on the rightward wall43, a protrusive block50protrudes rightward from the outer face of the rightward wall43. Although not shown in the drawings, a protrusive block50protrudes leftward from the outer face of the leftward wall42in a frontward end area on the leftward wall42.

On the outer face of the upper wall44, a locking portion51is located. The locking portion51is located rearward with respect to the air release path49. The locking portion51protrudes upward from the outer face of the upper wall44. The locking portion51has a slant face52facing upper-frontward, a locking face53facing rearward, a rightward face54facing rightward, and a leftward face55facing leftward. The slant face52and the locking face53are in rectangular forms. The rightward face54and the leftward face55are in a triangular form.

The locking portion51is formed integrally with the container body31. Inner faces of the locking portion51delimit an inner space56inside the container body31. The inner space56is a space open downward and is continuous with the reservoir chamber46at the downward end thereof. The inner space56is located at a position higher than the upper wall44in the mounted posture.

The locking portion51is located at a position corresponding to the first locking member104in the case body101in the widthwise direction9. Therefore, when the ink cartridge30is inserted in the case body101, the slant face52of the locking portion51may slide against the first locking member104, and a rearward part of the ink cartridge30may shift downward as the ink cartridge30proceeds frontward. When the slant face52reaches a position frontward with respect to the first locking member104, the rearward part of the ink cartridge30may shift upward. When a locking face53of the locking portion51and the first locking member104face each other in the front-rear direction8, the locking face53may contact the first locking member104. Thus, the locking portion51and the first locking member104are engaged, and the ink cartridge30may be maintained in the mounted state.

The cover32has a shape of a parallelepiped smaller than the container body31and has an opening71oriented rearward. The cover32is attached to the container body31to cover a part of the front wall40of the container body31higher than the outflow port47.

The cover32has a covering body72and extended parts73L,73R. The covering body72is in a shape of a box having the opening71oriented rearward. The covering body72has a leftward wall75and a rightward wall76forming the opening71. The extended parts73L,73R extend from a rear end of the leftward wall75and a rear end of the rightward wall76, respectively.

The covering body72has a front wall74, a leftward wall75extending rearward from a leftward end of the front wall74, a rightward wall76paired with the leftward wall75in the widthwise direction9, an upper wall77extending rearward from an upper end of the front wall74, and a lower wall78pared with the upper wall77in the vertical direction7. An outer face of the front wall74faces frontward. An outer face of the leftward wall75faces leftward. An outer face of the rightward wall76faces rightward. An outer face of the upper wall77faces upward. An outer face of the lower wall78faces downward. The front wall74, the leftward wall75, the upper wall77, and the lower wall78delimit an inner space inside the covering body72.

A press-down member151extends downward from a lower face of the lower wall78. The press-down member151is located at a center of the lower face of the lower wall78in the widthwise direction9. The press-down member151has a form of a plate spreading in the vertical direction7and the front-rear direction8. The press-down member151is formed in a range from a front end78A to a rear end of the lower face of the lower wall78. Thus, the press-down member151is located at the front end78A, which is a frontward end of the ink cartridge30. A dimension of the press-down member151in the vertical direction7is smaller than a dimension of the press-down member151in the front-rear direction8.

The covering body72is in a size that may be inserted in the slot108in the case body101. A dimension of the covering body72along the vertical direction7is smaller than a dimension of the container body31along the vertical direction7. A dimension of the covering body72along the front-rear direction8is smaller than a dimension of the container body31along the front-rear direction8. A dimension of the covering body72along the widthwise direction9is substantially larger than a dimension of the container body31along the widthwise direction9.

The extended part73R extends rearward from the rear end of the rightward wall76. The extended part73R has a form of a plate. In a vertically central area in the extended part73R, a through hole79is formed through in the widthwise direction9. In the through hole79, the protrusive block50is inserted. The through hole79has a rectangular form, of which dimensions are greater than external dimensions of the protrusive block50. A dimension of the through hole79along the vertical direction7is greater than a dimension of the through hole79along the front-rear direction8. The dimension of the through hole79in the vertical direction7is substantially greater than a dimension of the protrusive block50along the vertical direction7. Therefore, the protrusive block50inserted in the through hole79is movable in the vertical direction7. Although not shown in the drawings, the leftward wall75has a through hole79, which is in the same form as the through hole79on the rightward wall76.

The leftward wall75and the rightward wall76are paired in the widthwise direction9. Between the leftward wall75and the rightward wall76, the container body31is inserted. With the protrusive block50located on the leftward wall75of the container body31being inserted in the through hole79in the extended part73L, and the protrusive block50located on the rightward wall76of the container body31being inserted in the through hole79in the extended part73R, the cover32may be attached to the container body31. The cover32is, in the state where the cover32is attached to the container body31, movable in the vertical direction7with respect to the container body31within the range, in which the protrusive blocks50are movable in the vertical direction7in the through holes79.

The cover32, in the state where the cover32is attached to the container body31, covers a part of the front wall40, including an upper part of the front wall40, of the container body31. The outer face of the front wall74of the cover32is located frontward with respect to the outflow port47. The outflow port47is located at a position lower than a lower end of the opening71in the cover32.

Next, a procedure to mount the ink cartridge30in the cartridge case110will be described with reference toFIGS.9A-9D. Initially, the ink receiver111is located at the proximal position as shown inFIG.9A.

First, as shown inFIG.9A, a user may insert the ink cartridge30frontward, toward the most leftward one of the slots108shown inFIG.2, through the opening91of the cartridge case110. Thereby, the ink cartridge30may be guided frontward on the supporting board161and the rails162in the cartridge case110, and a front end of the press-down member151may enter the smaller slit177in the upper wall172. Accordingly, as shown inFIG.9B, the front end of the press-down member151may contact the slant face147of the smaller block143. In this arrangement, the outflow port47in the ink cartridge30is located rearward from the tip102A of the ink needle102. In other words, the ink needle102is not yet inserted in the outflow port47. As the user moves the ink cartridge30further frontward, the slant face147of the smaller block143may be pushed downward by the press-down member151. Therefore, the movable member106may move downward from the upper position to the lower position against the urging force of the coil spring183. Accordingly, the rear end of the contact block146may separate downward from the fifth contact face114A and the seventh contact face115A of the contact portion113, and the ink receiver111may pivot on the axis A from the proximal position toward the retracted position by gravity (seeFIGS.4and5).

Moreover, when the movable member106reaches the lower position and the ink receiver111reaches the retracted position, as shown inFIG.9C, a gap, in which the lower end of the ink cartridge30is movable in the front-rear direction8, is created between the ink needle102and the ink receiver111. In this arrangement, the end face99of the ink needle102is in proximity to the outflow port47in the ink cartridge30. With the end face99of the ink needle102located in proximity to the outflow port47, the user may move the ink cartridge30further frontward, and the ink needle102may be inserted in the outflow port47in the ink cartridge30. Moreover, as the slant face52of the locking portion51in the ink cartridge30contacts the first locking member104, the ink cartridge30may turn about the outflow port47with the ink needle102inserted therein, with the rearward part of the ink cartridge30shifting downward, and the locking portion51may move frontward with respect to the first locking member104. Thereafter, the ink cartridge30may turn back about the outflow port47, with the rearward part thereof shifting upward. Thereby, the locking face53may contact the first locking member104. As a result, as shown inFIG.9D, the ink cartridge30may be mounted in the cartridge case110.

Next, a procedure to demount the ink cartridge30from the cartridge case110will be described.

First, the user may move the rearward part of the ink cartridge30downward to locate the locking portion51to a position lower than the first locking member104. Next, the user may move the ink cartridge30rearward. As the press-down member151of the ink cartridge30separates from the smaller block143of the movable member106, the movable member106may move from the lower position to the upper position due to the urging force of the coil spring183. As the movable member106moves, the ink receiver111may pivot from the retracted position to the proximal position. In the meantime, the ink may drip down from the tip of the ink needle102. However, the ink may be received by the upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the proximal position. The ink received by the ink receiver111may flow obliquely lower-frontward along the upper face121A or the guide groove127of the bottom base121and may be directed to a location, which may not be apparent to the user.

Occasionally, the ink may stay on the tip102A of the ink needle102due to the surface tension effect; however, when the ink grows to a substantial size to contact the upper end of the rear groove128in the guide groove127in the ink receiver111, the ink may be drawn to the rear groove128by capillary force. As a result, the ink may flow obliquely lower-frontward along the upper face121A or the guide groove127of the bottom base121and may be directed to a location, which may not be apparent to the user.

According to the printer10, when the user moves the ink cartridge30frontward into the cartridge case110, the ink receiver111may move from the proximal position to the retracted position. Therefore, the outflow port47of the ink cartridge30may be connected to the ink needle102without causing the ink cartridge30to contact the ink receiver111. While the outflow port47of the ink cartridge30is not connected to the ink needle102, the ink receiver111is located at the proximal position. Therefore, if the ink drips down from the tip102A of the ink needle102when the ink cartridge30is being demounted from the cartridge case110, the ink may be received by the ink receiver111. Therefore, the ink may be restrained from falling in the cartridge case110, and the ink cartridge30being mounted in the cartridge case110may be restrained from touching the ink.

According to the printer10, the upper face121A of the bottom base121in the ink receiver111located at the proximal position slants lower-frontward with respect to the horizontal plane. Therefore, the ink received by the upper face121A of the bottom base121may flow lower-frontward along the upper face121A of the bottom base121to the location that may not be apparent to the user. Accordingly, the ink cartridge30being mounted in the cartridge case110may be restrained from touching the ink.

According to the printer10, the ink receiver111has the guide groove127, which dents downward from the upper face121A of the bottom base121and extends frontward. Therefore, although the ink may stay on the tip102A of the ink needle102due to the surface tension, when the ink grows to a substantial size to contact the upper end of the rear groove128in the guide groove127in the ink receiver111, the ink may be drawn to the rear groove128by capillary force. As a result, the ink may be received by the ink receiver111easily.

According to the printer10, by the movable member106moving downward, which is a direction intersecting with the front-rear direction8, the ink receiver111may pivot from the proximal position to the retracted position. Therefore, the cartridge case110may be downsized in the front-rear direction8and the widthwise direction9.

According to the printer10, as the movable member106contacts the ink cartridge30moving frontward and moves downward, the ink receiver111may pivot from the proximal position to the retracted position by the weight thereof. Therefore, the user may easily cause the ink receiver111to pivot from the proximal position to the retracted position by moving the ink cartridge30frontward.

According to the printer10, the press-down member151located at the front end78A, which is a frontward end of the ink cartridge30, may contact the smaller block143in the movable member106. Therefore, the user mounting the ink cartridge30in the cartridge case110may cause the ink cartridge30to contact the movable member106before the outflow port47in the ink cartridge30contacts the ink needle102. Therefore, the ink receiver111may be moved from the proximal position to the retracted position easily before the outflow port47in the ink cartridge30contacts the ink needle102. Therefore, the user may connect the outflow port47to the ink needle102easily.

Modified Examples

For example, as shown inFIG.10, the cartridge case110may have a plurality of movable members106and a plurality of ink receivers111(seeFIG.3) provided in one-to-one correspondence to the slots108. In this arrangement, the ink receivers111may move from the respective proximal position to the respective retracted position individually as the ink cartridges30are mounted in the cartridge case110individually, and each of the ink cartridges30may be restrained from contacting the ink on the corresponding ink receiver111. When the ink cartridges30are demounted from the cartridge case110individually, the ink dripping down from the tips102A of the ink needles102may be received by the ink receivers111securely. Therefore, the inks may be restrained from falling in the cartridge case110, and the ink cartridges30being mounted in the cartridge case110may be maintained clean without contacting the inks more effectively.

For another example, in the state where the ink cartridge30is not mounted in the cartridge case110, the ink receiver111may not necessarily be located at the proximal position, at which the ink needle102is in proximity to the tip102A of the ink needle102, but may be located at a contact position, at which the ink receiver111contacts the lower side of the tip102A of the ink needle102.

For another example, the upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the proximal position may not necessarily slant to be lower frontward as long as the upper face121A is capable of receiving the ink dripping from the tip102A of the ink needle102. For example, the upper face121A of the bottom base121of the ink receiver111located at the proximal position may be parallel to the horizontal plane.

For another example, the ink receiver111may not pivot on the axis A to move from the proximal position to the retracted position as long as the gap, in which the lower end of the ink cartridge30is movable, is created between the ink receiver111in the retracted position and the ink needle102. For example, the ink receiver111may move to the retracted position by moving downward from the proximal position.

For another example, the movable member106may not necessarily move the ink receiver111from the proximal position to the retracted position by moving downward when the movable member106contacts the ink cartridge30moving frontward as long as the movable member106is enabled to move the ink receiver111from the proximal position to the retracted position. For example, the movable member106may move the ink receiver111from the proximal position to the retracted position by moving upward when the movable member106contacts the ink cartridge30moving frontward. For another example, the movable member106may move the ink receiver111from the proximal position to the retracted position by moving in the front-rear direction8or the widthwise direction9when the movable member106contacts the ink cartridge30moving frontward.

For another example, the ink receiver111may not necessarily have the guide groove127, but the guide groove127may be omitted.

For another example, the press-down member151may not necessarily be located at the front end78A, which is the frontward end of the ink cartridge30, as long as the press-down member151is enabled to contact the slant face147of the smaller block143in the movable member106. For example, the press-down member151may be located rearward from the outflow port47.

For another example, in the flow path between the ink cartridge30and the recording head21, a sub tank to store the ink may be provided additionally to the ink tube20. In the case where the sub tank is provided, the sub tank may be connected with the ink needle102and with the ink tube20.

For another example, the liquid to be stored in the reservoir chamber46of the ink cartridge30may not necessarily be limited to ink. For example, cleansing liquid may be stored in the reservoir chamber46of the ink cartridge30.

For another example, the printer10may not necessarily have the cartridge case110with the four slots108, in which the covers32of the ink cartridges30storing the inks in the colors of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow may be inserted. For example, the printer10may have the cartridge case110with a slot108, in which the cover32of the ink cartridge30storing the ink in a single color, e.g., black, may be inserted. In other words, the printer10may be a monochrome-only printer.