Abstract:
There is disclosed an ink cartridge capable of being removably held in an ink cartridge accommodation portion simply by pushing in the cartridge in an insertion direction. The ink cartridge ( 5 ) is mounted on a carriage ( 4 ) having a cartridge accommodation region. A one-push type fixing member ( 30 ) in a position facing a surface parallel to an insertion direction in which the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge accommodation region is engaged with a fixing protrusion ( 12   a ) forming another one-push type fixing member and cooperating with the first-mentioned one-push type fixing member, so that the cartridge ( 5 ) is held in a predetermined position in a state in which the cartridge is resiliently urged by a spring ( 24 ) in a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 10/462,942, filed on Jun. 17, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus fitted with a recording head for ejecting droplets of ink onto a recording medium in response to a print signal and also to an ink cartridge used in this inkjet recording apparatus.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     An inkjet recording apparatus has a recording head for ejecting droplets of ink. This head is mounted on a carriage that reciprocates relative to a recording medium. The recording apparatus currently available is so designed that ink is supplied to the recording head from an ink cartridge via an ink channel such as a tube or that ink is supplied to the recording head via an ink supply needle formed on the carriage where an ink cartridge is mounted.  
         [0006]     Either of these types employs an arrangement in which an ink leading-out member, such as the ink supply needle, of the main body side is inserted into or connected to an ink supply port of the ink cartridge, and therefore the ink cartridge and the ink leading-out member must be reliably connected and fixed to each other so as to avoid an unintentional disconnection therebetween. To this end, it is necessary to provide a member for fixing the ink cartridge to the cartridge accommodation portion in the related art.  
         [0007]     The arrangement using the aforementioned fixing member, however, requires two operations, i.e. mounting an ink supply port of the ink cartridge to a coupling member formed at an end of the ink supply path, and thereafter fixing the cartridge by the fixing member. Consequently, the sequence of operations for mounting is cumbersome to perform. Further, the fixing member is required to make the structure complicated.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In view of these problems, the present invention has been made. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus permitting an inkjet cartridge to be fixed to an ink cartridge accommodation portion simply by pushing-in the ink cartridge in the mounting direction.  
         [0009]     It is another object of the invention to provide an ink cartridge adapted for the recording apparatus described above.  
         [0010]     To solve these problems, an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention as claimed in claim  1  is so designed that ink is supplied to a recording head from an ink cartridge mounted in a cartridge accommodation region. The ink cartridge has a first member constituting a one-push type fixing member that is formed on the ink cartridge. The inkjet recording apparatus has a second member that constitutes another one-push type fixing member cooperating with the first member and that is formed in a position facing a plane substantially parallel to an insertion direction in which the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge accommodation region, whereby the cartridge is held in a predetermined position in a state in which the ink cartridge is resiliently urged by resiliently urging member in a direction opposite to the insertion.  
         [0011]     The inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention as claimed in claim  3  is designed so that the resiliently urging member includes a spring that biases a valve body loaded in an ink supply port.  
         [0012]     The inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention as claimed in claim  5  is designed so that a position of the holding portion or a diameter of the protrusion is selected to define a clearance between a dead point at pushing-in of the ink-cartridge and the predetermined position.  
         [0013]     An ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  6  has an ink storing portion storing ink therein and an ink supply port communicating with the ink storing portion, and is adapted to removably mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of a recording apparatus to supply the ink in the ink storing portion via the ink supply port to a recording head provided on the recording apparatus. The ink cartridge includes: a first member that constitutes a one-push type fixing member, that is formed on a plane substantially parallel to an insertion direction in which the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and that cooperates with a second member constituting another one-push type fixing member of the recording apparatus.  
         [0014]     The ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  7  is designed so that the second member includes a protrusion whose range of motion is restricted, and the first member includes a combination of a guide path for guiding the protrusion in one direction, and a holding portion engaging the protrusion.  
         [0015]     The ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  10  is designed so that the resiliently urging member includes a spring that biases a valve member loaded in the ink supply port.  
         [0016]     The ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  12  is designed so that the first member is disposed on a wall surface intersecting a wall surface on which the ink supply port is disposed, and located at a position offset toward the wall surface on which the ink supply port is disposed.  
         [0017]     The ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  13  is designed so that the ink supply port is located at a position offset toward the wall surface on which the first member is disposed.  
         [0018]     The ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  14  is designed so that the protrusion whose range of motion is restricted is movable in a plane direction of the plane substantially parallel to the insertion direction, and also movable in a direction intersecting the plane.  
         [0019]     The ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  15  is designed so that the holding portion of the first member is resiliently held by the protrusion by an urging force of resiliently urging member.  
         [0020]     The ink cartridge according to the present invention as claimed in claim  16  is designed so that a position of the holding portion or a diameter of the protrusion is selected to define a clearance between a dead point at pushing-in of the ink cartridge and the predetermined position.  
         [0021]     According to the present invention as claimed in claim  1  (claim  6 ), when the cartridge is mounted, the ink cartridge is pushed-in against the resiliently urging member, so that the cartridge is held in the predetermined position by the action of the one-push type fixing members and the biasing force of the resiliently urging member. When the ink cartridge is detached, the ink cartridge is pushed-in against the biasing force. This disengages the one-push type fixing members, and therefore the ink cartridge is moved in the removing direction opposite to the insertion direction, by the biasing force.  
         [0022]     Therefore, when the cartridge is installed, the ink cartridge can be held into a predetermined position simply by pushing in the cartridge against a resilient member. Furthermore, the ink cartridge can be disengaged by pushing it in against the biasing force, so that the cartridge can be moved in the removing direction by the biasing force. Moreover, a fixing member such as a cover member for fixing the cartridge to the cartridge accommodation region can be dispensed with, and further the ink cartridge can be easily taken out.  
         [0023]     According to the present invention as claimed in claim  3  (claim  10 ), a simplified structure can be realized because an additional member, i.e. a spring, for biasing the ink cartridge is unnecessary.  
         [0024]     According to the present invention as claimed in claim  5  (claim  16 ), owing to the clearance between the dead point and the holding position, the packing of the ink supply port can be reliably brought into close contact with the ink supply needle to improve the air tightness. Further ink can flow in between the packing and the ink supply needle during the removal to reduce the friction, so that the ink cartridge can be surely taken out only by the stored force of the resiliently urging member.  
         [0025]     According to the present invention as claimed in claim  7 , it is unnecessary to dispose, on the ink cartridge side, a movable member for fixing the ink cartridge to the carriage, and further the arrangement can be realized simply by forming protruded and recessed portions on the wall surface. Therefore, the structure and the package can be simplified.  
         [0026]     According to the present invention as claimed in any one of claims  12  to  15 , the region as close to the ink supply port as possible can be used as a holding region of the ink cartridge, and therefore it is possible to eliminate the displacement of the ink cartridge caused by an external force, and to reduce an adverse effect on the joint portion between the ink supply port and the ink supply needle.  
         [0027]     The present disclosure relates to the subject matter contained in Japanese patent applications having No. 2002-175691 (filed on Jun. 17, 2002), and a not-yet-known number (filed on Jun. 13, 2003), which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the structure of a cartridge accommodation holder of a carriage which is a component of the inkjet recording apparatus of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a fixing protrusion,  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view showing a mounting state of the fixing protrusion at a front side on a vertical wall in the holder, and  FIG. 3C  is a perspective view showing the mounting state of the fixing protrusion at a rear side on the vertical wall in the holder.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an ink cartridge adapted for the recording apparatus.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge, taken through the ink supply port, and in which the cartridge is mounted on the carriage.  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a fixing member formed in the ink cartridge.  
         [0034]     FIGS.  7 I and  7 II are views illustrating the former half of steps performed when the ink cartridge is mounted.  
         [0035]     FIGS.  8 I and  8 II are views illustrating the latter half of the steps performed when the ink cartridge is mounted.  
         [0036]     FIGS.  9 I and  9 II are views illustrating steps for taking out the ink cartridge.  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the ink cartridge to which the invention can be applied.  
         [0038]      FIG. 11  is a view showing an embodiment of a cartridge holder adapted for the ink cartridge.  
         [0039]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view in which another embodiment of the recording apparatus of the invention is shown by the structure of a cartridge accommodation region.  
         [0040]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  are perspective views, each showing another embodiment of the ink cartridge of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0041]     The present invention is hereinafter described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.  
         [0042]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention. A case is made up of a case body  1  and a cover  2 . A carriage  4  is accommodated in the case to be opposed to a platen  3  and to be reciprocatingly movable. Two kinds of ink cartridges  5  and  6  having different widths are detachably mounted on the top surface of the carriage  4 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the carriage  4 . In this embodiment, inkjet recording heads  7  and  8  that receive supply of inks from ink cartridges  5  and  6 , respectively, are disposed on the bottom surface of the carriage  4 . Vertical walls  11  form a boxlike enclosure on the upper surface of the carriage  4  to accommodate the ink cartridges  5  and  6  such that their top surfaces are exposed. In this way, a cartridge holder  9  is integrally formed.  
         [0044]     The cartridge holder  9  is partitioned by a rib  10  into two sections to accommodate the two kinds of ink cartridges  5  and  6  in given regions. Windows  11   c  and  11   d  for forming fixing members are respectively formed at substantially central portions of the vertical walls  11   a  and  11   b  that respectively define the regions for accommodating the cartridges. Fixing protrusions  12   a  and  13   a  of fixing members  12  and  13  as described later protrude through the windows  11   c  and  11   d  into the side of the cartridge accommodation regions.  
         [0045]     The windows  11   c  and  11   d  are formed as arc-shaped through holes which limit the movement of the fixing protrusions  12   a  and  13   a  to a certain angular range L. Mounting holes  11   e  and  11   f  are formed on the centerlines of the windows  11   c  and  11   d  and under these windows  11   c  and  11   d.    
         [0046]     These window  11   c ,  11   d  and fixing member  12 ,  13  together form a one-push type fixing member.  
         [0047]      FIG. 3A  shows an embodiment of the fixing member  12 ,  13 . In this embodiment, the fixing members  12  and  13  are shaped identically. The fixing members  12  ( 13 ) has an arm  12   b  ( 13   b ). The fixing protrusion  12   a  ( 13   a ) that is longer than the thickness of the vertical wall  11   a  ( 11   b ) but does not hinder insertion of the cartridge is formed at one end of the arm  12   b  ( 13   b ) perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the arm  12   b  ( 13   b ). A mounting portion  12   c  ( 13   c ) that is rotatably inserted into the mounting hole  11   e  ( 11   f ) is formed at the other end in the same direction as the fixing protrusion  12   a  ( 13   a ). A tapering portion  12   d  ( 13   d ) for preventing disconnection and a split groove  12   e  ( 13   e ) are formed at the front end of the mounting portion  12   c  ( 13   c ). The arm  12   b  ( 13   b ) is so designed that the position of the fixing protrusion  12   a  ( 13   a ) is displaceable in a direction intersecting a surface direction of a fixing member  30  described later in conformity with recessed and protruded portions of the fixing member  30 , and that the arm  12   b  ( 13   b ) has such an elasticity as to cause the fixing protrusion  12   a  ( 13   a ) to contact the fixing member  30  with a given contact force. This ensures reliable contact between the fixing protrusion  12   a  ( 13   a ) and the fixing member  30 , to thereby eliminate failure of fixing the ink cartridge caused due to insufficient contact.  
         [0048]     Because of this structure, when the fixing protrusion  12   a  ( 13   a ) of the fixing member  12  ( 13 ) is inserted into the window  11   c  ( 11   d ) and the tapering portion  12   d  ( 13   d ) of the mounting portion  12   c  ( 13   c ) is forced into the mounting hole  11   e  ( 11   f ), the mounting portion is permitted by the split groove  12   e  ( 13   e ) to be deformed and then rotatably fitted in the mounting hole  11   e  ( 11   f ).  
         [0049]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show embodiments of the ink cartridges  5  and  6  of the invention. Namely,  FIG. 4A  show the ink cartridge which contains one kind of ink, black ink in this embodiment, and  FIG. 4B  shows the ink cartridge which is formed with a plurality of separate ink storage chambers by partition walls or the like and which contains different kinds of inks, yellow, magenta and cyan in this embodiment, in respective ink storage chambers, each having an independent ink supply port.  
         [0050]     Here, only one ink cartridge  5  is described. A fixing member  30  that guides and engages the aforementioned fixing protrusion  12   a  is formed in one wall surface  21  parallel to the direction of insertion of a container  20  that contains ink therein.  
         [0051]     Another wall surface  29  that is perpendicular to the direction of insertion is provided with an ink supply port  22  that engages an ink supply needle  14  of the carriage to discharge the ink inside the cartridge therefrom.  
         [0052]     In this ink cartridge, the fixing member  30  is disposed at a position offset toward the surface (the bottom surface)  29  where the ink supply port  22  is formed, i.e. at a lower portion region in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge in this embodiment, and further the ink supply port  22  is disposed at a position offset toward the wall surface (the side surface)  21  (i.e. at the right side in the figure). Consequently, the fixing member  30  can surely fix a portion of the ink cartridge in the vicinity of the ink supply port  22 . This arrangement can prevent the displacement of the ink cartridge even when an external force is applied in a state in which the ink supply needle  14  is inserted into the ink supply port  22 , to thereby reduce an adverse affect on the connection portion between the ink supply port  22  and the ink supply needle  14 . That is, since the ink supply port  22  is located at the position offset toward the wall surface  21  where the fixing member is formed, the fixing member  30  can receive the external force to reliably provide the above-noted advantageous effect.  
         [0053]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a packing  26  and a valve body  23  are loaded in the ink supply port  22  in such a way that the valve body  23  is biased by a spring  24  which is a coiled spring. The packing  26  serves as a sealing member, which closely and sealingly contacts the circumference of the ink supply needle  14 . The valve body  23  contacts one end face of the packing  26  to close and seal an opening formed through the packing  26  when the cartridge is removed from the carriage, and opens the ink supply port by insertion of the ink supply needle  14  when the ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage. The extent of resilience of the spring  24  is such that even when the ink cartridge  5  is fully filled with ink and the ink supply port  22  engages the ink supply needle  14 , the spring can bias the cartridge  5  in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion against the frictional force caused between the ink supply needle  14  and the packing  26 .  
         [0054]     In the aforementioned embodiment, the spring  24 , provided in the ink supply port  17 , for biasing the valve body  23  in the direction to close the valve body  23  is used to bias the ink cartridge in the direction opposite to the direction in which the cartridge  5  is inserted. In a case where the repulsion force of the spring  24  is small or the cartridge does not have the valve body  23  biased by the spring  24 , the same advantages can be obtained by mounting a biasing spring  25  near the ink supply port  22  and in the front-end surface as viewed in the direction of insertion of the ink cartridge (i.e., the surface in which the ink supply  22  is formed) or in the surface of the carriage  4  that faces the ink supply port  22 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the fixing member  30  formed on the ink cartridge, which constitutes the one-push type fixing member. A recess portion  31  having an entrance port of width W capable of almost covering the range of movement L of the fixing protrusion  12   a  is formed at the front end as viewed in the direction in which the cartridge is loaded (in this embodiment, in a lower portion). A guide portion  32  having an upper portion on one side is formed in the center of the recess portion  31  as viewed in the direction of insertion of the cartridge. A protruded portion  32   a  is formed in the center of the guide portion  32  such that passages through which the protrusion  12   a  can pass are formed on both sides of the protruded portion  32   a.    
         [0056]     In a lower portion side (the left side in the figure) relative to the protruded portion  32   a , there are formed a vertical wall  32   b  over which the protrusion  12   a  cannot pass during the movement of the ink cartridge in the insertion direction, and an inclined surface  32   c , above the vertical wall  32   b , over which the protrusion  12   a  can easily pass during the movement of the ink cartridge in the removal direction.  
         [0057]     In the other side, i.e. an upper portion side (the right side in the figure) relative to the protruded portion  32   a , there are formed an inclined surface  32   d  over which the protrusion  12   a  can easily pass during the movement of the ink cartridge in the insertion direction, and a vertical wall  32   e , above the inclined surface  32   d , over which the protrusion  12   a  cannot pass during the movement of the ink cartridge in the removal direction. This arrangement of the inclined surface  32   d  and the vertical wall  32   e  in the upper portion side is reverse to the arrangement of the vertical wall  32   b  and the inclined surface  32   c  in the lower portion side. The protrusion  12   a  enters through the inclined surface  32   d , and exits through the inclined surface  32   c.    
         [0058]     An angular vertical wall  33   a , whose vertex  33  is located slightly offset from the centerline C of the recess portion  31  toward the inclined surface  32   d , is formed in a deeper portion of the recess portion  31  relative to the entrance side of the protrusion  12   a . A vertical wall  32   g  obliquely upwardly extends substantially from the centerline C of the protruded portion  32   a  toward the exist side (the left side in the figure) to provide a holding portion  34  made up of a V-shaped recess portion for engagement with the protrusion  12   a.    
         [0059]     This holding portion  34  is disposed at a center in the width direction of the cartridge, or on a plane which passes through a central axis of the ink supply port and which is perpendicular to the wall surface, so that the holding portion  34  in cooperation with the protrusion  12   a  can reliably fix the ink cartridge  5  at a predetermined position, while causing no moment on the ink supply needle  14 .  
         [0060]     Indicated by numeral  35  in the figure is a movement direction-restricting member disposed closer to the inclined surface  32   c  than to the holding portion  34 . This restricting member  35  has an inclined surface  35   a  over which the protrusion  12   a  can easily pass and a vertical wall  35   b  over which the protrusion  12   a  cannot easily pass.  
         [0061]     In this embodiment, when the ink cartridge  5  is inserted, the fixing protrusion  12   a  enters the opening of the recess portion  31  of the fixing member  30  and reaches the inclined surface  32   d  while being guided by the guide portion  32  (the vertical wall  32   b ) in one direction ( FIG. 7I ). Then, the fixing protrusion  12   a  passes over this inclined surface  32   d  ( FIG. 7I I).  
         [0062]     Under this condition, when the cartridge  5  is further pushed-in against the elastic force of the spring  24  of the ink supply port, the ink cartridge  5  reaches a dead point at which the fixing protrusion  12   a  contacts the angular wall  33   a  located in the deeper portion of the recess portion  31  ( FIG. 8I ). Under this condition, if the hand is released from the ink cartridge  5 , the ink cartridge  5  is moved by a slight distance ΔG in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion by the reaction force of the spring  24  so that the fixing protrusion  12   a  is fitted into the holding portion  34 , while being guided toward the centerline C by the vertical wall  32   e  ( FIG. 8I I).  
         [0063]     There is a slight clearance between the dead point at the pushing-in of the ink cartridge  5  into the cartridge holder and a cartridge holding position. For this reason, when the ink cartridge is moved from the dead point at the pushing-in to the cartridge holding position, the packing  26  is moved in the contracting direction due to the friction to the ink supply needle  14 , so that the packing  26  reliably contacts the circumference of the ink supply needle  14  elastically, to thereby ensure air-tightness.  
         [0064]     In addition, such clearance can be determined by the diameter of the fixing protrusion  12   a , the position of the holding portion  34 , or the like.  
         [0065]     On the other hand, in a case where the ink in the ink cartridge has been consumed and the ink cartridge  5  is replaced, the cartridge  5  is pushed-in against the reaction force of the spring  24 . The fixing protrusion  12   a  passes over the inclined surface  35   a  of the movement-restricting member  35 , while being guided by the angular wall  33   a  located in the deeper portion of the recess portion  31  ( FIG. 9I ). The amount of the movement during this pushing-in corresponds to the aforementioned slight clearance between the dead point at the pushing-in and the cartridge holding position. By this movement, the packing  26  is relatively moved with respect to the ink supply needle  14  so that ink flows in therebetween. The ink serves as lubricant to reduce the friction during the removal.  
         [0066]     Under this condition, if the hand is released from the cartridge  5 , the reaction force of the spring  24  elevates the cartridge  5 . During this process, the fixing protrusion  12   a  passes over the inclined surface  32   c  to be free from the restriction ( FIG. 9I I).  
         [0067]     When a new cartridge  5  is loaded into a given position and then pushed-in, the ink cartridge can be fixed into a predetermined position in the same way as the foregoing.  
         [0068]     In the embodiment described above, a recording apparatus of the type where the cartridge holder is mounted to the carriage has been described. It is apparent that similar advantages can be produced when the invention is applied to a type of the recording apparatus in which the cartridge is installed on the case body  1  forming the recording apparatus and ink is supplied to the recording head by the use of an ink supply tube.  
         [0069]     That is, in a case of an ink cartridge  45  in which a flexible bag  41  containing ink therein and having an ink supply port  40  on one side thereof is accommodated in a hard case  44  made up of a case body  42  and a cover  43  in such a way that the ink supply port  40  is exposed, the aforementioned one-push type fixing member  30  is formed on a side surface of the hard case  44  such that the front side as viewed in the direction of insertion becomes an opening portion.  
         [0070]     On the other hand, the other one-push type fixing member is formed such that the fixing protrusion  12   a  is protruded from the rotational range limiting window  47  at the side of the ink cartridge accommodating holder  46  to be opposed to the fixing member  30 . A resilient member  48  is disposed on the side of an ink supply needle  49 . In this way, the cartridge  45  can be fixed into a predetermined position simply by pushing it in. When the ink cartridge  45  is removed, the ink cartridge  45  is pushed in against the resilient member  48 . In this way, the ink cartridge  45  can be taken out.  
         [0071]     This embodiment can also employ, in place of the resilient member  48 , a valve arrangement having the valve body  23  installed in the ink supply port  22  and the spring  24  for biasing the valve body  23  toward the ink supply port side as discussed with reference to  FIG. 5 , in order to produce the same effect using the elastic force of the spring for biasing the valve body.  
         [0072]     In the embodiment described above, a one-push type fixing member for receiving a fixing protrusion and another one-push type fixing member having the fixing protrusion are formed on the ink cartridge and cartridge holder, respectively. It is apparent that, the same advantages can be obtained when one-push type fixing member  30  for receiving the fixing protrusion is arranged on the cartridge holder  9  and another one-push type fixing member having the fixing protrusion  12   a ,  13   a  is arranged on the ink cartridge  5 ,  6  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 .