Patent Publication Number: US-8534816-B2

Title: Cartridge and method of manufacturing thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-282159, filed on Dec. 22, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to a cartridge comprising an electrical interface, and a method of manufacturing the cartridge. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A known inkjet recording apparatus is configured to record an image onto a recording medium, e.g., a recording sheet, with ink. The known inkjet recording apparatus includes an inkjet-type recording head. The recording head is configured to selectively eject ink, which is supplied from an ink cartridge, from nozzles toward a recording sheet. The ink cartridge is configured to attached to and detached from the known inkjet recording apparatus. 
     Known ink cartridges are configured to store ink of one of a plurality of colors, e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow and black. The known ink cartridges may store ink having different characteristics, i.e., pigment ink or dye ink. In order to prevent ink mixture or ink solidification, an inkjet recording apparatus may identify the color or characteristics of the ink stored in an ink cartridge attached to the inkjet recording apparatus. For identification of an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge may include a storage device, i.e., an integrated circuit (“IC”) chip, that is configured to store information about the ink cartridge, i.e., ink color. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     When an IC chip is mounted on an ink cartridge, a certain degree of positioning accuracy may be required. For example, a contact provided in a cartridge mount may contact an electrode of the IC chip of the ink cartridge, even when the ink cartridge attached in the cartridge mount deviates from its desired or intended position in an ink cartridge inserting direction. When an IC chip includes a plurality of electrodes, each of a plurality of contacts provided in the cartridge mount may contact one of the plurality of electrodes of the IC chip, respectively. The positioning of the IC chip may be implemented through image processing. Nevertheless, assembly of the ink cartridge may become complicated. 
     The present invention may provide a method for positioning and fixing an electrical interface in a printing liquid cartridge. 
     The IC chip may be fixed, such that the IC chip does not detach from the ink cartridge or become misaligned due to impact during shipment or due to the ink cartridge falling on a hard surface. Further, the IC chip may be fixed to the ink cartridge with a certain degree of positional accuracy and reliability while reducing manufacturing cost. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a cartridge comprising: a main body having a chamber formed therein and configured to receive an imaging material; a circuit board having a first opening and a second opening formed through the circuit board; and an electrode disposed on the circuit board, wherein the main body comprises: a support surface configured to support the circuit board; a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that a portion of the first protrusion is disposed in the first opening of the circuit board and a portion of the second protrusion is disposed in the second opening of the circuit board; a third protrusion protruding from the support surface adjacent to the circuit board; and a fixing element that contacts a portion of the circuit board and a portion of the third protrusion to affix the circuit board to the support surface of the main body. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, A method for affixing a circuit board to a support surface of a cartridge, the method comprising: positioning the circuit board on the support surface, such that a portion of a first protrusion protruding from the support surface is disposed in a first opening of the circuit board and a portion of a second protrusion protruding from the support surface is disposed in a second opening of the circuit board; positioning a fixing element on a third protrusion protruding from the support surface, such that the fixing element covers a portion of a surface of the circuit board facing away from the support surface; heating the fixing element to melt a portion of the fixing element, such that the melted portion of the fixing element is affixed to the third protrusion and the portion of the surface of the circuit board. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of an embodiment of the invention will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, needs satisfied thereby, and the objects, features, and advantages thereof, reference now is made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic and cross-sectional view depicting an internal configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view depicting an ink cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view depicting an IC substrate affixed to the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view depicting the IC substrate of  FIG. 3  before an IC substrate is affixed to the ink cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view depicting a cartridge mount according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view depicting a cartridge mount and an ink cartridge placed in the cartridge mount according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an IC substrate affixed to a cartridge according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention now are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings; like reference numerals are used for corresponding parts in the various drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a printer  10 , e.g., an Inkjet recording apparatus, may be configured to record an image on a recording sheet by selectively ejecting ink droplets onto the recording sheet using an Inkjet recording system. Printer  10  may comprise an ink supply device  100 . Ink supply device  100  may comprise a cartridge mount  110 . Cartridge mount  110  may be configured to receive an ink cartridge  30 , e.g., a cartridge. Cartridge mount  110  may have an opening  12  formed at an open side. Ink cartridge  30  may be inserted into or removed from cartridge mount  110  selectively via opening  112 . 
     Ink cartridge  30  may be configured to store ink, e.g., imaging material, to be used in printer  10 . When ink cartridge  30  is mounted to cartridge mount  110 , ink cartridge  30  and a recording head  21  may be connected to each other via an ink tube  20 . Recording head  21  may comprise a sub tank  28 . Sub tank  28  may be configured to temporarily store ink supplied via ink tube  20  from ink cartridge  30 . Recording head  21  may be configured to selectively eject ink, which is supplied from sub tank  28 , from nozzles  29 . 
     In printer  10 , a feed roller  23  may feed recording sheets one by one from a sheet feed tray  15  to a conveying path  24 . A conveyor roller pair  25  may further convey the recording sheet onto a platen  26 . Recording head  21  may be configured to selectively eject ink onto the recording sheet that is passing over platen  26  to record an image on the recording sheet. A discharge roller pair  22  then may discharge the recording sheet, which has passed over platen  26 , onto a sheet discharge tray  16  disposed at a downstream end of conveying path  24 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , printer  10  may comprise ink supply device  100 . Ink supply device  100  may be configured to supply ink to recording head  21  of printer  10 . Ink supply device  100  may comprise cartridge mount  110 , to which ink cartridge  30  may be mounted. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , ink cartridge  30  may be placed in cartridge mount  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , ink cartridge  30  may be a container configured to store ink therein. Ink cartridge  30  may have a space formed therein that may serve as an ink chamber  36 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , for storing ink. Ink chamber  36 , e.g., a chamber, may be defined by and contained within a main body  31 . In another embodiment, ink chamber  36  may be defined by a member other than main body  31 . 
     Ink cartridge  30  may be inserted into or removed from cartridge mount  110  in insertion and removal directions  50 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Ink cartridge  30  may be inserted into cartridge mount  110  along an insertion direction  56 , as depicted in  FIG. 5 , and may be removed from cartridge mount  110  along a removal direction  55 , as depicted in  FIG. 5 . Insertion direction  56  may be the direction in which ink cartridge  30  may be inserted into cartridge mount  110 , and removal direction  55  may be the direction in winch ink cartridge  30  may be removed from cartridge mount  110 . A height direction  52  of ink cartridge  30  may be parallel to a direction of gravity. 
     Main body  31  may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Main body  31  may have a relatively thin-walled body in which a dimension in height direction  52  and a dimension in a length direction  53  may be greater than a dimension in a width direction  51 . A front wall  40 , e.g., a first surface of the main body, may define a front portion of main body  31  with respect to insertion direction  56 , and a rear wall  42 , e.g., a rear surface, may define the rear of main body  31  with respect to insertion direction  56 . Front wall  40  and rear wall  42  may be disposed opposite to each other in length direction  53 . Main body  31  may be defined by front wall  40 , rear wall  42 , an upper wall  39 , e.g., a support surface, and a lower wall  41 . Upper wall  39  may extend between and connect an upper edge of front wall  40  and an upper edge of rear wall  42 . Lower wall  41  may extend between and connect a lower edge of front wall  40  and a lower edge of rear wall  42 . A pair of side walls  37  and  38  may be spaced from each other in width direction  51  and may connect to edges of upper wall  39 , front wall  40 , lower wall  41 , and rear wall  42 . Insertion and removal direction  50  may be parallel to length direction  53 . Insertion and removal direction  50  may be perpendicular to front wall  40  of main body  31 . 
     Main body  31  may comprise an ink outlet portion  43  disposed at front wall  40 . Ink outlet portion  43  may be disposed in the lower portion of main body  31  at a position lower than a middle position of front wall  40  in height direction  52 . Ink outlet portion  43  may be cylindrical in its outer shape and may protrude outward from front wall  40  along length direction  53 . A protruding end of ink outlet portion  43  may have an ink outlet port  71 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 6 , ink outlet portion  43  may have an ink channel  72  formed therein. Ink channel  72  may extend from ink outlet port  71  to ink chamber  36  via an internal space of ink outlet portion  43  along length direction  53  and may place ink chamber  36  in fluid communication with ink outlet port  71 . An ink outlet valve  70  may be disposed in ink channel  72  and configured to selectively open and close ink outlet port  71 . When ink cartridge  30  is mounted to cartridge mount  110 , a hollow tube  122  of cartridge mount  110  may enter ink outlet port  71  to open ink outlet valve  70 . Thus, ink may flow from ink chamber  36  into hollow tube  122  of cartridge mount  110  through ink channel  72 . Ink outlet portion  43  may correspond to an imaging material outlet portion. 
     In another embodiment, ink outlet port  71  may be sealed with a film or a rubber stopper. When ink cartridge  30  is mounted to cartridge mount  110 , hollow tube  122  may penetrate the film or the rubber stopper to open ink outlet port  71 . 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a substrate support  60  may be disposed on upper wall  39  of main body  31 . Substrate support  60  may be positioned closer to front wall  40  than to a middle position bisecting upper wall  39  between front wall  40  and rear wall  42 . Substrate support  60  may comprise protrusions  61  and  62 , e.g., a first protrusion and a second protrusion, a rib  63 , and a fixing layer  64 , e.g., a fixing element. Protrusions  61  and  62  may protrude from an outer surface, which may be defined by upper wall  39  as a support surface, in a direction from the support surface. Rib  63 , e.g., a third protrusion, may protrude from upper wall  39  at a position closer to rear wall  42  than that at which protrusions  61  and  62  are positioned in the length direction  53 . 
     Protrusions  61  and  62  may have symmetrical shapes with respect to a center line extending along length direction  53  through a center of upper wall  39  in width direction  51 . Each of protrusions  61  and  62  may have a cylindrical shape and may protrude upward from upper wall  39 . Protrusions  61  and  62  may be separated from each other in width direction  51 . A distance between protrusions  61  and  62  may be greater than a width of IC substrate  80 , including all of electrodes  82 ,  83  and  84 , in width direction  51 . Protrusions  61  and  62  may be disposed at positions at which protrusions  61  and  62  may engage a pair of notches  85  and  86 , e.g., a first opening and a second opening. 
     Rib  63  may be disposed at a position closer to rear wall  42  than that at which protrusions  61  and  62  on upper wall  39  are positioned. Rib  63  may protrude upward from upper wall  39  and may extend along width direction  51 . When IC substrate  80  is positioned on upper wall  39  by protrusions  61  and  62  in length direction  53 , a gap may form between a rear end of IC substrate  80  and rib  63 . Fixing layer  64  may be applied to an upper surface of IC substrate  80  and an upper surface of rib  63  to fill the gap formed therebetween. Fixing layer  64  may comprise a resin, such as a hot-melt adhesive, that may be melted by heating and may re-solidify when cooled. 
     IC substrate  80  may be disposed on upper wall  39  of main body  31  and supported by substrate support  60 . An electrical connection may be established between IC substrate  80  and contacts  131 ,  132  and  133 , as depicted in  FIG. 6 , during the mounting of ink cartridge  30  to cartridge mount  110 . The electrical connection may be maintained when ink cartridge  30  is mounted in cartridge mount  110 . IC substrate  80  may correspond to an electrical interface between ink cartridge  30  and cartridge mount  110 . 
     IC substrate  80  may comprise a HOT electrode  82 , a GND electrode  83 , and a signal electrode  84  on an upper surface of a circuit board  81 . IC substrate  80  may also comprise an IC circuit on a lower surface of circuit board  81 . The IC may be a semiconductor integrated circuit and may be configured to store data indicating information about ink cartridge  30 , e.g., one or more of a lot number, a date of manufacture, and ink color. The data stored in the IC may be read out by printer  10 . 
     Circuit board  81  may be a rectangular plate in plan view. Circuit board  81  may comprise HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  arranged on the upper surface thereof along width direction  51 . HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  may be electrically connected with the IC. HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  may be elongated along length direction  53  and may be separated from each other in width direction  51 . 
     Circuit board  81  may have a pair of notches  85  and  86 , each formed in one of the sides of circuit board  81  in width direction  51  at respective positions closer to front wall  40  than those at which HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  are positioned. Circuit board  81  may be partially cut away in its thickness direction to define notches  85  and  86 . Notches  85  and  86  may be separated from each other in width direction  51 . Notches  85  and  86  may extend inward from respective ends of circuit board  81  in width direction  51 . Each of notches  85  and  86  may have a semicircular shape, and each of notches  85  and  86  may have a size slightly greater than an outside diameter of each corresponding cylindrical protrusion  61  and  62 , such that notches  85  and  86  may engage each corresponding protrusion  61  and  62 . Notches  85  and  86  may be disposed at respective positions off set from HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  so as not to be overlapped by HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  in width direction  51 . Notches  85  and  86  may be disposed inward from the respective ends of circuit board  81  in width direction  51  so as not to reach HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84 . 
     Protrusions  61  and  62  and notches  85  and  86  may have any shapes as long as circuit board  81  may be positioned in length direction  53  by the engagement between protrusions  61  and  62  and respective notches  85  and  86 . Circuit board  81  may be positioned in width direction  51  by the engagement between protrusions  61  and  62  and respective notches  85 ,  86 . 
     When each of protrusions  61  and  62  engages a corresponding one of notches  85  and  86 , a resin melted by heating may be applied to the gap between rib  63  and circuit board  81 . The melted resin may enter the gap between rib  63  and circuit board  81  and may spread over at least a portion of circuit board  81 . The melted resin may be cooled after heating and may solidify to become fixing layer  64 . The gap between rib  63  and circuit board  81  may be filled with fixing layer  64 , and fixing layer  64  may tightly contact the surface of circuit board  81  like a brim. As described above, circuit board  81  may be affixed to upper wall  39  by the heating and cooling of fixing layer  64  and by the contact between protrusions  61  and  62  and respective notches  85  and  86 . 
     As depicted  FIG. 5 , cartridge mount  110  may comprise a case  101  serving as a housing. Case  101  may have a rectangular, parallelepiped shape having opening  112  formed in the front side of printer  10 . Ink cartridge  30  may selectively be inserted into and removed from case  101  via opening  112 . Case  101  may be configured to accommodate a plurality, e.g., four, ink cartridges  30  in a plurality of colors, e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. 
     Case  101  may have a side inner surface  102  at a side opposite from opening  112  in insertion and removal direction  50 . Side inner surface  102  may define a portion of an internal space of case  101 . Connectors  103  may be disposed at a lower part of side inner surface  102  of case  101 . Connectors  103  may be disposed at side inner surface  102  at positions that may correspond to ink outlet portions  43  of ink cartridges  30  mounted in case  101 . 
     Each connector  103  may comprise hollow tube  122  and a holding portion  121 . Hollow tubes  122  may be connected with respective ink tubes  20  at an outer surface that opposite from side inner surface  102  of case  101 . Ink tubes  20  may be connected with respective hollow tubes  122  to allow ink to flow into recording head  21  of printer  10 . 
     Each holding portion  121  may be a cylindrically recessed portion formed in side inner surface  102  of case  101 . Hollow tube  122  may be disposed at a substantially middle portion of holding portion  121  along insertion and removal direction  50 . As depicted in  FIG. 6 , when ink cartridge  30  is mounted to cartridge mount  110 , ink outlet portion  43  having a cylindrical shape may be inserted into cylindrical holding portion  121 . In this configuration, a circumference of ink outlet portion  43  may tightly contact a surface defining holding portion  121 . When ink outlet portion  43  is inserted into holding portion  121 , hollow tube  122  may be inserted into ink outlet port  71  of ink outlet portion  43 , and hollow tube  122  may move ink outlet valve  70 . Thus, ink outlet valve  70  disposed in a closed position may move to an open position against an urging force from a coil spring  73 , and, therefore, ink stored in ink chamber  36  may flow to the outside of ink cartridge  30 . Ink from ink chamber  36  may flow into hollow tube  122  and further into recording head  21  via ink tube  20  due to the pressure head differential between ink chamber  36  and recording head  21 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 5 , case  101  may comprise contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  disposed on an upper inner surface  104  of case  101  at a position between side inner surface  102  and opening  112  along insertion and removal direction  50 . Contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  may be separated from each other in a direction orthogonal to insertion and removal direction  50 . Contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  may be disposed so as to correspond to HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  of ink cartridge  30 , respectively. 
     Contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  may be electrically connected with a controller. The controller may comprise, for example, a central-processing unit (“CPU”), a read-only memory (“ROM”), a random-access memory (“RAM”) and may be configured as a control device of printer  10 . Contact  131  may apply voltage Vc to HOT electrode  82  by establishing electrical connection with HOT electrode  82 . Contact  132  may allow GND electrode  83  to establish a ground by establishing electrical connection, with GND electrode  83 . Contacts  131  and  132  may supply power to circuit board  81  by establishing electrical connection with HOT electrode  82  and GND electrode  83 , respectively. Contact  133  may access data stored in circuit board  81  by establishing electrical connection with signal electrode  84 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 6 , during the mounting of ink cartridge  30  to cartridge mount  110 , HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  of IC substrate  80  may contact respective contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133 , respectively, at a predetermined timing, and electrical connection may be established therebetween. More specifically, during the mounting of ink cartridge  30  to cartridge mount  110 , contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  may pass between protrusions  61  and  62  and contact, a front-side surface of circuit board  81  or an upper edge of the front side-surface of circuit board  81 . Contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  then may move rearward relative to front wall  40  while sliding over the upper surface of circuit board  81 , and may be electrically connected with HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84 , respectively. As described above, in substrate support  60 , protrusions  61  and  62  may respectively be disposed outside the outermost ones of HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84  of IC substrate  80  in width direction  51 . Accordingly, contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  may contact HOT electrode  82 , GND electrode  83 , and signal electrode  84 , respectively, of circuit board  81  without contacting protrusions  61  and  62 . 
     Circuit board  81  of IC substrate  80  may be disposed on upper wall  39  in length direction  53  by the engagement between notches  85  and  86  and respective protrusions  61  and  62 . Circuit board  81  may be affixed onto upper wall  39  by fixing layer  64 , which may be applied to IC circuit board  80  at the position behind electrodes  82 ,  83 , and  84  in length direction  53 . By doing so, IC substrate  80  may be securely positioned and affixed accurately to main body  31 . 
     Protrusions  61  and  62  may be disposed outside the outermost ones of electrodes  82 ,  83 , and  84  and separated from each other at a distance in width direction  51 . Protrusions  61  and  62  may be disposed at the respective positions offset from electrodes  82 ,  83 , and  84 . With this arrangement, during the mounting of ink cartridge  30  to cartridge mount  110 , contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  may have access to electrodes  82 ,  83 , and  84  without contacting protrusions  61  and  62 . Because contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  do not contact protrusions  61  and  62  during the mounting of ink cartridge  30  to cartridge mount  110 , operational load during the mounting of ink cartridge  30  to cartridge mount  110  may be reduced. 
     Fixing layer  64  comprising a resin that solidifies when cooled after melting may be applied to circuit board  81  and to the gap between circuit board  81  and rib  63 . In another embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 7 , a contact plate  65  may contact the upper surface of circuit board  81 . Contact plate  65  may be affixed to upper wall  39  by heat application. In this case, circuit board  81  may be affixed by pressing contact plate  65  onto circuit board  81  without applying the hot-melt adhesive onto circuit board  81 . Contact plate  65  may cover a rearward portion of circuit board  81  behind electrodes  82 ,  83 , and  84  in length direction  53  and may protrude from circuit board  81  toward rear wall  42 . The hot-melt adhesive may be applied to a gap between a protruding portion of contact plate  65  and upper wall  39  to adhere the protruding portion and upper wall  39  to each other. 
     Circuit board  81  may comprise two notches  85  and  86  formed therein. In another embodiment, circuit board  81  may have an opening and one of notches  85  and  86  or may have two openings instead of notches  85  and  86 . The openings may be formed through circuit board  81  in the thickness direction of circuit board  81 . 
     Ink cartridge  30  may comprise an ink remaining amount detecting portion. The ink remaining amount detecting portion may be disposed to protrude from front wall  40  of ink cartridge  30  in a direction away from ink chamber  36 . The ink remaining amount detecting portion may be formed of transparent resin. A remaining amount of ink in ink chamber  36  may be inspected through the ink remaining amount detecting portion or an optical sensor may detect the remaining amount of ink through ink remaining amount detecting portion. When the optical sensor is used to detect the remaining amount of ink in ink chamber  36 , a distance between a pair of side walls constituting the ink remaining amount detecting portion may be less than a distance between a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element of the optical sensor. A light shield configured to move in accordance with the amount of ink stored in ink chamber  36  may be provided in ink remaining amount detecting portion. Instead of the light shield, ink cartridge  30  may be configured, such that all or portion of light emitted from the light-emitting element may be reflected, diffracted or otherwise attenuated to reduce an amount of light that may reach the light-receiving element in accordance with the amount of ink stored in ink chamber  36 . 
     Ink, as a printing liquid, may be stored in ink cartridge  30  for inkjet-type printer  10 . In another embodiment, a cartridge that may store toner as printing liquid for an electrophotographic-type, image forming apparatus. 
     Main body  31  may have a rectangular, parallelepiped shape. In another embodiment, main body  31  may comprise a plurality of members including a bracket that may cover a part of a rectangular, parallelepiped shaped member for storing ink. In this case, IC substrate  80  may be disposed on the bracket. 
     IC substrate  80  may be disposed on upper wall  39  of main body  31 . In another embodiment, IC substrate  80  may be disposed on any walls disposed between front wall  40  and rear wall  42  of main body  31 . For example, IC substrate  80  may be disposed on one of side surfaces  37  and  38  of main body  31 . Upper wall  39  of main body  31  may comprise a raised portion, and IC substrate  80  may be disposed on an upper surface, as the support surface, of the raised portion. In this embodiment, IC substrate  80  may be disposed on the support surface that may be the upper surface of the raised portion. 
     Rib  63  may be disposed in front of or behind electrodes  82 ,  83 , and  84  in length direction  53 . Rib  63  may be disposed behind electrodes  82 ,  83 , and  84  to prevent rib  63  from contacting contacts  131 ,  132 , and  133  during the mounting of ink cartridge  30  to cartridge mount  110 . 
     The pair of notches  85  and  86  may be provided as an example of a pair of combination of openings and notches. In another embodiment, the pair of combination of openings and notches may be a pair of openings or a combination of a notch and an opening. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with various exemplary structures and illustrative embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications of the structures, configurations, and embodiments described above may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, this application may comprise many possible combinations of the various elements and features disclosed herein, and the particular elements and features presented in the claims and disclosed above may be combined with each other in other ways within the scope of the application, such that the application should be recognized as also directed to other embodiments comprising any other possible combinations. Other structures, configurations, and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and the described examples are illustrative with the true scope of the invention being defined by the following claims.