Patent Publication Number: US-8109618-B2

Title: Pigment cartridge carrier device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 200810027248.1 filed in China, P.R.C. on Apr. 4, 2008 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an ink cartridge carrier device, and more particularly to an ink cartridge carrier device installed in printing equipment. 
     2. Related Art 
     Currently, there are many kinds of printing equipments, which adopt various corresponding pigment cartridges for printing texts and images, for example, an ink jet printer. As for the popular printer heads available on the market, an integral structure of the ink cartridge and the printer head is generally adopted, which is the so-called ink cartridge design, and the ink cartridge and a printing chip are integrated as a whole. Such an integral structure has many disadvantages. 
     1. When the pigment cartridge (i.e., the ink cartridge) needs to be replaced, the whole printer head (i.e., the ink cartridge and the printing chip) needs to be replaced completely. As a result, not only the cost is relatively high and the resource utilization is rather low, but also it does not satisfy the environmental protection demand. 
     2. Such integral structure usually occupies a larger space, such that it is inconvenient to replace the ink cartridge, which is time consuming and energy consuming. 
     Based on the above disadvantages, some researchers in this industry have developed an ink-head separated structure, that is, the ink cartridge and the printer head are separated from each other. Therefore, the ink cartridge can be replaced individually, without replacing the printer head, so as to save the cost and protect the environment. Accordingly, the loading of the ink cartridge has also been competitively researched in this industry. In China Patent No. 200610163518.2, an ink cartridge loading device is provided.  FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an ink cartridge loading device. As shown in  FIG. 16 , the ink cartridge loading device includes a door  76 , and a guiding member  77  is pivoted on a bottom edge of the door  76  corresponding to a bottom edge of an opening of the ink cartridge loading device. When the door  76  is opened or closed, the guiding member  77  pulls out an ink cartridge  63  or pushes it into the loading device. In order to install the ink cartridge  63  into the mechanism in a better way, a pressurizing member is disposed on the door  76 , so as to provide an inward force for the ink cartridge  63 . Furthermore, a press member is further disposed on the casing of the mechanism, which is helpful for pushing the ink cartridge. In addition, lock members  91  and  92  are disposed on the door  76 , for closing the door at the opening of the casing, such that the pressurizing member tightly presses the ink cartridge  63 , and makes the door  76  unlock and separate from the casing, so as to taken out the ink cartridge  63 . 
     It should be noted that, due to the inverted hook-shaped guiding member  77  pivoted to the bottom edge of the door  76 , when the door  76  is completely open, the position thereof is not straightly horizontal, and accordingly, when the ink cartridge  63  is pushed out for unloading, the angle formed between the ink cartridge  63  and the door  76  is not a right angle of 90 degrees. Thus, when it intends to pull the whole ink cartridge out of the casing, the ink cartridge may be stuck or the ink cartridge  63  may be unloaded extremely unsmoothly. Definitely, when the ink cartridge is loaded via the door  76  and the opening of the casing, similar problems may occur. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above problems, the present invention provides an ink cartridge carrier device, in which an ink cartridge is well fixed; when being unloaded or loaded, the ink cartridge is horizontally installed or pulled out of the casing, so as to avoid the problems that the loading or unloading process is rather unsmooth or the cartridge is stuck during loading or unloading. 
     The carrier device of the present invention includes: a casing, having an opening and an inner chamber communicated with each other, for carrying an ink cartridge; a locking/unlocking mechanism, pivoted on the casing, such that the locking/unlocking mechanism is made to be rotatable and used to selectively apply a restraining force to fix the ink cartridge within the inner chamber, and selectively release the restraining force to unload the ink cartridge; a first elastic member, one end of the first elastic member is connected to the locking/unlocking mechanism, for providing the restraining force to actuate the locking/unlocking mechanism, so as to fix the ink cartridge into the inner chamber; an pushing mechanism, for pushing a part of the ink cartridge carried within the inner chamber out of the casing when the locking/unlocking mechanism releases the restraining force, so as to unload the ink cartridge. 
     The other end of the first elastic member is connected to the casing or connected to the pushing mechanism. 
     The present invention is further directed to an ink cartridge carrier device, suitable for providing an inward and downward pressure for the ink cartridge, so as to ensure that the ink cartridge is well fixed. 
     In order to achieve the above objectives, the above technical solution has the following technical features. 
     The locking/unlocking mechanism has a locking portion selectively contacting with the ink cartridge carried within the inner chamber, in which the locking portion applies a restraining force to restrain the ink cartridge to move in the inner chamber. 
     The ink cartridge has a locked surface contacting with the locking portion, so as to fix the ink cartridge within the inner chamber. 
     The present invention is further directed to an ink cartridge carrier device, suitable for providing a locking function. Once the installation of the ink cartridge is finished, the carrier device applies an outward tension on the ink cartridge, so as to control the ink cartridge not to be pulled out. 
     In order to achieve the above objective, the above technical solution has the following technical features below. 
     The locked surface has a self-lock line, and once the locking portion is moved to a position of the self-lock line, the locking/unlocking mechanism is self-locked, and thus the ink cartridge carried in the inner chamber cannot be pulled out under an external force. 
     The present invention is still directed to an ink cartridge carrier device, suitable for pushing a part of the ink cartridge out of the casing when the ink cartridge is unloaded, so as to easily take out the ink cartridge, and to conveniently replace the ink cartridge. 
     In order to achieve the above objective, the above technical solution has the following technical features below. 
     The locking/unlocking mechanism has a locking portion, which selectively contacts with the ink cartridge carried within the inner chamber, so as to apply a restraining force to restrain the ink cartridge to move in the inner chamber. 
     The pushing mechanism is a sliding block, a guiding chute is opened on the casing, and the sliding block slides along the guiding chute. 
     The pushing mechanism is a second elastic member disposed on the casing or in the chamber. 
     The pushing mechanism is a flipping lever connected to the locking/unlocking mechanism. 
     The ink cartridge has a flipped portion, and the flipped portion is actuated by the flipping lever, so as to flip out a part of the ink cartridge. 
     In order to successfully load the ink cartridge into the inner chamber, the technical solution has the following technical features. 
     The ink cartridge has a guiding surface, slidingly contacting with the locking portion, which is convenient for the ink cartridge to be accommodated into the inner chamber. 
     Through the above technical solution in the present invention, the ink cartridge can be horizontally loaded or unloaded, which does not have problems of unsmoothly loading or unloading or getting stuck during loading or unloading. In addition, the ink cartridge carrier device provides an inward and downward pressure for the ink cartridge, so as to ensure that the ink cartridge is well fixed. Furthermore, the carrier device has a self-lock function, such that the ink cartridge cannot be pulled out of the inner chamber under an external force unless the locking/unlocking mechanism is rotated. When the ink cartridge is unloaded, the pushing mechanism pushes a part of the ink cartridge, so that the user can easily take out the ink cartridge through holding the pushed-out part with hands. The ink cartridge has a guiding surface, slidingly contacting with the locking portion, such that the ink cartridge can be successfully loaded smoothly, which is convenient for loading, unloading, and replacing the ink cartridge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic view when an ink cartridge is being loaded according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic view when the ink cartridge is completely loaded; 
         FIG. 3C  is a schematic view of a self-lock according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view when a part of the ink cartridge is pushed according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which an ink cartridge is completely loaded; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic view when the ink cartridge is being loaded according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic view when the ink cartridge is completely loaded; 
         FIG. 7C  is a schematic view of a self-lock according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view when a part of the ink cartridge is pushed according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First, it should be firstly mentioned that, in a common ink jet printer has four colors that includes black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. In the embodiments of the present invention, four ink cartridge respectively filled with inks of the four colors are exemplified for illustration. The four ink cartridges have the same structure, so the configuration and actuation situation of merely one ink cartridge is described below. The action structures of the ink cartridges are all the same, which will not be described repeatedly. 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  show a first embodiment of the present invention. First, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an ink cartridge carrier device  100  is provided in the first embodiment, which includes: a casing  10  for carrying an ink cartridge  63 , an pushing mechanism  12 , a locking/unlocking mechanism  11 , and a first elastic member  3  respectively connected between the pushing mechanism  12  and the locking/unlocking mechanism  11 , in which the first elastic member is a spiral spring. 
     The ink cartridge carrier device installed in the ink jet printer of the present invention, the ink cartridge  63  has a guiding surface slidingly contacting with the locking portion, such that the ink cartridge  63  may be smoothly loaded. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the ink cartridge carrier device  100  provides an inward and downward pressure for the ink cartridge  63 , so as to ensure that the ink cartridge is well fixed. Furthermore, the carrier device has a self-lock function, such that the ink cartridge cannot be pulled out of the inner chamber under an external force unless the locking/unlocking mechanism  11  is rotated. 
     When the ink cartridge  63  is unloaded, both the first elastic member  3  and the pushing mechanism  12  are driven by pressing the locking/unlocking mechanism  11 , so as to release the pressure on the ink cartridge  63  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ), thereby unloading the ink cartridge  63 . In this manner, during an unloading process, the ink cartridge  63  is horizontally unloaded, so as to avoid the problems of unsmooth unloading or getting stuck during unloading. When the ink cartridge  63  is unloaded, the pushing mechanism pushes a part of the ink cartridge  63 , and the user holds the pushed part with hands, so as to take out the ink cartridge  63 . Thus, it is convenient to load and unload the ink cartridge  63 . 
     Therefore, the present invention does not have designs of the door  76  and the guiding mean  77  at the bottom of the door  76  as in the prior art. Accordingly, the phenomenon that the door  76  at the open position is not horizontal in the prior art does not occur any more in the present invention, and the problems of unsmooth loading or getting stuck during loading do not occur as well, when the ink cartridge  63  is loaded. 
     It should be noted that, the replacement of the ink cartridge is a combination of unloading and loading the ink cartridge  63 . Therefore, the detailed structures of the above elements and the associated actuation motions for realizing the unloading or loading of the ink cartridge  63  are further described below in detail. 
     The casing  10  has an opening  104  and an inner chamber  106  communicated with the opening  104 , in which the inner chamber  106  is used to accommodate the ink cartridge  63 . A rotation retainer  101  is protruded and a through hole  105  is opened at a front part of the casing  10 , and an installation hole  102  and a guiding chute  103  communicated with the installation hole  102  are opened at a back part of the casing. 
     The locking/unlocking mechanism  11  has a main body  111  and a revolving shaft  114 . The locking/unlocking mechanism  11  is rotatably installed in the rotation retainer  10  of the casing  10  through the revolving shaft  114 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the main body  111  has a locking portion  115  at a lower part thereof, and the locking portion  115  is designed into a V-shaped configuration and passes through and extends into the through hole  105 . The main body  111  further has a connecting end  112  and a manual operation portion  113 . The connecting end  112  is connected to one end of a first elastic member  3 , and the other end of the elastic member is connected to the pushing mechanism  12 . Once being tightly stretched, the first elastic member  3  provides a restraining force for the locking portion  115 , such that the locking portion  115  tightly locks the ink cartridge  63 , thereby fixing the ink cartridge  63  in the casing  10  (which is described below). 
     The pushing mechanism  12  has a sliding block  121 , a connecting portion  122 , and a pushing portion  123  under the sliding block  121 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sliding block  121  is installed in the installation hole  102 , and the connecting portion  122  is connected to the first elastic member  3 . Under the elastic force of the first elastic member  3 , the sliding block  121  is forced to move in the guiding chute  103  connected to the installation hole  102 , and the pushing portion  123  under the sliding block  121  may contact with the ink cartridge  63 , so as to push the ink cartridge  63  out of the inner chamber  106 . 
     The ink cartridge  63  further has a locked portion  21 , and the locked portion  21  has a locked surface  211 . The ink cartridge  63  further has a guiding surface  22  and a pushed surface  23  at the back end thereof. The pushing portion  123  may contact with the pushed surface  23 , so as to push the ink cartridge  63  out of the inner chamber  106 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3A , when the ink cartridge  63  is loaded, the user inserts the ink cartridge  63  into the inner chamber  106  via the opening  104 , the locking portion  115  extending into the inner chamber  106  first contacts with the pushed surface  23  of the ink cartridge  63 , such that the locking portion is pushed to rotate, and finally the ink cartridge  63  overcomes and passes through the locking portion  115 . During the whole process, the connecting portion  122  of the locking mechanism  11  is rotated to a higher position, so as to pull the elastic member  3 . Accordingly, the pushing portion  123  under the sliding block  121  connected to the elastic member  3  contacts with the pushed surface  23 . Subsequently, the locking portion  115  moves along the guiding surface  22 . At this time, if the user continues to push the ink cartridge  63 , the locking portion  115  enters into a depressed locking area. Such locking area has a locked surface  211 , and a beveled edge of the locking portion  115  contacts with the locked surface  211 . At this time, the ink cartridge  63  is locked in the inner chamber  106 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , the ink cartridge  63  is locked by the locking portion  115 , in which the beveled edge of the locking portion  115  applies an oblique force F 1  to the ink cartridge, and the oblique force F 1  is further divided into a component force F 2  towards a backward horizontal direction along the inner chamber and a component force F 3  along a gravity direction. In this manner, the two component forces F 2  and F 3  ensure that the ink cartridge  63  is stably fixed in the inner chamber  106 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3C , the casing  10  and all the structures there-above are omitted. In  FIG. 3 , only a part of the ink cartridge  63  is depicted, which is fixed in the inner chamber  106 . When an external force is applied to pull the ink cartridge  63  along the direction shown in the drawing, the locking portion  115  is rotated to a position T, and corresponding to the T position, the ink cartridge is located at the self-lock line on the locked surface  211 . At this time, the counteraction force F 4  of the ink cartridge  63  to the locking portion  115  passes through a center of the revolving shaft  114 , such that the moment of the external force on the locking portion  115  is zero, so as to ensure that the ink cartridge  63  cannot be pulled out under an external force unless the locking/unlocking mechanism  11  is pressed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the user may apply an external force as indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 4  to press the manual operation portion  113 . Upon being pressed, the manual operation portion  113  rotates to a low position, and if the manual operation portion  113  is continuously pressed, the locking portion  115  is released from being contacted with the locked surface  211 . During the above process, the connecting end  112  rotates to the higher position, the elastic member  3  is tightly stretched, the sliding block  121  connected to the elastic member  3  slides forward along the guiding chute  103 , and the pushing portion  123  touches the pushed surface  23  of the ink cartridge  63  and pushes a part of the ink cartridge  63  out of the casing  10 , and the pushed-out part may be pulled out by the user with hands. It is convenient for the user to unload or replace the ink cartridge. 
       FIGS. 5 to 8  show a second embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the ink cartridge carrier device  100  includes a casing  10 , and the casing  10  has an opening  104  and an inner chamber  106  communicated with the opening  104 . The inner chamber is used to accommodate the ink cartridge  63 . A rotation retainer  101  is protruded and a through hole  105  is opened on the front end of the casing  10 . A notch  108  is opened on the front end thereof. 
     The ink cartridge carrier device  100  further has a locking/unlocking mechanism  11 , and the locking/unlocking mechanism  11  has a main body  111  with a revolving shaft  114 . The locking/unlocking mechanism  11  is rotatably installed in the rotation retainer  101  on the casing  10  through the revolving shaft  114 . The main body  11  has a locking portion  115  disposed at a lower part thereof, and the locking portion  115  passes through and extends into the through hole  105 . The main body  111  further has a manual operation portion  113  and a snapping portion  116 . A first torsion spring  4  is fitted on the revolving shaft  114 , in which one end of the torsion spring  4  is snapped in the snapping portion  116 , and the other end thereof bears against the casing  10 . 
     The ink cartridge carrier device  100  further has a pushing mechanism  12 , which is a flipping lever  124  connected to the main body  111 . Preferably, the flipping lever  124  and the main body  111  are integrally formed. 
     The ink cartridge  63  has a locked portion  21 , and the locked portion  21  has a locked surface  211 . The ink cartridge  63  further has a guiding surface  22  and a flipped surface  24  on a side surface thereof. The pushing portion  123  may be contacted with the flipped surface  24 , so as to push the ink cartridge  63  out of the inner chamber  106 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , when the ink cartridge  63  is loaded, the user inserts the ink cartridge  63  into the inner chamber  106  via the opening  104 . The manual operation portion  113  and the locking portion  115  both move along the guiding surface  22 , and the locking portion  115  is also raised. Once the locking portion  115  is released from contacting with the guiding surface  22 , the locking portion is lowered down to the locking area position and contacts with the locked surface  211 . At this time, the torsion spring  4  applies a restraining force to the main body  111  on one end of the snapping portion  116 , such that the locking portion  115  on the other end of the revolving shaft locks the ink cartridge  63  (which is described below). At this time, the ink cartridge  63  is locked in the inner chamber  106  by the locking portion  115 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 7B , the ink cartridge  63  is locked by the locking portion  115 . The locking portion  115  applies an oblique force F 1  to the ink cartridge  63 , and the oblique force F 1  is divided into a component force F 2  towards a backward horizontal direction along the inner chamber and a component force F 3  along a gravity direction. The two component forces F 2  and F 3  ensure that the ink cartridge  63  is stably fixed in the inner chamber  106 . 
       FIG. 7C  is a perspective view of the ink cartridge carrier device. Referring to  FIG. 7C , merely the locking portion  115 , the revolving shaft  114  of the main body  111 , and the ink cartridge are shown, and the casing  10  and all the structures there-above are omitted, so as to clearly show the force between the ink cartridge  63  and the locking portion  115 . When an external force is applied to pull the ink cartridge  63  along the direction indicated by the arrow as shown in the drawing, the locking portion  115  is rotated to a position T, and corresponding to the T position, the ink cartridge is located at the self-lock line on the locked surface  211 . At this time, the counteracting force F 4  of the ink cartridge  63  to the locking portion  115  passes through the center of the revolving shaft  114 , such that the moment of the external force on the locking portion  115  is zero, so as to ensure that the ink cartridge  63  cannot be pulled out under an external force unless the locking/unlocking mechanism  11  is pressed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the manual operation portion  113  is flipped along the external force direction as indicated by the arrow in the drawing. The manual operation portion  113  is rotated to a higher position, and if it is continuously flipped, the locking portion  115  is released from the contacting state with the locked surface  211 . During the whole process, the flipping lever  124  connected to the main body touches the flipped surface  24  of the ink cartridge  63 , and pushes a part of the ink cartridge  63  out of the casing  10 . In this manner, the user may pull out the whole ink cartridge  63  by holding the pushed-out part with hands, so it is convenient for the user to unload or replace the ink cartridge  63 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that one end of the first elastic member  3  is connected to a fixing hook  31  protruding from the casing  10 . A baffle plate  126  and a first compressive elastic member  125  are protruded on the back end of the casing  10 , and the first compressive elastic member  125  is connected between the baffle plate  126  and the sliding block  121 . According to the descriptions on the unloading or replacing of the ink cartridge in this embodiment, when the manual operation portion  113  is actuated, the first compressive elastic member  125  pushes the sliding block  121  to slide along the guiding chute  103 , and pushes a part of the ink cartridge  63  out of the casing  10 , such that it is convenient to unload or replace the ink cartridge  63 . Preferably, the first compressive elastic member  125  is also a compression spring. 
     Definitely, it may also replace the locking/unlocking mechanism  11  by the locking/unlocking mechanism in the second embodiment, and the pressing motion is changed into an upward flipping motion for unloading the ink cartridge. At the same time, the structure of the ink cartridge  63  must be changed correspondingly, and the ink cartridge  63  still maintains a pushed surface  23  or a similar structure. The detailed contents can be obtained with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 8 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the third embodiment is that the first compressive elastic member  125  is directly connected between the fixing hook  31  protruding from the casing  10  and the sliding block  121 . The operating principle in this embodiment can be obtained with reference to the descriptions in the first embodiment and the third embodiment. 
     Definitely, similar modifications or alternations as described above can also be made in this embodiment which will not be described herein. 
       FIG. 11  shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the pushing mechanism is changed from a sliding block into a push-out elastic member. Due to the push-out elastic member  7 , it is not necessary to open the installation hole  102  and the guiding chute  103  on the casing  10  any more. One end of the push-out elastic member  7  is connected to an inner wall of the casing  10  (which is the prior art, and will not be described in detail). Thus, once the locking portion  115  is released from the contacting state with the locked surface  211 , the push-out elastic member  7  pushes a part of the ink cartridge  63  out of the casing  10 . In addition, the first elastic member  3  is replaced by a second torsion spring  5 . The second torsion spring  5  is fitted on the revolving shaft  114 , in which one end of the second torsion spring  5  is snapped on the main body  111 , and the other end is snapped on the casing  10 . The function of the second torsion spring  5  is equivalent to that of the first elastic member in the first embodiment. 
     Definitely, in order to make the push-out elastic member be more stably extended and compressed, a pushing element  71  is further disposed on one end of the push-out elastic member  7  attached to the ink cartridge  63 , and the pushing element  71  directly contacts with the ink cartridge  63 . The operating principles for loading, unloading, or replacing the ink cartridge can be obtained with reference to the descriptions of the first and third embodiments. 
       FIG. 12  shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the second embodiment is that the first torsion spring  4  is replaced by a second tension spring  6 . The baffle plate  126  is disposed on the back end of the casing  10 , one end of the second tension spring  6  is connected to the main body  111 , and the other end is connected to the baffle plate  126 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the third embodiment is that the pushing mechanism  12  is changed from the flipping lever  124  into the sliding block  121 , and has the compressive elastic member  125 . One end of the first compressive elastic member  125  is connected to the sliding block  121 , and the other end is connected to the fixing hook  31  protruding from the casing  10 . Similar to the first embodiment, the installation hole  102  for installing the sliding block  121  and the guiding chute  103  communicated with the installation hole  102  are opened on the casing  10 . The details can be obtained with reference to the relevant descriptions in the first embodiment. The pushing mechanism of this embodiment is still the same as that of the second embodiment. 
       FIG. 14  shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the second embodiment is that the first torsion spring  4  is replaced by a second compressive elastic member  8  disposed between the casing  10  and the main body  111 . It should be noted that, the second compressive elastic member  8  should be disposed on the back end position of the main body, so as to ensure that the locking portion  115  applies a restraining force to the locked surface  211  of the ink cartridge, thereby locking the ink cartridge  63 . Preferably, the second compressive elastic member  8  is a compression spring. 
     It should be noted that, the pushing mechanism  12  in this embodiment may be the flipping lever in the second embodiment, and the detailed technical content thereof can be obtained with reference to the descriptions in the second embodiment and accompanying drawings. The pushing mechanism  12  in this embodiment may also be an elastic member, and the detailed technical content thereof can be obtained with reference to the descriptions in the fourth embodiment and accompanying drawings. Definitely, the structures of the ink cartridge and the casing may also be altered correspondingly, and the details can be obtained with reference to the relevant descriptions in the corresponding embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 15  shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention. The pushing mechanism  12  of this embodiment is changed from the flipping lever  124  into the sliding block  121 , and has the first compressive elastic member  125 . One end of the first compressive elastic member  125  is connected to the sliding block  121 , and the other end is connected to the fixing hook  31  protruded from the casing  10 . Similar to the first embodiment, the installation hole  102  for installing the sliding block  121  and the guiding chute  103  communicated with the installation hole  102  are opened on the casing  10 . The difference between this embodiment and the second embodiment is that the first torsion spring  4  is replaced by the second compressive elastic member  8  disposed between the casing  10  and the main body  111 . It should be noted that, the second compressive elastic member  8  should be disposed on the back end position of the main body, so as to ensure that the locking portion  115  applies a restraining force to the locked surface  211  of the ink cartridge, so as to lock the ink cartridge  63 . 
     Among all the above embodiments, each part of the mechanism may be combined flexibly, which is not limited to the descriptions in the specification. As known from the above descriptions and accompanying drawings, when being unloaded or loaded, the ink cartridge is horizontally loaded or unloaded, and the problems of unsmooth loading or unloading or getting stuck during loading or unloading do not occur. In addition, the ink cartridge carrier device provides an inward and downward pressure for the ink cartridge, so as to ensure that the ink cartridge is well fixed. The carrier device has a self-lock function, such that the ink cartridge cannot be pulled out under an external force unless the locking unlocking mechanism is rotated. When the ink cartridge is unloaded, the pushing mechanism pushes a part of the ink cartridge out of the casing, and the user takes out the ink cartridge by holding the pushed-out part with hands. The ink cartridge has a guiding surface, and the guiding surface slidingly contacts with the locking portion, such that the ink cartridge can be smoothly loaded. Thus, it is convenient for loading, unloading, and replacing the ink cartridge.