Patent Description:
A cartridge case described in Patent Literature <NUM> is provided with a first case and a second case which extend in a first direction. The first case is provided on a lower side of the second case, an upper side of the first case is opened, and the first case accommodates a liquid storing body in the inside of the first case. The second case is provided on a location above the first case so as to face the first case, and covers the first case. A tap supporting part which supports a tap of the liquid storing body is provided on one end part in the first direction of the first case. In a case that the liquid storing body is attached to the cartridge case, the second case is moved, relative to the first case, in a direction opposite to the one end part in the first direction so as to cause the first case to accommodate the liquid storing body. The tap of the liquid storing body is fitted to the tap supporting part. Then, the second case is moved in a direction toward the one end part in the first direction of the first case. The cartridge case accommodating the liquid storing body is inserted into a cartridge installment part of a printer.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a liquid supply system that includes a common mounting portion into which a first liquid storage body capable of storing a liquid and a substitute mounting body which is connected to a second liquid storage body capable of storing a liquid can be exchangeably mounted, a mounting target detection unit capable of detecting whether or not the first liquid storage body and the substitute mounting body are mounted to the common mounting portion, a pressurization supply unit which supplies the liquid which is stored in the second liquid storage body to the substitute mounting body under pressure, and a control unit which drives the pressure supply unit when a plurality of control conditions are satisfied.

Patent Literature <NUM> discloses: An ink cartridge including a cartridge case that contains an ink pack, on one surface of the cartridge case having an ink outlet port from the ink pack, a pressurized air inlet port and a connection terminal of a circuit board having a data storage means that stores ink information of the cartridge therein, a cartridge side compatibility detection mechanism and a positioning means used in case that the ink cartridge is attached to an inkjet recording apparatus. The cartridge is exactly positioned and fixed to a holder three-dimensionally by the positioning means, a mechanical positional adjustment and electrical connection can be exactly performed, so that operation reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved and even if ink leaks from the ink outlet port, the connection terminal can be prevented from being stained with the ink. [Citation List].

In a case that the precision in positioning of the tap of the liquid storing body accommodated in the cartridge case with respect to an ink supplying needle provided on the printer is not satisfactory, there is such a possibility that the ink supplying needle might not enter satisfactorily into the tap, which in turn might cause any connection failure between the tap and the ink supplying needle and/or any leakage of the ink.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid storing cartridge and a printer each of which is capable of lowering any connection failure of a supply port via which a liquid is supplied from a liquid container and of lowering possibility that the liquid might leak from the supply port.

A liquid storing cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:.

In the above-descried liquid storing cartridge, the position of the supply port is positioned (or aligned) with respect to a supplying needle by the first positioning part and the second positioning part. Accordingly, it is possible to lower any possibility that the position of the supply port might be deviated with respect to the supplying needle, to lower any connection failure of the supply port, and to lower any possibility that the liquid might leak from the supply port.

A printer according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the above-described liquid storing cartridge. According to the second aspect, in the printer, the position of the supply port is positioned (aligned) with respect to a supplying needle by the first positioning part and the second positioning part. Accordingly, it is possible to lower any possibility that the position of the supply port might be deviated with respect to the supplying needle, to lower any connection failure of the supply port, and to lower any possibility that the liquid might leak from the supply port.

A printer <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained, sequentially with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a mechanical element in the drawings indicates an actual scale in each of the drawings. The drawings which are referred to are used for explaining a technical feature which may be adopted by the present invention, and the configuration of an apparatus which is described is not meant to be limited only thereto, and is a mere example for explanation. In the explanation of the present embodiment, a left lower side, a right upper side, a right lower side, a left upper side, an upper side and a lower side of <FIG> are, respectively, a front side, a rear side, a right side, a left side, an upper side and a lower side of the printer <NUM>. A left lower side, a right upper side, a right lower side, a left upper side, an upper side and a lower side of <FIG> are, respectively, a front side, a rear side, a right side, a left side, an upper side and a lower side of a cartridge <NUM>. <FIG> are drawings with the directions of the printer <NUM>, whereas <FIG> are drawings with the directions of the cartridge <NUM> or the maintenance box <NUM>, and the cartridge <NUM> and the maintenance box 300are installed in the printer <NUM> in a state that the front surfaces of the cartridge <NUM> and the maintenance box <NUM> are oriented to face the rear surface of the printer <NUM>.

The configuration of the printer <NUM> will be explained, with reference to <FIG>. The printer <NUM> is an ink-jet printer which performs printing on a medium having an elongated shape. In a case that print data is inputted to an input terminal (omitted in the drawings), the printer <NUM> prints the print data on the medium by a printing mechanism (omitted in the drawings) built in the printer <NUM>, and discharges the medium from a discharge port <NUM> (to be described later on). As depicted in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> is provided with a casing <NUM>. The casing <NUM> has a shape of rectangular parallelepiped having a size placeable or arrangeable on a table or desk, and has a front wall <NUM>, a right wall <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM>, a left wall <NUM>, a bottom wall <NUM>, an upper wall <NUM> and a front cover <NUM>.

The front wall <NUM> is provided on a front surface of the casing <NUM>, and has, from the upper side toward the lower side, a first front wall <NUM> and a second front wall <NUM>. Each of the first front wall <NUM> and the second front wall <NUM> is rectangular which is long in a left-right direction as seen from the front side. The first front wall <NUM> is provided on an upper part on the front side of the casing <NUM>, and the second front wall <NUM> is provided at a location which is below the first front wall <NUM> and which is at the center on the front side of the casing <NUM>. Each of the right wall <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM> and the left wall <NUM> is rectangular which is long in an up-down direction. Further, each of the bottom wall <NUM> and the upper wall <NUM> is rectangular which is long in a front-rear direction.

The discharge port <NUM> is provided on a boundary between the first front wall <NUM> and the second front wall <NUM>. The discharge port <NUM> is a rectangular opening which is long in the left-right direction as seen from the front side, and discharges a medium having printing performed thereon. The first front wall <NUM> is provided with a displaying part <NUM> and an operating part <NUM>. The displaying part <NUM> displays a letter, an image, etc. The operating part <NUM> is provided on the right side with respect to the displaying part <NUM>. The operating part <NUM> is provided with a touch panel or a plurality of buttons via which a variety of kinds of instructions are inputted.

The front cover <NUM> is provided on the front surface of the casing <NUM> and below the second front wall <NUM>. The front cover <NUM> is a rectangular lid as seen from the front side, and is provided with a pair of hinges <NUM> on a lower end part of the front cover <NUM>. By the pair of hinges <NUM>, the front cover <NUM> is rotatable to a close position (see <FIG>) at which the front cover <NUM> closes an opening part <NUM> and an opening part <NUM> of an accommodating part <NUM>, depicted in <FIG>, and to an open position at which the front cover <NUM> releases (does not cover) the opening part <NUM> and the opening part <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the printer <NUM> accommodates, in the inside of the casing <NUM>, an ink-jet head <NUM>, a cartridge <NUM>, an ink tube <NUM>, a conveying device <NUM>, a partition wall <NUM> and a fixing unit <NUM>.

The ink-jet head <NUM> prints an image on a medium M supplied from a supplying part <NUM>. The ink-jet head <NUM> is provided with a plurality of nozzles <NUM> which discharges or ejects an ink G in a discharge direction. The ink-jet head <NUM> prints the image on the medium M by discharging the ink G from the plurality of nozzles <NUM>. The discharge direction is downward, and the ink-jet head <NUM> is provided at a location above a conveying route Q of the medium M, while the inkjet head <NUM> assumes a posture in which the plurality of nozzles <NUM> is oriented downward. The conveying route Q is a route or path along which the medium M is conveyed since the medium M is fed out from the supplying part <NUM> and until the medium M is discharged from the discharge port <NUM> to the outside of the casing <NUM>.

The cartridge <NUM> is accommodated in the opening part <NUM>. The cartridge <NUM> accommodates a liquid container <NUM> which stores the ink in the inside thereof, and is installed in an installment part <NUM> of the opening part <NUM>. The details of the cartridge <NUM> will be described later on. The ink tube <NUM> is arranged in the inside of the casing <NUM> and connects the installment part <NUM> and the ink-jet head <NUM>. The ink G in the inside of the cartridge <NUM> is supplied, via the ink tube <NUM>, from the cartridge <NUM> to the ink-jet head <NUM>.

The conveying device <NUM> is provided with the supplying part <NUM>, conveying parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, a supporting part <NUM>, a tension applying part <NUM> and a rotary body <NUM>. The supplying part <NUM> is provided on a space which is located on the left side of the front cover <NUM> at the close position and which is located at a rear lower part of the printer <NUM> and surrounded by the partition wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>. The supplying part <NUM> holds a roll R. The supplying part <NUM> is provided with a shaft part <NUM> and a magazine <NUM>. The shaft part <NUM> extends in the left-right direction, and is inserted into a paper tube K of the roll R. The magazine <NUM> is a supporting stand which has a shape of a letter "U" as seen from the front side. The magazine <NUM> supports both of left and right end parts of the shaft part <NUM> so that the shaft part <NUM> is rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction. The shaft part <NUM> is supported by the magazine <NUM> in a state that the shaft part <NUM> is detachable from the magazine <NUM>. The magazine <NUM> is supported by the printer <NUM> in a state that the magazine <NUM> is detachable from the printer <NUM>.

An operator who replaces the roll R arranges the front cover <NUM> at the open position, takes out the magazine <NUM> from the inside of the casing <NUM> and performs a replacing operation of the roll R.

The conveying part <NUM> conveys the medium M in a conveying direction F in which the medium M is conveyed from the supplying part <NUM> toward the ink-jet head <NUM> and to a retuning direction B which is opposite or reverse direction to the conveying direction F. The conveying direction F is a direction along the conveying route Q which is from the supplying part <NUM> toward the ink-jet head <NUM>. A part, of the conveying direction F, from the suppling part <NUM> up to the tension applying part <NUM> is a direction which changes depending on a remaining amount of the medium M, and is generally upward. A part, of the conveying direction F, from the tension applying part <NUM> up to the discharge port <NUM> is generally frontward.

The conveying part <NUM> is provided at a location on an upstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the ink-jet head <NUM>, and on a downstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the supplying part <NUM>. That is, the conveying part <NUM> is provided between the ink-jet head <NUM> and the supplying part <NUM> in the conveying route Q of the medium M. The conveying part <NUM> has a conveying roller <NUM> which rotates about an axis extending in the left-right direction and a pinch roller <NUM> which rotates about an axis extending in the left-right direction. The conveying part <NUM> performs a nip conveyance, by the conveying roller <NUM> and the pinch roller <NUM>, of conveying the medium M in the conveying direction F which is from the supplying part <NUM> toward the ink-jet head <NUM>.

The conveying part <NUM> is provided on the upstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the conveying part <NUM>, and conveys the medium in the conveying direction F and the retuning direction B. The conveying part <NUM> rotates the roll R held by the supplying part <NUM>, conveys the medium M in the returning direction B, and takes (winds) the medium M on the roll R. The conveying part <NUM> detachably engages with the shaft part <NUM> of the supplying part <NUM>. The conveying part <NUM> rotates the roll R held by the supplying part <NUM>, conveys the medium M in the conveying direction F, and feeds the medium M from the roll R toward the ink-jet head <NUM>.

The supporting part <NUM> is provided on the upstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the conveying part <NUM> and on the downstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the conveying part <NUM>, and supports the tension applying part <NUM> and the rotary body <NUM>. The tension applying part <NUM> is provided between the conveying part <NUM> and the conveying part <NUM> in the conveying route Q. The tension applying part <NUM> is arranged at a location above the supplying part <NUM>, and is supported in a state that the tension applying part <NUM> is capable of rocking about an axis extending in the left-right direction, on the upstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the conveying part <NUM>. The tension applying part <NUM> makes contact with the medium M and bends the medium M. With this, the tension applying part <NUM> imparts a tension to the medium M. The tension is a tension acting in a direction opposite to an advancing direction of the medium M.

The rotary body <NUM> is supported to be rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction, on the upstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the conveying part <NUM> and on the downstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to at an end part, of the tension applying part <NUM>, on the upstream side in the conveying direction F, namely a lower end part of the tension applying part <NUM>.

The conveying part <NUM> is provided on a location below the ink-jet head <NUM> and on the downstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the conveying part <NUM>, and conveys the medium M in the conveying direction F. The conveying part <NUM> is provided with a driving roller <NUM>, a driven roller <NUM> and an endless belt <NUM>. The driving roller <NUM> and the driven roller <NUM> are separated from each other in the front-rear direction. The endless belt <NUM> is stretched over the driving roller <NUM> and the driven roller <NUM>. Accompanying with the rotation of the endless belt <NUM>, the driven roller <NUM> is rotated. A position in the up-down direction of an upper end of an outer circumferential surface of the endless belt <NUM> is substantially same with a position in the up-down direction of a nip point <NUM> at which the medium M is nipped by the conveying part <NUM>. The upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt <NUM> faces or is opposed to the plurality of nozzles <NUM> of the ink-jet head <NUM>. The upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the endless belt <NUM> conveys the medium M in a state that the medium M which is (being) conveyed between the conveying part <NUM> and the conveying part <NUM> is attracted, by suction from a position below the medium M by a static electricity or a negative pressure, to the endless belt <NUM>.

The fixing unit <NUM> is arranged on the downstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the ink-jet head <NUM> and on the upstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the conveying part <NUM>. Further, the fixing unit <NUM> is provided on a location below the conveying route Q. The fixing unit <NUM> is provided with a heat source <NUM> which is capable of performing conduction heating and a heating plate (hot plate) <NUM> which is heated by the heat source <NUM>. The heating plate <NUM> supports the medium M which passes the conveying route Q from a position below the medium M. The medium M is heated by the heating plate <NUM>, thereby causing the ink G discharged onto the medium M by the ink-jet head <NUM> to be fixed on the medium M.

The conveying part <NUM> is provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the ink-jet head <NUM> and the fixing unit <NUM> and on the upstream side in the conveying direction F with respect to the discharge port <NUM>, and conveys the medium M in the conveying direction F and in the returning direction B. The conveying part <NUM> has a conveying roller <NUM> and a pinch roller <NUM> each of which rotates about an axis extending in the left-right direction, and performs a nip conveyance, by the conveying roller <NUM> and the pinch roller <NUM>, of conveying the medium M while nipping the medium M between the conveying roller <NUM> and the pinch roller <NUM> in the up-down direction.

In a case that a printing processing is executed, a controller of the printer <NUM> drives the conveying parts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> so as to convey the medium M. The printer <NUM> adjusts a driving amount of each of the conveying parts <NUM> and <NUM> so that the tension is applied to the medium M by the tension applying part <NUM>. The controller of the printer <NUM> drives the ink-jet head <NUM> synchronizing with the conveyance of the medium M, thereby discharging, onto the medium M, the ink G supplied from the cartridge <NUM> via the ink tube <NUM>. The controller of the printer <NUM> drives the heat source <NUM> so as to fix, to the medium M, the ink G on the medium M. The medium M is discharged from the discharge port <NUM> to the outside of the casing <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, an explanation will be given about the configuration of the accommodating part <NUM> provided on the inside of the printer <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> depict only the accommodating part <NUM>, and omits other configurations of the printer <NUM>. The accommodating part <NUM> is provided on the inside of the front cover <NUM> of the printer <NUM>. The accommodating part <NUM> has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped which extends in the left-right direction, and is provided with, from the left side toward the right side, a first accommodating part <NUM> and a second accommodating part <NUM>. The first accommodating part <NUM> and the second accommodating part <NUM> are each a space having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and provided, respectively, with an opening part <NUM> and an opening part <NUM> which are opened frontward. In a case that the front cover <NUM> is changed from the close state to the open state, the opening parts <NUM> and <NUM> of the accommodating part <NUM> are exposed. Each of the opening parts <NUM> and <NUM> is a rectangular opening. As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first accommodating part <NUM> accommodates a cartridge <NUM> (to be described later on).

As depicted in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. As depicted in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> accommodates or stores the liquid container <NUM> which stores a liquid. The liquid container <NUM> accommodates or stores an ink. The liquid container <NUM> is a pouch made of a synthetic resin. In the following, an example that the ink is stored in the liquid container <NUM> will be explained. The details of the configuration of the cartridge <NUM> will be described later on. The second accommodating part <NUM> accommodates, for example, a maintenance box <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first accommodating part <NUM> is provided with a rear wall <NUM>. The rear wall <NUM> is a rectangular wall which is provided on the rearmost side in the first accommodating part <NUM>, and extends in the up-down direction and the left-right direction. The rear wall <NUM> is provided with the installment part <NUM>. The installment part <NUM> is provided on a location below a center in the up-down direction of the rear wall <NUM>. In a case that the cartridge <NUM> is accommodated in the first accommodating part <NUM>, a tap (tap unit, mouth stopper, mouth plug) <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> accommodated in the cartridge <NUM> is installed in the installment part <NUM>. The installment part <NUM> is provided with a supply needle <NUM> which projects frontward. The supply needle <NUM> is hollow inside. In a case that the cartridge <NUM> is accommodated in the first accommodating part <NUM> and that the tap <NUM> is installed in the installment part <NUM>, the supply needle <NUM> enters into the inside of a supply port <NUM> of a connecting part <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM>. Accordingly, the ink inside the liquid container <NUM> is supplied to the ink-jet head <NUM> of the printer <NUM>.

Further, a pair of positioning (alignment) projections <NUM> and <NUM> is provided on the rear wall <NUM> of the first accommodating part <NUM>. The positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> are provided, respectively, on positions which are symmetric in the left-right direction with respect to the supply needle <NUM>. The positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> project frontward. A front end of each of the positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> protrudes frontward farther than a front end of the supply needle <NUM>. In a case that the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the first accommodating part <NUM>, the positioning projection <NUM> fits into a circular hole <NUM> of a first positioning part <NUM> (to be described later on) and the positioning projection <NUM> fits into an elongated hole <NUM> of a second positioning part <NUM> (to be described later on).

A maintenance box <NUM> as depicted in <FIG> is accommodated in the second accommodating part <NUM>. The maintenance box <NUM> has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, similarly to the cartridge <NUM>. The maintenance box <NUM> is fixed in a state that the maintenance box <NUM> is accommodated in the second accommodating part <NUM>. A storing body <NUM> storing a nozzle cleaning liquid for maintenance is accommodated in the maintenance box <NUM>. The detailed configuration of the maintenance box <NUM> will be described later on.

Further, as depicted in <FIG>, a pair of positioning (alignment) projections <NUM> and <NUM> is provided on a rear wall <NUM> of the second accommodating part <NUM>. The positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> are provided, respectively, on positions which are symmetric in the left-right direction with respect to a cleaning liquid needle <NUM>. The positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> project frontward. A front end of each of the positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> protrudes frontward farther than a front end of the cleaning liquid needle <NUM>. In a case that the maintenance box <NUM> is inserted into the second accommodating part <NUM>, the positioning projection <NUM> fits into a circular hole <NUM> of a first positioning part <NUM> as depicted in <FIG> and the positioning projection <NUM> fits into an elongated hole <NUM> of a second positioning part <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the configuration of the cartridge <NUM> will be explained. As depicted in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and is provided with a lower case <NUM> and a cover <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> accommodates or stores the liquid container <NUM> in the inside of the lower case <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> is closed as depicted in <FIG>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the lower case <NUM> is provided with a front wall <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM>, a right wall <NUM>, a left wall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM>. The bottom wall <NUM> is a rectangular plate which is long in the front-rear direction. The front wall <NUM> extends upward from a front end of the bottom wall <NUM>. A tap engaging part <NUM> is provided on a left lower part of the front wall <NUM>. The tap engaging part <NUM> is an opening part which penetrates the front wall <NUM> in the front-rear direction and which is opened upwardly. As depicted in <FIG>, the tap <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> engages with the tap engaging part <NUM> from a position above the tap engaging part <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> supports the tap <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the right wall <NUM> of the lower case <NUM> extends upward from a right end of the bottom wall <NUM>. An upper part on the front side of the right wall <NUM> is inclined upward further toward the rear side. A length in the up-down direction of a front end part of the right wall <NUM> is substantially same as a length in the up-down direction of a right end part of the front wall <NUM>. The left wall <NUM> extends upward from a left end of the bottom wall <NUM>. A length in the up-down direction of a front end part of the left wall <NUM> is substantially same as a length in the up-down direction of a left end part of the front wall <NUM>. An upper part on the front side of the left wall <NUM> is inclined upward further toward the rear side. A length in the up-down direction of a part on the rear side of the right wall <NUM> is approximately two times the length in the up-down direction of the front end part of the right wall <NUM>, and a length in the up-down direction of a part on the rear side of the left wall <NUM> is approximately two times the length in the up-down direction of the front end part of the left wall <NUM>.

The rear wall <NUM> extends upward from a rear end of the bottom wall <NUM>. A length in the up-down direction of the rear wall <NUM> is approximately same as the length of the part on the rear side of each of the right wall <NUM> and the left wall <NUM>. A pair of shafts <NUM> protrudes, in the left-right direction, respectively, on a left part and a right part of an upper end of the rear wall <NUM>. An opening <NUM> which is opened upward is defined by the front wall <NUM>, the right wall <NUM>, the left wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>. The liquid container <NUM> is accommodated in the inside of the opening <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view depicting the cover <NUM> in a state that a lower side of the cover <NUM> is oriented upward. As depicted in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> is provided with an upper wall <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM>, a right wall <NUM> and a left wall <NUM>. The upper wall <NUM> is a rectangular plate which is long in the front-rear direction. The front wall <NUM> extends downwards from a front end part of the upper wall <NUM>. A cutout part 361A and a cutout part 361B are provided on the front wall <NUM>, and a side wall <NUM> extends downward between the cutout part 361A and the cutout part 361B. The rear wall <NUM> is a rectangular plate which extends downward from a rear end of the upper wall <NUM>, and a pair of bearing parts <NUM> is provided, respectively, on both of left and right end parts of a lower end of the rear wall <NUM>. The right wall <NUM> is a plate extending downward from a right end of the upper wall <NUM>; a length in the up-down direction of a front side of the right wall <NUM> is longer than a length in the up-down direction of a rear side of the right wall <NUM>; and the right wall <NUM> is provided with an inclined part which is inclined toward the front side from the rear side. The left wall <NUM> is a plate extending downward from a left end of the upper wall <NUM>; a length in the up-down direction of a front side of the left wall <NUM> is longer than a length in the up-down direction of a rear side of the left wall <NUM>; and the left wall <NUM> is provided with an inclined part which is inclined toward the front side from the rear side.

The pair of bearing parts <NUM> of the cover <NUM> is rotatably supported, respectively, by the pair of shafts <NUM> of the lower case <NUM>, thereby causing the cover <NUM> to rotate to a close state in which the cover <NUM> covers the opening <NUM> and to an open state in which the cover <NUM> does not cover the opening <NUM>. In the open state depicted in <FIG>, the operator is capable of attaching and detaching the liquid container <NUM> with respect to the cartridge <NUM>. In a case that the cover <NUM> is in the closed state, the cartridge <NUM> is accommodatable in the accommodating part <NUM> of the printer <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the configuration of the liquid container <NUM> will be explained. The liquid container <NUM> stores, as an example, an ink. An example of the ink, for example, is a black ink. The liquid container <NUM> is provided with a case <NUM>. The case <NUM> is formed of a pouch made of a synthetic resin. The case <NUM> has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped which is long in the front-rear direction. The case <NUM> is provided with a front surface <NUM>, a rear surface <NUM>, a right side surface <NUM>, a left side surface <NUM>, a bottom surface <NUM> and an upper surface <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> and the upper surface <NUM> are each a rectangle which is long in the front-rear direction. The front surface <NUM> is a rectangle which extends upward from a front end of the bottom surface <NUM>. The right side surface <NUM> is a rectangle which extends upward from a right end of the bottom surface <NUM> and which is long in the front-rear direction. The left side surface <NUM> is a rectangle which extends upward from a left end of the bottom surface <NUM> and which is long in the front-rear direction. The rear surface <NUM> is a rectangle which extends upward from a rear end of the bottom surface <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG>, the tap <NUM> (tap unit) is provided on a left lower part of the front surface <NUM>. The tap <NUM> is provided with a connecting part <NUM>, the first positioning (alignment) part <NUM>, the second positioning (alignment) part <NUM> and a circuit board holder <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> is a cylinder which extends, with respect to the front surface <NUM>, in a front direction which is orthogonal to the front surface <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> has the supply port <NUM> opened in the front direction at a center of the connecting part <NUM>. The supply port <NUM> of the connecting part <NUM> is a supply port via which the ink is supplied from the liquid container <NUM> to the outside of the liquid container <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> extends from the front surface <NUM> in an opening direction of the supply port <NUM>. Further, a sealing member (omitted in the drawings) is provided on a part which is located on the back side (on the rear side) of the supply port <NUM>. In a case, for example, that the cartridge <NUM> is detached from the installment part <NUM> and connection between the supply port <NUM> of the connecting part <NUM> and the supply needle <NUM> is released, any leaking of the ink from the supply port <NUM> is suppressed by the sealing member.

The first positioning part <NUM> is provided on a position which is obliquely lower left with respect to the supply port <NUM>, in a crossing direction which crosses the opening direction (front direction) of the supply port <NUM>. The circular hole <NUM> of which opening is circular is provided on a front end part of the first positioning part <NUM>. The second positioning part <NUM> is provided on a position which is obliquely lower right with respect to the supply port <NUM>, in the crossing direction which crosses the opening direction (front direction) of the supply port <NUM>. The elongated hole <NUM> of which opening is elongated in a lateral direction is provided on a front end part of the second positioning part <NUM>. The elongated hole <NUM> has a size in a long axis (major axis) direction of the elongated hole <NUM> which is from the elongated hole <NUM> toward the circular hole <NUM>, namely a size in the left-right direction, and a size in a short axis (minor axis) direction of the elongated hole <NUM> which is orthogonal to the long axis direction, namely a size in the up-down direction. The size of the elongated hole <NUM> in the long axis direction is larger than the size of the elongated hole <NUM> in the short axis direction. An example of the elongated hole is a hole of which opening is an oval or an ellipse.

Further, the first positioning part <NUM> extends, from the front surface <NUM>, in the opening direction of the supply port <NUM>. Furthermore, the second positioning part <NUM> extends, from the front surface <NUM>, in the opening direction of the supply port <NUM>. As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, each of the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> is longer in the opening direction (front direction) of the supply port <NUM> than the connecting part <NUM>. That is, a length L1, from the front surface <NUM>, of each of the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> in the front-rear direction is longer than a length L2, from the front surface <NUM>, of the connecting part <NUM> in the front-rear direction. As depicted in <FIG>, the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> are provided, respectively, positions which are symmetric in the left-right direction with respect to the supply port <NUM>. Further, the supply port <NUM>, the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> are provided on positions, respectively, facing the supply needle <NUM>, the positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> in a case that the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the first accommodating part <NUM>.

As depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the tap <NUM> is provided with the circuit board holder <NUM> at a location above the supply port <NUM>. That is, the circuit board holder <NUM> is provided at a position of which height from the bottom surface <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> is greater than a height of the supply port <NUM> from the bottom surface <NUM>. The circuit board holder <NUM> holds a circuit board <NUM> detachably. The circuit board <NUM> has an electronic circuit built therein, and the electric contact <NUM> is exposed on the circuit board <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> stores information regarding a remaining amount of the liquid stored in the liquid container <NUM>. An example of the circuit board <NUM> is an IC chip. The circuit boards <NUM> is held by the circuit board holder <NUM> in a state that a surface, of the circuit board <NUM>, on which the electric contact <NUM> is provided faces (is oriented) upward. That is, the cartridge <NUM> is provided with the circuit board <NUM> having an electric contact <NUM>, at the position of which height from the bottom surface <NUM> is greater than the height of the supply port <NUM> from the bottom surface <NUM>. Note that the electric contact <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> makes contact with a contacting part <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) provided on the first accommodating part <NUM>.

Further, as depicted in <FIG> and <FIG>, the circuit board holder <NUM> is arranged, in the tap <NUM>, above a location between the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM>. Accordingly, the circuit board <NUM> is arranged above the location between the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM>.

In a case that the cartridge <NUM> is to be installed in the printer <NUM>, a user opens the front cover <NUM> of the printer <NUM>, and inserts the cartridge <NUM> into the printer <NUM>. Further, in a case that the ink becomes insufficient during usage of the printer <NUM> and that an instruction of replacing the cartridge <NUM> is displayed on the displaying part <NUM>, the user opens the front cover <NUM> of the printer <NUM> and replaces the cartridge <NUM>. In these cases, since the cartridge <NUM> is provided with the first positioning part <NUM> which is provided on one side (first side) with respect to the supply port <NUM> in the crossing direction crossing the opening direction of the supply port <NUM>, and the second positioning part <NUM> which is provided on the other side (second side) different from the one side with respect to the supply port <NUM> in the crossing direction, the position of the supply port <NUM> is positioned (aligned) with respect to the supply needle <NUM> by the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to lower any possibility that the position of the supply port <NUM> might be deviated with respect to the supply needle <NUM>, to lower any connection failure of the supply port <NUM>, and to lower any possibility that the liquid might leak from the supply port <NUM>.

Further, since each of the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> is longer in the opening direction of the supply port <NUM> (front direction) than the connecting part <NUM>, the positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> of the first accommodating part <NUM> are inserted, respectively, into the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM>, before the supply needle <NUM> is inserted into the supply port <NUM>. Accordingly, the supply needle <NUM> is inserted correctly into the supply port <NUM>.

Furthermore, as depicted in <FIG>, since the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> are provided, respectively, on the positions which are symmetric in the left-right direction with respect to the supply port <NUM>, the precision of positioning the supply port <NUM> in the left-right direction is improved.

Moreover, since the circular hole <NUM> of which opening is circular is provided on the front end part of the first positioning part <NUM>, the positioning projection <NUM> is inserted into the circular hole <NUM> of the first positioning part <NUM> and the position (positioning) is determined precisely. Further, the elongated hole <NUM> of the front end part of the second positioning part <NUM> has the size in the long axis direction from the second positioning part <NUM> toward the circular hole <NUM> (or the supply port <NUM>) is greater than the size of the elongated hole <NUM> in the short axis direction orthogonal to the major axis direction. Accordingly, even in a case that the positioning projection <NUM> which is inserted into the elongated hole <NUM> is shifted in the major axis direction of the elongated hole <NUM>, such a possibility that the positioning projection <NUM> might not be inserted into the elongated hole <NUM> is lowered.

Furthermore, since the circuit board <NUM> is provided at the position having the height from the bottom surface <NUM> of the liquid container <NUM> which is greater than the height of the supply port <NUM> from the bottom surface <NUM>, such a possibility that the liquid scattered from the supply port <NUM> might adhere to the electric contact <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> is lowered. Accordingly, the reliability of the conduction of the electric contact <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> is improved.

Moreover, since the surface, of the circuit board <NUM>, on which the electric contact <NUM> is provided, is oriented upward, such a possibility that the liquid scattered from the supply port <NUM> might adhere to the electric contact <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> is lowered. Further, since the circuit board <NUM> is arranged above the location between the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM>, the precision of positioning (alignment) the circuit board <NUM> with respect to the contacting part <NUM> provided on the first accommodating part <NUM> is improved.

The printer <NUM> is configured such that the cartridge <NUM> configured as described above can be installed in the printer <NUM>. Accordingly, the printer <NUM> is capable of lowering a possibility that the position of the supply port <NUM> might be deviated with respect to the supply needle <NUM>, capable of lowering any connection failure of the supply port <NUM>, and capable of lowering such a possibility that the liquid might leak from the supply port <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, the front surface <NUM> is an example of a "first surface" of the prevent invention. The cartridge <NUM> is an example of a "liquid storing cartridge" of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to or restricted by the above-described embodiment, and various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the gist or spirit of the present invention. The liquid container <NUM> is not limited to being box-shaped. Although the liquid container <NUM> stores the ink, the liquid container <NUM> is not limited to this. For example, the liquid container <NUM> may store a liquid different from the ink. For example, the liquid container <NUM> may store a preservative liquid (storage liquid, shipping liquid) which is introduced to the ink tube <NUM> connecting the cartridge <NUM> and the ink-jet head <NUM> for a purpose of suppressing any solidification of the ink inside the ink tube <NUM>, in a case that the printer <NUM> is shipped or in a case that the printer <NUM> is stored for a long period of time. In this case, it is allowable to adopt, as the preservative liquid, a liquid having such a property that the liquid is less likely to volatilize. Further, it is also allowable to omit the lower case <NUM> and the cover <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>, and to install the liquid container <NUM> directly in the printer <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, although the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> which stores the ink are described, the present invention is not limited to this. As described above, it is allowable to provide a positioning member on the maintenance box. For example, as depicted in <FIG>, the maintenance box <NUM> is provided with a cleaning liquid supply port <NUM>, a first positioning (alignment) part <NUM>, a second positioning (alignment) part <NUM>, a waste liquid inflow port <NUM>, an atmosphere communication hole <NUM> and a waste liquid window <NUM>. The second accommodating part <NUM> is provided with a cleaning liquid needle <NUM>, a positioning (alignment) projection <NUM>, a positioning (alignment) projection <NUM>, a waste liquid needle <NUM>, an atmosphere communicating needle <NUM> and a waste liquid sensor <NUM>.

In a case that the maintenance box <NUM> is installed in the second accommodating part <NUM>, the cleaning liquid needle <NUM> is inserted into the cleaning liquid supply port <NUM>. With this, a nozzle cleaning liquid stored in a bag <NUM> of the storing body <NUM> is supplied to the inside of the printer <NUM>, via the cleaning liquid needle <NUM>. In the case that the maintenance box <NUM> is installed in the second accommodating part <NUM>, the positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM> are inserted, respectively, into the elongated hole <NUM> of the second positioning part <NUM> and the circular hole <NUM> of the first positioning part <NUM>. With this, the positioning of the maintenance box <NUM> in the inside of the printer <NUM> is performed. In the case that the maintenance box <NUM> is installed in the second accommodating part <NUM>, the waste liquid needle <NUM> is inserted into the waste liquid inflow port <NUM>. The nozzles <NUM> of the ink-jet head <NUM> are cleaned (washed) by using the nozzle cleaning liquid, and a waste liquid generated by the cleaning is caused to flow, via the waste liquid needle <NUM>, into a space which is different from the storing body <NUM> in the inside of the maintenance box <NUM>, so that the waste liquid is thereby collected by the maintenance box <NUM>. In the case that the maintenance box <NUM> is installed in the second accommodating part <NUM>, the atmosphere communicating needle <NUM> is inserted into the atmosphere communication hole <NUM>. With this, a space inside the maintenance box <NUM> is atmospherically communicated with the outside. In a case that the waste liquid collected by the maintenance box <NUM> is accumulated, a liquid surface of the waste liquid is raised up to a position of the waste liquid window <NUM>. In this situation, since the waste liquid window <NUM> has a translucency, it is possible to visually recognize the liquid surface of the waste liquid, via the waste liquid window <NUM>, from the outside. Further, in the case that the maintenance box <NUM> is installed in the second accommodating part <NUM>, the waste liquid window <NUM> is positioned between a light emitting part and a light receiving part of the waste liquid sensor <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to detect whether or not the waste liquid collected by the maintenance box <NUM> becomes full, via the waste liquid window <NUM>, by the waste liquid sensor <NUM>.

By the configuration wherein the maintenance box <NUM> is provided with the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> and the second accommodating part <NUM> is provided with the positioning projection <NUM> and the positioning projection <NUM>, it is possible to achieve an effect which is similar to that achieved by the cartridge <NUM> and the first accommodating part <NUM>.

In the above-described embodiment, although the ink is, for example, the black ink, the ink is not limited to or restricted by this. For example, the ink may be an ink such as a cyan ink, a magenta ink, a yellow ink, a white ink or a clear ink, etc..

In the above-described embodiment, although the liquid container <NUM> has the shape of rectangular parallelepiped, the liquid container <NUM> is not limited to this. For example, the shape of the liquid container <NUM> may be a shape of another polyhedron, or may be cylindrical. Further, it is allowable that the liquid container <NUM> does not have a shape which is symmetrical in the front-rear direction.

In the embodiment, although each of the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> is arranged at the position below the supply port <NUM>, it is allowable to arrange each of the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> at a position above the supply port <NUM>. Alternatively, it is also allowable to arrange either one of the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> at a position above the supply port <NUM>, and to arrange the other one of the first positioning part <NUM> and the second positioning part <NUM> at a position below the supply port <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A liquid storing cartridge comprising:
a liquid container (<NUM>) configured to store a liquid;
a supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to supply the liquid from the liquid container (<NUM>) to an outside of the liquid container (<NUM>);
a first positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided in a first side with respect to the supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a crossing direction crossing an opening direction of the supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a second positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided in a second side with respect to the supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the crossing direction, the second side being opposite side from the first side with respect to the supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein:
the liquid container (<NUM>) includes a case (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a first surface;
the supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>), the first positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) are provided on the first surface;
the supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>) is provided in a connecting part (<NUM>) extending from the first surface in the opening direction of the supply port (<NUM>, <NUM>);
each of the first positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) extends from the first surface in the opening direction; characterized in that
each of the first positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second positioning part (<NUM>, <NUM>) is longer than the connecting part (<NUM>) in the opening direction.