Patent Description:
In the related art, a technology for a cartridge including a liquid supply portion and a cartridge terminal has been known (<CIT>).

Here, the liquid supply portion is coupled to a liquid introduction portion of a printing device, and the cartridge terminal comes into contact with a device side terminal of the printing device to be electrically coupled to each other. However, when the cartridge is mounted in the printing device, locations of the liquid supply portion and the liquid introduction portion or locations of the cartridge terminal and the device side terminal may be deviated from each other.

<CIT> discloses a cartridge that has a terminal disposition wall portion where a plurality of cartridge side terminals are disposed so as to form an inclined surface facing a direction including components in -Y and +Z directions. The terminal disposition wall portion includes a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion provided further in the -Y direction than a second wall constituting a pressurization chamber, a first extending portion extending in the -Y direction from the first protruding portion, and a second extending portion extending in the -Y direction from the second protruding portion. A first cartridge side contact portion configured to come into contact with a first apparatus side contact portion is provided in the first extending portion. A second cartridge side contact portion configured to come into contact with a second apparatus side contact portion is provided in the second extending portion.

<CIT> discloses a cartridge according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>, comprising a plurality of printing material supply ports, and a printing device according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>. The plurality of printing material supply ports project from a first surface in a -Z axial direction to correspond to each of a plurality of printing material supply pipes provided on the printing device. A groove section is provided to be concave more to a +Z axial direction side than the first surface, and is provided between two of the printing material supply ports adjacent to each other. The groove section receives a partition plate when the printing material supply ports are connected to the printing material supply pipes.

According to the invention, there is provided a cartridge as defined in claim <NUM>.

According to the invention, there is provided a printing system. The printing system includes a printing device that includes a cartridge mounting portion; and the cartridge described above.

According to the invention, there is provided a printing device as defined in claim <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a printing system <NUM> as an embodiment of the present disclosure. In <FIG>, XYZ axes, which are three spatial axes orthogonal to each other, are drawn. Directions toward which arrows of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis point are positive directions along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, respectively. The positive directions along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are a +X direction, a +Y direction, and a +Z direction, respectively. Directions opposite to the directions toward which the arrows of the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis point are negative directions along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, respectively. The negative directions along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are a -X direction, a -Y direction, and a -Z direction, respectively. When it is not necessary to distinguish positive and negative directions, the directions along the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are referred to as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction, respectively. The same applies to drawings and a description shown below.

The printing system <NUM> includes a printing device <NUM> and a cartridge <NUM> that supplies ink, which is a liquid, to the printing device <NUM>.

The printing device <NUM> of the present embodiment is an ink jet printer that ejects ink from an ejection head <NUM>. The printing device <NUM> is a large printer that performs printing on large sheets (A2 to A0 and the like) such as a poster. The printing device <NUM> includes a cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, a control portion <NUM>, a carriage <NUM>, the ejection head <NUM>, and a drive mechanism <NUM>. In addition, the printing device <NUM> includes an operation button <NUM> for a user to operate the printing device <NUM>.

A plurality of cartridges <NUM> are separately and detachably mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, four types of cartridges <NUM> corresponding to inks of four colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, that is, four cartridges <NUM> in total are mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. A cartridge <NUM> containing black ink is also referred to as a cartridge <NUM>, a cartridge <NUM> containing yellow ink is also referred to as a cartridge 4Y, a cartridge <NUM> containing magenta ink is also referred to as a cartridge <NUM>, and a cartridge <NUM> containing cyan ink is also referred to as a cartridge 4C. In the present embodiment, the cartridge <NUM> is configured to be able to contain a more liquid than the cartridges 4C, <NUM>, and 4Y. Therefore, the cartridge <NUM> is also referred to as a first type of cartridge 4A, and the cartridges 4C, <NUM>, and 4Y are also referred to as a second type of cartridge 4B.

The printing device <NUM> includes a replacement cover <NUM> on a front surface on a +Y direction side. When a +Z direction side of the replacement cover <NUM> is tilted toward a front side which is the +Y direction side, an opening of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> appears and attachment and detachment of the cartridge <NUM> is possible. When the cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, ink can be supplied to the ejection head <NUM> provided on the carriage <NUM> via tubes <NUM> as liquid flow pipes. In the present embodiment, for example, the ink is supplied to the ejection head <NUM> by a head difference between a liquid level of the ink in a liquid storage portion <NUM> and the ejection head <NUM>. Note that in another embodiment, the ink may be supplied to the ejection head <NUM> by a head difference between a liquid level in the cartridge <NUM> and the ejection head <NUM> or may be supplied to the ejection head <NUM> by a pump mechanism (not illustrated) of the printing device <NUM> sucking the ink in the cartridge <NUM>. Note that the tubes <NUM> are provided for the respective types of ink. Note that a state in which the cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> and the ink as the liquid can be supplied to the printing device <NUM> is also referred to as a "mounted state".

The ejection head <NUM> is provided with nozzles for each type of ink. The ejection head <NUM> ejects the ink from the nozzles toward a printing sheet <NUM> to print data such as characters or images. Note that a state of mounting the cartridge <NUM> in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> or detailed configurations of the cartridge <NUM> and the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> will be described later. Note that in the present embodiment, the printing device <NUM> is a so-called "off-carriage type" printer in which the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> does not move together with the carriage <NUM>. The present disclosure can also be applied to a so-called "on-carriage type" printer in which the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> is provided on the carriage <NUM> and moves together with the carriage <NUM>.

The control portion <NUM> controls each portion of the printing device <NUM> or transmission and reception of a signal to and from the cartridge <NUM>. The carriage <NUM> moves the ejection head <NUM> relative to the printing sheet <NUM>.

The drive mechanism <NUM> reciprocates the carriage based on a control signal from the control portion <NUM>. The drive mechanism <NUM> includes a timing belt <NUM> and a drive motor <NUM>. By transmitting power of the drive motor <NUM> to the carriage <NUM> via the timing belt <NUM>, the carriage <NUM> reciprocates in a main scanning direction, which is a direction along the X direction. In addition, the printing device <NUM> includes a transport mechanism for moving the printing sheet <NUM> in a sub-scanning direction, which is the +Y direction. When printing is performed, the printing sheet <NUM> is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the transport mechanism, and the printing sheet <NUM> after printing is completed is discharged onto a front cover <NUM>.

In addition, a region referred to as a home location is included at a location outside a printing region where the carriage <NUM> is moved in the main scanning direction, and a maintenance mechanism that performs maintenance for normally executing the printing is mounted at the home location. The maintenance mechanism includes a cap member <NUM> that is pressed against a surface, on which the nozzles are formed, on a bottom surface side of the ejection head <NUM> to form a closed space so as to surround the nozzles, an elevating and lowering mechanism (not illustrated) that elevates and lowers the cap member <NUM> in order to press the cap member <NUM> against the nozzle surface of the ejection head <NUM>, a suction pump (not illustrated) that introduces a negative pressure into the closed space formed by the cap member <NUM> being pressed against the nozzle surface of the ejection head <NUM>, or the like.

In the present embodiment, in a use state of the printing system <NUM>, an axis along the sub-scanning direction in which the printing sheet <NUM> is transported is the Y axis, an axis along a gravity direction is the Z axis, and an axis along a moving direction of the carriage <NUM> is the X axis. Here, the "use state of the printing system <NUM>" refers to a state in which the printing system <NUM> is installed on a horizontal surface. In addition, in the present embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is the +Y direction, an opposite direction to the +Y direction is the -Y direction, the gravity direction is the -Z direction, and an antigravity direction is the +Z direction. The X direction and the Y direction are directions along a horizontal direction. In addition, when the printing system <NUM> is viewed from a front side, a direction from a right side to a left side is the +X direction, and an opposite direction to the +X direction is the -X direction. In addition, in the present embodiment, an insertion direction D1 in which the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> for mounting is the -Y direction, and a direction in which the cartridge <NUM> is removed from the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> is the +Y direction. Therefore, a -Y direction side of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> is also referred to as a rear side, and a +Y direction side of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> is also referred to as a front side. In addition, in the present embodiment, an arrangement direction of the plurality of cartridges <NUM> is the X direction.

<FIG> is a view of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> when viewed from the +Z direction side. <FIG> is a sectional view taken along line III-III of <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged view of a region IV of <FIG>. In <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. A mounting process and a schematic configuration of a mounted state of the cartridge <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. Note that the mounting process and mounted state are the same for the cartridges 4C, <NUM>, 4Y, and <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> is inserted along the insertion direction D1 and is inserted into an accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> through an insertion/removal opening <NUM> of a first device wall <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. As a result, the accommodation chamber <NUM> accommodates the cartridge <NUM>. The insertion/removal opening <NUM> is an entrance/exit of the accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM>. In a state in which the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> is supported from a -Z direction side by a support member <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. In addition, in the mounted state that the cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, a liquid supply portion <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> and a liquid introduction portion <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> are coupled to each other. As a result, the ink contained in a liquid containing portion <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> is supplied to the liquid introduction portion <NUM> via the liquid supply portion <NUM>. In addition, in the present embodiment, the ink is supplied from the liquid supply portion <NUM> to the liquid introduction portion <NUM>, while air contained in the liquid storage portion <NUM> flows, as air bubbles, through the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the liquid supply portion <NUM> to the liquid containing portion <NUM>. As a result, gas-liquid exchange in the liquid containing portion <NUM> is performed. Note that in another embodiment, the cartridge <NUM> may have an atmospheric communication path communicating the liquid containing portion <NUM> with the outside, and gas-liquid exchange may be performed through the atmospheric communication path. The atmospheric communication path is arranged at a location different from that of the liquid supply portion <NUM> and is formed, for example, on a wall forming the liquid containing portion <NUM>.

The liquid introduction portion <NUM> receives the liquid supplied from the cartridge <NUM>. The liquid introduction portion <NUM> is a tubular member and has an internal flow path for making the liquid flow therein. The liquid introduction portion <NUM> has a base end portion 642a and a tip portion 642b. The tip portion 642b is formed with an opening communicating with the internal flow path, and the ink of the liquid supply portion <NUM> flows to the internal flow path through the opening. The base end portion 642a is coupled to the liquid storage portion <NUM> and makes the ink that has flowed through the internal flow path flow to the liquid storage portion <NUM>. The liquid storage portion <NUM> is located on a -Z direction side of the accommodation chamber <NUM>. The liquid storage portion <NUM> communicates with the ejection head <NUM> via the tube <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. As described above, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> communicates with the ejection head <NUM> via the liquid storage portion <NUM> and the tube <NUM>. A central axis CA1 of the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is parallel to a central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion <NUM> in the mounted state and is inclined with respect to the Z direction. That is, a direction along the central axis CA1, which is a direction in which the liquid introduction portion <NUM> extends, intersects the insertion direction D1. A direction along the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion <NUM> is a direction in which the liquid supply portion <NUM> extends.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> and a device side terminal portion <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> are electrically coupled to each other by coming into contact with each other. The device side terminal portion <NUM> is held by a holding mechanism <NUM>. The device side terminal portion <NUM> includes a plurality of device side terminals <NUM>, a terminal holding portion <NUM>, and a connector <NUM>.

The plurality of device side terminals <NUM> (nine device side terminals in the present embodiment) are provided. Each of the plurality of device side terminals <NUM> is a conductive metal plate member. The device side terminal <NUM> has a terminal rotation fulcrum Rp, and a portion in contact with a cartridge side terminal <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM>, which is an end portion, can be elastically deformed using the terminal rotation fulcrum Rp as a fulcrum. A direction in which the portion is elastically deformed is a direction along the Y direction and the Z direction. The terminal holding portion <NUM> holds the plurality of device side terminals <NUM>. The connector <NUM> is electrically coupled to the plurality of device side terminals <NUM>. In addition, the connector <NUM> is electrically coupled to the control portion <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> by wiring (not illustrated). As a result, the circuit board <NUM> and the control portion <NUM> can perform data communication therebetween.

The holding mechanism <NUM> includes an urging member <NUM> and an attaching member <NUM>. The urging member <NUM> is formed of a coil spring. The urging member <NUM> is arranged at inner side of the attaching member <NUM>. In addition, the device side terminal portion <NUM> is attached to the attaching member <NUM>. The urging member <NUM> is compressed in a state in which the insertion of the cartridge <NUM> into the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> is completed. As a result, the urging member <NUM> applies, to the device side terminal portion <NUM> via the attaching member <NUM>, an external force Fa in a direction toward a removal direction side of the cartridge <NUM>, which is the first device wall <NUM> side. Since the device side terminal portion <NUM> is pressed against the circuit board <NUM> by the external force Fa, contact between the device side terminal <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is maintained well.

As described above, the holding mechanism <NUM> holds the device side terminal portion <NUM> so that the device side terminal portion <NUM> is displaceable in a direction along the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge <NUM>. In addition, one end portion of the urging member <NUM> adjacent to the device side terminal portion <NUM> is configured to be slightly movable in the X direction and the Z direction intersecting the insertion direction D1. As a result, the device side terminal portion <NUM> is held by the holding mechanism <NUM> so as to be slightly movable in the X direction and the Z direction intersecting the insertion direction D1.

A mounting process of the cartridge <NUM> to the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> includes a terminal coupling process and a supply portion coupling process executed after the terminal coupling process. The terminal coupling process is a process of bringing and electrically coupling the device side terminal <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> into contact with and to each other by moving the cartridge <NUM> in the -Y direction to insert the cartridge <NUM> into the accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> through the insertion/removal opening <NUM> of the first device wall <NUM>. The supply portion coupling process is a process of coupling the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the liquid supply portion <NUM> to each other by rotationally moving, in a state of maintaining the electrical coupling between the device side terminal <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, a rear surface <NUM> side of the cartridge <NUM> in a coupling direction D2 indicated by an arrow with a rotation fulcrum <NUM>, serving as a displacement mechanism included in the support member <NUM>, as a fulcrum. The rotation fulcrum <NUM> is provided adjacent to a second device wall <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>.

In the supply portion coupling process, a device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM>, which is a projection included in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, enters a supply portion positioning portion <NUM> included in the cartridge <NUM> and having a recessed shape, so that the movement of the liquid supply portion <NUM> in a direction intersecting the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion <NUM> is regulated. As a result, positioning of the liquid supply portion <NUM> with respect to the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is performed. The device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> has one end portion 644a as a base end portion and the other end portion 644b as a tip portion. The one end portion 644a is located adjacent to the liquid storage portion <NUM>. The one end portion 644a is located more adjacent to the accommodation chamber <NUM> than the other end portion 644b is.

In the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM>, a main wall <NUM> forming a bottom portion of the support member <NUM> is inclined with respect to the Y direction. Specifically, the main wall <NUM> of the support member <NUM> is inclined so as to be located closer to the -Z direction side, which is a lower side, as the main wall <NUM> extends toward a +Y-axis direction. The main wall <NUM> is parallel to the Y direction in an initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> to which the cartridge <NUM> is not mounted.

The cartridge mounting portion <NUM> includes a device urging member <NUM> that applies an external force Ft1 to the support member <NUM> in order to return the support member <NUM> to a location of the initial arrangement state in the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM>. The device urging member <NUM> is a coil spring provided between the support member <NUM> and the liquid storage portion <NUM> and is in a compressed state in the mounted state. The device urging member <NUM> applies in the compressed state the external force Ft1 having a +Z direction component to the support member <NUM>. On the other hand, in the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM>, a cartridge engaging portion <NUM> of the cartridge <NUM> engages with a mounting engaging portion <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, so that the mounted state is maintained. The mounting engaging portion <NUM> is formed on an engagement forming body <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> when viewed from the +Y direction side. <FIG> is a view illustrating that the cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. <FIG> is a view of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> when viewed from the +Z direction side. <FIG> is a partially enlarged view of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. <FIG> is a schematic sectional view of the device side terminal portion <NUM>. In <FIG>, some of the components of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> are not illustrated in order to facilitate understanding. Regarding the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, the X direction is also referred to as a width direction, the Y direction is also referred to as a depth direction, and the Z direction is also referred to as a height direction. In the following, unless there is a particular description about a state, each element will be described on the premise of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> in the initial arrangement state that the cartridge <NUM> is not mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, the accommodation chamber <NUM> in which the cartridge <NUM> is accommodated is formed. The accommodation chamber <NUM> has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Slots 61C, <NUM>, 61Y, and <NUM>, which are portions of the accommodation chamber <NUM> for accommodating respective cartridges 4C, <NUM>, 4Y, and <NUM>, generally correspond to appearance shapes of the respective cartridges 4C, <NUM>, 4Y, and <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the cartridge <NUM> has a greater dimension in the Y direction than the other cartridges 4C, <NUM>, and 4Y in order to increase an amount of liquid to be contained. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a width of the slot <NUM> is greater than that of the other slots 61C, <NUM>, and 61Y.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> has six device walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> forming the accommodation chamber <NUM>. In the present disclosure, the term "wall" is a concept including a wall composed of a plurality of walls in addition to a single wall. The second device wall <NUM> forms a wall of the accommodation chamber <NUM> on the -Y direction side. The second device wall <NUM> is a substantially vertical wall in a use state of the printing device <NUM>.

The first device wall <NUM> faces the second device wall <NUM> in the Y direction. Inside the first device wall <NUM>, the insertion/removal opening <NUM> through which the cartridge <NUM> passes when the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into or removed from the accommodation chamber <NUM> is formed.

A device top wall <NUM> forms a wall of the accommodation chamber <NUM> on the +Z direction side. A device bottom wall <NUM> faces the device top wall <NUM> in the Z direction and forms a wall of the accommodation chamber <NUM> on the -Z direction side. The device bottom wall <NUM> is formed by the support member <NUM>. The device bottom wall <NUM> has a plurality of openings <NUM>. In the present embodiment, four openings <NUM> are formed according to the slots 61C, <NUM>, 61Y, and <NUM>. The device top wall <NUM> and the device bottom wall <NUM> intersect the second device wall <NUM> and the first device wall <NUM>. In the present disclosure, the term "cross" or "intersect" means any one of (i) a state in which two elements intersect or actually cross each other, (ii) a state in which one element crosses the other element when one element has extended, and (iii) a state in which mutual elements intersect each other when the mutual elements have extended.

A first device side wall <NUM> forms a wall of the accommodation chamber <NUM> on the +X direction side. A second device side wall <NUM> faces the first device side wall <NUM> in the X direction and forms a wall of the accommodation chamber <NUM> on the -X direction side. The first device side wall <NUM> and the second device side wall <NUM> intersect the second device wall <NUM>, the first device wall <NUM>, the device top wall <NUM>, and the device bottom wall <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> further includes the support member <NUM>, the liquid introduction portion <NUM>, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>, device guide portions <NUM>, and the engagement forming body <NUM>. A plurality of support members <NUM> are provided according to the number of cartridges <NUM> to be mounted. In the present embodiment, four support members <NUM> are provided. The support member <NUM> forms the device bottom wall <NUM> of the accommodation chamber <NUM> on a gravity direction side. The support member <NUM> supports the cartridge <NUM> from the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side. The support member <NUM> is a member extending along the Y direction. The support member <NUM> has a recessed shape. The support member <NUM> has a main wall <NUM> forming the device bottom wall <NUM>, a first support side wall <NUM>, and a second support side wall <NUM>.

The main wall <NUM> forms a bottom portion located on the gravity direction side and having a recessed shape. The openings <NUM> are formed at an end portion of the main wall <NUM> adjacent to the first device wall <NUM>. The openings <NUM> penetrate through the main wall <NUM> in a thickness direction of the main wall <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first support side wall <NUM> rises from a +X direction side end portion of the main wall <NUM> in the +Z direction, which is the antigravity direction. The second support side wall <NUM> rises from a -X direction side end portion of the main wall <NUM> in the +Z direction. The first support side wall <NUM> and the second support side wall <NUM> face each other in the X direction.

The device guide portions <NUM> guide the cartridge <NUM> in the insertion direction D1 and a removal direction. The device guide portion <NUM> is provided for each support member <NUM>. The device guide portions <NUM> are provided on each of the first support side wall <NUM> and the second support side wall <NUM>. The device guide portions <NUM> are projections provided on the first support side wall <NUM> and the second support side wall <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, a first device guide portion 602a provided on the first support side wall <NUM> is a projection protruding from the first support side wall <NUM> toward the second support side wall <NUM>. The first device guide portion 602a extends along the Y direction. In addition, a plurality of first device guide portions 602a are arranged at intervals in the Y direction. A second device guide portion 602b provided on the second support side wall <NUM> is a projection protruding from the second support side wall <NUM> toward the first support side wall <NUM>. The second device guide portion 602b extends along the Y direction. In addition, a plurality of second device guide portions 602b are arranged at intervals in the Y direction.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> receives the liquid of the cartridge <NUM>. In the initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is not located in the accommodation chamber <NUM>, but is located on the -Z direction side with respect to the accommodation chamber <NUM>. That is, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is located on an opposite side of the support member <NUM> from the accommodation chamber <NUM>. As a result, when the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the cartridge <NUM> from colliding with the liquid introduction portion <NUM>. As described above, as illustrated in <FIG>, the tip portion 642b of the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is arranged in the accommodation chamber <NUM> by rotationally moving the support member <NUM> around the rotation fulcrum <NUM> in the coupling direction D2 to push down the openings <NUM>. That is, the rotation fulcrum <NUM> as the displacement mechanism arranges the tip portion 642b of the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the other end portion 644b of the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> in the accommodation chamber <NUM> through the openings <NUM> by rotationally moving the support member <NUM> to displace the openings <NUM> toward the gravity direction.

The device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is received by the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> to regulate the movement of the liquid supply portion <NUM> with respect to the liquid introduction portion <NUM>. As a result, positioning of the liquid supply portion <NUM> is performed. In the initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is not located in the accommodation chamber <NUM>, but is located on the -Z direction side with respect to the accommodation chamber <NUM>. That is, the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is located on an opposite side of the support member <NUM> from the accommodation chamber <NUM>. As a result, when the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the cartridge <NUM> from colliding with the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM>. The other end portion 644b of the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is arranged in the accommodation chamber <NUM> by rotating the support member <NUM> around the rotation fulcrum <NUM> in the coupling direction D2 to push down the openings <NUM>. That is, the rotation fulcrum <NUM> arranges the other end portion 644b of the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> in the accommodation chamber <NUM> through the openings <NUM> by rotating the support member <NUM> to displace the openings <NUM>. The device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is a columnar member that rises from a top wall of the liquid storage portion <NUM>. A device second direction DD2, which is a direction in which the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> extends, has a Z direction component and a Y direction component. In the present embodiment, the device second direction DD2 is inclined so that the device second direction DD2 and the Z direction form an angle in the range of greater than <NUM>° and <NUM>° or less.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> further includes the device side terminal portion <NUM> and a device side identification member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the terminal holding portion <NUM> included in the device side terminal portion <NUM> includes a holding portion surface 750fa on which the device side terminal <NUM> is exposed, a first holding portion side wall 750ft, and a second holding portion side wall 750fw. The first holding portion side wall 750ft forms a side wall of the terminal holding portion <NUM> on the -X direction side. The second holding portion side wall 750fw forms a side wall of the terminal holding portion <NUM> on the +X direction side.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the device side identification members <NUM> are used to identify whether or not correct types of cartridges 4C, <NUM>, 4Y, and <NUM> have been inserted into the respective slots 61C, <NUM>, 61Y, and <NUM> of the accommodation chamber <NUM>. The device side identification members <NUM> form different pattern shapes depending on colors of the liquids contained in the cartridges 4C, <NUM>, 4Y, and <NUM>. In <FIG>, in the respective slots 61C, <NUM>, 61Y, and <NUM>, the device side identification members <NUM> have the same pattern shape for convenience, but actually have different pattern shapes. The device side identification member <NUM> is provided on the main wall <NUM> of the support member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the device side identification member <NUM> is formed by at least one or more ribs. The pattern shape is determined by the number and locations of ribs. The cartridges <NUM> are also provided with cartridge side identification members formed by ribs. The cartridge side identification members form different pattern shapes depending on a type of the cartridge <NUM>, that is, the colors of the liquids to be contained in the cartridges. When correct types of cartridges <NUM> are inserted into the corresponding slots 61C to <NUM>, the device side identification members <NUM> and the cartridge side identification members are fitted into each other without colliding with each other. On the other hand, when wrong types of cartridges <NUM> are inserted into the slots 61C to <NUM>, the device side identification members <NUM> and the cartridge side identification members collide with each other, so that further insertion of the cartridges <NUM> is hindered. As a result, a possibility that the wrong types of cartridges <NUM> will be mounted in the respective slots 61C to <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> can be reduced.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the device side terminal portion <NUM> includes a device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> in addition to the plurality of device side terminals <NUM>, the terminal holding portion <NUM>, and the connector <NUM> described above. The device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> is received by a terminal positioning portion of the cartridge <NUM> in an insertion process of the cartridge <NUM> into the accommodation chamber <NUM>, so that movement of the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> in the X and Z directions, which are directions intersecting the insertion direction D1, is regulated. As a result, positioning of the device side terminal <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> in the directions intersecting the insertion direction D1 is performed.

Two device side terminal positioning portions <NUM> are provided for each of the slots 61C to <NUM>. One of the two device side terminal positioning portions <NUM> is also referred to as a first device side terminal positioning portion 756t, and the other of the two device side terminal positioning portions <NUM> is also referred to as a second device side terminal positioning portion 756w. The first device side terminal positioning portion 756t and the second device side terminal positioning portion 756w are columnar members extending in a device first direction DD1, respectively. In the present embodiment, the device first direction DD1 is the Y direction, and is the direction along the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge. The device first direction DD1 is a direction intersecting the device second direction DD2. The first device side terminal positioning portion 756t is provided on the first holding portion side wall 750ft. The second device side terminal positioning portion 756w is provided on the second holding portion side wall 750fw.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the holding portion surface 750fa of the terminal holding portion <NUM> is inclined with respect to the Y direction and the Z direction toward a direction including a +Y direction component and a +Z direction component. A terminal contact <NUM> of the device side terminal <NUM> in contact with the circuit board <NUM> protrudes from the holding portion surface 750fa. The terminal contact <NUM> is in a state of being elastically deformable in a direction of an arrow YR1. A +Y direction side end portion of the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> is located on the +Y direction side with respect to the terminal contact <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the device side terminal portion <NUM> and the device side identification member <NUM> are provided on the support member <NUM>, respectively. In the Y direction, which is the direction in which the support member <NUM> extends, the device side terminal portion <NUM> and the device side identification member <NUM> are located on an opposite side of the first device wall <NUM> from the liquid introduction portion <NUM> or the opening <NUM>. Specifically, the device side terminal portion <NUM> and the device side identification member <NUM> are provided in the vicinity of the second device wall <NUM>. In addition, the device side terminal portion <NUM> is located on the second device wall <NUM> side, which is on the -Y direction side with respect to the device side identification member <NUM>. As a result, in the insertion process of the cartridge <NUM>, after the fitting between the cartridge side identification member and the device side identification member <NUM> is started, contact between the device side terminal <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is started. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a storage device of the circuit board <NUM> and the control portion <NUM> from being electrically coupled to each other in a state in which the cartridge side terminal <NUM> of the wrong type of cartridge <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> come into contact with each other, so that the wrong type of cartridge <NUM> is mounted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the engagement forming body <NUM> is formed on the +Y direction side with respect to the support member <NUM>. In addition, the engagement forming body <NUM> is located on the -Z direction side with respect to the insertion/removal opening <NUM>. Four mounting engaging portions <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> are arranged in the engagement forming body <NUM> so as to corresponding to the respective slots 61C to <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is a first view illustrating a part of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is a second view illustrating a part of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is a first side view of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is a second side view of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is a front view of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is a rear view of the first type of cartridge 4A. <FIG> is a top view of the first type of cartridge 4A. Regarding the cartridge <NUM>, the Y direction is a depth direction, the Z direction is a height direction, and the X direction is a width direction. The cartridge <NUM> is a cartridge that contains a large amount of liquid and has a large outer shape. Regarding the outer shape of the cartridge <NUM>, a dimension in the Y direction is the greatest, and a dimension in the Z direction and a dimension in the X direction are smaller in this order. In the drawings illustrating the cartridge <NUM>, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are based on a completion state of the terminal coupling process, which is a state in which the insertion of the cartridge <NUM> into the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> has been completed. That is, in the drawings illustrating the cartridge <NUM>, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are based on a state before the supply portion coupling process for rotationally moving the support member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first type of cartridge 4A includes a liquid container <NUM> forming a top wall <NUM> and an adapter <NUM> forming a bottom wall <NUM>. The adapter <NUM> is attached to the liquid container <NUM> by fitting. The liquid container <NUM> and the adapter <NUM> are formed of a synthetic resin. The liquid container <NUM> and the adapter <NUM> may be formed of the same material or may be formed of different materials. In addition, a member forming the liquid container <NUM> may be lighter than a member forming the adapter <NUM>. By doing so, operability of the cartridge <NUM> is improved.

An outer shape of the first type of cartridge 4A is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The first type of cartridge 4A includes a main body <NUM> forming an outer shell and a circuit board <NUM> attached to the main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> is formed by the liquid container <NUM> and the adapter <NUM> described above. The main body <NUM> of the first type of cartridge 4A has a front wall <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM>, the top wall <NUM>, the bottom wall <NUM>, a first side wall <NUM>, a second side wall <NUM>, and a corner portion <NUM>. Each wall <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is also referred to as each surface <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM> face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. The top wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> face each other in the Z direction. The Z direction is parallel to the central axis CA2 along an extending direction of the liquid supply portion <NUM>. The first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> face each other in the X direction. The X direction is a direction orthogonal to the Y direction and the Z direction. Here, the Y direction is also referred to as a first facing direction, and the Z direction is also referred to as a second facing direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the front wall <NUM> is located on the insertion direction D1 side in which the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. That is, the front wall <NUM> forms an insertion tip surface on the -Y direction side, which is the insertion direction D1 side. The rear wall <NUM> forms a surface on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction. The top wall <NUM> is located on the +Z direction side and intersects the front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the bottom wall <NUM> is located on the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side in the mounted state, and forms a coupling tip surface in the coupling direction D2 illustrated in <FIG>. That is, the bottom wall <NUM> is located on the coupling direction D2 side. The bottom wall <NUM> intersects the front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>. An insertion opening <NUM> is formed in the bottom wall <NUM>. The liquid supply portion <NUM> is arranged in the insertion opening <NUM>. The liquid supply portion <NUM> is arranged so that the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion <NUM> passes through the insertion opening <NUM>. In a mounting process of the cartridge <NUM>, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> is inserted into the insertion opening <NUM>. The insertion opening <NUM> and the liquid supply portion <NUM> are located in a region RY between a middle portion MP of the cartridge <NUM> and an end portion on the rear wall <NUM> side in the insertion direction D1.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first side wall <NUM> is located on the -X direction side, and the second side wall <NUM> is located on the +X direction side. Each of the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM> intersects the front wall <NUM>, the rear wall <NUM>, the top wall <NUM>, and the bottom wall <NUM>. The corner portion <NUM> is provided at a corner portion where the front wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> intersect each other, and the circuit board <NUM> having the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is arranged at the corner portion <NUM>. The corner portion <NUM> has a recess portion <NUM> recessed inward.

The first type of cartridge 4A further includes the liquid containing portion <NUM> containing a liquid, the liquid supply portion <NUM>, a cartridge side identification member <NUM>, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>, the circuit board <NUM>, and a cartridge guide portion <NUM> that are illustrated in <FIG>, and the cartridge engaging portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

The liquid supply portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> communicates with the liquid containing portion <NUM> and has the central axis CA2. A direction along the central axis CA2 is the Z direction. The direction along the central axis CA2, which is the extending direction of the liquid supply portion <NUM>, intersects the -Y direction, which is the insertion direction D1. That is, the liquid supply portion <NUM> extends in the direction intersecting the insertion direction D1, that is, in the Z direction in the present embodiment. The liquid supply portion <NUM> is a tubular member that protrudes from a container bottom wall <NUM>, which is a bottom wall of the liquid container <NUM>, toward the adapter <NUM>. The liquid supply portion <NUM> is arranged in a recess-shaped supply portion arrangement chamber <NUM> of the adapter <NUM>. The insertion opening <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is formed at a recessed-shaped bottom portion of the supply portion arrangement chamber <NUM>.

The liquid supply portion <NUM> has an internal flow path <NUM>, and the liquid of the liquid containing portion <NUM> is made to flow to the liquid introduction portion <NUM>, which is the outside. A supply base end portion 442e2, which is a base end portion of the liquid supply portion <NUM>, is coupled to the container bottom wall <NUM>, which is the bottom wall of the liquid container <NUM>. A tip opening 442e1, which is a tip portion of the liquid supply portion <NUM>, opens toward the outside. A valve mechanism (not illustrated) that opens/closes the internal flow path <NUM> is arranged in the internal flow path <NUM> of the liquid supply portion <NUM>. The valve mechanism has a valve seat, a valve body, and an urging member sequentially arranged from the tip opening 442e1. The valve seat is an annular member formed of rubber or elastomer. The valve body is a columnar member and closes a valve hole formed in the valve seat. The urging member is a coil spring that urges the valve body toward the valve seat. In the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM>, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> pushes the valve body in a direction away from the valve seat, so that the valve mechanism is opened.

The cartridge side identification member <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is used to identify whether or not the cartridge <NUM> has been inserted into the correct slot 61C, <NUM>, 61Y, or <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. The cartridge side identification member <NUM> is a rib arranged on a side of the bottom wall <NUM> close to the front wall <NUM>, that is, at a location adjacent to the corner portion <NUM> in the present embodiment. The cartridge side identification members <NUM> form different pattern shapes depending on colors of the liquids contained in the cartridges 4C, <NUM>, 4Y, and <NUM>. The pattern shape is determined by the number and locations of ribs.

The supply portion positioning portion <NUM> performs positioning by receiving the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> to regulate the movement of the liquid supply portion <NUM> with respect to the liquid introduction portion <NUM>. Specifically, in the supply portion coupling process, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> performs positioning of the liquid supply portion <NUM> with respect to the liquid introduction portion <NUM> by receiving the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> to regulate the movement of the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> in a direction intersecting the coupling direction D2. The supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is a recess portion formed in the bottom wall <NUM> and recessed from an outer surface of the bottom wall <NUM>. A section of the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> has a rectangular shape. Note that in another embodiment, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> may be a recess portion penetrating through the bottom wall <NUM>. A second direction CD2, which is a direction in which the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> extends, is in the Z direction. In the present embodiment, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> extends from the bottom wall <NUM> toward the top wall <NUM> in the +Z direction. In the present embodiment, the second direction CD2 is parallel to the second facing direction. The direction in which the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> extends is a direction along a direction in which the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is received. The supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is located in the region RY between the middle portion MP of the cartridge <NUM> and the end portion on the rear wall <NUM> side in the insertion direction D1.

The supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is a recess portion having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Regarding the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>, an opening area of an entrance portion formed on an outer surface side of the bottom wall <NUM> is greater than an opening area on a bottom side of the recess portion, which is a side deeper than the entrance portion. As a result, in the supply portion coupling process, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> can easily receive the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM>. The supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is located on an opposite side of the liquid supply portion <NUM> or the insertion opening <NUM> from the cartridge side terminal <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> in the insertion direction D1. In the present embodiment, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is formed in the vicinity of the rear wall <NUM> in the bottom wall <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge engaging portion <NUM> is provided in the rear wall <NUM>. The cartridge engaging portion <NUM> is a recess portion recessed from an outer surface of the rear wall <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the circuit board <NUM> is arranged at the corner portion <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> has a plurality of cartridge side terminals <NUM> arranged on a front surface 50fa and a storage device <NUM> arranged on a rear surface. The plurality of cartridge side terminals <NUM> that can be coupled to the device side terminals <NUM> by coming into contact with the device side terminals <NUM> are electrically coupled to the storage device <NUM> via wiring. The plurality of cartridge side terminals <NUM> (nine cartridge side terminals in the present embodiment) are provided. The circuit board <NUM> having the plurality of cartridge side terminals <NUM> is located on the insertion direction D1 side with respect to the liquid supply portion <NUM> in the insertion direction D1. The front surface 50fa on which the plurality of cartridge side terminals <NUM> are arranged is inclined with respect to the insertion direction D1. Specifically, the front surface 50fa is inclined with respect to the insertion direction D1 toward a direction including a -Z direction component and a -Y direction component. The storage device <NUM> stores information regarding the cartridge <NUM>, for example, the date of manufacture or the remaining amount of liquid. In the mounted state, the plurality of cartridge side terminals <NUM> are electrically coupled to the corresponding device side terminals <NUM> by coming into contact with the corresponding device side terminals <NUM>. As a result, the control portion <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> and the storage device <NUM> are electrically coupled to each other, so that data communication between the control portion <NUM> of the printing device <NUM> and the storage device <NUM> becomes possible.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the circuit board <NUM> is arranged in the recess portion <NUM> of the corner portion <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the recess portion <NUM> is provided over the front wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the recess portion <NUM> has a recess portion front wall <NUM> forming an entrance opening located on the front wall <NUM> side, a recess portion bottom wall <NUM> forming a bottom portion of the recess portion <NUM>, and a pair of recess portion side walls 902t and 902w.

The recess portion bottom wall <NUM> has a portion inclined with respect to the Y direction. In the present embodiment, the inclined portion is inclined with respect to the Y direction so as to be located on the +Z direction side toward the recess portion front wall <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> is arranged on this inclined portion.

The pair of recess portion side walls 902t and 902w are walls coupled to the recess portion bottom wall <NUM>. The pair of recess portion side walls 902t and 902w face each other in the X direction. A first recess portion side wall 902t is coupled to a -X direction side end portion of the recess portion bottom wall <NUM>. A second recess portion side wall 902w is coupled to a +X direction side end portion of the recess portion bottom wall <NUM>. When the first recess portion side wall 902t and the second recess portion side wall 902w are used without distinction, the first recess portion side wall 902t and the second recess portion side wall 902w are referred to as a recess portion side wall <NUM>. An entrance opening, which is an opening formed in the recess portion front wall <NUM>, is an entrance when the device side terminal portion <NUM> is inserted into the recess portion <NUM>.

The pair of recess portion side walls 902t and 902w are provided with a pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w, respectively. The pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are provided so as to face each other in an X-axis direction. When the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are used with distinction, the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are also referred to as a first terminal positioning portion 906t and a second terminal positioning portion 906w, and when the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are used without distinction, the pair of terminal positioning portions 906t and 906w are also referred to as a terminal positioning portion <NUM>. The terminal positioning portion <NUM> is a groove formed in the recess portion side wall <NUM>. The first terminal positioning portion 906t is a groove having a shape recessed from a surface of the first recess portion side wall 902t. The second terminal positioning portion 906w is a groove having a shape recessed from a surface of the second recess portion side wall 902w. Note that a shape of the terminal positioning portion <NUM> is not limited to the groove as long as the terminal positioning portion <NUM> can receive the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM>. For example, in another embodiment, the terminal positioning portion <NUM> may be composed of two convex portions arranged at intervals in the Z direction. The device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> is received between the two convex portions.

A first direction CD1, which is a direction in which the terminal positioning portion <NUM> extends, is the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the terminal positioning portion <NUM> extends in the +Y direction from the recess portion front wall <NUM> toward the rear wall <NUM>. The Y direction, which is the first direction CD1, intersects the Z direction, which is the second direction CD2 in which the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> extends, and is orthogonal to the Z direction in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the first direction CD1 is parallel to the first facing direction. The direction in which the terminal positioning portion <NUM> extends is a direction along a direction in which the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> is received.

The first terminal positioning portion 906t receives the first device side terminal positioning portion 756t illustrated in <FIG> in the terminal coupling process. That is, the first device side terminal positioning portion 756t is inserted into the first terminal positioning portion 906t. The second terminal positioning portion 906w receives the second device side terminal positioning portion 756w illustrated in <FIG> in the terminal coupling process. That is, the second device side terminal positioning portion 756w is inserted into the second terminal positioning portion 906t. The insertion of the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> into the terminal positioning portion <NUM> is performed after the fitting between the cartridge side identification member <NUM> and the device side identification member <NUM> has been started. In addition, the insertion of the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> into the terminal positioning portion <NUM> is started before the contact between the device side terminal <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is started.

The device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> is received by the terminal positioning portion <NUM>, so that the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> and the terminal positioning portion <NUM> come into contact with each other. As a result, the movement of the cartridge side terminal <NUM> with respect to the device side terminal <NUM> in the Z direction and the X direction, which are the directions intersecting the insertion direction D1, is regulated. That is, the device side positioning portion <NUM> receives the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM>, so that the relative movement of the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> in a direction intersecting the first direction CD1, which is the direction along the insertion direction D1, is regulated. The movement is regulated, so that positioning of the cartridge side terminal <NUM> with respect to the device side terminal <NUM> in the Z direction and the X direction, which are the directions intersecting the insertion direction D1, is performed. The terminal positioning portion <NUM> has an end wall <NUM> on the +Y direction side. The cartridge <NUM> is further pushed toward the insertion direction D1 from an abutting location where a tip portion of the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> abuts on the end wall <NUM>, so that the terminal coupling process is completed. The cartridge <NUM> is further pushed toward the insertion direction D1 from the abutting location, so that the holding mechanism <NUM> is pushed toward the insertion direction D1. As a result, the device side terminal portion <NUM> moves toward the insertion direction D1 following the movement of the cartridge <NUM>. In a state in which the terminal coupling process is completed, the urging member <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is in a compressed state. In addition, in the state in which the terminal coupling process is completed, the device side terminal <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> come into contact with each other.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cartridge guide portions <NUM> extend along the -Y direction, which is the insertion direction D1. The cartridge guide portions <NUM> are guided in the insertion direction D1 by the device guide portions <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. The cartridge guide portions <NUM> are formed on the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>, respectively. In <FIG>, a single hatch is attached to the cartridge guide portion <NUM> formed on the first side wall <NUM>. The cartridge guide portions <NUM> are formed on the first side wall <NUM> and the second side wall <NUM>, respectively, by steps. That is, regarding a width of the cartridge <NUM>, a part including the bottom wall <NUM> is smaller than the other part located away from the bottom wall <NUM> than a bottom wall side portion. As a result, the step forming the cartridge guide portion <NUM> is formed. The cartridge guide portion <NUM> is a surface facing the -Z direction. The cartridge guide portion <NUM> formed on the first side wall <NUM> is also referred to as a first cartridge guide portion 447a, and the cartridge guide portion <NUM> formed on the second side wall <NUM> is also referred to as a second cartridge guide portion 447b.

When the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, a surface of the device guide portion <NUM> on the + Z direction side and the cartridge guide portion <NUM> come into contact with each other, so that the movement of the cartridge <NUM> in the insertion direction D1 is guided in a state in which a posture of the cartridge <NUM> is maintained. A surface of the first device guide portion 602a on the +Z direction side comes into contact with the first cartridge guide portion 447a, and a surface of the second device guide portion 602b on the +Z direction side comes into contact with the second cartridge guide portion 447b.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the adapter <NUM> includes the corner portion <NUM> having the terminal positioning portion <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM>, the cartridge side identification member <NUM>, the insertion opening <NUM>, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>, the cartridge guide portion <NUM>, the supply portion arrangement chamber <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the second type of cartridge 4B. <FIG> is a front view of the second type of cartridge 4B. <FIG> is a rear view of the second type of cartridge 4B. A difference between the second type of cartridge 4B and the first type of cartridge 4A is that a width of a liquid container 401B is smaller than that of the liquid container <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. As a result, an amount of liquid that can be contained in a liquid containing portion <NUM> formed in the liquid container 401B is smaller than an amount of liquid that can be contained in the liquid containing portion <NUM> formed in the liquid container <NUM>. Since the other components of the second type of cartridge 4B are the same as those of the first type of cartridge 4A, the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted.

An adapter <NUM> of the second type of cartridge 4B has the same configuration as the adapter <NUM> of the first type of cartridge 4A except for a pattern shape formed by a cartridge side identification member <NUM>. As a result, the adapter <NUM> can be commonly used for the cartridges 4A and 4B having different capacities.

<FIG> is a first view for describing a mounting process. <FIG> is a second view for describing the mounting process. <FIG> is a sectional view of <FIG>, and is a view corresponding to a section taken along line III-III of <FIG>. <FIG> is a third view for describing the mounting process. <FIG> is a sectional view of <FIG>, and is a view corresponding to a section taken along line III-III of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrate the terminal coupling process, and <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate the supply portion coupling process.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> is first inserted from the insertion/removal opening <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> into the accommodation chamber <NUM>. The insertion direction D1 of the cartridge <NUM> into the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> is the -Y direction, and is parallel to a direction in which the cartridge guide portion <NUM> extends.

When the cartridge <NUM> is further pushed in the insertion direction D1 from a state illustrated in <FIG>, the terminal coupling process is completed as illustrated in <FIG>. In the completed state of the terminal coupling process illustrated in <FIG>, an end portion 402e of the adapter <NUM> on the +Y direction side is located on the insertion direction D1 side with respect to the engagement forming body <NUM>. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the completed state of the terminal coupling process, the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> are in contact with each other. In addition, in the completed state of the terminal coupling process, the urging member <NUM> is compressed, and the device side terminal portion <NUM> receives an external force Fa from the urging member <NUM>. A user executes the supply portion coupling process by rotationally moving the cartridge <NUM> in the coupling direction D2 with the rotation fulcrum <NUM> as the fulcrum while pushing the cartridge <NUM> toward the insertion direction D1.

When the cartridge <NUM> rotationally moves in the coupling direction D2, the reception of the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> by the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is started before the coupling between the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the liquid supply portion <NUM> is started. Thereafter, the positioning of the liquid supply portion <NUM> with respect to the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is started. That is, the movement of the liquid supply portion <NUM> intersecting the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion <NUM> is regulated. In the supply portion coupling process, when the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is inserted into the liquid introduction portion <NUM>, a case where the cartridge <NUM> moves minutely in the Y direction can occur. In this case, the urging member <NUM> expands and contracts, so that the device side terminal portion <NUM> moves so as to follow the movement of the cartridge side terminal <NUM>. As a result, contact between the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> can be maintained well.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM> in which the supply portion coupling process is completed, the cartridge side terminal <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> of the device side terminal portion <NUM> come into contact with each other, so that the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> are coupled to each other. In the mounted state, the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge <NUM> intersects the direction in which the liquid supply portion <NUM> extends. In addition, in the mounted state, the cartridge <NUM> is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> so that the extending direction of the liquid supply portion <NUM> becomes a direction including a gravity direction component. As a result, the liquid in the liquid supply portion <NUM> can be made to smoothly flow. Therefore, an amount of liquid remaining in the liquid containing portion <NUM> without being consumed can be reduced. In the present embodiment, in the mounted state, the liquid supply portion <NUM> is inclined with respect to the gravity direction so that the direction in which the liquid supply portion <NUM> extends and the gravity direction form an angle in the range of greater than <NUM>° and <NUM>° or less. In the mounted state, the tip opening 442e1 is arranged at a location lower than the cartridge side terminal <NUM>. That is, a height HS of the tip opening 442e1 with respect to a reference location, for example, an installation surface of the printing device <NUM>, is lower than a height HT of the cartridge side terminal <NUM>. As a result, even though the liquid is leaked from the tip opening 442e1 of the liquid supply portion <NUM>, a possibility that the leaked liquid will adhere to the cartridge side terminal <NUM> can be reduced. As a result, the occurrence of a short circuit of the cartridge side terminal <NUM> or the occurrence of a coupling failure between the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> can be suppressed. Note that the plurality of cartridge side terminals <NUM> are arranged, but a reference terminal is a cartridge side terminal <NUM> arranged at the lowest location.

In addition, in the mounted state, the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM> is maintained by engaging the mounting engaging portion <NUM> with the cartridge engaging portion <NUM>. The user rotates the cartridge <NUM> in a decoupling direction D3, which is a direction opposite to the coupling direction D2 with the rotation fulcrum <NUM> as the fulcrum, by lifting the rear wall <NUM> side of the cartridge <NUM>. As a result, the mounting engaging portion <NUM> is displaced by being pushed by the main body of the cartridge <NUM>, so that the engagement between the mounting engaging portion <NUM> and the cartridge engaging portion <NUM> is released.

According to the above embodiment, the positioning of the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> can be performed by the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> and the terminal positioning portion <NUM>, and the positioning of the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> can be performed by the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> and the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>. In addition, the first direction CD1 and the second direction CD2 intersect each other, so that the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> do not need to be provided on the same wall of the cartridge <NUM>, and a degree of freedom in arrangement of the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is thus improved. For example, as in the present embodiment, the liquid supply portion <NUM> can be provided at the bottom wall <NUM>, and the cartridge side terminal <NUM> can be provided on a recess portion <NUM> configuring a wall different from the bottom wall <NUM>. In addition, regarding the printing device <NUM>, the device first direction DD1 in which the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM> extends and the device second direction DD2 in which the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> extends intersect each other. As a result, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> do not need to be provided on the same wall of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, and a degree of freedom of arrangement is thus improved. In addition, the first direction CD1 and the second direction CD2 are not parallel to each other, but intersect each other, so that a regulation direction of the movement of the liquid supply portion <NUM> with respect to the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and a regulation direction of the movement of the cartridge side terminal <NUM> with respect to the device side terminal <NUM> have different direction components. That is, in the mounting process, components in the regulation direction of the movement of the cartridge side terminal <NUM> with respect to the device side terminal <NUM> are an X direction component and a Z direction component orthogonal to the Y direction. On the other hand, in the mounting process, the regulation direction of the movement of the liquid supply portion <NUM> with respect to the liquid introduction portion <NUM> includes at least an X direction component and a Y direction component.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the terminal positioning portion <NUM> is a groove formed in the corner portion <NUM>, and as illustrated in <FIG>, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is a recess portion formed in the bottom wall <NUM>. As a result, the terminal positioning portion <NUM> and the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> have a simple structure, and can thus be easily formed.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is located on an opposite side of the liquid supply portion <NUM> from the cartridge side terminal <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM> in the -Y direction, which is the insertion direction D1. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the rotation fulcrum <NUM> is arranged on a side where the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is located. As a result, when the cartridge <NUM> is rotationally moved around the rotation fulcrum <NUM> to couple the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> to each other, a distance between the rotation fulcrum <NUM> and the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> can be increased. By increasing the distance between the rotation fulcrum <NUM> and the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>, a curve of a movement locus of the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> at the time of rotationally moving the cartridge <NUM> can be decreased, that is, a curvature of the movement locus can be decreased. That is, it is possible to make the movement locus of the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> closer to a straight line. As a result, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> can easily receive the device side terminal positioning portion <NUM>. In addition, as a result, even though a protruding length of the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is increased, the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> can be smoothly received by the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>. Therefore, the protruding length of the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> can be increased, and thus, the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> is received by the supply portion positioning portion <NUM> at an earlier stage of the supply portion coupling process. As a result, the positioning of the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> can be performed more accurately.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is located on the insertion direction D1 side with respect to the liquid supply portion <NUM> in the insertion direction D1. That is, the cartridge side terminal <NUM> can be easily designed so that a coupling between the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> is made after an electrical coupling between the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> is made by contact between the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM>. In addition, when the wrong type of cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the accommodation chamber <NUM>, even though the cartridge side identification member <NUM> does not collide with the device side identification member <NUM>, the electrical coupling between the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> is made before the coupling between the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM>. As a result, by exchanging data between the control portion <NUM> and the storage device <NUM> of the circuit board <NUM>, the control portion <NUM> can determine that the wrong type of cartridge <NUM> is inserted. In this case, the control portion <NUM> can cause the user to stop executing the supply portion coupling process by displaying erroneous insertion information indicating that the wrong type of cartridge <NUM> has been inserted into the accommodation chamber <NUM> on a display portion (not illustrated) of the printing device <NUM> or a display portion of an external device such as a personal computer coupled to the printing device <NUM> so as to be capable of data communication with the printing device <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a possibility that a wrong type of liquid will be supplied from the liquid supply portion <NUM> to the liquid introduction portion <NUM>.

According to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> has the liquid supply portion <NUM> arranged at the bottom wall <NUM> intersecting the front wall <NUM> located on the insertion direction D1 side. As a result, in the mounted state, the bottom wall <NUM> is located on the gravity direction side, and the liquid in the liquid containing portion <NUM> can thus be made to smoothly flow to the liquid supply portion <NUM>. As a result, an amount of liquid remaining in the liquid containing portion <NUM> without being consumed can be reduced. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge <NUM> and the removal direction, which is a direction opposite to the insertion direction D1, are the Y direction and a direction along the horizontal direction. As a result, when the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> is only required to be moved in the horizontal direction, and operability of the cartridge <NUM> can thus be improved. In particular, as in the present embodiment, the cartridge <NUM> having a large outer shape for accommodating a large amount of liquid can be inserted into and removed from the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> along the horizontal direction, and the operability of the cartridge <NUM> can thus be further improved. As described above, in the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM>, the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge <NUM> and the extending direction of the liquid supply portion <NUM> intersect each other, so that the insertion direction D1 can be set to the horizontal direction and the extending direction can be set to a direction including a vertical direction component, and it is thus possible to reduce the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid containing portion <NUM> without being consumed while improving the operability of the cartridge <NUM>.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> can be smoothly moved in the insertion direction D1 by including the cartridge guide portion <NUM>. In particular, in the present embodiment, the outer shape of the cartridge <NUM> is the largest in the insertion direction D1. Therefore, the cartridge <NUM> has the cartridge guide portion <NUM> guided in the insertion direction D1, so that the cartridge <NUM> can be smoothly moved in the insertion direction D1. In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge guide portion <NUM> includes the first cartridge guide portion 447a formed on the first side wall <NUM> and the second cartridge guide portion 447b formed on the second side wall <NUM> corresponding to the first side wall <NUM>. As a result, the cartridge guide portions <NUM> can be provided on both sides of the cartridge <NUM> in the width direction, and an insertion posture of the cartridge <NUM> can thus be made stable when the cartridge <NUM> is moved in the insertion direction D1 with respect to the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the circuit board <NUM> having the cartridge side terminal <NUM> is arranged at the corner portion <NUM> where the front wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> intersect each other. As a result, by moving the cartridge <NUM> with respect to the accommodation chamber <NUM> of the cartridge mounting portion <NUM> in the insertion direction D1, the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> can be easily brought into contact with each other. In particular, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> has the terminal positioning portion <NUM> at the corner portion <NUM>, so that the cartridge side terminal <NUM> and the device side terminal <NUM> can be reliably brought into contact with each other in the mounting process.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> has the liquid container <NUM> and the adapter <NUM>, and a degree of freedom in design can thus be improved. For example, a common adapter <NUM> can be used for a plurality of liquid containers <NUM> and 401B whose liquid containing portions <NUM> have different capacities. In addition, the cartridge <NUM> has the liquid container <NUM> and the adapter <NUM>, so that the liquid container <NUM> can be removed from the adapter <NUM> and a new liquid container <NUM> can be attached to the adapter <NUM>, after the liquid has been consumed. As a result, recyclability of the cartridge <NUM> is improved.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the adapter <NUM> that can be commonly used for different types of liquid containers <NUM> and 401B is provided with the terminal positioning portion <NUM>, the supply portion positioning portion <NUM>, the cartridge side identification member <NUM>, or the cartridge engaging portion <NUM>, which are elements cooperating with the cartridge mounting portion <NUM>. As a result, even though the types of liquid containers <NUM> are different from each other, the same type of adapter <NUM> can be used, and a manufacturing cost of the cartridge <NUM> can thus be reduced. In addition, as a result, a structure of the liquid containers <NUM> and 401B may be simplified.

In addition, according to the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, after the cartridge <NUM> is inserted into the accommodation chamber <NUM> through the insertion/removal opening <NUM>, the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the liquid supply portion <NUM> can be coupled to each other by displacing the opening <NUM> toward the gravity direction to arrange the tip portion 642b of the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the other end portion 644b of the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM> in the accommodation chamber <NUM>. As a result, in a process of inserting the cartridge <NUM> into the accommodation chamber <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the cartridge <NUM> from colliding with the liquid introduction portion <NUM> and the device side supply portion positioning portion <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the insertion direction D1 is parallel to the horizontal direction, but is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the insertion direction D1 may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction as long as the insertion direction D1 has a horizontal direction component. For example, the insertion direction D1 may be inclined within the range of greater than <NUM>° and <NUM>° or less with respect to the horizontal direction. In addition, in the above embodiment, in the mounted state of the cartridge <NUM>, the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply portion <NUM> is inclined with respect to the gravity direction, but may also be a direction along the gravity direction.

In the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cartridge <NUM> rotationally moves around the rotation fulcrum <NUM> in the coupling direction D2, so that the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> are coupled to each other, but is not limited thereto. For example, the cartridge <NUM> may be moved in the -Z direction by moving the entire support member <NUM> in the -Z direction, so that the liquid supply portion <NUM> and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> may be coupled to each other. That is, in the terminal coupling process, the support member <NUM> may move in the -Z direction, which is the gravity direction, to displace the opening <NUM> in the -Z direction, which is the gravity direction, so that the tip portion 642b of the liquid introduction portion <NUM> may be arranged in the accommodation chamber <NUM> through the opening <NUM>. In addition, a location of the support member <NUM> may be fixed, and the liquid introduction portion <NUM> may move to be coupled to the liquid supply portion <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the liquid container <NUM> and the adapter <NUM> are separate bodies, but may be integrated with each other.

The present disclosure is not limited to an ink jet printer and an ink cartridge thereof, but can be applied to any printing device that ejects a liquid other than ink, and a cartridge thereof. For example, the present disclosure can be applied to the following various printing devices and cartridges thereof.

Note that the "droplet" refers to a state of the liquid discharged from the printing device, and includes those leaving a trail in a granular shape, a tear shape, or a thread shape. In addition, the "liquid" mentioned here may be any material that can be ejected by the printing device. For example, the "liquid" may be a material in a state when a substance is in a liquid phase, and materials in a liquid state in which viscosity is high or low and materials in a liquid state such as sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals are also included in the "liquid". In addition, not only a liquid as one state of a substance, but also a liquid in which particles of a functional material formed of a solid substance such as a pigment or a metal particle are dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent is included in the "liquid". In addition, typical examples of the liquid can include the ink as described in the above embodiment, liquid crystal, or the like. Here, the ink includes general water-based inks, oil-based inks, and various liquid compositions such as gel inks and hot melt inks.

Claim 1:
A cartridge (<NUM>) detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion (<NUM>) of a printing device (<NUM>) including a liquid introduction portion (<NUM>) configured to receive a liquid, a device side terminal (<NUM>), a device side terminal positioning portion (<NUM>), and a device side supply portion positioning portion (<NUM>), the cartridge comprising:
a cartridge side terminal (<NUM>) configured to be electrically coupled to the device side terminal;
a liquid supply portion (<NUM>) configured to be coupled to the liquid introduction portion and configured to make the liquid flow to the liquid introduction portion;
a terminal positioning portion (<NUM>) that is configured to perform positioning by receiving the device side terminal positioning portion to regulate movement of the cartridge side terminal with respect to the device side terminal; and
a supply portion positioning portion (<NUM>) that is configured to perform positioning by receiving the device side supply portion positioning portion to regulate movement of the liquid supply portion with respect to the liquid introduction portion,
wherein a first direction (DD1) is a direction intersecting a second direction (DD2), the first direction being a direction in which the terminal positioning portion extends, the second direction being a direction in which the supply portion positioning portion extends,
the cartridge further comprising:
a front wall (<NUM>) located on a side of an insertion direction (D1) in which the cartridge is configured to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion;
a rear wall (<NUM>) that faces the front wall in a first facing direction (Y) along the insertion direction;
a bottom wall (<NUM>) at which the liquid supply portion is arranged;
a top wall (<NUM>) facing the bottom wall in a second facing direction (Z) intersecting the first facing direction; and
a corner portion (<NUM>) where the front wall intersects the bottom wall and where the cartridge side terminal is arranged,
wherein the first direction is parallel to the first facing direction,
the second direction is parallel to the second facing direction,
the terminal positioning portion is a groove formed in the corner portion,
the supply portion positioning portion is a recess portion formed in the bottom wall, characterized in that
the supply portion positioning portion (<NUM>) is located on an opposite side of the liquid supply portion (<NUM>) from the cartridge side terminal (<NUM>) in the insertion direction (D1).