Patent ID: 8042909

Claim:
An ink cartridge attachment/detachment device, which loads an ink cartridge into a main body of a recording apparatus by sliding the ink cartridge, comprising: a cartridge holding mechanism for holding the ink cartridge upon insertion of the ink cartridge by a predetermined stroke; and a rotating and sliding mechanism for producing pressing force required for loading the ink cartridge by using rotation of a lever arm and leverage principle, and for converting the rotation of the lever arm into movement of another predetermined stroke required for loading the ink cartridge, the rotating and sliding mechanism comprising a rack and pinion mechanism which comprises a first pinion, which is attached to a base end of the lever arm to rotate together with the lever arm; a slide bar, which has a first rack meshing with the first pinion and a second rack for transmitting movement of the first rack downstream along a transmission path; a combination pinion, which has a second pinion meshing with the second rack and a third pinion for transmitting rotation of the second pinion downstream along the transmission path; and a third rack, which is provided on a movable frame slidably attached to a fixed frame and meshes with the third pinion.