PRINT FLUID CARTRIDGE HAVING ELECTRIC INTERFACE

• US 20130278683A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Tomohiro Kanbe
• Inventors: KANBE, Tomohiro, Takagi, Yuki, Nakamura, Hirotake
• Granted Patent: US 8,864,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure

Abstract

In a print fluid cartridge, a main body has a first surface facing in a first direction. A print fluid outlet part is provided on the main body, and has an opening at the first surface. An electric interface is provided at an external surface of the main body and faces in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The electric interface moves relative to the main body in the first direction and in a direction opposite to the first direction between a first position and a second position that are apart from each other in the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction. The main body supports the electric interface at the second position against pressure that is applied to the electric interface in a direction opposite to the second direction.

Claims

1. A print fluid cartridge comprising:

a main body having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing in a first direction, the second surface being located upstream of the first surface in the first direction, the main body further having a chamber configured to store print fluid at a position between the first surface and the second surface;

a print fluid outlet part provided on the main body, having an opening at the first surface, and configured to direct the print fluid from the chamber to an exterior of the main body; and

an electric interface provided at an external surface of the main body and facing in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction,

the electric interface being configured to move relative to the main body in the first direction and in a direction opposite to the first direction between a first position and a second position that are apart from each other in the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction,

the main body being configured to support the electric interface at the second position against pressure that is applied to the electric interface from outside the print fluid cartridge in a direction opposite to the second direction.

2. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electric interface is provided at an external surface of the main body that is other than the first surface and the second surface, the electric interface being located on a downstream side of the opening of the print fluid outlet part in the first direction when the electric interface is at the first position, the electric interface being located on an upstream side of the opening of the print fluid outlet part in the first direction and supported by the main body when the electric interface is at the second position.

3. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the main body is provided with a supporting member that is configured to move relative to the main body in the first direction and in the direction opposite to the first direction and to support the electric interface,

4. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the main body includes a signal attenuating part configured to attenuate a signal received from outside the print fluid cartridge, the supporting member being located at a position different from the signal attenuating part in the second direction.

5. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the supporting member is configured to position the electric interface at the second position while the print fluid cartridge is being mounted in a cartridge receiving portion, the positioning being performed by abutment contact of the supporting member with the cartridge receiving portion.

6. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 2, further comprising an urging member configured to resiliently urge the electric interface in the first direction from the second position toward the first position.

7. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electric interface is provided at an external surface of the main body that is other than the first surface and the second surface, the electric interface being located on an upstream side of the second surface of the main body in the first direction when the electric interface is at the first position, the electric interface being located on a downstream side of the second surface of the main body in the first direction and supported by the main body when the electric interface is at the second position.

8. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the main body is provided with a supporting member that is configured to move relative to the main body in the first direction and in the direction opposite to the first direction and to support the electric interface.

9. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the main body includes a guide configured to guide the supporting member to move.

10. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the supporting member includes a locking mechanism configured to position the electric interface at the second position while the print fluid cartridge is being mounted in a cartridge receiving portion, the positioning being performed by engagement of the locking mechanism with the cartridge receiving portion.

11. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism includes an operating part configured to release engagement of the locking mechanism from the cartridge receiving portion.

12. The print fluid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the main body further has a third surface and a fourth surface, the fourth surface facing in the second direction, the third surface being located upstream of the fourth surface in the second direction, the electric interface being located at the fourth surface, the print liquid outlet part being located at an upstream side of the electric interface in the second direction.