LIQUID CARTRIDGE

• US 20160279960A1
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: OKAZAKI, Naoya, KOBAYSHI, Tetsuro, TAKAHASHI, Hiroaki, ONO, Akihito, WANG, Yutao, NUKUI, Kosuke, HIRANO, Mikio, TOMOGUCHI, Suguru, KANBE, Tomohiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,550,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17543 Cartridge presence detection or type identification
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17573 using optical means for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17576 using a floater for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2922 with light-conducting sensing elements, e.g. prisms

Abstract

A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.

Claims

1. A liquid cartridge, comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface spaced apart from the first surface;

a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface;

a liquid outlet through the first surface;

a circuit board mounted on the third surface;

a locking mechanism including a locking surface extending above the third surface;

a liquid detection mechanism including a light access portion, wherein the light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.

2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the light access portion extends above the third surface.

3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the light access portion includes a top surface that is disposed closer to the locking surface than the circuit board in a further direction in which the third surface faces.

4. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the light access portion is disposed closer to the locking surface than the circuit board in a particular direction in which the first surface faces.

5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an insertion detection mechanism including a light attenuating wall that extends above the third surface.

6. The liquid cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the light attenuating wall is disposed between the circuit board and the light access portion.

7. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the light access portion is configured to allow light to pass therethrough, and the liquid detection mechanism further comprises a light attenuator positioned in the light accessing portion, wherein the light attenuator is configured to change a state of the light passing through the light access portion in response to an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

8. The liquid cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the light access portion is made of a transparent material.

9. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet extends from the first surface, the liquid cartridge further comprising a positioning surface situated between the liquid outlet and the circuit board, the positioning surface facing an upper surface of the liquid outlet and spaced therefrom.

10. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the liquid detection mechanism includes a prism configured to reflect light according to an amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

11. A liquid cartridge, comprising:

a first surface;

a second surface spaced apart from the first surface;

a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface;

a circuit board mounted on the third surface;

a locking mechanism including a locking surface extending above the third surface;

a liquid detection mechanism including a light access portion extending above the third surface; and

an insertion detection mechanism including a light attenuating wall extending above the third surface.

12. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface.

13. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.

14. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the light access portion includes a top surface that is disposed closer to the locking surface than the circuit board in a further direction in which the third surface faces.

15. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the light access portion is disposed closer to the locking surface than the circuit board in a particular direction in which the first surface faces.

16. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the light attenuating wall is disposed between the circuit board and the light access portion.

17. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the light access portion is configured to allow light to pass therethrough, and the liquid detection mechanism further comprises a light attenuator positioned in the light accessing portion, wherein the light attenuator is configured to change a state of the light passing through the light access portion in response to an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

18. The liquid cartridge according to claim 17, wherein the light access portion is made of a transparent material.

19. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11 wherein the liquid detection mechanism includes a prism configured to reflect light according to an amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

20. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the light attenuating wall is disposed between the liquid detection mechanism and the locking surface.

21. The liquid cartridge according to claim 11 further comprising a liquid outlet on the first surface.

22. The liquid cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the liquid outlet extends from the first surface, and the liquid cartridge further comprising a positioning surface situated between the liquid outlet and the circuit board, the positioning surface facing an upper surface of the liquid outlet spaced therefrom.

23. A liquid cartridge comprising:

a bottom surface;

a top surface spaced apart from the bottom surface;

a front surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and

a rear surface opposite the front surface and extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;

a circuit board mounted on the top surface;

a locking mechanism including a locking surface extending above the top surface; and

a liquid detection mechanism including a light access portion extending above the top surface.

24. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, further comprising an insertion detection mechanism having a light attenuating wall extending above the top surface of the liquid cartridge.

25. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface.

26. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.

27. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the light access portion includes a top surface that is disposed closer to the locking surface than the circuit board in an upper direction in which the top surface faces.

28. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the light access portion is disposed closer to the locking surface than the circuit board in a front direction in which the front surface faces.

29. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the light attenuating wall is disposed between the circuit board and the light access portion.

30. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, wherein the light access portion is configured to allow light to pass therethrough, and the liquid detection mechanism further comprises a light attenuator positioned in the light accessing portion, wherein the light attenuator is configured to change a state of the light passing through the light access portion in response to an amount of the liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

31. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23 wherein the liquid detection mechanism includes a prism configured to reflect light according to an amount of liquid stored in the liquid cartridge.

32. The liquid cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the light attenuating wall is disposed between the liquid detection mechanism and the locking surface.

33. The liquid cartridge according to claim 23, further comprising a liquid outlet on the first surface.