Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor

• US 7,252,375 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Akahane, Fujio, Usui, Minoru, Kobayashi, Takao, Shinada, Satoshi, Matsuzaki, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Do; An H.
• Application Number:
  US10/121,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 347/50, 347/86
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1753 Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17559 Cartridge manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/304 Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 11/44 Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 2 or 12 of the Periodic Table; Zincates; Cadmates
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 13/44 containing nitrogen and phosphorus
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/667 containing phosphorus in the main chain inorganic polyphosphates D06M11/72

Abstract

An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge for supplying ink to a printhead of an ink jet printing apparatus through an ink supply needle, comprising:

a housing defining therein an ink chamber for accommodating ink, said housing comprising a bottom wall lying in a bottom plane, a first wall lying in a first plane, the first plane meeting the bottom plane, the first wall having a pair of upper corners, and a second wall positioned opposite to said first wall and lying in a second plane, the second plane meeting the bottom plane;

an ink supply port into which the ink supply needle of the ink jet printing apparatus is inserted, said ink supply port being formed on said bottom wall at a position closer to said first wall of said housing than said second wall thereof;

an overhang member for engaging with a part of the ink jet printing apparatus, said overhang member extending from said first wall in a direction away from said second wall, said overhang member being formed to protrude from a vicinity of the upper corners of the first wall; and

a memory device mounting portion formed on an outer surface of said first wall, said memory device mounting portion being located at substantially a center, in the widthwise direction, of said first wall.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said overhang member extends from a top of said first wall.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said overhang member comprises a single overhang piece, at least a portion of said single overhang piece extending across substantially all of said first wall.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said overhang member comprises a pair of overhang pieces which are separated from each other in the widthwise direction of said first wall.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 4, further comprising a concave portion formed on said first wall at a position between a line connecting said overhang pieces and a location where the first plane meets the bottom plane.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a rib disposed between said first wall and said overhang member.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said memory device mounting portion comprises a concave part formed in said first wall.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said memory device mounting portion is located between said overhang member and a location where the first plane meets the bottom plane.

9. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory device mounted on said memory device mounting portion, said memory device comprising a plurality of electrodes and a semiconductor storage device electrically connected to at least some of said electrodes.

10. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said memory device is detachably mounted on said housing.

11. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said memory device is mounted on said housing by a spring and a mounting plate.

12. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said memory device and said electrodes are located on a substrate having a positioning member.

13. The ink cartridge according to claim 12, wherein said electrodes are arranged on one surface of said substrate and said memory device is disposed on an other surface of said substrate.

14. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said electrodes are grouped into at least a first group and a second group.

15. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said electrodes come into engagement with an external control device at a time interval when the cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus.

16. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said electrodes together include a plurality of contact portions which respectively touch electrical connectors of the printing apparatus, the contact portions being arranged in at least a first group and a second group.

17. The ink cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said electrodes together include a plurality of contact portions which respectively touch electrical connectors of the printing apparatus, the contact portions coming into engagement with an external control device at a time interval when the cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus.

18. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises one ink chamber and one ink supply port.

19. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a plurality of said ink chambers and a plurality of respective said ink supply ports.

20. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said overhang member comprises a round edge.

42. The ink cartridge according to claims 1 or 41, wherein said overhang member extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which said ink supply needle is inserted into said ink supply port.

43. The ink cartridge according to claims 1 or 41, wherein the ink cartridge is detachably mountable to the ink jet printing apparatus.

21. An ink cartridge for detachably mounting on a carriage of an ink jet printing apparatus, the carriage having an ink supply needle communicating with a print head, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom wall and at least two side walls, each extending in parallel with an insertion direction of the ink cartridge,

an ink supply port formed in the bottom wall to be engaged with the ink supply needle of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is moved in the insertion direction,

a circuit board formed on one of said side walls adjacent to the bottom wall and being located in the vicinity of the ink supply port, the circuit board having a plurality of electrodes divided into plural groups, each group being located at an interval in the insertion direction of the cartridge to another group, the electrodes being disposed on the circuit board and an electrode located in a center of one of the groups being disposed on a central line of the ink supply port,

a storage device for storing information about the ink located on the circuit board and being connected to at least one of the electrodes, and

an overhang portion located on the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.

22. The ink cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the overhang portion extends continuously from one end of the side wall to an other end of the side wall.

23. An ink cartridge according to claim 21, wherein said electrode that is located in the center of one of the groups is symmetrically disposed on the central line of the central ink supply port.

25. The ink cartridge according to claim 21 or 24, wherein the overhang portion is located at an upper end of the side wall.

26. The ink cartridge according to claim 21 or 24, wherein the overhang portion has a lower part for fitting with a lever of the ink jet printing apparatus.

27. The ink cartridge according to claim 26, wherein a triangular rib is formed between the lower part of the overhang portion and the side wall on which the overhang portion is formed.

30. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein a concave portion is formed in the side wall on which the circuit board is disposed, the circuit board being received in the concave portion.

31. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the concave portion is located in a widthwise center of the side wall.

32. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein the semiconductor storage device is mounted at a rear surface of the circuit board.

33. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein one said group of electrodes closer to the ink supply port or ports in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge is longer than another said group of electrodes farther from the ink supply port or ports.

34. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein the semiconductor storage device is covered by an applied molded material.

35. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein the semiconductor storage device stores data corresponding to a quantity of ink.

36. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein at least some of the electrodes each have a shape of a rectangle, such that the side of the rectangle in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge being longer than the side of the rectangle in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction.

37. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein a hole is formed in the circuit board to receive a protrusion formed on the side wall.

38. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein the electrodes are arranged so as to contact forming members of the ink jet printing apparatus that are arranged at a fixed pitch and which said contact forming members are shifted relative to each other.

39. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein the plurality of electrodes form contact areas to be connected to contact forming members of the ink jet printing apparatus, the contact areas being arranged in an upper row and a lower row relative to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge, the upper row comprising three contact areas, a middle contact area of the upper row being centered on a centerline of the ink supply port, the lower row comprising four contact areas, with the two inner contact areas of the lower row being arranged symmetrical about the centerline of the ink supply port.

40. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 21, 24, 28 and 22, wherein each of the plural groups of electrodes forms a row of electrodes.

24. An ink cartridge for detachably mounting on a carriage of an ink jet printing apparatus, the carriage having plural ink supply needles communicating with a print head, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom wall and at least two side walls, each extending in parallel with an insertion direction of the ink cartridge,

plural ink supply ports formed in the bottom wall to be engaged respectively with the ink supply needles of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is moved in the insertion direction,

a circuit board formed on one of said side walls adjacent to the bottom wall and being located in the vicinity of the ink supply ports,

a plurality of electrodes divided into plural groups, each group being located at an interval in the insertion direction of the cartridge to another group, the electrodes being disposed on the circuit board and an electrode located in a center of one of the groups being disposed on a central line of a central ink supply port,

a semiconductor storage device for storing information about the ink located on the circuit board and being connected to at least one of the electrodes, and

an overhang portion located on the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.

28. The ink cartridge according to claim 24, wherein the overhang portion is composed of a first overhang and a second overhang.

29. The ink cartridge according to claim 28, wherein the first and second overhang are respectively formed on both sides of the side wall.

41. An ink cartridge for supplying ink to a printhead mounted on a carriage of an ink jet printing apparatus through an ink supply needle, comprising:

a housing defining therein an ink chamber for accommodating ink, said housing comprising a bottom wall, a first wall extending in a plane which is parallel to a scanning direction of the carriage of the printing apparatus, the first wall having a pair of upper corners, and a second wall positioned opposite to said first wall;

an ink supply port into which the ink supply needle of the ink jet printing apparatus is inserted, said ink supply port being formed on said bottom wall at a position closer to said first wall of said housing than said second wall thereof; and

an overhang member, a lower surface of said overhang member being engageable with a lever of a cartridge holder of the ink jet printing apparatus, said overhang member protruding from an upper part of said first wall, said overhang member being formed to protrude from a vicinity of the upper corners of the first wall, and in a direction away from said second wall; and

a memory device mounting portion formed on an outer surface of said first wall, said memory device mounting portion being located at substantially a center, in the widthwise direction, of said first wall.

44. An ink cartridge for detachably mounting on a carriage of an ink jet printing apparatus, the ink jet printing apparatus having a plurality of contact forming members, the carriage having an ink supply needle communicating with a print head, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom wall and at least two side walls, each extending in parallel with an insertion direction of the ink cartridge;

an ink supply port formed in the bottom wall to be engaged with the ink supply needle of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is moved in the insertion direction;

a circuit board formed on one of said side walls adjacent to the bottom wall and being located in the vicinity of the ink supply port, the circuit board having a plurality of electrodes divided into plural groups, each group being located at an interval in the insertion direction of the cartridge to another group, the electrodes being disposed on the circuit board and an electrode located in a center of one of the groups being disposed on a central line of the ink supply port, the electrodes together having a plurality of contact portions which respectively touch the contact forming members of the printing apparatus, the contact portions being divided into plural groups, each group of contact portions being located at an interval in the insertion direction of the cartridge relative to another group of contact portions, and a given said contact portion located in a center of one of the groups of contact portions is disposed on the central line of the ink supply port;

a storage device for storing information about the ink located on the circuit board and being connected to at least one of the electrodes; and

an overhang portion located on the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.

46. An ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein one said group of contact portions closer to the ink supply port or ports in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge is longer than another said group of contact portions farther from the ink supply port or ports.

47. An ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein the contact portions are arranged so as to touch contact forming members of the ink jet printing apparatus that are arranged at a fixed pitch and which contact forming members are shifted relative to each other.

48. An ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein the plurality of contact portions are arranged so as to touch contact forming members of the ink jet printing apparatus, at least some of the contact portions being arranged in an upper row and a lower row relative to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge, the upper row comprising three said contact portions, a middle said contact portion of the upper row being centered on a centerline of the ink supply port, the lower row comprising four said contact portions, with two inner said contact portions of the lower row being arranged symmetrically about the centerline of the ink supply port.

49. An ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein each of the plural groups of contact portions forms a row of the contact portions.

50. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein said plural electrodes are formed on said circuit board.

51. The ink cartridge according to claim 50, wherein said circuit board is centered with respect to a widthwise direction of the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.

52. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein said plural electrodes are located on one said side wall and generally adjacent to the bottom wall having at least said ink supply port.

53. The ink cartridge according to claim 52, wherein said side wall is adjacent to at least one said ink supply port.

54. The ink cartridge according to claim 52, wherein said circuit board is provided in a concave portion of the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.

55. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein said electrodes include at least a contact portion so as to contact with the contact forming members which are arranged at predetermined pitch.

56. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein one of said plural electrodes is located on the central line of at least one said ink supply port.

57. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein the ink supply port(s) has an axis and the electrodes are provided in an upper row having a middle electrode having a portion disposed on a line that is parallel to the axis (axes) of the ink supply port(s) and a separate end electrode on both sides thereof, and a lower row having at each end a respective separate end electrode, the electrodes being arranged such that each inner edge of the end electrodes of the upper row is located, in the direction of the rows and relative to the line, closer to the middle electrode than is each inner edge of the end electrodes of the lower row.

58. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein the electrodes are provided in an upper row having a middle electrode and a separate end electrode on both sides thereof, and a lower row having at each end a respective separate end electrode, the electrodes being arranged such that each inner edge of the end electrodes of the upper row is located, relative to a centerline crossing the middle electrode and being perpendicular to the direction of the rows, closer in the direction of the rows to the middle electrode than is each inner edge of the end electrodes of the lower row.

59. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 44 and 45, wherein the electrodes are provided in an upper row having a middle electrode and a separate end electrode on both sides thereof, and a lower row having at each end a respective separate end electrode, the electrodes being arranged such that each inner edge of the end electrodes of the upper row is located, relative to a centerline crossing said ink supply port and being perpendicular to the direction of the rows, closer in the direction of the rows to the middle electrode than is each inner edge of the end electrodes of the lower row.

45. An ink cartridge for detachably mounting on a carriage of an ink jet printing apparatus, the ink jet printing apparatus having a plurality of contact forming members, the carriage having plural ink supply needles communicating with a print head, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom wall and at least two side walls, each extending in parallel with an insertion direction of the ink cartridge;

plural ink supply ports formed in the bottom wall to be engaged respectively with the ink supply needles of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is moved in the insertion direction;

a circuit board formed on one of said side walls adjacent to the bottom wall and being located in the vicinity of the ink supply ports;

a plurality of electrodes divided into plural groups, each group being located at an interval in the insertion direction of the cartridge to another group, the electrodes being disposed on the circuit board and an electrode located in a center of one of the groups being disposed on a central line of a central ink supply port, the electrodes together have a plurality of contact portions which respectively touch the contact forming members of the printing apparatus, the contact portions being divided into plural groups, each group of contact portions being located at an interval in the insertion direction of the cartridge relative to another group of contact portions, and a given said contact portion located in a center of one of the groups of contact portions is disposed on the central line of the central ink supply port;

a semiconductor storage device for storing information about the ink located on the circuit board and being connected to at least one of the electrodes; and

an overhang portion located on the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.