Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor

• US 7,510,273 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US11/366,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20060203050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 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 cartridge for detachable mounting in an insertion direction on an ink jet printing apparatus having an ink supply needle communicating with a print head, includes a bottom wall, plural side walls, an ink supply port in the bottom wall to engage the ink supply needle as the ink cartridge moves in an insertion direction, a circuit board formed on a side wall adjacent to the bottom wall, and electrodes on the circuit board, each electrode having at least one contact region, the contact regions being divided into groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction. Part of one contact region located in a center of one of the groups of contact regions is disposed on the ink supply port'"'"'s central line, and a semiconductor storage device is located on the circuit board and is in electrical communication with at least some contact regions.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting in an insertion direction on an ink jet printing apparatus having an ink supply needle communicating with a print head, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom wall;

a plurality of side walls;

an ink supply port formed in said bottom wall to engage the ink supply needle of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge moves in the insertion direction;

a circuit board formed on one of said side walls adjacent to said bottom wall;

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the circuit board, each said electrode having at least one contact region, the contact regions being divided into a plurality of groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction of the cartridge, wherein a portion of one said contact region that is located in a center of one of the groups of contact regions is disposed on a central line of said ink supply port; and

a semiconductor storage device located on said circuit board and which is in electrical communication with at least some of said contact regions.

2. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are divided into a plurality of groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction of the cartridge, and wherein one said electrode that is located in a center of one of the groups is disposed on a central line of said ink supply port.

3. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus has a plurality of ink supply needles communicating with the print head, the ink cartridge comprises a plurality of ink supply ports formed in said bottom wall to engage respectively the ink supply needles of the ink jet printing apparatus as the ink cartridge moves in the insertion direction, wherein one said contact region is disposed on a central line of a particular said ink supply port.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printing apparatus has a plurality of contact forming members, and said contact regions are areas of said electrodes corresponding in position to the contact forming members of the printing apparatus.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a plurality of groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction of the cartridge, and wherein one said electrode that is located in a center of one of the groups is disposed on a central line of a particular said ink supply port.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an overhang portion located on the side wall on which the circuit board is formed.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion is located at an upper part of at least one said side wall.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion has a lower part for cooperating with a lever of the ink jet printing apparatus.

9. The ink cartridge according to claim 8, further comprising a rib located between the lower part of the overhang portion and said side wall on which the overhang portion is formed.

10. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion includes a first overhang and a second overhang.

11. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the first and second overhangs are respectively formed on both sides of said side wall.

12. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the overhang portion extends continuously between both sides of said side wall.

13. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said side wall has a concave portion, and the circuit board is located in the concave portion.

14. The ink cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the concave portion is located at a center of a width of said side wall having the concave portion.

15. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor storage device is mounted at a rear surface of said circuit board.

16. The ink cartridge according to claim 15, wherein said semiconductor storage device is molded by a material and is not exposed.

17. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a group of said contact regions located closer to said ink supply port(s) in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge is longer than a group of said contact regions located further from said ink supply port(s).

18. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, wherein a group of said contact regions located closer to said particular said ink supply port in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge is longer than a group of said contact regions located further from said particular said ink supply port.

19. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor storage device stores data corresponding to a quantity of ink.

20. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said electrodes are formed in a rectangle, a side of the rectangle extending in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge being longer than a side of the rectangle extending in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction.

21. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a hole is formed in said circuit board and is positioned and sized to engage with a protrusion formed on said side.

22. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein each said contact region is arranged so as to respectively engage a contact area of one of a plurality of contact forming members of the ink jet printing apparatus during mounting thereto, and the contact areas are arranged in a plurality of groups, each at a fixed pitch, the contact areas of a first said group being shifted relative to the contact areas of a second said group.

23. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said contact regions are areas arranged for connection to contact forming members of the ink jet printing apparatus, said contact regions being arranged in an upper row and a lower row relative to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge, the upper row having three said contact regions, a middle said contact region of the upper row being centered on a centerline of said ink supply port, the lower row having four said contact regions, with two middle said contact regions of the lower row being arranged symmetrically about the centerline of said ink supply port.

24. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet printing apparatus has a plurality of contact forming members, said contact regions are areas of said electrodes corresponding in position to the contact forming members of the printing apparatus, wherein said contact regions are arranged for connection to contact forming members of the ink jet printing apparatus, said contact regions being arranged in an upper row and a lower row relative to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge, the upper row having three said contact regions, a middle said contact region of the upper row being centered on a centerline of said ink supply port, the lower row having four said contact regions, with two middle said contact regions of the lower row being arranged symmetrically about the centerline of said ink supply port.

25. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said circuit board is located at a position on the side part and said position is adjacent to the bottom part in which said ink supply port is formed.

26. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said side walls include a first side wall and a second side wall opposing said first side wall, and said ink supply port is located closer to said first side wall than to said second side wall and said electrodes are located on said first side wall.

27. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus has a carriage and the ink cartridge is for detachable mounting on the carriage.

28. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the one of the side walls has a projection and the circuit board is disposed on the projection.

29. The ink cartridge according to claim 21, wherein the side wall on which the protrusion is formed has a concave portion.

30. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting on a printing apparatus having an ink supply needle, a print head communicating with said ink supply needle and plural contact forming members, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom part in which is formed an ink supply port into which the ink supply needle is inserted;

a circuit board mounted on a side part of the ink cartridge, the circuit board having a plurality of electrodes for connecting to the contact forming members of the printing apparatus, wherein at least one of electrodes is disposed on a central line of said ink supply port, when viewing, in a perpendicular direction, said circuit board on which said plural electrodes are formed.

31. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said electrodes is provided on each side of said electrode that is disposed on the central line of said ink supply port.

32. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said electrodes are disposed symmetrically with respect to said central line of said ink supply port.

33. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said circuit board is located in a center in a width of the side part.

34. The ink cartridge according to claim 30,

wherein said circuit board has for positioning at least one of a concave portion and a through hole;

and

wherein said ink cartridge includes a projection dimensioned and disposed to fit into one of said concave portion and said through hole.

35. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said electrodes are divided into plural groups, each of which said groups is located at an interval in a direction in which said ink cartridge is attached to or detached from the printing apparatus;

and that said electrode located in a center of one of the groups is disposed on the central line of said ink supply port, when viewing, in a perpendicular direction, said circuit board on which said electrodes are formed.

36. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, further comprising an overhang portion at said side part on which said circuit board is located.

37. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said side part has a concave portion, and said circuit board is located in said concave portion.

38. The ink cartridge according to claim 37, wherein said concave portion is located in a center in a width of said side part.

39. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, further comprising a semiconductor storage device mounted at a rear surface of said circuit board where said electrodes are located.

40. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said electrodes are divided into plural groups, each of which said groups is located at an interval in a direction in which said ink cartridge is attached to or detached from the printing apparatus;

and a length of one said group located closer to the bottom part in which said ink supply port is formed is greater than a length of a different said group located further from said ink supply port, with respect to a width direction of the side part.

41. The ink cartridge according to claim 39, wherein said semiconductor storage device is molded by an ink-resistant material.

42. The ink cartridge according to claim 39, wherein said semiconductor storage device stores data corresponding to a quantity of ink.

43. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein each of said electrodes includes a contact region for connection to the respective contact forming members of the printing apparatus;

said contact regions being arranged in an upper row and a lower row relative to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge;

the upper row having three said contact regions and the rower row having four said contact regions; and

two middle said contact regions of the lower row are arranged symmetrically about the centerline of the ink supply port.

44. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said circuit board is located at a position on the side part and said position is adjacent to the bottom part in which said ink supply port is formed.

45. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said circuit board is located on the side part adjacent to said ink supply port formed in said bottom part.

46. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein said electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting whether the ink cartridge is installed by enabling electrical conduction between two of the contact forming members of the printing apparatus.

47. The ink cartridge according to claim 30, wherein

said electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting whether the ink cartridge is installed by enabling electrical conduction between two of the contact forming members of the printing apparatus and

said detection electrode is located by the central line of said ink supply port.

48. The ink cartridge according to claim 46, wherein said detection electrode is disposed on the central line of said ink supply port, when viewing, in a perpendicular direction, said circuit board on which said electrodes are formed.

49. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein the ink supply port is positioned nearer to the side part on which the circuit board is located than to another side part opposing the side part on which the circuit board is located.

50. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said detection electrode is grounded when the ink cartridge is mounted on the ink jet printing apparatus.

51. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said circuit board is positioned adjacent to the bottom part at the side part on which the circuit board is located.

52. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said circuit board is located on said side part which is close to said ink supply port and said circuit board is located adjacent to said bottom part.

53. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said detection electrode is located adjacent to the bottom part.

54. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, further comprising a semiconductor storage device located on a rear surface of the circuit board.

55. An ink cartridge according to claim 54, wherein said semiconductor storage device is molded by an ink-resistant material.

56. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said electrodes are divided into a first group and a second group.

57. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said detection electrode is located in a center in a width of said side part.

58. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said detection electrode is larger than at least one of those other electrodes.

59. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein a width of said detection electrode is greater than that of other said electrodes.

60. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein a width of said detection electrode is greater than that of other said electrodes and said detection electrode is larger than at least one of those other electrodes.

61. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said detection electrode is a ground electrode.

62. The ink cartridge according to claim 54, wherein the electrodes of the first group and the electrodes of the second group are arranged at an interval in an insertion direction of the ink cartridge to the ink jet printing apparatus.

63. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said electrodes are disposed symmetrically with respect to said central line of said ink supply port.

64. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein at least some of said electrodes are disposed symmetrically with respect to said central line of said ink supply port.

65. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein said circuit board is detachably mountable on the ink cartridge.

66. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein at least one said electrode has a rectangular shape such that a side of the electrode parallel to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge is longer than another side of the electrode parallel to another direction.

67. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein some of said electrodes are located at both sides of the detection electrode.

68. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting on an ink jet printing apparatus to supply ink to a print head via an ink supply needle, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom part in which is formed an ink supply port into which the ink supply needle is inserted;

a circuit board mounted on a side part adjacent to the bottom part in which said ink supply port is formed; and

a plurality of electrodes for connecting to contact forming members of the printing apparatus and which are formed on an exposed surface of said circuit board,

wherein said circuit board is positioned to at least partially overlap a center line of said ink supply port, when viewing, in a perpendicular direction, said circuit board on which said electrodes are formed.

69. The ink cartridge of claim 68, wherein said ink supply port is positioned nearer to said side part on which said circuit board is located than to another side part opposing said side part on which said circuit board is located.

70. The ink cartridge of claim 68, wherein a concave portion is provided at the side part and the circuit board is mounted in the concave portion.

71. The ink cartridge of claim 68, wherein the circuit board includes a semiconductor storage device, and the semiconductor storage device is formed on a rear surface of the circuit board where the electrodes are located.

72. The ink cartridge of claim 68, wherein the circuit board is provided at the side part by the bottom part.

73. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting on a printing apparatus to supply ink to a print head via an ink supply needle, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom part in which is formed an ink supply port into which the ink supply needle is inserted;

a circuit board mounted on a side part adjacent to the bottom part in which said ink supply port is formed; and

a plurality of electrodes for connecting to contact forming members of the printing apparatus and which are formed on an exposed surface of said circuit board,

wherein said electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting whether the ink cartridge is by enabling electrical conduction between two contact forming members of the printing apparatus and a width of the detection electrode is greater than that of other said electrodes.

74. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting on a printing apparatus to supply ink to a print head via an ink supply needle, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom part in which is formed an ink supply port into which the ink supply needle is inserted;

a circuit board mounted on a side part adjacent to the bottom part in which said ink supply port is formed; and

a plurality of electrodes for connecting to contact forming members of the printing apparatus and which are formed on an exposed surface of said circuit board,

wherein the electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting whether the ink cartridge is installed by enabling electrical conduction between two contact forming members of the printing apparatus,

wherein at least one of said electrodes is disposed on a central line of said ink supply port, when viewing, in a perpendicular direction, said circuit board on which said electrodes are formed, and

wherein said ink supply port is positioned nearer to said side part on which said electrodes are provided than to another side part opposing said side part.

75. An ink cartridge for detachable mounting on a printing apparatus to supply ink to a print head via an ink supply needle, the ink cartridge comprising:

a bottom part in which is formed an ink supply port into which the ink supply needle is inserted;

a circuit board mounted on a side part adjacent to the bottom part in which said ink supply port is formed; and

a plurality of electrodes for connecting to contact forming members of the printing apparatus and which are formed on an exposed surface of said circuit board,

wherein said electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting whether said ink cartridge is installed by enabling electrical conduction between two contact forming members of the printing apparatus,

wherein at least one of said electrodes is disposed on a central line of said ink supply port, when viewing, in a perpendicular direction, said circuit board on which said electrodes are formed, and

wherein said electrodes are positioned by said bottom part of said ink cartridge.