Ink cartridge and recording apparatus

• US 7,669,993 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Shinada, Satoshi, Sakai, Yasuto, Hashii, Kazuhiro, Aoki, Kazuaki, Harada, Kazumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON, JUANITA DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US11/619,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347/50, 347/56, 347 61- 65, 347/67, 347 84- 87, 400/124.1
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• 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 2/1753 Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1755 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure

Abstract

The ink cartridge includes an ink supply port formed at a position, offset to one side, of a wall configuring an ink container body; a positioning projecting portion, formed on one wall out of two opposing walls adjacent the wall, whose upper surface and side portion are regulated in position when the cartridge has been mounted on a recording apparatus; a lever, formed on the other wall out of the two walls, maintaining a normal hinged-open state and having a projection that is forcibly displaced outward when the cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and electrodes that are connected to a memory unit storing information on the ink in an ink container and formed on the positioning projecting portion.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording apparatus, the ink cartridge comprising:

an ink supply port disposed at a position offset toward a first side of the ink cartridge;

a projection having a surface; and

a plurality of electrodes formed on the surface, wherein;

the surface is disposed at a second side of the ink cartridge opposite from the first side; and

at least a portion of the surface lies in a plane that is parallel to an axial direction of the ink supply port.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a pressed surface lying in a plane that is parallel to a bottom of the ink cartridge, wherein the pressed surface is positioned so that a structure of the ink jet recording apparatus contacts the pressed surface and presses the pressed surface toward the bottom when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus.

3. A combination of an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink cartridge, the ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

a cartridge holder having a bottom portion, a first wall surface extending from the bottom portion, a second wall surface extending from the bottom portion and opposing the first wall surface, an ink cartridge storage region defined by the bottom, the first wall surface and the second wall surface;

an ink supply needle protruded from the bottom, and disposed at a position offset toward the first wall surface in the ink cartridge storage portion; and

a plurality of elastic contacts disposed on the second wall surface, and the ink cartridge comprising;

an ink supply port that engages the ink supply needle when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge storage portion at a predetermined position; and

a plurality of electrodes that are electrically connected to the elastic contacts when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge storage portion at the predetermined position.

4. An ink cartridge mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus including a cartridge holder having a bottom portion, a first wall surface extending from the bottom portion, a second wall surface extending from the bottom portion and opposing the first wall surface, an ink cartridge storage region defined by the bottom, the first wall surface and the second wall surface;

an ink supply needle protruded from the bottom, and disposed at a position offset toward the first wall surface in the ink cartridge storage portion; and

a plurality of elastic contacts disposed on the second wall surface, the ink cartridge comprising;

an ink supply port that engages the ink supply needle when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge storage portion at a predetermined position; and

a plurality of electrodes that are electrically connected to the elastic contacts when the ink cartridge is mounted in the ink cartridge storage portion at the predetermined position.

5. An ink cartridge, to be mounted on a recording apparatus, the ink cartridge comprising:

a front, a back, a top and a bottom;

an ink supply port formed in the bottom and disposed closer to the front than the to the back, the ink supply port having an axis;

a first projection disposed on the back closer to the bottom than to the top, the projection having a surface lying in a plane that is parallel to the axis, the projection extending away from the front;

a memory unit disposed on the ink cartridge; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the surface, wherein at least some of said electrodes are in electrical communication with the memory unit.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 5, in which the first projection has a plurality of side portions for being restricted in position when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus.

7. The ink cartridge according to any of claims 5 or 6, in which a width of the first projection is narrower than a width of the ink cartridge.

8. The ink cartridge according to any of claims 5 or 6, further comprising an elastic sealing member, housed in the ink supply port, for engaging an ink supply member of the recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus.

9. The ink cartridge according to any of claims 5 or 6, in which the electrodes are arranged in at least one row, and the row is perpendicular to said axis of the ink supply port.

10. The ink cartridge according to any of claims 5 or 6, in which the electrodes and the memory unit are disposed on a circuit board mounted on said surface of the first projection, the surface being parallel to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus, and the electrodes are formed on an exposed surface side of the circuit board.

11. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, in which the electrodes are disposed on the circuit board at an offset position closer to the bottom than to the top.

12. The ink cartridge according to any of the claims 5 or 6, in which each of the electrodes has a vertically elongated shape so that a length of each of the electrodes in a vertical direction is longer than a length of each of the electrodes in a lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

13. The ink cartridge according to any of claims 5 or 6, further comprising a pressed surface lying in a plane that is parallel to the bottom, wherein the pressed surface is positioned so that a structure of the recording apparatus contacts the pressed surface and presses the pressed surface toward the bottom when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording apparatus.

14. The ink cartridge according to claim 13, wherein the pressed surface is located on the first projection.

15. The ink cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the pressed surface is an upper surface of the first projection, and wherein, when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus, said upper surface is pressed toward the bottom by a position restricting elastic piece which is part of a pressing member of the recording apparatus.

16. The ink cartridge according to claim 13, further comprising a protuberance extending from the back, the protuberance being located closer to the top than to the first projection, wherein the pressed surface is located on the protuberance.

17. The ink cartridge according to claim 16, in which the protuberance is dimensioned and disposed so as to be pressed toward the bottom by a cartridge holding mounting lever which is part of the recording apparatus.

18. The ink cartridge according to claim 17, in which the protuberance is located within a region defined by and between the outermost electrodes in a direction that is perpendicular to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus and that is parallel to the back.

19. The ink cartridge according to claim 16, wherein a height of the protuberance from the back is smaller than a height of the first projection from the back.

20. The ink cartridge according to claim 16, wherein said pressed surface of the protuberance at least partially extends perpendicular to said surface on which the electrodes are formed.

21. The ink cartridge according to claim 16, wherein the protuberance is integral with the first projection on which the electrodes are disposed.

22. The ink cartridge according to claim 16, further comprising an identification protrusion extending outward from the back at a position located between the top and the first projection, and wherein said identification protrusion is disposed between the first projection and the protuberance.

23. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising at least one of a second projection, a ridge and a groove formed on one of the side portions of the first projection.

24. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, further comprising a first one of a second projection, a ridge and a groove formed on a first side portion, and a second one of a second projection, a ridge and a groove formed on a second side portion of the first projection.

25. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the side portions of the first projection, respectively define side surfaces parallel to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus.

26. The ink cartridge according to claims 5 or 6, further comprising an identification protrusion extending outward from the back at a position located between the top and the first projection.

27. The ink cartridge according to claim 26, wherein the identification protrusion extends outward past the plane in which the surface lies.

28. The ink cartridge according to claim 26, wherein at least one of a shape, a width and a length of the identification protrusion corresponds to a property of an ink carried in the ink container.

29. The ink cartridge according to claim 26, in which the identification protrusion is a block fixed to the ink cartridge by a fixing member.

30. The ink cartridge according to claim 29, in which the identification protrusion and the first projection are a unitary block fixed to the ink container by a fixing member.

31. The ink cartridge according to claim 26, wherein a distal end of the identification protrusion protrudes outward beyond said surface on which the electrodes are formed.

32. The ink cartridge according to claim 26, having a plurality of the identification protrusions.

33. The ink cartridge according to claims 5 or 6, in which the retaining member is disposed on the front.

34. An ink cartridge detachably mountable on a recording apparatus having an ink supply needle, comprising:

an upper wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall intersecting the bottom wall and a second side wall intersecting the bottom wall and facing the first side wall;

an ink supply port disposed on the bottom wall at an offset position closer to the first side wall than to the second side wall; and

a circuit board disposing portion provided at a lower location on the second side wall, said circuit board disposing portion provided with a circuit board with a memory unit and a plurality of electrodes thereon, and further comprising opposite two sides for regulating a horizontal position of the ink cartridge with respect to the recording apparatus;

wherein

the plurality of electrodes are in electrical communication with the memory unit of the circuit board.

35. The ink cartridge according to claim 34, further comprising a guide projecting portion provided at a lower location on the first side wall and adapted for regulating a horizontal position of the ink cartridge with respect to the recording apparatus.

36. The ink cartridge according to claim 35, wherein the regulation of the horizontal position of the ink cartridge by the guide projecting portion is realized in a manner that the guide projection portion is limited in the horizontal direction by a corresponding portion which is located on the recording apparatus at a position corresponding to. the lower location on the first side wall of the ink cartridge.

37. The ink cartridge according to claim 34, further comprising a projecting portion provided at an upper location on the second side wall and adapted for regulating a vertical position of the ink cartridge with respect to the recording apparatus.

38. The ink cartridge according to claim 37, wherein the regulation of the vertical position of the ink cartridge by the projecting portion is realized in a manner that the projecting portion is limited in the vertical direction by a corresponding portion which is located on the recording apparatus at a position corresponding to the upper location on the second side wall of the ink cartridge.

39. The ink cartridge according to any of claims 35 to 38, wherein the ink cartridge has a substantially flat upper portion and a substantially flat bottom portion.

40. The ink cartridge according to claim 39, wherein the substantially flat upper portion and the substantially flat bottom portion define the upper wall and the bottom wall, respectively, of the ink cartridge, at least a portion of the upper wall being substantially parallel to the bottom wall.

41. The ink cartridge according to any of claims 35 to 38, wherein the ink cartridge includes a container body having a first side and a second side, the first side being substantially parallel to the second side, and the second side being separated from the first side by the upper portion and the bottom portion.

42. The ink cartridge according to claim 34, wherein the regulation of the horizontal position of the ink cartridge by the circuit board disposing portion is realized in a manner that the two sides of the circuit board disposing portion are limited in the horizontal direction by a corresponding portion which is located on the recording apparatus at a position corresponding to the lower location on the second side wall of the ink cartridge.

43. An ink cartridge detachably mountable on a recording apparatus having an ink supply needle, comprising:

a front, a back, a top, and a bottom;

an ink supply port formed in the bottom and disposed closer to the front than to the back;

the ink supply port having an axis,

a circuit board having a memory unit and a plurality of electrodes;

a circuit board disposing portion provided at a lower location on the back and having two opposite sides for regulating a position of the ink cartridge with respect to the recording apparatus.

44. The ink cartridge according to claim 43, in which the opposite sides are adapted to be restricted by ribs provided in the recording apparatus in such a position that the electrodes are brought into electrical communication with contacts provided in the recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus.

45. The ink cartridge according to claim 43, in which a width of the circuit board disposing portion is narrower than a width of the ink cartridge.

46. The ink cartridge according to claim 43, further comprising an elastic sealing member, housed in the ink supply port, for engaging the needle of the recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus.

47. The ink cartridge according to claim 43, in which the electrodes are arranged in at least one row that is perpendicular to the axis of the ink supply port.

48. The ink cartridge according to claim 43, in which the circuit board is mounted on a surface of the circuit board disposing portion that is parallel to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus, and the electrodes are formed on an exposed surface side of the circuit board.

49. The ink cartridge according to claim 48, in which the electrodes are disposed on the circuit board at an offset position closer to the bottom than to the top.

50. The ink cartridge according to claim 43, wherein each of the electrodes has a vertically elongated shape so that a length of each of the electrodes in a vertical direction is longer than a length of each of the electrodes in a lateral direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

51. The ink cartridge according to claim 43, further comprising a pressed surface lying in a plane that is parallel to the bottom, wherein the pressed surface is positioned so that a structure of the recording apparatus contacts the pressed surface and presses the pressed surface toward the bottom when the ink cartridge is mounted in the recording apparatus.

52. The ink cartridge according to claim 51, further comprising a protuberance extending from the back, the protuberance being located closer to the top than is the circuit board disposing portion, wherein the pressed surface is located on the protuberance.

53. The ink cartridge according to claim 52, in which the protuberance is dimensioned and disposed so as to be pressed toward the bottom by a cartridge holding mounting lever which is part of the recording apparatus.

54. The ink cartridge according to claim 53, in which the protuberance is located within a region defined by and between the outermost electrodes in a direction that is perpendicular to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus and that is parallel to the back.

55. The ink cartridge according to claim 54, wherein the side portions of the circuit board disposing portion respectively define side surfaces parallel to an insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the recording apparatus.

56. The ink cartridge according to claim 52, wherein a height of the protuberance from the back is smaller than a height of the circuit board disposing portion from the back.

57. The ink cartridge according to claim 52, wherein said pressed surface of the protuberance at least partially extends perpendicular to a surface on which the electrodes are formed.

58. The ink cartridge according to claim 52, wherein the protuberance is integral with the circuit board disposing portion on which the electrodes are disposed.

59. The ink cartridge according claim 43, further comprising an identification protrusion extending outward from the back at a position located between the top and the circuit board disposing portion.

60. The ink cartridge according to claim 59, wherein the identification protrusion extends outward past the plane in which the surface lies.

61. The ink cartridge according to claim 59, wherein at least one of a shape, a width and a length of the identification protrusion corresponds to a property of an ink carried in the ink cartridge.

62. The ink cartridge according to claim 59, further comprising a protuberance extending from the back, the protuberance being located closer to the top than is the circuit board disposing portion, wherein the pressed surface is located on the protuberance, and wherein said identification protrusion is disposed between the circuit board disposing portion and a protuberance.

63. The ink cartridge according to claim 59, wherein a distal end of the identification protrusion protrudes outward beyond said surface on which the electrodes are formed.

64. The ink cartridge according to claim 59, having a plurality of the identification protrusions.