Ink cartridge

• US 7,934,794 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Miyazawa, Hisashi, Shinada, Satoshi, Owaki, Hiroshige, Shimomura, Masaki, Koizumi, Yoshihiro, Nakata, Satoshi, Kanaya, Munehide, Seino, Takeo, Sakai, Yasuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Do; An H
• Application Number:
  US12/237,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20090027467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 347 84- 87, 347/37
• US Class Current: 347/37
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• 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 2/1753 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
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves

Abstract

An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.

Claims

1. A structure holding a memory device for installation in an ink jet printer that has a holding portion with an ink supply needle, a projecting member and a plurality of printer electrodes, comprising:

the memory device, the memory device including a semiconductor memory and a plurality of electrodes which, when the structure is installed in the ink jet printer, are respectively contacted by corresponding printer electrodes, the plurality of electrodes situated in an electrode region; and

a body having;

a first wall portion that comprises a first plane, and a second wall portion that comprises a second plane, the second wall portion being substantially orthogonal to the first wall portion and the first plane being substantially orthogonal to the second plane, the memory device being mounted to the first wall portion so that at least a portion of the electrode region is situated along the first plane and the plurality of electrodes face outward, the second wall portion having an aperture situated along the second plane and dimensioned and disposed to receive the projecting member when the structure is installed in the ink jet printer.

2. A structure as in claim 1, wherein at least some of the electrodes are rectangular.

3. A structure as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the electrodes is electrically connected to the semiconductor memory.

4. A structure as in claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the semiconductor memory and the electrodes are disposed on the substrate.

5. A structure as in claim 4, wherein the semiconductor memory is located on a first surface of the substrate, and the electrodes are disposed on a second surface of the substrate.

6. A structure as in claim 4, wherein the substrate is rectangular.

7. A structure as in claim 4, wherein the substrate is shaped to receive a mounting projection of the first wall portion on which the substrate is mounted.

8. A structure as in claim 1,

wherein the electrodes are arranged in a first row and a second row that is longer than said first row, and

wherein said second row of electrodes is closer to the aperture than said first row.

9. A structure as in claim 8, wherein the electrodes in the first row are arranged in a staggered manner relative to the electrodes in the second row.

10. A structure as in claim 1, wherein the body is a container for holding ink.

11. A structure as in claim 1, further comprising:

a first retaining member extending outward from said body.

12. A structure as in claim 11,

wherein, the holding portion of the ink jet printer has a first insertion portion for receiving the first retaining member of the structure and which is of a first insertion portion width, and a width of the first retaining member is substantially the same as the first insertion portion width.

13. A structure as in claim 11, wherein the first retaining member has a first side surface, and the first side surface has a first sidewards extending projection.

14. A structure as in claim 13, wherein the first sidewards extending projection is dimensioned and disposed so that, during installation of the structure in the ink jet printer, the first sidewards extending portion engages a first surface of the holding portion and produces a perceptible click when the structure is properly mounted.

15. A structure as in claim 11, wherein the first retaining member is substantially aligned with at least one said electrode in a vertical direction when the structure is oriented as if installed in the ink jet printer.

16. A structure as in claim 11, further comprising

a second retaining member extending outward from said body.

17. A structure as in claim 16,

wherein, the holding portion of the ink jet printer has a second insertion portion for receiving the second retaining member of the structure and which is of a second insertion portion width, and a width of the second retaining member is substantially the same as the second insertion portion width.

18. A structure as in claim 16, wherein the second retaining member has a second side surface, and the second side surface has a second sidewards extending projection.

19. A structure as in claim 18, wherein the second sidewards extending projection is dimensioned and disposed so that, during installation of the structure in the ink jet printer, the second sidewards extending portion engages a second surface of the holding portion.

20. A structure as in claim 1, wherein, when the aperture receives the projecting member as the structure is installed in the ink jet printer, the aperture guides and orients the structure.

21. A structure as in claim 1,

wherein the body includes an ink supply port formed in the second wall portion and configured to receive the needle, the ink supply port having an opening at a leading end, and

wherein the aperture is configured so that, when the aperture receives the projecting member as the structure is installed in the ink jet printer, the aperture guides and orients the structure so that the opening of the ink supply port is oriented perpendicular to the needle before the leading end of the ink supply port reaches the needle.

22. A structure as in claim 1, wherein, when the structure is viewed from below when oriented as if installed in the ink jet printer, the aperture includes a first section and a second section that is substantially perpendicular to the first section.

23. A structure as in claim 22, wherein the first section is open to a side surface of the body.

24. An ink jet printer, comprising:

a holding portion, configured to accommodate an ink cartridge according to claim 1, and including at a bottom region an ink supply needle, an ink cartridge-pressing member, and a vertical projecting member extending upward from the bottom region at a position between the ink supply needle and the ink cartridge-pressing member, and

a plurality of electrical elastic contact forming member located at a side region of the holding portion.

25. An ink jet printer, comprising:

a holding portion, configured to accommodate an ink cartridge according to claim 11, and including a recess configured to guide the first side portion during installation of the ink cartridge in the printer.

26. An ink jet printer, comprising:

a holding portion, configured to accommodate an ink cartridge according to claim 14, and including the first surface configured to guide the first sidewards extending projection during installation of the ink cartridge in the printer.