ink cartridge

Abstract

The present invention relates to a card connection device and an ink cartridge having the card connection device, wherein the card connection device is used to detachably connect the ink cartridge to the ink cartridge holding portion, and the card connection device comprises an unlocking component and a locking component, wherein the locking component is used to connect the ink cartridge to the ink cartridge holding portion, and the unlocking component is used to release the lock of the ink cartridge from the ink cartridge holding portion. During the process of the ink cartridge being installed in the ink cartridge holding portion, the locking component connects the ink cartridge to the ink cartridge holding portion in the left and right directions; during the process of the ink cartridge being disengaged from the ink cartridge installation portion, under the action of an external force, the unlocking component applies a force to the locking component in the left and right directions to release the lock of the locking component, and a reset component located in the unlocking component undergoes elastic deformation only when the lock of the locking component is released, and the probability of deformation fatigue of the reset component is greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of inkjet imaging, and in particular to an ink cartridge detachably installed in an inkjet printer. Background Art

[0002] The ink cartridge is a component used to provide ink when the inkjet printer is working. To ensure that the ink cartridge can work stably in the inkjet printer, the two need to be stably combined. For example, as described in Chinese patent CN201520687888.0, the ink cartridge includes a fastener body 21 extending from the bottom surface 1a to the -Z direction and a first coupling portion 22 extending from the fastener body 21 to the X-axis direction, the fastener body 21 is connected to the push rod 32, an abutment surface 36 is provided inside the ink cartridge, and an elastic element 34 is provided between the push rod 32 and the abutment surface 36. When the ink cartridge is installed in the inkjet printer, the first coupling portion 22 is buckled with the first positioning hole 42 in the inkjet printer in the X-axis direction, the elastic element 34 is compressed and deformed, and a forced thrust is applied to the push rod 32 in the +X direction, and the first coupling portion 22 is tightly combined with the first positioning hole 42 through the rotating shaft 33.

[0003] When the ink cartridge needs to be taken out, the end user applies a thrust to the push point 31 along the -X direction, the elastic element 34 is further compressed, the push rod 32 moves about the rotation axis 33 in the -X direction, and the first coupling portion 22 moves in the +X direction and disengages from the first positioning hole 42 .

[0004] It can be seen that the elastic element 34 maintains the forced thrust applied to the push rod 32, which is a prerequisite for the stable combination of the first coupling portion 22 and the first positioning hole 42. That is to say, as long as the ink cartridge is installed in the inkjet printer, the elastic element 34 needs to remain in a compressed state. After being compressed for a long time, the elastic element 34 may become deformed and fatigued, resulting in an inability to rebound. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the structure. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides an ink cartridge, which is provided with a clamping device. The elastic element in the device no longer undergoes elastic deformation for a long time, but only undergoes elastic deformation when the ink cartridge is taken out. Therefore, the probability of deformation fatigue of the elastic element is greatly reduced.

[0006] To this end, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] The ink cartridge is detachably coupled to an ink cartridge holding portion in an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising a cartridge body and a clamping device, the clamping device being used to detachably couple the ink cartridge to the ink cartridge holding portion, the clamping device comprising an unlocking assembly and a locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly is used to couple the ink cartridge to the ink cartridge holding portion, and the unlocking assembly is used to release the lock of the ink cartridge from the ink cartridge holding portion, the cartridge body comprising a bottom shell and a surface cover coupled to each other, the bottom shell comprising an ink cavity disposed therein and an operating cavity disposed adjacent to the ink cavity, the ink cavity being used to accommodate ink, and the clamping device being disposed in the operating cavity; in the process of the ink cartridge being installed in the ink cartridge holding portion, the locking assembly couples the ink cartridge to the ink cartridge holding portion in the left-right direction, and no force is transferred between the unlocking assembly and the locking assembly; in the process of the ink cartridge being disengaged from the ink cartridge mounting portion, under the action of an external force, the unlocking assembly applies a force to the locking assembly in the left-right direction to release the lock of the locking assembly.

[0008] The unlocking assembly includes a force-bearing member, a transmission member, a forced pushing member and a reset member. The force-bearing member is used to receive external force, the transmission member is arranged adjacent to the force-bearing member, the forced pushing member is connected to the transmission member, and the transmission member is used to transmit the force to the forced pushing member. When the external force is applied to the force-bearing member, the reset member undergoes elastic deformation, and the forced pushing member releases the lock of the locking assembly in the left and right directions. When the external force is removed, the force-bearing member, the transmission member and the forced pushing member are reset under the reset force of the reset member.

[0009] The locking assembly includes a pair of combining rods arranged opposite to each other in the left and right directions, with a first gap between the two combining rods. Each combining rod includes a vertical rod, an extending portion extending from the vertical rod, and a combining portion arranged on the extending portion. The combining portion protrudes in the left and right directions and is used to combine with the ink cartridge retaining portion.

[0010] A combining surface is formed on the combining portion, and the combining surface and the surface of the adjacent extending portion are perpendicular to each other.

[0011] As embodiment 1, the two coupling parts protrude toward each other. When the ink cartridge is disengaged from the ink cartridge retaining part, the pushing member is inserted into the first gap, forcing the coupling rod to move in the left and right directions away from each other, and the coupling part is disengaged from the ink cartridge retaining part.

[0012] As the second embodiment, the protruding directions of the two combining parts are opposite, the forced push member is a forced push rod extending from the transmission member in the left and right directions, and the two forced push rods form a second gap between the left and right directions. Along the front-to-back direction, the second gap gradually decreases from back to front.

[0013] When the ink cartridge is disengaged from the ink cartridge holding portion, the two pushing rods push the corresponding vertical rods respectively, so that the two vertical rods gradually approach each other in the left-right direction.

[0014] As embodiment three, the two coupling parts protrude in the same direction, and two pushing members are provided. When the ink cartridge is disengaged from the ink cartridge retaining part, one of the pushing members is inserted into the first gap, and the other pushing member pushes the vertical rod from the direction opposite to the direction in which the coupling part protrudes relative to the extension part.

[0015] As embodiment four, the ink cartridge retaining portion includes a bottom plate and a plurality of side plates connected to each other and a plurality of extension plates extending rearward from the front side plate, the extension plate having a first side surface located on the left side, a second side surface located on the right side, a third side surface located on the rear side and a fourth side surface located on the lower side, and two combining portions protrude toward each other, passing through the first side surface and the second side surface respectively to reach the lower side of the extension plate.

[0016] The box body is generally in a regular polymorphic shape, including a bottom shell and a cover combined with each other, the bottom shell has a front side surface located in the front and a lower side surface located below, a part of the clamping device exceeds the front side surface, and another part exceeds the lower side surface.

[0017] The ink cartridge further comprises a chip arranged on the bottom shell, and along the up-down direction, the portion of the clamping device exceeding the lower side surface is located below the chip.

[0018] As described above, the reset member in the unlocking assembly is elastically deformed only when the locking assembly is unlocked, and the probability of deformation fatigue of the reset member is greatly reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the state after the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention is combined with the ink cartridge holding part in the inkjet printer.

[0020] Figure 2A and Figure 2B It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2C yes Figure 2B A magnified schematic diagram of the local R in the figure.

[0022] Figure 3A It is a side view of the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention, which is cut along the front-to-back direction and observed from left to right.

[0023] Figure 3B It is a three-dimensional view of the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention when it is cut along the front-to-back direction and observed from right to left.

[0024] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional view of the ink cartridge holding portion in the inkjet printer involved in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a side view of the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention after being installed, cut along the left-right direction and observed from the back to the front.

[0026] Figure 6 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge involved in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 It is a stereoscopic view of the ink cartridge involved in the second embodiment of the present invention when it is cut along the front-to-back direction and observed from the right front to the left rear.

[0028] Figure 8 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge involved in the fourth embodiment of the present invention combined with the ink cartridge holding part in the inkjet printer.

[0029] Fig. 9 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge involved in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig.10 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge retaining portion in the inkjet printer involved in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Fig.11 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge involved in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Fig.12 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge involved in the fifth embodiment of the present invention combined with the ink cartridge holding part in the inkjet printer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] [Example 1]

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a state where the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention is combined with an ink cartridge holding portion in an inkjet printer; Figure 2A and Figure 2B is a three-dimensional diagram of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2C yes Figure 2B A magnified schematic diagram of the local R in the middle; Figure 3A is a side view of the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention, cut along the front-to-back direction and observed from left to right; Figure 3B It is a three-dimensional view of the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention when it is cut along the front-to-back direction and observed from right to left.

[0036] The ink cartridge 100 is detachably combined with the ink cartridge holding portion 300 in the inkjet printer, and the ink cartridge 100 includes a cartridge body 1 and a snap-on device 2 mounted on the cartridge body 1, wherein the cartridge body 1 as a whole is in a regular polymorphic shape, and includes a bottom shell 10 and a surface cover (not shown) that are combined with each other, and an ink outlet 14 for supplying ink to the inkjet printer is provided on the bottom shell 10, and the snap-on device 2 is used to snap the ink cartridge 1 onto the ink cartridge mounting portion 300 of the inkjet printer.

[0037] To make the following description clearer, the side where the ink outlet 14 is located is defined as the bottom of the ink cartridge, the side opposite to the ink outlet 14 is defined as the top, the side where the clamping device 2 is located is the front, and the opposite side is the rear. Accordingly, when observing from the back to the front, the left side in this direction is the left side of the ink cartridge, the right side in this direction is the right side of the ink cartridge, and the face cover is installed above the bottom shell 10.

[0038] As shown in the figure, the bottom shell 10 further includes an ink chamber 11 disposed therein and an operating chamber 12 disposed adjacent to the ink chamber 11. The ink chamber 11 and the operating chamber 12 are separated by the vertical plate 220 described below, so that the operating chamber 12 is not disturbed by ink. The ink is contained in the ink chamber 11 and supplied to the inkjet printer through the ink outlet 14. The clamping device 2 is disposed in the operating chamber 12. Along the front-to-back direction of the ink cartridge, the clamping device 2 is located in front of the ink chamber 11. Furthermore, the bottom shell 10 also has a front side surface 10a located in the front and a lower side surface 10b located below, a portion of the snap-in device 2 extends beyond the front side surface 10a, and another portion extends beyond the lower side surface 10b, and the ink outlet 14 is arranged on the lower side surface 10b and extends downward from the lower side surface 10b; typically, the ink cartridge 100 also includes a chip 13 arranged on the bottom shell 10, and when the ink cartridge 100 is combined with the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, the chip 13 establishes a communication connection with the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, and in this embodiment, the chip 13 is also fixed on the front side surface 10a.

[0039] The shape of the front side surface 10a is determined according to the shape of the corresponding part in the cartridge retaining portion 300. For example, the front side surface 10a in the present embodiment is not a straight surface, but is formed by a combination of adjacent first planes 10a1 and second planes 10a2, wherein the first plane 10a1 is parallel to the up-down direction, and the second plane 10a2 is inclined relative to the up-down direction, specifically from the upper front to the lower rear, and the side adjacent to the first plane 10a is located at a more forward position, a portion of the clamping device 2 exceeds the first plane 10a1, and the chip 13 is fixed on the second plane 10a2.

[0040] The card connection device 2 includes an unlocking component 21 and a locking component 22, wherein the locking component 22 is used to combine the ink cartridge 100 with the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, and the unlocking component 21 is used to act with the locking component 22 after receiving an external force to release the lock of the ink cartridge 100 and the ink cartridge retaining portion 300; in the process of combining the ink cartridge 100 with the ink cartridge installation portion 300, the locking component 22 combines the ink cartridge with the ink cartridge retaining portion in the left and right directions, and in the process of disengaging the ink cartridge 100 from the ink cartridge installation portion 300, under the action of an external force, the unlocking component 21 applies a force to the locking component 22 in the left and right directions to release the lock of the locking component 22.

[0041] Combination Figure 2C , Figure 3A and Figure 3B The locking assembly 22 includes a pair of connecting rods arranged opposite to each other in the left and right directions, and each connecting rod has the same structure. Here, one of the connecting rods is used as an example for description. The connecting rod includes a vertical rod 221, an extension portion 222 extending from the vertical rod 221, and a connecting portion 223 arranged on the extension portion 222. The connecting portion 223 extends (protrudes) from the extension portion 222 to the direction inside the ink cartridge 100, that is, the connecting portion 223 located on the left connecting rod extends (protrudes) from the extension portion 222 to the right, and the connecting portion 223 located on the right connecting rod extends (protrudes) from the extension portion 222 to the left. Finally, the connecting portions on the two connecting rods are arranged opposite to each other in the left and right directions. A connecting surface 224 is formed on the connecting portion 223. Preferably, the connecting surface 224 is perpendicular to the surface of the adjacent extension portion 222, so as to ensure that the locking assembly 22 can stably lock the ink cartridge 100 on the ink cartridge holding portion 300.

[0042] The coupling rod can be formed integrally with the cartridge body 1, or the two can be formed separately. The coupling rod is mounted on the cartridge body 1. When the ink cartridge 100 is assembled, at least the coupling portion 223 extends downward from the lower side surface 10b, or at least the coupling portion 223 is located below the lower side surface 10b. In the vertical direction, the coupling portion 223 is located below the chip 13. In this embodiment, in order to allow the coupling portion 223 to obtain a greater deformation amount, preferably, a portion of the extension portion 222 is also located below the lower side surface 10b. The vertical rod 221 is arranged in the bottom shell 10 in the vertical direction. The locking assembly 22 also includes a base 220, such as Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown, the base 220 is a vertical plate arranged in the bottom shell 10, and the vertical rod 221 extends downward from the base 220; of course, the vertical rod 221 can also be directly extended downward from the surface cover, in which case the surface cover can be considered as the base 220.

[0043] The unlocking component 21 includes a force-bearing member 211, a transmission member 212, a pushing member 215 and a reset member 214. The force-bearing member 211 is used to receive external force. The transmission member 212 is arranged adjacent to the force-bearing member 211. The pushing member 215 is connected to the transmission member 212. The transmission member 212 is used to transmit the force to the pushing member 215. The pushing member 215 pushes the combining rod so that the combining rod undergoes elastic deformation to release the combination of the ink cartridge 100 and the ink cartridge retaining portion 300. During this process, the reset member 214 undergoes elastic deformation. When the external force is removed, the components in the unlocking component 21 are reset under the elastic reset force of the reset member 214.

[0044] As shown in the figure, the forced pushing member 215 is a rod-shaped body extending backward from the transmission member 212, one end of the reset member 214 is connected to the transmission member 212, and the other end is connected to the box body 1; preferably, the reset member 214 is a compression spring, and a guide plate is provided in the operating chamber 12, and the movement of the forced pushing member 215 is guided by the guide plate and accurately applies a force to a predetermined position of the locking assembly 22; more preferably, the unlocking assembly 21 also includes a guide rod 213 extending from the transmission member 212 in the same direction as the forced pushing member 215, and a first guide plate 121 and a second guide plate 122 are provided in the operating chamber 12. In the front-to-back direction, the second guide plate 122 is longer than the first guide plate 121, the first guide plate 121 guides the movement of the guide rod 213 in the front-to-back direction, and the second guide plate 122 guides the movement of the forced pushing member 215 in the front-to-back direction, and the compression spring 214 is sleeved on the guide rod 213 and is located between the first guide plate 121 and the transmission member 212.

[0045] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional view of the ink cartridge holding portion in the inkjet printer involved in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] The ink cartridge holding portion 300 is defined as having the front, rear, top, bottom, left and right sides as shown in the figure, based on the state when the ink cartridge 100 is combined with the ink cartridge holding portion 300. The ink cartridge holding portion 300 includes a bottom plate 30a and a side plate 30b connected to each other, and a plurality of ink cartridge installation slots 31 are provided on the side plate 30b. Two combination holes 32 are provided on the bottom plate 30a corresponding to each ink cartridge installation slot 31, and the two combination holes 32 are separated by a partition plate 33 formed as a part of the bottom plate 30a in the left-right direction.

[0047] Figure 5 This is a side view of the ink cartridge involved in the first embodiment of the present invention after being installed, cut along the left-right direction and observed from the back to the front.

[0048] During the process of installing the ink cartridge 100 into the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, the coupling portion 223 is opposite to the partition 33. As the ink cartridge 100 is pressed downward, the two opposite coupling portions 223 begin to deform away from each other along the left-right direction until the coupling portion 223 enters the coupling hole 32. When the ink cartridge 100 is continued to be pressed downward, the coupling surface 224 is buckled with the partition 33, and the locking assembly 22 is coupled to the ink cartridge retaining portion 300 in the left-right direction. Since the partition 33 is a regular rectangular parallelepiped, and the coupling surface 224 is perpendicular to the adjacent extension portion 222 surface, the coupling surface 224 and the partition 33 can be seamlessly coupled, and the ink cartridge 100 is firmly mounted on the ink cartridge retaining portion 300.

[0049] When the ink cartridge 100 needs to be taken out of the ink cartridge holding portion 300, the force-bearing member 211 is subjected to a force applied from the front to the rear, the transmission member 212 drives the guide rod 213 and the pushing member 215 to move backward, the compression spring 214 is compressed, and the pushing member 215 enters the first gap g1 formed between the two combining rods in the locking assembly 22, and the two combining rods are pushed apart by the pushing member 215 and move to the left and right respectively (moving in directions away from each other), thereby driving the combining portion 223 to move to the left and right respectively, and when the combining surface 224 is disengaged from the partition 33, the locking assembly 22 is unlocked, and the ink cartridge 100 is disengaged from the ink cartridge holding portion 300 and is taken out upward; when the force is removed, the unlocking assembly 21 starts to move from the rear to the front under the elastic restoring force of the compression spring 214, the pushing member 215 gradually moves away from the first gap g1, and the relatively arranged combining rods move toward each other and reset.

[0050] Alternatively, the reset member 214 can be arranged between the transmission member 212 and any fixed component in the operating chamber 12 along the left-right direction. For example, the reset member 214 is sleeved on the push member 215 and is located between the transmission member 212 and the second guide plate 122, or between the transmission member 212 and the vertical plate 220. In this case, the reset member 214 is a compression spring; the reset member 214 can also be arranged between the front side 10a and the transmission member 212. In this case, the reset member 214 is a tension spring; it can be concluded that when the reset member 214 is located behind the transmission member 212, the reset member 214 can use a compression spring, and when the reset member 214 is located in front of the transmission member 212, the reset member 214 can use a tension spring. Of course, the reset member 214 can also be elastic rubber, a magnetic component, etc.

[0051] like Figure 2C and Figure 5 As shown, in order to make the connecting portion 223 have a larger deformation amount in the left-right direction, the farther away from the vertical rod 221, the smaller the size of the extension portion 222 in the left-right direction. At this time, the extension portion 222 and the connecting portion 223 are also easier to enter the connecting hole 32; preferably, the extension portion 222 is divided into a first part 222a connected to the vertical rod 221 and a second part 222b connected to the connecting portion 223, the first part 222a is located above the second part 222b, and the size of the first part 222a in the left-right direction is greater than the size of the second part 222b in the left-right direction.

[0052] Regarding the forced push member 215, Figure 3AAs shown, preferably, the size of the free end of the rod-shaped body 215 (the end away from the transmission member 212) gradually becomes smaller, which is not only conducive to the rod-shaped body 215 to quickly enter the first gap g1, but also when the rod-shaped body 215 enters the first gap g1, the rod-shaped body 215 forces the relatively arranged combining rods to gradually separate, rather than separating to the maximum value in an instant, thereby reducing the probability of the combining rod breaking.

[0053] like Figure 2B , Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown, the cartridge body 1 further includes an air guide hole 15 disposed on the bottom shell 10, and the air guide hole 15 is used to replenish air into the ink chamber 11 after the ink in the ink chamber 11 is consumed, so as to maintain the air pressure in the ink chamber 11 stable. Therefore, the air guide hole 15 only needs to be connected to the ink chamber 11. Preferably, the air guide hole 15 is disposed on the lower side 10b and arranged adjacent to the ink outlet 14. When a sealing cover for sealing the ink outlet 14 is installed, the sealing cover can seal the air guide hole 15 at the same time. When the end user opens the sealing cover to use the ink cartridge 100, the air guide hole 15 is also opened at the same time, and a sealing member used to seal the air guide hole 15 alone can be omitted.

[0054] As described above, although the clamping device 2 of the present invention is also provided with a reset member 214 as an elastic element, the reset member 214 needs to be elastically deformed only in the process of removing the ink cartridge 100 from the ink cartridge retaining portion 300; during the operation of the ink cartridge 100, the reset member 214 is not subjected to external force and will not be elastically deformed. During the installation of the ink cartridge 100 to the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, although the backward thrust force applied to the force-bearing member 211 helps to separate the two relatively arranged coupling portions 223 in the left and right directions, thereby reducing the installation resistance of the ink cartridge 100, even without the aid of the unlocking component 21, that is, no force is transmitted between the unlocking component 21 and the locking component 22, the two relatively arranged coupling portions 223 can be separated in the left and right directions by only applying downward pressure to the ink cartridge 100. Therefore, the probability of deformation fatigue of the reset member 214 in the clamping device 2 of the present invention is greatly reduced.

[0055] [Example 2]

[0056] Figure 6 is a three-dimensional diagram of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 It is a stereoscopic view of the ink cartridge involved in the second embodiment of the present invention when it is cut along the front-to-back direction and observed from the right front to the left rear.

[0057] In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are numbered the same. The locking assembly 22 is still combined with the ink cartridge holding portion 300 in the left-right direction, and the combining portion 223 is located below the chip 13. The extension (protrusion) direction of the combining portion 223 is opposite to the extension (protrusion) direction of the combining portion in the first embodiment. As shown in the figure, the two combining rods are provided with combining portions 223, and the two combining portions 223 still extend from the extending portion 222 in the left-right direction, but the extension directions of the two combining portions 223 are opposite. Therefore, the combining process of the locking assembly 22 and the bottom plate 30a of the ink cartridge holding portion 30 in the left-right direction is basically the same as the combining process in the first embodiment. The difference is that when the ink cartridge 100 is taken out of the ink cartridge holding portion 300, the deformation direction of the combining rod / combining portion 223 is opposite to that in the first embodiment. For this reason, the structure of the unlocking assembly 21 in this embodiment is slightly different.

[0058] like Figure 7 As shown, the unlocking assembly 21 includes a force-bearing member 211, a transmission member 212, a forced push member 217 and a reset member. The reset member in this embodiment can be the same as the above embodiment and will not be described here. The forced push member 217 is a forced push rod extending from the transmission member 212. Similarly, there are two forced push rods 217 arranged opposite to each other in the left and right directions, and a second gap g2 is formed between the two forced push rods 217 in the left and right directions. Along the front-to-back direction, the second gap g2 gradually decreases from the back to the front.

[0059] When the ink cartridge 100 needs to be taken out from the ink cartridge holding portion 300, the force-bearing portion 211 is subjected to a force applied from front to back, and the force is transmitted to the pushing member 217 through the transmission member 212, the reset member undergoes elastic deformation, and the pushing member 217 gradually moves backward. As described above, since the second gap g2 gradually becomes smaller, the two pushing members 217 will respectively push the corresponding vertical rods 211, thereby causing the two vertical rods 211 to gradually approach each other in the left and right directions, that is, the first gap g1 between the two vertical rods 211 gradually becomes smaller, and at the same time, the coupling portion 223 also gradually disengages from the bottom plate 30a; when the force is withdrawn, under the action of the reset force of the reset member, the transmission member 212 drives the pushing member 217 to move from back to front, and the two vertical rods 211 gradually move away from each other in the left and right directions and reset.

[0060] [Example 3]

[0061] Based on the above two embodiments, the two combining portions 223 can also extend in the same direction from the extension portion 222, that is, the two combining portions 223 both extend to the left or both extend to the right. No matter in which direction the two combining portions 223 extend, the combining process of the locking component 22 and the bottom plate 30a of the ink cartridge retaining portion 300 is basically the same and will not be described here; the difference is that the structure of the unlocking component 21 is slightly different.

[0062] In this embodiment, the two pushing members of the unlocking component 21 can be arranged in combination with the above-mentioned two embodiments, that is, one of the pushing members can be inserted into the first gap g1 between the two combining rods, and the other pushing member pushes the vertical rod 221 from a direction opposite to the direction in which the combining portion 223 protrudes relative to the extending portion 222. Therefore, when the force is applied to the force-bearing member 221 from front to rear, the pushing member can transmit the force to the combining portion 223, so that the combining portion 223 is disengaged from the bottom plate 30a of the ink cartridge retaining portion 300.

[0063] [Example 4]

[0064] Figure 8 is a three-dimensional diagram of an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention combined with an ink cartridge holding portion in an inkjet printer; Fig. 9 is a three-dimensional diagram of an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig.10 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge retaining portion in the inkjet printer involved in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] In this embodiment, the clamping device is the same as that in the first embodiment, except that the clamping position of the clamping device and the ink cartridge holding portion 300 is different. Figure 8-Figure 10 The structure of the unlocking component 21 is not shown in the figure. It can be understood that a part of the unlocking component 21 exceeds the front side 10a, and the chip 13 is also installed on the front side 10a.

[0066] like Figure 8 and Fig.10 As shown, the ink cartridge holding portion 300 includes a bottom plate 30a and a plurality of side plates 30b connected to each other, and a plurality of extension plates 30c extending rearward from the front side plate 30b, wherein a plurality of ink outlet accommodating portions 31 are provided on the rear side plate 30b, each ink outlet accommodating portion 31 corresponds to an extension plate 30c, and the extension plate 30c has a first side surface 30c1 located on the left side, a second side surface 30c2 located on the right side, a third side surface 30c3 located on the rear side, and a fourth side surface 30c4 located on the lower side (as shown in FIG. Fig.12 shown).

[0067] The locking assembly 22 in the clamping device 2 still includes two combining rods, each of which is provided with the extension portion 222 and a combining portion 223 extending from the extension portion 222 in the left and right directions, and the combining portion 223 is provided with a combining surface 224 for combining with the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, and the combining portion 223 is located below the chip 13. Furthermore, the combining portion 223 is located below the lower side surface 10b. In this embodiment, the two combining portions 223 extend (protrude) toward each other.

[0068] When the ink cartridge 100 is installed toward the ink cartridge holding portion 300, as described in the first embodiment, the two coupling portions 223 expand and deform in the left and right directions away from each other and enter the position opposite to the first side surface 30c1 and the second side surface 30c2. As the ink cartridge 100 is further installed downward, the coupling portion 223 reaches the lower side of the extension plate 30c, the coupling surface 224 is coupled to the fourth side surface 30c4 of the extension plate 30c, and the extension portion 222 is opposite to the first side surface 30c1 and the second side surface 30c2. At this time, the ink cartridge 100 is completely coupled to the ink cartridge holding portion 300. When the ink cartridge 100 needs to be taken out of the ink cartridge holding portion 300, the coupling between the ink cartridge 100 and the ink cartridge holding portion 300 can be released by using the unlocking assembly 21.

[0069] [Example 5]

[0070] Fig.11 is a three-dimensional diagram of an ink cartridge according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig.12 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the ink cartridge involved in the fifth embodiment of the present invention combined with the ink cartridge holding part in the inkjet printer.

[0071] The ink cartridge 100 in this embodiment is no longer provided with the unlocking assembly 21, but is only provided with a protrusion 4 for engaging with the ink cartridge holding portion 300, and the protrusion 4 has a stepped surface 41 located at the upper side, as shown in FIG. Fig.11 As shown, the front side surface 10a of the ink cartridge includes a first plane 10a1 and a second plane 10a2 which are offset in the front-to-back direction. In the up-down direction, the second plane 10a2 is located below the first plane 10a1. The chip 13 is arranged on the first plane 10a1, the protrusion 4 is arranged on the second plane 10a2, and the protrusion 4 is located below the lower side surface 10b.

[0072] When the ink cartridge 100 is installed toward the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, the protrusion 4 is squeezed against the extension plate 30c and elastically deformed until the protrusion 4 passes over the third side surface 30c3 of the extension plate from top to bottom, and finally makes the fourth side surface 30c4 of the extension plate reach above the step surface 41. At this time, the ink cartridge 100 is positioned by the snap connection between the step surface 41 and the fourth side surface 30c4.

[0073] When the ink cartridge 100 needs to be taken out from the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, the terminal user applies a pulling force upward to the ink cartridge 100 as a whole in the up and down direction, and the protrusion 4 is squeezed against the extension plate 30c again and elastically deformed until the protrusion 4 passes over the third side surface 30c3 of the extension plate upward.

[0074] It can be seen that the protrusion 4 in the present embodiment is made of non-rigid material, for example, the protrusion 4 is formed by injection molding of a plastic material, or is made of an elastic material; the protrusion 4 in the present embodiment serves as a snap-in device, and only undergoes elastic deformation during the coupling process or disengagement process of the ink cartridge 100 and the ink cartridge retaining portion 300, and therefore, the probability of deformation fatigue of the protrusion 4 is also greatly reduced.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge, detachably coupled to an ink cartridge holding portion in an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising a cartridge body and a clamping device, the clamping device being used to detachably couple the ink cartridge to the ink cartridge holding portion, the clamping device comprising an unlocking component and a locking component, wherein: The locking assembly is used to combine the ink cartridge with the ink cartridge holding portion, and the unlocking assembly is used to unlock the ink cartridge and the ink cartridge holding portion, and is characterized in that: The box body includes a bottom shell and a surface cover which are combined with each other, the bottom shell includes an ink chamber arranged therein and an operation chamber which is adjacent to the ink chamber and isolated from each other, the operation chamber is located in front of the ink chamber, the ink chamber is used to contain ink, and the clamping device is arranged in the operation chamber; When the ink cartridge is installed in the ink cartridge holding portion, the locking assembly combines the ink cartridge with the ink cartridge holding portion in the left-right direction, and no force is transmitted between the unlocking assembly and the locking assembly; In the process of the ink cartridge being disengaged from the ink cartridge installation portion, under the action of an external force, the unlocking component applies a force to the locking component in the left and right directions to release the locking component; Along the left-right direction, a component in the unlocking assembly used for releasing the locking assembly is located within the range of the ink chamber.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The unlocking assembly includes a force-bearing member, a transmission member, a forced pushing member and a reset member. The force-bearing member is used to receive an external force. The transmission member is arranged adjacent to the force-bearing member. The forced pushing member is connected to the transmission member. The transmission member is used to transmit the force to the forced pushing member. When an external force is applied to the force-bearing member, the reset member undergoes elastic deformation, and the forced pushing member releases the lock of the locking assembly in the left and right directions; when the external force is removed, the force-bearing member, the transmission member and the forced pushing member are reset under the reset force of the reset member.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, characterized in that: The locking assembly includes a pair of combining rods arranged opposite to each other in the left and right directions, with a first gap between the two combining rods. Each combining rod includes a vertical rod, an extending portion extending from the vertical rod, and a combining portion arranged on the extending portion. The combining portion protrudes in the left and right directions and is used to combine with the ink cartridge retaining portion.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that: A combining surface is formed on the combining portion, and the combining surface and the surface of the adjacent extending portion are perpendicular to each other.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that: The two coupling parts protrude toward each other. When the ink cartridge is disengaged from the ink cartridge holding part, the pushing member is inserted into the first gap, forcing the coupling rod to move in the left and right directions away from each other, and the coupling part is disengaged from the ink cartridge holding part.

6. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that: The protruding directions of the two joints are opposite, the forced push member is a forced push rod extending from the transmission member in the left and right directions, and the two forced push rods form a second gap between the left and right directions. Along the front-to-back direction, the second gap gradually decreases from back to front.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that: When the ink cartridge is disengaged from the ink cartridge holding portion, the two pushing rods push the vertical rods corresponding thereto respectively, so that the two vertical rods gradually approach each other in the left-right direction.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that: The two coupling parts protrude in the same direction, and two pushing parts are provided. When the ink cartridge is disengaged from the ink cartridge retaining part, one of the pushing parts is inserted into the first gap, and the other pushing part pushes the vertical rod from the direction opposite to the direction in which the coupling part protrudes relative to the extension part.

9. The ink cartridge according to claim 3, characterized in that: The ink cartridge retaining portion includes a bottom plate and multiple side plates that are connected to each other, and multiple extension plates extending rearward from the front side plate. The extension plate has a first side surface located on the left, a second side surface located on the right, a third side surface located on the rear side, and a fourth side surface located on the lower side. The two combining portions protrude toward each other, passing through the first side surface and the second side surface respectively to reach the lower side of the extension plate.

10. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The box body is generally in a regular polymorphic shape, including a bottom shell and a cover combined with each other, the bottom shell has a front side surface located in the front and a lower side surface located below, a part of the clamping device exceeds the front side surface, and another part exceeds the lower side surface.

11. The ink cartridge according to claim 10, characterized in that: The ink cartridge further comprises a chip arranged on the bottom shell, and along the up-down direction, the portion of the clamping device exceeding the lower side surface is located below the chip.

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