Ink cartridge and printing system

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of ink cartridge and printing system, ink cartridge includes box body and rotating buckle, rotating buckle is rotationally installed at the bottom of box body, the rotation axis of rotating buckle is perpendicular to the insertion direction of ink cartridge, rotating buckle has bifurcate and is set locking portion and unlocking portion, rotating buckle can be switched between free posture, locking posture and unlocking posture;In free posture, along insertion direction, locking portion is located at the downstream end of unlocking portion, at least part locking portion and at least part unlocking portion are located outside the bottom wall of box body, the first free end of locking portion, the second free end of unlocking portion is divided into two sides of rotation axis;In locking posture, locking portion can limit the reverse movement of ink cartridge along insertion direction;In unlocking posture, along insertion direction, at least part unlocking portion is located at the downstream end of rotation axis.Printing system includes above-mentioned ink cartridge, and ink cartridge has the advantages of simple structure, easy to install and high reliability of falling lock.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of printing technology, specifically to an ink cartridge and a printing system equipped with the ink cartridge. Background Technology

[0002] Ink cartridges are common printing consumables for inkjet printers, and they are detachably installed on the printer's printhead. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the existing printhead 91 has an ink cartridge mounting cavity 911 for accommodating an ink cartridge 92. The bottom of the ink cartridge mounting cavity 911 has a T-shaped guide 9111 and a latch 9112. Along the insertion direction of the ink cartridge 92, the downstream end wall of the ink cartridge mounting cavity 911 has a fluid tube 9113 and an elastic element 9114; Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the bottom of the ink cartridge 92 is provided with a T-shaped guide rail 921 and a locking rail 922, and the locking rail 922 is provided with a locking fixing part 9221. When the ink cartridge 92 is installed into the ink cartridge mounting cavity 911, the ink cartridge 92 first engages with the T-shaped guide 9111 of the ink cartridge mounting cavity 911 via the T-shaped guide rail 921 to guide the ink cartridge 92 into the ink cartridge mounting cavity 911. As the ink cartridge 92 is inserted, it gradually compresses the elastic member 9114, and the fluid tube 9113 gradually inserts into the ink outlet of the ink cartridge 92. At the same time, the latch 9112 enters the latch rail 922 and is guided to the predetermined position 9222. Then, the insertion pressure on the ink cartridge 92 is released, causing the ink cartridge 92 to move in the opposite direction of insertion under the rebound force of the elastic member 9114 until the latch 9112 engages with the latch fixing part 9221, thereby completing the installation of the ink cartridge 92 into the ink cartridge mounting cavity 911. At this time, the fluid tube 9113 remains inserted in the ink outlet, enabling the ink cartridge 92 to supply ink to the printing nozzle.

[0003] However, the complex structure of the locking track 922 and the locking fixing part 9221 increases the manufacturing difficulty and cost of the ink cartridge 92. Furthermore, the assembly structure of the ink cartridge 92 and the ink cartridge mounting cavity 911 also has the problem of the locking track 922 failing to successfully guide the locking buckle 9112 to the predetermined position 9222. This results in the locking buckle 9112 failing to match the locking fixing part 9221 when the ink cartridge 92 is subjected to the rebound force of the elastic element 9114, ultimately leading to installation failure of the ink cartridge 92 and a poor user experience. For example, when the user pushes the ink cartridge 92 in, when the locking buckle 9112 is guided to the corner position 9223, the locking buckle 9112 will... The resistance at the corner position 9223 may cause the user to mistakenly believe that the designated position has been reached and release the handle. After releasing the handle, since the latch 9112 has not yet reached the predetermined position 9222, the ink cartridge 92 will be subjected to the rebound force of the elastic component, causing the latch 9112 to retract from the latch track 922 and fail to engage with the latch fixing part 9221. This will ultimately lead to the failure of the ink cartridge 92 installation. The user needs to repeatedly push the ink cartridge 92 to try to install it until the latch 9112 and the latch fixing part 9221 are successfully engaged. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, the main objective of this invention is to provide an ink cartridge that is simple in structure, easy to install, and has high locking reliability.

[0005] Another objective of this invention is to provide a printing system equipped with the aforementioned ink cartridge.

[0006] To achieve the main objective of this utility model, it provides an ink cartridge, including a cartridge body, and further including a rotating latch. The rotating latch is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the cartridge body, and the rotation axis of the rotating latch is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge. The rotating latch has a forked locking part and an unlocking part, and the rotating latch can switch between a free position, a locked position, and an unlocked position. In the free position, along the insertion direction, the locking part is located downstream of the unlocking part, and at least a portion of the locking part and at least a portion of the unlocking part are located outside the bottom wall of the cartridge body. The first free end of the locking part and the second free end of the unlocking part are located on opposite sides of the rotation axis. In the locked position, the locking part can restrict the reverse movement of the ink cartridge along the insertion direction. In the unlocked position, along the insertion direction, at least a portion of the unlocking part is located downstream of the rotation axis.

[0007] As can be seen from the above, the design of a rotating latch that engages with the locking mechanism of the inkjet printer significantly simplifies the ink cartridge structure, reduces manufacturing complexity and costs, and enables rapid assembly and disassembly of the ink cartridge from the printer's printhead. By controlling the movement of the ink cartridge relative to the printhead in the insertion direction, a rapid locking mechanism is achieved, at which point the rotating latch is in the locked position and engaged with the locking mechanism. Furthermore, by pushing the locked ink cartridge along the insertion direction, the rotating latch first switches to a free position. Then, under the action of the elastic element on the printhead, the ink cartridge is forced to move in the opposite direction along the insertion direction, causing the locking mechanism to push the unlocking mechanism to switch the rotating latch to the unlocked position, thus releasing the locking engagement between the rotating latch and the locking mechanism, and ultimately enabling rapid disassembly of the ink cartridge.

[0008] A preferred embodiment is that the first distance between the first free end and the axis of rotation is smaller than the second distance between the second free end and the axis of rotation.

[0009] As can be seen from the above, this design can reduce the distance required to move the ink cartridge to the locked position during installation, and also reduce the distance required to move the ink cartridge to the unlocked position during removal.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment is that the angle between the locking part and the unlocking part is between 80° and 100°.

[0011] As can be seen from the above, the angle design between the locking part and the unlocking part helps to ensure that the locking part and the locking mating part cooperate to reliably lock the ink cartridge, and also improves the convenience of the ink cartridge unlocking operation and ensures the reliability of unlocking.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment is that a first guide chamfer is provided on the side of the first free end facing away from the unlocking part, and the first guide chamfer forms an installation guide surface on the locking part; a second guide chamfer is provided on the side of the second free end facing away from the locking part, and the second guide chamfer forms a disassembly guide surface on the unlocking part; and a locking limiting surface is formed on the side of the locking part facing the unlocking part.

[0013] As can be seen from the above, the design of the first guide chamfer allows the locking part to smoothly pass over the locking mating part through the installation guide surface, switching the rotating buckle to the locked position, so as to ensure that the locking part and the locking mating part cooperate to lock the ink cartridge; the design of the second guide chamfer allows the unlocking part to smoothly pass over the locking mating part through the unlocking guide surface under the force of the elastic element after the rotating buckle is switched to the free position, so as to unlock the ink cartridge and realize the quick disassembly of the ink cartridge.

[0014] Another preferred embodiment is that the bottom of the cartridge body is provided with a connecting hole; the rotating buckle has a rotating shaft part, which is rotatably connected to the connecting hole, and the axis of the rotating shaft part is the axis of rotation, or the rotating buckle is provided with a through hole through itself, and the ink cartridge also includes a rotating shaft, the axis of the rotating shaft is the axis of rotation, the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the connecting hole and rotatably connected to the through hole, or the rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the through hole and fixedly connected to the through hole.

[0015] As can be seen from the above, the structure of the rotating buckle and the assembly method of the rotating buckle and the cartridge are diverse, which makes the production of ink cartridges more flexible and can be selected according to different requirements (such as production, assembly, cost, etc.).

[0016] A further option is that the rotating buckle can also be switched to an installation posture, in which at least part of the locking part is located at the upstream end of the rotation axis along the insertion direction.

[0017] As can be seen from the above, this design helps to simplify the structure of inkjet printers.

[0018] A further proposed solution is to have an ink chamber or a receiving cavity inside the cartridge, with an ink sac inside the receiving cavity; along the insertion direction, the front end of the cartridge has an ink outlet, and the cartridge also has an air vent; when an ink chamber is provided inside the cartridge, both the ink outlet and the air vent are connected to the ink chamber; when an ink sac is provided inside the cartridge, both the ink outlet and the air vent are connected to the ink sac.

[0019] As can be seen from the above, the ink cartridges can store ink in various ways, which makes the production of ink cartridges more flexible and can be selected according to different requirements (such as production, assembly, cost, etc.); the setting of the air port can balance the air pressure in the ink chamber or ink sac, ensuring that the ink flows smoothly and evenly to the ink outlet and guaranteeing image quality.

[0020] A further improvement is that the ink cartridge also includes a chip, which is installed on the cartridge body; the cartridge body has indicator lines.

[0021] As can be seen above, the chip is used to communicate with the printer to provide the printer with relevant information about the ink cartridge, such as ink color, number of cartridge uses, and remaining ink level. The design of the indicator lines helps to provide guidance to users during the installation and / or removal of the ink cartridge, ensuring that the ink cartridge is installed and removed more smoothly and improving the user experience.

[0022] To achieve another objective of this utility model, a printing system is provided, including an inkjet printer. The inkjet printer includes a printhead carriage with an ink cartridge mounting cavity. The front wall of the ink cartridge mounting cavity is provided with an elastic element, and the bottom of the ink cartridge mounting cavity is provided with a locking engagement part. The printing system also includes the aforementioned ink cartridge, which is detachably installed in the ink cartridge mounting cavity. When the ink cartridge is assembled with the ink cartridge mounting cavity, the rotating latch is in a locked position, and the elastic element forces the ink cartridge to move in the opposite direction, so that the locking part abuts against the locking engagement part. When the ink cartridge is disassembled from the ink cartridge mounting cavity, the ink cartridge is first moved in a controlled direction to switch the rotating latch to a free position, and then the elastic element forces the ink cartridge to move in the opposite direction, so that the unlocking part engages with the locking engagement part to switch the rotating latch to an unlocked position.

[0023] As can be seen from the above, by configuring the ink cartridges, the printing system makes it simpler and more convenient to install and remove the ink cartridges, while also helping to reduce production costs and user operating costs.

[0024] A further embodiment is that, in the free position of the rotating buckle, the top surface of the locking engagement part that engages with the locking part is higher than the end of the first free end; the locking engagement part has an attitude guide surface, which is connected to the top surface and located at the upstream end of the top surface along the insertion direction, and the attitude guide surface extends inclined to the top surface away from the bottom of the box and the upstream end of the insertion direction.

[0025] As can be seen from the above, this design allows the rotating latch to switch to the installation position more smoothly, and in turn, it makes it easier and faster to switch the rotating latch to the locked position. It also helps to simplify the structure of the inkjet printer. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the printhead assembly of an existing inkjet printer with some components omitted.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of an existing ink cartridge.

[0028] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of an existing ink cartridge in the locked position.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the printing system embodiment of the present invention with the ink cartridge in the locked position, omitting some components.

[0030] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the ink cartridge in its pre-installation state, omitting some components, from an embodiment of the printing system of this utility model.

[0031] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0032] Figure 7This is a partial structural diagram of the ink cartridge during the installation process, omitting some components, from an embodiment of the printing system of this utility model.

[0033] Figure 8 This is a partial structural diagram of the ink cartridge in the locked position, with some components omitted, from an embodiment of the printing system of this utility model.

[0034] Figure 9 This is a partial structural diagram of the ink cartridge in the first unlocking state during the unlocking process, after omitting some components of the printing system embodiment of this utility model.

[0035] Figure 10 This is a partial structural diagram of the ink cartridge in the second unlocking state during the unlocking process, after omitting some components, according to an embodiment of the printing system of this utility model.

[0036] Figure 11 This is a structural diagram of the locking mating part of an embodiment of the printing system of this utility model.

[0037] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Printing System Implementation Examples

[0039] Reference Figure 4 The printing system 100 includes an inkjet printer (not shown) and an ink cartridge 101. The inkjet printer includes a printhead carriage with an ink cartridge mounting cavity. Along the insertion direction X of the ink cartridge 101, the downstream end wall (i.e., the front end wall of the ink cartridge 101) is provided with an elastic element and a first fluid tube (for supplying ink flow). A locking engagement part 102 is provided at the bottom of the ink cartridge mounting cavity, and the ink cartridge 101 is detachably mounted within the ink cartridge mounting cavity. It should be noted that, compared to the ink cartridge mounting cavity of existing printhead carriages, in this embodiment, the T-shaped guide at the bottom of the ink cartridge mounting cavity can be omitted, and the locking engagement part 102 replaces the latch requiring complex movement. Since the other mechanisms of the inkjet printer are consistent with existing inkjet printers, they will not be described in detail here.

[0040] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6 The ink cartridge 101 includes a cartridge body 1, a rotating latch 2, and a chip. In some embodiments, the cartridge body 1 has an ink cavity 11, allowing the ink cartridge 101 to directly store ink through the ink cavity 11; in some embodiments, the cartridge body 1 has a receiving cavity containing an ink sac for storing ink. Therefore, the cartridge body 1 offers diverse ink storage methods, making the production of the ink cartridge 101 more flexible and allowing selection based on different requirements (such as production, assembly, cost, etc.).

[0041] Along the insertion direction X, the front end of the cartridge body 1 (i.e., the downstream end wall of the ink cartridge 101) is provided with an ink outlet 12. When an ink cavity 11 is provided inside the cartridge body 1, the ink outlet 12 communicates with the ink cavity 11; when an ink sac is provided inside the cartridge body 1, the ink outlet 12 communicates with the ink sac. When the cartridge body 1 is assembled into the ink cartridge mounting cavity of the ink cartridge 101, a first fluid tube is inserted into the ink outlet 12, allowing the ink in the ink cavity 11 / ink sac to flow to the first fluid tube, thereby supplying ink to the print head of the print carriage. Preferably, the ink outlet 12 is located near the bottom of the cartridge body 1.

[0042] Furthermore, the cartridge body 1 is also provided with an air vent 13, which is preferably located at the front end of the cartridge body 1. A second fluid tube (for gas flow) is provided on the front wall of the ink cartridge mounting cavity. When the cartridge body 1 is assembled into the ink cartridge mounting cavity of the ink cartridge 101, the second fluid tube is inserted into the air vent 13. When an ink cavity 11 is provided inside the cartridge body 1, the air vent 13 communicates with the ink cavity 11; when an ink sac is provided inside the cartridge body 1, the air vent 13 communicates with the ink sac. The air vent 13 is used to supply air to the ink cavity 11 / ink sac to ensure constant pressure inside the ink cavity 11 / ink sac, ensuring that the ink can flow smoothly and evenly to the first fluid tube, thereby ensuring image quality. Preferably, the air vent 13 is located near the top of the cartridge body 1.

[0043] The rotating latch 2 is rotatably mounted on the bottom of the cartridge body 1, and the rotation axis of the rotating latch 2 is perpendicular to the insertion direction X of the ink cartridge 101. The rotating latch 2 has a locking part 21 and an unlocking part 22, which are bifurcated, making the locking part 21 and the unlocking part 22 L-shaped.

[0044] The bottom of the ink cartridge 101 is provided with a connection hole 14, which extends along the rotation axis. In this embodiment, the rotating buckle 2 also has a rotating shaft portion 23, which is preferably located at the intersection of the locking portion 21 and the unlocking portion 22. The axis of the rotating shaft portion 23 is the rotation axis, and the rotating shaft portion 23 is rotatably connected to the connection hole 14 so that the rotating buckle 2 can rotate relative to the cartridge body 1. In some embodiments, the ink cartridge 101 further includes a rotating shaft, the axis of which is the rotation axis. The rotating buckle 2 is provided with a through hole, which passes through the rotating buckle 2 along the rotation axis, and the through hole is preferably located at the intersection of the locking portion 21 and the unlocking portion 22. As an optional connection method, the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the connection hole 14 and rotatably connected to the through hole. As another optional connection method, the rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the connection hole 14 and fixedly connected to the through hole. It is evident that the structure of the rotating buckle 2 and the assembly method between the rotating buckle 2 and the cartridge 1 are diverse, making the production of the ink cartridge 101 more flexible and allowing it to be selected according to different requirements (such as production, assembly, cost, etc.).

[0045] The rotating latch 2, which can rotate relative to the box 1, has multiple postures, including the installation posture (see reference). Figure 7), locked posture (reference) Figure 1 and Figure 8 ), free pose (reference) Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 9 ) and unlocking stance (see reference) Figure 10 The rotating buckle 2 can switch between multiple postures.

[0046] In the installation position, at least part of the locking part 21 is located upstream of the rotation axis along the insertion direction X; at this time, the rotating latch 2 engages with the locking engagement part 102 through the locking part 21 to enter this position. This position design helps to simplify the structure of the inkjet printer, eliminating the need for a drive mechanism to move the locking engagement part 102, thereby reducing the production cost and control difficulty of the inkjet printer.

[0047] In the free posture, along the insertion direction X, the locking part 21 is located at the downstream end of the unlocking part 22, and at least part of the locking part 21 and at least part of the unlocking part 22 are located outside the bottom wall of the box body 1; at this time, the rotating buckle 2 is affected by gravity and, based on the distribution position of the rotating shaft part 23 / rotating shaft and the locking part 21 and unlocking part 22, and based on the absence of external force (except gravity), it can rotate freely and will eventually remain in this free posture. At this time, the first free end of the locking part 21 and the second free end of the unlocking part 22 are located on both sides of the rotation axis.

[0048] In the locked position, the locking part 21 can restrict the ink cartridge 101 from moving in the opposite direction of insertion X. Specifically, at this time, the ink cartridge 101 is forced to move in the opposite direction of insertion X under the action of the elastic member in the ink cartridge mounting cavity, and the locking part 21 abuts against the locking engagement part 102 to restrict the ink cartridge 101 from continuing to move in the opposite direction of insertion X. In this position, the ink cartridge 101 is in the locked position.

[0049] In the unlocked position, at least part of the unlocking part 22 is located at the downstream end of the rotation axis along the insertion direction X; at this time, the rotating buckle 2 engages with the locking engagement part 102 through the unlocking part 22 to enter the position, in which the ink cartridge 101 is in the unlocked position.

[0050] More preferably, refer to Figure 6The first distance L1 between the first free end of the locking part 21 and the rotation axis is smaller than the second distance L2 between the second free end of the unlocking part 22 and the rotation axis. Compared with the case where the first distance L1 and the second distance L2 are equal, this design can reduce the distance required for the ink cartridge 101 to move to the locked position during installation, and also reduce the distance required for the ink cartridge 101 to move to the unlocked position during removal. Compared with the case where the first distance L1 is greater than the second distance L2, this design can ensure the reliability of locking and improve the convenience of locking operation. In addition, it can also prevent the distance between the ink cartridge 101 and the unlocked position from being too small, thereby preventing the situation of mis-locking.

[0051] Furthermore, the included angle α between the locking part 21 and the unlocking part 22 is preferably between 80° and 100°; more preferably, the included angle α is 90°, so that in the locked position, both the locking part 21 and the unlocking part 22 can better fit the locking engagement part 102, ensuring the reliability of the ink cartridge 101 being locked. By designing the included angle between the locking part 21 and the unlocking part 22, in addition to helping to ensure that the locking part 21 and the locking engagement part 102 cooperate to reliably lock the ink cartridge 101, it also avoids an excessively large gap between the first free end of the locking part 21 and the second free end of the unlocking part 22, thereby improving the convenience of the ink cartridge 101 unlocking operation and ensuring the reliability of unlocking.

[0052] Furthermore, in order to enable the rotating latch 2 to switch from a free position to an installed position during the installation of the ink cartridge 101, a first guide chamfer 211 is provided at the first free end of the locking part 21. The first guide chamfer 211 is located on the side of the locking part 21 facing away from the unlocking part 22, and the first guide chamfer 211 forms an installation guide surface 2111 on the locking part 21. This allows the locking part 21 to smoothly switch the rotating latch 2 from a free position to an installed position through the installation guide surface 2111, and also helps the locking part 21 to smoothly pass over the locking engagement part 102, so that the rotating latch 2 switches from an installed position to a locked position, thereby ensuring that the locking part 21 and the locking engagement part 102 cooperate to lock the ink cartridge 101. Similarly, to facilitate the switching of the rotating latch 2 from a free position to an unlocked position during the disassembly of the ink cartridge 101, a second guide chamfer 221 is provided at the second free end of the unlocking part 22. The second guide chamfer 221 is located on the side of the unlocking part 22 facing away from the locking part 21, and forms a disassembly guide surface 2211 on the unlocking part 22. After the rotating latch 2 switches from the locked position to the free position, the ink cartridge 101, under the pressure of the elastic element, can be smoothly switched from the free position to the disassembly position by the unlocking part 22 through the disassembly guide surface 2211. This also helps the unlocking part 22 smoothly pass over the locking engagement part 102 to unlock the ink cartridge 101, achieving rapid disassembly of the ink cartridge 101. In addition, a locking limiting surface 212 is formed on the side of the locking part 21 facing the unlocking part 22, so that the locking part 21 can better fasten to the locking engagement part 102 in the locked position.

[0053] The chip is mounted on the housing 1. In some embodiments, the chip is detachably connected to the housing 1; in other embodiments, the chip is integrally formed with the housing 1. The chip is preferably located above the air vent 13. The chip is used to establish communication with the inkjet printer to provide the inkjet printer with relevant information about the ink cartridge 101, such as ink color, number of uses of the ink cartridge 101, ink remaining, etc.

[0054] In some embodiments, indicator lines may also be provided on the cartridge body 1. These indicator lines provide location information to the user during the installation and / or removal of the ink cartridge 101, ensuring smoother installation and removal and improving the user experience. Optionally, the indicator lines may be integrally molded onto the cartridge body 1; alternatively, the indicator lines may be sticker-like labels adhered to the cartridge body 1. Preferably, the indicator lines are located at the top of the ink cartridge 101, depending on the user's method and viewing angle during installation and removal.

[0055] Combination Figure 11The top of the locking engagement part 102 is preferably provided with a guide groove 1021. The width of the guide groove 1021 (extending along the rotation axis) is adapted to the width of the rotating buckle 2, so that when the rotating buckle 2 is in the installation posture, the locking part 21 can be placed in the guide groove 1021, and when the rotating buckle 2 is in the locked posture or the unlocked posture, the unlocking part 22 can be placed in the guide groove 1021.

[0056] Furthermore, the locking engagement part 102 also has an attitude guide surface 1022. Along the insertion direction X, the attitude guide surface 1022 is in contact with the top surface 10211 (the bottom surface of the guide groove 1021 in this embodiment; it can be understood that in some embodiments, if the locking engagement part 102 does not have a guide groove 1021, then the top surface 10211 is the top surface 10211 where the locking engagement part 102 engages with the rotary buckle 2) and is located at the upstream end of the top surface 10211. The attitude guide surface 1022 extends inclined away from the top surface 10211 towards the bottom of the housing 1 and the upstream end of the insertion direction X. The design of the attitude guide surface 1022 helps the rotary buckle 2 switch from a free posture to an installed posture.

[0057] Furthermore, when the rotating buckle 2 is in a free position, the top surface 10211 of the locking engagement part 102 that engages with the locking part 21 is higher than the first free end of the locking part 21 (see [reference]). Figure 5 This design helps simplify the structure of inkjet printers, eliminating the need for a drive mechanism to move the locking engagement 102 in order to control the rotation of the rotating latch 2.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking engagement portion 102 has a guide portion 1023, which includes two guide plates. The two guide plates are located on both sides of the locking engagement portion 102 in the width direction of the locking engagement portion 102, and a limiting guide groove 1021 is formed between the two guide plates. The limiting guide groove 1021 is used for engagement with the cartridge body 1 to guide and limit the ink cartridge 101 during installation. And / or, a T-shaped guide can also be provided at the bottom of the ink cartridge mounting cavity, and correspondingly, a T-shaped guide rail that engages with the T-shaped guide is provided at the bottom of the ink cartridge 101.

[0059] The following is a brief description of the disassembly and assembly process of ink cartridge 101 relative to the ink cartridge mounting cavity:

[0060] When ink cartridge 101 needs to be installed, insert ink cartridge 101 into the ink cartridge mounting cavity along the insertion direction X; during the installation process of ink cartridge 101:

[0061] The cartridge body 1 of ink cartridge 101 engages with the limiting guide groove 1021, during which the elastic element is compressed and stores energy. For example... Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, when the rotating latch 2 is not moved to the locking engagement part 102, the rotating latch 2 is in a free position. When the rotating latch 2 moves to the locking engagement part 102, the mounting guide surface 2111 of the locking part 21 engages with the posture guide surface 1022 to force the rotating latch 2 to rotate and switch to the mounting posture, as shown. Figure 7 As shown, at this time, the rotating buckle 2 enters the locking engagement part 102 (in this embodiment, the locking part 21 also enters the guide groove 1021). When the ink cartridge 101 is pushed to the designated position (i.e., the locking part 21 passes the locking engagement part 102, but the unlocking part 22 is still in the locking engagement part 102), the rotating buckle rotates to the locked position. At this time, the pressure on the ink cartridge 101 is released, causing the ink cartridge 101 to be driven to move in the opposite direction of the insertion direction X under the elastic force of the elastic element, thereby causing the locking part 21 to press against the locking engagement part 102, so that the ink cartridge 101 is locked in the locked position, as shown. Figure 8 As shown, the installation of ink cartridge 101 is completed. When ink cartridge 101 is in the locked position, the rotating buckle 2 of ink cartridge 101 is supported by the locking fitting part 102 along the insertion direction X on the one hand, and by the spring part along the insertion direction X on the other hand, so that under the action of the two opposite forces, ink cartridge 101 is fixed in ink cartridge mounting cavity.

[0062] When it is necessary to install ink cartridge 101, first push ink cartridge 101 in the insertion direction X, and then release the push on ink cartridge 101. During the disassembly process of ink cartridge 101:

[0063] When the ink cartridge 101 is pushed along the insertion direction X, the locking part 21 separates from the locking engagement part 102, and as the ink cartridge 101 is pushed, the unlocking part 22 separates from the locking engagement part 102. At this time, the rotating latch 2 is not subject to external forces (except gravity) and switches from a locked position to a free position, as shown below. Figure 9 As shown. Subsequently, when the push on the ink cartridge 101 is released and / or the ink cartridge 101 is pulled in the opposite direction of the insertion direction X, the ink cartridge 101 moves in the opposite direction of the insertion direction X with the assistance of the elastic element. During the movement, the disassembly guide surface 2211 of the unlocking part 22 engages with the locking engagement part 102 to drive the rotating latch 2 to rotate in the opposite direction of the rotation direction during installation, thereby switching the rotating latch 2 from a free position to an unlocked position, and the ink cartridge 101 enters the unlocked position, as shown. Figure 10 As shown; next, pull the ink cartridge 101 in the opposite direction of the insertion direction X to remove the ink cartridge 101 from the ink cartridge installation cavity to complete the disassembly of the ink cartridge 101.

[0064] In summary, the design of the ink cartridge 101 ensures that during installation or removal, the rotating latch 2 engages with the locking engagement part 102 of the printhead carriage on the inkjet printer side, locking or separating the ink cartridge 101 from the locking engagement part 102, thus achieving a stable connection of the ink cartridge 101 within the ink cartridge mounting cavity. This invention eliminates the need for a locking track and locking fixing part in the ink cartridge 101 structure, and eliminates the need for a complex motion structure in the ink cartridge mounting cavity structure. This avoids the situation where the locking track fails to guide the latch to the predetermined position, causing the ink cartridge 101 to be subjected to the rebound force of the elastic element, resulting in a failure of the latch to engage with the locking fixing part. Therefore, the ink cartridge 101 provided by this utility model has high installation convenience, improves user experience, effectively simplifies the structure of the ink cartridge 101, and reduces the production cost of the ink cartridge 101; while the printing system 100, by configuring the ink cartridge 101, makes it simpler, more convenient and reliable to install and remove the ink cartridge 101, and also helps to reduce production costs and user operating costs.

[0065] Finally, it should be emphasized that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. For those skilled in the art, the present utility model can have various changes and modifications. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge, including a cartridge body, characterized in that: It also includes a rotating latch, which is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the cartridge body. The rotation axis of the rotating latch is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the ink cartridge. The rotating latch has a locking part and an unlocking part that are bifurcated. The rotating latch can switch between a free posture, a locked posture and an unlocked posture. In the free posture, along the insertion direction, the locking part is located at the downstream end of the unlocking part, at least a portion of the locking part and at least a portion of the unlocking part are located outside the bottom wall of the box body, and the first free end of the locking part and the second free end of the unlocking part are located on both sides of the rotation axis; In the locked position, the locking part can restrict the reverse movement of the ink cartridge along the insertion direction; In the unlocked position, at least a portion of the unlocking part is located at the downstream end of the rotation axis along the insertion direction.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first distance between the first free end and the rotation axis is smaller than the second distance between the second free end and the rotation axis.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle between the locking part and the unlocking part is between 80° and 100°.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first guide chamfer is provided on the side of the first free end facing away from the unlocking part, and the first guide chamfer forms an installation guide surface on the locking part; The second free end has a second guide chamfer on the side opposite to the locking part, and the second guide chamfer forms a disassembly guide surface on the unlocking part; The side of the locking part facing the unlocking part is formed with a locking limiting surface.

5. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the box is provided with a connection hole; The rotating buckle has a pivot portion, which is rotatably connected to the connecting hole. The axis of the pivot portion is the axis of rotation. The rotating buckle has a through hole, and the ink cartridge also includes a rotating shaft. The axis of the rotating shaft is the rotation axis. The rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the connecting hole and rotatably connected to the through hole, or the rotating shaft is rotatably connected to the through hole and fixedly connected to the through hole.

6. The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The rotating buckle can also be switched to an installation posture, in which at least part of the locking part is located at the upstream end of the rotation axis along the insertion direction.

7. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that: The box contains an ink chamber, or The box body has a receiving cavity, and the receiving cavity contains an ink sac; Along the insertion direction, the front end of the cartridge is provided with an ink outlet, and the cartridge is also provided with an air outlet; When the ink cavity is provided inside the cartridge, both the ink outlet and the air outlet are connected to the ink cavity; When the ink sac is installed inside the cartridge, both the ink outlet and the air outlet are connected to the ink sac.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 6, characterized in that: The ink cartridge also includes a chip, which is mounted on the cartridge body; The box is equipped with indicator lines.

9. A printing system, comprising an inkjet printer, the inkjet printer including a printhead carriage, the printhead carriage having an ink cartridge mounting cavity, the front end wall of the ink cartridge mounting cavity being provided with an elastic element, characterized in that: The bottom of the ink cartridge mounting cavity is provided with a locking engagement part; The printing system further includes an ink cartridge as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, the ink cartridge being detachably mounted within the ink cartridge mounting cavity; When the ink cartridge is assembled with the ink cartridge mounting cavity, the rotating buckle is in the locked position, and the elastic element forces the ink cartridge to move in the opposite direction, so that the locking part abuts against the locking mating part; When the ink cartridge is disassembled from the ink cartridge mounting cavity, the ink cartridge is first moved in a controlled manner along the insertion direction to switch the rotating buckle to the free position. Then, the elastic element forces the ink cartridge to move in the opposite direction, so that the unlocking part cooperates with the locking part to switch the rotating buckle to the unlocked position.

10. The printing system according to claim 9, characterized in that: When the rotary buckle is in the free position, the top surface of the locking engagement part that engages with the locking part is higher than the end of the first free end. The locking mating part has an attitude guide surface. Along the insertion direction, the attitude guide surface is in contact with the top surface and located at the upstream end of the top surface. The attitude guide surface extends inclined to the top surface away from the bottom of the box and the upstream end of the insertion direction.

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