Liquid cartridge

Abstract

To provide a liquid cartridge that is configured so that liquid remains less in the liquid cartridge and a structure of a mold for molding an enclosure can be simplified.SOLUTION: A liquid cartridge 30 is provided with: an enclosure 31 having a first cylindrical part 33 extending along a first direction; a cylindrical first support member 11 accommodated in the first cylindrical part 33; and a first valve mechanism 12 at least partially accommodated in the first support member 11. The first valve mechanism 12 has: a seal member 35 having a first through-hole 19; a valve 36 which is positioned in an inner space of the first support member 11 and opens and closes the first through-hole 19; and an energizing member 37 which is positioned in the inner space of the first support member 11 and energizes the valve 36 toward the seal member 35. The first support member 11 has, at one end 11B in the first direction, a part 205 partitioning a second through-hole 206.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 22

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge in which liquid is stored. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cartridge in which ink is stored. The cartridge described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing having a liquid chamber and an ink valve chamber. The ink valve chamber communicates with the lower end of the liquid chamber through a through hole. In the ink valve chamber, a packing having an ink supply port formed therein, a valve for opening and closing the ink supply port, and a coil spring for biasing the valve toward the packing are arranged.

[0003] When the cartridge is mounted in the mounting case, the needle of the tank is inserted into the ink supply port and abuts against the valve. The needle moves the valve away from the ink supply port against the biasing force of the coil spring. This causes the ink in the ink chamber of the cartridge to move through the through hole, the ink valve chamber, and the needle into the ink chamber of the tank due to the hydraulic head difference. When the ink level in the ink chamber of the cartridge becomes slightly lower than the position of the upper end of the through hole, the ink in the ink chamber of the cartridge and the ink valve chamber does not move to the ink chamber of the tank. In other words, the ink in the cartridge can be used until the ink level reaches the position of the upper end of the through hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-171922 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the cartridge of Patent Document 1, a partition wall is provided to define the through hole that communicates from the ink valve chamber to the lower end of the liquid chamber, which makes the structure of the mold for molding the housing complex. If the partition wall is omitted to simplify the mold structure, the amount of ink that remains in the cartridge without being used increases.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a liquid cartridge that can simplify the structure of the mold for molding the casing while reducing the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The present disclosure relates to a liquid cartridge. The liquid cartridge includes a housing having a first cylindrical portion extending along a first direction, a cylindrical first support member housed in the first cylindrical portion, and a first valve mechanism at least a portion of which is housed in the first support member. The first valve mechanism includes a seal member having a first through hole, a valve located in an internal space of the first support member for opening and closing the first through hole, and a biasing member located in the internal space of the first support member for biasing the valve toward the seal member. The first support member has a portion that defines a second through hole at one end in the first direction.

[0008] When the first through hole of the seal member is opened, the liquid in the liquid cartridge flows out of the liquid cartridge through the second through hole, the first support member, and the first through hole. When the liquid level in the liquid cartridge drops slightly below the position of the upper end of the second through hole, the air in the liquid cartridge can flow out of the liquid cartridge through the second through hole and the first support member, so that the liquid in the liquid cartridge is less likely to move out of the liquid cartridge. In other words, the liquid in the liquid cartridge can be used until the liquid level of the liquid in the liquid cartridge drops to the position of the upper end of the second through hole. If the support member has a structure in which a portion defining the second through hole is provided, the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge can be reduced without providing a portion defining the through hole in the housing. Since it is not necessary to provide a portion defining the through hole in the housing, the structure of the mold for molding the housing can be simplified.

[0009] (2) The portion defining the second through hole may protrude inwardly in an annular shape from an inner circumferential surface of the first support member.

[0010] Since the position of the upper end of the second through-hole is lowered, more liquid can be used from within the liquid cartridge.

[0011] (3) The seal member may have a first seal portion in close contact with an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion, and a second seal portion in close contact with the valve.

[0012] The liquid in the housing is prevented from leaking to the outside from the liquid cartridge through a gap between the first seal portion and the inner surface of the first cylindrical portion. When the valve closes the first through hole, the liquid in the housing is prevented from leaking to the outside from the first through hole of the seal member through the gap between the second seal portion and the valve.

[0013] (4) The first support member may have a protruding portion protruding inward from an inner circumferential surface of the first support member. One end of the biasing member in the first direction may be supported by the protruding portion. The other end of the biasing member in the first direction may be in close contact with the valve.

[0014] The biasing member can bias the valve toward the seal member in a stable position.

[0015] (5) The first support member may be in pressure contact with an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion. The other end of the first support member in the first direction may have a third seal portion in close contact with the seal member.

[0016] The sealing member is positioned in the first direction by the first support member, and the sealing member is prevented from entering the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the first support member and the inner surface of the first cylindrical portion.

[0017] (6) A gap between a lower end of an outer peripheral surface of the first support member and an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion may be smaller than a gap between an upper end of an outer peripheral surface of the first support member and an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion.

[0018] Liquid is less likely to remain in the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the first support member and the inner surface of the first cylindrical portion.

[0019] (7) The first valve mechanism may have a third through hole penetrating along the first direction and may further have a cap attached to an inner surface of the other end of the first cylindrical portion in the first direction. The cap may be in close contact with the seal member.

[0020] The sealing member is more reliably positioned in the first direction by the cap, and is less likely to fall off the first cylindrical portion.

[0021] (8) The outer circumferential surface of the first support member may have a fourth seal portion in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion.

[0022] Even if liquid enters the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the first support member and the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion, the fourth seal portion prevents the liquid from leaking to the outside through the gap.

[0023] (8) The housing may further include a second cylindrical portion extending along the first direction. The other end of the second cylindrical portion in the first direction may be located closer to the other end in the first direction than the other end of the first cylindrical portion in the first direction. The liquid cartridge may include a cylindrical second support member housed in the second cylindrical portion, and a second valve mechanism at least a portion of which is housed in the second support member. The length of the second support member in the first direction may be longer than the length of the first support member in the first direction.

[0024] When the liquid in the liquid cartridge flows out of the liquid cartridge through the first tube portion, air flows into the liquid cartridge through the second tube portion, so that the liquid in the liquid cartridge easily moves out of the liquid cartridge through the second through-hole, the first support member, and the first through-hole. For example, when an image recording device with a liquid cartridge mounted therein is transported, if the image recording device is placed on the floor so that the other end of the second tube portion in the first direction faces downward, the other end of the second tube portion in the first direction is lower than the other end of the first tube portion in the first direction, so that the liquid in the liquid cartridge may flow out through the internal space of the second support member housed in the second tube portion. In this case, the height of the upper end of the second support member is likely to be higher than the height of the liquid level in the liquid cartridge, so that the liquid in the liquid cartridge is unlikely to flow into the second support member. This prevents the liquid in the liquid cartridge from flowing out of the liquid cartridge through the second support member.

[0025] (9) One end of the first support member in the first direction may be located closer to one end in the first direction than one end of the second support member in the first direction.

[0026] For example, if the image recording device with the liquid cartridge attached is placed on the floor so that the other end of the second cylindrical portion in the first direction faces downward during transportation of the image recording device, the height of the upper end of the first support member becomes higher than the height of the upper end of the second support member, making it difficult for the liquid in the liquid cartridge to flow into the first support member. This prevents the liquid in the liquid cartridge from flowing out of the liquid cartridge through the second through-hole, the first support member, and the first through-hole.

[0027] (10) The second support member may have a rectangular third through hole at one end in the first direction.

[0028] Since the third through hole located at one end of the second support member in the first direction is rectangular, a meniscus of the liquid is unlikely to be formed in the third through hole. Therefore, for example, even if the liquid in the liquid cartridge flows out of the liquid cartridge through the second support member when the image recording device with the liquid cartridge attached is placed on a floor surface so that the other end of the second cylindrical portion in the first direction faces downward during transportation of the image recording device, when the image recording device is placed back on the floor surface upon completion of transportation of the image recording device, the liquid outside the liquid cartridge is likely to return into the liquid cartridge through the second support member and the third through hole. Effect of the Invention

[0029] According to the present invention, the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge is reduced, and the structure of the mold for molding the housing is simplified. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic internal structure of a printer 10. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of cartridge case 110 as seen from the rear. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from the front and above. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 30 as viewed from behind and below. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the ink cartridge 30. As shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the ink cartridge 30. As shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a left side view of the ink cartridge 30. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view of the four ink cartridges 30. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view with a partial cross section showing the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 110. As shown in FIG. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is positioned inside the cartridge case 110 and the ink receiving member 130 is in the first position. Figure 13(A) is a cross-sectional view including the bottom surface 70 of the ink cartridge 30. Figure 13(B) is a cross-sectional view including the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is positioned inside the cartridge case 110 and the ink receiving member 130 is in the second position. Figure 14(A) is a cross-sectional view including the bottom surface 70 of the ink cartridge 30. Figure 14(B) is a cross-sectional view including the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is positioned inside the cartridge case 110 and the supply tube 102 has entered the supply port 34. Figure 15(A) is a cross-sectional view including the bottom surface 70 of the ink cartridge 30. Figure 15(B) is a cross-sectional view including the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 16]Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge case 110. Figure 16(A) is a cross-sectional view including the bottom surface 70 of the ink cartridge 30. Figure 16(B) is a cross-sectional view including the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the cartridge case 110. As shown in FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a right side view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the modified example. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a right side view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the modified example. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a rear view of the ink cartridge 30 according to the modified example. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modified example, viewed from the front and above. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of the vicinity including the supply unit 33 in FIG. [Diagram 23] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the upper support member 38. As shown in FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of the periphery including the lower support member 11 according to the modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0032] In the following, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted and removed from the cartridge case 110 in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity). In addition, in this disclosure, the forward and backward directions may be collectively referred to as the front-rear direction, the upward and downward directions may be collectively referred to as the up-down direction, and the right and left directions may be collectively referred to as the left-right direction. The explanation is given on the premise that the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are horizontal. In addition, the vertical direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction is defined as the up-down direction. The direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is defined as the left-right direction. The front-rear direction is an example of a first direction. Note that the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110 and used is a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is inserted up to the attachment position of the cartridge case 110. The attachment position is a position in which the supply tube 102 provided in the cartridge case 110 is inserted into the supply port 34 provided in the ink cartridge 30 and connected to each other. In addition, in the following, the attitude of the ink cartridge 30 in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110 and used is referred to as the use attitude. Unless otherwise specified, the top, bottom, left, right, front and back in the following description are based on the usage position of the ink cartridge 30.

[0033] Additionally, in the following description, "facing forward" refers to the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 moves toward the cartridge case 110 in the front-to-rear direction. "facing backward" refers to the direction in which the ink cartridge 30 moves toward the cartridge case 110 in the front-to-rear direction. When describing that an element constituting the ink cartridge 30 faces a specific direction, the direction in which the element faces is not limited to only that specific direction. For example, when "the front surface faces forward," the front surface may face both forward and upward.

[0034] The front surface of ink cartridge 30 is the surface that appears in the front view shown in FIG. 8. The rear surface of ink cartridge 30 is the surface that appears in the rear view shown in FIG. 9. The top surface of ink cartridge 30 is the surface that appears in the plan view shown in FIG. 6. The bottom surface of ink cartridge 30 is the surface that appears in the bottom view shown in FIG. 7. The left surface of ink cartridge 30 is the surface that appears in the left side view shown in FIG. 10. The right surface of ink cartridge 30 is the surface that appears in the right side view shown in FIG. 5.

[0035] [Printer 10 Overview] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 has a cartridge case 110, a subtank 120, an ink tube 20, a recording head 21, and an ink cartridge 30. The printer 10 is an inkjet recording device that records an image by ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 21 onto a sheet based on an inkjet recording method, and is, for example, an inkjet printer. The printer 10 includes a cartridge case 110. An ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110. The ink cartridge 30 is an example of a liquid cartridge. The cartridge case 110 has an opening 112 at the rear end. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward into the cartridge case 110 through the opening 112. The ink cartridge 30 is removed backward from the cartridge case 110 through the opening 112. The opening 112 is opened and closed by a cover 126. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been attached to the cartridge case 110. That is, FIG. 1 shows the ink cartridge 30 in an attached state. The ink cartridge 30 in the installed state is in the usage position.

[0036] The ink cartridge 30 stores ink that can be used in the printer 10. The ink may be a liquid containing a coloring material such as a pigment, or may be a processing liquid containing an additive for improving image quality instead of a coloring material. When the ink cartridge 30 is completely attached to the cartridge case 110, the ink cartridge 30 and the recording head 21 are connected via the ink tube 20. The recording head 21 ejects the ink supplied from the ink cartridge 30 from a plurality of nozzles 29. Specifically, a head control board included in the recording head 21 selectively applies a drive voltage to a plurality of piezo elements 29A provided corresponding to the plurality of nozzles 29. This causes the ink to be selectively ejected from the nozzles 29. In other words, the recording head 21 consumes the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge case 110.

[0037] The printer 10 includes a paper feed tray 15, a paper feed roller 23, a pair of transport rollers 25, a platen 26, a pair of discharge rollers 27, and a paper output tray 16. The paper feed roller 23 feeds the paper on the paper feed tray 15 toward the transport path 24. The paper fed to the transport path 24 reaches the pair of transport rollers 25. The pair of transport rollers 25 transports the paper that has reached the pair of transport rollers 25 onto the platen 26. The recording head 21 selectively ejects ink onto the paper passing over the platen 26. This causes an image to be recorded on the paper. The paper that has passed the platen 26 reaches the pair of discharge rollers 27. The pair of discharge rollers 27 discharges the paper that has reached the pair of discharge rollers 27 to the paper output tray 16 located at the most downstream end of the transport path 24.

[0038] [Cartridge case 110] As shown in FIG. 2, the cartridge case 110 includes a case body 101 and a supply pipe 102.

[0039] The case body 101 is box-shaped. The case body 101 has an internal space in which the ink cartridge 30 is mounted. The case body 101 has an end surface 103 that defines the front end of the ink cartridge 30 when it is mounted in the internal space, a left wall that defines the left end of the internal space, a right wall that defines the right end of the internal space, a bottom wall, and a cover wall 171 that covers a pressing plate 134 (described later). The cover wall 171 has an upper wall 172 that faces upward, and a rear wall 173 that extends downward from the rear end of the upper wall 172. The case body 101 has an opening 112 at the rear end. When a user opens the cover 126 to use the printer 10, the opening 112 is exposed.

[0040] The internal space of the case body 101 has three partition walls 109 arranged at intervals in the left-right direction. The case body 101 has a slot 108 into which the ink cartridge 30 is attached. Specifically, the slot 108 of the case body 101 has four slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D arranged in the left-right direction. The slot 108A is located on the rightmost side of the four slots 108 of the case body 101. The slot 108B is located to the left of the slot 108A. The slot 108C is located to the left of the slot 108B. The slot 108D is located to the left of the slot 108C and is located to the leftmost side of the four slots 108. The slots 108 are divided into slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D by the three partition walls 109 that divide the internal space of the case body 101 and the inner surface of the case body 101.

[0041] The partition walls 109 extend upward from the upper surface of the upper wall 172 of the cover wall 171. The three partition walls 109 are positioned at equal intervals in the left-right direction. The partition walls 109 are flat and extend in the up-down and left-right directions. The partition walls 109 extend from the front end to the rear end of the upper wall 172.

[0042] The case body 101 has a guide surface 161. The guide surface 161 is provided in the internal space of each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. The guide surface 161 faces upward. The guide surface 161 is a roughly semicircular surface. When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to or detached from the case body 101, the guide surface 161 guides the ink cartridge 30 in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the case body, the guide surface 161 supports the lower end of the ink cartridge 30. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13(A) and 13(B), there is a space 162 below the supply tube 102.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the cover wall 171 is located below the end surface 103 of the case body 101. The upper wall 172 is a flat plate extending in the front-rear and left-right directions. The upper wall 172 extends from the left wall to the right wall of the case body 101. The rear wall 173 is a flat plate extending in the up-down and left-right directions. The rear wall 173 extends from the left wall to the right wall of the case body 101. In the rear wall 173, through holes 144 are located at equal intervals in the left-right direction in each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. Below the through holes 144, the guide surface 161 is located. The supply pipe 102 is inserted into the through holes 144 and protrudes rearward from the rear wall 173.

[0044] In each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D, the upper wall 172 has a groove 113 and a groove 114. The grooves 113 and 114 in each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D have the same shape. The groove 113 is located at the left end of each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D, and the groove 114 is located at the right end. Both the grooves 113 and 114 are recessed downward from the upper wall 172 and extend in the front-rear direction so as to open into the rear wall 173. The walls 71 of the ink cartridge 30, which will be described later, enter the grooves 113 and 114, respectively.

[0045] In each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D, between the grooves 113 and 114 in the left-right direction, there are two protruding pieces 117 that protrude upward from the upper wall 172 of the cover wall 171 and are spaced apart in the left-right direction. The upper wall 172 of the cover wall 171 has a through hole 140A that is continuous with the space between the two protruding pieces 117. The rear wall 173 of the cover wall 171 has a through hole 140B. The lower end of the through hole 140A is continuous with the upper end of the through hole 140B. A first key slot 115 is located between the two protruding pieces 117 in each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. Specifically, slot 108A has a first key slot 115A, slot 108B has a first key slot 115B, slot 108C has a first key slot 115C, and slot 108D has a first key slot 115D. The first key slot 115 opens upward and toward the rear. A first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30, which will be described later, can enter the first key slot 115.

[0046] The first key slots 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D have different left-right positions relative to the grooves 113 and 114. Specifically, the first key slot 115A is closer to the groove 113 than the center between the grooves 113 and 114 in the left-right direction. The first key slot 115B is closer to the groove 114 in the slot 108B compared to the left-right position of the first key slot 115A relative to the grooves 113 and 114 in the slot 108A. The first key slot 115C is closer to the groove 114 in the slot 108C compared to the left-right position of the first key slot 115B relative to the grooves 113 and 114 in the slot 108B. The first key slot 115D is closer to the groove 114 in the slot 108D compared to the left-right position of the first key slot 115C relative to the grooves 113 and 114 in the slot 108C.

[0047] In each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D, there is a rib 118 above the groove 113 and a rib 119 above the groove 114. In the slot 108A, the rib 118 projects from the inner surface of the right wall 129. In the slot 108B, the rib 118 projects from the right partition wall 109. In the slot 108C, the rib 118 projects from the right partition wall 109. In the slot 108D, the rib 118 projects from the right partition wall 109. In the slot 108A, the rib 119 projects from the left partition wall 109. In the slot 108B, the rib 119 projects from the left partition wall 109. In the slot 108C, the rib 119 projects from the left partition wall 109. In the slot 108D, the rib 119 projects from the inner surface of the left wall 128. The ribs 118 and 119 face each other in the left-right direction in the slot 108 .

[0048] The supply pipe 102 is provided in the internal space of each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. The supply pipe 102 is located below the first key slots 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D. The supply pipe 102 is a hollow circular pipe. The supply pipe 102 extends from the sub-tank 120 toward the internal space of the slot 108 in the front-rear direction. The tip of the supply pipe 102 is open. The tip of the supply pipe 102 is located in the internal space of each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. Although a detailed description is omitted, a valve 102A is located in the internal space of the supply pipe 102. The valve 102A opens and closes the opening 207 of the supply pipe 102. The supply pipe 102 is connected to the supply port 34 of the ink cartridge 30.

[0049] 1, the front end of the supply pipe 102 is connected to a subtank 120. The subtank 120 has a space for storing ink supplied from the ink cartridge 30 through the supply pipe 102. The internal space of the subtank 120 is connected to the outside at its upper part and is open to the atmosphere. The ink in the subtank 120 is supplied to the recording head 21 through the ink tube 20.

[0050] 2, the rod 121 is provided above each of the first key slots 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D. The rod 121 protrudes rearward from the end surface 103. The rod 121 is connected to an upper valve mechanism 504 of the ink cartridge 30, which will be described later.

[0051] The mating pieces 122 and 123 are located above each of the first key slots 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D and below the rod 121. The mating piece 122 is a plate-shaped member. In the slot 108A, the mating piece 122 protrudes leftward from the inner surface of the right wall 129. In the slot 108B, the mating piece 122 protrudes leftward from the right partition wall 109. In the slot 108C, the mating piece 122 protrudes leftward from the right partition wall 109. In the slot 108D, the mating piece 122 protrudes leftward from the right partition wall 109. The mating piece 123 is a plate-shaped member. In the slot 108A, the mating piece 123 protrudes rightward from the partition wall 109. In slot 108B, mating piece 123 protrudes rightward from left partition wall 109. In slot 108C, mating piece 123 protrudes rightward from left partition wall 109. In slot 108D, mating piece 123 protrudes rightward from the inner surface of left wall 128. Mating pieces 122 and 123 face each other in the left-right direction in slot 108.

[0052] 13, in each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D, a contact 125 is located on the inner surface of the upper side of the case body 101. The contact 125 is electrically connected to the IC board 60 of the ink cartridge 30. Through the contact 125, the control unit of the printer 10 reads information stored in the IC board 60 of the ink cartridge 30 and records information on the IC board 60.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 13, the ink receiving member 130 is located in the space 162 of the case body 101. The ink receiving member 130 is provided for each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. The ink receiving member 130 has a front end 131 extending in the left-right direction. The front end 131 is supported by the case body 101. The ink receiving member 130 has a generally flat plate shape extending rearward and upward from the front end 131, and the rear end 132 is located near the rear end of the supply tube 102. The ink receiving member 130 rotates around the front end 131 as an axis such that the rear end 132 moves generally in the up-down direction. A coil spring 133 extending in the front-rear direction is located between the ink receiving member 130 and the case body 101. The coil spring 133 biases the rear end 132 of the ink receiving member 130 forward.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 13, the ink receiving member 130 biased by the coil spring 133 is held in a state in which the rear end 132 abuts against the bottom surface of the supply tube 102. When the rear end 132 of the ink receiving member 130 abuts against the bottom surface of the supply tube 102, the ink receiving member 130 is in the first position. When the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the supply tube 102, the ink receiving member 130 abuts against the bottom surface of the supply tube 102. Therefore, even if ink drips from the tip of the supply tube 102 when the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the case main body 101, the ink is received by the ink receiving member 130 abutting against the bottom surface of the supply tube 102. The received ink moves along the ink receiving member 130 from the rear end 132 toward the front end 131 so as to move away from the ink cartridge 30. As a result, it is possible to prevent ink from adhering to the bottom wall of the case main body 101.

[0055] 14(A) and 14(B), when the ink receiving member 130 has moved downward against the coil spring 133, the ink receiving member 130 is in the second position. Between the ink receiving member 130 in the second position and the supply tube 102, there is a space large enough to allow the supply portion 33 of the ink cartridge 30 to be received in the supply tube 102. In other words, when the supply tube 102 is received in the supply port 34 of the ink cartridge 30 that is inserted forward into the slot 108, the ink receiving member 130 does not prevent the ink cartridge 30 from moving forward.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, the pressing plate 134 is located below the cover walls 171 of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D and in front of the rear wall 173. The pressing plate 134 is supported by the case body 101 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. A lower end 135 of the pressing plate 134 abuts against the ink receiving member 130 between the front end 131 and the rear end 132 of the ink receiving member 130. An upper end 136 of the pressing plate 134 is located below the first key slot 115. A part of the pressing plate 134 is located below the through hole 140A of the cover wall 171. Also, a part of the pressing plate 134 is located in front of the through hole 140B of the rear wall 173. With this configuration, the pressing plate 134 can come into contact with a first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30 (described later) through the first key slot 115, the through hole 140A, and the through hole 140B. The pressing plate 134 is held in a raised position by the ink receiving member 130 biased by the coil spring 133.

[0057] Although details will be described later, when the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the first key slot 115, the first key portion 77 and the wall 71 press the pressing plate 134 down against the biasing force of the coil spring 133. When the pressing plate 134 moves downward, the ink receiving member 130 moves from the first position to the second position.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 2, the second key slots 138 are located at positions corresponding to the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D on the surface 137 located on the upper side of the periphery that defines the opening 112 of the case body 101. Specifically, the second key slot 138A is located in the slot 108A of the case body 101, the second key slot 138B is located in the slot 108B, the second key slot 138C is located in the slot 108C, and the second key slot 138D is located in the slot 108D. The second key slot 138 is configured as a recess in which a part of the rear end of the top surface is recessed upward. The lower end of the second key slot 138 is continuous with the internal space of the case body 101. The rear end of the second key slot 138 opens toward the outside of the case body 101. The distance between the lower end and the upper end of the opening at the rear end of the second key slot 138 is greater than the distance between the lower end and the upper end of the opening at the front end of the second key slot 138. In this embodiment, the distance between the lower end and the upper end of the opening in the second key slot 138 gradually decreases from the rear end of the opening to the front end of the opening. Alternatively, the distance between the lower end and the upper end of the opening in the second key slot 138 may gradually increase from the rear end of the opening to the front end of the opening, and then gradually decrease. The second key slots 138A, 138B, and 138C are located to the left of the center in the left-right direction of each of the slots 108A, 108B, and 108C. The second key slot 138D is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction of the slot 108D. The second key portion 78 of the ink cartridge 30 enters the second key slot 138.

[0059] A locking portion 139 is located in the space that defines the opening of each second key slot 138. The locking portion 139 is a rod-shaped member that extends in the left-right direction. The locking portion 139 abuts against a locking surface 87 of the ink cartridge 30, which will be described later.

[0060] [Ink Cartridge 30] The ink cartridge 30 is a container that stores liquid ink. As shown in Figs. 3 to 10, the ink cartridge 30 has a container body 31, a lower support member 11, a lower valve mechanism 12, a cover 32, and an IC board 60. The container body 31 is an example of a housing. The lower support member 11 is an example of a first support member. The lower valve mechanism 12 is an example of a first valve mechanism. The cover 32 is located in front of the container body 31. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted with the cover 32 facing forward toward the slot 108 of the cartridge case 110.

[0061] The container body 31 has a thin, flat, cubic shape in which the length in the left-right direction is smaller than the length in the up-down direction and the length in the front-rear direction. The container body 31 has a supply part 33 and a second key part 78. The supply part 33 is an example of a first cylindrical part.

[0062] The container body 31 has a front wall 40, a rear wall 41 facing the front wall 40 in the front-rear direction, a left wall 42 connecting the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41, a right wall 43 facing the left wall 42 in the left-right direction, an upper wall 44 connecting the front wall 40 and the rear wall 41, and a lower wall 45 facing the upper wall 44 in the up-down direction. The container body 31 has an upper surface 80 which is the outer surface of the upper wall 44. The outer surface of the front wall 40 faces forward. The rear wall 41 has a rear surface 62 facing rearward. The outer surface of the left wall 42 faces leftward. The outer surface of the right wall 43 faces rightward. The outer surface of the upper wall 44 faces upward. The outer surface of the lower wall 45 faces downward.

[0063] 13, the front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the left wall 42, the right wall 43, the upper wall 44, and the lower wall 45 define a storage chamber 46 in the internal space of the container body 31. The front wall 40, the rear wall 41, the left wall 42, the right wall 43, the upper wall 44, and the lower wall 45 are translucent to such an extent that the liquid level of the ink stored in the storage chamber 46 can be visually confirmed from the outside. The container body 31 is an integrally molded product made of, for example, a synthetic resin.

[0064] The front wall 40 has an upper front wall 40U located above and a lower front wall 40L located below. The upper front wall 40U is located forward of the lower front wall 40L in the front-rear direction. The space behind the upper front wall 40U in the front-rear direction is also part of the storage chamber 46. In other words, the upper part of the storage chamber 46 extends forward more than the lower part of the storage chamber 46. The lower front wall 40L is continuous with the supply section 33.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 10, the left wall 42 has a front left wall 42F located in the front in the front-rear direction and a rear left wall 42R located in the rear. As shown in FIG. 5, the right wall 43 has a front right wall 43F located in the front in the front-rear direction and a rear right wall 43R located in the rear. The front left wall 42F and the front right wall 43F are continuous with the upper front wall 40U. The rear left wall 42R and the rear right wall 43R are continuous with the rear wall 41. The space between the front left wall 42F and the front right wall 43F is a part of the storage chamber 46. The left-right distance between the outer surface of the front left wall 42F and the outer surface of the front right wall 43F is smaller than the left-right distance between the outer surface of the rear left wall 42R and the outer surface of the rear right wall 43R.

[0066] The front left wall 42F has two protrusions 52 located thereon. The front right wall 43F has two protrusions 52 located thereon. The two protrusions 52 are spaced apart in the up-down direction on the front left wall 42F. The two protrusions 52 are spaced apart in the up-down direction on the front right wall 43F. The protrusions 52 are rectangular in side view. The protrusions 52 enter through holes 76 of the cover 32, which will be described later.

[0067] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the supply unit 33 is a cylindrical member extending along the front-rear direction. The supply unit 33 has an outer peripheral surface extending rearward from the supply port 34. The outer peripheral surface is a curved surface that curves in the circumferential direction about the front-rear direction as an axis. The supply unit 33 is located at the lower end of the container body 31, and a part of the outer surface of the supply unit 33 forms the lower surface 47 of the container body 31. The supply unit 33 has a supply port 34 from which ink flows out. The supply port 34 opens toward the front in the front-rear direction. The supply port 34 is circular when viewed from the front.

[0068] The lower surface 47 includes a lower half of a circumferential surface having an axis in the front-rear direction. The lower surface 47 has a first surface 48 that is cylindrical in the front-rear direction, and a second surface 49 that is located rearward of the first surface 48 in the front-rear direction. The outer diameter of the supply portion 33 decreases from the first surface 48 to the second surface 49.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 13, the supply unit 33 has a substantially cylindrical shape and an internal space. The internal space of the supply unit 33 communicates with the supply port 34 at the front in the front-rear direction and communicates with the storage chamber 46 at the rear in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 22, the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply unit 33 has a circular step surface 13. The step surface 13 is located rearward of the supply port 34. The step surface 13 is inclined inward with respect to the front-rear direction so that the inner diameter becomes slightly smaller toward the rear. The inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply unit 33 has a press-fit surface 14. The press-fit surface 14 is located on the lower side of the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply unit 33. The press-fit surface 14 is located rearward of the middle of the supply unit 33 in the front-rear direction. The press-fit surface 14 is inclined slightly inward with respect to the front-rear direction so that the inner diameter becomes slightly smaller toward the rear.

[0070] The lower support member 11 is accommodated in the internal space of the supply unit 33. The lower support member 11 has a generally cylindrical shape extending along the front-rear direction. Specifically, the lower support member 11 has a cylindrical portion 201, a reduced diameter portion 202, a conical portion 203, and a base 204.

[0071] The cylindrical portion 201 has a large diameter portion 201A having a large outer diameter, and a small diameter portion 201B having an outer diameter slightly smaller than that of the large diameter portion 201A. The large diameter portion 201A is located at the front end of the lower support member 11. The front end 11A of the large diameter portion 201A is located rearward of the supply port 34. The rear end of the large diameter portion 201A forms a step 18 with the small diameter portion 201B. The small diameter portion 201B extends rearward from the rear end of the large diameter portion 201A. The inner diameter of the small diameter portion 201B is the same as the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 201A.

[0072] The reduced diameter portion 202 extends rearward from the rear end of the small diameter portion 201B. The outer peripheral surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 is inclined slightly inward in the front-to-rear direction so that the outer diameter becomes slightly smaller toward the rear. The inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion 202 is smaller than the inner diameters of the large diameter portion 201A and the small diameter portion 201B. The inner diameter of the reduced diameter portion 202 is constant from the front end to the rear end.

[0073] The conical portion 203 extends rearward from the rear end of the reduced diameter portion 202. The outer peripheral surface of the conical portion 203 is inclined inward with respect to the front-rear direction so that the outer diameter becomes smaller toward the rear. The rear end of the conical portion 203 has a circular through hole 206 penetrating along the front-rear direction. The through hole 206 is partitioned by a partition wall 205 that protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the conical portion 203 in an annular shape. The upper end of the through hole 206 is slightly lower than the upper end of the opening 207 of the supply pipe 102 in the vertical direction. The upper end of the through hole 206 may coincide with the upper end of the opening 207 of the supply pipe 102 in the vertical direction, or may be slightly lower than the upper end of the opening 207 of the supply pipe 102 in the vertical direction. The through hole 206 is an example of a second through hole. The partition wall 205 is an example of a portion that partitions the second through hole.

[0074] The base 204 is located in front of the partition wall 205 in the internal space of the conical portion 203. The base 204 protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the conical portion 203. In this embodiment, the base 204 is radially formed with multiple protrusions 204A protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the conical portion 203 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The multiple protrusions 204A are flat plate-shaped extending in the radial direction and the front-rear direction of the conical portion 203. The front ends of the multiple protrusions 204A are forward-facing spring support surfaces 204A. The base 204 is an example of a protrusion.

[0075] The step 18 of the lower support member 11 is in annular contact with the step surface 13 of the supply portion 33. This positions the lower support member 11 in the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the outer circumferential surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 of the lower support member 11 is in pressure contact with the press-fit surface 14 of the supply portion 33. This makes the gap G1 between the lower surface of the outer circumferential surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 and the press-fit surface 14 smaller than the gap G2 between the upper surface of the outer circumferential surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 and the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply portion 33.

[0076] At least a portion of the lower valve mechanism 12 is housed in the internal space of the lower support member 11. Specifically, the lower valve mechanism 12 has a seal member 35, a valve 36, a coil spring 37, and a cap 39.

[0077] The seal member 35 is an annular member made of an elastic member, such as rubber, and has a circular through hole 19 along the front-rear direction. The seal member 35 is located in the internal space of the supply unit 33. The seal member 35 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply unit 33 slightly behind the supply port 34. Specifically, the seal member 35 has a first seal portion 35A and a second seal portion 35B.

[0078] The first seal portion 35A has a cylindrical body 301 extending along the front-rear direction, a first protrusion 302 and a second protrusion 303 located on the outer circumferential surface of the body 301, and a third protrusion 304 located on the inner circumferential surface of the body 301. The rear end of the body 301 is in close contact with the front end 11A of the lower support member 11. As a result, an annular seal is formed between the front end 11A of the lower support member 11 and the rear end of the body 301. The front end 11A of the lower support member 11 is an example of a third seal portion. The first protrusion 302 is located at the front end of the outer circumferential surface of the body 301. The first protrusion 302 is in a ring shape extending around the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the body 301 in the circumferential direction. The first protrusion 302 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply unit 33 around the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. The second protrusion 303 is located at the rear end of the outer circumferential surface of the body 301. The second protrusion 303 is in the shape of a ring extending over the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 301. The second protrusion 303 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply unit 33 over the entire circumference. The third protrusion 304 is located between the first protrusion 302 and the second protrusion 303 in the front-rear direction. The third protrusion 304 is in the shape of a ring extending over the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 301. The radial inner end of the third protrusion 304 defines a through hole 19. The through hole 19 is an example of a first through hole.

[0079] The second seal portion 35B has a cylindrical shape extending rearward from the inner periphery side of the rear end of the cylinder 301. The second seal portion 35B is located radially inward and spaced from the inner periphery 33A of the supply portion 33. The outer periphery of the second seal portion 35B is in close contact with the inner periphery at the front end of the lower support member 11. The rear end of the second seal portion 35B is in close contact with the valve 36.

[0080] The valve 36 is located in the internal space of the lower support member 11. The valve 36 is movable in the front-rear direction in the internal space of the lower support member 11. The valve 36 comes into close contact with the seal member 35, thereby sealing the supply port 34. Specifically, the valve 36 has a first valve 36A and a second valve 36B.

[0081] The first valve 36A has an abutment portion 311 that comes into close contact with the rear end of the third projection 304 of the first seal portion 35A, and a cylindrical support portion 312 that extends rearward from the rear end of the abutment portion 311. The abutment portion 311 has a circular flat plate shape that expands in the up-down and left-right directions. The abutment portion 311 opens and closes the through-hole 19. The first valve 36A is movable between a closed position where the front end face of the abutment portion 311 abuts against the rear end of the third projection 304, and an open position that is located rearward of the closed position.

[0082] The second valve 36B has a cylindrical storage section 321 extending along the front-rear direction, a columnar section 322 located in the internal space of the storage section 321, and a flange section 323 located at the front end of the storage section 321. The storage section 321 has a cylindrical shape with a closed rear end. The inner diameter of the storage section 321 is larger than the outer diameter of the support section 312 of the first valve 36A. The columnar section 322 is columnar and extends forward from the rear end of the storage section 321. The support section 312 of the first valve 36A is located between the outer circumferential surface of the columnar section 322 and the inner circumferential surface of the storage section 321. The columnar section 322 has a spring support surface 324 facing forward. The spring support surface 324 is located at the middle of the outer circumferential surface of the columnar section 322 in the front-rear direction. The flange section 323 is located at the front end of the outer circumferential surface of the storage section 321. The flange portion 323 protrudes in an annular shape from the outer circumferential surface of the accommodation portion 321. The protruding end of the flange portion 323 is close to the inner circumferential surface of the lower support member 11. This positions the second valve 36B in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The second valve 36B is movable between a closed position in which the front surface of the flange portion 323 is in close contact with the rear end of the second seal portion 35B, and an open position located rearward of the closed position.

[0083] The coil spring 37 biases the valve 36 toward the seal member 35. Specifically, the coil spring 37 includes a first coil spring 37A biasing the first valve 36A and a second coil spring 37B biasing the second valve 36B. The first coil spring 37A is compressible along the front-rear direction. The rear end of the first coil spring 37A is supported by the spring support surface 324 of the cylindrical portion 322. The front end of the first coil spring 37A is in contact with the rear end of the abutment portion 311 of the first valve 36A. As a result, the first coil spring 37A presses the front surface of the abutment portion 311 against the rear end of the third protrusion 304 of the first seal portion 35A. The second coil spring 37B is compressible along the front-rear direction. The spring constant of the second coil spring 37B is greater than the spring constant of the first coil spring 37A. The outer surface of the second coil spring 37B is close to the inner circumferential surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 of the lower support member 11. This maintains the posture of the second coil spring 37B. The rear end of the second coil spring 37B is supported by the spring support surface 204A of the base 204. The front end of the second coil spring 37B abuts against the rear end of the flange portion 323. This causes the second coil spring 37B to press the front surface of the flange portion 323 against the rear end of the second seal portion 35B. The coil spring 37 is an example of a biasing member.

[0084] The cap 39 is attached to the inner peripheral surface 33A of the supply unit 33 around the supply port 34. The cap 39 has a generally conical cylindrical shape. Specifically, the cap 39 has a conical cylindrical body 401, a cylindrical cylindrical body 402, and a flange body 403. The conical cylindrical body 401 has a conical cylindrical shape extending along the front-rear direction. The inner peripheral surface of the conical cylindrical body 401 is inclined outward with respect to the front-rear direction so that the inner diameter becomes larger toward the front. The rear end of the conical cylindrical body 401 is in close contact with the front end of the first seal portion 35A. The cylindrical cylindrical body 402 has a cylindrical shape extending rearward from the inner peripheral side of the rear end of the conical cylindrical body 401. The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical cylindrical body 402 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first seal portion 35A. The rear end of the cylindrical cylindrical body 402 abuts against the front surface of the third protrusion 304. The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 402 is continuous with the inner peripheral surface of the conical body 401. The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 402 and the inner peripheral surface of the conical body 401 define a through hole 404 penetrating along the front-rear direction. The through hole 404 is an example of a third through hole. The flange body 403 is located at the front end of the outer peripheral surface of the conical body 401. The flange body 403 protrudes in an annular shape radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the conical body 401. The rear surface of the flange body 403 abuts against the front end of the supply unit 33.

[0085] When the supply tube 102 is received in the supply port 34, the supply tube 102 presses the first valve 36A backward against the biasing force of the first coil spring 37A, so that the first valve 36A moves backward from the closed position to the open position. As the first valve 36A moves backward, the biasing force of the first coil spring 37A becomes stronger. When the biasing force of the first coil spring 37A becomes stronger than the biasing force of the second coil spring 37B, the second valve 36B moves backward from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the second coil spring 37B. This allows the internal space of the lower support member 11 to communicate with the internal space of the supply tube 102. As a result, as shown in FIG. 16, the ink in the storage chamber 46 flows into the internal space of the supply tube 102 through the through hole 206 and the internal space of the lower support member 11. The third projection 304 of the seal member 35 is in liquid-tight contact with the outer surface of the supply pipe 102 .

[0086] As shown in FIG. 4, a convex portion 59 that protrudes downward is located on the first surface 48 of the supply unit 33. As shown in FIG. 7, the outline of the portion where the convex portion 59 is continuous with the first surface 48 is substantially square when viewed from below upward in the vertical direction, and the length of the outline in the front-rear direction and the length in the left-right direction are substantially equal. Both left-right side surfaces of the convex portion 59 are downward-facing triangles. Both left-right side surfaces of the convex portion 59 are tapered surfaces that incline toward the center in the left-right direction as they extend downward. In other words, the convex portion 59 has a tapered shape in which the length in the left-right direction gradually decreases as it extends downward.

[0087] 13, the upper front wall 40U of the container body 31 has a cylindrical atmosphere communication portion 502 that defines an atmosphere communication port 501 that connects the vicinity of the upper end of the storage chamber 46 to the outside. The atmosphere communication portion 502 extends rearward from the atmosphere communication port 501. The atmosphere communication port 501 is located forward of the supply port 34 in the front-rear direction. The atmosphere communication port 501 opens forward in the upper front wall 40U. The atmosphere communication portion 502 is an example of a second cylindrical portion.

[0088] The upper support member 38, which is substantially cylindrical, is inserted into the internal space of the atmosphere communication portion 502 through the atmosphere communication port 501. The upper support member 38 is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the atmosphere communication portion 502. As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 23, the upper support member 38 has a cylindrical main body portion 503A and a square tube portion 503B. The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body portion 503A forms a circular air flow path. The square tube portion 503B extends rearward from the rear end of the cylindrical main body portion 503A. The inner space of the square tube portion 503B is in communication with the inner space of the cylindrical main body portion 503A. The inner peripheral surface of the square tube portion 503B forms a rectangular gas flow path that is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. The cross-sectional area of ​​the gas flow path of the square tube portion 503B cut by a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas flow path of the cylindrical main body portion 503A cut by a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The rear end of the square tube portion 503B defines an opening 515 that opens toward the rear. The opening 515 is a rectangular shape that is longer in the up-down direction than in the left-right direction. The opening 515 is an example of a third through hole. The square tube portion 503B has a plurality of recesses 516 that are recessed forward from the rear end of the square tube portion 503B. The recesses 516 are positioned at equal intervals in the up-down direction. This suppresses the formation of a meniscus by ink at the opening 515.

[0089] 13, the length L1 of the upper support member 38 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length L2 of the lower support member 11 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the upper support member 38 is located forward of the rear end of the lower support member 11 in the front-rear direction. In other words, the rear end of the lower support member 11 is located rearward of the rear end of the upper support member 38. The upper support member 38 is an example of a second support member.

[0090] The upper valve mechanism 504 is located in the internal space of the upper support member 38. The upper valve mechanism 504 has a valve seat 17, a valve 50, and a coil spring 51.

[0091] The valve seat 17 is located in the atmosphere communication port 501. The valve seat 17 is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the atmosphere communication part 502. The valve seat 17 is annular and has a through hole 17A extending along the front-rear direction. The rear end of the valve seat 17 abuts against the front end of the upper support member 38.

[0092] The valve 50 has a columnar portion 50A inserted into the through hole 17A of the valve seat 17 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and an extension portion 50B extending radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the columnar portion 50A. The outer diameter of the columnar portion 50A is smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 17A. This provides a gap between the outer circumferential surface of the columnar portion 50A and the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 17A through which air can flow. The front end of the columnar portion 50A is located forward of the through hole 17A. The rear end of the columnar portion 50A is located rearward of the through hole 17A. The extension portion 50B is annular and extends around the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the columnar portion 50A in the circumferential direction. The front surface of the extension portion 50B abuts against the rear end of the valve seat 17.

[0093] The coil spring 51 is located in the internal space of the upper support member 38. The front end of the coil spring 51 is located above and forward of the supply port 34 of the supply unit 33. The front end of the coil spring 51 is located forward of the second key portion 78. The coil spring 51 biases the valve 50 forward. The front end of the coil spring 51 abuts against the rear surface of the extension portion 50B of the valve 50. The rear end of the coil spring 51 is supported by the inner circumferential surface of the upper support member 38. As a result, the front surface of the extension portion 50B is pressed against the rear end of the valve seat 17. As a result, the atmosphere communication port 501 is sealed. Note that, although details will be described later, when the valve 50 moves backward against the biasing force of the coil spring 51, the atmosphere communication port 501 is opened and air can flow between the outside and the storage chamber 46. The upper valve mechanism 504 is an example of a second valve mechanism.

[0094] The cover 32 is a rectangular parallelepiped shorter in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction than the container body 31, and is a box shape with an opening facing rearward. The cover 32 is attached to the container body 31 so as to generally cover the upper front wall 40U, the front left wall 42F, and the front right wall 43F of the container body 31.

[0095] The cover 32 has a front wall 53, a left wall 54 extending rearward from the left end of the front wall 53, a right wall 55 facing the left wall 54 in the left-right direction, an upper wall 56 extending rearward from the upper end of the front wall 53, and a lower wall 57 facing the upper wall 56 in the up-down direction. The front wall 53, the left wall 54, the right wall 55, the upper wall 56, and the lower wall 57 define an internal space of the cover 32. An opening of the cover 32 is defined by the rear ends of the front wall 53, the left wall 54, the right wall 55, the upper wall 56, and the lower wall 57.

[0096] The front wall 53 is a part of the front wall of the ink cartridge 30. The left wall 54 is a part of the left wall of the ink cartridge 30. The right wall 55 is a part of the right wall of the ink cartridge 30. The upper wall 56 is a part of the upper wall of the ink cartridge 30. The lower wall 57 is a part of the lower wall of the ink cartridge 30.

[0097] The vertical length of the cover 32 is smaller than the vertical length of the container body 31. The front-rear length of the cover 32 is smaller than the front-rear length of the container body 31. The left-right length of the cover 32 is slightly larger than the left-right distance between the outer surfaces of the front left wall 42F and the front right wall 43F of the container body 31, and is approximately the same as the left-right distance between the outer surfaces of the rear left wall 42R and the rear right wall 43R.

[0098] The left wall 54 has two through holes 58 spaced apart in the vertical direction. The right wall 55 has two through holes 58 spaced apart in the vertical direction. The convex portion 52 of the container body 31 is located in the through holes 58. The through holes 58 are rectangular. Specifically, the vertical length of each through hole 58 is greater than the length in the front-rear direction. The through holes 58 are sufficiently larger than the outer shape of the convex portion 52. That is, the vertical length of each through hole 58 is greater than the vertical length of each convex portion 52. The front-rear length of the through holes 58 is greater than the front-rear length of the convex portion 52. The convex portions 52 enter the through holes 58, respectively, so that the container body 31 and the cover 32 are assembled. Since the through holes 58 are greater than the outer shape of the convex portions 52, the cover 32 can move relatively to the container body 31 in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction when the container body 31 and the cover 32 are assembled. Since the through hole 58 is sufficiently larger than the outer shape of the protrusion 52, the cover 32 can move relative to the container body 31 not only in the vertical and front-to-rear directions, but also in the direction in which the cover 32 rotates relative to the container body 31.

[0099] When the cover 32 is attached to the container body 31, the cover 32 covers an upper front wall 40U of the container body 31. A front wall 53 of the cover 32 is located forward of the supply port 34. The supply port 34 is located below a lower wall 57 of the cover 32.

[0100] An IC board 60 is located on the upper wall 56 of the cover 32. The IC board 60 extends in the front-rear and left-right directions. The IC board 60 is located above the supply port 34. The IC board 60 is a board made of, for example, silicone or glass epoxy, on which an IC and three electrodes 61 are mounted. The IC is not shown in the drawings. The three electrodes 61 face upward. The IC board 60 may be a flexible board having flexibility.

[0101] The IC substrate 60 is adhered to the upper wall 56 of the cover 32 by, for example, a photocurable resin. The IC substrate 60 may be adhered to the cover 32 by an adhesive other than the photocurable resin, or may be attached to the cover 32 by a means other than adhesion, such as fitting.

[0102] The electrodes 61 of the IC board 60 come into contact with the contacts 125 during the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge case 110. Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110, the IC board 60 comes into contact with the contacts 125 and is electrically connected.

[0103] The IC is a semiconductor integrated circuit. Information about the ink cartridge 30 is readably stored in the IC. The information about the ink cartridge 30 is data indicating information such as the lot number, the date of manufacture, and the color of ink.

[0104] The electrodes 61 are electrically connected to the IC. The electrodes 61 extend in the front-rear direction. The electrodes 61 are arranged side by side and spaced apart in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the IC substrate 60. The electrodes 61 are exposed to the upper surface of the IC substrate 60 so as to be electrically accessible.

[0105] 3, the upper wall 56 of the cover 32 has a through hole 90 in front of the IC board 60. An air communication portion 502 is located below the through hole 90. Guide pieces 91 extending in the front-rear direction protrude upward from both left-right ends of the upper wall 56 of the cover 32. The IC board 60 is located between the left-right pairs of guide pieces 91. The guide pieces 91 function as guides for the movement of the cover 32 in the front-rear direction when the cover 32 is inserted into the cartridge case 110.

[0106] 7, a lower surface 70, which is the outer surface of the lower wall 57 of the cover 32, is located above and in front of the supply port 34. The lower surface 70 is a plane extending rearward from the lower end of the front wall 53 and is inclined so as to extend downward as it extends rearward.

[0107] The cover 32 has walls 71 extending downward from both ends in the left-right direction of the lower surface 70. One wall 71 and the other wall 71 are located apart in the left-right direction. The wall 71 is a plate-shaped member extending in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction and having a thickness in the left-right direction. The length of the wall 71 in the front-rear direction is greater than the length of the wall 71 in the left-right direction and the length of the wall 71 in the up-down direction. The length of the wall 71 in the up-down direction is greater than the length of the wall 71 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the front surface of the wall 71 has a first front surface 72 located at its upper part and a second front surface 73 located at its lower part. The front end of the first front surface 72 is inclined so as to extend downward as it moves forward from the upper surface of the wall 71. The second front surface 73 is inclined so as to face downward as it moves rearward.

[0108] As shown in Fig. 7, the rear ends of the two walls 71 extend forward from a sub-front wall 88. The sub-front wall 88 extends downward from the rear end of the lower surface 70. The sub-front wall 88 is a plate-shaped member that extends in the up-down and left-right directions and has a thickness in the front-to-rear direction. The length of the sub-front wall 88 in the left-to-right direction is greater than its length in the up-down direction. The outer surface of the sub-front wall 88 that faces forward is part of the front surface of the cover 32.

[0109] A groove 74 is located in the left wall 54 of the cover 32, extending in the front-rear direction above the wall 71. A groove 74 is located in the right wall 55 of the cover 32, extending in the front-rear direction above the wall 71. The groove 74 is longitudinal in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 8, the recess of the groove 74 is composed of an upward surface 74L, a surface 74U facing the surface 74L in the up-down direction, and a surface 74M connecting the surface 74L and the surface 74U. The front end of the groove 74 opens in the front wall 53 of the cover 32. As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 10, the first front surface 72 of the one wall 71 is a guide for guiding the rib 118 of the cartridge case 110 into the one groove 74. The first front surface 72 of the other wall 71 is a guide for guiding the rib 119 of the cartridge case 110 into the one groove 74. One groove 74 has a length capable of receiving rib 118 of case body 101, and the other groove 74 has a length capable of receiving rib 119 of case body 101. Specifically, the vertical distance between surface 74L and surface 74U of groove 74 is greater than the vertical lengths of ribs 118 and 119 of case body 101. Surfaces 74U and 74L abut against rib 118 and rib 119, thereby positioning cover 32 in the vertical direction.

[0110] The outer surface of the front wall 53 of the cover 32 is the front surface 75. The front surface 75 is located forward of the supply port 34. The front surface 75 has an upper front surface 75U located at its upper portion and a lower front surface 75L located below the upper front surface 75U. The upper end of the lower front surface 75L is continuous with the upper front surface 75U. The lower end of the lower front surface 75L is located further rearward than the upper end, and is inclined upward as it approaches the front. The lower front surface 75L is a guide for guiding the ribs 118 and 119 into the groove 74. Specifically, the lower front surface 75L abuts against the front ends of the ribs 118 and 119 during the process of inserting the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge case 110, and guides the ribs 118 and 119 into the groove 74.

[0111] An upper front surface 75U of the front wall 53 of the cover 32 has a through hole 76. The valve 50 of the container body 31 is exposed to the outside through the through hole 76. The front end of the through hole 76 is located forward of the supply port 34 of the supply unit 33.

[0112] The underside 70 of the cover 32 has a first key portion 77. The first key portion 77 is located above the supply port 34 and below the upper surface of the electrode 61 of the IC substrate 60. The front end of the first key portion 77 is forward of the front end of the electrode 61. The first key portion 77 is located below the through-hole 76. In other words, the atmosphere communication port 501 defined by the front end of the atmosphere communication portion 502 is located between the first key portion 77 and the electrode 61 in the up-down direction. The first key portion 77 is located in front of the ink cartridge 30.

[0113] As shown in FIG. 8, the first key portion 77 is located between the pair of walls 71 in the left-right direction and extends downward from the lower surface 70. The rear end of the wall 71 is connected to the sub-front wall 88. The first key portion 77 has a lower surface 77L that defines the lower end of the first key portion 77, a side surface 77S, and a front surface 77F that defines the front end. The side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 consists of a surface facing left and a surface facing right. The side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 extends along the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.

[0114] The lower surface 77L of the first key portion 77 extends along the front-rear direction. The lower surface 77L defines the thickness of the first key portion 77 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the first key portion 77 is a plate-shaped member whose length in the front-rear direction is greater than its length in the left-right direction and its length in the up-down direction, but the shape of the first key portion 77 is not limited to this. For example, the length in the front-rear direction of the first key portion 77 may be smaller than its length in the up-down direction. The lower surface 77L and the upper surface of at least one electrode 61 of the IC substrate 60 are in a position where they overlap when viewed from the up-down direction. In other words, the lower surface 77L is located below at least one electrode 61 in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the length L1 in the front-rear direction of the lower surface 77L is longer than the length L2 in the front-rear direction of the upper surface of the electrode 61. The front surface 77F of the first key portion 77 faces forward. The front surface 77F is located behind the front end of the first front surface 72 of the wall 71. The first front surface 72 is located behind the front end of the second front surface 73. Also, the front surface 77F of the first key portion 77 is located behind the front end of the front wall 53 of the cover 32. As a result, when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped with the front wall 53 of the cover 32 facing downward, even if the first front surface 72 and the second front surface 73 of the wall 71 or the front end of the front wall 53 of the cover 32 hits the floor or the like, the front surface 77F of the first key portion 77 does not hit the floor or the like. Therefore, since there is little risk that the first key portion 77 will be deformed by a direct impact, the ink cartridge 30 is properly attached to the cartridge case 110.

[0115] 11, a first key portion 77 is assigned to each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D according to the characteristics of each ink cartridge 30 that is attached to the slots. The first key portions 77 have different mechanical characteristics, such as their arrangement and shape. The left-right position of the first key portions 77 differs according to the characteristics of the ink stored in the storage chamber 46. The ink characteristics include, for example, the color and composition of the ink.

[0116] The cover 32 has a third key portion 79. The third key portion 79 is defined as a combination of two or more of the four members consisting of a recess recessed in the left wall 54 of the cover 32, a recess recessed in the right wall 55, a protrusion protruding leftward from the left wall 54, and a protrusion protruding rightward from the right wall 55. In this embodiment, the third key portion 79 has a recess recessed in the left wall 54 of the cover 32 and a recess recessed in the right wall 55. In FIG. 8, the third key portion 79 is a combination of a recess in the left wall 54 and a recess in the right wall 55. The third key portion 79 is located above the first key portion 77 and below the upper surface of the electrode 61 of the IC board 60. In this embodiment, the third key portion 79 is located below the through hole 76. The third key portion 79 is located at both ends of the upper front surface 75U in the left-right direction. The front end of the third key portion 79 opens forward at the upper front surface 75U of the cover 32.

[0117] The mechanical characteristics such as the arrangement and shape of the third key portion 79 vary depending on the characteristics of each ink cartridge 30. The characteristics of the ink cartridge 30 indicated by the third key portion 79 may be the same as or different from the characteristics of the ink cartridge 30 indicated by the first key portion 77. In this embodiment, the characteristics of the ink cartridge indicated by the first key portion 77 are the color of the ink, and the characteristics of the ink cartridge 30 indicated by the third key portion 79 are the contract type of the printer in which the ink cartridge 30 is used. The contract type is, for example, a contract in which the user is charged according to the number of pages of image recording performed regardless of the amount of ink used. As long as this contract is concluded, a new ink cartridge 30 is delivered when the ink in the storage chamber 46 of the ink cartridge 30 is consumed, but the user does not need to pay for the ink cartridge 30 itself. Alternatively, the characteristics of the ink cartridge 30 indicated by the third key portion 79 are the sales region of the printer in which the ink cartridge 30 is used. The shape of the third key portion 79 of the ink cartridge 30 used in one sales region is different from the shape of the third key portion 79 of the ink cartridge 30 used in another sales region. For example, the third key portion 79 may be disposed on only one of the left and right sides, or the shape of the third key portion 79 opening forward may differ. Furthermore, the presence or absence and shape of the fitting pieces 122 and 123 of the cartridge case 110 may differ depending on the presence or absence and shape of the third key portion 79.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 9, the container body 31 has a rear surface 62 as an outer surface of the rear wall 41 of the container body 31. The rear surface 62 has a first rear surface 63, a second rear surface 64, and a third rear surface 65. The second rear surface 64 is to the left of the first rear surface 63. The third rear surface 65 is to the right of the first rear surface 63. The first rear surface 63 is a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The second rear surface 64 is a plane intersecting the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The right end of the second rear surface 64 is continuous with the first rear surface 63. The left end of the second rear surface 64 is to the left and rear of the first rear surface 63. The third rear surface 65 is a plane intersecting the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The left end of the third rear surface 65 is continuous with the first rear surface 63. The right end of the third rear surface 65 is to the right and rear of the first rear surface 63. The length of the first rear surface 63 in the left-right direction is constant in the up-down direction.

[0119] 4, 5, and 9, the bottom wall 45 of the container body 31 has a first bottom wall 45A and a second bottom wall 45B extending downward from the first bottom wall 45A. The rear end of the first bottom wall 45A is continuous with the lower end of the rear wall 41. The front part of the first bottom wall 45A extends in the front-rear direction. The front end of the first bottom wall 45A is continuous with the front wall 40. The curved surface of the supply part 33, including the rear end of the supply part 33, protrudes downward from the first bottom wall 45A.

[0120] The second lower wall 45B is continuous with the lower end of the rear wall 41. The second lower wall 45B is an inclined wall that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction. The second lower wall 45B is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction so that the upper end is located rearward and above the lower end. The lower end of the second lower wall 45B is continuous with the rear end of the lower surface 47 of the supply unit 33. The lower end of the second lower wall 45B is continuous with the rear end of the supply unit 33 below the first lower wall 45A. The left-right length of the second lower wall 45B is smaller than the left-right length of the first lower wall 45A.

[0121] Since the supply part 33 is located below the first lower wall 45A, as shown in FIG. 9, when the ink cartridge 30 is viewed from the rear, the lower surface 47 of the supply part 33 is visible. Therefore, the user can recognize where the supply part 33 is located when viewed from the rear, and when the ink cartridge 30 is mounted in the slot 108, the ink cartridge 30 can be easily mounted in the correct orientation. In addition, the lower wall 45 is continuous with the rear end of the supply part 33, so that the rear end of the supply part 33 is reinforced. This prevents the supply part 33 from being deformed even if the lower end of the ink cartridge 30 receives an impact. The lower wall 45 may have only the first lower wall 45A, omitting the second lower wall 45B.

[0122] The second rear surface 64 has a recess 66 near the upper end. The recess 66 is formed by a space recessed forward from the second rear surface 64 and a surface that defines the space. The third rear surface 65 has a recess 67 near the upper end. The recess 67 is formed by a space recessed forward from the third rear surface 65 and a surface that defines the space. As shown in FIG. 1, the recesses 66, 67 accommodate a protrusion 127 protruding from a cover 126 that opens and closes the opening 112 of the cartridge case 110. The protrusion 127 of the cover 126 in the closed state abuts against the surface that forms the upper end of the recesses 66, 67. The protrusion 127 of the cover 126 in the closed state abuts against the recesses 66, 67, thereby preventing the ink cartridge 30 attached to the cartridge case 110 from coming off the cartridge case 110 due to impact or the like. 9, the left-right length of the first rear surface 63 sandwiched between the recesses 66 and 67 is greater than the left-right length of the recesses 66, and is greater than the left-right length of the recesses 67. This makes the first rear surface 63 easy to see from behind the ink cartridge 30, so that when installing the ink cartridge 30 in the cartridge case 110, the user can easily press the area near the first rear surface 63, which is the upper part of the rear surface.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the rear end of the upper surface 80 of the upper wall 44 of the container body 31 includes an operation surface 68. The operation surface 68 is an inclined surface that is inclined so as to face upward and backward. The operation surface 68 is continuous with the upper end of the rear surface 62. The operation surface 68 has a plurality of protrusions 69 that protrude upward and extend along the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 12, the protrusions 69 extend downward from both ends of the operation surface 68 in the left-right direction to the outer surfaces of the left wall 42 and the right wall 43. From the left end of the operation surface 68 to the left wall 42, three protrusions 69 extend with a space between them in the front-rear direction. From the right end of the operation surface 68 to the right wall 43, three protrusions 69 extend with a space between them in the front-rear direction. The protrusions 69 function as a slip-proofing when the user operates the operation surface 68. The anti-slip structure may be, instead of the protrusions 69, a recess recessed downward from the operation surface 68, for example.

[0124] The upper surface 80 of the container body 31 has a first upper surface 81 , a second upper surface 82 , a third upper surface 83 , an upper end surface 86 , and an operation surface 68 .

[0125] The first upper surface 81 is located at the frontmost position on the upper surface 80. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the first upper surface 81 has a surface 81A located in the center in the left-right direction, a surface 81B located on the left, and a surface 81C located on the right. The surface 81A is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The surface 81B is continuous with the left end of the surface 81A. The surface 81C is continuous with the right end of the surface 81A. The surface 81B is a surface facing upward and to the left. The surface 81C is a surface facing upward and to the right. The left-right length of the surface 81A is smaller than the left-right length of the surface 81B. The left-right length of the surface 81A is smaller than the left-right length of the surface 81C.

[0126] The second upper surface 82 is continuous with the rear end of the first upper surface 81. The rear end of the second upper surface 82 is located higher than the front end. The second upper surface 82 has a surface 82A located in the center in the left-right direction, a surface 82B located to the left of the surface 82A, and a surface 82C located to the right of the surface 82A. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 10, the surface 82A is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to face forward and upward. The surface 82A is a flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The surface 82A extends toward the left as it moves toward the rear. Specifically, the surface 82A has a surface extending toward the rear and a surface extending toward the left as it moves toward the rear. The surface 82B is continuous with the left end of the surface 82A and faces toward the left. The surface 82C is continuous with the right end of the surface 82A and faces toward the right. The left-right length of surface 82A is smaller than the left-right length of surface 82B. The left-right length of surface 82A is smaller than the left-right length of surface 82C. The left-right length of surface 82A is equal to the left-right length of surface 81A. The front-rear length of surface 82A is larger than the front-rear length of surface 81A.

[0127] The third top surface 83 is continuous with the rear end of surface 82C of the second top surface 82. The third top surface 83 is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The third top surface 83 is located higher than the first top surface 81. The rear end of the third top surface 83 is continuous with the operation surface 68. The third top surface 83 has an abutment surface 92. The abutment surface 92 extends rearward from the lower end of a lock surface 87 of the second key portion 78, which will be described later.

[0128] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the second key portion 78 is located on the third upper surface 83 of the container body 31. The second key portion 78 protrudes upward from the third upper surface 83. The second key portion 78 is located above the supply port 34. The upper end of the second key portion 78 is located above the upper surface of the electrode 61 of the IC substrate 60. The second key portion 78 is located forward of the operation surface 68. When the convex portion 52 of the container body 31 is located at the upper end of the through hole 58 of the cover 32, the cover 32 is located at the lowest position relative to the container body 31. When the cover 32 is located at the lowest position relative to the container body 31, the upper end of the second key portion 78 is located above the IC substrate 60.

[0129] The second key portion 78 has a first front inclined surface 84A, a second front inclined surface 84B, a left inclined surface 85A, a right inclined surface 85B, an upper end surface 86, and a lock surface 87. The first front inclined surface 84A is a plane inclined in the front-rear direction so as to face upward and forward. The first front inclined surface 84A is continuous with the rear end of the surface 82B of the second upper surface 82. The front end of the second front inclined surface 84B is continuous with the rear end of the surface 82A. The second front inclined surface 84B extends leftward from the front end toward the rear. The rear end of the second front inclined surface 84B is continuous with the upper end surface 86. The lower end of the second front inclined surface 84B is continuous with the third upper surface 83. The left end of the second front inclined surface 84B is continuous with the right end of the first front inclined surface 84A. The boundary between the first front inclined surface 84A and the second front inclined surface 84B extends leftward from the front end toward the rear. The upper end of the boundary between the first front inclined surface 84A and the second front inclined surface 84B is continuous with the upper end surface 86.

[0130] The upper end surface 86 is a flat surface facing upward. The upper end of the locking surface 87 is continuous with the rear end of the upper end surface 86. In other words, the upper end surface 86 is located between the second front inclined surface 84B and the locking surface 87 in the front-rear direction. The locking surface 87 is a flat surface facing backward. When the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110, the locking surface 87 and the abutment surface 92 are configured to abut against the locking portion 139 of the cartridge case 110.

[0131] The left inclined surface 85A is a plane that inclines in the left-right direction so as to face upward from the left end to the right end. The left inclined surface 85A is continuous with the left end of the first front inclined surface 84A. The boundary between the left inclined surface 85A and the first front inclined surface 84A extends toward the right as it approaches the front end or the rear end. The rear end of the boundary between the left inclined surface 85A and the first front inclined surface 84A is continuous with the lock surface 87. The right inclined surface 85B is a plane that inclines in the left-right direction so as to face upward from the right end to the left end. The right inclined surface 85B is continuous with the right end of the second front inclined surface 84B. The boundary between the right inclined surface 85B and the second front inclined surface 84B extends toward the left as it approaches the front end to the rear end. The rear end of the boundary between the right inclined surface 85B and the second front inclined surface 84B is continuous with the upper end surface 86. The rear end of right inclined surface 85B is continuous with lock surface 87. Since second key portion 78 has first front inclined surface 84A, second front inclined surface 84B, left inclined surface 85A, and right inclined surface 85B, second key portion 78 has greater strength than a case in which second key portion 78 has a surface extending perpendicular to the horizontal direction. Therefore, second key portion 78 is less likely to deform when subjected to impact from the left or right direction.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the first angle θ1 of the second front inclined surface 84B with respect to the horizontal plane is smaller than the second angle θ2 of the left inclined surface 85A with respect to the horizontal plane. The third angle θ3 of the right inclined surface 85B with respect to the horizontal plane may be different from the second angle θ2 of the left inclined surface 85A. The first angle θ1 is, for example, within a range of 5° to 10°, and is 7° in this embodiment. The second angle θ2 is, for example, within a range of 30° to 40°. The third angle θ3 is, for example, within a range of 30° to 40°.

[0133] The mechanical characteristics of the second key portion 78, such as the arrangement and shape, differ depending on the characteristics of each ink cartridge 30. The characteristics indicated by the second key portion 78 may be the same as or different from the characteristics indicated by the first key portion 77 and the third key portion 79. In this embodiment, the characteristic of the ink cartridge 30 indicated by the second key portion 78 is the composition of the ink. The left-right position of the second key portion 78 on the second upper surface 82 differs depending on the composition of the ink. The composition of the ink refers to the materials contained in the ink, such as whether the coloring material contained in the ink is a black dye or a black pigment.

[0134] As shown in Fig. 8, the left-right length M1 of the first key portion 77 is smaller than the left-right length M2 of the second key portion 78. As shown in Fig. 5, the up-down length M3 of the front end of the first key portion 77 is larger than the maximum length M4 of the up-down length of the second key portion 78. Length M4 corresponds to the up-down length of the locking surface 87 of the second key portion 78.

[0135] 5, a first distance N1, which is the shortest distance from the center of the supply port 34 to the first key portion 77, is shorter than a second distance N2, which is the shortest distance from the center of the supply port 34 to the second key portion 78. With this configuration, as described below, when the rear end of the container body 31 is rotated upward around the supply port 34, the length of the path along which the first key portion 77 rotates is shorter than the length of the path along which the second key portion 78 rotates.

[0136] As shown in FIG. 11, the ink cartridge set 300 is composed of a plurality of ink cartridges 30. Each ink cartridge 30 constituting the ink cartridge set 300 has different mechanical characteristics such as the arrangement and shape of the first key portion 77, the second key portion 78, or the third key portion 79 according to the difference in the characteristics of the ink cartridge 30. In the four ink cartridges 30 shown in FIG. 11, the position of the first key portion 77 corresponds to the color of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30. The position of the second key portion 78 corresponds to the composition of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30. The position and shape of the third key portion 79 correspond to the sales region of the printer in which the ink cartridge 30 is used. The ink cartridge 30A in FIG. 11 corresponds to the ink cartridge 30 disclosed in FIG. 3 to FIG. 10.

[0137] The position of the first key portion 77 in the left-right direction corresponds to the position of the first key slot 115 of the cartridge case 110. The first key portion 77A of the ink cartridge 30A located at the rightmost position in FIG. 11 is located to the right of the center in the left-right direction on the bottom surface 70. The first key portion 77B of the ink cartridge 30B located second from the right in FIG. 11 is located to the left of the first key portion 77A of the ink cartridge 30A in the left-right direction on the bottom surface 70. The first key portion 77C of the ink cartridge 30C located third from the right in FIG. 11 is located to the left of the first key portion 77B of the ink cartridge 30B in the left-right direction on the bottom surface 70. The first key portion 77D of the ink cartridge 30D located at the leftmost position in FIG. 11 is located to the left of the first key portion 77C of the ink cartridge 30C in the left-right direction on the bottom surface 70.

[0138] The left-right positions of the second key portions 78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D of the ink cartridges 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D correspond to the position of the second key slot 138 of the cartridge case 110. The second key portions 78A, 78B, and 78C of the ink cartridges 30A, 30B, and 30C are located to the left of the left-right center of the second top surface 82. The second key portion 78D of the ink cartridge 30D is located to the right of the left-right center of the second top surface 82. In this embodiment, the four ink cartridges 30 shown in FIG. 11 are from the same sales region, so the position and shape of the third key portion 79 are common.

[0139] [Installing the ink cartridge 30 into the cartridge case 110] As shown in FIG. 12, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward into a predetermined slot 108 in the cartridge case 110. In other words, the ink cartridge 30 is inserted so that the front wall 53 of the ink cartridge 30 faces the slot 108 of the cartridge case 110. In the four slots 108, the ink cartridges 30 storing magenta, cyan, yellow, and black inks are inserted from the right end in the left-right direction. In the following, an example will be described in which the ink cartridge 30A storing magenta ink is inserted into the slot 108A at the right end in the left-right direction. The ink cartridge 30A storing magenta ink is located at the rightmost position in FIG. 11. The user pushes the first rear surface 63 of the ink cartridge 30A forward with his or her fingers to insert the ink cartridge 30A forward toward the cartridge case 110.

[0140] 13(A) and 13(B), the ink cartridge 30A is inserted into the slot 108A through the opening 112 of the case body 101. The bottom surface 47 of the inserted ink cartridge 30A is supported by the guide surface 161 of the case body 101 shown in FIG.

[0141] Before the supply port 34 of the ink cartridge 30A reaches the supply tube 102, the second key portion 78A reaches below the second key slot 138A of the case body 101. The second key portion 78A of the ink cartridge 30A is located on the left side of the center in the left-right direction of the second upper surface 82. On the other hand, the second key slot 138A is located on the left side of the center in the left-right direction of the slot 108A. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30A is further inserted forward, the second key portion 78A enters below the second key slot 138A as shown in Figures 14(A) and 14(B). At this time, the second front inclined surface 84B of the second key portion 78A abuts against the lock portion 139, and a downward force is applied to the ink cartridge 30A. When a downward force is applied to the second front inclined surface 84B of the second key portion 78A, the ink cartridge 30A rotates clockwise in Figures 14(A) and 14(B). As a result, the lower surface 47 of the supply portion 33, which defines the lower end of the ink cartridge 30, abuts against the guide surface 161 of the case body 101, and the second key portion 78A moves forward while abutting against the lock portion 139, reaching below the second key slot 138A.

[0142] Furthermore, with the supply portion 33 abutting against the guide surface 161 of the case body 101 and the second front inclined surface 84B of the second key portion 78A abutting against the lock portion 139, the first key portion 77A enters the first key slot 115A.

[0143] Moreover, one of the pair of walls 71 enters groove 113. The other of the pair of walls 71 enters groove 114. Moreover, rib 118 enters one of the two grooves 74. rib 119 abuts against the other of the two grooves 74. One of the pair of walls 71 enters groove 113 and the other enters groove 114, thereby guiding the cover 32 forward. The rib 118 enters one of the two grooves 74 and the rib 119 enters the other, thereby guiding the cover 32 forward and positioning the cover 32 with respect to the cartridge case 110 in the up-down direction.

[0144] One of the second front faces 73 of the wall 71 moves forward while abutting against the lower surface of the groove 113, and the other of the second front faces 73 moves forward while abutting against the lower surface of the groove 114, so that one of the walls 71 is guided to the groove 113 in the vertical direction, and the other is guided to the groove 114. Also, either one of the first front faces 72 of the wall 71 or the lower front face 75L of the cover 32 moves forward while abutting against the rib 118, so that the groove 74 is guided to the rib 118 in the vertical direction. Either the other of the first front face 72 of the wall 71 or the lower front face 75L of the cover 32 moves forward while abutting against the rib 119, so that the groove 74 is guided to the rib 119 in the vertical direction. In addition, when the first key portion 77A of the ink cartridge 30A enters the first key slot 115A, the side surface 77S of the first key portion 77A shown in Figures 4 and 8 moves forward while abutting against the protrusion 117, thereby guiding the first key portion 77A into the first key slot 115A in the left-right direction.

[0145] As the first key portion 77A of the ink cartridge 30A enters the first key slot 115A, the second key portion 78A enters the second key slot 138A. As the second key portion 78A enters the second key slot 138A, the second front inclined surface 84B and the upper end surface 86 come into contact with the lock portion 139 in that order. As shown in FIG. 14(A) and FIG. 14(B), when the second front inclined surface 84B comes into contact with the lock portion 139, a downward and rearward force acts on the container body 31, and when the upper end surface 86 comes into contact with the lock portion 139, a downward force acts on the container body 31. When the second front inclined surface 84B or the upper end surface 86 slides on the lock portion 139, the lower surface 70 of the container body 31 slides on the guide surface 161.

[0146] When the first key portion 77A of the ink cartridge 30A enters the first key slot 115A, the lower surface 77L of the first key portion 77A abuts against the upper end 136 of the pressing plate 134. As the first key portion 77A of the ink cartridge 30A enters the first key slot 115A, the lower surface 77L of the first key portion 77A presses the pressing plate 134 downward, moving the ink receiving member 130 from the first position to the second position. At this time, the urging force of the coil spring 133 acts upward on the cover 32, but the surfaces 74L and 74U of the groove 74 shown in FIG. 8 abut against the rib 118, so that the cover 32 is positioned in the vertical direction. In addition, the surfaces 74L and 74U of the groove 74 abut against the rib 118, so that the cover 32 is positioned in the vertical direction. This prevents the cover 32 from moving upward. As the wall 71 moves forward, the pressing plate 134 moves downward along the second front surface 73 against the biasing force of the coil spring 133. As the pressing plate 134 moves downward, the ink receiving member 130 moves from the first position shown in Figures 13(A) and 13(B) to the second position shown in Figures 14(A) and 14(B).

[0147] When the ink receiving member 130 is in the second position, the supply port 34 is connected to the supply tube 102 as the ink cartridge 30A moves forward. The supply tube 102 presses the first valve 36A, and the first valve 36A moves backward from the closed position to the open position against the biasing force of the first coil spring 37A. As the first valve 36A moves backward, the first coil spring 37A is compressed in the front-rear direction, and the biasing force of the first coil spring 37A becomes stronger. When the biasing force of the first coil spring 37A becomes stronger than the biasing force of the second coil spring 37B, the second valve 36B moves backward from the closed position to the open position. This allows the internal space of the lower support member 11 to communicate with the internal space of the supply tube 102. As a result, the ink in the storage chamber 46 is supplied to the subtank 120 through the through hole 206, the internal space of the lower support member 11, and the internal space of the supply tube 102. The outer circumferential surface of the supply pipe 102 connected to the supply portion 33 is in liquid-tight contact with the seal member 35 .

[0148] As shown in FIG. 15(A) and FIG. 15(B), as the ink cartridge 30 moves forward, the rod 121 of the slot 108A abuts against the valve 50 of the air communication part 502 through the opening of the cover 32. The rod 121 pushes the valve 50, and the valve 50 moves backward against the biasing force of the coil spring 51. When the valve 50 moves backward, the air communication port 501 is opened, and air can flow between the outside and the storage chamber 46. In addition, the electrode 61 of the IC board 60 abuts against the contact 125, and electrical conduction is established. In addition, the lock surface 87 of the second key part 78A is located forward of the lock part 139. The abutment surface 92 is located below the lock part 139.

[0149] Although contact 125 applies a downward contact pressure to electrode 61, cover 32 does not move downward because the vertical movement of cover 32 is restricted by ribs 118 and 119 abutting groove 74. In addition, the biasing force of coil spring 133 acting upward on cover 32 and the downward contact pressure of contact 125 cancel out the vertical force applied to cover 32.

[0150] 15(B), the front-rear position where the upper end 136 of the pressing plate 134 abuts against the wall 71 and the first key portion 77A is different from the front-rear position where the contact 125 abuts against the electrode 61. Specifically, the front-rear position where the upper end 136 of the pressing plate 134 abuts against the wall 71 and the first key portion 77A is located forward of the front-rear position where the contact 125 abuts against the electrode 61. This applies a force to the cover 32 to rotate the rear end side of the cover 32 upwardly with respect to the front end side, with the left-right direction as the rotation axis. In contrast, the rotation of the cover 32 is suppressed by the abutment of the ribs 118 and 119 with the groove 74 as shown in FIG.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 17, when the ink cartridge 30A is inserted most forward in the slot 108A, the third key portion 79 fits into the fitting piece 122 and the fitting piece 123. Suppose an ink cartridge 30 sold in a different sales region and not provided with one of the third key portions 79 located on the left and right is inserted into the slot 108D. In the slot 108D, the fitting piece 122 is located on the right and the fitting piece 123 is located on the left. In the ink cartridge 30 not provided with one of the third key portions 79, the front wall 53 of the cover 32 abuts against either the fitting piece 122 or the fitting piece 123. This prevents the ink cartridge 30 from being inserted further forward into the slot 108D. Since the ink cartridge 30 cannot be inserted into the slot 108D, it is identified that the ink cartridge 30 is an ink cartridge 30 to be used in a printer in a sales region different from the printer 10.

[0152] In the state shown in FIG. 15(A) and FIG. 15(B), the container body 31 can rotate around the supply port 34 so that the rear end side faces upward in the slot 108. When the ink cartridge 30A rotates so that the rear end side moves upward, the lock surface 87 of the second key portion 78A and the lock portion 139 face each other in the front-rear direction. When the user releases his / her fingers from the ink cartridge 30A, the ink cartridge 30A moves backward due to the biasing force of the coil spring 37 and the coil spring 51, and the lock surface 87 abuts against the lock portion 139 as shown in FIG. 16(A) and FIG. 16(B). This keeps the ink cartridge 30A attached to the cartridge case 110. In addition, the abutment surface 92 abuts against the lock portion 139. This positions the container body 31 of the ink cartridge 30A in the up-down direction with respect to the cartridge case 110.

[0153] When the ink cartridge 30A is held in the cartridge case 110, the internal space of the ink cartridge 30A communicates with the atmosphere through the internal space of the upper support member 38. As a result, the ink in the storage chamber 46 is supplied to the subtank 120 through the through hole 206, the internal space of the lower support member 11, and the internal space of the supply tube 102. At the same time, air flows into the storage chamber 46 through the internal space of the upper support member 38. As the ink in the ink cartridge 30A moves to the subtank 120, the ink level in the storage chamber 46 drops. When the ink level in the storage chamber 46 drops slightly below the upper end of the through hole 206 of the lower support member 11, the air in the ink cartridge 30A can move to the outside through the through hole 206 and the internal space of the lower support member 11, the internal space of the supply tube 102, and the internal space of the subtank 120, so that the ink in the ink cartridge 30A is less likely to move to the subtank 120.

[0154] In addition, the ink cartridge 30A is biased backward by the first coil spring 37A, the second coil spring 37B, and the coil spring 51, but the backward movement of the ink cartridge 30A is restricted by the abutment between the lock surface 87 of the ink cartridge 30A and the lock portion 139 of the cartridge case 110. As a result, the ink cartridge 30A is held in the cartridge case 110.

[0155] Furthermore, when the ink cartridge 30A is held in the cartridge case 110, the electrode 61 of the IC board 60 abuts against the contact 125. Furthermore, when the cover 126 is closed, the electrode 61 is conductive with the contact 125, enabling communication with the control unit of the printer 10.

[0156] Furthermore, when ink cartridge 30A is in the installed state, the downward force that electrode 61 of ink cartridge 30A receives from contact 125 is transmitted to supply tube 102 inserted into the internal space of supply unit 33. The downward force transmitted to supply tube 102 is weakened by being received by pressure plate 134, thereby reducing the possibility of supply tube 102 being deformed.

[0157] Suppose that the ink cartridge 30A is mistakenly inserted into the slot 108B of the cartridge case 110 shown in FIG. 2. In the second slot 108B from the right, the first key slot 115B is located slightly to the right of the center of the slot 108B in the left-right direction. Therefore, the left-right positions of the first key portion 77A of the ink cartridge 30A and the first key slot 115B of the slot 108B are misaligned, so the first key portion 77A cannot enter the first key slot 115B and abuts against the rear wall 173. As the front surface 77F of the first key portion 77A abuts against the rear wall 173, the ink cartridge 30A cannot be further inserted into the slot 108B. Since the ink cartridge 30A cannot be inserted into the slot 108B, the user understands that the ink cartridge 30A is not the ink cartridge 30 that should be inserted into the slot 108B.

[0158] Assume that the ink cartridge 30, which has the first key portion 77 in the same position as the ink cartridge 30A and the second key portion 78 in the same position as the ink cartridge 30D, is inserted into the rightmost slot 108A of the cartridge case 110 shown in FIG. 2. In the rightmost slot 108A, the first key slot 115A is located to the right of the slot 108A in the left-right direction, so the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30 can enter the first key slot 115A. On the other hand, the second key slot 138A is located to the left of the center of the slot 108A in the left-right direction. Therefore, the second key portion 78 of the ink cartridge 30 and the second key slot 138A of the slot 108A are misaligned in the left-right direction, so that the upper end surface 86 abuts against the case body 101 before the second key portion 78 enters the second key slot 138A as the ink cartridge 30 rotates. As a result, the lock surface 87 and the lock portion 139 do not face each other in the front-rear direction, and therefore the ink cartridge 30 is not held in the slot 108D. Because the container body 31 cannot rotate, the user understands that the ink cartridge 30 is not the ink cartridge 30 that should be inserted into the slot 108A.

[0159] Next, the movement of the ink cartridge 30A when the ink cartridge 30A mounted in the cartridge case 110 is removed from the cartridge case 110 will be described. As shown in Fig. 17, in the mounted state, the vertical movement and rotation of the cover 32 are restricted by the ribs 118 and 119 that abut against the grooves 74. Since the container body 31 is movable relative to the cover 32, even if the vertical movement and rotation of the cover 32 is restricted, only the container body 31 can rotate about the supply port 34. The rotation of the container body 31 causes the lock surface 87 and the lock portion 139 to engage with each other or to separate from each other in the vertical direction.

[0160] In the attached state, when the user presses down on the operation surface 68 of the container body 31 with his / her finger, the rear end side of the container body 31 moves downward. This causes the lock surface 87 and the lock portion 139 to separate in the vertical direction. Then, when the user removes his / her finger from the operation surface 68, the urging force of the coil spring 37 and the coil spring 51 causes the ink cartridge 30A to move backward in the slot 108A.

[0161] In the mounted state, the protrusion 59 of the ink cartridge 30A is located in the space 162 of the case body 101. As the ink cartridge 30A moves rearward through the slot 108A, the protrusion 59 also moves rearward through the space 162 and abuts against the front end of the guide surface 161. This restricts the rearward movement of the ink cartridge 30A, and as shown in Figures 14(A) and 14(B), the ink cartridge 30A does not jump out of the slot 108A and remains stationary with the front side of the ink cartridge 30A positioned in the slot 108A. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 13(A) and 13(B), as the ink cartridge 30A moves rearward, the protrusion 59 of the ink cartridge 30A moves away from the guide surface 161 of the slot 108A, and the ink cartridge 30A is removed from the slot 108A.

[0162] [Effects of this embodiment] In the ink cartridge 30, when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110, the valve 36 is pushed backward by the supply tube 102 to open the through hole 19 of the seal member 35. This allows the ink in the ink cartridge 30 to be supplied to the subtank 120 through the through hole 206, the internal space of the lower support member 11, and the internal space of the supply tube 102. When the ink in the ink cartridge 30 is slightly lower than the position of the upper end of the through hole 206, the air in the ink cartridge 30 can move to the outside through the through hole 206, the internal space of the lower support member 11, the internal space of the supply tube 102, and the internal space of the subtank 120, so that the ink in the ink cartridge 30 is less likely to move to the subtank 120. In other words, the ink in the ink cartridge 30 can be used until the ink level in the ink cartridge 30 drops to the position of the upper end of the through hole 206. Because the through hole 206 is partitioned by the lower support member 11, the position of the liquid level when the air inside the ink cartridge 30 can move to the outside through the through hole 206, the internal space of the lower support member 11, the internal space of the supply tube 102, and the internal space of the subtank 120 is lower than when the lower support member 11 is omitted. Therefore, the amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge 30 is small. Because the supply unit 33 is not provided with a partition wall 205 that partitions the through hole 206, the structure of the mold for molding the container body 31 is simplified.

[0163] In the ink cartridge 30, a partition wall 205 that partitions the through hole 206 protrudes inward in an annular shape from the inner circumferential surface of the conical portion 203. Therefore, the position of the upper end of the through hole 206 is lower than when the partition wall 205 is not provided, so that the ink in the ink cartridge 30 can be used up more easily.

[0164] In the ink cartridge 30, the seal member 35 has a first seal portion 35A that is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the supply portion 33, and a second seal portion 35B that is in close contact with the valve 36. This prevents the ink in the ink cartridge 30 from leaking to the outside through a gap between the first seal portion 35A and the inner circumferential surface of the supply portion 33. When the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the cartridge case 110, the ink in the ink cartridge 30 is prevented from leaking to the outside through a gap between the second seal portion 35B and the valve 36.

[0165] In the ink cartridge 30, the rear end of the second coil spring 37B is supported by the spring support surface 204A of the base 204. The front end of the second coil spring 37B abuts against the rear surface of the flange portion 323. Therefore, the second coil spring 37B can urge the valve 36 toward the seal member 35 in a stable position.

[0166] In the ink cartridge 30, the outer peripheral surface of the lower support member 11 is in pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface 33A of the supply part 33, thereby preventing ink from entering the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the lower support member 11 and the inner peripheral surface 33A of the supply part 33. The front end 11A of the lower support member 11 is in close contact with the seal member 35, so the position of the seal member 35 in the front-rear direction is determined.

[0167] In the ink cartridge 30, the outer peripheral surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 of the lower support member 11 is in pressure contact with the press-fit surface 14 of the supply portion 33. For this reason, a gap G1 between the lower surface of the outer peripheral surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 and the press-fit surface 14 is smaller than a gap G2 between the upper surface of the outer peripheral surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 and the inner peripheral surface 33A of the supply portion 33. Therefore, ink is less likely to remain in the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the lower support member 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the supply portion 33.

[0168] In the ink cartridge 30, the cap 39 is in close contact with the seal member 35. Therefore, the seal member 35 is more reliably positioned in the front-rear direction by the cap 39, and is less likely to fall off the supply portion 33.

[0169] In the ink cartridge 30, when the ink in the ink cartridge 30 is supplied to the subtank 120, air flows into the ink cartridge 30 through the upper support member 38. This makes it easy for the ink in the ink cartridge 30 to move to the subtank 120. Also, for example, when the printer 10 with the ink cartridge 30 mounted thereon is placed on the floor so that the air vent 501 faces downward during transportation, the air vent 501 is lower than the supply port 34. This creates a possibility that the ink in the ink cartridge 30 will flow out to the subtank 120 through the internal space of the upper support member 38 housed in the air vent portion 502 that defines the air vent 501. However, since the length L1 of the upper support member 38 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length L2 of the lower support member 11 in the front-rear direction, the height of the upper end of the upper support member 38 is likely to be higher than the height of the ink liquid level in the ink cartridge 30. For this reason, the ink in the ink cartridge 30 is less likely to flow into the internal space of the upper support member , and is therefore prevented from leaking to the outside through the opening and the internal space of the upper support member .

[0170] In the ink cartridge 30, the rear end of the lower support member 11 is located rearward of the rear end of the upper support member 38. For this reason, for example, when the printer 10 with the ink cartridge 30 installed is placed on the floor with the atmosphere vent 501 facing downward during transportation, the upper end of the lower support member 11 is higher than the upper end of the upper support member 38. Therefore, the ink in the ink cartridge 30 does not easily flow into the internal space of the lower support member 11, and is prevented from flowing out into the subtank 120 through the through hole 206, the internal space of the lower support member 11, and the internal space of the supply tube 102.

[0171] In the ink cartridge 30, the rear end of the upper support member 38 has a rectangular opening 515 that is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, which prevents an ink meniscus from forming at the opening 515. For this reason, even if the ink in the ink cartridge 30 flows out through the opening 515 and the internal space of the upper support member 38 when the printer 10 with the ink cartridge 30 attached is placed on the floor with the air vent 501 facing downward during transportation of the printer 10 with the ink cartridge 30 attached, when the printer 10 is placed back on the floor after transportation of the printer 10 is completed, the ink outside the ink cartridge 30 is likely to return into the ink cartridge 30 through the internal space of the upper support member 38 and the opening 515.

[0172] [Variations] In the ink cartridge 30, the first valve 36A and the second valve 36B are provided separately, but as long as the through-hole 19 of the seal member 35 can be opened and closed, they may be provided integrally.

[0173] In the ink cartridge 30, the partition wall 205 that partitions the through hole 206 is provided in the lower support member 11, but the partition wall 205 may be omitted. In this case, the through hole 206 is partitioned by the rear end of the lower support member 11.

[0174] In the ink cartridge 30, the first seal portion 35A of the seal member 35 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply portion 33, but it may also abut against the inner circumferential surface of the lower support member 11.

[0175] In the ink cartridge 30, the seat 204 has a radial shape with multiple protrusions 204A protruding at intervals in the circumferential direction from the inner circumferential surface of the conical portion 203, but is not limited to this as long as it can support the rear end of the second coil spring 37B. For example, the seat 204 may protrude inward from the inner circumferential surface of the conical portion 203 in an annular shape.

[0176] In the ink cartridge 30, the lower support member 11 is pressed against the press-fit surface 14 of the supply portion 33, but as long as the lower support member 11 is prevented from coming out of the supply portion 33, it does not have to be pressed against the inner surface 33A of the supply portion 33.

[0177] In the ink cartridge 30, the gap G1 between the lower surface of the outer circumferential surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 of the lower support member 11 and the press-fit surface 14 is smaller than the gap G2 between the upper surface of the outer circumferential surface of the reduced diameter portion 202 and the inner circumferential surface 33A of the supply portion 33, but it may be the same size as the gap G2. In this case, the press-fit surface 14 does not need to be inclined inward with respect to the front-to-rear direction.

[0178] In the ink cartridge 30, the cap 39 that is in tight contact with the seal member 35 is provided, but the cap 39 may be omitted.

[0179] In the ink cartridge 30, the length L1 of the upper support member 38 along the front-rear direction is longer than the length L2 of the lower support member 11 along the front-rear direction, but it may be equal to or shorter than the length L2. Also, the upper support member 38 may be omitted.

[0180] In the ink cartridge 30, the rear end of the lower support member 11 is located rearward of the rear end of the upper support member 38 in the front-to-rear direction, but it may also be coincident with the rear end of the upper support member 38 in the front-to-rear direction, or it may be located forward of the rear end of the upper support member 38 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0181] In the ink cartridge 30, the upper support member 38 has the rectangular tube portion 503B that defines the rectangular opening 515, but the rectangular tube portion 503B may be omitted. In this case, the rear end of the cylindrical main body portion 503A may define the circular opening 515.

[0182] 24, the ink cartridge 30 may be provided with an annular rib 151 that protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the front end portion of the lower support member 11. The annular rib 151 is in close contact with the entire inner circumferential surface of the supply portion 33. The annular rib 151 is an example of a fourth seal portion. In this way, even if ink enters the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the lower support member 11 and the inner circumferential surface of the supply portion 33, the annular rib 151 prevents the ink from leaking to the outside through the gap.

[0183] In the above-described embodiment, the first key portion 77 extends rearward from the lower surface 70 of the cover 32. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, the first key portion 177 may protrude rightward from the right wall 55 and extend along the front-rear direction. In this case, a groove extending in the front-rear direction into which the first key portion 177 enters is formed in the fitting piece 123 of the cartridge case 110. Alternatively, the first key portion 177 may protrude leftward from the left wall 54 and extend along the front-rear direction. In addition, the first key portion 177 may protrude in the left-right direction from one or both of the right wall 55 and the left wall 54 of the cover 32 other than the third key portion 79.

[0184] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 19, the first key portion 277 may be located in a recess that constitutes the third key portion 79. The rear end of the first key portion 277 may be spaced from the rear end surface 89 of the recess that constitutes the third key portion 79 in the front-rear direction. In the above-described embodiment, the first key portion 77 is convex and the first key slot 115 is concave, but the relationship between the mechanical properties of the two may be reversed. The shapes of the second key portion and the second receiving member are also similar to those of the first key portion and the first receiving portion. In the modified example, the number of first keys 277 is not limited to one, and may be multiple.

[0185] In the above-described embodiment, the length of the first rear surface 63 in the left-right direction is constant in the up-down direction. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 20, the length of the first rear surface 363 in the left-right direction may become gradually smaller toward the bottom in the up-down direction. This makes it easier for the user to press the upper part of the first rear surface 363, which is relatively wider than the lower part of the first rear surface 363.

[0186] In the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 includes the container body 31 and the cover 32. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 21, the ink cartridge 30 may include a container 431 in which the container body 31 and the cover 32 are integrally molded. In this case, the container 431 stores ink. The first key portion 77, the second key portion 78, and the IC board 60 are located in the container 431.

[0187] In the above embodiment, the atmosphere communication part 502 is located in the upper front wall 40U of the container body 31. However, the atmosphere communication part 502 may be located in a wall other than the front wall 40 of the container body 31, for example, in the upper wall 44.

[0188] In the above embodiment, the pressing plate 134 and the ink receiving member 130 are disposed inside the cartridge case 110, but these may be omitted. In other words, the first key portion 77 may only realize the function of identifying the characteristics of the ink cartridge 30.

[0189] Furthermore, the second key portion 78 does not necessarily have to have the lock surface 87. In other words, the second key portion 78 may only have the function of identifying the characteristics of the ink cartridge 30.

[0190] In the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is shown as an example of a liquid cartridge, but the ink container may be a bottle for refilling ink into the printer tank or the like, rather than a cartridge that is installed in the printer 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0191] 11...Lower support member (first support member) 11A...Front end (third seal part) 11B...Rear end (one end) 12 Lower valve mechanism (first valve mechanism) 19...Through hole (first through hole) 30···Ink cartridge (liquid cartridge) 31... Container body (housing) 33... Supply section (first cylinder section) 34... Supply port (other end of first cylindrical portion) 35...Sealing member 35A...First seal part 35B...Second seal part 36 Valve 37... Coil spring (biasing member) 38...Upper support member (second support member) 39. Cap 151 Annular rib (fourth seal part) 204 Base (protruding part) 205... Partition wall (part) 206...Through hole (second through hole) 404...Through hole (third through hole) 501: Atmospheric vent port (other end of second cylindrical portion) 502: Atmosphere communication portion (second cylindrical portion) 504: Upper valve mechanism 504 (second valve mechanism) 515...Opening (3rd through hole) G1: Gap G2: Gap L1: Length L2: Length

Claims

1. a housing having a first cylindrical portion extending along a first direction; A cylindrical first support member housed in the first cylindrical portion; a first valve mechanism at least partially housed in the first support member, The first valve mechanism is A seal member having a first through hole; a valve located in an internal space of the first support member and configured to open and close the first through hole; a biasing member located in an internal space of the first support member and biasing the valve toward the seal member, The first support member has a portion that defines a second through hole at one end in the first direction.

2. 2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the portion defining the second through hole protrudes inwardly in an annular shape from an inner circumferential surface of the first support member.

3. 3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the seal member has a first seal portion in tight contact with an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion, and a second seal portion in tight contact with the valve.

4. The first support member has a protruding portion protruding inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the first support member, One end of the biasing member in the first direction is supported by the protruding portion, The liquid cartridge according to claim 3 , wherein the other end of the biasing member in the first direction abuts against the valve.

5. the first support member is in pressure contact with an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion, 5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the other end of the first support member in the first direction has a third seal portion that is in tight contact with the seal member.

6. A liquid cartridge as described in claim 5, wherein a gap between a lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the first support member and an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion is smaller than a gap between an upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the first support member and an inner surface of the first cylindrical portion.

7. the first valve mechanism has a third through hole penetrating along the first direction, and further has a cap attached to an inner surface of the other end of the first cylindrical portion in the first direction, The liquid cartridge according to claim 6 , wherein the cap is in close contact with the sealing member.

8. 5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the first support member has a fourth seal portion that is in tight contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion.

9. The housing further includes a second cylindrical portion extending along the first direction, the other end of the second cylindrical portion in the first direction is located closer to the other end in the first direction than the other end of the first cylindrical portion in the first direction, The liquid cartridge is A cylindrical second support member housed in the second cylindrical portion; a second valve mechanism at least partially housed in the second support member, 9. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the length of the second support member in the first direction is longer than the length of the first support member in the first direction.

10. The liquid cartridge according to claim 9 , wherein one end of the first support member in the first direction is located closer to one end in the first direction than one end of the second support member in the first direction.

11. The liquid cartridge according to claim 10 , wherein the second support member has a third rectangular through hole at one end in the first direction.

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