Ink container and system

Abstract

To achieve a guide wall that is hardly broken when dropped.SOLUTION: An ink cartridge 30 comprises: a container main body 31 having a storage chamber 46 and a supply part 33; and a cover 32. The supply part 33 has a supply port 34 that is open forward. The container main body 31 has a left surface 42S and a right surface 43S. The cover 32 has a first key part 77. The first key part 77 has a front surface 77F, a lower surface 77L and side surface 77S. The front surface 77F is positioned on a front side with respect to the supply port 34 and a rear side with respect to a front end of the front wall 53. The lower surface 77L is positioned above the supply port 34 and below the lower surface 70. The side surface 77S facing leftward is positioned on a right side with respect to the left surface 42S. The side surface 77S facing rightward is positioned on a left side with respect to the right surface 43S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY The present disclosure relates to ink containers and systems for storing ink. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, ink cartridges that are mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a printer are known. When an ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting section, the supply port of the ink cartridge is connected to an ink supply tube provided in the printer. Also, when the ink cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting section, the ink cartridge is guided by a guide surface of the cartridge mounting section so that the positions of the ink supply tube and the ink supply port match. The guide surface of the cartridge mounting section abuts against the outermost surfaces, such as the bottom and side surfaces, of the ink cartridge to guide the ink cartridge in the mounting direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-292905 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-174879 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the ink cartridge is dropped to the floor, the outermost surface of the ink cartridge, such as the bottom or side, may collide directly with the floor and become deformed or damaged. If the bottom or side of the ink cartridge is deformed or damaged, the guide surface may not be able to properly guide the ink cartridge when it is being installed in the cartridge mounting section.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to realize a guide wall that is less likely to be damaged when dropped. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The present disclosure relates to an ink container to be inserted into a mounting space of a mounting part. The ink container includes a container having a left surface facing left in a left-right direction and a right surface facing right, a supply part having a supply port facing forward in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction of the container, and a guide wall located above and forward of the supply port in a vertical direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, the guide wall having a bottom surface facing downward, a left guide surface facing left, and a right guide surface facing right. The front end of the guide wall is located forward of the supply port and rearward of the front end of the ink container. The bottom end of the guide wall is located above the supply port and below the bottom surface. The left guide surface is located to the right of the left surface. The right guide surface is located to the left of the right surface.

[0007] The left guide surface of the guide wall is located to the right of the left surface of the container, the right guide surface of the guide wall is located to the left of the right surface of the container, and the front end of the guide wall is located behind the front end of the container, so that when the ink container is dropped on a floor or the like, the guide wall is prevented from directly hitting the floor or the like.

[0008] (2) The guide wall may extend downward from the lower surface.

[0009] (3) The container may have a front surface extending downward from a rear end of the lower surface, and the guide wall may extend forward from the front surface.

[0010] The guide walls are connected to the underside and front, increasing strength.

[0011] (4) The left guide surface may be located to the right of the left end of the supply section, and the right guide surface may be located to the left of the right end of the supply section.

[0012] When the ink container is dropped onto a floor or the like, the guide wall is further prevented from directly hitting the floor or the like.

[0013] (5) The guide wall may have a length in the front-rear direction that is longer than a length in the up-down direction.

[0014] This makes it easier for the side surface of the guide wall to guide the ink container in the front-rear direction rather than the up-down direction.

[0015] (6) The distance in the left-right direction between the left guide surface and the right guide surface may be shorter than the distance in the left-right direction between the left face and the right face.

[0016] (7) The container may have a storage chamber, the supply section may extend forward from the storage chamber, the outer surface of the supply section may define a lower end of the container, and the outer surface of the supply section may have a curved surface that is curved in a circumferential direction with the fore-and-aft direction as a central axis.

[0017] (8) The lower surface may be an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the rear and is inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction.

[0018] As a result, the lower end of the guide wall is located higher on the front end side than on the rear end side, so that the front end of the guide wall of the ink container can easily enter the mounting portion.

[0019] (9) The ink container may further include an electrical interface having a plurality of electrodes facing upward, the plurality of electrodes being positioned above the guide wall and aligned in the left-right direction.

[0020] The guide wall prevents the ink container from rotating around an axis along the front-rear direction, thereby preventing uneven pressure when the contacts of the mounting part contact the electrodes of the electrical interface, thereby stabilizing electrical conduction between the contacts of the mounting part and the electrodes.

[0021] (10) The guide wall and the electrode may at least partially overlap when viewed in the up-down direction.

[0022] (11) The ink container further includes a valve that opens and closes the supply port and abuts against a supply tube of the mounting portion when the ink container is mounted on the mounting portion, a biasing member that biases the valve forward, an electrical interface having an upwardly facing electrode, and a contact surface that is located above and rearward of the supply port and abuts against the mounting portion toward the rear in the mounted state, and the guide wall may be subjected to an upward biasing force in the mounted state.

[0023] (12) The ink container may further have a guide groove extending in the front-to-rear direction on at least one of the left and right sides, the guide groove having an upper surface facing downward and a lower surface facing the front side, and may be located above the lower end of the guide wall.

[0024] As a result, when the ink container enters the mounting portion, the side surfaces of the guide wall prevent the ink container from moving excessively left and right. Also, the upper and lower surfaces of the guide groove prevent the ink container from moving excessively up and down. Therefore, the ink container is smoothly guided by the guide walls and the guide groove until mounting is complete.

[0025] (13) The ink container may further include a first wall extending downward from the bottom surface and a second wall extending downward from the bottom surface, and the guide wall may be located between the first wall and the second wall in the left-right direction.

[0026] The guide member is protected by the first wall and the second wall.

[0027] (14) The container may have a first member having the supply portion, and a second member located in front of the first member and having the lower surface and the guide wall, the first member may be movable relative to the second member, and the first member may further have an abutment surface that abuts against the mounting portion toward the rear.

[0028] (15) The present invention relates to a system in which an ink container is mounted facing forward in a mounting section. The ink container includes a container having a left surface facing left in a left-right direction and a right surface facing right, a supply section having a supply port facing forward in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction in the container, and a guide wall located above and forward of the supply port in a vertical direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, the guide wall having a bottom surface facing downward, a left guide surface facing left, and a right guide surface facing right. The front end of the guide wall is located forward of the supply port and rearward of the front end. The bottom end of the guide wall is located above the supply port and below the bottom surface. The left guide surface is located to the right of the left surface. The right guide surface is located to the left of the right surface. The mounting section includes a storage case in which the ink container is stored, a supply tube connected to the supply port, and a receiving section that opens rearward and upward and receives the guide wall.

[0029] (16) The mounting portion may further include a second biasing member that applies an upward biasing force to the guide wall when the ink container is in an attached state in the storage case. Effect of the Invention

[0030] According to the present disclosure, even if the ink container is dropped to the floor, the guide wall is unlikely to be damaged. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [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. 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 within 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 lower surface 70 of the ink cartridge 30, taken along a vertical plane intersecting the lower 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, taken along a vertical plane intersecting 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 within 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 lower surface 70 of the ink cartridge 30, taken along a vertical plane intersecting the lower 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, taken along a vertical plane intersecting 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, taken along a vertical plane that intersects 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, taken along a vertical plane that intersects the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the ink cartridge 30 mounted in the cartridge case 110. Figure 16(A) is a cross-sectional view including the bottom surface 70 of the ink cartridge 30, taken along a vertical plane intersecting 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, taken along a vertical plane intersecting 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 perspective view of an ink cartridge 30 according to a modified example, viewed from the front and above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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, forward and backward directions may be collectively referred to as the front-rear direction, upward and downward directions may be collectively referred to as the up-down direction, and 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. In addition, the state in which the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110 and used is the 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 posture of the ink cartridge 30 when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110 and used is referred to as the use posture. Unless otherwise specified, the positional relationship between the parts of the ink cartridge 30 is described using the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", and "rear". In addition, when the orientation or direction of the parts of the ink cartridge 30 is described using the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", and "rear", these descriptions are based on when the ink cartridge 30 is in the usage position. In addition, when the position, orientation, or direction of the ink cartridge 30 itself is described using the terms "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", and "rear", these descriptions are based on when the ink cartridge 30 is in the usage position.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] [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 has a cartridge case 110. The cartridge case 110 is an example of an attachment portion. An ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110. The ink cartridge 30 is an example of an ink container. The cartridge case 110 has an opening 112 at its 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 covered by the cover 126 when the cover 126 is closed, and is exposed to the outside of the printer 10 when the cover 112 is open. Note that Fig. 1 shows a state in which the ink cartridge 30 has been completely installed in the cartridge case 110. In other words, Fig. 1 shows the ink cartridge 30 in an installed state. The position of the ink cartridge 30 in the installed state is the usage position. The printer 10 is an example of a system.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] [Cartridge case 110] 2, the cartridge case 110 includes a case body 101 and a supply pipe 102. The case body 101 is an example of a storage case.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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. The slot 108 is an example of an attachment space. Specifically, the slots 108 of the case body 101 have 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 the leftmost side of the four slots 108. Slot 108 is divided into slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D by three partition walls 109 that divide the internal space of case body 101 and the inner surface of case body 101.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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. The first key slot 115 is an example of a receiving portion. 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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 inside surface of the right wall 129. In the slot 108B, the rib 118 projects from the right partition wall 109 that defines the right end of the slot 108B. In the slot 108C, the rib 118 projects from the right partition wall 109 that defines the right end of the slot 108C. In the slot 108D, the rib 118 projects from the right partition wall 109 that defines the right end of the slot 108D. In the slot 108A, the rib 119 projects from the left partition wall 109 that defines the left end of the slot 108A. In the slot 108B, the rib 119 projects from the left partition wall 109 that defines the left end of the slot 108B. In slot 108C, rib 119 protrudes from left partition wall 109 that defines the left end of slot 108C. In slot 108D, rib 119 protrudes from the inner surface of left wall 128. The ribs 118, 119 face each other in the left-right direction in slot 108.

[0049] The supply tube 102 is provided in the internal space of each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. The supply tube 102 is located below the first key slots 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D. The supply tube 102 is a hollow circular tube. The supply tube 102 extends in the front-rear direction from the sub-tank 120 toward the internal space of the slot 108. The tip of the supply tube 102 is open. The tip of the supply tube 102 is located in the internal space of each of the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D. Although detailed description is omitted, a valve is located in the internal space of the supply tube 102. The valve opens and closes the opening of the supply tube 102. The supply tube 102 is connected to the supply port 34 of the ink cartridge 30.

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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 air vent passage 38 of the ink cartridge 30, which will be described later.

[0052] 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 the slot 108B, the fitting piece 122 protrudes leftward from the right partition wall 109 that defines the right end of the slot 108B. In the slot 108C, the fitting piece 122 protrudes leftward from the right partition wall 109 that defines the right end of the slot 108C. In the slot 108D, the fitting piece 122 protrudes leftward from the right partition wall 109 that defines the right end of the slot 108D. The fitting piece 123 is a plate-shaped member. In the slot 108A, the fitting piece 123 protrudes rightward from the partition wall 109 that defines the left end of the slot 108A. In the slot 108B, the fitting piece 123 protrudes rightward from the left partition wall 109 that defines the left end of the slot 108B. In the slot 108C, the fitting piece 123 protrudes rightward from the left partition wall 109 that defines the left end of the slot 108C. In the slot 108D, the fitting piece 123 protrudes rightward from the inner surface of the left wall 128. The fitting pieces 122 and 123 face each other in the left-right direction in the slot 108.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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. The coil spring 133 is an example of a second biasing member.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 13(A) and FIG. 13(B), the ink receiving member 130 biased by the coil spring 133 is held in a state in which the rear end 132 is closest to the bottom surface of the supply tube 102. In this state, the rear end 132 is not in contact with the bottom surface of the supply tube 102. The state in which the rear end 132 of the ink receiving member 130 is closest to the bottom surface of the supply tube 102 is called the closest state of the ink receiving member 132. In the state in which the rear end 132 of the ink receiving member 130 is closest to the bottom surface of the supply tube 102, the ink receiving member 130 is in the first position. In addition, in a state in which the ink cartridge 30 is not attached to the supply tube 102, the ink receiving member 130 is in the closest state but is not in contact with the bottom surface of the supply tube 102. After the ink cartridge 30 is removed from the case body 101, ink may remain at the rear end of the supply tube 102. The ink moves downwards from the rear end of the supply tube 102 due to gravity, and then falls onto the rear end 132 of the ink receiving member 130 which is closest to the bottom surface of the supply tube 102. The ink that has fallen onto the ink receiving member 130 moves along the ink receiving member 130 from the rear end 132 towards the front end 131, moving away from the ink cartridge 30. Since the ink remaining at the rear end of the supply tube 102 is received by the rear end 132 of the ink receiving member 130, it is possible to reduce the possibility of ink adhering to the bottom wall of the case body 101.

[0056] 14(A) and 14(B), when the ink receiving member 130 has moved downward against the pulling force of 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 lower part of the supply portion 33 of the ink cartridge 30 to be positioned and for 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 forward movement of the ink cartridge 30.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the pressing plate 134 is located below the cover wall 171 of each slot 108A, 108B, 108C, 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. The 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. The upper end 136 of the pressing plate 134 is located below the first key slot 115 when the ink cartridge 30 is attached to the cartridge case 110. 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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 a recess formed in the rear end of the upper surface of the case body 101 that defines the upper end of the internal space of the case body 101. The second key slot 138 is recessed upward from the upper surface. 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 larger 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 each of the second key slots 138A, 138B, 138C, and 138D.

[0060] A locking portion 139 is located in the space that defines the opening of each of the second key slots 138A, 138B, 138C, and 138D. 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.

[0061] [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 cover 32, and an IC board 60. The container body 31 is an example of a first member. The cover 32 is an example of a second member. The container body 31 and the cover 32 are an example of a container. The cover 32 covers the front of the container body 31. The ink cartridge 30 is inserted forward with the cover 32 facing the corresponding slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D of the cartridge case 110.

[0062] The container body 31 has a thin, flat, cubic shape with a left-right length smaller than its up-down and front-rear lengths. The container body 31 has a supply portion 33 and a second key portion 78.

[0063] 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 left wall 42 has a left surface 42S facing leftward. The right wall 43 has a right surface 43S facing rightward. The outer surface of the upper wall 44 faces upward. The outer surface of the lower wall 45 faces downward.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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. The outer surface of the lower front wall 40L is an example of a front surface.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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 substantially rectangular in side view. The protrusions 52 enter through holes 76 of the cover 32, which will be described later.

[0068] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the supply unit 33 is a cylindrical member. The supply unit 33 has an outer peripheral surface that extends rearward from the supply port 34. The outer peripheral surface is a curved surface that curves in the circumferential direction with the front-rear direction as the central 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 located at the front end of the supply unit 33. The supply port 34 is circular when viewed from the front.

[0069] 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.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 13, the supply unit 33 has a cylindrical shape and an internal space. The internal space of the supply unit 33 communicates with the storage chamber 46 at the rear. The ink in the internal space of the supply unit 33 can flow out of the ink cartridge 30 through the supply port 34. That is, the internal space of the supply unit 33 extends forward from the storage chamber 46. The seal member 35, the valve 36, and the coil spring 37 are located in the internal space of the supply unit 33. The seal member 35 is an annular member made of an elastic member such as rubber, and is located in the supply port 34 and the internal space of the supply unit 33. The supply port 34 is filled with the seal member 35, but the ink in the internal space of the supply unit 33 can flow out of the ink cartridge 30 through a hole formed through the center of the seal member 35 in the front-rear direction. That is, the ink in the internal space of the supply unit 33 can flow out of the ink cartridge 30 through the supply port 34. The valve 36 can move in the front-rear direction in the internal space of the supply unit 33. When the valve 36 comes into contact with the seal member 35, the hole formed through the seal member 35 is closed or sealed. In other words, the supply port 34 is closed or sealed. That is, the ink in the internal space of the supply unit 33 cannot flow out of the ink cartridge 30 through the hole formed through the seal member 35, i.e., through the supply port 34. That is, the valve 36 opens and closes the supply port 34. The coil spring 37 biases the valve 36 toward the seal member 35 so that the valve 36 abuts against the seal member. The coil spring 37 is an example of a biasing member.

[0071] When the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 110, the supply tube 102 enters the supply port 34. The outer peripheral surface of the supply tube 102 comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface that defines the hole of the seal member 35 while the supply tube 102 elastically deforms the seal member 35. When the rear end of the supply tube 102 passes through the supply port 34 and enters the internal space of the supply unit 33, the rear end of the supply tube 102 comes into contact with the valve 36. When the ink cartridge 30 is further inserted into the cartridge case 110, the ink tube 102 moves the valve 36 backward against the biasing force of the coil spring 37. When the valve 36 moves backward, the internal space of the supply unit 33 and the internal space of the supply tube 102 communicate with each other, and the ink in the storage chamber 46 flows into the internal space of the supply tube 102 through the internal space of the supply unit 33. Although not shown, ink flows from the internal space of the supply unit 33 through a hole formed at the rear end of the supply tube 102 into the internal space of the supply unit 33. As a result, the ink in the internal space of the supply unit 33 flows out of the ink cartridge 30 through the supply tube 102 located at the supply port 34, i.e., through the supply port 34. The seal member 35 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the supply tube 102 so as to prevent ink from leaking. The valve 36 and the coil spring 37 for closing or sealing the supply port 34 are not necessarily provided. For example, in another embodiment, the supply port 34 is blocked by a film or the like, and when the ink cartridge 30 is inserted into the cartridge case 10, the supply tube 102 breaks the film, and as a result, the rear end of the supply tube 102 enters the internal space of the supply unit 33 through the supply port 34. In yet another embodiment, the hole of the seal member 35 located at the supply port 34 is closed by the elasticity of the seal member 35 itself. When the supply tube 102 is inserted, the hole is pressed and expanded by the supply tube 102, and as a result, the rear end of the supply tube 102 enters the internal space of the supply unit 33 through the supply port 34. In either case, the ink in the internal space of the supply unit 33 flows out of the ink cartridge 30 through the supply port 34.

[0072] 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.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 13, an air open passage 38 that connects the vicinity of the upper end of the storage chamber 46 with the outside is located in the upper front wall 40U of the container body 31. The air open passage 38 opens forward in the upper front wall 40U. A valve 50 and a coil spring 51 are located in the air open passage 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 valve 50 can move in the front-rear direction in the air open passage 38. The coil spring 51 biases the valve 50 forward. The valve 50 biased by the coil spring 51 seals the opening of the air open passage 38. Note that, although details will be described later, when the valve 50 moves backward against the biasing force of the coil spring 51, the air open passage 38 is opened and air can flow between the outside and the storage chamber 46.

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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 protrusions 52 of the container body 31 are located in the through holes 58. The protrusions 52 of the front left wall 42F are in the through holes 58 of the left wall 54, and the protrusions 52 of the front right wall 43F are in the through holes 58 of the right wall 55. The through holes 58 are substantially 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 protrusions 52. That is, the vertical length of each through hole 58 is greater than the vertical length of each protrusion 52. The front-rear length of the through holes 58 is greater than the length in the front-rear direction of the protrusions 52. The protrusions 52 enter the through holes 58, respectively, to assemble the container body 31 and the cover 32. Because the through-hole 58 is larger than the outer shape of the protrusion 52, when the container body 31 and the cover 32 are assembled, the cover 32 can move relatively in the up-down and front-back directions with respect to the container body 31. Because the through-hole 58 is sufficiently larger than the outer shape of the protrusion 52, the cover 32 can move relatively to the container body 31 not only in the up-down and front-back directions, but also in the direction in which the cover 32 rotates with respect to the container body 31.

[0079] 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.

[0080] An IC board 60 is located on the upper wall 56 of the cover 32. The IC board 60 is an example of an electrical interface. 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 includes a board made of, for example, silicone or glass epoxy, an IC mounted on the board, and three electrodes 61. The IC is not shown in each drawing. The three electrodes 61 face upward. The IC board 60 may be a flexible board having flexibility.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 3, the upper wall 56 of the cover 32 has a through hole 90 in front of the IC board 60. The atmosphere open path 38 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 sides of one guide piece 91 and the other guide piece 91. The guide pieces 91 function as guides for the cover 32 to move in the front-rear direction when the cover 32 is inserted into the cartridge case 110.

[0086] 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 with respect to the front-to-rear direction so as to extend downward toward the rear.

[0087] The cover 32 has walls 71 extending downward from both ends in the left-right direction of the lower surface 70. The one wall 71 and the other wall 71 are located apart in the left-right direction. The one wall 71 and the other wall 71 are an example of a first wall and a second wall. The wall 71 is a plate-shaped member that extends in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction and has 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 that the front end faces downward as it moves rearward.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 7 , the rear ends of the two walls 71 contact a sub-front wall 88 (also called a wall), and the two walls 71 extend forward from the 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-like 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.

[0089] A groove 74 (also called a first groove 74) extending in the front-rear direction is located above the wall 71 in the left wall 54 of the cover 32. The first groove 74 is located to the left of and above the first key portion 77 and extends in the front-rear direction. A groove 74 (also called a second groove 74) extending in the front-rear direction is located above the wall 71 in the right wall 55 of the cover 32. The second groove 74 is located to the right of and above the first key portion 77 and extends in the front-rear direction. The front-rear direction is the longitudinal direction of the groove 74. As shown in FIG. 8, the recess of the groove 74 is composed of an upwardly facing 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 forward toward the front wall 53 of the cover 32. That is, the first groove 74 is open at the front end and the left end, and the second groove 74 is open at the front end and the right end. As shown in Figs. 3 to 10, the first front surface 72 of one wall 71 is a guide for guiding the rib 118 of the cartridge case 110 into 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 one groove 74. One groove 74 has a length in the front-rear direction that can receive the rib 118 of the case body 101, and the other groove 74 has a length in the front-rear direction that can receive the rib 119 of the case body 101. Specifically, the vertical distance between the surface 74L and the surface 74U of the groove 74 is greater than the vertical lengths of the ribs 118 and 119 of the case body 101. The surfaces 74U and 74L of one groove 74 come into contact with the rib 118, and the surfaces 74U and 74L of the other groove 74 come into contact with the rib 119, thereby positioning the cover 32 in the up-down direction relative to the case body 101. The groove 74 is located above a lower surface 77L of a first key portion 77, which will be described later. The groove 74 is an example of a guide groove.

[0090] 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.

[0091] 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.

[0092] The lower surface 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 opening of the atmosphere open path 38 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. The first key portion 77 is an example of a guide wall.

[0093] 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 continuous with the sub-front wall 88. The rear end of the first key portion 77 is continuous with the sub-front wall 88. That is, the first key portion 77 extends forward from 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 of the first key portion 77. The side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 is composed 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. The lower surface 77L is an example of a lower end. The side surface 77S is an example of a left guide surface and a right guide surface.

[0094] 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 of the first key portion 77 in the front-rear direction may be smaller than its length in the up-down direction. The lower surface 77L is located at a position overlapping at least one electrode 61 in the up-down direction. That is, at least a part of the first key portion 77 and the electrode 61 overlap in the up-down direction. In other words, the lower surface 77L is located directly below at least one electrode 61 in the up-down direction. The lower surface 77L is located above the supply port 34 and below the lower surface 77L.

[0095] 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 behind the front end of the first front surface 72 of the wall 71. The first front surface 72 is behind the front end of the second front surface 73. The front surface 77F of the first key portion 77 is in front of the supply port 34 and 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. In this regard, as described below, the first key portion 77 functions as a key that ensures that the ink cartridge 30 is installed in the correct slot 108. If the first key portion 77 is deformed, the first key portion 77 may not function accurately as a key. The front surface 77F of the first key portion 77 is an example of a front end of a guide wall.

[0096] 7, the side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 facing left is located to the right of the left surface 42S of the container body 31. The side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 facing right is located to the left of the right surface 43S of the container body 31. In addition, the side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 facing left is located to the right of the left end of the supply portion 33. The side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 facing right is located to the left of the right end of the supply portion 33. The left-right distance N3 between the two side surfaces 77S is shorter than the left-right distance N4 between the left surface 42S and the right surface 43S.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 11, the left-right positions of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). The difference in the positions of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) corresponds to the difference in the positions of the first key slots 115 (115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D) of the slots 108 (108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D). The difference in the positions of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) also corresponds to the difference in the characteristics of the ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). In this embodiment, the left-right positions of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). However, in another embodiment, the left-right positions of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) are the same among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D), but the shapes of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) may differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). In such a case, the positions of the first key slots 115 (115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D) of the slots 108 (108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D) are the same, but the shapes of the first key slots 115 (115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D) of the slots 108 (108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D) may differ corresponding to the difference in the shapes of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D). In this manner, the mechanical characteristics, e.g., the positions or shapes, of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). That is, the mechanical characteristics of the first key portions 77 (77A, 77B, 77C, and 77D) correspond to the characteristics of the corresponding ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). That is, the first key portions 77 have a shape and / or a position in the container body 31, and are related to the corresponding first characteristics of the ink cartridges 30.An example of the characteristics of the ink cartridges 30 is the characteristics of the ink stored in the storage chamber 46. In this embodiment, the left-right positions of the first key portions 77 differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D) depending on the characteristics of the ink stored in the storage chamber 46. The characteristics of the ink include, for example, the color and composition of the ink.

[0098] 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.

[0099] 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, third key portion 79 may be disposed on only one of the left and right sides, or third key portion 79 may have a different shape that opens forward. As described below, in this embodiment, third key portion 79 including the recesses on left wall 54 and right wall 55 of cover 32 correspond to mating pieces 123 and 122, respectively. When the positions or shapes of the third key portions are different, the presence and shape of mating pieces 123 and 122 may differ depending on the presence and shape of the corresponding third key portion 79.

[0100] 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.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] The second rear surface 64 has a recess 66 near the upper end. The recess 66 is composed of 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. As shown in FIG. 1, when the cover is closed, a protrusion 127 protruding from a cover 126 that opens and closes the opening 112 of the cartridge case 110 is accommodated in the recesses 66, 67. 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. Also, as shown in FIG. 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 recess 66 and greater than the left-right length of the recess 67. This makes it easy to see the first rear surface 63 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.

[0105] 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, for example, a recess recessed downward from the operation surface 68 instead of the protrusion 69.

[0106] 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 .

[0107] 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.

[0108] 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.

[0109] 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.

[0110] 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 behind the IC substrate 60 in the front-rear direction. 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.

[0111] 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 flat and inclined so that the distance from the supply port 34 in the vertical direction gradually increases from the front end of the second key portion 78 to the rear end of the second key portion 78. 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.

[0112] 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 rearward. 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. The locking surface 87 is an example of an abutment surface.

[0113] 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.

[0114] 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°.

[0115] As shown in FIG. 11, the left-right positions of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D) may differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). The difference in the positions of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D) corresponds to the difference in the positions of the second key slots 138 (138A, 138B, 138C, and 138D) of the slots 108 (108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D). The difference in the positions of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D) also corresponds to the difference in the characteristics (referred to as the second characteristics) of the ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). In this embodiment, the left-right positions of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D) differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). However, in another embodiment, the left-right positions of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D) are the same among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D), but the shapes of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D) may differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). In this case, the positions of the second key slots 138 (138A, 138B, 138C, and 138D) of the slots 108 (108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D) are the same, but the shapes of the second key slots 138 (138A, 138B, 138C, and 138D) of the slots 108 (108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D) may differ corresponding to the difference in the shapes of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D). In this way, the mechanical characteristics, for example, the positions or shapes, of the second key portions 78 (78A, 78B, 78C, and 78D) differ among the four ink cartridges 30 (30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D). That is, the second key portion 78 has a shape and / or a position on the cover 32 that is associated with a corresponding second characteristic of the ink cartridge 30. The characteristic represented by the second key portion 78 may be the same as or different from the characteristics represented 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 material contained in the ink, for example, whether the coloring material contained in the ink is a black dye or a black pigment. The composition of the ink is an example of a characteristic of the ink.

[0116] 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, i.e., the maximum left-right width 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 up-down length M4 of the second key portion 78, i.e., the maximum up-down height of the second key portion 78. The length M4 corresponds to the up-down length of the lock surface 87 of the second key portion 78. The maximum up-down height of the second key portion 78 is smaller than the maximum left-right width of the second key portion 78.

[0117] 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.

[0118] 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. The left-right positions of the first key portion 77 of the four ink cartridges 30 shown in FIG. 11 differ depending on the color of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30. In addition, the left-right positions of the second key portion 78 of the four ink cartridges 30 differ depending on the composition of the ink stored in the ink cartridge 30. In this specific embodiment, the composition of the ink means whether the ink contains a dye or a pigment. In addition, the position and / or shape of the third key portion 79 of the four ink cartridges 30 differ depending on 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.

[0119] 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 ink cartridge 30A stores magenta ink containing a dye as a colorant. 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 ink cartridge 30B stores cyan ink containing a dye as a colorant. 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 ink cartridge 30C stores yellow ink containing a dye as a colorant. 11, first key portion 77D of ink cartridge 30D is located to the left of first key portion 77C of ink cartridge 30C in the left-right direction of the undersurface 70. Ink cartridge 30D stores black ink that contains a pigment as a colorant.

[0120] 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.

[0121] [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. The ink cartridges 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D that store magenta, cyan, yellow, and black inks, respectively, are inserted into the slots 108A, 108B, 108C, and 108D, respectively. In the following, an example is described in which the ink cartridge 30A that stores magenta ink is inserted into the slot 108A at the right end in the left-right direction. The ink cartridge 30A that stores magenta ink is located on the rightmost side 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.

[0122] 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.

[0123] Before the supply port 34 of the ink cartridge 30A reaches the supply tube 102, the second key portion 78A reaches directly 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 directly 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. A downward force is applied to the second front inclined surface 84B of the second key portion 78A, causing the ink cartridge 30A to rotate 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, comes into contact with the guide surface 161 of the case body 101, and the second key portion 78A moves forward while coming into contact with the lock portion 139, and reaches below the second key slot 138A.

[0124] 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.

[0125] 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.

[0126] 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.

[0127] 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.

[0128] 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 upward force generated by the bias of the coil spring 133, i.e., the attractive force, acts on the cover 32 via the ink receiving member 130 and the pressing plate 134, but the surfaces 74L and 74U of the groove 74 shown in FIG. 8 come into contact with the rib 118, so that the cover 32 is positioned in the vertical direction relative to the cartridge case 110. 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).

[0129] 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 is guided in the front-rear direction by the two protruding pieces 117. This causes the cover 32 to be guided in the front-rear direction in the slot 108A.

[0130] When the ink receiving member 130 is in the second position, as the ink cartridge 30A moves forward, the supply port 34 becomes connected to the supply tube 102. The supply tube 102 presses the valve 36, causing the valve 36 to move rearward against the biasing force of the coil spring 37. The outer circumferential surface of the supply tube 102 connected to the supply unit 33 comes into liquid-tight contact with the seal member 35.

[0131] 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 release passage 38 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. By the valve 50 moving backward, the air release passage 38 is opened, and air can flow between the outside and the storage chamber 46. Furthermore, the electrode 61 of the IC board 60 contacts the contact 125 and is electrically connected to the contact 125. In addition, the lock surface 87 of the second key portion 78A is located forward of the lock portion 139. The abutment surface 92 is located directly below the lock portion 139.

[0132] When the first key portion 77 enters the first key slot 115A, the lower surface 77L of the first key portion 77 comes into contact with the pressing plate 134. The first key portion 77 receives an upward force from the pressing plate 134 toward the electrode 61. Since the ink cartridge 30 is prevented from rotating in the movement direction of the ink cartridge 30 about an axis along the front-rear direction, the pressure at which the contacts 125 of the cartridge case 110 come into contact with the multiple electrodes 61 of the IC board 60 is prevented from becoming uneven.

[0133] The contact 125 is elastically deformable like a leaf spring, and when the electrode 61 comes into contact with the contact 125, the contact 125 applies a downward contact pressure to the electrode 61. Furthermore, the biasing force of the coil spring 133 indirectly acts upward on the cover 32. The contact 125 applies a downward contact pressure to the electrode 61, and the coil spring 133 applies an upward pressure to the first key portion 77A, but the surface 74L or 74U of the groove 74 absorbs the upward or downward pressure as the ribs 118 and 119 come into contact with the surface 74L or 74U of the groove 74. Therefore, the force acting upward and the force acting downward on the cover 32 are balanced.

[0134] 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 about the left-right direction as the axis of rotation so as to move the rear end side of the cover 32 upward relative to the front end side. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 17, the ribs 118 and 119 abut against the surfaces 74L and 74U of the groove 74, thereby suppressing the rotation of the cover 32.

[0135] 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. Let us assume that an ink cartridge 30 sold in a different region and not provided with a part of the recess of the third key portion 79 formed in the left wall 54 and the right wall 55 of the cover 32 is inserted into the slot 108D. In the slot 108D, the fitting piece 122 is located on the right side, and the fitting piece 123 is located on the left side. In the ink cartridge 30 not provided with a part of the recess of the third key portion 79 formed in the left wall 54 and the right wall 55 of the cover 32, 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. By not being able to insert the ink cartridge 30 into the slot 108D, the ink cartridge 30 is identified as an ink cartridge 30 to be used in a printer in a sales region different from that of the printer 10.

[0136] 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 108A. More specifically, the container body 31 can rotate around an axis that passes through the center of the supply port 34 and extends in the left-right direction, and the rear end side moves upward in the slot 108A. The position of the cover 32 relative to the cartridge case 110 in the up-down direction is determined as described above, but the through hole 58 of the cover 32 is sufficiently larger than the outer shape of the protrusion 52 of the container body 31, so the container body 31 can rotate in this manner. 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 rearward due to the biasing forces of the coil springs 37 and 51, and as shown in Figures 16(A) and 16(B), the locking surface 87 comes into contact with the locking portion 139. This keeps the ink cartridge 30A attached to the cartridge case 110. In addition, the contacting surface 92 comes into contact with the locking portion 139. This positions the container body 31 of the ink cartridge 30A in the up-down direction relative to the cartridge case 110.

[0137] 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 air release path 38. As a result, the ink in the storage chamber 46 flows into the internal space of the supply tube 102 through the internal space of the supply portion 33.

[0138] In addition, the ink cartridge 30A is biased backward by the coil springs 37 and 51, but the backward movement of the ink cartridge 30A is restricted by the contact 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.

[0139] 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 in electrical contact with the contact 125, enabling communication with the control unit of the printer 10.

[0140] 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.

[0141] 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. That is, the first key slot 115B is closer to the groove 114 of the slot 108B in the left-right direction than the first key slot 115A is to the groove 114 of the slot 108A. Therefore, since 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, the first key portion 77A cannot enter the first key slot 115B and abuts against the rear wall 173. Since the front surface 77F of the first key portion 77A abuts against the rear wall 173, the ink cartridge 30A cannot be inserted further into the slot 108B. Since ink cartridge 30A cannot be inserted into slot 108B, the user understands that ink cartridge 30A is not the ink cartridge 30 that should be inserted into slot 108B.

[0142] Let us assume that an ink cartridge 30 having a first key portion 77 in the same position as ink cartridge 30A and a second key portion 78 in the same position as 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 left-right direction of the slot 108A, so the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30 can enter the first key slot 115A. Meanwhile, the second key slot 138A is located to the left of the center of the left-right direction of the slot 108A. This corresponds to the position of the second key portion 78 of ink cartridge 30A, but does not correspond to that of ink cartridge 30D. Therefore, since 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, the upper end surface 86 comes into contact with 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, so 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.

[0143] 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.

[0144] 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.

[0145] 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.

[0146] [Effects of this embodiment] The side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 facing left is located to the right of the left surface 42S of the container body 31, the side surface 77S facing right is located to the left of the right surface 43S of the container body 31, and 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. Therefore, when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto a floor or the like with the left surface 42S or right surface 43S facing down, the distance between the floor and the left surface 42S or right surface 43S is greater than the distance between the floor and the supply portion 33. This prevents the first key portion 77 from directly colliding with the floor or the like. As a result, the first key portion 77 is less likely to be damaged.

[0147] In addition, the side surface 77S facing left of the first key portion 77 is located to the right of the left end of the supply portion 33, and the side surface 77S facing right is located to the left of the right end of the supply portion 33, so that when the ink cartridge 30 is dropped onto a floor or the like with its left surface 42S or right surface 43S facing down, the distance between the floor and the side surface 77S is greater than the distance between the floor and the supply portion 33. This prevents the first key portion 77 from directly hitting the floor or the like.

[0148] Since the first key portion 77 extends downward from the lower surface 70 of the cover 32 and also extends forward from the sub-front wall 88, the strength of the first key portion 77 is increased.

[0149] Since the first key portions 77 are longer in the front-rear direction than in the up-down direction, the side surfaces 77S of the first key portions 77 can more easily guide the ink cartridge 30 in the front-rear direction than in the up-down direction.

[0150] The underside 70 of the cover 32 is an inclined surface that is inclined so that the rear end of the underside 70 is located lower than the front end of the underside 70. Therefore, the front end side of the underside 77L of the first key portion 77 is located higher than the rear end side. Therefore, the front end of the first key portion 77 of the ink cartridge 30 can easily enter the first key slot 115 of the cartridge case 110.

[0151] The first key portion 77 receives an upward force from the pressure plate 134 toward the electrode 61, and thereby prevents the ink cartridge 30 from rotating in the movement direction of the ink cartridge 30 around an axis along the front-rear direction. This prevents the pressure at which the contacts 125 of the cartridge case 110 come into contact with the multiple electrodes 61 of the IC board 60 from becoming uneven. As a result, electrical conduction between the contacts 125 and the electrodes 61 is stabilized.

[0152] Since a groove 74 extending in the front-rear direction is located above the first key portion 77, the surfaces 74U and 74L of the groove 74 restrict the ink cartridge 30 from moving excessively in the up-down direction. On the other hand, during the process of the ink cartridge 30 entering the cartridge case 110, the side surface 77S of the first key portion 77 restricts the ink cartridge 30 from moving excessively in the left-right direction. Therefore, the ink cartridge 30 is smoothly guided by the first key portion 77 and the groove 74 until installation is complete.

[0153] Since the first key portions 77 are located between the pair of walls 71 in the left-right direction, the first key portions 77 are protected.

[0154] [Variations] 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 molded as an integral part. In this case, the container 431 stores ink. The distance between one surface 74U and the surface 74L of the groove 74 is greater than the vertical dimension of the rib 118, and the distance between the other surface 74U and the surface 74L of the groove 74 is greater than the vertical dimension of the rib 119. Therefore, there is a sufficient space between the surface 74U and the surface 74L and the ribs 118 and 119, and the container 431 can be rotated around an axis extending in the left-right direction that passes through the center of the supply port 34. The first key portion 77, the second key portion 78, and the IC board 60 are located in the container 431. A container 431 integrally having a surface including the first key portion 77 and the IC board 60, and an internal space for storing ink, is another example of an ink container.

[0155] In the above embodiment, the atmosphere open passage 38 is located in the upper front wall 40U of the container body 31. However, the atmosphere open passage 38 may be located in a wall other than the front wall 40 of the container body 31, for example, in the upper wall 44.

[0156] In the embodiment described above, the first key portion 77 has the function of guiding the ink cartridge 30, as well as the function of pressing the pressing plate 134 of the cartridge case 110 and the function of mechanically identifying the characteristics of the ink cartridge 30, but it may also have only the function of guiding the ink cartridge 30. In other words, the mechanical characteristics such as the arrangement and shape of the first key portion 77 may be common to the ink cartridges 30 that make up the ink cartridge set 300.

[0157] In the above-described embodiment, the ink cartridge 30 is shown as an example of an ink container, 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.

[0158] In the above-described embodiment or variation, the ink supply unit 33 includes a supply port 34 that defines a front end thereof and is configured to receive the supply tube 20 provided in the slot 108. The supply unit 33 may include a seal member 35, a valve 36, and a coil spring 37. The coil spring 37 may bias the valve 36 toward the seal member 35 to seal the storage chamber 40 of the container body 31 or the body 431. However, instead of the seal member 35, the valve 36, and the coil spring 37, other means may be provided to seal the storage chamber in which the ink is stored from the outside. For example, the storage chamber 40 may be sealed with an elastic plug, film, or the like, and may be pierced by the supply tube 20 having a needle-shaped tip.

[0159] In the above-described embodiment or modification, the supply unit 33 is a cylindrical member and has an outer peripheral surface extending rearward from the supply port 34. The outer peripheral surface is a curved surface that is curved in the circumferential direction with the front-rear direction as an axis. However, in a modification, the outer peripheral surface of the supply unit 33 may include a plurality of planes arranged adjacent to each other. Also, the curved surface may be provided only on the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the supply unit in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the supply unit 33 may be arranged so as to have an appearance that is integrated to a certain extent into the rectangular parallelepiped shape of the container body 31 or the main body 431. In the above-described embodiment or modification, the supply port 34 is circular when viewed from the front. However, according to a modification, the supply port 34 may have a shape other than a circle when viewed from the front. The supply port 34 may have any shape having a through hole into which the supply tube 102 can be inserted, and the through hole may be sealed by a means for sealing the storage chamber in which the ink is stored from the outside.

[0160] In the above-described embodiment or variant, the first key portion 77 and the second key portion 78 are respectively associated with the first and second characteristics of the ink cartridge 30, which are described as being related to the ink color and the ink composition (e.g., dye or pigment). However, the association of the specific characteristics of the ink cartridge 30 can be reversed. That is, the first characteristic can be the ink composition, and the second characteristic can be the ink color. In addition, the first and second characteristics can be different from the above examples, and can include further characteristics, such as sales region and contract type. Furthermore, the specific characteristics are not limited to the specific embodiment shown in the figures.

[0161] According to a variation of the above embodiment, the guide wall is associated with the characteristics of the cartridge and does not necessarily include the functionality of a first key portion 77 arranged to enter any of the first key slots 115A, 115B, 115C, or 115D of the slot 108.

[0162] In the above-described embodiment or modified example, the first key portion 77 is shown to have a plate shape extending rearward from its front surface 77F. However, the first key portion may be discontinuous with the sub-front wall 88, e.g., separate, unconnected, and / or spaced apart, or may be continuous with the sub-front wall 88, e.g., integrally formed, or the sub-front wall 88 may be omitted.

[0163] Furthermore, the plate-like member may be replaced by a member extending in the front-rear direction and having a lower surface 77L, the web of which extends from the sub-front wall 88 of the cover 32, or the front wall 40 of the container body 31, or the body 431, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, a further member extending in the up-down direction may be provided and may have a front surface 77F. Both members are connected to each other and to the respective sub-front wall 88 (if present) and the lower wall 70. In other words, the first key portion 77 modified in this way may have a hollow shape or a similar shape.

[0164] Furthermore, the first key portion 77, which is an example of a guide wall having a lower surface 77L, may extend only from the front wall 40, not from the lower wall 70. When the main body of the cartridge 30 is composed of two members, such as the container body 31 and the cover 32, the first key portion 77 can be integrated with the container body 31.

[0165] In another embodiment, the first key portion 77 itself, which is an example of a guide wall, may include a movable mechanism. When the ink cartridge is inserted into the slot 108, a first contact portion of the movable mechanism contacts a portion of the cartridge case 110 at the slot 108, and the resulting biasing force on the contact portion is converted into a downward movement of a second contact portion of the movable mechanism, including the lower surface 77L, to press the pressing plate 134 downward. The movable mechanism may include an elastic member that holds the first contact portion and the second contact portion before contact is achieved during insertion of the ink cartridge 30.

[0166] Also, in another embodiment, the first key portion 77 itself, which is an example of the guide wall, can include a moving mechanism configured to rotate such that a rotating lever is provided on the ink cartridge, the rotating lever contacts the pressing plate at its contact portion during insertion, and the moving mechanism rotates to further press the pressing plate 134 downward via the contact portion during insertion of a further ink cartridge 30. The moving mechanism is also a rotating body that can rotate during insertion to press down the pressing plate 134, and can also enter the corresponding receiving portions 115A, 115B, 115C, or 115D in the left-right direction that are optionally provided in the slot 108 (when the position and shape of the wheel are adapted or matched with the corresponding receiving portions).

[0167] Furthermore, in the above embodiment or variant, the second key portion is described as having an inclined shape via the surfaces 84A, 84B and having inclined surfaces 85A, 85B, but according to another embodiment, the second key portion 78 may be formed from a plate with an inclined shape extending in the front-rear and up-down directions, with a thin inclined surface, and optionally with a thin locking surface facing in the direction opposite to the insertion direction. The thickness of the plate corresponds to the width of the second key portion 78 in such a case. In another variant, the second key portion 78 has surfaces 85A, 85B, which extend in the up-down direction so that they approach each other when facing rearward.

[0168] Furthermore, when the first key portion 77 or the second key portion 78 and the first or second receiver are said to match or match each other, it does not necessarily mean that they are perfectly complementary in shape and / or position, or in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement. These key portions may rather be formed as protrusions whose shape and cross-section may deviate from the shape and cross-section of the space defined by the respective receiver. The matching and matching function of the key members described above requires at least that the first key portion 77 is arranged and shaped to be received in the first receiver, and the second key portion 78 is arranged and shaped to be received in the second receiver, respectively.

[0169] Also, the specific configurations of the first and second key portions 77, 78 shown in the above embodiment may be realized in a cartridge (not shown), for example, in which the rear surface 62 and rear wall 43 are simply planar and do not have the second and third angled surfaces 64, 65, and / or the bottom wall 45 has first and second bottom walls 45A, 45B including the specific configuration shown. The rear surface 62 and rear wall 43 may have a convex rounded shape, or any other shape.

[0170] Furthermore, the pair of walls 71 may be omitted or the shape of the walls 71 may be arranged differently. For example, the first and second front faces 72, 73 are not rounded but are rectangular or tapered. Also, the walls 71 may not extend from the bottom wall 70 but from the front wall 40 of the container body 31 or the body 431. Furthermore, only one of the two guide walls 71 may be provided.

[0171] Further, in the embodiment or each modification, the groove 74 has an upward bottom surface 74L, a downward top surface 74U, and a surface 74M connecting the surfaces 74L and 74U. As a modification, the groove 74 may have only the bottom surface 74M and the downward top surface 74U, or may have only the bottom surface 74M and the upward top surface 74U. In such a case, or when the downward top surface 74U or the upward top surface 74U does not exist, even if the first and second key portions 77 and 78 exist, the groove 74 may not be provided at all. As a further modification, the groove 74 may exist only on one side surface of the ink cartridge 30, for example, the left wall 54 side, and not exist on the other side surface, for example, the right wall 55 side, or vice versa. As yet another variant, groove 74 may be configured so that an upward-facing lower surface 74L is formed only on one side, for example, the left wall 54 side, and a downward-facing upper surface 74U is formed only on the other side, for example, the right wall 55 side, such that opposing surfaces 74U, 74L of groove 74 do not exist.

[0172] As a further modification, the groove 74 may not have a U-shape, but may have, for example, a V-shape having opposing surfaces 74L, 74U that face each other and are slightly inclined with respect to the up-down direction. The groove 74 may also be configured in any other shape. The flat surface 74M connecting the surfaces 74L, 74U may be omitted or may be replaced with a rounded, concave, or convex bottom surface 74M connecting the surfaces 74L, 74U. When the flat surface 74M connecting the surfaces 74L, 74U is omitted, the groove 74 is formed by an opening extending in the front-rear direction in the left wall 54 and / or the right wall 55.

[0173] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 17, the body is described as including a container body 31 and a cover 32. The two are connected to each other via a protrusion 52 and a through hole 58 that receives the protrusion 52 with a small amount of play, thereby allowing the cover 32 to rotate slightly relative to the container body 31. Alternatively, they may be connected to each other via another hinge mechanism, allowing rotation, or connected to each other without play, preventing rotation.

[0174] In the embodiment, the second key portion 78 is described as being integrally formed with the top wall 44. However, as an alternative, the second key portion 78 may be formed as a separate part on or within the top wall 44. As a further alternative, the second key portion 78 may be movable to resiliently retract in a vertical or inclined direction. For example, during insertion, the second key portion 78 may be pressed down on the locking portion 139 (e.g., no rotational movement of the container body 31 as shown in Figs. 1 to 20, or no rotational movement of the body 431 in Fig. 21) and retract into a recess formed in the top wall 56, while the locking portion 139 slides on the inclined surface 84B.

[0175] Also, the second key portion 78 may be biased upward, for example, by a spring. Once the lock portion 139 has passed the inclined surface 84B, the second key portion 78 moves upward again due to the action of the spring force, and if it fits or coincides, it snaps into the second receiving portion (second key slot 138). At the same time, the lock surface 87 comes into contact with the lock portion 139. The ink cartridge 30 is then held in the slot 108.

[0176] Depending on the inclination of the locking surface 87, the ink cartridge 30 can then be removed from the slot 108, for example after the ink has been consumed, by applying a slightly larger force to overcome the friction between the locking portion 139 and the locking surface 87. In that case, the second key portion 78 retracts again. If the second key portion 78 does not match the second key slot 138 upon insertion, the locking surface 87 cannot be brought into contact with the locking portion 139, the ink cartridge 30 will not be secured in the installed position, and the user will know that the ink cartridge 30 has been inserted into the wrong slot 108.

[0177] In the above embodiment or its variations, the third key portion 79 is described as a recess formed in the left wall 54 and the right wall 55, respectively. However, according to a further variation of the ink cartridge 30, the cover 32 is formed to have a thickness between the left wall 54 and the right wall 55, and does not have a recess, so that it fits between the mating pieces 122, 123. As a variation of the ink cartridge 30 in which such a third key portion 79 is omitted, a recess may be formed only on one side, for example, the recess may be present only in the left wall 54 or the right wall 55, and not on the other.

[0178] In the above-described embodiment or variations thereof shown in Figures 1 to 21, the rear end of the upper surface 80 of the upper wall 44 of the container body 31 includes an operating surface 68 having a plurality of protrusions 69 that protrude upward and extend in the left-right direction. Here, the protrusions 69 are an example of an anti-slip structure. However, according to variations of the embodiment, the operating surface 68 may be arranged differently. For example, the protrusions may be replaced by recesses, or the protrusions may be omitted entirely. [Explanation of symbols]

[0179] 30···Ink cartridge (ink container) 31... Container body (first member, container) 32 Cover (second member) 33...supply section 34 Supply port 36 Valve 37... Coil spring (biasing member) 42S...Left side 43S...Right side 46...Storage chamber 47...Bottom surface (outer surface, curved surface) 60···IC board (electrical interface) 61...electrode 70...Bottom surface 71...Wall (1st wall, 2nd wall) 74··· groove (guide groove) 75...Front 77···First key part (guide wall) 77F...Front (front end) 77L...Bottom surface (lower end) 77S...Side (left guide surface, right guide surface) 87 Lock surface (contact surface) 88 Sub-front wall (front) 101... Case body (storage case) 102...supply pipe 108··· slot (mounting space) 110 Cartridge case (mounting part) 115···First key slot (receiving part) 133... Coil spring (second biasing member)

Claims

1. An ink container to be inserted into a mounting space of a mounting portion, A container having a left surface facing left and a right surface facing right in a left-right direction; A supply unit having a supply port facing forward in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction in the container; a lower surface facing downward and located above and forward of the supply port in a vertical direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction; a guide wall having a left guide surface facing left and a right guide surface facing right; a front end of the guide wall is located forward of the supply port and rearward of a front end of the ink container; a lower end of the guide wall is located above the supply port and below the bottom surface, the left guide surface is located to the right of the left surface, The right guide surface is an ink container located to the left of the right surface.

2. 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the guide wall extends downward from the lower surface.

3. The container has a front surface extending downwardly from a rear end of the lower surface; 3. The ink container of claim 2, wherein the guide wall extends forward from the front surface.

4. the left guide surface is located to the right of the left end of the supply section, 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the right guide surface is located to the left of the right end of the supply portion.

5. 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the length of the guide wall in the front-rear direction is longer than the length in the up-down direction.

6. 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the distance in the left-right direction between the left guide surface and the right guide surface is shorter than the distance in the left-right direction between the left surface and the right surface.

7. The container has a reservoir, The supply portion extends forward from the reservoir, an exterior surface of the dispensing portion defines a lower end of the vessel; 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the supply portion has a curved surface that curves in a circumferential direction with the front-rear direction as a central axis.

8. 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the rear and is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction.

9. an electrical interface having a plurality of upwardly facing electrodes; 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are positioned above the guide wall and aligned in the left-right direction.

10. The ink container according to claim 9 , wherein the guide wall and the electrode at least partially overlap each other when viewed in the up-down direction.

11. a valve that opens and closes the supply port and abuts against a supply pipe of the mounting portion when the ink container is mounted on the mounting portion; A biasing member that biases the valve forward; an electrical interface having upwardly facing electrodes; a contact surface that is located above and to the rear of the supply port and that contacts the mounting portion toward the rear in the mounted state, 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the guide wall receives an upward biasing force in the attached state.

12. a guide groove extending in the front-rear direction on at least one of the left surface and the right surface, 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the guide groove has an upper surface facing downward and a lower surface facing the upper surface, and is located above a lower end of the guide wall.

13. a first wall extending downward from the lower surface; a second wall extending downward from the lower surface, 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the guide wall is located between the first wall and the second wall in the left-right direction.

14. the container includes a first member having the supply portion, and a second member located in front of the first member and having the lower surface and the guide wall, The first member is movable relative to the second member, 2. The ink container according to claim 1, wherein the first member further has a contact surface that contacts the mounting portion rearward.

15. A system in which an ink container is mounted in a mounting portion facing forward, The ink container is A container having a left surface facing left and a right surface facing right in a left-right direction; A supply unit having a supply port facing forward in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the left-right direction in the container; a lower surface facing downward and located above and forward of the supply port in a vertical direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the front-rear direction; a guide wall having a left guide surface facing left and a right guide surface facing right; a front end of the guide wall is located forward of the supply port and rearward of the front end, a lower end of the guide wall is located above the supply port and below the bottom surface, the left guide surface is located to the right of the left surface, the right guide surface is located to the left of the right surface, The above mounting part is a storage case in which the ink container is stored; A supply pipe connected to the supply port; a receiving portion opening rearwardly and upwardly for receiving said guide wall.

16. The above mounting part is 16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a second biasing member that applies an upward biasing force to the guide wall when the ink container is in an attached state in the storage case.

Images