Cartridge, printing device, and printing system

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of suppressing a decrease in operability when attaching or detaching a cartridge to or from a printing device.SOLUTION: A cartridge detachably attached to a cartridge attachment part of a printing device is brought into an attachment state where it is attached to the cartridge attachment part by rotating and moving in a rotation attachment direction by receiving force having a component in a gravity lower direction with the depth side in an insertion direction of the cartridge attachment part as a rotational fulcrum from an insertion state where it is inserted to a predetermined position of the cartridge attachment part by moving in the insertion direction along a horizontal direction, and has a second fixing structure comprising a loop-shaped groove that guides a first fixing structure provided on the printing device, and a locking portion that locks the first fixing structure within the groove. The second fixing structure locks the first fixing structure in the attachment state. When the cartridge receives the force having the component in the gravity lower direction in the attachment state, locking of the second fixing structure with the first fixing structure is released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cartridge, a printing device, and a printing system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, cartridges are known that are mounted in a printing device by a combination of a horizontal insertion operation into the printing device and a rotation operation downward in the direction of gravity. The cartridge in Patent Document 1 has a cartridge engagement portion that engages with an installation engagement portion of the printing device as a fixing structure for maintaining the installed state. The engagement between the installation engagement portion and the cartridge engagement portion is released by lifting the rear wall side of the cartridge. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-53794 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional cartridges are mounted in a printing device by having the top wall pressed downward by gravity. On the other hand, when releasing the cartridge from the mounted state, an upward force is applied to the side and bottom walls of the cartridge, and the rear wall of the cartridge is lifted. As described above, different cartridge walls are used when mounting and releasing the cartridge, which can cause a problem of inconsistency in operability when mounting and removing the cartridge. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a printing device. The cartridge moves in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction from an inserted state where the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting section, to an attached state where the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting section by rotating in a rotational mounting direction with a force having a component in the downward direction of gravity applied to the cartridge mounting section, with the back side of the cartridge mounting section in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, the cartridge includes a second fixing structure having a loop-shaped groove that guides a first fixing structure of the printing device and a locking portion that locks the first fixing structure provided in the groove, the second fixing structure locks the first fixing structure in the attached state, and the second fixing structure is released from the locking with the first fixing structure by the cartridge receiving the force having the component in the downward direction of gravity in the attached state. (2) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a printing device is provided, comprising a cartridge mounting section to which a cartridge can be detachably attached, a first fixing structure, and a second fixing structure, the cartridge mounting section rotates from an insertion state in which the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction to a mounting state in which the cartridge is mounted by receiving a force having a gravitational downward component and moving in a rotation mounting direction with the back side of the cartridge mounting section in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, the second fixing structure has a loop-shaped groove that guides the first fixing structure of the printing device, and a locking portion that locks the first fixing structure provided in the groove, the first fixing structure and the second fixing structure lock with each other in the mounting state, and are released from the locking by receiving the force having the gravitational downward component in the mounting state. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cartridge mounting portion and a cartridge. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] View of the cartridge mounting section from the +Z side. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a locked state between a first fixing structure and a second fixing structure in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams for explaining a mechanism until the locking is completed. [Figure 8] 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a mechanism for releasing the locked state. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge and the cartridge mounting portion in an inserted state. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge and the cartridge mounting portion in an mounted state. [Figure 11] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the first fixing structure and the second fixing structure are engaged with each other. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge and the cartridge mounting portion in an inserted state. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge and the cartridge mounting portion in an mounted state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] A. First embodiment: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a printing system 1 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, XYZ axes, which are three spatial axes perpendicular to each other, are drawn. The directions in which the arrows of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are pointing indicate the positive directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, respectively. The positive directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are respectively the +X direction, +Y direction, and +Z direction. The directions opposite to the directions in which the arrows of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are pointing are the negative directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis. The negative directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are respectively the -X direction, -Y direction, and -Z direction. The directions along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, are respectively called the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction. The same applies to the figures and explanations shown below.

[0009] The printing system 1 includes a printing device 10 and a cartridge 4 that supplies liquid ink to the printing device 10 .

[0010] The printing device 10 of this embodiment is an inkjet printer that ejects ink as a liquid from an ejection head 22. This printing device 10 is a large printer that prints on large-sized paper such as posters. The printing device 10 includes a cartridge mounting unit 6, a control unit 31, a carriage 20, an ejection head 22, and a drive unit 30. The printing device 10 also includes an operation button 15 that allows the user to operate the operation of the printing device 10.

[0011] The cartridge mounting section 6 has a first device wall 67 located on the +Y direction side. The first device wall 67 has an insertion / removal opening 674 which is an entrance to the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge 4. The cartridge 4 is stored in the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting section 6 and removed from the storage chamber 61 through this insertion / removal opening 674. A plurality of cartridges 4 are detachably mounted in the cartridge mounting section 6. In this embodiment, four types of cartridges 4 are mounted in the cartridge mounting section 6, one for each of the four colors of ink, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, that is, a total of four cartridges 4. The cartridge 4 that stores black ink is also called cartridge 4K, the cartridge 4 that stores yellow ink is also called cartridge 4Y, the cartridge 4 that stores magenta ink is also called cartridge 4M, and the cartridge 4 that stores cyan ink is also called cartridge 4C. In this embodiment, the cartridge 4K is configured to store more liquid than the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y. Therefore, the cartridge 4K is also called a first type cartridge 4A, and the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y are also called a second type cartridge 4B.

[0012] The printing device 10 has an exchange cover 13 on the front side in the +Y direction. The exchange cover 13 is configured to be openable and closable. By opening the exchange cover 13, an opening of the cartridge mounting section 6 appears, and the cartridge 4 can be attached and detached. When the cartridge 4 is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 6, ink can be supplied to the ejection head 22 provided in the carriage 20 through a tube 24 as a liquid circulation pipe. In this embodiment, ink is supplied from the cartridge 4 to the ejection head 22 by utilizing a head difference. Specifically, ink is supplied to the ejection head 22 by a head difference between the ink liquid level in the cartridge mounting section 6 and the ejection head 22. Note that the printing device 10 may supply ink to the ejection head 22 by sucking ink in the cartridge 4 with a pump mechanism (not shown). Note that the tube 24 is provided for each type of ink. In the present disclosure, a state in which the cartridge 4 is mounted in the cartridge mounting section 6 and ink as a liquid can be supplied to the printing device 10 is also referred to as an "attached state."

[0013] The ejection head 22 is provided with nozzles for each type of ink. The ejection head 22 ejects ink from the nozzles toward the printing paper 2 to print data such as characters and images. In this embodiment, the printing device 10 is a printer called an "off-carriage type" in which the cartridge mounting unit 6 is not linked to the movement of the carriage 20. However, the printer may also be a printer called an "on-carriage type" in which the cartridge mounting unit 6 is provided on the carriage 20 and moves together with the carriage 20.

[0014] The control unit 31 controls each part of the printing device 10 and sends and receives signals to and from the cartridge 4. The carriage 20 moves the ejection head 22 relative to the printing paper 2.

[0015] The drive device 30 reciprocates the carriage 20 based on a control signal from the control unit 31. The drive device 30 includes a timing belt 32 and a drive motor 34. The power of the drive motor 34 is transmitted to the carriage 20 via the timing belt 32, causing the carriage 20 to reciprocate in the main scanning direction, which is the direction along the X direction. The printing device 10 also includes a transport mechanism for moving the print paper 2 in the sub-scanning direction, which is the +Y direction. When printing is performed, the transport mechanism moves the print paper 2 in the sub-scanning direction, and the print paper 2 after printing is completed is output onto the front cover 11.

[0016] In this embodiment, in the use state of the printing system 1, the axis along the sub-scanning direction in which the print paper 2 is transported is the Y axis, the axis along the direction of gravity downward is the Z axis, and the axis along the direction of movement of the carriage 20 is the X axis. Here, the "use state of the printing system 1" refers to a state in which the printing system 1 is installed on a horizontal surface. In this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction is the +Y direction, the opposite direction is the -Y direction, the direction downward of gravity is the -Z direction, and the direction upward of gravity is the +Z direction. The X and Y directions are directions along the horizontal direction. In addition, when the printing system 1 is viewed from the front side, the direction from the right side to the left side is the +X direction, and the opposite direction is the -X direction. In this embodiment, the insertion direction in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6 for mounting is the -Y direction, and the direction in which the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6 is the +Y direction. Therefore, the -Y direction side of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is also called the back side, and the +Y direction side is also called the front side. In this embodiment, the arrangement direction of the multiple cartridges 4 is the X direction.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the cartridge mounting portion 6 and the cartridge 4. In Fig. 2, the cartridges 4K, 4M, and 4Y are shown in a mounted state in which they have been completely mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6. Also, in Fig. 2, the cartridge 4C is shown in a state in which it has been completely inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6. In the present disclosure, the state of the cartridge 4 in which it has been completely inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6 is referred to as the "inserted state."

[0018] The cartridge 4 is detachably mounted in the cartridge mounting section 6. The cartridge 4 is inserted in a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting section 6 by moving in the horizontal insertion direction D1, and then rotates in a rotational mounting direction D2 by receiving a force having a component in the downward direction of gravity, with the back side of the cartridge mounting section 6 in the insertion direction D1 as a rotation fulcrum 698. Specifically, when mounting the cartridge 4 in the cartridge mounting section 6, a mounting process is performed. The mounting process includes a terminal connection process and a supply section connection process that is performed after the terminal connection process. The terminal connection process is a process in which the cartridge 4 is moved in the horizontal insertion direction D1 through the insertion / removal opening 674 of the first device wall 67, and inserted into the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting section 6, to a predetermined position. The predetermined position is a position where contact between a cartridge side terminal of the cartridge 4 (described later) and a device side terminal of the cartridge mounting section 6 (described later) is completed. The supply unit connecting process is a process of connecting a liquid introduction unit (described later) of the cartridge mounting unit 6 to a liquid supply unit (described later) of the cartridge 4 while maintaining contact between the device-side terminal and the cartridge-side terminal. Specifically, in the supply unit connecting process, the operation surface 435 of the cartridge 4 receives a force in the downward direction of gravity, and the cartridge 4 rotates about a rotation fulcrum 698 of the cartridge mounting unit 6 in a rotation mounting direction D2 indicated by an arrow, thereby connecting the liquid introduction unit to the liquid supply unit. In the mounted state, a second fixing structure (described later) of the cartridge 4 engages a first fixing structure (described later) provided on the cartridge mounting unit 6 to maintain the mounted state.

[0019] When removing the cartridge 4 from the cartridge mounting section 6, the user presses the operation surface 435 of the cartridge 4 in the rotation mounting direction D2. This releases the engagement between the first fixing structure provided in the cartridge mounting section 6 and the second fixing structure provided in the cartridge 4. When the engagement between the first fixing structure and the second fixing structure is released, the cartridge 4 rotates in a connection release direction D3, which is the opposite direction to the rotation mounting direction D2, due to the force of a biasing member of the cartridge mounting section 6 described below, and transitions from the mounted state to the inserted state. After the cartridge 4 is in the inserted state, the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting section 6 by moving the cartridge 4 in the +Y direction, which is the removal direction D4. The mechanism by which the second fixing structure engages the first fixing structure and the mechanism by which the engagement is released will be described later.

[0020] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounting portion 6. Fig. 4 is a view of the cartridge mounting portion 6 as seen from the +Z direction side. Some components of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are omitted from Figs. 3 and 4. With respect to the cartridge mounting portion 6, the X direction is also called the width direction, the Y direction is also called the depth direction, and the Z direction is also called the height direction. Note that, in the following, unless otherwise specified, each element will be described assuming that the cartridge mounting portion 6 is in an initial arrangement state in which the cartridge 4 is not mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge mounting portion 6 forms a storage chamber 61 in which the cartridge 4 is stored. The storage chamber 61 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the storage chamber 61, the slots 61C, 61M, 61Y, and 61K, which are portions for storing the cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y, and 4K, generally correspond to the external shapes of the cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y, and 4K. In this embodiment, the cartridge 4K has a larger dimension in the X direction than the other cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y in order to increase the amount of liquid that it stores. Therefore, in this embodiment, the width of the slot 61K is larger than the widths of the other slots 61C, 61M, and 61Y.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge mounting section 6 has six device walls 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67 that form the storage chamber 61. In this disclosure, the term "wall" is a concept that includes not only a single wall, but also a wall formed of multiple walls. The first device wall 67 forms an insertion / removal opening 674 through which the cartridge 4 passes when it is inserted into or removed from the storage chamber 61. The second device wall 62 forms a wall in the -Y direction of the storage chamber 61. The second device wall 62 faces the first device wall 67 in the Y direction.

[0023] The upper wall 63 of the device forms a wall on the +Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. The bottom wall 64 of the device faces the upper wall 63 of the device in the Z direction and forms a wall on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. The bottom wall 64 of the device is formed by a support member 610. The bottom wall 64 of the device has a plurality of openings 614 of the device. In this embodiment, four openings 614 are formed according to the slots 61C, 61M, 61Y, and 61K. The upper wall 63 of the device and the bottom wall 64 of the device intersect with the second wall 62 and the first wall 67 of the device. In this disclosure, "intersect" and "intersect" mean any one of the following states: (i) a state in which two elements intersect each other and actually intersect, (ii) a state in which one element intersects with the other element when extended, and (iii) a state in which the elements intersect with each other when extended.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge mounting section 6 further includes a support member 610, a liquid introduction section 642, an apparatus-side supply section positioning section 644, and an apparatus guide section 602. A plurality of support members 610 are provided according to the number of cartridges 4 to be mounted. In this embodiment, four support members 610 are provided. The support members 610 form the apparatus bottom wall 64 on the gravity downward side of the storage chamber 61. The support members 610 support the cartridges 4 from the -Z direction side, which is the gravity downward side. The support members 610 are members extending along the Y direction. The support members 610 have a concave shape. The support members 610 include a main wall 613 forming the apparatus bottom wall 64, a first support side wall 611, and a second support side wall 612.

[0025] The main wall 613 forms a concave bottom located on the downward direction of gravity. An apparatus opening 614 is formed in the end of the main wall 613 on the first apparatus wall 67 side. The apparatus opening 614 penetrates the main wall 613 in the thickness direction of the main wall 613.

[0026] 3, the first supporting side wall 611 rises in the +Z direction, which is the upward direction of gravity, from the +X direction end of the main wall 613. The second supporting side wall 612 rises in the +Z direction from the -X axis direction end of the main wall 613. The first supporting side wall 611 and the second supporting side wall 612 face each other in the X direction.

[0027] The device guide portion 602 guides the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1 and the removal direction D4. The device guide portion 602 is provided for each support member 610. The device guide portion 602 is provided on each of the first support side wall 611 and the second support side wall 612. The device guide portion 602 is a protrusion provided on the first support side wall 611 and the second support side wall 612.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid introduction part 642 receives the liquid of the cartridge 4. The liquid introduction part 642 has a central axis CA1. In the initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting part 6, the liquid introduction part 642 is not located in the storage chamber 61, but is located on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. That is, the liquid introduction part 642 is located on the opposite side of the storage chamber 61 with respect to the support member 610 across the storage chamber 61. In this embodiment, the tip part 642b of the liquid introduction part 642 is disposed in the storage chamber 61 by rotating and moving the support member 610 in the rotation mounting direction D2 about the rotation fulcrum 698 to push down the device opening 614. That is, the rotation fulcrum 698 rotates and moves the support member 610 to displace the device opening 614 downward in the gravity direction, thereby disposing the tip part 642b of the liquid introduction part 642 in the storage chamber 61 via the device opening 614.

[0029] The device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 shown in FIG. 3 is received in a supply unit positioning portion of the cartridge 4, which will be described later, and thereby restricts the movement of the liquid supply unit of the cartridge 4 relative to the liquid introduction portion. This allows the liquid supply unit of the cartridge 4 to be positioned. In the initial state of the cartridge mounting portion 6, the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is not positioned in the storage chamber 61, but is positioned on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. In other words, the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is positioned on the opposite side of the storage chamber 61 with respect to the support member 610 across the storage chamber 61. The other end 644b of the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is positioned in the storage chamber 61 by rotating the support member 610 about the rotation fulcrum 698 in the rotation mounting direction D2 to press down the device opening 614. In other words, the rotation fulcrum 698 rotates the support member 610 to displace the device opening 614, thereby positioning the other end 644b of the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 in the storage chamber 61 via the device opening 614.

[0030] 3, the cartridge mounting portion 6 further includes an apparatus-side terminal portion 70. The apparatus-side terminal portion 70 includes an apparatus-side terminal that comes into contact with a cartridge-side terminal of the cartridge 4 when the cartridge 4 is in a fully mounted state.

[0031] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first type cartridge 4A. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first type cartridge 4A. The XYZ axes shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are based on the insertion posture of the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting portion 6. The insertion posture is the same as the posture of the cartridge 4 in the inserted state in which the insertion into the cartridge mounting portion 6 is completed. The difference between the first type cartridge 4A and the second type cartridge 4B is the width of the liquid container 401. The first type cartridge 4A is wider than the second type cartridge 4B. Therefore, the volume of the liquid container 450 of the first type cartridge 4A is larger than the volume of the liquid container 450 of the second type cartridge 4B. The other configurations are the same between the first type cartridge 4A and the second type cartridge 4B. In the following, the configuration of the cartridge 4 will be described using the first type cartridge 4A.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 5, the cartridge 4 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. In the cartridge 4, the direction along the -Y direction, which is the insertion direction D1 into the cartridge mounting section 6, is the longitudinal direction, the X direction is the short side direction as the width direction, and the -Z direction is the direction below gravity, i.e., the height direction. In the cartridge 4, the longitudinal dimension is the largest and the short side dimension is the smallest. The width direction is the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D1 and the direction of gravity in the inserted position.

[0033] 4, in this embodiment, the cartridge 4 is composed of two members. In detail, the cartridge 4 includes a liquid container 401 and an adaptor 402 attached by fitting into the liquid container 401. Note that in the cartridge 4, the liquid container 401 and the adaptor 402 may be integrated together.

[0034] The liquid container 401 has a liquid container section 450 for containing ink as a liquid, and a liquid supply section 442. The liquid supply section 442 is in communication with the liquid container section 450. The liquid supply section 442 is a member extending from the bottom surface of the liquid container 401, and has a central axis CA2. In the inserted state, the central axis CA2 is parallel to the Z direction. The direction along the central axis CA2 is also referred to as the central axis direction. In this embodiment, the insertion direction D1 is perpendicular to the central axis direction along the central axis CA2. The liquid supply section 442 may be disposed in a position inclined with respect to the Z axis. For example, the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply section 442 may form an angle with respect to the Z axis in a range of more than 0° and not more than 15°.

[0035] The adaptor 402 is attached to the bottom side of the liquid container 401. The adaptor 402 has a supply part mounting part 831 having a concave shape that accommodates the liquid supply part 442. An insertion opening 446 is formed in the bottom surface of the supply part mounting part 831. The liquid introduction part 642 is inserted into the insertion opening 446. The insertion opening 446 faces a supply part tip part 442a, which is a tip opening of the liquid supply part 442, in the Z direction.

[0036] The liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 are each molded by, for example, injection molding a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. The liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 may be made of the same material or different materials.

[0037] 4, the cartridge 4 has a first side surface 42, a top surface 43, a bottom surface 44, a second side surface 45, a third side surface 46, and a fourth side surface 47. The first side surface is also referred to as the "front surface" and the fourth side surface is also referred to as the "rear surface." In other words, in this disclosure, the side surface located on the rear side in the insertion direction D1 is the "front surface," and the side surface located on the near side in the insertion direction D1 is the "rear surface."

[0038] The front surface 42 and the rear surface 47 face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1 in the insertion posture. The front surface 42 forms a leading end surface on the rear side in the insertion direction D1 in the insertion posture, i.e., the -Y direction which is the leading end side of the insertion direction D1. The rear surface 47 forms a surface located on the front side in the insertion direction D1 in the insertion posture, i.e., the +Y direction which is the removal direction D4 in which the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6.

[0039] 5, the top surface 43 and the bottom surface 44 face each other in the Z direction, which is the central axial direction of the central axis CA2. The bottom surface 44 is located on the lower side when the cartridge 4 is inserted. The bottom surface 44 has a storage portion 441 and a supply portion positioning portion 448 in addition to the liquid supply portion 442 and the insertion opening 446 described above.

[0040] 3 and performs positioning of the liquid supply unit 442 relative to the liquid introduction unit 642. Similar to the storage unit 411, the supply unit positioning unit 448 is also a recess that opens to the bottom surface 44. It is to be noted that the storage unit 441 is optional. The supply unit positioning unit 448 receives the apparatus-side supply unit positioning unit 644 shown in FIG. 3 during the attachment process and performs positioning of the liquid supply unit 442 relative to the liquid introduction unit 642. Similar to the storage unit 411, the supply unit positioning unit 448 is also a recess that opens to the bottom surface 44.

[0041] The top surface 43 is located on the upper side when the cartridge 4 is inserted. The top surface 43 connects the front surface 42 and the rear surface 47. As shown in FIG.

[0042] 4, the second side surface 45 and the third side surface 46 face each other in the X direction, which is the width direction. The second side surface 45 and the third side surface 46 are parallel to the Y direction and the Z direction, respectively, in the insertion posture. The second side surface 45 is a surface located on the +X direction side. The third side surface 46 is a surface located on the -X direction side.

[0043] The corner portion 89 is provided at a corner portion where the front surface 42 and the bottom surface 44 intersect. The corner portion 89 has a terminal arrangement portion 90 that is recessed inward. The circuit board 50 is arranged in the terminal arrangement portion 90.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, the rear surface 47 has a main surface 47A connected to the top surface 43 and a step surface 47B connected to the bottom surface 44. The step surface 47B is located on the inner side of the insertion direction D1, i.e., on the -Y direction side, from the main surface 47A. The step surface 47B is a surface perpendicular to the bottom surface 44, and forms a surface on the +Y direction side in the insertion posture. The step surface 47B is a surface that rises from the bottom surface 44 toward the top surface 43. The rear surface 47 has a second fixing structure 472 on the step surface 47B. In this embodiment, the second fixing structure 472 is a heart cam structure. The second fixing structure 472 will be described in detail later. In the mounted state of the cartridge 4, the second fixing structure 472 locks the first fixing structure, thereby restricting the movement of the cartridge 4 in the Z direction. In the following description, the state in which the second fixing structure 472 locks the first fixing structure is called the "locking state."

[0045] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an engagement state between the first fixing structure 677 and the second fixing structure 472 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the first fixing structure 677 of the printing device 10 has an arm-like form. The first fixing structure 677 extends toward the +Z direction side so as to enter the second fixing structure 472 of the cartridge 4 to be mounted. The first fixing structure 677 is attached in a state in which the upper end side of the +Z direction side is allowed to rotate in the X direction with the lower end side of the -Z direction side as a fulcrum. Note that the first fixing structure 677 is biased by a biasing member 678 so that the upper end side of the +Z direction side is displaced toward the -X direction side. The first fixing structure 677 has a tip portion 677t at the tip of the +Z direction side. In addition, a protrusion portion 677p is provided on the tip portion 677t. The protrusion portion 677p protrudes from the tip portion 677t to the -Y direction side. 6, the locking portion 486 of the second fixing structure 472 locks the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677, thereby creating a locked state. This state also corresponds to the mounted state of the cartridge 4. That is, the second fixing structure 472 locks the first fixing structure 677 in the mounted state.

[0046] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the mechanism until the engagement between the first fixing structure 677 and the second fixing structure 472 is completed. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining the mechanism when the engagement between the first fixing structure 677 and the second fixing structure 472 is released. Figs. 7 and 8 each show the second fixing structure 472 as seen from the -Y direction side. In Figs. 7 and 8, positions P1 to P5 of the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 at different times are shown by dashed lines to show the movement trajectory of the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 in the groove 475.

[0047] The second fixing structure 472 has a loop-shaped groove portion 475 that guides a first fixing structure (described later) of the printing device 10, and a locking portion 486 that locks the first fixing structure provided in the groove portion 475. In this embodiment, the groove portion 475 is formed by being surrounded by the rib 476.

[0048] The configuration of second fixing structure 472 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Second fixing structure 472 has central protrusion 481 protruding in the +Y direction in the central region. When viewed from the +Y direction side, the outer peripheral wall surface of central protrusion 481 forms a substantially triangular outer peripheral contour line.

[0049] The outer peripheral wall surface of the central protrusion 481 includes a first wall surface 482, a second wall surface 483, and a third wall surface 484. The first wall surface 482 extends in an oblique direction between the X direction and the Z direction. The second wall surface 483 extends in the X direction and intersects with the first wall surface 482. The third wall surface 484 extends in the Z direction and intersects with the first wall surface 482 and the second wall surface 483.

[0050] The central protrusion 481 has a first protruding wall 485 and a second protruding wall 486. The first protruding wall 485 extends slightly from the second wall 483 in the +Z direction at the end of the second wall 483 on the -X direction side along the direction in which the first wall 482 extends. The second protruding wall 486 is a wall that functions as a locking portion. The second protruding wall 486 is the above-mentioned locking portion 486. The second protruding wall 486 extends slightly from the second wall 483 in the +Z direction at the end of the second wall 483 on the + direction side along the direction in which the third wall 484 extends.

[0051] The second fixing structure 472 further has a third protruding wall portion 487. The third protruding wall portion 487 is formed as a part of the rib 476. The third protruding wall portion 487 protrudes from the rib 476 in the -Z direction toward the second wall surface 483 at a position facing the second wall surface 483 of the central convex portion 481 in the Z direction.

[0052] For convenience of explanation, the groove portion 475 is divided into a first groove portion 475a, a second groove portion 475b, a third groove portion 475c, and a fourth groove portion 475d. As shown in FIG. 7, the first groove portion 475a is a portion extending in the Z direction. The second groove portion 475b is a portion facing the first wall surface 482 and extending in an oblique direction between the X direction and the Z direction. The third groove portion 475c is a portion including a portion facing the second wall surface 483, and is formed by three protruding walls 485 to 487 so as to meander in the X direction. The fourth groove portion 475d is a portion facing the third wall surface 484 and extending in the -Z direction toward the first groove portion 475a.

[0053] The first bottom surface 488a, which is the bottom surface of the first groove portion 475a, forms an inclined surface that gradually rises in the +Y direction toward the +Z direction. The second bottom surface 488b, which is the bottom surface of the portion of the second groove portion 475b that is connected to the first groove portion 475a, forms a substantially horizontal surface. The third bottom surface 488c located around the center of the second groove portion 475b forms an inclined surface that drops in the -Y direction from the second bottom surface 488b. The fourth bottom portion 488d, which includes the bottom surface of the end portion of the second groove portion 475b on the +Z direction side and the bottom surface of the third groove portion 475c, forms a substantially horizontal surface. The fifth bottom surface 488e, which is the bottom surface of the fourth groove portion 475d, forms an inclined surface that gradually rises in the +Y direction toward the -Z direction. A sixth bottom surface 488f, which is a bottom surface between the first bottom surface 488a and the fifth bottom surface 488e, forms a substantially horizontal surface.

[0054] With reference to FIG. 7, a mechanism until the locking between the locking portion 486 of the second fixing structure 472 and the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 is completed will be described. When the cartridge 4 receives a downward force of gravity and rotates in the rotational mounting direction D2, the second fixing structure 472 is pushed in the -Z direction. As a result, the protrusion 677p provided on the tip portion 677t of the first fixing structure 677 is inserted in the +Z direction into the first groove portion 475a. When the protrusion 677p is inserted in the +Z direction into the first groove portion 475a, the protrusion 677p comes into contact with the first bottom surface 488a, which is an inclined surface, and is pushed in the +Y direction by the first bottom surface 488a. When the second fixing structure 472 is further pushed in the -Z direction, the protrusion 677p separates from the rib 476 and rides up onto the flat second bottom surface 488b. Since first fixing structure 677 is biased in the -X direction by a biasing member (not shown), it reaches position P1 where it comes into contact with first wall surface 482 when it climbs up onto second bottom surface 488b.

[0055] The protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 moves along the second bottom surface 488b by moving in the +Z direction along the first wall surface 482 while being pushed in the +X direction by the first wall surface 482. Thereafter, the protrusion 677p passes through the third bottom surface 488c and reaches a position P2 where it contacts the first protruding wall portion 485.

[0056] When the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 further moves in the +Z direction and separates from the first protruding wall portion 485, the biasing force applied in the -X direction causes it to instantaneously move in the -X direction and collide with the third protruding wall portion 487. This collision generates a clicking sound. At this time, the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 has reached position P3.

[0057] When the user releases the force applied to the cartridge 4 in the -Z direction at the clicking sound, the cartridge 4 receives a biasing force in the +Z direction from a biasing member (described later) of the cartridge mounting portion 6, and moves slightly in the +Z direction. As a result, the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 moves in the -Z direction along the third protruding wall portion 487 and moves away from the third protruding wall portion 487. At this time, the protrusion 677p moves instantaneously in the -X direction due to the biasing force in the -X direction, collides with the second wall surface 483 and the second protruding wall portion 486 serving as the locking portion, and is received at position P4.

[0058] In this way, at position P4, the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 is locked by the locking portion 486 of the second fixing structure 472. In this state, the movement of the cartridge 4 in the +Z direction is restricted by the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677. This state is the mounted state of the cartridge 4.

[0059] Next, a mechanism for releasing the locked state between the second fixing structure and the first fixing structure 677 will be described with reference to FIG. 8. In this embodiment, when the operation surface of the cartridge 4 is further pushed in the -Z direction in the mounted state, the locked state is released. When the user pushes the operation surface 435 in the -Z direction, the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 moves in the +Z direction from position P4 and is released from the state where it was engaged with the second protruding wall portion 486 as the locking portion. At this time, the protrusion 677p moves instantaneously to the -X direction side due to the biasing force applied to the first fixing structure 677 by the biasing member in the -X direction, and collides with the side wall surface of the rib 476 on the -X direction side to reach position P5.

[0060] When the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 moves to the position P5, the protrusion 677p is positioned in the fourth groove 475d, and thus the movement in the -Z direction is permitted. That is, the second fixing structure 472 and the first fixing structure 677 are released from the locked state. The user can know that the second fixing structure 472 and the first fixing structure 677 are released from the click sound generated by the collision of the protrusion 677p with the rib 476 described above. When the movement of the protrusion 677p in the -Z direction is permitted, the cartridge 4 moves in the +Z direction due to a biasing member of the cartridge mounting portion 6, which will be described later, and the protrusion 677p can move in the -Z direction and escape from the second fixing structure 472.

[0061] With the mechanism described above, when the cartridge 4 is in the inserted state, a force in the downward direction of gravity is applied to the operation surface 435, causing the cartridge 4 to rotate and move, thereby entering an attached state, and the second fixing structure 472 engages with the first fixing structure 677. When the cartridge 4 is in the attached state, a force in the downward direction of gravity is applied to the operation surface 435, causing the second fixing structure 472 to be released from engagement with the first fixing structure 677. For this reason, the cartridge 4 can be attached or detached by applying a force to the operation surface 435, thereby providing consistency in operability when attaching or detaching the cartridge.

[0062] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 4 and cartridge mounting portion 6 in an inserted state in the first embodiment. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 4 and cartridge mounting portion 6 in an attached state in the first embodiment. The cartridge 4 and cartridge mounting portion 6 can be rotated about a rotation fulcrum 698 to take either the inserted state shown in Fig. 9 or the attached state shown in Fig. 10.

[0063] 9 is a state in which the cartridge 4 is inserted to a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting portion 6, as described above. The predetermined position is a position where the cartridge side terminals 521 of the circuit board 50 contact the apparatus side terminals 721 of the cartridge mounting portion 6. In the inserted state, the supply unit positioning portion 448 is located on the +Z direction side with respect to the apparatus side supply unit positioning portion 644. The second fixing structure 472 is located on the +Z direction side with respect to the first fixing structure 677. In addition, the liquid supply unit 442 is located on the +Z direction side with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642.

[0064] In the inserted state shown in Fig. 9, the operation surface 435 located on the front side of the upper surface 43 in the insertion direction D1 is pressed downward by gravity, whereby the cartridge 4 undergoes rotational movement in the rotational mounting direction D2, and transitions to the mounted state shown in Fig. 10. According to this form, the operation surface 435 when the cartridge 4 is mounted is located on the front side of the upper surface 43 of the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1. This improves operability when mounting the cartridge 4.

[0065] The mounting state in FIG. 10 is a mounting state in which the cartridge 4 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6. At this time, the supply unit positioning portion 448 fits into the apparatus-side supply unit positioning portion 644. The second fixing structure 472 locks the first fixing structure 677. More specifically, the locking portion 486 of the second fixing structure 472 locks the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677. In addition, the liquid supply unit 442 is connected to the liquid introducing portion 642. As a result, the liquid accommodated in the liquid accommodation portion 450 of the cartridge 4 is supplied to the liquid introducing portion 642 via the liquid supply unit 442.

[0066] 10, the second fixing structure 472 of the cartridge 4 is released from the engagement with the first fixing structure 677 by pressing the operation surface 435 downward in the direction of gravity. According to this embodiment, the operation surface used when removing the cartridge 4 is located on the front side of the upper surface 43 of the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1. This improves operability when removing the cartridge 4. In addition, since the surface operated by the user when attaching or detaching the cartridge 4 is the operation surface 435, which is the same, it is possible to provide consistency in operability.

[0067] In the mounted state shown in FIG. 10, when the operation surface 435 of the cartridge 4 is pressed in the gravity downward direction, the second fixing structure 472 and the first fixing structure 677 are released from the locked state, and the cartridge 4 moves in the +Z direction by the biasing member 620 of the cartridge mounting section 6. Therefore, the cartridge 4 rotates in the connection release direction D3 and moves to the inserted state shown in FIG. 9. At this time, in the process in which the cartridge 4 moves from the mounted state position to the inserted state position, the user presses the operation surface 435 in the gravity downward direction. In contrast, the connection release direction D3 in which the cartridge 4 moves from the mounted state position to the inserted state position is the gravity upward direction. Therefore, the speed at which the cartridge 4 moves from the mounted state position to the inserted state position can be reduced by the user's operation load in the gravity downward direction. This can reduce the risk of the liquid supply section 442 and the liquid introduction section 642 being forcefully disconnected from each other, and the ink leaking out of the liquid supply section 442 and the liquid introduction section 642 due to the force of the disconnection. Furthermore, since it is no longer necessary to mount a plurality of parts in order to reduce the speed at which the cartridge 4 moves in the connection releasing direction D3, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0068] In the first embodiment described above, the second fixing structure 472 is formed on the rear surface 47 as shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 7, in order for the second fixing structure 472 to lock the first fixing structure 677, the cartridge 4 is pushed in the -Z direction, and the protrusion 677p of the first fixing structure 677 moves relatively to the second fixing structure 472 in the +Z direction, and needs to reach from position P1 to position P3. That is, the cartridge 4 needs to move a predetermined distance in the -Z direction. In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the cartridge 4 rotates around the rotation fulcrum 698 located at the back side in the insertion direction D1. Therefore, the rear surface 47 located farthest from the rotation fulcrum 698 on the Y direction side moves the largest distance in the Z direction by the rotation movement. This makes it easier for the second fixing structure 472 to lock the first fixing structure 677.

[0069] B. Second embodiment: FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the engagement state between the first fixing structure 677c and the second fixing structure 679c in the second embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the cartridge 4 does not have the second fixing structure 472, and the printing device 10c has the second fixing structure 679c. The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment unless otherwise described, so the same reference numerals are used for the similar configurations and the description will be omitted as appropriate. In the second embodiment, the second fixing structure 679c has the same configuration as the second fixing structure 472 shown in FIG. 7 in the first embodiment, and has a heart cam structure. As shown in FIG. 11, the second fixing structure 679c has a loop-shaped groove portion 675c that guides the first fixing structure 677c of the printing device 10c, and a locking portion 686c that locks the first fixing structure 677c provided in the groove portion 675c. A protrusion portion 677pc is provided on a tip portion 677tc located at the tip of the first fixing structure 677c on the +Z direction side. The protrusion 677pc is locked by the locking portion 686c of the second fixing structure 679c, and is thus in a locked state. This state is also the mounted state of the cartridge 4.

[0070] Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 4 and the cartridge mounting portion 6c in the inserted state in the second embodiment. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 4 and the cartridge mounting portion 6c in the mounted state in the second embodiment.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the printing device 10c includes a cartridge mounting section 6c to which the cartridge 4 can be detachably attached, a first fixing structure 677c, and a second fixing structure 679c. The cartridge mounting section 6c rotates from an insertion state in which the cartridge 4 is supported, which is inserted to a predetermined position in the insertion direction D1 along the horizontal direction, in a rotation mounting direction D2 by receiving a force having a component in the downward direction of gravity, about a rotation fulcrum 698 at the back side of the cartridge mounting section 6c in the insertion direction D1, to a mounting state in which the cartridge 4 is mounted. In addition, in the mounting state, the cartridge mounting section 6 receives a force having a component in the downward direction of gravity via the cartridge 4, and thus the first fixing structure 677c and the second fixing structure 679c are released from their engagement. Note that FIG. 12 shows the insertion state, and FIG. 13 shows the mounting state.

[0072] In the inserted state shown in FIG. 12, the cartridge side terminal 521 of the circuit board 50 and the device side terminal 721 of the cartridge mounting section 6 are in contact with each other, as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9. The supply section positioning section 448 is located on the +Z direction side with respect to the device side supply section positioning section 644. Also, the liquid supply section 442 is located on the +Z direction side with respect to the liquid introduction section 642. As described above, in the second embodiment, the cartridge mounting section 6 has the second fixing structure 679c. Therefore, the second fixing structure 679c in the second embodiment is located on the -Z direction side compared to the second fixing structure 472 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9. Also, since the second fixing structure 679c is located on the -Z direction side with respect to the second fixing structure 472, the first fixing structure 677c shown in FIG. 12 is located on the -Z direction side compared to the first fixing structure 677 shown in FIG. 9. The first fixing structure 677 in the first embodiment and the first fixing structure 677c in the second embodiment have the same length in the Z direction.

[0073] The mounting state shown in FIG. 13 is a mounting state in which the cartridge 4 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6c. At this time, the supply unit positioning portion 448 fits into the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644. The first fixing structure 677c and the second fixing structure 679c are locked to each other. More specifically, the locking portion 686c of the second fixing structure 679c locks the protrusion 677pc of the first fixing structure 677c. In addition, the liquid supply unit 442 is connected to the liquid introduction portion 642. As a result, the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion 450 of the cartridge 4 is supplied to the liquid introduction portion 642 via the liquid supply unit 442.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the second fixing structure 679c moves in conjunction with the cartridge mounting portion 6c. In detail, the second fixing structure 679c is attached to the end portion of the support member 610 in the +Y direction, and moves in conjunction with the movement of the support member 610. According to this embodiment, when the second fixing structure 679c of the printing device 10c receives a force in the downward direction of gravity in the inserted state, it rotates and moves in the rotation mounting direction D2. Therefore, it is possible to lock the first fixing structure 677c of the printing device 10c. Also, even in the mounted state, the second fixing structure 679c moves in the rotation mounting direction D2 by receiving a force in the downward direction of gravity. This allows the first fixing structure 677c and the second fixing structure 679c to be released from the lock. Note that when the lock between the first fixing structure 677c and the second fixing structure 679c is released, the cartridge mounting portion 6c moves to the position of the inserted state shown in FIG. 12 by the biasing member 620.

[0075] According to the second embodiment described above, a downward force due to gravity is applied to the operation surface 435 of the cartridge 4, and the cartridge mounting section 6c of the printing device 10c moves from the inserted state position to the mounted state position, whereby the first fixing structure 677c and the second fixing structure 679c of the printing device 10c are engaged with each other. Also, even in the mounted state, a downward force due to gravity is applied to the operation surface 435 of the cartridge 4, whereby the first fixing structure 677c and the second fixing structure 679c are released from engagement with each other. Therefore, the cartridge 4 can be attached or detached by applying a force to the operation surface 435, so that the operability when attaching or detaching the cartridge can be consistent.

[0076] C. Other embodiments: (C1) In the above-described first embodiment, the upper surface 43 has the main surface 432, the inclined surface 433, and the operation surface 435. In contrast, the upper surface 43 does not have to have the main surface 432, the inclined surface 433, and the operation surface 435.

[0077] (C2) In the above-described first embodiment, the rear surface 47 has the step surface 47 B. In contrast, the rear surface 47 does not have to have a step surface.

[0078] (C3) The present disclosure is not limited to inkjet printers and their ink cartridges, but can also be applied to cartridges mounted on any printing device that ejects liquid other than ink. For example, the present disclosure can be applied to various printing devices and their cartridges, such as the following: (1) Image recording devices such as facsimile machines (2) A printing device that sprays color materials used in the manufacture of color filters for image display devices such as liquid crystal displays. (3) A printing device that sprays electrode materials used to form electrodes in organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displays, field emission displays (FEDs), etc. (4) A printing device that sprays liquid containing biological organic matter used in biochip production. (5) Sample printing device as a precision pipette (6) Lubricant printing device (7) Resin liquid printing device (8) A printing device that injects lubricating oil into precision machinery such as watches and cameras with pinpoint accuracy. (9) A printing device that sprays transparent resin liquid, such as ultraviolet curing resin liquid, onto a substrate to form minute hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements, etc. (10) A printing device that sprays acidic or alkaline etching liquid to etch substrates, etc. (11) A printing device equipped with a liquid ejection head that ejects any other minute amount of liquid droplets.

[0079] The term "droplet" refers to the state of liquid ejected from a printing device, and includes granular, teardrop, and thread-like tails. The term "liquid" here refers to any material that can be ejected by a printing device. For example, the term "liquid" refers to any material in a liquid phase, and includes materials in a liquid state with high or low viscosity, as well as materials in a liquid state such as sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals. In addition to liquids as one state of matter, particles of inorganic materials made of solid matter such as pigments and metal particles dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent are also included in the term "liquid." Representative examples of liquids include inks and liquid crystals as described in the above embodiment. Here, ink refers to various liquid compositions such as general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as gel inks and hot melt inks.

[0080] D. Other forms: The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

[0081] (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a printing device. The cartridge moves in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction from an inserted state where the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting section, to an attached state where the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting section by rotating in a rotational mounting direction with a force having a component in the downward direction of gravity applied to the cartridge mounting section, with the back side of the cartridge mounting section in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, the cartridge includes a second fixing structure having a loop-shaped groove that guides a first fixing structure of the printing device and a locking portion that locks the first fixing structure provided in the groove, the second fixing structure locks the first fixing structure in the attached state, and the second fixing structure is released from the locking with the first fixing structure by the cartridge receiving the force having the component in the downward direction of gravity in the attached state. According to this embodiment, the second fixing structure of the cartridge rotates in response to a downward force of gravity to change from the inserted state to the attached state, and engages the first fixing structure of the printing device. Also, in the attached state, the second fixing structure of the cartridge is released from its engagement with the first fixing structure of the printing device in response to a downward force of gravity. This provides consistency in operability when attaching and detaching the cartridge.

[0082] (2) In the above embodiment, the cartridge may further have an upper surface that is located on the upper side in the inserted state, and in the inserted state, an operating surface of the upper surface that is located on the near side in the insertion direction may be pressed in the downward direction of gravity, thereby causing the cartridge to rotate in the rotational mounting direction. According to this embodiment, the surface that is operated when the cartridge is mounted is located on the front side in the insertion direction of the top surface of the cartridge, which improves operability when mounting the cartridge.

[0083] (3) In the above aspect, the second fixing structure of the cartridge may be disengaged from the first fixing structure by the operation surface being pressed in the downward direction of gravity in the attached state. According to this embodiment, the operation surface for removing the cartridge is located on the front side of the top surface of the cartridge in the insertion direction. This improves operability when removing the cartridge. In addition, since the surface operated when installing and removing the cartridge is the same as the operation surface, it is possible to provide consistency in operability.

[0084] (4) In the above aspect, the connector may further have side surfaces in the inserted state, and the second fixing structure may be formed on a rear surface of the side surfaces that is located on the front side in the insertion direction. According to this embodiment, the second fixing structure can be formed on the rear surface of the cartridge.

[0085] (5) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a printing device is provided, comprising a cartridge mounting section to which a cartridge can be detachably attached, a first fixing structure, and a second fixing structure, the cartridge mounting section rotates from an insertion state in which the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction to a mounting state in which the cartridge is mounted by receiving a force having a gravitational downward component and moving in a rotation mounting direction with the back side of the cartridge mounting section in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, the second fixing structure has a loop-shaped groove that guides the first fixing structure of the printing device, and a locking portion that locks the first fixing structure provided in the groove, the first fixing structure and the second fixing structure lock with each other in the mounting state, and the locking is released by receiving the force having the gravitational downward component in the mounting state. According to this aspect, the first fixing structure and the second fixing structure of the printing device are engaged with each other when the cartridge mounting section of the printing device receives a downward force of gravity from the inserted state to the mounted state. Also, even in the mounted state, the first fixing structure and the second fixing structure are disengaged from each other when the cartridge mounting section receives a downward force of gravity. This provides consistency in operability when mounting and removing a cartridge to and from the printing device.

[0086] (6) In the above embodiment, the second fixing structure may be interlocked with the cartridge mounting portion. According to this embodiment, when the second fixing structure of the printing device receives a force in the downward direction of gravity in the inserted state, it rotates in the rotational mounting direction. This allows the first fixing structure of the printing device to be locked. Also, even in the mounted state, the second fixing structure moves in the rotational mounting direction when it receives a force in the downward direction of gravity. This allows the second fixing structure to be unlocked from the first fixing structure.

[0087] The present disclosure can be realized in various forms, and in addition to the forms described above, the present disclosure can be realized in the form of a method for manufacturing a cartridge, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1...printing system, 2...printing paper, 4, 4C, 4K, 4M, 4Y...cartridge, 4A...first type cartridge, 4B...second type cartridge, 6, 6c...cartridge mounting section, 10, 10c...printing device, 13...replacement cover, 15...operation button, 20...carriage, 22...ejection head, 24...tube, 30...driving device, 31...control section, 32...timing belt, 34...driving motor, 42...front surface, 43...top surface, 44...bottom surface, 45...second side surface, 46...third side surface, 47...rear surface, 50...circuit board, 61...accommodating chamber, 6 1C, 61K, 61M, 61Y...slot, 62...second device wall, 63...upper device wall, 64...bottom device wall, 67...first device wall, 70...device side terminal portion, 89...corner portion, 90...terminal arrangement portion, 401...liquid container, 402...adapter, 411...storage portion, 432...main surface, 433...inclined surface, 435...operation surface, 441...storage portion, 442...liquid supply portion, 442a...supply portion tip portion, 446...insertion opening, 448...supply portion positioning portion, 450...liquid storage portion, 472...second fixing structure, 475...groove portion, 475a...first groove portion, 475b ...second groove portion, 475c...third groove portion, 475d...fourth groove portion, 476...rib, 481...central convex portion, 482...first wall surface, 483...second wall surface, 484...third wall surface, 485...first protruding wall portion, 486...second protruding wall portion, 487...third protruding wall portion, 488a...first bottom surface, 488b...second bottom surface, 488c...third bottom surface, 488d...fourth bottom portion, 488e...fifth bottom surface, 488f...sixth bottom surface, 521...cartridge side terminal, 602...device guide portion, 610...support member, 611...first support side wall, 612...second support side wall, 613...main wall, 614... Device opening, 642...liquid introduction portion, 642b...tip portion, 644...device side supply portion positioning portion, 644b...other end portion, 674...insertion / removal opening, 675c...groove portion, 677, 677c...first fixing structure, 677p, 677pc...projection portion, 677t, 677tc...tip portion, 679c...second fixing structure, 686c...locking portion, 698...rotation fulcrum, 721...device side terminal, 831...supply portion arrangement portion, CA1, CA2...center axis, D1...insertion direction, D2...rotation mounting direction, D3...disconnection direction, D4...direction, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5...position

Claims

1. A cartridge that is removably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device, the cartridge moves in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction to a predetermined position of the cartridge mounting portion, and then rotates in a rotational mounting direction with a force having a component in the downward direction of gravity applied thereto, about a rotation fulcrum located at the inner side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction, to a mounted state in which the cartridge is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion, the cartridge includes a second fixing structure having a loop-shaped groove for guiding a first fixing structure of the printing device, and a locking portion for locking the first fixing structure provided in the groove, the second fixing structure engages the first fixing structure in the mounted state, The second fixing structure is disengaged from the first fixing structure when the cartridge is subjected to the force having a component in the downward direction of gravity in the mounted state.

2. 2. The cartridge of claim 1, Further, the connector has an upper surface located on the upper side in the inserted state, In the inserted state, the cartridge rotates in the rotational mounting direction by pressing an operation surface of the top surface, which is located on the front side in the insertion direction, in the downward direction of gravity.

3. 3. The cartridge of claim 2, The second fixing structure of the cartridge is disengaged from the first fixing structure when the operation surface is pressed downward in the direction of gravity in the attached state.

4. 2. The cartridge of claim 1, Further, in the inserted state, the connector has a side surface, The second fixing structure is formed on a rear surface of the side surface that is located on the front side in the insertion direction of the cartridge.

5. 1. A printing device, comprising: The cartridge mounting portion is capable of mounting and detaching a cartridge, and the cartridge mounting portion includes a first fixing structure and a second fixing structure. the cartridge mounting portion moves from an inserted state in which the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction in a rotational mounting direction by receiving a force having a component in a downward direction of gravity, with the rear side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, to a mounted state in which the cartridge is mounted; the second fixing structure has a loop-shaped groove that guides the first fixing structure of the printing device, and a locking portion that locks the first fixing structure provided in the groove, the first fixing structure and the second fixing structure are engaged with each other in the attached state, and are released from the engagement when the force having a component in the downward direction of gravity is received in the attached state.

6. 6. The printing device according to claim 5, The second fixing structure is linked to the cartridge mounting portion.

Images