Cartridge and printing system

Abstract

To provide a technique for making the redesign of a whole cartridge unnecessary when the capacity of a liquid storage part of the cartridge is changed.SOLUTION: A cartridge comprises: a liquid storage body which includes a liquid storage part for storing a liquid to be supplied to a printing device, a liquid supply part to make the liquid stored in the liquid storage part available for supply to a liquid introduction part, and an adaptor fitting part; and an adaptor which is attached to the adaptor fitting part and includes a terminal arrangement part where a cartridge-side terminal electrically connected to a device-side terminal is arranged and an insertion opening part into which the liquid introduction part is inserted. The adaptor fitting part has prescribed certain fitting mechanism for attaching the adaptor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to cartridge and printing system technologies. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a technology is known that allows multiple cartridges with different ink storage capacities to be mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a printing device (Patent Document 1). In this technology, the cartridge comprises a liquid storage section that stores ink, and an ink supply section that includes a member that connects the liquid storage section, such as an ink supply hole, to the printing device side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-192744 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional technology, the liquid storage section and the member that connects the liquid storage section to the printing device are constructed as a single unit, so if the volume of the liquid storage section is changed, it may be necessary to redesign the entire cartridge. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge, the cartridge being removably mounted to a cartridge mounting section of a printing device having an apparatus-side terminal and a liquid introduction section that receives a liquid, the cartridge comprising a liquid container having a liquid storage section for storing the liquid to be supplied to the printing device, a liquid supply section that enables the liquid stored in the liquid storage section to be supplied to the liquid introduction section, and an adapter attachment section, and an adapter attached to the adapter attachment section, the adapter having a terminal arrangement section in which cartridge-side terminals electrically connected to the apparatus-side terminals are arranged, and an insertion opening through which the liquid introduction section is inserted, the adapter attachment section having a predetermined attachment mechanism for attaching the adapter.

[0006] (2) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing system comprising: a printing device having a cartridge mounting section in which a cartridge is mounted; and the cartridge according to the above aspect, wherein a plurality of cartridges including a first cartridge as the cartridge and a second cartridge as the cartridge are removably mounted in the cartridge mounting section, the first cartridge has a first liquid storage portion as the liquid storage portion, and the second cartridge has a second liquid storage portion as the liquid storage portion having a volume different from that of the first liquid storage portion.

[0007] (3) According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printing system comprising: a printing device having a cartridge mounting section in which a cartridge is mounted; and the cartridge according to the above aspect, wherein a plurality of cartridges, including a first cartridge as the cartridge and a second cartridge as the cartridge, are removably mounted in the cartridge mounting section, the first cartridge has a first liquid storage portion as the liquid storage portion, the second cartridge has a second liquid storage portion as the liquid storage portion having a volume different from that of the first liquid storage portion, and when a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction is defined as a width direction and a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction is defined as a height direction, the first liquid storage portion and the second liquid storage portion have different dimensions in at least one direction of the insertion direction, the width direction, and the height direction, whereby the volume of the first liquid storage portion and the volume of the second liquid storage portion are different. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the process of mounting a cartridge into a cartridge mounting portion. [Diagram 3] Figure 2 explains the installation process. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a mounted state in which the mounting of the cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion is completed. [Diagram 5] View of the cartridge mounting section from the +Z side. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 along line 6-6. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of region R7 in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] View of the cartridge mounting section from the +Z side. [Figure 10] FIG. 3 is a first exploded view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a second exploded view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a third exploded view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a fourth exploded view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a first exploded perspective view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a second exploded perspective view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 3 is a third exploded perspective view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a fourth exploded perspective view of the first cartridge in the first embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. [Figure 22] Rear view of the second cartridge. [Figure 23] FIG. 11 is a side view of the first cartridge according to the second embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a side view of a second cartridge according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A. First embodiment: A-1. Printing system configuration: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing system 1 as a first embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 1, XYZ axes, which are three spatial axes perpendicular to each other, are depicted. The directions in which the arrows of the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis point 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 point are respectively 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.

[0010] The printing system 1 includes a printing device 10 and a cartridge 4 that supplies liquid ink to the printing device 10 .

[0011] The printing device 10 of this embodiment is an inkjet printer that ejects ink as a liquid from an ejection head 22. The printing device 10 is a large printer that prints on large-sized paper (A2 to A0, etc.) 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 mechanism 30. The printing device 10 also includes an operation button 15 that allows the user to operate the operation of the printing device 10.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 8 described later, 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 each corresponding to 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 the first cartridge 4A, and the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y are also called the second cartridge 4B.

[0013] The printing device 10 has a replacement cover 13 on the front side in the +Y direction. When the +Z direction side of the replacement cover 13 is tilted toward the front side in the +Y direction, 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 side to the ejection head 22 side due to a head difference between the ink liquid level in the cartridge mounting section 6 and the ejection head 22. In other embodiments, ink may be supplied to the ejection head 22 by sucking the ink in the cartridge 4 with a pump mechanism (not shown) of the printing device 10. The tube 24 is provided for each type of ink. Here, 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 called an "attached state."

[0014] 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. Note that in this embodiment, the printing device 10 is a so-called "off-carriage type" printer in which the cartridge mounting unit 6 is not linked to the movement of the carriage 20. The technology disclosed herein can also be applied to so-called "on-carriage type" printers in which the cartridge mounting unit 6 is provided on the carriage 20 and moves together with the carriage 20.

[0015] The control unit 31 controls each unit 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 device 10.

[0016] The drive mechanism 30 reciprocates the carriage 20 based on a control signal from the control unit 31. The drive mechanism 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 print paper 2 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the transport mechanism, and the print paper 2 after printing is completed is output onto the front cover 11.

[0017] In addition, an area called a home position is provided at a position outside the printing area where the carriage 20 has been moved in the main scanning direction. A maintenance mechanism is mounted in the home position to perform maintenance to ensure normal printing. The maintenance mechanism is composed of a cap member 8 that is pressed against the surface on the bottom side of the ejection head 22 on which the nozzles are formed to form a closed space surrounding the nozzles, an elevation mechanism (not shown) that raises and lowers the cap member 8 to press it against the nozzle surface of the ejection head 22, and a suction pump (not shown) that introduces negative pressure into the closed space formed by pressing the cap member 8 against the nozzle surface of the ejection head 22.

[0018] 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 gravity direction is the Z axis, and the axis along the movement direction 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 gravity direction is the -Z direction, and the antigravity direction 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 D1 in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting section 6 for mounting is the -Y direction, and the direction in which the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting section 6 is the +Y direction. Therefore, the -Y direction side of the cartridge mounting section 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.

[0019] A-2. Cartridge installation process and installation status: Fig. 2 is a first diagram for explaining the process of mounting the cartridge 4 to the cartridge mounting portion 6. Fig. 3 is a second diagram for explaining the mounting process. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a mounting state in which the mounting of the cartridge 4 to the cartridge mounting portion 6 is completed.

[0020] The mounting process is composed of a terminal connection process and a supply section connection process executed after the terminal connection process. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal connection process is a process in which the cartridge 4 is moved in an insertion direction D1, which is the -Y direction, 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, thereby contacting and electrically connecting the device side terminal 721 of the cartridge mounting section 6 to the cartridge side terminal 521 of the cartridge 4 to be described later. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the supply section connection process is a process in which a liquid introduction section 642 of the cartridge mounting section 6 to be described later and a liquid supply section 442 of the cartridge 4 to be described later are connected in a state in which the electrical connection between the device side terminal 721 and the cartridge side terminal 521 is maintained. Specifically, in the supply section connection process, the rear wall 47 side of the cartridge 4 is rotated and moved in a connection direction D2 indicated by an arrow around a rotation fulcrum 698 of the cartridge mounting section 6, thereby connecting the liquid introduction section 642 and the liquid supply section 442. In the mounted state shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge 4 is engaged with an engagement formation body 677 provided on the first device wall 67 side of the cartridge mounting portion 6, thereby maintaining the mounted state.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 4, when removing the cartridge 4 from the cartridge mounting portion 6, the user lifts the rear wall 47 side of the cartridge 4, thereby rotating the rear wall 47 side about the rotation fulcrum 698 in the connection release direction D3, which is the opposite direction to the connection direction D2. During this rotational movement, the engagement by the engagement formation body 677 is released. After the cartridge 4 is rotated in the connection release direction D3 to reach the state shown in Fig. 3, the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6 by moving the cartridge 4 in the removal direction +Y.

[0022] A-3. Detailed description of cartridge installation status: Fig. 5 is a view of the cartridge mounting portion 6 as seen from the +Z direction side. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of region R7 in Fig. 6. In Fig. 5, the cartridge 4K is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6. The mounting state of the cartridge 4 will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. The mounting states of the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y are the same.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 6, the cartridge mounting section 6 has a support member 610 that forms the bottom wall of the storage chamber 61. The support member 610 supports the cartridge 4 from below. When the cartridge 4 is inserted into the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting section 6, the support member 610 supports the cartridge 4 from the -Z direction side. When the cartridge 4 is mounted in the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting section 6, the liquid supply section 442 of the cartridge 4 and the liquid introduction section 642 of the cartridge mounting section 6 are connected. As a result, the liquid contained in the liquid storage section 450 of the cartridge 4 is supplied to the liquid introduction section 642 via the liquid supply section 442. In this embodiment, while the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply section 442 to the liquid introduction section 642, the air contained in the liquid storage section 699 of the cartridge mounting section 6 becomes air bubbles, which flow through the liquid introduction section 642 and the liquid supply section 442 to the liquid storage section 450. As a result, gas-liquid exchange is performed in the liquid storage section 450. In another embodiment, the cartridge 4 may have an atmosphere communication passage that connects the liquid storage portion 450 with the outside, and gas-liquid exchange may be performed via this atmosphere communication passage. The atmosphere communication passage is disposed at a position different from the liquid supply portion 442, and is formed in a wall that forms the liquid storage portion 450, for example.

[0024] The liquid introduction section 642 receives the liquid supplied from the cartridge 4. The liquid introduction section 642 is a cylindrical member and has an internal flow path that distributes the liquid inside. The liquid introduction section 642 has a base end 642a and a tip end 642b. An opening that communicates with the introduction section flow path, which is an internal flow path, is formed in the tip end 642b, and the ink of the liquid supply section 442 flows to the introduction section flow path through this opening. The base end 642a is connected to the liquid storage section 699, and causes the ink that has flowed through the introduction section flow path to flow to the liquid storage section 699. The liquid storage section 699 is located on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. The liquid storage section 699 communicates with the ejection head 22 via the tube 24 shown in FIG. 1. The central axis CA1 of the liquid introduction section 642 is parallel to the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply section 442 in the mounted state, and is inclined with respect to the Z direction. In other words, the direction along the central axis CA1, which is the direction in which the liquid introduction part 642 extends, intersects with the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge 4. The central axis CA2 of the liquid supply part 442 is the direction along which the liquid supply part 442 extends.

[0025] 7, when the cartridge 4 is attached, the circuit board 50 of the cartridge 4 and the device-side terminal section 70 of the cartridge attachment section 6 come into contact with each other and are thereby electrically connected. The device-side terminal section 70 is held by a holding mechanism 73. The device-side terminal section 70 has a plurality of device-side terminals 721, a terminal holding section 750, and a connector 739.

[0026] In this embodiment, nine device-side terminals 721 are provided. Each of the device-side terminals 721 is a metal plate member having electrical conductivity. The device-side terminal 721 has a terminal rotation fulcrum Rp, and a portion of the device-side terminal 721 that contacts the cartridge-side terminal 521 of the circuit board 50, which is an end of the device-side terminal 721, can be elastically deformed with the terminal rotation fulcrum Rp as a fulcrum. The direction of elastic deformation is along the Y direction and the Z direction. The terminal holding unit 750 holds the device-side terminals 721. The connector 739 is electrically connected to the device-side terminals 721. The connector 739 is also electrically connected to the control unit 31 of the printing device 10 by wiring (not shown). This enables data communication between the circuit board 50 and the control unit 31.

[0027] The holding mechanism 73 has a first biasing member 780 and an attachment member 782. The first biasing member 780 is configured by a coil spring. The attachment member 782 has the first biasing member 780 disposed inside. The device-side terminal section 70 is attached to the attachment member 782. The first biasing member 780 is compressed when the insertion of the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting section 6 is complete. As a result, the first biasing member 780 applies an external force Fa to the device-side terminal section 70 via the attachment member 782 in a direction toward the removal direction of the cartridge 4, which is the first device wall 67. The device-side terminal section 70 is pressed against the circuit board 50 of the device-side terminal section 70 by the external force Fa, so that good contact between the device-side terminal 721 and the cartridge-side terminal 521 is maintained.

[0028] As described above, the holding mechanism 73 holds the device-side terminal portion 70 so as to be displaceable in the direction along the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge 4. Furthermore, one end of the first biasing member 780 on the device-side terminal portion 70 side is configured to be slightly movable in the X direction and Z direction intersecting with the insertion direction D1. As a result, the device-side terminal portion 70 is held by the holding mechanism 73 so as to be slightly movable in the X direction and Z direction intersecting with the insertion direction D1.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, in the supply unit connection process, the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644, which is a protrusion of the cartridge mounting portion 6, fits into the concave supply unit positioning portion 448 of the cartridge 4, thereby restricting the movement of the liquid supply unit 442 intersecting the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply unit 442. This positions the liquid supply unit 442 relative to the liquid introduction portion 642. In detail, before the liquid introduction portion 642 is inserted into the liquid supply unit 442 of the cartridge 4, that is, before the connection between the liquid supply unit 442 and the liquid introduction portion 642 is started, the insertion of the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 into the supply unit positioning portion 448 is started. The device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 has one end 644a and the other end 644b. The one end 644a is located on the liquid storage portion 699 side. The other end 644b is located closer to the accommodation chamber 61 than the one end 644a.

[0030] When the cartridge 4 is attached, a main wall 613 forming the bottom of the support member 610 is inclined with respect to the Y direction. Specifically, the main wall 613 of the support member 610 is inclined so as to be positioned lower on the -Z direction side as it approaches the +Y direction. This main wall 613 is parallel to the Y direction in the initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting portion 6 where the cartridge 4 is not attached.

[0031] The cartridge mounting section 6 has a second biasing member 625 that applies an external force Ft1 to the support member 610 in order to return the support member 610 to the position of the initial arrangement state when the cartridge 4 is mounted. The second biasing member 625 is a coil spring provided between the support member 610 and the liquid storage section 699, and is in a compressed state when mounted. In the compressed state, an external force Ft1 having a +Z direction component is applied to the support member 610. On the other hand, when the cartridge 4 is mounted, the cartridge engaging section 497 of the cartridge 4 engages with the mounting engaging section 697 of the cartridge mounting section 6, thereby maintaining the mounted state. The mounting engaging section 697 is formed on an engagement forming body 677 located on the first device wall 67 side of the cartridge mounting section 6.

[0032] 6, when the support member 610 is pushed down in the connection direction D2 around the rotation fulcrum 698, the liquid supply portion 442 is pushed down and connected to the liquid introduction portion 642. When the support member 610 is pushed up in the connection release direction D3 around the rotation fulcrum 698, the liquid supply portion 442 is pushed up and separated from the liquid introduction portion 642, and the connection between the liquid supply portion 442 and the liquid introduction portion 642 is released.

[0033] A-4. Detailed configuration of the cartridge mounting section: FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounting portion 6. FIG. 9 is a view of the cartridge mounting portion 6 as viewed from the +Z direction side. In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, for ease of understanding, some components of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are omitted from the illustration. 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. 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.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 8, 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, which is the width direction of the cartridge 4, in order to store a larger amount of liquid, compared to the other cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y. Therefore, in this embodiment, the width of the slot 61K is larger than the widths of the other slots 61Y, 61M, and 61C.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 8, 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 on the -Y direction side of the storage chamber 61. The second device wall 62 faces the first device wall 67 in the Y direction. The second device wall 62 is a generally vertical wall when the printing device 10 is in use.

[0036] 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.

[0037] The first device side wall 65 forms a wall on the +X direction side of the storage chamber 61. The second device side wall 66 faces the first device side wall 65 in the X direction and forms a wall on the -X direction side of the storage chamber 61. The first device side wall 65 and the second device side wall 66 intersect with the second device wall 62, the first device wall 67, the device top wall 63, and the device bottom wall 64.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the cartridge mounting section 6 further includes a support member 610, a liquid introduction section 642, an apparatus-side supply section positioning section 644, an apparatus guide section 602, and an engagement formation body 677. A plurality of support members 610 are provided according to the number of cartridges 4 to be mounted. In this embodiment, four support members are provided. The support member 610 forms the apparatus bottom wall 64 on the gravity direction side of the storage chamber 61. The support member 610 supports the cartridge 4 from the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side. The support member 610 is a member extending along the Y direction. The support member 610 has a concave shape. The support member 610 includes a main wall 613 forming the apparatus bottom wall 64, a first support side wall 611, and a second support side wall 612.

[0039] The main wall 613 forms a concave bottom located on the gravity direction side. An apparatus opening 614 is formed at an end of the main wall 613, which is the first apparatus wall 67. The apparatus opening 614 penetrates the main wall 613 in the thickness direction of the main wall 613.

[0040] 8, the first supporting side wall 611 rises in the +Z direction, which is the anti-gravity direction, from the +X direction end of the main wall 613. The second supporting side wall 612 rises in the +Z direction from the -X 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.

[0041] The device guide 602 guides the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1 and the removal direction. The device guide 602 is provided for each support member 610. The device guide 602 is provided on each of the first support side wall 611 and the second support side wall 612. The device guide 602 is a protrusion provided on the first support side wall 611 and the second support side wall 612. As shown in FIG. 9, the first device guide 602a provided on the first support side wall 611 is a protrusion protruding from the first support side wall 611 toward the second support side wall 612. The first device guide 602a extends in the Y direction. A plurality of the first device guides 602a are arranged at intervals in the Y direction. The second device guide 602b provided on the second support side wall 612 is a protrusion protruding from the second support side wall 612 toward the first support side wall 611. The second device guide portion 602b extends in the Y direction. A plurality of second device guide portions 602b are arranged at intervals in the Y direction.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the liquid introduction part 642 receives the liquid of the cartridge 4. 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 support member 610 across the storage chamber 61. This makes it possible to prevent the cartridge 4 from colliding with the liquid introduction part 642 when the cartridge 4 is inserted into the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting part 6. As described above, as shown in FIG. 6, 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 connection direction D2 about the rotation fulcrum 698 to push down the device opening 614. That is, the rotation fulcrum 698 as a displacement mechanism rotates and moves the support member 610 to displace the device opening 614 toward the gravity direction side, thereby disposing the tip part 642b of the liquid introduction part 642 in the storage chamber 61 via the device opening 614.

[0043] The device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 shown in FIG. 8 is received by the supply unit positioning portion 448 to restrict the movement of the liquid supply unit 442 relative to the liquid introduction portion 642. This allows the liquid supply unit 442 to be positioned. In the initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting portion 6, the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is not located in the storage chamber 61, but is located on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. In other words, the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is located on the opposite side of the storage chamber 61 with respect to the support member 610. This makes it possible to prevent the cartridge 4 from colliding with the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 when the cartridge 4 is inserted into the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 6. 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 in the connection direction D2 around the rotation fulcrum 698 to push down the device opening 614. In other words, the rotation fulcrum 698 rotates the support member 610 to displace the device opening 614 , thereby disposing the other end 644 b of the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644 within the accommodation chamber 61 via the device opening 614 .

[0044] As shown in FIG. 9, the cartridge mounting section 6 further includes the above-mentioned device-side terminal section 70 and a device-side identification member 630. The device-side identification member 630 is used to identify whether the correct type of cartridge 4C, 4M, 4Y, 4K is inserted into each slot 61C, 61M, 61Y, 61K of the storage chamber 61. The device-side identification member 630 forms different pattern shapes depending on the color of the liquid contained in the cartridge 4C, 4M, 4Y, 4K. In FIG. 8, the device-side identification member 630 is shown to have the same pattern shape in each slot 61C, 61M, 61Y, 61K for convenience, but in reality, the pattern shapes are different. The device-side identification member 630 is provided on the main wall 613 of the support member 610.

[0045] The device-side identification member 630 is formed by at least one or more ribs. The pattern shape is determined by the number and positions of the ribs. The cartridge 4 is also provided with a cartridge-side identification member 430 formed by ribs. The cartridge-side identification member 430 forms a different pattern shape according to the type of cartridge 4, that is, the color of the liquid contained therein. When a correct type of cartridge 4 is inserted into the corresponding slot 61C to 61K, the device-side identification member 630 and the cartridge-side identification member 430 do not collide with each other. On the other hand, when an incorrect type of cartridge 4 is inserted into the slot 61C to 61K, the device-side identification member 630 and the cartridge-side identification member 430 collide with each other, preventing further insertion of the cartridge 4. This reduces the possibility that an incorrect type of cartridge 4 is mounted in each of the slots 61C to 61K of the cartridge mounting section 6.

[0046] 8, the engagement formation body 677 is formed on the +Y direction side of the support member 610. Moreover, the engagement formation body 677 is located on the -Z direction side of the insertion / removal opening 674. The engagement formation body 677 has four mounting engagement portions 697 shown in FIG. 6 arranged corresponding to the slots 61C to 61K.

[0047] A-5. Detailed configuration of the first cartridge: FIG. 10 is a first exploded view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a second exploded view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a third exploded view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a fourth exploded view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a first exploded perspective view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. FIG. 15 is a second exploded perspective view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. FIG. 16 is a third exploded perspective view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. FIG. 17 is a fourth exploded perspective view of the first cartridge 4A in the first embodiment. Note that, in this example, in the first cartridge 4A, one surface on the -Z direction side on a horizontal plane in the X direction and the Y direction is the bottom surface, and one surface on the +Z direction side is the top surface.

[0048] In this embodiment, the -Y direction is the insertion direction D1 of the cartridge 4. The +Y direction is the removal direction of the cartridge 4. The Y direction can also be said to be the depth direction of the cartridge 4. In this embodiment, the Z direction is the height direction of the cartridge 4. In this embodiment, the X direction is the width direction of the cartridge 4. The first cartridge 4A as the cartridge 4 contains a large volume of liquid and has a larger outer shape than the second cartridge 4B as the cartridge 4. In this embodiment, the outer shape of the cartridge 4 has the largest dimension in the Y direction, and the smaller dimensions in the Z direction and the X direction. In the diagram showing the cartridge 4, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are based on the completion state of the terminal connection process in which the insertion of the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting portion 6 is completed. In other words, in the diagram showing the cartridge 4, the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are based on the state before the supply unit connection process in which the support member 610 shown in FIG. 6 is rotated and moved.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 10, the first cartridge 4A includes a liquid container 401 and an adaptor 402. The first cartridge 4A can be attached to the cartridge mounting portion 6 shown in FIG. 8 by attaching the adaptor 402 to the liquid container 401. The liquid container 401 and the adaptor 402 are formed of synthetic resin. The liquid container 401 and the adaptor 402 may be formed of the same material, or may be formed of different materials. In addition, the member forming the liquid container 401 may be lighter than the member forming the adaptor 402. This improves the operability of the cartridge 4.

[0050] 10, the liquid container 401 has a main body 41 forming an outer shell, a liquid container portion 450, a liquid supply portion 442, and an adaptor attachment portion 9. In the following, the liquid container 401 in the first cartridge 4A will be referred to as a first liquid container 401A, and the liquid container 401 in the second cartridge 4B will be referred to as a second liquid container 401B. The liquid container portion 450 in the first cartridge 4A will be referred to as a first liquid container portion 450A, and the liquid container portion 450 in the second cartridge 4B will be referred to as a second liquid container portion 450B.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the main body 41 of the first liquid container 401A has a front wall 42, a rear wall 47, an upper wall 43, a bottom wall 44, a first side wall 45, and a second side wall 46. The walls 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 are also referred to as the faces 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47. The front wall 42 and the rear wall 47 face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. The upper wall 43 and the bottom wall 44 face each other in the Z direction along the height direction. The first side wall 45 and the second side wall 46 face each other in the X direction along the width direction. The X direction is a direction perpendicular to the Y direction and the Z direction.

[0052] The front wall 42 is located on the insertion direction D1 side in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6. In other words, the front wall 42 forms an insertion tip surface on the -Y direction side, which is the insertion direction D1 side shown in FIG. 2. The top wall 43 is located on the +Z direction side and intersects with the front wall 42 and the rear wall 47. The bottom wall 44 is located on the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side in the mounted state, and on the connection direction D2 side shown in FIG. 3. The bottom wall 44 intersects with the front wall 42 and the rear wall 47. The first side wall 45 is located on the -X direction side. The second side wall 46 is located on the +X direction side. The first side wall 45 and the second side wall 46 intersect with the front wall 42, the rear wall 47, the top wall 43, and the bottom wall 44, respectively.

[0053] 11, a first protruding portion P1 is formed in a central portion C in the Y direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the first liquid container 401A, where the bottom wall 44 and the first side wall 45 protrude in the -Z direction more than other portions. As shown in Fig. 10, a second protruding portion P2 is formed in a central portion C in the Y direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the first liquid container 401A, where the bottom wall 44 and the second side wall 46 protrude in the -Z direction more than other portions.

[0054] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the adapter mounting portion 9 is formed to protrude from the bottom wall 44 toward the -Z direction side, which is the side where the adapter 402 is located. The adapter mounting portion 9 has a front mounting wall 42a, a bottom mounting wall 44a, a first mounting side wall 45a, a second mounting side wall 46a, and a rear mounting wall 47a. The front mounting wall 42a and the rear mounting wall 47a face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. The bottom mounting wall 44a faces the bottom wall 44 in the Z direction along the height direction. The first mounting side wall 45a and the second mounting side wall 46a face each other in the X direction along the width direction.

[0055] The front mounting wall 42a is located on the -Y direction side, which is the side of the insertion direction D1 in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6. The rear mounting wall 47a forms a surface on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction. The front mounting wall 42a and the rear mounting wall 47a intersect with the bottom wall 44 of the main body 41. The bottom mounting wall 44a is located on the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side, in the mounted state. In other words, the bottom mounting wall 44a is located on the connection tip surface side of the connection direction D2 shown in FIG. 3. The bottom mounting wall 44a intersects with the front mounting wall 42a and the rear mounting wall 47a. The first mounting side wall 45a is located on the -X direction side. The second mounting side wall 46a is located on the +X direction side. The first mounting side wall 45a and the second mounting side wall 46a intersect with the bottom wall 44, the front mounting wall 42a, the rear mounting wall 47a, and the bottom mounting wall 44a of the main body 41, respectively. In the following, a position of the adapter attachment portion 9 that is sandwiched between the first protrusion P1 and the second protrusion P2 in the X direction that is the width direction of the cartridge 4 will be referred to as a central attachment portion PA.

[0056] As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the adapter attachment portion 9 further has a predetermined attachment mechanism 90 for attaching the adapter 402. The attachment mechanism 90 has the same configuration in the first cartridge 4A and the second cartridge 4B. In this embodiment, the attachment mechanism 90 is eight container-side engagement parts 911 to 918 formed in a predetermined positional relationship regardless of the type of cartridge 4. The attachment mechanism 90 is composed of a first container-side engagement part 911, a second container-side engagement part 912, a third container-side engagement part 913, a fourth container-side engagement part 914, a fifth container-side engagement part 915, a sixth container-side engagement part 916, a seventh container-side engagement part 917, and an eighth container-side engagement part 918. The container-side engagement parts 911 to 918 engage with the adapter-side engagement parts 411 to 418 described later. Ruto The protrusions constituting the container side engagement parts 911 to 918 may be provided with return members. Hereinafter, the state in which the adaptor 402 is attached to the adaptor attachment part 9 will be referred to as the "attached state".

[0057] As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the first housing body side engaging portion 911, the second housing body side engaging portion 912, and the third housing body side engaging portion 913 are provided at different positions on the second mounting side wall 46a. Specifically, the first housing body side engaging portion 911, the second housing body side engaging portion 912, and the third housing body side engaging portion 913 are provided in this order from the -Y direction side toward the +Y direction side. Also, in this embodiment, the first housing body side engaging portion 911 is provided on the -Y direction side, which is the mounting front wall 42a side, of the mounting center portion PA of the adapter mounting portion 9. It can also be said that the first housing body side engaging portion 911 is provided on the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500 provided at the end of the adapter 402 on the -Y direction side is located in the mounting state in which the adapter 402 is mounted. The second container side engaging portion 912 and the third container side engaging portion 913 are provided on the +Y direction side, which is closer to the mounting rear wall 47a than the mounting center portion PA in the Y direction of the adapter mounting portion 9. It can also be said that the second container side engaging portion 912 and the third container side engaging portion 913 are provided on the side where the liquid supply portion 442, which is located opposite in the Y direction to the first container side engaging portion 911, is formed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the second mounting side wall 46a does not have a container side engaging portion at the mounting center portion PA in the Y direction of the adapter mounting portion 9.

[0058] 11, in this embodiment, the fourth container side engaging portion 914, the fifth container side engaging portion 915, and the sixth container side engaging portion 916 are provided at different positions on the first mounting side wall 45a. Specifically, the fourth container side engaging portion 914, the fifth container side engaging portion 915, and the sixth container side engaging portion 916 are provided in this order from the -Y direction side toward the +Y direction side. Also, in this embodiment, the fourth container side engaging portion 914 is provided on the -Y direction side, which is the mounting front wall 42a side, of the mounting center portion PA in the Y direction of the adapter mounting portion 9. It can also be said that the fourth container side engaging portion 914 is provided on the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500 of the adapter 402 is located in the mounted state. The fifth container side engagement portion 915 and the sixth container side engagement portion 916 are provided on the +Y direction side, which is the mounting rear wall 47a side, of the mounting center portion PA in the Y direction of the adapter mounting portion 9. It can also be said that the fifth container side engagement portion 915 and the sixth container side engagement portion 916 are provided on the side where the liquid supply portion 442 is located. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first mounting side wall 45a does not have a container side engagement portion at the mounting center portion PA in the Y direction of the adapter mounting portion 9.

[0059] 14, in this embodiment, the seventh housing side engagement portion 917 is provided at a position where the mounting front wall 42a and the mounting bottom wall 44a intersect. It can also be said that the seventh housing side engagement portion 917 is provided on the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500 of the adapter 402 is located in the mounted state.

[0060] 15, in this embodiment, the eighth container side engagement part 918 is provided at a position where the bottom mounting wall 44a and the rear mounting wall 47a intersect. It can also be said that the eighth container side engagement part 918 is provided on the side where the liquid supply part 442 is located. The formation positions, number, and shapes of the container side engagement parts 911-918 are not limited to this. It is sufficient that the container side engagement parts 911-918 are provided at at least one location on the adapter mounting part 9. The manner in which the adapter 402 is attached to the adapter mounting part 9 will be described later.

[0061] The first liquid storage portion 450A is formed by the walls 42 to 47 inside the main body 41 of the first liquid storage body 401A.

[0062] 16, the liquid supply unit 442 communicates with the first liquid storage unit 450A and has a central axis CA2. The direction along the central axis CA2 is the Z direction. The direction along the central axis CA2, which is the extension direction of the liquid supply unit 442, intersects with the -Y direction, which is the insertion direction D1. In other words, the liquid supply unit 442 extends in a direction intersecting the insertion direction D1, which is the Z direction so as to penetrate the adaptor attachment unit 9 in this embodiment. The liquid supply unit 442 is disposed in a supply unit placement chamber 461, described later, which is recessed and provided inside the adaptor 402.

[0063] The liquid supply unit 442 has an internal flow path (not shown) and distributes the liquid in the first liquid storage unit 450A to the liquid introduction unit 642 shown in FIG. 6 as the outside. In the liquid supply unit 442, one end located on the end on the +Z direction side is connected to the bottom wall 44 of the first liquid storage body 401A. In the liquid supply unit 442, the other end located on the opposite side of the one end on the -Z direction side opens toward the outside. In the internal flow path of the liquid supply unit 442, a valve mechanism (not shown) that opens and closes the internal flow path is disposed. The valve mechanism has, in order from the tip of the liquid supply unit 442, a valve seat, a valve body, and a biasing member. The valve seat is an annular member formed of rubber or elastomer. The valve body is a columnar member and closes a valve hole formed in the valve seat. The biasing member is a coil spring that biases the valve body toward the valve seat. When the cartridge 4 is in the attached state, the liquid introduction portion 642 shown in FIG. 6 pushes the valve body in a direction away from the valve seat, thereby opening the valve mechanism.

[0064] The adapter 402 is a connecting member equipped with a mechanism for electrically and physically connecting the liquid container 401 and the printing device 10. As shown in Fig. 14 and Fig. 16, the adapter 402 has a cartridge-side identification member 430, a supply unit positioning portion 448, a terminal arrangement portion 500, a supply unit arrangement chamber 461, an insertion opening 446, and a plurality of adapter-side engagement portions 411-418. In this embodiment, there are eight adapter-side engagement portions 411-418.

[0065] As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the shape of the adapter 402 is recessed in the -Z direction to receive the adapter mounting portion 9, and the upper surface on the +Z direction side where the adapter mounting portion 9 is located is a concave shape that is open. As shown in Figs. 14 and 16, the adapter 402 has an adapter front wall 42c, an adapter bottom wall 44c, an adapter first side wall 45c, an adapter second side wall 46c, and an adapter rear wall 47c. The concave shape of the adapter 402 is formed by these five walls 42c, 44c, 45c, 46c, and 47c. In the following, among the walls 42c, 44c, 45c, 46c, and 47c, the surface that is located on the side of the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the mounted state is called the outer surface, and the surface opposite to the outer surface is called the inner surface.

[0066] The adapter front wall 42c and the adapter rear wall 47c face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. In the attached state, the adapter bottom wall 44c faces the bottom wall 44 of the liquid container 401 and the mounting bottom wall 44a of the adapter mounting portion 9 in the Z direction along the height direction. The adapter first side wall 45c and the adapter second side wall 46c face each other in the X direction along the width direction.

[0067] The adapter front wall 42c is located on the -Y direction side, which is the side of the insertion direction D1 in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6. The adapter rear wall 47c forms a surface on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction. The adapter bottom wall 44c is located on the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side, in the mounted state. In other words, the adapter bottom wall 44c is located on the connection tip surface side in the connection direction D2 shown in FIG. 3. The adapter bottom wall 44c intersects with the adapter front wall 42c and the adapter rear wall 47c. The adapter first side wall 45c is located on the -X direction side where the first side wall 45 and the first mounting side wall 45a are located. The shape of the adapter first side wall 45c is such that a central portion C in the longitudinal direction of the first liquid container 401A is recessed along the shape of the first protrusion P1 in order to receive the first protrusion P1 in the mounted state. The adapter second side wall 46c is located on the +X direction side where the second side wall 46 and the second mounting side wall 46a are located. The shape of the adapter second side wall 46c is such that a central portion C in the longitudinal direction of the first liquid container 401A is recessed along the shape of the second protrusion P2 in order to receive the second protrusion P2 in the mounted state. Hereinafter, a portion of the adapter 402 that receives the first protrusion P1, the second protrusion P2, and the mounting central portion PA is referred to as an adapter central portion PO. The adapter central portion PO is located at the central portion C in the longitudinal direction of the first liquid container 401A. The adapter first side wall 45c and the adapter second side wall 46c intersect with the adapter front wall 42c, the adapter bottom wall 44c, and the adapter rear wall 47c, respectively.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the cartridge side identification member 430 is formed on the outer surface side of the adapter bottom wall 44c, on the side closer to the adapter front wall 42c. In this embodiment, the cartridge side identification member 430 is disposed at a position adjacent to a corner portion 89 where the outer surface side of the adapter front wall 42c and the outer surface side of the adapter bottom wall 44c intersect. The supply unit positioning portion 448 is formed on the outer surface side of the adapter bottom wall 44c, on the side where the adapter rear wall 47c is located. The supply unit positioning portion 448 is a recess recessed from the outer surface side toward the inner surface side of the adapter bottom wall 44c. The cartridge side identification member 430 and the supply unit positioning portion 448 are not essential components. The positions, shapes, and number of the cartridge side identification member 430 and the supply unit positioning portion 448 are not limited to those described above.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 14, the terminal arrangement portion 500 is arranged in the corner portion 89. The terminal arrangement portion 500 is configured by a circuit board 50. The circuit board 50 has a plurality of cartridge side terminals 521 arranged on the front surface as the surface visible in FIG. 14, and a storage device 525 shown in FIG. 7 arranged on the back surface opposite to the front surface. The plurality of cartridge side terminals 521 that can be electrically connected by contacting the device side terminals 721 are electrically connected to the storage device 525 via wiring. In this embodiment, nine cartridge side terminals 521 are provided. Each of the plurality of cartridge side terminals 521 is made of a metal material having electrical conductivity. The surface of the circuit board 50 on which the plurality of cartridge side terminals 521 are arranged is inclined with respect to the insertion direction D1. Specifically, the surface of the circuit board 50 faces a direction including a -Z direction component and a -Y direction component, and is inclined with respect to the insertion direction D1. The storage device 525 stores information about the cartridge 4, such as the color of ink and the remaining amount of liquid.

[0070] 16 and 17, the supply unit arranging chamber 461 is a space provided for accommodating the liquid supply unit 442 in the attached state. The supply unit arranging chamber 461 is formed in a portion of the adaptor 402 on the +Y direction side, which is the insertion direction D1, and surrounded by the adaptor bottom wall 44c, the adaptor first side wall 45c, and the adaptor second side wall 46c. It can also be said that the supply unit arranging chamber 461 is formed on the inner surface side of the adaptor 402, on the +Z direction side where the adaptor attachment unit 9 is located with respect to the insertion opening 446.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 16, the insertion opening 446 is a hole formed to penetrate the inner and outer surfaces of the adapter bottom wall 44c. The insertion opening 446 is formed in a portion of the adapter bottom wall 44c where the supply unit placement chamber 461 is located. In this embodiment, the insertion opening 446 is disposed on a side of the adapter bottom wall 44c closer to the adapter rear wall 47c. In the mounting state, the other end side of the liquid supply unit 442 is disposed inside the insertion opening 446. The liquid supply unit 442 is disposed so that the central axis CA2 of the liquid supply unit 442 passes through the insertion opening 446. In the process of mounting the cartridge 4, the liquid introduction unit 642 of the cartridge mounting unit 6 is inserted through the insertion opening 446. The insertion opening 446 and the liquid supply unit 442 are located in a region between the center part C in the longitudinal direction of the first liquid container 401A and the end part on the rear wall 47 side in the Y direction, which is the direction along the insertion direction D1.

[0072] The adaptor side engagement parts 411-418 are engagement mechanisms that engage with the container side engagement parts 911-918 provided on the first liquid container 401A. In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, eight adaptor side engagement parts 411-418 are provided on the adaptor 402. Specifically, the adaptor 402 has a first adaptor side engagement part 411, a second adaptor side engagement part 412, a third adaptor side engagement part 413, a fourth adaptor side engagement part 414, a fifth adaptor side engagement part 415, and a sixth adaptor side engagement part 416. Furthermore, the adaptor 402 has a seventh adaptor side engagement part 417 and an eighth adaptor side engagement part 418. The adaptor side engagement parts 411-418 are recesses having recesses for receiving the container side engagement parts 911-918. In this embodiment, the adapter side engagement portions 411-418 are recessed so as to be able to receive the container side engagement portions 911-918.

[0073] 17, the first adapter side engaging portion 411, the second adapter side engaging portion 412, and the third adapter side engaging portion 413 are provided on the inner surface side of the adapter second side wall 46c. Specifically, in the attached state, the first adapter side engaging portion 411 is provided at a position where it engages with the first housing body side engaging portion 911, the second adapter side engaging portion 412 is provided at a position where it engages with the second housing body side engaging portion 912, and the third adapter side engaging portion 413 is provided at a position where it engages with the third housing body side engaging portion 913. That is, in this embodiment, the first adapter side engaging portion 411 is provided on the -Y direction side, which is the insertion direction D1, of the adapter center portion PO. It can also be said that the first adapter side engaging portion 411 is provided on the -Y direction side, which is the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500 is located. The second adapter side engaging portion 412 and the third adapter side engaging portion 413 are provided in this order on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction, from the adapter center portion PO, and from the -Y direction side to the +Y direction side. It can also be said that the second adapter side engaging portion 412 and the third adapter side engaging portion 413 are provided on the side where the insertion opening 446 is formed, which is located on the opposite side to the first adapter side engaging portion 411 in the Y direction, which is the direction along the insertion direction D1.

[0074] 16, the fourth adapter side engaging portion 414, the fifth adapter side engaging portion 415, and the sixth adapter side engaging portion 416 are provided on the inner surface side of the adapter first side wall 45c. Specifically, in the attached state, the fourth adapter side engaging portion 414 is provided at a position where it engages with the fourth housing body side engaging portion 914, the fifth adapter side engaging portion 415 is provided at a position where it engages with the fifth housing body side engaging portion 915, and the sixth adapter side engaging portion 416 is provided at a position where it engages with the sixth housing body side engaging portion 916. That is, in this embodiment, the fourth adapter side engaging portion 414 is provided on the -Y direction side, which is the insertion direction D1, of the adapter center portion PO. It can also be said that the fourth adapter side engaging portion 414 is provided on the -Y direction side, which is the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500 is located. The fifth adapter side engaging portion 415 and the sixth adapter side engaging portion 416 are provided in this order on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction, from the adapter central portion PO, and from the -Y direction side to the +Y direction side. It can also be said that the fifth adapter side engaging portion 415 and the sixth adapter side engaging portion 416 are provided on the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500, which is located on the opposite side in the Y direction to the fourth adapter side engaging portion 414, is formed. Therefore, in this embodiment, no adapter side engaging portion is provided at the adapter central portion PO.

[0075] 16, the seventh adapter side engagement portion 417 is provided on the inner surface side of the adapter front wall 42c at a position where it engages with the seventh housing body side engagement portion 917. It can also be said that the seventh adapter side engagement portion 417 is provided at the end portion on the -Y direction side, which is the insertion direction D1.

[0076] 17, the eighth adapter side engagement portion 418 is provided on the inner surface side of the adapter rear wall 47c at a position where it engages with the eighth housing body side engagement portion 918. It can also be said that the eighth adapter side engagement portion 418 is provided at the end portion on the +Y direction side which is the removal direction. The seventh adapter side engagement portion 417 and the eighth adapter side engagement portion 418 are located on opposite sides in the Y direction.

[0077] A-6. How to attach the adapter to the adapter mounting part: In this embodiment, the eight container-side engaging parts 911-918 as the mounting mechanism 90 shown in Figs. 10-17 engage with the eight adapter-side engaging parts 411-418, whereby the adapter 402 is mounted to the adapter mounting part 9, which is a component of the liquid container 401. Specifically, the bottom wall 44 of the liquid container 401 and the adapter bottom wall 44c of the adapter 402 are brought close to each other in a state where they face each other. Here, the direction in which the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 are brought close to each other to achieve the mounted state is defined as the mounting direction. In this embodiment, the mounting direction coincides with the Z direction. Furthermore, in the mounting direction, the container-side engaging parts 911-918 and the adapter-side engaging parts 411-418 are brought into contact with each other, and the protrusions forming the container-side engaging parts 911-918 are fitted into the adapter-side engaging parts 411-418. This causes the container side engaging portions 911-918 to engage with the adapter side engaging portions 411-418 provided at the corresponding positions. Note that the positions, number, and shapes of the adapter side engaging portions 411-418 are not limited to the above. It is sufficient that the adapter side engaging portions 411-418 are provided in at least one position where they can engage with the container side engaging portions.

[0078] Fig. 18 is a bottom view of the first cartridge 4A. Fig. 19 is a front view of the first cartridge 4A. Fig. 20 is a rear view of the first cartridge 4A. In this embodiment, the container side engaging portions 911-918 engage with the adapter side engaging portions 411-418 to form a cartridge 4 in which the adapter 402 is attached to the liquid container 401, as shown in Figs. 18-20.

[0079] A-7. Detailed configuration of the second cartridge: Fig. 21 is a front view of the second cartridge 4B. Fig. 22 is a rear view of the second cartridge 4B. Note that in the second cartridge 4B, the same components as those in the first cartridge 4A are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

[0080] The second liquid storage section 450B of the second cartridge 4B and the first liquid storage section 450A of the first cartridge 4A have different dimensions in the width direction of the main body 41. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 21, the second liquid storage section 450B has a smaller dimension in the X direction as the width direction than the first liquid storage section 450A. As a result, the dimension in the width direction of the second liquid storage section 450B formed in the second cartridge 4B is smaller than the dimension in the width direction of the first liquid storage section 450A formed in the first cartridge 4A. Therefore, the amount of liquid that the second liquid storage section 450B can store is smaller than the amount of liquid that the first liquid storage section 450A can store. In other words, the volume of the second liquid storage section 450B is smaller than the volume of the first liquid storage section 450A.

[0081] In this case, the configuration of the second cartridge 4B is the same as that of the first cartridge 4A, except for the dimension in the width direction of the liquid storage portion 450 and the pattern shape formed by the cartridge-side identification member 430. That is, the shapes of the adapter attachment portion 9 and the adapter 402 in the first cartridge 4A and the second cartridge 4B are the same. Therefore, the adapter 402 can be commonly used for the cartridges 4A and 4B having different volumes of the liquid storage portion 450. Therefore, when changing the volume of the liquid storage portion 450 from an existing cartridge 4 or when designing multiple cartridges 4 having different volumes of the liquid storage portion 450, the shape of the liquid storage portion 450 can be changed without redesigning the entire cartridge 4.

[0082] When the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D1 is defined as the width direction, and the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D1 and the width direction is defined as the height direction, the first liquid storage portion 450A and the second liquid storage portion 450B may have different dimensions in the height direction. Even in this case, the adapter 402 can be commonly used for the cartridges 4A, 4B having different volumes of the liquid storage portions 450.

[0083] According to the above embodiment, the cartridge 4 is configured with a liquid container 401 having a liquid storage section 450 and a liquid supply section 442, and an adapter 402 for connecting the liquid container 401 to the printing device 10, which are separate components. In this case, the adapter mounting section 9 of the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 have a predetermined, fixed shape regardless of the volume of the liquid storage section 450. The adapter 402 is an attachment mechanism 90 provided on the adapter mounting section 9, and is attached by a predetermined, fixed attachment mechanism 90. This allows the shape of the liquid storage section 450 to be changed without redesigning the entire cartridge 4 when changing the volume of the liquid storage section 450 from an existing cartridge 4 or when designing multiple cartridges 4 with different volumes of the liquid storage section 450. Furthermore, the number of parts of the cartridge 4 that need to be redesigned is reduced, thereby reducing the time required to redesign the cartridge 4.

[0084] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, when changing the volume of the liquid storage portion 450 of an existing cartridge 4, or when designing a plurality of cartridges 4 with different volumes of the liquid storage portion 450, it is sufficient to create a mold for the liquid storage portion 450 without creating a mold for the entire cartridge 4. This can reduce the cost required for creating the mold.

[0085] According to the above embodiment, the attachment mechanism 90 has a plurality of container-side engagement parts 911-918 formed in a predetermined positional relationship. The adapter 402 has the terminal arrangement part 500, the liquid supply part 442, and the adapter-side engagement parts 411-418 that engage with the plurality of container-side engagement parts 911-918. The liquid container 401 and the adapter 402, which are separately configured, can be attached to the cartridge mounting part 6 by the container-side engagement parts 911-918 engaging with the adapter-side engagement parts 411-418. This allows the liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 to be fixed at a plurality of points. This reduces the possibility that the adapter 402 will be unintentionally detached from the liquid container 401 in the attached state.

[0086] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the liquid container 401 and the adaptor 402 are configured separately. In this case, the adaptor attachment portion 9 of the liquid container 401 and the adaptor 402 have a predetermined fixed shape. This allows the adaptor 402 to be commonly used even when the volume of the liquid container 450 is changed by changing the dimension of the liquid container 450 in at least one of the width direction and the height direction.

[0087] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the adaptor 402 can be commonly used regardless of the volume of the liquid storage portion 450. This makes it possible to standardize the shape of the adaptor 402, which facilitates management at the production and development stage.

[0088] B. Second embodiment: Fig. 23 is a side view of the first cartridge 4Ar in the second embodiment. Fig. 24 is a side view of the second cartridge 4Br in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the configuration of the adapter 402 and the configuration of the container side engagement portions 911-918 are different from those of the first embodiment. The other configurations and functions of each component are similar to those of the first embodiment. The same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0089] In this embodiment, the adapter 402 has a first portion 402s including the terminal arrangement portion 500, and a second portion 402t configured separately from the first portion 402s and including the insertion opening 446. The first portion 402s is attached to the -Y direction side of the adapter mounting portion 9, which is the insertion tip surface side. The second portion 402t is attached to the +Y direction side of the adapter mounting portion 9, where the liquid supply portion 442 is formed. The first portion 402s and the second portion 402t are each recessed in the -Z direction to receive the adapter mounting portion 9, and have a concave shape with an open upper surface on the +Z direction side where the adapter mounting portion 9 is located.

[0090] The first portion 402s has a terminal arrangement portion 500. The second portion 402t has a supply portion arrangement chamber 461 and an insertion opening 446. The functions of the components 500, 461, and 446 are similar to those of the first embodiment. At least one of the first portion 402s and the second portion 402t may be provided with a cartridge side identification member 430 and a supply portion positioning portion 448 as shown in FIG. 18.

[0091] The first portion 402s has a first portion front wall 42s, a first portion bottom wall 44s, a first portion first side wall 45s, a first portion second side wall 46s, and a first portion rear wall 47s. The concave shape of the first portion 402s is formed by these five walls 42s, 44s, 45s, 46s, and 47s. In the following, among the walls 42s, 44s, 45s, 46s, and 47s, the surface that is located on the side of the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the mounted state is referred to as the outer surface, and the surface opposite to the outer surface is referred to as the inner surface.

[0092] The first portion front wall 42s and the first portion rear wall 47s face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. In the attached state, the first portion bottom wall 44s faces the bottom wall 44 of the first liquid container 401A and the mounting bottom wall 44a of the adapter mounting portion 9 in the Z direction along the height direction. The first portion first side wall 45s and the first portion second side wall 46s face each other in the X direction along the width direction.

[0093] The first portion front wall 42s is located on the -Y direction side, which is the side of the insertion direction D1 in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6. The first portion rear wall 47s forms a surface on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction. The first portion bottom wall 44s is located on the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side, in the mounted state. In other words, the first portion bottom wall 44s is located on the connection tip surface side of the connection direction D2 shown in FIG. 3. The first portion bottom wall 44s intersects with the first portion front wall 42s and the first portion rear wall 47s. The first portion first side wall 45s is located on the -X direction side where the first side wall 45 and the first mounting side wall 45a are located. The first portion second side wall 46s is located on the +X direction side where the second side wall 46 and the second mounting side wall 46a are located. The first portion first side wall 45s and the first portion second side wall 46s intersect with the first portion front wall 42s, the first portion bottom wall 44s, and the first portion rear wall 47s, respectively.

[0094] The terminal arrangement portion 500 in the second embodiment is arranged at a corner portion 89 where the outer surface side of the first partial front wall 42s and the outer surface side of the first partial bottom wall 44s intersect.

[0095] The second portion 402t has a second portion front wall 42t, a second portion bottom wall 44t, a second portion first side wall 45t, a second portion second side wall 46t, and a second portion rear wall 47t. The concave shape of the second portion 402t is formed by these five walls 42t, 44t, 45t, 46t, and 47t. In the following, among the walls 42t, 44t, 45t, 46t, and 47t, the surface located on the side of the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the mounted state is referred to as the outer surface, and the surface opposite to the outer surface is referred to as the inner surface.

[0096] The second portion front wall 42t and the second portion rear wall 47t face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. In the attached state, the second portion bottom wall 44t faces the bottom wall 44 of the first liquid container 401A and the mounting bottom wall 44a of the adapter mounting portion 9 in the Z direction along the height direction. The second portion first side wall 45t and the second portion second side wall 46t face each other in the X direction along the width direction.

[0097] The second portion front wall 42t is located on the -Y direction side, which is the side of the insertion direction D1 in which the cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6. The second portion rear wall 47t forms a surface on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction. The second portion bottom wall 44t is located on the -Z direction side, which is the gravity direction side, in the mounted state. In other words, the second portion bottom wall 44t is located on the connection tip surface side of the connection direction D2 shown in FIG. 3. The second portion bottom wall 44t intersects with the second portion front wall 42t and the second portion rear wall 47t. The second portion first side wall 45t is located on the -X direction side where the first side wall 45 and the first mounting side wall 45a are located. The second portion second side wall 46t is located on the +X direction side where the second side wall 46 and the second mounting side wall 46a are located. The second portion first side wall 45t and the second portion second side wall 46t intersect with the second portion front wall 42t, the second portion bottom wall 44t, and the second portion rear wall 47t, respectively.

[0098] In this embodiment, the supply unit arranging chamber 461 is formed in the center of the second portion 402t in the Y direction, which is the direction along the insertion direction D1. That is, the supply unit arranging chamber 461 is formed in a portion surrounded by the walls 42t, 44t, 45t, 46t, and 47t of the second portion 402t. It can also be said that the supply unit arranging chamber 461 is formed on the +Z direction side where the adapter attachment portion 9 is located with respect to the insertion opening 446, on the inner surface side of the second portion 402t.

[0099] In this embodiment, the insertion opening 446 is a hole formed to penetrate the inner surface and the outer surface of the second partial bottom wall 44t. The insertion opening 446 is formed in a portion of the second partial bottom wall 44t where the supply unit arrangement chamber 461 is located. In this embodiment, the insertion opening 446 is formed in a central portion of the second partial bottom wall 44t in the X direction which is the width direction and in the Y direction which is the direction along the insertion direction D1.

[0100] The adapter attachment portion 9 has a first attachment mechanism 901 as an attachment mechanism 90 for attaching the first portion 402s, and a second attachment mechanism 902 as an attachment mechanism 90 for attaching the second portion 402t. In this embodiment, the first attachment mechanism 901 has a fixed shape so as to be used in common regardless of the type of cartridge 4. In this embodiment, the first attachment mechanism 901 is three one-side engagement parts 911s, 914s, and 917s formed in a predetermined positional relationship. Specifically, the first attachment mechanism 901 is composed of a one-side first engagement part 911s, a one-side second engagement part 914s, and a one-side third engagement part 917s. The second attachment mechanism 902 has a fixed shape so as to be used in common regardless of the type of cartridge 4. In this embodiment, the second attachment mechanism 902 is five other-side engagement parts 912t, 913t, 915t, 916t, and 918t formed in a predetermined positional relationship. Specifically, the second attachment mechanism 902 is composed of a first engagement portion 912t on the other side, a second engagement portion 913t on the other side, a third engagement portion 915t on the other side, a fourth engagement portion 916t on the other side, and a fifth engagement portion 918t on the other side. The engagement portions 911s, 914s, and 917s on the one side are protrusions for engaging with corresponding engagement portions 411s, 414s, and 417s on the one side, which will be described later. The engagement portions 912t, 913t, 915t, 916t, and 918t on the other side are protrusions for engaging with corresponding engagement portions 412t, 413t, 415t, 416t, and 418t on the other side, which will be described later. Hereinafter, a state in which the first portion 402s and the second portion 402t are attached to the adapter attachment portion 9 is referred to as an "attached state."

[0101] As shown in FIG. 23, the one-side first engagement portion 911s is provided on the second mounting side wall 46a on the -Y direction side of the mounting center portion PA of the adapter mounting portion 9, which is the mounting front wall 42a side. It can also be said that the one-side first engagement portion 911s is provided on the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500 provided at the end of the first portion 402s on the -Y direction side, which is the insertion tip surface side, is located in the mounted state. The one-side second engagement portion 914s is provided on the first mounting side wall 45a on the -Y direction side of the mounting center portion PA of the adapter mounting portion 9, which is the mounting front wall 42a side. It can also be said that the one-side second engagement portion 914s is provided on the side where the above-mentioned terminal arrangement portion 500 is located in the mounted state. The one-side third engagement portion 917s is provided at a position where the mounting front wall 42a and the mounting bottom wall 44a intersect. It can also be said that the one-side third engagement portion 917s is provided on the side where the above-mentioned terminal arrangement portion 500 is located in the attached state.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 23, the other-side first engagement portion 912t and the other-side second engagement portion 913t are provided on the second mounting side wall 46a on the +Y direction side of the mounting rear wall 47a side of the mounting center portion PA of the adapter mounting portion 9. It can also be said that the other-side first engagement portion 912t and the other-side second engagement portion 913t are provided on the side where the liquid supply portion 442 is formed, which is located on the opposite side in the Y direction from the side where the terminal arrangement portion 500 is arranged in the mounted state. The other-side third engagement portion 915t and the other-side fourth engagement portion 916t are provided on the first mounting side wall 45a on the +Y direction side of the mounting rear wall 47a side of the mounting center portion PA of the adapter mounting portion 9. It can also be said that the other-side third engagement portion 915t and the other-side fourth engagement portion 916t are provided on the side where the above-mentioned liquid supply portion 442 is formed. The other side fifth engagement portion 918t is provided at a position where the mounting bottom wall 44a and the mounting rear wall 47a intersect. It can also be said that the other side fifth engagement portion 918t is provided on the side where the above-mentioned liquid supply portion 442 is located. The formation positions, number, and shapes of the one side engagement portions 911s, 914s, 917s and the other side engagement portions 912t, 913t, 915t, 916t, 918t are not limited to those described above. The one side engagement portions 911s, 914s, 917s as the first attachment mechanism 901 may be provided at least at one or more locations so that the first portion 402s can be attached. The other side engagement portions 912t, 913t, 915t, 916t, 918t as the second attachment mechanism 902 may be provided at least at one or more locations so that the second portion 402t can be attached.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 23, the first portion 402s has one-side corresponding engaging portions 411s, 414s, 417s as an engaging mechanism that respectively engages with one-side engaging portions 911s, 914s, 917s as the first attachment mechanism 901. The one-side corresponding engaging portions 411s, 414s, 417s are recesses having recesses for receiving the protruding one-side engaging portions 911s, 914s, 917s. The one-side first corresponding engaging portion 411s is provided at a position where it engages with the one-side first engaging portion 911s. The one-side second corresponding engaging portion 414s is provided at a position where it engages with the one-side second engaging portion 914s. The one-side third corresponding engaging portion 417s is provided at a position where it engages with the one-side third engaging portion 917s.

[0104] The second portion 402t has other-side corresponding engagement parts 412t, 413t, 415t, 416t, 418t as engagement mechanisms that respectively engage with other-side engagement parts 912t, 913t, 915t, 916t, 918t as the second attachment mechanism 902. The other-side corresponding engagement parts 412t, 413t, 415t, 416t, 418t are recesses having recesses for receiving the protruding other-side engagement parts 912t, 913t, 915t, 916t, 918t. The other-side first corresponding engagement part 412t is provided at a position where it engages with the other-side first engagement part 912t. The other-side second corresponding engagement part 413t is provided at a position where it engages with the other-side second engagement part 913t. The other-side third corresponding engagement part 415t is provided at a position where it engages with the other-side third engagement part 915t. The other-side fourth corresponding engagement portion 416t is provided at a position where it engages with the other-side fourth engagement portion 916t. The other-side fifth corresponding engagement portion 418t is provided at a position where it engages with the other-side fifth engagement portion 918t. In this embodiment, neither the first portion 402s nor the second portion 402t is attached to the adapter center portion PO of the adapter attachment portion 9.

[0105] In this embodiment, the three one-side engagement portions 911s, 914s, 917s engage with the three one-side corresponding engagement portions 411s, 414s, 417s. Furthermore, the five other-side engagement portions 912t, 913t, 915t, 916t, 918t engage with the five other-side corresponding engagement portions 412t, 413t, 415t, 416t, 418t provided at corresponding positions. As a result, the first portion 402s and the second portion 402t are attached to the adapter attachment portion 9.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, the second cartridge 4Br and the first cartridge 4Ar have different dimensions in the width direction and the insertion direction D1 of the liquid storage section 450. In this embodiment, the second liquid storage section 450B has a smaller dimension in the X direction, which is the width direction, than the first liquid storage section 450A. Also, in this embodiment, the second liquid storage section 450B has a smaller dimension in the Y direction, which is the direction along the insertion direction D1, than the first liquid storage section 450A. As a result, the dimensions in the width direction and the insertion direction of the second liquid storage section 450B formed in the second cartridge 4Br are formed smaller than the dimensions in the width direction and the insertion direction of the first liquid storage section 450A formed in the first cartridge 4Ar. Therefore, the amount of liquid that the second liquid storage section 450B can store is smaller than the amount of liquid that the first liquid storage section 450A can store. In other words, the volume of the second liquid storage section 450B is smaller than the volume of the first liquid storage section 450A.

[0107] In this case, the configuration of the second cartridge 4Br is the same as that of the first cartridge 4Ar, except for the dimensions of the second liquid storage portion 450B in the width direction and the insertion direction. That is, the shapes of the adapter attachment portion 9 and the adapter 402 in the first cartridge 4Ar and the second cartridge 4Br are the same. Therefore, the first part 402s and the second part 402t as the adapter 402 can be commonly used for the cartridges 4Ar and 4Br having different volumes of the liquid storage portion 450. Therefore, when changing the volume of the liquid storage portion 450 from an existing cartridge 4 or when designing multiple cartridges 4 having different volumes of the liquid storage portion 450, the shape of the liquid storage portion 450 can be changed without redesigning the entire cartridge 4.

[0108] When the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D1 is defined as the width direction and the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D1 and the width direction is defined as the height direction, the first liquid storage portion 450A and the second liquid storage portion 450B may have different dimensions in the height direction. Even in this case, the first part 402s and the second part 402t of the adaptor 402 can be commonly used for the cartridges 4Ar and 4Br having different volumes of the liquid storage portions 450.

[0109] Even in the above embodiment, the cartridge 4 is configured such that the liquid container 401 having the liquid storage section 450 and the liquid supply section 442, and the first part 402s and the second part 402t as the adapter 402 for connecting the liquid container 401 to the printing device 10 side are separately configured. In this case, the adapter attachment section 9 of the liquid container 401 and the first part 402s and the second part 402t as the adapter 402 have a predetermined constant shape regardless of the volume of the liquid storage section 450. This allows the shape of the liquid storage section 450 to be changed without redesigning the entire cartridge 4 when changing the volume of the liquid storage section 450 from an existing cartridge 4 or when designing multiple cartridges 4 with different volumes of the liquid storage section 450. Furthermore, the time required for redesigning the cartridge 4 can be reduced by reducing the number of parts of the cartridge 4 that need to be redesigned. Furthermore, since it is only necessary to create a mold for the liquid storage section 450 without creating a mold for the entire cartridge 4, the cost required for creating the mold can be reduced.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the adaptor 402 is a two-piece type configured of a first portion 402s including the terminal arrangement portion 500 and a second portion 402t including the insertion opening 446. In this case, the adaptor attachment portion 9 of the liquid container 401 and the first portion 402s and the second portion 402t configuring the adaptor 402 have a predetermined fixed shape. This allows the adaptor 402 to be commonly used even when the volume of the liquid container 450 is changed by changing the dimension of the liquid container 450 in at least one of the insertion direction, width direction, and height direction.

[0111] C-1. Alternative embodiment 1: In the above embodiment, the adapter 402 is attached to the adapter attachment section 9 of the liquid storage section 450 by engaging the protruding container side engagement sections 911-918 as the attachment mechanism 90 with the adapter side engagement sections 411-418. However, the attachment mechanism 90 is not limited to this. The adapter 402 may be attached to the adapter attachment section 9 by, for example, a screw or a pin as the attachment mechanism 90, instead of engaging the container side engagement sections 911-918 as the attachment mechanism 90 with the adapter side engagement sections 411-418. In this case, the adapter 402 may be provided with an insertion hole for inserting the screw or pin. The adapter attachment section 9 may be provided with a fixing hole for receiving the shaft section on the opposite side to the head of the screw or pin. Even in this form, the adapter 402 can be commonly used regardless of the volume of the liquid storage section 450.

[0112] C-2. Alternative embodiment 2: In the above embodiment, the adapter 402 is attached to the adapter attachment section 9 of the liquid storage section 450 by engaging the protruding container side engagement sections 911-918 as the attachment mechanism 90 with the adapter side engagement sections 411-418. However, the attachment mechanism 90 is not limited to this. The adapter 402 may be attached to the adapter attachment section 9 by, for example, an adhesive such as a tape as the attachment mechanism 90, instead of engaging the container side engagement sections 911-918 as the attachment mechanism 90 with the adapter side engagement sections 411-418. In this case, it is sufficient to provide attachment areas for attaching or applying the adhesive to each of the adapter 402 and the adapter attachment section 9. Even in this form, the adapter 402 can be commonly used regardless of the volume of the liquid storage section 450.

[0113] C-3. Alternative embodiment 3: In the above embodiment, the adapter 402 is attached to the adapter attachment section 9 of the liquid storage section 450 by engaging the protruding container side engagement sections 911-918 as the attachment mechanism 90 with the adapter side engagement sections 411-418 as recesses. However, the attachment mechanism 90 is not limited to this. The adapter 402 and the adapter attachment section 9 may be attached by sliding them in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. In this case, for example, a slide mechanism that can be attached by sliding the adapter 402 and the adapter attachment section 9 in abutting contact with each other may be provided as the attachment mechanism 90 in each of the adapter 402 and the adapter attachment section 9. Even in this form, the adapter 402 can be commonly used regardless of the volume of the liquid storage section 450.

[0114] C-4. Alternative embodiment 4: In the above embodiment, black ink is stored in the first liquid storage portion 450A, and other color inks are stored in the second liquid storage portion 450B, which has a smaller volume than the first liquid storage portion 450A. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The liquids stored in the first liquid storage portion 450A and the second liquid storage portion 450B are not limited to the above, and may be inks of colors other than cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Also, the liquids may be inks used to impart other functions other than coloring.

[0115] 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.

[0116] (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a cartridge is provided. The cartridge is detachably mounted to a cartridge mounting section of a printing device having a device-side terminal and a liquid introduction section for receiving a liquid, and includes a liquid container having a liquid storage section for storing the liquid to be supplied to the printing device, a liquid supply section for enabling the liquid stored in the liquid storage section to be supplied to the liquid introduction section, and an adapter attachment section, and an adapter attached to the adapter attachment section, the adapter having a terminal arrangement section in which a cartridge-side terminal electrically connected to the device-side terminal is arranged, and an insertion opening through which the liquid introduction section is inserted, the adapter attachment section having a predetermined fixed attachment mechanism for attaching the adapter. According to this aspect, the adapter attachment section of the liquid container and the adapter have a fixed shape regardless of the volume of the liquid storage section. This allows the shape of the liquid storage section to be changed without redesigning the entire cartridge when the volume of the liquid storage section is changed.

[0117] (2) In the above embodiment, the attachment mechanism may have a plurality of container-side engaging portions formed in a predetermined positional relationship, and the adapter may have a plurality of adapter-side engaging portions to which the liquid container is attached by engaging with the plurality of container-side engaging portions. According to this embodiment, the liquid container and the adapter, which are formed separately, can be attached to the cartridge mounting portion by engaging the container-side engaging portions with the adapter-side engaging portions. This allows the liquid container and the adapter to be fixed at a plurality of locations. This reduces the possibility of the adapter being unintentionally detached from the liquid container in the attached state.

[0118] (3) In the above embodiment, the adapter may have a first portion including the terminal arrangement portion and a second portion configured separately from the first portion and including the insertion opening, the adapter mounting portion may have a first mounting mechanism as the mounting mechanism for mounting the first portion and a second mounting mechanism as the mounting mechanism for mounting the second portion, and the first portion may be mounted to the adapter mounting portion by the first mounting mechanism, and the second portion may be mounted to the adapter mounting portion by the second mounting mechanism. According to this embodiment, the adapter mounting portion of the liquid container and the adapter have a constant shape regardless of the volume of the liquid storage portion. This allows the shape of the liquid storage portion to be changed without redesigning the entire cartridge when the volume of the liquid storage portion is changed.

[0119] (4) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a printing system is provided. This printing system includes a printing device having a cartridge mounting section in which a cartridge is mounted, and the cartridge described in the above aspect, and the cartridge mounting section is configured to detachably mount a plurality of cartridges including a first cartridge as the cartridge and a second cartridge as the cartridge, the first cartridge has a first liquid storage section as the liquid storage section, and the second cartridge has a second liquid storage section as the liquid storage section having a volume different from that of the first liquid storage section. According to this aspect, the adapter mounting section of the liquid storage body and the adapter have a constant shape regardless of the volume of the liquid storage section. Therefore, when changing the volume of the liquid storage section from an existing cartridge or when designing a plurality of cartridges with different volumes of the liquid storage section, the shape of the liquid storage section can be changed without redesigning the entire cartridge.

[0120] (5) In the above embodiment, when a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction is defined as a width direction and a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction is defined as a height direction, the first liquid storage portion and the second liquid storage portion may differ in dimension in at least one of the width direction and the height direction, thereby causing the volume of the first liquid storage portion and the volume of the second liquid storage portion to differ. According to this embodiment, the adapter can be used in common even when the volume of the liquid storage portion is changed by changing the dimension of the liquid storage portion in at least one of the width direction and the height direction.

[0121] (6) According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a printing system is provided. The printing system includes a printing device having a cartridge mounting section to which a cartridge is mounted, and the cartridge according to the above aspect, and the cartridge mounting section is configured to detachably mount a plurality of cartridges including a first cartridge as the cartridge and a second cartridge as the cartridge, the first cartridge has a first liquid storage section as the liquid storage section, the second cartridge has a second liquid storage section as the liquid storage section having a volume different from that of the first liquid storage section, and when a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction is defined as a width direction and a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction is defined as a height direction, the first liquid storage section and the second liquid storage section have different dimensions in at least one direction of the insertion direction, the width direction, and the height direction, so that the volume of the first liquid storage section and the volume of the second liquid storage section are different. According to this aspect, the adapter can be used in common even when the volume of the liquid storage section is changed by changing the dimension of the liquid storage section in at least one direction of the insertion direction, the width direction, and the height direction.

[0122] (7) In the above embodiment, the first liquid storage portion may have a larger volume than the second liquid storage portion, the liquid stored in the first liquid storage portion may be black ink, and the liquid stored in the second liquid storage portion may be an ink of a color different from black. According to this embodiment, when black ink is used frequently, the first liquid storage portion, which has a larger volume than the second liquid storage portion, can store black ink.

[0123] Not all of the multiple components of each embodiment of the present disclosure described above are essential, and in order to solve some or all of the above problems or to achieve some or all of the effects described in this specification, some of the multiple components may be modified, deleted, replaced with new other components, or some of the limitations may be deleted as appropriate. In addition, in order to solve some or all of the above problems or to achieve some or all of the effects described in this specification, some or all of the technical features included in one embodiment of the present disclosure described above may be combined with some or all of the technical features included in the other embodiments of the present disclosure described above to form an independent embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0124] The present disclosure may be realized in various forms other than the cartridge and the printing system, for example, in the form of a manufacturing method for the cartridge and the printing system, a mounting mechanism for the cartridge to the cartridge mounting section, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0125] 1...printing system, 2...printing paper, 4, 4C, 4M, 4Y, 4K...cartridge, 4A, 4Ar...first cartridge, 4B, 4Br...second cartridge, 6...cartridge mounting section, 8...cap member, 9...adapter mounting section, 10...printing device, 11...front cover, 13...replacement cover, 15...operation button, 20...carriage, 22...ejection head, 24...tube, 30...driving mechanism, 31...control section, 32...timing belt, 34...driving motor, 41...main body, 42...front wall, 42a...mounting front wall, 42c...adapter front wall, 42s...first part front wall, 42t...second part Front wall, 43...top wall, 44...bottom wall, 44a...mounting bottom wall, 44c...adapter bottom wall, 44s...first part bottom wall, 44t...second part bottom wall, 45...first side wall, 45a...first mounting side wall, 45c...adapter first side wall, 45s...first part first side wall, 45t...second part first side wall, 46...second side wall, 46a...second mounting side wall, 46c...adapter second side wall, 46s...first part second side wall, 46t...second part second side wall, 47...rear wall, 47a...mounting rear wall, 47c...adapter rear wall, 47s...first part rear wall, 47t...second part rear wall, 50...circuit board, 61...accommodation chamber, 61C, 61M, 61Y,61K...slot, 62...second device wall, 63...device upper wall, 64...device bottom wall, 65...first device side wall, 66...second device side wall, 67...first device wall, 70...device side terminal portion, 73...holding mechanism, 89...corner portion, 90...mounting mechanism, 401...liquid container, 401A...first liquid container, 401B...second liquid container, 402...adapter, 402s...first portion, 402t...second portion, 411...first adaptor side engaging portion, 411s...one side first corresponding engaging portion, 412...second adaptor side engaging portion, 412t...other side first corresponding engaging portion, 413...third adaptor side engaging portion, 413t...other side second corresponding engaging portion, 414...fourth adaptor side engaging portion, 414s...one side second Corresponding engagement portion, 415...fifth adapter side engagement portion, 415t...other side third corresponding engagement portion, 416...sixth adapter side engagement portion, 416t...other side fourth corresponding engagement portion, 417...seventh adapter side engagement portion, 417s...one side third corresponding engagement portion, 418...eighth adapter side engagement portion, 418t...other side fifth corresponding engagement portion, 430...cartridge side identification member, 442...liquid supply portion, 446...insertion opening, 448...supply portion positioning portion, 450...liquid storage portion, 450A...first liquid storage portion, 450B...second liquid storage portion, 461...supply portion arrangement chamber, 497...cartridge engagement portion, 500...terminal arrangement portion, 521...cartridge side terminal, 525...storage device, 602, 602a,602b...device guide portion, 610...support member, 611...first support side wall, 612...second support side wall, 613...main wall, 614...device opening, 625...second biasing member, 630...device side identification member, 642...liquid introduction portion, 642a...base end portion, 642b...tip portion, 644...device side supply portion positioning portion, 644a...one end portion, 644b...other end portion, 674... Insertion / removal opening, 677...engagement formation body, 697...attachment engagement portion, 698...rotation fulcrum, 699...liquid storage portion, 721...device side terminal, 739...connector, 750...terminal holding portion, 780...first biasing member, 782...mounting member, 901...first mounting mechanism, 902...second mounting mechanism, 911...first container side engagement portion, 911s...one side first engagement portion, 912 ...Second housing side engagement portion, 912t...other side first engagement portion, 913...third housing side engagement portion, 913t...other side second engagement portion, 914...fourth housing side engagement portion, 914s...one side second engagement portion, 915...fifth housing side engagement portion, 915t...other side third engagement portion, 916...sixth housing side engagement portion, 916t...other side fourth engagement portion, 917...seventh housing side engagement portion, 917s...one side third engagement portion, 918...eighth housing side engagement portion, 918t...other side fifth engagement portion, C...center portion, CA1, CA2...center axis, D1...insertion direction, D2...connection direction, D3...disconnection direction, Fa, Ft1...external force, P1...first protrusion, P2...second protrusion, PA...mounting center portion, PO...adapter center portion, Rp...terminal rotation fulcrum,

Claims

1. A cartridge that is detachably mounted to a cartridge mounting section of a printing device having a device-side terminal and a liquid introduction section that receives liquid, a liquid container having a liquid storage section for storing the liquid to be supplied to the printing device, a liquid supply section that enables the liquid stored in the liquid storage section to be supplied to the liquid introduction section, and an adapter attachment section; an adapter attached to the adapter attachment section, the adapter having a terminal arrangement section in which a cartridge-side terminal electrically connected to the device-side terminal is arranged, and an insertion opening through which the liquid introduction section is inserted; the adapter mounting portion has a predetermined attachment mechanism for mounting the adapter; The attachment mechanism has a plurality of container-side engagement portions formed in a predetermined positional relationship, the adapter has a plurality of adapter-side engaging portions to which the liquid container is attached by engaging with the plurality of container-side engaging portions; the container-side engaging portion is a protrusion that engages with the adapter-side engaging portion, The protrusion has a barb member, A cartridge, wherein the adapter side engagement portion is a recess having a depression for receiving the protrusion.

2. 2. The cartridge of claim 1, the adapter has a first portion including the terminal arrangement portion, and a second portion configured separately from the first portion and including the insertion opening portion, the adapter attachment portion has a first attachment mechanism as the attachment mechanism for attaching the first portion, and a second attachment mechanism as the attachment mechanism for attaching the second portion, the first portion is attached to the adapter attachment portion by the first attachment mechanism; The second portion is attached to the adapter attachment portion by the second attachment mechanism.

3. 1. A printing system comprising: a printing device having a cartridge mounting section in which a cartridge is mounted; The cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, the cartridge mounting portion is configured to have a plurality of cartridges, including a first cartridge and a second cartridge, removably mounted therein; the first cartridge has a first liquid storage portion as the liquid storage portion, A printing system, wherein the second cartridge has a second liquid containing portion as the liquid containing portion, the second liquid containing portion having a volume different from that of the first liquid containing portion.

4. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, When a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction is defined as a width direction, and a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction is defined as a height direction, a first liquid storage portion and a second liquid storage portion each having a different dimension in at least one of the width direction and the height direction, and a volume of the first liquid storage portion and a volume of the second liquid storage portion each having a different dimension in at least one of the width direction and the height direction.

5. 1. A printing system comprising: a printing device having a cartridge mounting section in which a cartridge is mounted; The cartridge according to claim 2, the cartridge mounting portion is configured to have a plurality of cartridges, including a first cartridge and a second cartridge, removably mounted therein; the first cartridge has a first liquid storage portion as the liquid storage portion, the second cartridge has a second liquid containing portion as the liquid containing portion having a volume different from that of the first liquid containing portion, When a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction is defined as a width direction, and a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction is defined as a height direction, a first liquid storage portion and a second liquid storage portion each having a different dimension in at least one of the insertion direction, the width direction, and the height direction, and thereby a volume of the first liquid storage portion and a volume of the second liquid storage portion each having a different dimension.

6. A printing system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, The volume of the first liquid storage portion is larger than the volume of the second liquid storage portion, the liquid contained in the first liquid container is black ink, A printing system, wherein the liquid contained in the second liquid containing portion is an ink of a color different from black.

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