Ink cartridges

Abstract

SOLUTION: An ink cartridge of the present application comprises a cartridge body, a recess portion, a positioning portion, and a chip which is arranged in the recess portion, where the cartridge body comprises an ink accommodating cavity for storing ink, where the recess portion is arranged on an upper side of the cartridge body and comprises a side wall in which at least part of the side wall is used for limiting relative positions of the ink cartridge and an image forming device in a first direction, and where the positioning portion is arranged above the side wall, and in a second direction, at least part of the positioning portion is located on a rear end side of the chip for limiting the relative positions of the ink cartridge and the image forming device in a third direction.EFFECT: When the ink cartridge of the present application is mounted on the image forming device, the ink cartridge of the present application limits the relative positions of the ink cartridge and a terminal unit on the image forming device side in the first direction and in the third direction by means of the recess portion and the positioning portion, so as to achieve fitting and positioning between the ink cartridge and a mounting portion of the image forming device, and also ensure connection between the chip and an ink discharge port of the ink cartridge and the image forming device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION This application relates to the field of image forming equipment, and more particularly to ink cartridges. [Background technology]

[0002] Printers and other image forming devices have become widely used in people's lives and work, and ink cartridges, as one of the printer consumables, have become an indispensable part of people's lives and work.

[0003] When an ink cartridge in a printer is used up, the used ink cartridge must be removed from the printer accommodating portion and a new ink cartridge must then be installed in the printer accommodating portion before the printer can continue printing. How the ink cartridge fits and aligns with the printer accommodating portion is very important for the ink cartridge. Improper fitting and alignment can cause interference during the installation process, leading to problems such as the ink cartridge not being installed efficiently in the printer accommodating portion. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to solve the problems existing in the prior art, the main object of the present application is to provide an ink cartridge that can be reliably fitted and positioned in a mounting portion of an image forming device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present application specifically adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] The present application relates to an ink cartridge that is removably mounted in a mounting portion of an image forming device, a cartridge body including an ink chamber for storing ink; a recess provided on an upper side of the cartridge body, the recess including a sidewall at least a portion of which defines a relative position between the ink cartridge and the image forming device in a first direction; a chip disposed in the recess; The present invention provides an ink cartridge including a positioning portion provided above the side wall, at least a portion of which is located on the rear end side of the chip in a second direction, for limiting the relative position between the ink cartridge and the image forming device in a third direction, wherein the first direction is the width extension direction of the cartridge body, the second direction is the mounting direction in which the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion, and the third direction is the height extension direction of the cartridge body.

[0007] Compared to conventional technology, the present application provides a recess and a positioning portion on the cartridge body, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the attachment portion of the image forming device, the recess limits the relative position between the ink cartridge and the image forming device in a first direction, and the positioning portion limits the relative position between the ink cartridge and the image forming device in a third direction, thereby ensuring reliable engagement and positioning of the ink cartridge with the attachment portion of the image forming device, and further ensuring reliable connection between the ink cartridge's chip and ink ejection port and the image forming device.

[0008] The present application includes a cartridge body, the cartridge body has a front end and a rear end in an installation direction, the cartridge body includes a front end face, a rear end face, a left face, a right face, an upper face, and a lower face, the left face and the right face extending along the installation direction, and at least one of the left face and the right face is provided with a notch perpendicular to the installation direction at the position of the rear end, at least a portion of the notch penetrates an upper surface and a lower surface of the cartridge body, the notch includes a step surface extending in the mounting direction and a transition surface located between a first surface and the step surface, the first surface being a left surface or a right surface; The present invention further provides an ink cartridge in which a rear protrusion extending from bottom to top is provided on the step surface, a gap is formed between the rear protrusion and the transition surface, and an escape space is provided above the rear protrusion and extending to the top surface of the cartridge body.

[0009] The present application includes a front case, a rear case, and a cover plate, an ink amount detection protrusion for detecting the amount of ink is provided on the cover plate; The present invention further provides an ink cartridge having an opening at the front end of the rear case, the cover plate being provided on the side of the rear case where the opening is provided, the front case being attached to the front end of the opening, and an abutment portion being provided on the back of the front case that abuts against the cover plate, the abutment portion being adjacent to an ink amount detection protrusion provided on the cover plate.

[0010] The present application further provides an ink cartridge including an ink bag, a cartridge body, and an ink amount detection mechanism, the cartridge body including a left case, a right case, and a front case, the left case, the right case, and the front case surrounding and forming a storage section for storing the ink bag, the cover plate being connected to the ink bag, and the front case being provided with a detection hole for extending an elastic cap of the ink amount detection mechanism and an ink outlet hole for extending the ink outlet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] In the following, in order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, drawings that need to be used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced. However, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and it is obvious that a person skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any creative efforts. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a partial side view of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a partially exploded schematic view of the ink cartridge of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a chip according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] 3 is a schematic view of an image forming apparatus side terminal unit of the mounting portion of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of the first embodiment being mounted in the mounting portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an ink cartridge according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of one ink cartridge of Example 6. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of ink cartridges according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of another ink cartridge according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an exploded schematic view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of another variation of the ink cartridge of FIG. 13. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a partially exploded schematic view of the ink cartridge of Example 7. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a cover plate according to Example 7. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of Example 7. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the front case of the eighth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the front case of FIG. 19. [Figure 21] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of yet another structure of the front case of FIG. 19. [Figure 22] FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the front case of FIG. 19 in use. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover plate of FIG. 22. [Figure 24] FIG. 23 is a structural schematic diagram of the left case of FIG. 22. [Figure 25] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the ink amount detection mechanism of the ninth embodiment. [Figure 26] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge of Example 9. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is an assembled perspective view of the ink cartridge of FIG. 26. [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the ink cartridge of Example 9 mounted in the printer mounting section. [Figure 29a] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an initial state of fitting between the detection lever and the elastic cap in the ninth embodiment. [Figure 29b] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the change in state of the detection lever and the elastic cap when the ink runs out in Example 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In order to clarify the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application, the present application will be described in more detail below in conjunction with the drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific examples described in this specification are only for the purpose of interpreting the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0013] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance; unless otherwise specified or explained, the term "plurality" means two or more; and terms such as "connected" and "fixed" should be understood broadly; for example, "connected" may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection, or an electrical connection, and may be a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0014] In the description of this specification, directional terms such as "above" and "below" described in the embodiments of the present application are described in terms of angles shown in the drawings, but it should be understood that this should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application. Furthermore, when the context refers to an element being located "above" or "below" another element, it can be directly located "above" or "below" the other element, or it can be indirectly located "above" or "below" the other element via an intermediate element.

[0015] Example 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an ink cartridge according to a first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a partially exploded schematic diagram of the ink cartridge according to the first embodiment.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the ink cartridge 10 is removably mounted in a mounting portion of an image forming device. The ink cartridge 10 includes a cartridge body 100, which has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape overall. The cartridge body 100 has an outer shape consisting of multiple cases with an upper surface 100a, a lower surface 100b, a front surface 100c, a rear surface 100d, a left surface 100e, and a right surface 100f. An ink storage chamber for storing ink is formed inside the case of the cartridge body 100. Here, the ink storage chamber may be a sealed chamber surrounded by an ink bag 105, or may be a sealed chamber made of a case, and ink is stored directly in the sealed chamber. However, in this embodiment, an example will be described in which the ink storage chamber is surrounded by the ink bag 105.

[0017] Specifically, a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system XYZ is provided, with the X, Y, and Z axes being three mutually perpendicular coordinate axes, with the X-axis direction being the first direction, the Y-axis direction being the second direction, and the Z-axis direction being the third direction. That is, the widthwise extension direction of the ink cartridge is the first direction, the lengthwise extension direction of the ink cartridge is the second direction, and the heightwise extension direction of the ink cartridge is the third direction, with the second direction being the installation direction when the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the installation part. The direction in which the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the installation part of the image forming device is the +Y-axis direction, and the vertical direction in the installed position is the -Z-axis direction. The upper surface 100a and the lower surface 100b are arranged opposite each other in the Z-axis direction, with the upper surface 100a positioned in the +Z-axis direction and the lower surface 100b positioned in the -Z-axis direction, the front surface 100c and the rear surface 100d are arranged opposite each other in the Y-axis direction, with the front surface 100c positioned in the +Y-axis direction and the rear surface 100d positioned in the -Y-axis direction, and the left surface 100e and the right surface 100f are arranged opposite each other in the X-axis direction, with the left surface 100e positioned in the -X-axis direction and the right surface 100f positioned in the +X-axis direction. The left surface 100e and the right surface 100f are arranged to intersect with the upper surface 100a, the lower surface 100b, the front surface 100c, and the rear surface 100d.

[0018] The ink cartridge 10 further includes a chip 120, a recess 130, and a fixing mechanism. The recess 130 is located at the connection position between the front surface 100c and the top surface 100a and is used to define the relative position of the ink cartridge 10 and the image forming device. The chip 120 is located within the recess 130 and is used for communication and data exchange with the image forming device. The fixing mechanisms are located on the top surface 100a and the bottom surface 100b and are used to engage and fix the ink cartridge 10 to the image forming device. When the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the mounting portion of the image forming device, the recess 130 defines the relative position of the ink cartridge 10 and the terminal unit on the image forming device, and the fixing mechanism engages and fixes the ink cartridge 10 to the terminal unit on the image forming device, thereby reliably fitting and positioning the ink cartridge 10 to the mounting portion of the image forming device and further ensuring reliable connection of the chip 120 and the ink ejection port 150a.

[0019] In this embodiment, the securing mechanism is provided on both the upper surface 100a and the lower surface 100b, although it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the securing mechanism may be provided only on the upper surface 100a or the lower surface 100b.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge body 100 includes a front case 101, a cover plate 102, a left case 103, a right case 104 (shown in FIG. 14), and an ink bag 105. The ink cartridge 10 further includes an ink ejection section 150 having an ink ejection port 150a. The cartridge body 100 has an outer shape consisting of the front case 101, the left case 103, and the right case 104. When assembling, the ink bag 105 and the cover plate 102 are welded together, and then the assembly of the ink bag 105 and the cover plate 102 is attached to the left case 103 and the right case 104, which are then attached to the front case 101 to form the cartridge body 100. The fixing mechanism includes a first fixing portion 111 and a second fixing portion 112, which are spaced apart from each other along the second direction on the upper surface 100a and the lower surface 100b of the cartridge body 100. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the mounting portion of the image forming device along the +Y-axis direction, which is the mounting direction, the fixed portion of the mounting portion engages in the gap between the first fixing portion 111 and the second fixing portion 112, preventing the ink cartridge 10 from coming off the mounting portion. The ink discharge portion 150 is provided in the cover plate 102, passes through the through-hole 113 of the front case 101, and is exposed on the front surface 100c. The ink discharge portion 150 is used to supply ink in the ink bag 105 to the print head of the mounting portion of the image forming device, thereby enabling the image forming device to complete a printing operation.

[0021] The ink cartridge further includes a positioning portion 140, and the recess 130 is located on the upper side of the cartridge body 100, i.e., the recess 130 is located on the +Z-axis and +Y-axis sides of the cartridge body 100, the recess 130 is part of the front case 101, and the recess 130 is provided in the +Y-axis direction of the front surface 100c. The chip 120 is provided in the front case 101 and is located within the recess 130.

[0022] The recess 130 includes side walls, and positioning surfaces are provided on the side walls of the recess 130, with at least a portion of the positioning surfaces being above the chip 120 (i.e., at least a portion of the positioning surfaces being provided in the +Z-axis direction of the chip 120). The positioning surfaces determine the mounting position of the ink cartridge 10 in the image forming device. The recess 130 further has a left side wall, a right side wall, and a rear side wall. The rear side wall is connected to the left side wall and the right side wall, respectively, and is located between the left side wall and the right side wall. A first positioning surface 130e is provided on the left side wall, a second positioning surface 130f is provided on the right side wall, and a first surface 101c is provided on an extension wall of the rear side wall. At least a portion of the first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f are provided above the terminals of the chip 120 (i.e., are provided in the +Z-axis direction of the terminals). Furthermore, at least a portion of the first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f is provided above the chip 120 (i.e., provided in the +Z-axis direction of the chip 120). The first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f are provided opposite each other in the X-axis direction perpendicular to the Y-axis, which is the mounting direction.

[0023] The positioning portion 140 is provided on an extension wall of the rear wall of the recess 130, and is located above the recess 130 (i.e., the positioning portion 140 is provided in the +Z-axis direction of the recess 130). The rear wall is a side wall of the recess 130, and the extension wall of the rear wall is flush with the rear wall and is located above the recess 130. At least a portion of the positioning portion 140 is located on the rear end side of the chip 120 in the mounting direction (second direction) in which the ink cartridge is mounted in the mounting portion, i.e., at least a portion of the positioning portion 140 is located in the -Y-axis direction with respect to the chip 120. The positioning portion 140 is provided on the rear end side of the first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f in the Y-axis direction, which is the mounting direction.

[0024] With this arrangement, when ink cartridge 10 is mounted on the image forming device, first positioning surface 130e and second positioning surface 130f first position ink cartridge 10 in the left-right direction (first direction) relative to image forming device terminal unit 210, and then positioning portion 140 determines the position of image forming device terminal unit 210 in the up-down direction (third direction), thereby reliably achieving fit and positioning between ink cartridge 10 and the mounting portion of the image forming device. Furthermore, the reliability of the connection between chip 120 and ink discharge portion 150 is further ensured.

[0025] Furthermore, the left side wall further has a first guide surface 130g, which is connected to the first positioning surface 130e, and the right side wall further has a second guide surface 130h, which is connected to the second positioning surface 130f. When the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the installation portion of the image forming device, the first guide surface 130g and the second guide surface 130h guide the image forming device side terminal unit 210 to the position of the first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f, preventing strong contact between the ink cartridge 10 and the image forming device side terminal unit.

[0026] 2 and 3, the front case 101 further includes a second surface 130a, a third surface 130b, a through-hole 113, and an opening 114. The first surface 101c is located in the -Y-axis direction of the front surface 100c (i.e., the rear end side in the mounting direction). The positioning portion 140 is provided on the cover plate 102, and the positioning portion 140 protrudes from the surface of the cover plate 102, passes through an opening 114 provided in the front case 101, and then protrudes toward the first surface 101c. Here, the positioning portion 140 is a protrusion along the Y-axis direction, which is the mounting direction. Alternatively, the positioning portion 140 may be a protrusion provided directly on the first surface 101c, and still achieve the beneficial effects of the present application.

[0027] The second surface 130a is provided on the left side wall and is the top surface of the left side wall in the +Z-axis direction. The third surface 130b is provided on the right side wall and is the top surface of the right side wall in the +Z-axis direction. The positioning portion 140 is provided on the +Z-axis direction of the second surface 130a and the third surface 130b, i.e., the positioning portion 140 is provided above the second surface 130a and the third surface 130b. The positioning portion 140 has a bottom surface 140b, a left surface 140e, and a right surface 140f. The bottom surface 140b is the surface of the positioning portion 140 in the -Z-axis direction, the left surface 140e is the surface of the positioning portion 140 in the -X-axis direction, and the right surface 140f is the surface of the positioning portion 140 in the +X-axis direction.

[0028] Specifically, the bottom surface 140b of the positioning portion 140 is inclined relative to the Y-axis, which is the mounting direction, and preferably, the bottom surface 140b of the positioning portion 140 gradually inclines toward the −Z-axis along the −Y-axis direction, i.e., the thickness of one end of the positioning portion 140 farther from the rear wall is smaller than the thickness of one end of the positioning portion 140 closer to the rear wall.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the chip of Example 1. Chip 120 includes first substrate 31 and second substrate 32. First substrate 31 includes first terminals, first additional terminals 318, second additional terminals 319, extension terminals, first holes 121, and grooves 122. First substrate 31 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and has six faces, from a first side face to a sixth side face. First side face 31a and second side face 31b are opposed to each other, third side face 31c and fourth side face 31d are opposed to each other, and fifth side face and sixth side face are opposed to each other. Some of first terminals 311-314 are provided on first side face 31a, and other first terminals 315-317 are provided on both first side face 31a and third side face 31c. The third side surface 31c further includes grooves 122 spaced apart from portions of the first terminals. The first, second, and third holes 121, 123, and 124 are through-holes in the chip, with the first hole 121 used to secure the chip 120 to a chip holder or ink cartridge 10. A wafer or electrical component is further provided on the second side surface 31b of the first substrate 31. The wafer is used to store electronic information such as the ink cartridge model number, ink volume, and ink type. When the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the installation portion 20, the chip 120 contacts the contact pins of the printer-side terminal unit to form an electrical connection, and information stored in the wafer and information in the printer are exchanged, authenticated, and maintained. For example, as ink in the ink cartridge is constantly consumed, the ink volume information in the chip changes depending on the amount of printing.

[0030] The second substrate 32 includes a second terminal, a second hole 123, a first hole 121, and a third hole 124. Similar to the first substrate 31, the second substrate 32 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape and six sides, from a first side to a sixth side. The second terminals are provided on both the first side and the third side of the second substrate 32. The first hole 121 is used to fix the chip 120 to the chip holder or the ink cartridge 10. The second hole 123 serves as a relief position to avoid a wafer or electrical components provided on the first substrate 31. Of course, if necessary, a wafer or electrical components may be provided on the second substrate 32. The second substrate 32 has a third hole 124 penetrating the first side and the second side of the second substrate 32, and specifically, the first high-voltage terminal 321 is located on the -X-axis direction side of the third hole 124, and the second high-voltage terminal 322 is located on the +X-axis direction side of the third hole 124.

[0031] The first terminal includes a wafer terminal connected to a chip wafer, the second terminal includes a high-voltage terminal that receives a higher voltage (e.g., 42 V) than the wafer terminal, and the first terminal further includes a short-circuit terminal that detects the presence or absence of a short circuit between terminals of the chip.

[0032] Furthermore, the functions and actions of the terminals are as follows.

[0033] 1. Regarding wafer terminals: A reset terminal 312 resets the data inside the wafer. The clock terminal 313 is used to receive a clock signal. A power supply terminal 315 receives a power supply potential (for example, 3.6 V) different from the ground potential, and provides power for the operation of the wafer through this terminal. The ground terminal 316 is used to receive a ground potential. The data terminal 317 is used to transmit or receive data signals.

[0034] 2. Regarding high voltage terminals: The first high voltage terminal 321 and the second high voltage terminal 322 receive an attachment detection voltage (for example, 42V) and are used to perform an attachment detection function when an ink cartridge is attached to an attachment portion. For example, a high resistance is connected between the first high voltage terminal 321 and the second high voltage terminal 322, and by detecting a change in current or voltage, it is determined whether or not an ink cartridge is installed in the installation portion.

[0035] 3. Regarding short-circuit terminals: The first short-circuit terminal 311 and the second short-circuit detection terminal 314 are used to detect whether or not a short circuit has occurred between terminals, specifically, whether or not a short circuit has occurred between the high-voltage terminal and the short-circuit terminal. If a short occurs between the high-voltage terminal and the short-circuit terminal, the printer can detect the rise in voltage at the short-circuit terminal and immediately display information about the short circuit, thereby avoiding the risk of damage to the chip or printer due to a short circuit.

[0036] 4. Additional terminals: Neither the first additional terminal 318 nor the second additional terminal 319 comes into contact with the contact pin portion and no electrical connection is made, but they can perform other functions, such as reinforcing the short circuit detection function and detecting whether ink is attached to the substrate.

[0037] 5. Regarding extension terminals: The first extension terminal 312A is an extension of the reset terminal 312, and the second extension terminal 313A is an extension of the clock terminal 313.

[0038] Some of the terminals of chip 120 (specifically, the short-circuit terminals, wafer terminals, and some of the high-voltage terminals) are arranged parallel to the Y-axis direction, which is the mounting direction, and some of the terminals (specifically, the wafer terminals and some of the high-voltage terminals) are arranged perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, which is the mounting direction.

[0039] 5 and 6, Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the image forming apparatus side terminal unit of the mounting portion of Example 1, and Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge 10 of Example 1 being mounted to the mounting portion. The image forming apparatus side terminal unit 210 of the mounting portion includes a frame 211, a contact pin assembly 220, a first protruding member 231, and a second protruding member 232. The frame 211 is the main body of the image forming apparatus side terminal unit 210, the contact pin assembly 220 is provided on the frame 211, there is a space 240 between the frame 211 and the contact pin assembly 220, and the first protruding member 231 and the second protruding member 232 are provided on opposite side surfaces of the frame 211. Specifically, the first protruding member 231 protrudes from the right side surface of the frame 211 and has a first flat surface 231f in the +X-axis direction. The second protruding member 232 protrudes from the left side surface of the frame 211 and has a second flat surface 232e in the -X-axis direction. The contact pin assembly 220 is tilted with respect to the Y-axis, which is the mounting direction. The space 240 is formed between the inside of the frame 211 and the contact pin assembly 220 and has an opening in the -Y-axis direction. The surface of the image forming apparatus side terminal unit 210 in the -Y-axis direction is the third flat surface 210d. The front surface 100c of the cartridge body 100 is the end of the first guide surface 130g and the second guide surface 130h on the +Y-axis side. The first guide surface 130g and the second guide surface 130h are located at the opening of the recess 130. The space 240 has a bottom surface 240b, a left side surface 240e, and a right side surface 240f. The bottom surface 240b is located in the -Z axis direction of the space 240. Generally, the bottom surface 240b is parallel to the XY plane, but optionally the bottom surface 240b can be inclined relative to the XY plane. The left side surface 240e and the right side surface 240f are located opposite each other along the X axis.

[0040] When the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the mounting portion of the image forming device, the chip 120 abuts against the contact pins of the contact pin assembly 220, the bottom surface 140b of the positioning portion 140 mates with the bottom surface 240b of the space, the left surface 140e mates with the left side surface 240e of the space, the right surface 140f mates with the right side surface 240f of the space, the first positioning surface 130e mates with (abuts against) the second flat surface 232e, and the second positioning surface 130f mates with (abuts against) the first flat surface 231f. The inclined bottom surface 140b can serve as a guide during the installation process to better align the positioning portion 140 with the space 240. The image forming device terminal unit 210 has a certain degree of three-dimensional variation before the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the image forming device mounting portion, and is therefore very important for accurately and securely installing the ink cartridge 10 in the image forming device mounting portion.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, in the process of mounting the ink cartridge 10 along the Y-axis direction on the mounting portion of the image forming apparatus, when the front surface 100c of the cartridge main body 100 has not reached the member position on the +Y-axis side of the mounting portion of the image forming apparatus in the posture shown in FIG. 6, the distance between the front surface 100c, the +Y-axis side end portions of the first guide surface 130g and the second guide surface 130h, and the third plane 210d is D1, the distance between the +Y-axis side end portion of the positioning portion 140 and the -Y-axis side end portion of the space 240 is D2, and the distance between the chip terminal and the contact pin is D3. Generally, D1 < D2 < D3. By doing so, after the first guide surface 130g and the second guide surface 130h first position the image forming apparatus side terminal unit 210 in the X-axis direction (i.e., the left-right direction), subsequently, the positioning portion 140 positions the image forming apparatus side terminal unit 210 in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the up-down direction), and finally, the chip terminal abuts against the contact pin, so that the fitting and positioning between the ink cartridge 10 and the image forming apparatus mounting portion can be surely realized, and the certainty of the connection between the chip 120 and the contact pin and between the ink ejection port and the ink supply portion of the mounting portion is further ensured. Further, the above dimensions may be D1 < D2 and D1 < D3, but the dimensions of D2 and D3 have no direct length relationship. In this form, the first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f first perform left-right positioning with respect to the image forming apparatus side terminal unit 210, and the positioning portion 140 positions the up-down position of the image forming apparatus side terminal unit 210, so that it can be ensured that the ink cartridge 10 is surely mounted in the image forming apparatus mounting portion.

[0042] Example 2 Based on Example 1, the present application further discloses another specific embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the difference between this embodiment and Example 1 is that the chip 120 is provided inclined on the cartridge main body 100, and the inclined form thereof coincides with the inclined form of the contact pin assembly 220. The inclined form of the chip 120 is to incline along the -Y-axis direction and toward the +Z-axis direction. The terminals of the chip 120 are provided inclined on the chip 120. The positioning portion 140 of the ink cartridge 10 is provided directly on the first surface 101c.

[0043] At least a portion of the first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f is provided above the terminals of the chip 120 (that is, in the +Z-axis direction of the terminals).

[0044] Example 3 Based on Example 1, the present application further discloses another specific embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8 , the ink cartridge 10 includes a cartridge body 100, a fixing mechanism, a positioning portion 140, and a chip 120. The cartridge body 100 has an upper surface 100a, a lower surface 100b, a first positioning hole 513, a second positioning hole 514, and an ink ejection port 150a. The fixing mechanisms are provided on the upper surface 100a and the lower surface 100b and are used to fix the ink cartridge 10 when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in a mounting portion of an image forming device. The fixing mechanism includes a first fixing portion 111 and a second fixing portion 112, which are located on the +X-axis side and the -X-axis side of the upper surface 100a and the lower surface 100b, respectively. The first positioning hole 513 and the second positioning hole 514 are holes provided in the front surface 100c of the cartridge body 100, and mate with positioning posts in the mounting portion of the image forming device to define the positional relationship between the ink cartridge 10 and the mounting portion of the image forming device. The tip 120 of the ink cartridge 10 is provided at an angle on the cartridge body 100, and its inclination matches the inclination of the contact pin assembly 220. The tip 120 is provided at an angle, and the inclination of the tip 120 is inclined along the -Y-axis direction toward the +Z-axis direction. The terminals of the tip 120 are provided at an angle on the tip 120. At least a portion of the first positioning surface 130e and the second positioning surface 130f are provided above the terminals of the tip 120 (i.e., provided in the +Z-axis direction of the terminals). The case of the cartridge body 100 is made up of two cases attached to each other.

[0045] In this embodiment, the securing mechanism is provided on the upper surface 100a and the lower surface 100b, however, it will be understood that in other embodiments the securing mechanism may be provided only on the upper surface 100a or the lower surface 100b.

[0046] In the process of mounting the ink cartridge 10 in the mounting portion of the image forming equipment, the positioning posts in the mounting portion of the image forming equipment first enter the first positioning holes 513 and the second positioning holes 514, then the image forming equipment side terminal unit 210 begins to enter the recess 130 to position the ink cartridge 10 and the mounting portion in the X-axis direction, then the positioning portion 140 positions the image forming equipment side terminal unit 210 in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the up-down direction), and finally the chip terminal abuts the contact pin, thereby reliably fitting and positioning the ink cartridge and the mounting portion of the image forming equipment and further ensuring the reliability of the connection between the chip 120 and the contact pin, and between the ink ejection port and the ink supply portion of the mounting portion.

[0047] Example 4 Based on Example 1, the present application further discloses another specific embodiment, in which, as shown in Figure 9, the ink cartridge 10 includes a cartridge body 100, which includes a base and an ink bag 105 (ink storage portion). In this embodiment, the ink bag 105 (ink storage portion) is partially located within the base and partially located outside the base, i.e., a portion of the ink bag 105 is directly exposed to the outside. The outer shape of the cartridge body 100 is composed of the ink bag 105 in the base case.

[0048] A portion of the ink bag 105 of the ink cartridge 10 is not placed in the case described in the first embodiment, but is instead provided on a base having a recess 130. The ink cartridge 10 is still installed in the mounting portion along the Y-axis direction. To better achieve installation, the ink cartridge 10 can be first placed in a mounting housing, and then the -Y-axis side of the mounting housing can be pressed to install the ink cartridge 10 and the mounting housing into the mounting portion of the image forming device.

[0049] The tip 120 of the ink cartridge 10 is inclined on the cartridge body 100, and its inclined shape matches the inclined shape of the contact pin assembly 220. Although its shape is different from that of the tip 120 of the second embodiment, both can abut with the contact pins and achieve electrical connection with the image forming device. The positioning portion 140 is an "L"-shaped protrusion extending from a single overall plane formed on the second surface 130a and the third surface 130b. This structure can still achieve the beneficial effects of this embodiment.

[0050] Example 5 Based on the first embodiment, the present application further discloses another specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 . An ink ejection port 150a and a pressure port 760 are provided on the front surface 100c of the ink cartridge 10. The number of pressure ports 760 may be one or more. In this embodiment, there are three pressure ports 760, which can apply pressure to different locations within the ink cartridge 10, such as the inside of the sealed case and the inside of the air bag. The pressurized air pressurizes the ink bag to supply ink as needed for printing, and also agitates the ink in the ink bag to prevent uneven ink density.

[0051] The first surface 101c of this embodiment has a greater height dimension in the Z-axis direction than those of Examples 1 to 4. The positioning portion 140 is provided on the first surface 101c, and the first surface 101c may be an inclined plane, a curved surface, or a surface of another shape.

[0052] Example 6 FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of one ink cartridge of Example 6, FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of several ink cartridges of Example 6, FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another ink cartridge of Example 6, FIG. 14 is an exploded schematic diagram of the ink cartridge of FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of another variation of the ink cartridge of FIG. 13.

[0053] 11, the rear surface 100d of the ink cartridge 100 faces the front surface 100c. The notch 10a is L-shaped, and the transition surface 100h is the +Y-axis side portion of the notch 10a. When the ink cartridge 10 is installed in the installation portion, a schematic diagram of the installation of adjacent first and second ink cartridges 300 and 400 is shown in Figure 12. When the multiple ink cartridges are observed along the Y axis, which is the installation direction, the ink cartridge 10 in Figure 11 is located between the first and second ink cartridges 300 and 400. If the rear sides of the first and second ink cartridges 300 and 400 have a different shape from the rear side of the ink cartridge 10, for example, if the rear sides of the first and second ink cartridges 300 and 400 do not have notches 10a, i.e., the rear surfaces are surfaces without notches, then the rear surface of the first ink cartridge 300 will get in the way, preventing the user from inserting their hand between the right surface 100f of the ink cartridge 10 and the notch 10a, and preventing the user from removing the ink cartridge 10 from the installation portion.

[0054] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, this is an ink cartridge according to the present invention. The ink cartridge includes a cartridge body 100. The cartridge body 100 has a front end and a rear end in the mounting direction, and includes a front face 100c, a rear face 100d, a left face 100e, a right face 100f, a top face 100a, and a bottom face 100b. The left face 100e and the right face 100f extend along the mounting direction, and a notch 10a perpendicular to the mounting direction is provided at the rear end position of at least one of the left face 100e and the right face 100f, and at least a part of the notch 10a is in contact with the cartridge. The notch 10a penetrates the upper surface 100a and the lower surface 100b of the cartridge body and includes a step surface 100g extending in the mounting direction and a transition surface 100h located between the first surface and the step surface 100g, a rear protrusion 11 extending from bottom to top is provided on the step surface 100g, a gap 12 is provided between the rear protrusion 11 and the transition surface 100h, and an escape space extending to the upper surface 100a of the cartridge body is provided above the rear protrusion 11.

[0055] Here, the mounting direction is the +Y axis direction.

[0056] The transition surface 100h may be parallel to the rear surface 100d, or may not be parallel to the rear surface 100d, and this is not specifically set here.

[0057] The first surface may be the left surface 100e or the right surface 100f, and is not specifically set here.

[0058] The step surface 100g may be perpendicular to the transition surface 100h, or may not be perpendicular to the transition surface 100h, and no specific setting is made here.

[0059] Preferably, the top surface of the rear projection 11 does not exceed the center line from the upper surface 100a to the lower surface 100b of the cartridge body. In another embodiment, the top surface of the rear projection 11 can exceed the center line from the upper surface 100a to the lower surface 100b of the cartridge body 100. Preferably, the top surface of the rear projection 11 is located below the center line from the upper surface 100a to the lower surface 100b of the cartridge body 100.

[0060] The ink cartridge 10 shown in Figure 13 solves the problem of the ink cartridge 10 being unable to be removed from the mounting portion, and as shown in Figure 13, the rear end (-Y axis side) of the ink cartridge 10 has a notch 10a, a rear protrusion 11, and a gap 12. When it is necessary to remove the ink cartridge 10, the user inserts their finger from the -Z axis direction into the gap 12 between the rear protrusion 11 and the transition surface 100h, and then applies force toward the -Y axis side to pull the ink cartridge 10 out of the mounting portion.

[0061] After pulling ink cartridge 10 out of the mounting portion by a certain distance, insert multiple fingers into gap 12 from the X-axis direction, and then remove the entire ink cartridge 10 from the mounting portion to complete the ink cartridge removal operation. At this time, by gripping rear protrusion 11 with multiple fingers, ink cartridge 10 can be prevented from falling out after being removed from the mounting portion.

[0062] The step surface 100g may be parallel to the mounting direction or may be inclined to the mounting direction, and the present application does not specifically set this here.

[0063] The rest is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0064] Optionally, openings are provided in the gap 12 at least in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the mounting direction.

[0065] Here, the first direction is the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface, and the second direction is the direction from the right surface to the left surface.

[0066] In an alternative embodiment, the first direction is the +Z direction and the second direction is the +X direction.

[0067] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the top surface of the rear projection 11 is a downwardly concave arcuate surface.

[0068] Here, for a heavy ink cartridge 10, if the top surface of rear projection 11 is horizontal, when removing ink cartridge 10 from the mounting portion with a finger, the ink cartridge may be too heavy and the finger may not be able to reach the point of application of force. Therefore, by providing the top surface of rear projection 11 with an arcuate surface, the problem of the ink cartridge being too heavy to apply force with a finger can be alleviated.

[0069] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the side surface of the rear projection 11 extending in the mounting direction is an arcuate surface recessed toward the step surface 100g.

[0070] After the ink cartridge 10 has been pulled out a certain distance from the mounting portion, the ink cartridge can be more easily removed by inserting multiple fingers into the gap 12 from the X-axis direction.

[0071] This structural design prevents the ink cartridge from being too heavy and causing pain to the fingers when inserting only a finger into the recess and then pulling it out for a large ink cartridge. It also prevents situations where the ink cartridge cannot be removed because the rear surface of the ink cartridge is small and the gap between the ink cartridges is too small to insert multiple fingers into the side drawer, making it difficult to insert the fingers into the corresponding positions.

[0072] In an alternative embodiment, the distance between the right surface 100f and the left surface 100e is C1, the distance between the left surface 100e and the step surface 100g is C2, and the distance between the side surface of the rear projection 11 and the step surface 100g is C3, where C2 is equal to or greater than C3. Preferably, C1=40 mm, C2=15.5 mm, and C3=15.5 mm.

[0073] Optionally, in order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the entire ink cartridge 10, the rear surface of the rear projection 11 is flush with the rear surface 100d of the cartridge body, and the bottom surface of the rear projection 11 is flush with the bottom surface 100b of the cartridge body.

[0074] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 14, in order to facilitate replacement of ink and ink bags, the cartridge body 100 includes a front case 101, a left case 103 and a right case 104, the left case 103 and the right case 104 being opposed to each other and being engaged and connected, and the front case 101 being located at the front end of the left case 103 and the right case 104 and being engaged and connected to the front ends of the left case 103 and the right case 104.

[0075] Here, the left case 103 and the right case 104 form a housing portion surrounding the housing portion for housing ink.

[0076] To make it easier to observe the ink filling status in the ink bag 105, a window is provided in the left case 103 for observing the ink filling.

[0077] The rear projection 11 may be provided at the rear end of the left case 103 or at the rear end of the right case 104, and no specific setting is made here.

[0078] Example 7 Fig. 16 is a partial exploded schematic view of the ink cartridge of Example 7. Fig. 17 is a schematic view of the cover plate of Example 7. Fig. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ink cartridge of Example 7.

[0079] 16 to 18, the present application further discloses another specific embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the ink cartridge 10 includes a front case 101, a cover plate 102, a left case 103, a right case 104, a fixing cap 109, an elastic cap 106, an elastic element 107, and a rubber plug 108. The elastic element 107 is preferably a spring. The positioning portion 140, the ink discharge portion 150, and the detection protrusion 190 are respectively provided on the cover plate 102. The ink discharge portion 150 has an ink discharge port, and the detection protrusion 190 is a protrusion extending from the cover plate 102. A check valve hole 1021a, an elastic element hole 1021b, a communication hole 1021c, and an ink injection hole 1021d are provided inside the detection protrusion 190. When installed, a rubber plug 108 is installed in the check valve hole 1021a to form a check valve. The check valve hole 1021a communicates between the ink bag and the interior of the detection protrusion 190. The check valve only allows ink in the ink bag to flow into the detection protrusion 190, but does not allow ink inside the detection protrusion 190 to flow into the ink bag. An elastic element 107 is installed in the elastic element hole 1021b, and an elastic cap 106 is attached to the top surface of the detection protrusion 190. A fixing cap 109 is used to fix the elastic cap 106 to the cover plate 102. The elastic element 107 supports the elastic cap 106. The communication hole 1021c connects the interior of the detection protrusion 190 to the ink ejection port 150a. When negative pressure is generated by suction at the ink ejection port by the print head of the image forming device, ink is supplied from the interior of the detection protrusion 190 to the ink ejection port, and ink in the ink bag is also supplied to the ink ejection port. When it is necessary to detect whether or not there is ink in the ink cartridge 10, the detection mechanism of the image forming device abuts against the top surface of the elastic cap 106, and if there is enough ink, the inside of the detection protrusion 190 will be filled with ink, and the detection mechanism of the image forming device will not be able to crush the elastic cap 106, and the detection mechanism of the image forming device will not be able to displace to the specified detection position, so the image forming device will be able to recognize that there is enough ink.If there is insufficient ink, there will be no ink inside the detection protrusion 190 or it will not be full of ink, and the detection mechanism of the image forming equipment will be able to crush the elastic cap 106, and the detection mechanism of the image forming equipment will be able to displace to a predetermined detection position, so that the image forming equipment will be able to recognize that there is insufficient ink.

[0080] The ink flow path is as shown in Figures 16 to 18, and the ink in the ink bag reaches the check valve position along the check valve hole 1021a. When the check valve opens, the ink enters the inside of the detection protrusion 190 and then enters the ink ejection port position along the communication hole 1021c.

[0081] During the manufacturing process of the ink cartridge 10, ink can be injected into the ink bag through the ink injection hole 1021d according to the actual situation.

[0082] Example 8 19 is a schematic diagram of the front case of Example 8, FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of another structure of the front case of FIG. 19, FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of yet another structure of the front case of FIG. 19, FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of the front case of FIG. 19 in use, FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover plate of FIG. 22, and FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the left case of FIG. 22.

[0083] The present application provides an ink cartridge comprising a front case 101, a rear case and a cover plate 102, the cover plate 102 having a detection protrusion 190 for detecting the amount of ink, an opening at the front end of the rear case, the cover plate 102 being provided on the side of the rear case where the opening is provided, the front case 101 being attached to the front end of the opening, and a contact portion 1014 being provided on the back of the front case 101 that contacts the cover plate 102, the contact portion 1014 being close to the detection protrusion 190 provided on the cover plate 102.

[0084] Here, the contact portion 1014 may be a protrusion or a spring (as shown in FIG. 21), and no specific setting is made here.

[0085] The projections may be triangular (as shown in FIG. 19), rectangular (as shown in FIG. 20), or other shapes, and no specific shape is set here.

[0086] The abutment portion 1014 on the back of the front case 101 abuts against the cover plate 102, thereby preventing deformation of the cover plate 102 due to excessive ink in the ink cartridge, thereby preventing misalignment of the detection protrusion 190 and further improving the measurement accuracy of the detection protrusion.

[0087] Optionally, to further improve the measurement accuracy of the detection protrusion 190, there are a plurality of abutment portions 1014, and the abutment portions 1014 are provided at intervals around the edge of the detection protrusion 190.

[0088] Here, the abutment portion 1014 is provided close to the detection protrusion 190. Preferably, the abutment portion 1014 is provided close to the detection protrusion 190, which can prevent deformation of the cover plate 102 near the detection protrusion 190, thereby preventing displacement of the detection protrusion 190 and further improving the measurement accuracy of the detection protrusion 190.

[0089] Optionally, in order to facilitate maintenance of the ink cartridge, the rear case includes a left case 103 and a right case 104, which are opposed to each other and are mated and connected.

[0090] In an optional embodiment, a hooking portion 1031 is provided on the left case 103 and a hooked portion is provided on the right case 104, and the hooking portion 1031 can engage with the hooked portion, thereby realizing an engaging connection between the left case 103 and the right case 104.

[0091] The left case 103 and the right case 104 surround a storage compartment for storing ink. The storage compartment may be a compartment in which an ink bag is placed or a sealed case that directly stores ink, and this is not specifically specified here. Preferably, an ink bag is provided in the storage compartment, and the ink bag is connected to the cover plate 102 by welding, and the cover plate 102 is engaged in the front end opening to close it. In other forms, the ink bag and the cover plate 102 can be fixedly connected in other forms, and this is not specifically specified here.

[0092] Optionally, to realize the positioning and mounting of the cover plate 102, a first mounting groove 1032 is provided on the inner wall near the front end of the left case 103 and / or the right case 104, and the cover plate 102 is inserted into the first mounting groove 1032.

[0093] In an optional embodiment, two first mounting grooves 1032 are provided on the inner wall adjacent to the front end in the Z-axis direction of the left case 103, i.e., two first mounting grooves 1032 are provided on the inner wall adjacent to the front end in the up-down direction.

[0094] Optionally, in order to prevent the detection protrusion 190 from shifting in position, a locking groove 1021 is provided on the back surface of the cover plate 102, and engagement portions 1033 that fit into the locking groove 1021 are provided on the left case 103 and the right case 104. By engaging the engagement portions 1033 with the locking grooves, it is possible to prevent the detection protrusion 190 from shifting in position due to deformation of the cover plate 102, and further improve the measurement accuracy of the detection protrusion 190.

[0095] The locking groove may be located on the rear surface of the cover plate 102 and close to the detection protrusion 190. Of course, in other embodiments, the locking groove may be located far from the detection protrusion 190, which is not specifically set here. Preferably, the center of the locking groove and the center of the detection protrusion 190 are located in the same horizontal plane to improve the measurement accuracy of the detection protrusion 190.

[0096] The rear surface of the cover plate 102 is the surface that is adjacent to the left case 103 and the right case 104 .

[0097] Optionally, a window 1034 for observing the amount of ink in the container is provided in the left case 103 and / or the right case 104 to make it easier to observe the state of ink in the ink cartridge.

[0098] In an alternative embodiment, a window 1034 is provided at the front end of the left case 103 for observing ink injection.

[0099] The rest is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0100] Example 9 As shown in FIG. 25, FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the ink amount detection mechanism of the ninth embodiment.

[0101] The embodiment of the present application provides an ink amount detection mechanism that includes an ink flow path and an elastic cap 106 provided on the ink flow path, the head and tail ends of which are connected to an ink bag 105 and a printer, respectively, and ink in the ink bag 105 is sent into the printer through the ink flow path.

[0102] The elastic cap 106 includes a deformable portion 1062, which is made of a soft elastic material and is easily deformed by a force. One end of the deformable portion 1062 adjacent to the ink flow path contacts the ink in the ink flow path, and a contact force receiving point is provided on the surface of the deformable portion 1062 opposite to the ink flow path. The orthogonal projection of the contact force receiving point onto the cover plate 102 is located at the center of the orthogonal projection of the deformable portion 1062 onto the cover plate 102.

[0103] The contact force receiving point abuts against the detection lever 23 in the printer mounting part 20, which will be described later. The orthogonal projection of the contact force receiving point between the detection lever 23 and the elastic cap 106 onto the cover plate 102 is located at the center of the orthogonal projection of the deformable part 1062 onto the cover plate 102. Since the force receiving portion of the peripheral wall of the deformable part 1062 is uniform, the elastic cap 106 can deform more stably until the ink runs out, which prevents large errors in the displacement of the detection lever 23 and makes detection more accurate.

[0104] As shown in Figure 29a, Figure 29a shows the initial state of engagement between the detection lever 23 and the elastic cap 106 in Example 9. When the printer starts operating, the detection lever 23 of the printer mounting part 20 comes into contact with the contact force receiving point at the center of the deformable part 1062 of the elastic cap 106, causing ink to flow out of the ink bag 105 and reach the printer through the ink flow path, with the dashed arrow in the figure indicating the direction of ink flow. At this time, the printer's detection lever 23 only slightly compresses against the deformable part 1062, and the deformable part 1062 is barely deformed, which indicates that the printer's detection mechanism detects that there is still a sufficient amount of ink in the ink cartridge 10 and that printing can continue.

[0105] When the printer is in operation, ink is sucked into the printer, and after flowing out of the ink bag 105, the ink reaches the printer through the ink passage, creating a negative pressure in the ink passage. As a result, the elastic cap 106 is compressed and deformed toward the ink passage by the thrust of the detection lever 23. However, the negative pressure created in the ink passage is gradually released as the ink continues to pass through the ink passage, and as the printer operates, the elastic cap 106 repeatedly deforms slightly and returns to its original state. During this process, the distance between the contact force-receiving point of the elastic cap 106 and the peripheral wall of its deformable part 1062 is equal, so the deformable part 1062 deforms stably, resulting in more accurate detection.

[0106] As shown in Figure 29b, Figure 29b is a diagram showing the change in the state of the detection lever 23 and the elastic cap 106 when the ink is empty in Example 9. When the ink in the ink flow path is empty, the elastic cap 106 is deformed and cannot return to its initial state, so the deformable part 1062 of the elastic cap 106 remains compressed toward the ink flow path. At this time, the detection lever 23 is also displaced and cannot return to its initial state, so that the ink can be detected as being empty, and the printer will indicate that the ink is empty.

[0107] Furthermore, the elastic cap 106 includes a main body 1061, which is connected to the outer edge of the deformable part 1062 and is preferably molded as a single unit. The main body 1061 is made of a rigid material and is not easily deformed. The longitudinal cross section of the deformable part 1062 is symmetrical and preferably has a regular shape such as a circle, a regular polygon (e.g., an equilateral triangle, a regular square, etc.), or a cone. The outer edge of the maximum diameter end of the deformable part 1062 is connected to the main body 1061. The contact receiving points are located at the minimum diameter end of the deformable part 1062, so that the distances between the contact receiving points and the arcuate surface of the outer edge of the deformable part 1062 are all equal. When the contact receiving points press the deformable part 1062, the deformable part 1062 is deformed from the small diameter end to the large diameter end. Since the deformable part 1062 has a regular symmetrical structure, the deformation of the deformable part 1062 is more stable and the detection accuracy is improved.

[0108] Furthermore, the ink cartridge 10 further includes a cover plate 102 and an elastic element 107, the cover plate 102 is preferably fixed to the ink bag 105 by welding, the elastic element 107 is provided on the side of the cover plate 102 opposite the ink bag 105 and supports the deformable portion 1062, the cover plate 102 is further provided with an ink ejection port 150a and a liquid chamber 10211, an inlet 102111 and an outlet 102113 are provided in the liquid chamber 10211, the outlet 102113 is connected to the ink ejection port 150a, the inlet 102111 is connected to the ink bag 105, and the ink in the ink flow path passes through the inlet 102111, the liquid chamber 10211 and the outlet 102113 in that order and is then sent from the ink ejection port 150a to the printer.

[0109] During the remaining amount detection process, the elastic cap 106 and the elastic element 107 cooperate to detect the ink amount in accordance with the detection lever 23 of the printer.

[0110] As shown in Figure 29a, in this case, the detection lever 23 and the elastic cap 106 are in an initial state where they are fitted together, and in order to increase the volume of the liquid chamber 10211, the elastic element 107 pushes up the deformable portion 1062 of the elastic cap 106, causing it to be in its initial state. At this time, the amount of compression by which the detection lever 23 of the printer abuts against the elastic cap 106 is small, and the deformable portion 1062 is hardly compressed or deformed.

[0111] When the printer is in operation, negative pressure is generated within the liquid chamber 10211, and the elastic cap 106 receives the thrust of the detection lever 23, compressing the elastic element 107 toward the liquid chamber 10211 and deforming so as to be drawn into the liquid chamber 10211. However, the negative pressure generated within the liquid chamber 10211 is gradually released as ink reaches the liquid chamber 10211 through the inlet 102111, at which point the elastic cap 106 receives a reaction force from the elastic element 107 and is pushed outward again, returning the elastic cap 106 to its undeformed state and the volume of the liquid chamber 10211 to its initial state. For this reason, during the operation of the printer, the elastic cap 106 repeatedly deforms slightly and returns to its original state.

[0112] As shown in Figure 29b, in this case, the ink cartridge 10 is in the stage where the ink is running out, and in the process of the ink bag 105 constantly supplying ink to the printer through the liquid chamber 10211, when the ink in the ink bag 105 runs out, the elastic cap 106 compresses the elastic element 107, eliminating the supporting force of the elastic element 107, and is deformed so as to be drawn into the inside of the liquid chamber 10211, and then does not return to its initial state.

[0113] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the outlet 102113 is larger than the inner diameter of the inlet 102111, and as a result, the outflow speed is faster than the inflow speed, so that a negative pressure is formed in the liquid chamber 10211. When the ink in the liquid chamber 10211 runs out, the deformable part 1062 of the elastic cap 106 remains compressed toward the liquid chamber 10211. At this time, even if the detection lever 23 is displaced, it does not return to its initial state, so that it can be detected that the ink is running out, and the printer will also indicate that the ink is running out.

[0114] Furthermore, the elastic element 107 is a first spring, a first protrusion 102112 is protruding from the bottom surface of the liquid chamber 10211, a recessed groove for accommodating the spring is provided at the top of the first protrusion 102112, a second protrusion 1063 is protruding from the smallest diameter end of the deformable portion 1062 toward the liquid chamber 10211, and both ends of the first spring are connected to the first protrusion 102112 and the second protrusion 1063, respectively. The elastic restoring force of the first spring supports the deformable portion 1062 and makes it tend to return to its initial state.

[0115] Furthermore, a rubber plug 108 is provided at the inlet 102111. The rubber plug 108 only allows the ink in the ink bag 105 to flow into the liquid chamber 10211, but does not allow the ink in the liquid chamber 10211 to flow into the ink bag 105.

[0116] Furthermore, the ink cartridge 10 further includes a fixed cap 109, which is used to fix the elastic cap 106 to the liquid chamber 10211 and close the top of the liquid chamber 10211. A first groove is recessed in the bottom surface of the fixed cap 109, which is used to partially accommodate the liquid chamber 10211, and a second groove penetrates the bottom surface of the first groove, which is used to extend the deformable portion 1062.

[0117] Furthermore, the ink ejection port 150a includes a second elastic member 1501, a sphere 1502, and a sealing plug 1503, the sealing plug 1503 is provided at the top end of the ink ejection port 150a, the sphere 1502 is provided close to the top end of the ink ejection port 150a, and the second elastic member 1501 is used to support the sphere 1502. The second elastic member 1501, the sphere 1502 and the sealing plug 1503 are combined to form a valve structure for opening and closing the ink outlet 150a. The second elastic member 1501 is a second spring, one end of which is fixed to the bottom end of the ink outlet 150a and the sphere 1502 is attached to its top end, together forming the valve core. The sealing plug 1503 serves to seal the end of the ink outlet 150a, and when the ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the mounting hole 21, it matches the external dimensions of the ink suction pin 22 and forms the valve body of the valve unit.

[0118] As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the present application further provides an ink cartridge 10, where FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the ink cartridge 10 of Example 9, and FIG. 27 is an assembled perspective view of the ink cartridge 10.

[0119] The ink cartridge 10 includes an ink bag 105, a cartridge body 100, and the ink amount detection mechanism described above. The cartridge body 100 includes a left case 103, a right case 104, and a front case 101. The left case 103 and the right case 104 are combined to form a box shape. The left case 103, the right case 104, and the front case 101 surround a storage section for storing the ink bag 105. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the storage section may be provided as a sealed case that directly stores ink. The cover plate 102 is connected to the ink bag 105, and the front case 101 is provided with a detection hole 1011 for extending the elastic cap 106 and an ink outlet hole 1012 for extending the ink ejection port 150a.

[0120] A second mounting groove 1013 for mounting a chip 120 is further provided on the upper case of the ink outlet hole 1012. Here, the chip 120 is mounted on the chip holder 110, which is then mounted on the second mounting groove 1013. The chip 120 stores basic information about the ink cartridge 10 and is used to detect its installation when the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in a printer. The ink volume detection mechanism is combined with the ink bag 105 and mounted on the cartridge body 100, and then the chip holder 110 with the chip 120 mounted is mounted on the cartridge body 100 to form a complete ink cartridge 10. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the mounting portion 20, the chip 120 makes contact with the contact pins of the printer-side terminal unit to form an electrical connection. The information stored in the wafer exchanges information with the information in the printer, authentication, and maintenance occur. For example, as ink in the ink cartridge 10 is constantly consumed, the ink volume information in the chip 120 changes depending on the amount of printing.

[0121] This embodiment further provides a printer, as shown in FIG. 28, which is a perspective view of the ink cartridge 10 of the ninth embodiment mounted in a printer mounting portion.

[0122] The printer includes a mounting section 20, and a mounting hole 21 is provided in the mounting section 20, and the mounting hole 21 is used to accommodate the ink cartridge 10 described above.

[0123] The ink cartridge 10 is inserted into the mounting hole 21 of the printer mounting section 20 from the outside to the inside, and an ink suction pin 22 for sucking ink is provided on the inside of the mounting hole 21. When the ink cartridge 10 is mounted in the mounting hole 21, the ink suction pin 22 fits into the ink discharge port 150a of the ink cartridge 10, supplying the ink in the ink cartridge 10 to the mounting section 20 and then to the print head of the printer via the mounting section 20, thereby starting the printing operation.

[0124] A detection lever 23 is further provided vertically below the ink suction pin 22, and an optical sensor (not shown) is provided at the rear end of the detection lever 23 structure to fit into it. The optical sensor has a fitting groove, and when there is a sufficient amount of ink remaining in the ink cartridge 10, the detection lever 23 will not move or will only move slightly, and the rear end of the detection lever 23 will not enter the fitting groove of the optical sensor. At this time, the optical sensor can transmit light, indicating that there is a sufficient amount of ink. When the ink runs out, the detection lever 23 moves and its rear end moves into the fitting groove of the optical sensor. At this time, the sensor light is blocked, indicating that there is no ink left in the ink cartridge 10.

[0125] The operating principle of this embodiment is as follows: 29a is a diagram showing the initial state of engagement between the detection lever 23 and the elastic cap 106 of the ninth embodiment. When the printer starts to operate, the detection lever 23 of the printer mounting part 20 comes into contact with the contact force receiving point at the center of the deformable part 1062 of the elastic cap 106, increasing the volume of the liquid chamber 10211. The elastic element 107 pushes up the deformable part 1062 of the elastic cap 106, causing it to return to its initial state. As the volume of the liquid chamber 10211 increases, ink flows out of the ink bag 105 and reaches the liquid chamber 10211 through the inlet 102111 of the liquid chamber 10211, and then the liquid The ink flows out of the outlet 102113 of the liquid chamber 10211 and reaches the ink ejection port 150a, which controls the supply of ink to the printer. A rubber plug 108 is provided in the inlet 102111 of the liquid chamber 10211. The rubber plug 108 allows ink to flow out of the ink bag 105 and be supplied to the liquid chamber 10211 through the inlet 102111 and prevent ink from flowing back from the liquid chamber 10211 to the inlet 102111. The dashed arrow in the figure indicates the direction of ink flow. At this time, the printer's detection lever 23 abuts against the elastic cap 106 only slightly, and the deformable portion 1062 is barely compressed or deformed. This information detected by the printer's detection mechanism indicates that there is still a sufficient amount of ink in the ink cartridge 10 and that printing can continue.

[0126] When the printer is in operation, ink is sucked into the ink outlet 150a, flows into the liquid chamber 10211 through the inlet 102111, and is then supplied to the ink outlet 150a from the outlet 102113. Since the inner diameter of the outlet 102113 is larger than the inner diameter of the inlet 102111 and the outflow speed is greater than the inflow speed, a negative pressure is formed in the liquid chamber 10211. Therefore, the elastic cap 106 receives the thrust of the detection lever 23, compresses the elastic element 107 toward the liquid chamber 10211, and deforms so as to be drawn inside the liquid chamber 10211. However, the negative pressure generated in the liquid chamber 10211 is gradually released as ink continuously reaches the liquid chamber 10211 through the inlet 102111, at which point the elastic cap 106 is pushed outward again by the reaction force from the elastic element 107, the elastic cap 106 returns to its undeformed state, and the volume of the liquid chamber 10211 returns to its initial state. Therefore, during the operation of the printer, the elastic cap 106 repeatedly deforms slightly and returns to its original state, and during this process, the distance from the contact point between the elastic cap 106 and the detection lever 23 to the periphery of its deformable part 1062 is equal, so that the deformable part 1062 deforms stably, resulting in more accurate detection.

[0127] 29b is a diagram showing the change in state of the detection lever 23 and the elastic cap 106 when ink runs out in Example 9. As described above, when negative pressure exists in the liquid chamber 10211 and the ink bag 105 is constantly supplying ink to the printer via the liquid chamber 10211, if the ink in the ink bag 105 runs out, the elastic cap 106 compresses the elastic element 107, deforms so as to be drawn into the liquid chamber 10211, and does not return to its initial state, and the deformable portion 1062 of the elastic cap 106 remains compressed toward the liquid chamber 10211. At this time, the detection lever 23 is displaced but does not return to its initial state, making it possible to detect that ink is running out, and the printer will indicate that ink is running out.

[0128] The above are merely preferred specific embodiments of the present application, and the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought up by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0129] 10...ink cartridge, 10a...notch, 11...rear protrusion, 12...gap, 20...mounting portion, 21...mounting hole, 22...ink suction pin, 23...detection lever, 31...first substrate, 31a...first side, 31b...second side, 31c...third side, 31d...fourth side, 32...second substrate, 100...cartridge body, 100a...upper surface, 100b...lower surface, 100c...front surface, 100d...rear surface, 100e...left surface, 100f...right surface, 100g...step surface, 100h...transition surface, 101...case, 101c...first surface, 102...cover plate, 103...left case, 104... Right case, 105...ink bag, 106...elastic cap, 107...elastic element, 108...rubber plug, 109...fixing cap, 111...first fixing portion, 112...second fixing portion, 113...through hole, 114...opening, 120...chip, 121...first hole, 122...recess, 123...second hole, 124...third hole, 130...recess, 130a...second surface, 130b...third surface, 130e...first positioning surface, 130f...second positioning surface, 130g...first guide surface, 130h...second guide surface, 140...positioning portion, 140b...bottom surface, 150...ink discharge portion, 150a...ink Ink ejection port, 190...detection protrusion, 210...image forming apparatus side terminal unit (i.e., image forming apparatus side terminal unit), 210d...third plane, 211...frame, 220...contact pin assembly, 231...first protruding member, 231f...first plane, 232...second protruding member, 232e...second plane, 240...space, 240b...bottom surface of space, 240e...left side surface of space, 240f...right side surface of space, 300...first ink cartridge, 311...first short-circuit terminal, 312...reset terminal, 312A...first extension terminal, 313...clock terminal, 313A...second extension and terminal, 314...second short circuit detection terminal, 315...power supply terminal, 316...ground terminal, 317...data terminal, 318...first additional terminal, 319...second additional terminal, 321...first high voltage terminal, 322...second high voltage terminal, 400...second ink cartridge, 513...first positioning hole, 514...second positioning hole, 760...pressure port, 1011...detection hole, 1012...ink outlet hole, 1013...second mounting groove, 1014...abutment portion, 1021...engagement groove, 1021a...check valve hole, 1021b...elastic element hole, 1021c...communication hole, 1021d...ink injection hole, 1031...engagement portion,1032...first mounting groove, 1033...engagement portion, 1034...window, 1061...main body, 1062...deformation portion, 1063...second protrusion, 1501...second elastic member, 1502...sphere, 1503...sealing plug, 10211...liquid chamber.

Claims

1. Including a cartridge body, the cartridge body has a front end and a rear end in an installation direction, the cartridge body includes a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, a right surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface, the left surface and the right surface extending along the installation direction, and a notch perpendicular to the installation direction is provided at the position of the rear end of at least one of the left surface and the right surface, at least a portion of the notch penetrates an upper surface and a lower surface of the cartridge body, the notch includes a step surface extending along the mounting direction and a transition surface located between a first surface and the step surface, the first surface being the left surface or the right surface; a projection extending from bottom to top is provided on the step surface, a gap is formed between the projection and the transition surface, and a relief space is provided above the projection and extending to the top surface of the cartridge body; An ink cartridge characterized by:

2. Openings are provided in the gap at least in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the mounting direction, the first direction is a direction in which the lower surface faces the upper surface, and the second direction is a direction in which the right surface faces the left surface; 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is a cartridge having a plurality of ink cartridges.

3. the protrusion is provided in a direction opposite to the first direction, and the top surface of the protrusion does not exceed a center line from the upper surface to the lower surface of the cartridge body; 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2.

4. The top surface of the protrusion is located below the center line.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 3.

5. The top surface of the protrusion is a downwardly concave arcuate surface.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is a cartridge having a plurality of ink cartridges.

6. a side surface of the protrusion extending in the mounting direction is an arcuate surface recessed toward the step surface; 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is a cartridge having a plurality of ink cartridges.

7. The rear surface of the protrusion is flush with the rear surface of the cartridge body.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is a cartridge having a plurality of ink cartridges.

8. The bottom surface of the protrusion is flush with the lower surface of the cartridge body.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is a cartridge having a plurality of ink cartridges.

9. the step surface is inclined in the mounting direction; 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is a cartridge having a plurality of ink cartridges.

10. the cartridge body includes a first case, a second case, and a third case; the second case and the third case are provided opposite to each other and are engaged and connected to each other, the first case is located at the front end of the second case and the third case and is engaged and connected to the front end of the second case and the third case, and the protrusion is provided at the rear end of the second case or the third case; 10. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge is a liquid-containing ink cartridge.

11. An attachment portion; The ink cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 10. the ink cartridge is removably mounted in the mounting portion. An image forming apparatus characterized by:

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