cartridge

Abstract

To provide a cartridge which can suppress reduction in the operability when attaching / detaching a cartridge to / from a printer.SOLUTION: A cartridge includes: a first operation surface which receives a first load for causing movement in an insertion direction; a main surface which forms an upper surface positioned on a gravity upward side in the inserted position; and a second operation surface which forms the upper surface and is positioned more on a gravity downward side than the main surface in the inserted position, the second operation surface receiving a second load for causing movement in a rotation mounting direction. An angle formed by the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than an angle formed by the main surface and the insertion direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to cartridge technology. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique is known in which a cartridge is mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device by moving the cartridge in a mounting direction along the horizontal direction (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-140011 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional technology, a user applies a load to the cartridge by pressing the rear surface of the cartridge on the front side in the installation direction, thereby moving the cartridge in the installation direction. Depending on the type of printing device, when installing a cartridge into a cartridge installation section, it may be necessary to move the cartridge in multiple directions before installation is complete. In this case, if loads for each movement of the cartridge are applied to the cartridge, the applied loads may be dispersed, resulting in reduced operability during installation. Furthermore, if the cartridge's external dimensions are large, this may reduce operability when installing or removing the cartridge from the printing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] (1) According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is removably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device, the cartridge comprising: a first operation surface located on a near side in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction into the cartridge mounting portion when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, the first operation surface being pushed toward the insertion direction and receiving a first load for moving the cartridge in the insertion direction, a main surface constituting an upper surface and positioned on a lower side of the main surface in the insertion direction when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion;

[0006] (2) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device, the cartridge including: a liquid storage portion for storing liquid; a liquid supply portion that is in communication with the liquid storage portion and has a central axis; a front surface that is located at the rear side in an insertion direction that is a direction in which the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting portion and is perpendicular to a central axis direction along the central axis; a first operation surface that faces the front surface in the insertion direction and receives a first load for moving the cartridge in the insertion direction; and a bottom surface that has an insertion opening into which a liquid introduction portion of the cartridge mounting portion is inserted, the bottom surface being located at the rear side in a rotational mounting direction that has a component in the downward direction of gravity and has a rotation fulcrum that is the rear side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction. and an upper surface facing the bottom surface in the central axis direction and connecting the front surface and the first operation surface, the upper surface having a main surface extending from the front surface along a removal direction opposite to the insertion direction, and a second operation surface located closer to the bottom surface than the main surface and receiving a second load for moving the cartridge in the rotational mounting direction when pressed in the downward direction of gravity, wherein in a side view of the cartridge as seen from a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the downward direction of gravity in an insertion posture of the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion, the angle formed by the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the angle formed by the first operation surface and the insertion direction.

[0007] (3) According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is removably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device. The cartridge is inserted into a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting portion by moving in an insertion direction along the horizontal direction, and then rotated in a rotational mounting direction that has a component in the downward direction of gravity, with the rear side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, thereby completing the mounting of the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. This cartridge comprises: a first operating surface located on the near side of the insertion direction in an insertion posture of the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion, the first operating surface being pushed toward the insertion direction and receiving a first load for moving the cartridge in the insertion direction; a second operating surface located on the near side of the rotational mounting direction in the insertion posture, the second operating surface being pushed toward the downward direction of gravity and receiving a second load for moving the cartridge in the rotational mounting direction; and an inclined surface located on the near side of the rotational mounting direction in the insertion posture and inclined with respect to the insertion direction so as to position inward as it approaches the second operating surface, the inclined surface being connected to the second operating surface; and in a side view of the cartridge in the insertion posture, when viewed from a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the downward direction of gravity, a first angle formed by the second operating surface and the insertion direction is smaller than a second angle formed by the inclined surface and the insertion direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cartridge mounted in the cartridge mounting section. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cartridge mounting portion and a cartridge. [Figure 4] A view of the cartridge mounting section from the +Z direction. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first-class cartridge. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of a first-type cartridge. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the process of mounting a cartridge into a cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the process of mounting the cartridge to the cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 taken along a YZ plane parallel to the Y and Z directions. [Figure 12] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the process of mounting the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 cut along the YZ plane. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A. Implementation: A-1. Printing system configuration: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a printing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 depicts three mutually orthogonal spatial axes, the X, Y, and Z axes. The directions of the X, Y, and Z arrows indicate the positive directions along the X, Y, and Z axes, respectively. The positive directions along the X, Y, and Z axes are referred to as the +X direction, +Y direction, and +Z direction, respectively. The directions opposite to the directions of the X, Y, and Z arrows are the negative directions along the X, Y, and Z axes, respectively. The negative directions along the X, Y, and Z axes are referred to as the -X direction, -Y direction, and -Z direction, respectively. The directions along the X, Y, and Z axes, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, are referred to as the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, respectively. This also applies to the following figures and descriptions.

[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. This 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 operation buttons 15 that allow the user to operate the operation of the printing device 10.

[0012] The cartridge mounting portion 6 has a first device wall 67 located on the +Y direction side. The first device wall 67 has an insertion / removal opening 674 that is an entrance / exit to the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge 4. The cartridge 4 is stored in the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 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 portion 6. In this embodiment, four types of cartridges 4, one for each of the four colors of ink, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, i.e., a total of four cartridges 4, are mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6. The cartridge 4 that stores black ink is also referred to as cartridge 4K, the cartridge 4 that stores yellow ink is also referred to as cartridge 4Y, the cartridge 4 that stores magenta ink is also referred to as cartridge 4M, and the cartridge 4 that stores cyan ink is also referred to as cartridge 4C. In this embodiment, the cartridge 4K is configured to store more liquid than the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y. Therefore, the cartridge 4K is also called a first-type cartridge 4A, and the cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y are also called second-type cartridges 4B.

[0013] The printing device 10 has a replacement cover 13 on the front side in the +Y direction. The replacement cover 13 is configured to be openable and closable. Opening the replacement cover 13 exposes the opening of the cartridge mounting portion 6, allowing the cartridge 4 to be installed or removed. When the cartridge 4 is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 6, ink can be supplied to the ejection head 22 provided on the carriage 20 via a tube 24 serving as a liquid circulation pipe. In this embodiment, ink is supplied from the cartridge 4 to the ejection head 22 using a hydraulic head difference. Specifically, ink is supplied to the ejection head 22 by the hydraulic head difference between the ink liquid level in the cartridge mounting portion 6 and the ejection head 22. Note that in other embodiments, ink may be supplied to the ejection head 22 by sucking ink from the cartridge 4 using a pump mechanism (not shown) of the printing device 10. Note that a tube 24 is provided for each type of ink. Here, the state in which the cartridge 4 is installed in the cartridge mounting portion 6 and ink as a liquid can be supplied to the printing device 10 is also referred to as the "installation complete state."

[0014] The ejection head 22 is provided with a nozzle for each type of ink. The ejection head 22 ejects ink from the nozzles onto the printing paper 2 to print data such as characters and images. 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 exchanges signals with the cartridge 4. The carriage 20 moves the ejection head 22 relative to the printing paper 2.

[0016] The drive mechanism 30 reciprocates the carriage 20 based on control signals from the control unit 31. The drive mechanism 30 includes a timing belt 32 and a drive motor 34. By transmitting power from the drive motor 34 to the carriage 20 via the timing belt 32, the carriage 20 moves back and forth in the main scanning direction, which is 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 output onto the front cover 11.

[0017] Furthermore, an area called a home position is provided outside the printing area when the carriage 20 is moved in the main scanning direction, and a maintenance mechanism is mounted at the home position to perform maintenance to ensure normal printing. The maintenance mechanism is made up 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, forming a closed space surrounding the nozzles, an elevating 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, when the printing system 1 is in use, the axis along the sub-scanning direction in which the print paper 2 is transported is defined as the Y axis, the axis along the direction of gravity is defined as the Z axis, and the axis along the movement direction of the carriage 20 is defined as the X axis. Here, the "usage 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 defined as the +Y direction, the opposite direction is defined as the -Y direction, the direction of gravity is defined as the -Z direction, and the direction of gravity is defined as the +Z direction. The X and Y directions are horizontal. When viewing the printing system 1 from the front, the direction from right to left is defined as the +X direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the -X direction. In this embodiment, the insertion direction of the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting portion 6 for installation is defined as the -Y direction, and the direction of removal of the cartridge 4 from the cartridge mounting portion 6 is defined as the +Y direction. Therefore, the -Y side of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is also referred to as the rear side, and the +Y side is also referred to as the front side. In this embodiment, the arrangement direction of the multiple cartridges 4 is defined as the X direction.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the cartridge mounting portion 6 and the cartridge 4. In Fig. 2, cartridges 4K, 4M, and 4Y are shown in a mounted state where they have been mounted to the cartridge mounting portion 6. Also in Fig. 2, cartridge 4C is shown in a inserted state where it has been inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6.

[0020] The cartridge 4 is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion 6 by moving in the insertion direction D1 along the horizontal direction to a predetermined position, and then rotated in a rotational mounting direction D2 having a component in the downward direction of gravity around a rotation fulcrum 698 at the rear side of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the insertion direction D1, thereby completing the mounting into the cartridge mounting portion 6. Specifically, when mounting the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting portion 6, an mounting process is performed. The mounting process includes a terminal connection process and a supply unit connection process, which is performed after the terminal connection process. The terminal connection process is a process in which the cartridge 4 is moved in the insertion direction D1 along the horizontal direction through the insertion / removal opening 674 of the first device wall 67 and inserted into the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 to a predetermined position. The predetermined position is a position where contact between the cartridge-side terminals of the cartridge 4 (described later) and the device-side terminals of the cartridge mounting portion 6 (described later) is completed. The supply unit connecting process is a process of connecting a liquid introduction unit (described later) of the cartridge mounting unit 6 to a liquid supply unit (described later) of the cartridge 4 while maintaining contact between the device-side terminals and the cartridge-side terminals. Specifically, in the supply unit connecting process, the first operation surface 47 side of the cartridge 4 is rotated in the rotational mounting direction D2 indicated by the arrow around the rotation fulcrum 698 of the cartridge mounting unit 6, thereby connecting the liquid introduction unit to the liquid supply unit. Note that in the mounted state, the cartridge 4 is held in the mounted state by being engaged with an engagement formation provided on the first device wall 67 side of the cartridge mounting unit 6.

[0021] To remove the cartridge 4 from the cartridge mounting portion 6, the user lifts the first operation surface 47 side of the cartridge 4, causing the rear end 47 side to rotate about the rotation fulcrum 698 in the disconnection direction D3, which is the opposite direction to the rotational mounting direction D2. During this rotational movement, the engagement by the engagement formation body is released. After the cartridge 4 is rotated in the disconnection direction D3 and reaches the insertion completion state, the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6 by moving the cartridge 4 in the +Y direction, which is the removal direction D4.

[0022] A-2.Detailed configuration of cartridge mounting section: FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge mounting portion 6. FIG. 4 is a view of the cartridge mounting portion 6 as seen from the +Z direction side. In FIGS. 3 and 4, some components of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are omitted for ease of understanding. With respect to the cartridge mounting portion 6, the X direction is also referred to as the width direction, the Y direction is the depth direction, and the Z direction is 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.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge mounting portion 6 forms a storage chamber 61 in which the cartridge 4 is stored. The storage chamber 61 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Within the storage chamber 61, slots 61C, 61M, 61Y, and 61K, which are portions that store the cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y, and 4K, generally correspond to the external shapes of the cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y, and 4K. In this embodiment, the cartridge 4K has a larger dimension in the X direction than the other cartridges 4C, 4M, and 4Y in order to store a larger amount of liquid. Therefore, in this embodiment, the width of the slot 61K is larger than the widths of the other slots 61C, 61M, and 61Y.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge mounting section 6 has six device walls 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67 that form the storage chamber 61. In this disclosure, the term "wall" refers to a single wall as well as a wall formed by multiple walls. The first device wall 67 forms an insertion / removal opening 674 through which the cartridge 4 passes when inserting or removing it from the storage chamber 61. The second device wall 62 forms the 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.

[0025] The upper wall 63 forms the wall on the +Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. The bottom wall 64 faces the upper wall 63 in the Z direction and forms the wall on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. The bottom wall 64 is formed by a support member 610. The bottom wall 64 has a plurality of openings 614. In this embodiment, four openings 614 are formed corresponding to the slots 61C, 61M, 61Y, and 61K. The upper wall 63 and the bottom wall 64 intersect with the second wall 62 and the first wall 67. In this disclosure, "intersect" or "intersect" refers to any one of the following states: (i) two elements actually intersect with each other, (ii) one element intersects with the other element when extended, and (iii) the elements intersect with each other when extended.

[0026] 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.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, 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 610 are provided. The support members 610 form the apparatus bottom wall 64 on the downward gravity side of the storage chamber 61. The support members 610 support the cartridges 4 from the -Z direction side, which is the downward gravity 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 that forms the apparatus bottom wall 64, a first support side wall 611, and a second support side wall 612.

[0028] The main wall 613 forms a concave bottom located on the downward side of gravity. An apparatus opening 614 is formed in the end of the main wall 613 on the first apparatus wall 67 side. The apparatus opening 614 penetrates the main wall 613 in the thickness direction of the main wall 613.

[0029] 3, the first support side wall 611 rises in the +Z direction, which is the upward direction of gravity, from the +X direction end of the main wall 613. The second support side wall 612 rises in the +Z direction from the -X axis direction end of the main wall 613. The first support side wall 611 and the second support side wall 612 face each other in the X direction.

[0030] The device guide 602 guides the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1 and the removal direction D4. A device guide 602 is provided for each support member 610. A 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. 4, the first device guide 602a provided on the first support side wall 611 is a protrusion that protrudes from the first support side wall 611 toward the second support side wall 612. The first device guide 602a extends along the Y direction. A plurality of 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 that protrudes from the second support side wall 612 toward the first support side wall 611. The second device guide portion 602b extends along the Y direction. A plurality of second device guide portions 602b are arranged at intervals in the Y direction.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the liquid introduction portion 642 receives the liquid from the cartridge 4. As shown in FIG. 3 , the liquid introduction portion 642 has a central axis CA1. In this embodiment, the central axis CA1 is inclined by 4° in the +Y direction with respect to the Z direction. In the initial position of the cartridge mounting portion 6, the liquid introduction portion 642 is not located within the storage chamber 61, but is located on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. In other words, the liquid introduction portion 642 is located on the opposite side of the storage chamber 61 from the support member 610, sandwiching the storage chamber 61 therebetween. This prevents the cartridge 4 from colliding with the liquid introduction portion 642 when the cartridge 4 is inserted into the storage chamber 61 of the cartridge mounting portion 6. The tip portion 642b of the liquid introduction portion 642 is located within the storage chamber 61 by rotating the support member 610 in the rotational mounting direction D2 about the rotation fulcrum 698 and pressing down the device opening 614. In other words, the rotation fulcrum 698 rotates the support member 610 to displace the device opening 614 downward in the direction of gravity, thereby positioning the tip 642b of the liquid introduction section 642 within the storage chamber 61 via the device opening 614.

[0032] The apparatus-side supply unit positioning portion 644 shown in FIG. 3 is received in a supply unit positioning portion (described later) of the cartridge 4, thereby restricting movement of the liquid supply unit of the cartridge 4 relative to the liquid introducing portion 642. This positions the liquid supply unit of the cartridge 4. In the initial arrangement state of the cartridge mounting portion 6, the apparatus-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is not located within the storage chamber 61, but is located on the -Z direction side of the storage chamber 61. In other words, the apparatus-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is located on the opposite side of the storage chamber 61 from the support member 610, sandwiching the storage chamber 61 therebetween. This prevents the cartridge 4 from colliding with the apparatus-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 apparatus-side supply unit positioning portion 644 is positioned within the storage chamber 61 by rotating the support member 610 in the rotational mounting direction D2 about the rotation fulcrum 698 and pressing down the apparatus opening 614. In other words, the rotation fulcrum 698 rotates the support member 610 to displace the device opening 614 , thereby positioning the other end 644 b of the device-side supply unit positioning unit 644 within the storage chamber 61 via the device opening 614 .

[0033] 4, the cartridge mounting portion 6 further has an apparatus-side terminal portion 70. The apparatus-side terminal portion 70 has apparatus-side terminals that come into contact with cartridge-side terminals of the cartridge 4 when the cartridge 4 is in a fully mounted state.

[0034] 4, engagement formation body 677 is formed on the +Y direction side of support member 610. Engagement formation body 677 is also located on the -Z direction side of insertion / removal opening 674. Engagement formation body 677 has four elastic mounting engagement portions (not shown) arranged corresponding to slots 61C to 61K.

[0035] A-3. Cartridge details: FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the first-type cartridge 4A. FIG. 6 is a side view of the first-type cartridge 4A. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first-type cartridge 4A. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a portion of the first-type cartridge 4A. The X, Y, and Z axes shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 are based on the insertion posture of the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting portion 6. The insertion posture is the same as the posture of the cartridge 4 in an insertion-completed state where insertion into the cartridge mounting portion 6 is complete. The first-type cartridge 4A and the second-type cartridge 4B differ from each other in the width of the liquid container 401. The first-type cartridge 4A is wider than the second-type cartridge 4B. As a result, the volume of the liquid container 450 of the first-type cartridge 4A is larger than the volume of the liquid container 450 of the second-type cartridge 4B. The first-type cartridge 4A and the second-type cartridge 4B have similar configurations in other respects, so the configuration of the cartridge 4 will be described below using the first-type cartridge 4A as an illustration.

[0036] As shown in Figure 7, the cartridge 4 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. In the cartridge 4, the direction along the -Y direction, which is the insertion direction D1 into the cartridge mounting portion 6, is the longitudinal direction, the X direction is the short side direction as the width direction, and the Z direction is the direction under gravity, i.e., the height direction. In the cartridge 4, the longitudinal dimension is the largest and the short side dimension is the smallest. In the inserted position, the width direction is the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D1 and the direction under gravity.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 7, the cartridge 4 includes a cartridge body 41 that forms an outer shell, and a circuit board 50 attached to the cartridge body 41. In this embodiment, the cartridge body 41 is made up of two members as shown in FIG. 5. In detail, the cartridge body 41 includes a liquid container 401 and an adapter 402 that is attached to the liquid container 401 by fitting. Note that in other embodiments, the cartridge body 41 may be a single unit.

[0038] The liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 are each molded by, for example, injection molding a synthetic resin such as polypropylene. The liquid container 401 and the adapter 402 may be made of the same material or different materials.

[0039] The liquid container 401 has a liquid container portion 450 for containing ink as a liquid, and a liquid supply portion 442. The liquid supply portion 442 is in communication with the liquid container portion 450. The liquid supply portion 442 is a member extending from the bottom surface of the liquid container 401 and has a central axis CA2. In the fully inserted state, the central axis CA2 is parallel to the Z direction. The direction along the central axis CA2 is also referred to as the central axis direction. The insertion direction D1 is perpendicular to the central axis direction along the central axis CA2.

[0040] The adapter 402 is attached to the bottom side of the liquid container 401. The adapter 402 has a supply part mounting portion 831 with a recessed shape that houses the liquid supply part 442. An insertion opening 446 is formed in the bottom surface of the supply part mounting portion 831. The insertion opening 446 is the portion into which the liquid introduction part 642 is inserted. The insertion opening 446 faces a supply part tip part 442a, which is the tip opening of the liquid supply part 442, in the Z direction.

[0041] 7, the cartridge body 41 has a front surface 42, a first operation surface 47 as a rear surface, a top surface 43, a bottom surface 44, a first side surface 45, a second side surface 46, and a corner portion 89. The surfaces 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 are also referred to as walls 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47, respectively.

[0042] In the insertion position, the front surface 42 and the first operation surface 47 face each other in the Y direction along the insertion direction D1. In the insertion position, the front surface 42 forms a distal end surface on the rear side in the insertion direction D1, i.e., the -Y direction side, which is the distal end side of the insertion direction D1. In the insertion position, the first operation surface 47 forms a surface located on the near side in the insertion direction D1, i.e., the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction D4 in which the cartridge 4 is removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6. As shown in FIG. 6 , when inserting the cartridge 4 into the cartridge mounting portion 6, the first operation surface 47 is pushed in the insertion direction D1 by the user, thereby receiving a first load FD1 that moves the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1. This first load FD1 is a force that moves the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1. The first operation surface 47 extends from the +Y direction end of the top surface 43, i.e., the +Y direction end of a second operation surface 435 (described later), toward the bottom surface 44. The first operation surface 47 has a planar shape. In this embodiment, the term "planar shape" refers to a flat surface that does not necessarily mean a surface with no irregularities, but also includes a surface with some irregularities. As shown in FIG. 8 , in a side view in the width direction in the insertion posture, the first operation surface 47 is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction D1. In this embodiment, in a side view in the width direction in the insertion posture, the angle AGa formed between the first operation surface 47 and the insertion direction D1 is 86°±2°. That is, the angle formed between the direction of the normal vector V1 of the first operation surface 47 and the insertion direction D1 is in the range of 4°±2°. Note that in other embodiments, the angle AGa may be 90°. As described above, "the first operation surface 47 is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction D1" includes a state in which the angle AGa formed between the first operation surface 47 and the insertion direction D1 is 84° or greater and 90° or less, in addition to a state in which the angle is 90°.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the top surface 43 and the bottom surface 44 face each other in the Z direction, which is the central axis of the central axis CA2. As shown in FIG. 7, the bottom surface 44 has an insertion opening 446 into which the liquid introduction portion 642 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is inserted, and a supply portion positioning portion 448. The bottom surface 44 forms the lower surface of the cartridge 4 when the cartridge 4 is in a fully mounted state. The bottom surface 44 is the surface located on the rear side of the cartridge mounting portion 6 in the rotational mounting direction D2, with the rear side in the insertion direction D1 as the rotation fulcrum 698, i.e., the surface located on the leading end side in the rotational mounting direction D2. The supply portion positioning portion 448 receives the apparatus-side supply portion positioning portion 644 during the mounting process and positions the liquid supply portion 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642. Specifically, in the supply unit connecting step of the mounting step, the supply unit positioning portion 448 receives the apparatus-side supply unit positioning portion 644 and restricts movement of the supply unit positioning portion 448 in a direction intersecting with the rotational mounting direction D2, thereby positioning the liquid supply unit 442 with respect to the liquid introduction portion 642. The supply unit positioning portion 448 is a recess formed on the bottom surface 44 and recessed from the outer surface of the bottom surface 44.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 6, the top surface 43 faces the bottom surface 44 in the Z direction, which is the central axis direction. The top surface 43 forms the upper surface of the cartridge 4 when the cartridge 4 is in a fully mounted state. In the inserted position, the top surface 43 is located on the near side in the rotational mounting direction D2, i.e., on the far side in the disconnection direction D3, which is the opposite direction to the rotational mounting direction D2. The top surface 43 connects the front surface 42 and the first operation surface 47. The top surface 43 has a main surface 432, an inclined surface 433, and a second operation surface 435 connected to the first operation surface 47. The main surface 432, the inclined surface 433, and the second operation surface 435 are all flat.

[0045] The main surface 432 is the largest of the three surfaces 431, 433, and 435. The main surface 432 extends from the front surface 42 along the removal direction D4, which is the opposite direction to the insertion direction D1. The main surface 432 is parallel to the insertion direction D1. The inclined surface 433 extends from the main surface 432 toward the removal direction D4. The end of the inclined surface 433 on the +Y direction side is connected to the first operation surface 47. The inclined surface 433 inclines with respect to the insertion direction D1 toward the removal direction D4, i.e., toward the first operation surface 47, so as to be positioned inward of the cartridge body 41, which is the bottom surface 44 side. As shown in FIG. 8 , for example, in the insertion posture and in a side view, a second angle AG2 formed by the inclined surface 433 and the insertion direction D1 is in the range of 10° to 35°. The second operation surface 435 connects the inclined surface 433 and the first operation surface 47. The second operation surface 435 receives a second load FD2 that moves the cartridge 4 in the rotational mounting direction D2 when the second operation surface 435 is pushed downward by gravity by a user. The direction of the second load FD2 is approximately the downward direction of gravity. The rotational mounting direction D2 also has a component in the downward direction of gravity. In the insertion posture, the second operation surface 435 is positioned closer to the downward direction of gravity than the main surface 432. In the insertion posture and in a side view, a first angle AG1 formed between the second operation surface 435 and the insertion direction D1 is smaller than the second angle AG2. The first angle AG1 is, for example, 2° or less, and is 0° in this embodiment. In the insertion posture and in a side view, the second operation surface 435 is approximately perpendicular to the downward direction of gravity. Here, "approximately perpendicular to the downward direction of gravity" includes a state in which the angle formed between the second operation surface 435 and the downward direction of gravity is 90°, as well as a state in which the angle is within a range of 90°±2°. As can be seen from the above description, in the insertion posture and in a side view, the first angle AG1 formed between the second operation surface 435 and the insertion direction D1 is smaller than the angle AGa formed between the first operation surface 47 and the insertion direction D1. The downward direction of gravity and the direction of the second load FD2 are generally the same. In addition, in the rotational mounting direction D2, the tangent direction of the rotational trajectory of the cartridge 4 passing through the second operation surface 435 intersects the second operation surface 435 approximately perpendicularly in a side view. As shown in FIG. 6, the inclined surface 433 forms a first space SP1 above the second operation surface 435.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 7, the first side surface 45 and the second side surface 46 face each other in the X direction, which is the width direction. In the insertion position, the first side surface 45 and the second side surface 46 are parallel to the Y direction and the Z direction, respectively. The first side surface 45 is the surface located on the +X direction side. The second side surface 46 is the surface located on the -X direction side. As shown in FIG. 7, the corner portion 89 is provided at the corner where the front surface 42 and the bottom surface 44 intersect. The corner portion 89 has a terminal arrangement portion 90 that is recessed inward. The circuit board 50 is arranged in the terminal arrangement portion 90.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 6, the cartridge 4 further has a stepped surface 87 and an opposing surface 431. The stepped surface 87 is a surface formed by the adapter 402. The stepped surface 87 is a surface that rises from the end of the bottom surface 44 on the +Y direction side, which is the removal direction D4 side, toward the top surface 43. As shown in FIG. 7, a cartridge engaging portion 497 is formed on the stepped surface 87. The cartridge engaging portion 497 is a recess that is recessed from the outer surface of the stepped surface 87. In the fully-mounted state, the cartridge engaging portion 497 engages with the mounting engaging portion 697 by fitting into the mounting engaging portion 697. This engagement maintains the fully-mounted state of the cartridge 4 in the cartridge mounting portion 6.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, the facing surface 431 is a surface formed by the liquid container 401. The facing surface 431 is the bottom surface of the liquid container 401. The facing surface 431 faces the second operation surface 435 in the central axis direction along the central axis CA2. The facing surface 431 is located on the upward side of gravity than the bottom surface 44. In other words, in the central axis direction along the central axis CA2, the facing surface 431 is located between the second operation surface 435 and the bottom surface 44. This makes it possible to prevent the cartridge body 41 from becoming large, and as shown in FIG. 6, a second space SP2 is generated below the facing surface 431.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6 , a virtual rectangular parallelepiped VC, indicated by a dotted line, is a virtual rectangular parallelepiped VC with the minimum volume required to accommodate the cartridge body 41. In this case, the first portion 47a of the first operation surface 47 excluding the end portion 47b on the rotational mounting direction D2 side, and the second operation surface 435 are located inside the virtual rectangular parallelepiped VC. The end portion 47b is a portion of the first operation surface 47 where the opposing surface 431 intersects. By positioning the first portion 47a and the second operation surface 435 inside the virtual rectangular parallelepiped VC, an increase in size of the cartridge body 41 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the second portion 431a of the opposing surface 431 excluding the connection portion 431b connected to the first operation surface 47 is located inside the virtual rectangular parallelepiped VC. By positioning the second portion 431a inside the virtual rectangular parallelepiped VC, an increase in size of the cartridge body 41 can be suppressed.

[0050] A-4. Cartridge installation process: FIG. 9 is a first diagram illustrating the process of mounting the cartridge 4 to the cartridge mounting portion 6. FIG. 10 is a second diagram illustrating the process of mounting the cartridge 4 to the cartridge mounting portion 6. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 cut along the YZ plane parallel to the Y and Z directions. FIG. 12 is a third diagram illustrating the process of mounting the cartridge 4 to the cartridge mounting portion 6. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 cut along the YZ plane.

[0051] First, the terminal connection process is performed by moving the cartridge 4 along the insertion direction D1 to a predetermined position where the cartridge-side terminals 521 of the circuit board 50 contact the device-side terminals 721 of the cartridge mounting portion 6. In the terminal connection process, the user pushes the first operation surface 47 in the insertion direction D1. As a result, the first operation surface 47 receives a first load FD1 oriented in the insertion direction D1. The first operation surface 47 extends from the second operation surface 435 toward the bottom surface 44. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first operation surface 47 is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction D1 in the insertion posture of the cartridge 4 and in a side view. In other words, the direction of the normal vector V1 of the first operation surface 47 is substantially parallel to the insertion direction D1. This prevents the first load FD1, which is generated when the user pushes the first operation surface 47 in the insertion direction D1, from being dispersed. Therefore, the user can move the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1 by pushing the first operation surface 47 in the insertion direction D1 with a smaller force. In other words, the direction of the first load FD1 can be set close to 90° with respect to the first operation surface 47, which prevents the first load FD1 from being dispersed in directions other than the insertion direction D1, and therefore the user can move the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1 by pushing the first operation surface 47 in the insertion direction D1 with a smaller force. This prevents a decrease in operability of the cartridge 4 in the insertion direction D1.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , the terminal connection process is completed by moving the cartridge 4 along the insertion direction D1 to a predetermined position where the cartridge-side terminals 521 and the device-side terminals 721 come into contact. Then, the supply unit connection process is performed. That is, the user presses the second operation surface 435 downward in the direction of gravity to rotate the cartridge 4 around the rotation fulcrum 698 in the rotational mounting direction D2, which has a component in the downward direction of gravity. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13 , the supply unit positioning portion 448 receives the device-side supply unit positioning portion 644, thereby starting the positioning of the liquid supply unit 442 relative to the liquid introduction portion 642. Next, the liquid supply unit 442 is inserted into and connected to the liquid introduction portion 642, thereby completing the installation of the cartridge 4 in the cartridge mounting portion 6. Here, as shown in FIG. 8 , in the insertion posture and in a side view, a first angle AG1 formed between the second operation surface 435 and the insertion direction D1 is smaller than a second angle AG2 formed between the inclined surface 433 and the insertion direction D1. As a result, the angle between the second operation surface 435 and the downward direction of gravity can be closer to 90° than the angle between the inclined surface 433 and the downward direction of gravity. Therefore, since the orientation of the second load FD2 can be closer to 90° with respect to the second operation surface 435, dispersion of the second load in directions other than the downward direction of gravity can be suppressed compared to when the inclined surface 433 is pressed in the downward direction of gravity. This reduces the force required to press the second operation surface 435 in the downward direction of gravity to move the cartridge 4 in the rotational mounting direction D2. Therefore, during the cartridge 4 installation, a decrease in operability in the rotational mounting direction D2 of the cartridge can be suppressed. Particularly in this embodiment, in the insertion posture and in a side view, the second operation surface 435 is approximately perpendicular to the downward direction of gravity. This reduces dispersion of the second load applied to the second operation surface 435 during the supply unit connection process, thereby reducing the force required to press the second operation surface 435 in the downward direction of gravity to move the cartridge 4 in the rotational mounting direction D2. As described above, a decrease in operability during cartridge installation can be suppressed.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 13 , when the cartridge 4 is in the fully mounted state, the liquid supply portion 442 of the cartridge 4 and the liquid introduction portion 642 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 are connected. As a result, the liquid contained in the liquid storage portion 450 of the cartridge 4 is supplied to the liquid introduction portion 642 via the liquid supply portion 442. In addition, in this embodiment, while the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply portion 442 to the liquid introduction portion 642, air contained in the liquid storage portion 699 of the cartridge mounting portion 6 becomes bubbles, which circulate through the liquid introduction portion 642 and the liquid supply portion 442 and then into the liquid storage portion 450. This allows gas-liquid exchange in the liquid storage portion 450. Note that in other embodiments, the cartridge 4 may have an atmosphere communication passage that connects the liquid storage portion 450 with the outside, and gas-liquid exchange may occur via this atmosphere communication passage. The atmosphere communication passage is located at a position different from the liquid supply portion 442, and is formed, for example, in a wall that forms the liquid storage portion 450.

[0054] Furthermore, in the installation complete state of the cartridge 4, the installation complete state is maintained by the cartridge engaging portion 497 of the cartridge 4 engaging with the installation engaging portion 697 of the cartridge mounting portion 6. The installation engaging portion 697 is formed on an engagement formation body 677 located on the first device wall 67 side of the cartridge mounting portion 6.

[0055] When the cartridge 4 is to be removed from the cartridge mounting portion 6, the user first lifts the first operation surface 47 side of the cartridge 4 upward toward gravity, thereby moving the cartridge 4 in the connection release direction D3 having an upward component of gravity around the rotation fulcrum 698. During this movement, the mounting engagement portion 697 formed of a spring is displaced by the cartridge 4, thereby releasing the engagement between the mounting engagement portion 697 and the cartridge engagement portion 497. After the cartridge 4 has moved in the connection release direction D3 until it assumes the insertion posture, the user grips the first operation surface 47 side of the cartridge 4 and moves the cartridge 4 in the removal direction D4. This removes the cartridge 4 from the cartridge mounting portion 6.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, the four cartridges 4C, 4M, 4Y, and 4K are aligned in the X direction, leaving only a small space between adjacent cartridges 4. Therefore, it is difficult to grasp the cartridge 4 by its side surfaces 45 and 46 in order to grip and move it in the removal direction D4. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the inclined surface 433 of the cartridge 4 creates a first space SP1 above the second operation surface 435, and the stepped surface 87 creates a second space SP2 below the opposing surface 431. These first and second spaces SP1 and SP2 improve the ease of removal of the cartridge 4, as described below. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the formation of the second space SP2 allows a user to insert their hand into the second space SP2 and push it upward against the opposing surface 431 due to gravity. In addition, in the insertion posture shown in Figure 11, the first space SP1 and the second space SP2 are formed, so that the user can insert their hands into the first space SP1 and the second space SP2 to grasp the second operating surface 435 and the opposing surface 431 and move the cartridge 4 in the removal direction D4.

[0057] According to the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , the cartridge 4 has a main surface 432 that constitutes the top surface 43, and a second operation surface 435 that constitutes the top surface 43 and is located further downward in the direction of gravity than the main surface 432. This prevents the cartridge 4 from becoming larger in size compared to when the main surface 432 and the second operation surface 435 are at the same height. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8 , the cartridge 4 has an inclined surface 433 that is positioned inward toward the second operation surface 435. In other words, the cartridge 4 has an inclined surface 433 that is inclined with respect to the insertion direction D1 so as to be positioned closer to the bottom surface 44 as it approaches the removal direction D4. This also prevents the cartridge 4 from becoming larger in size. By preventing the cartridge 4 from becoming larger in size, the weight of the cartridge 4 is reduced and the cartridge 4 is easier for the user to grip, preventing a decrease in operability when the user installs or removes the cartridge 4 from the printing device 10. When the cartridge 4 is mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 6, the first load FD1 applied to the first operation surface 47 and the second load FD2 applied to the second operation surface 435 can be prevented from being dispersed in a direction other than the direction in which the cartridge 4 is pushed forward. This prevents a decrease in operability during the mounting process of the cartridge 4.

[0058] B. Other Embodiments: B-1. Alternative embodiment 1: The present disclosure is not limited to inkjet printers and their ink cartridges, but can also be applied to cartridges installed in any printing device that ejects liquids other than ink. For example, the present disclosure can be applied to various printing devices and their cartridges, such as the following: (1) Image recording devices such as facsimile machines (2) A printing device that sprays color materials used in the manufacture of color filters for image display devices such as liquid crystal displays. (3) A printing device that sprays electrode materials used to form electrodes in organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displays, surface-emitting displays (Field Emission Displays, FEDs), etc. (4) A printing device that sprays liquid containing bioorganic substances used in biochip manufacturing. (5) Sample printing device as a precision pipette (6) Lubricant printing device (7) Resin liquid printing device (8) A printing device that injects lubricating oil into precision machinery such as watches and cameras. (9) A printing device that sprays transparent resin liquid, such as ultraviolet curing resin liquid, onto a substrate to form minute hemispherical lenses (optical lenses) used in optical communication elements, etc. (10) A printing device that sprays acidic or alkaline etching liquid to etch substrates, etc. (11) A printing device equipped with a liquid ejection head that ejects any other minute amount of liquid droplets

[0059] The term "droplet" refers to the state of liquid ejected from a printing device, including droplets, tears, and string-like droplets. The term "liquid" as used herein refers to any material that can be ejected by a printing device. For example, "liquid" refers to any material in its liquid phase, including materials with high or low viscosity, as well as liquid materials such as sols, gel water, other inorganic solvents, organic solvents, solutions, liquid resins, and liquid metals. The term "liquid" also includes not only liquids as a single state of matter, but also particles of functional materials composed of solids such as pigments and metal particles dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent. Representative examples of liquids include inks and liquid crystals, as described in the above embodiments. Here, "ink" encompasses various liquid compositions, such as general water-based inks and oil-based inks, as well as gel inks and hot-melt inks.

[0060] B-2. Alternative embodiment 2: In the above embodiment, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the main surface 432 and the inclined surface 433 of the cartridge 4 have a flat shape, but this is not limited to this. For example, the inclined surface 433 may have a curved shape that is convex outward from the cartridge 4 or a curved shape that is convex inward from the cartridge 4. The inclined surface 433 may also be configured by combining a plurality of flat surfaces. The inclined surface 433 may be any surface that connects the main surface 432 and the second operation surface 435, and may be, for example, a surface that follows the direction of gravity.

[0061] C. Other forms: The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features of the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described below can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted.

[0062] (1) A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a cartridge that is removably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device. The cartridge includes: a first operation surface located on the near side of an insertion direction of the cartridge that is aligned horizontally with respect to the cartridge mounting portion when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; a main surface that constitutes the top surface and located on the upward side of gravity when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; and a second operation surface that constitutes the top surface and is located on the downward side of gravity than the main surface when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; the second operation surface being located on the downward side of gravity when the cartridge is pressed toward the downward side of gravity and receiving a second load that moves the cartridge in a rotational mounting direction that has a component in the downward direction of gravity. In a side view of the cartridge when viewed from a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the downward direction of gravity when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, the angle between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the angle between the first operation surface and the insertion direction. According to this aspect, the second operation surface being located on the downward side of gravity than the main surface can prevent the cartridge from becoming larger in outer size. This prevents a decrease in operability when a user installs or removes a cartridge in a printing device. Furthermore, in the cartridge, the angle between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the angle between the first operation surface and the insertion direction. This allows the angle between the second operation surface and the downward direction of gravity to be closer to 90° than the angle between the first operation surface and the downward direction of gravity. Therefore, the direction of the second load can be closer to 90° with respect to the second operation surface, thereby preventing the second load from being dispersed. This reduces the force that pushes the second operation surface in the downward direction of gravity to move the cartridge in the rotational installation direction. This prevents a decrease in operability when installing a cartridge in the rotational installation direction.

[0063] (2) In the above embodiment, the cartridge mounting portion may further include a bottom surface having an insertion opening into which a liquid introduction portion of the cartridge mounting portion is inserted, and the first operation surface may extend from the second operation surface toward the bottom surface. According to this embodiment, the first operation surface extends from the second operation surface toward the bottom surface, so that the direction of the first load can be set close to 90° with respect to the first operation surface, thereby preventing the first load from being dispersed. This allows the cartridge to be moved in the insertion direction by pushing the first operation surface toward the insertion direction with a smaller force. Therefore, when mounting the cartridge, it is possible to prevent a decrease in operability in the insertion direction of the cartridge.

[0064] (3) In the above embodiment, the cartridge body forming the outer shell may further include the first operating surface and the second operating surface, a first portion of the first operating surface other than the end portion in the rotational mounting direction of the cartridge body, and the second operating surface, which may be located inside an imaginary rectangular parallelepiped having a minimum volume for accommodating the cartridge body. According to this embodiment, the first portion of the first operating surface and the second operating surface are located inside the imaginary rectangular parallelepiped, thereby preventing the cartridge body from becoming large.

[0065] (4) In the above embodiment, the second operation surface may be connected to the first operation surface, and the cartridge may further have an opposing surface facing the second operation surface and connected to the first operation surface, and a second portion of the opposing surface excluding a connection portion connected to the first operation surface may be located inside the imaginary rectangular parallelepiped. According to this embodiment, since the second portion of the opposing surface is located inside the imaginary rectangular parallelepiped, an increase in size of the cartridge body can be suppressed.

[0066] (5) In the above embodiment, in the insertion posture and in the side view, the first operation surface may be approximately perpendicular to the insertion direction, and the second operation surface may be approximately perpendicular to the downward direction of gravity. According to this embodiment, dispersion of the first load applied to the first operation surface can be suppressed, thereby reducing the force required to press the first operation surface in order to move the cartridge in the insertion direction. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, dispersion of the second load applied to the second operation surface can be suppressed, thereby reducing the force required to press the second operation surface in the downward direction of gravity in order to move the cartridge in the rotational installation direction. As described above, a decrease in operability during cartridge installation can be suppressed.

[0067] (6) According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device, the cartridge including: a liquid storage portion for storing liquid; a liquid supply portion that is in communication with the liquid storage portion and has a central axis; a front surface that is located at the rear side in an insertion direction that is a direction in which the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting portion and is perpendicular to a central axis direction along the central axis; a first operation surface that faces the front surface in the insertion direction and receives a first load for moving the cartridge in the insertion direction; and a bottom surface that has an insertion opening into which a liquid introduction portion of the cartridge mounting portion is inserted, the bottom surface being located at the rear side in a rotational mounting direction that has a component in the downward direction of gravity and has a rotation fulcrum that is located at the rear side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction. The cartridge mounting portion includes a bottom surface positioned on the bottom side of the cartridge mounting portion, and a top surface facing the bottom surface in the central axis direction and connecting the front surface and the first operation surface. The top surface has a main surface extending from the front surface along a removal direction opposite to the insertion direction, and a second operation surface positioned closer to the bottom surface than the main surface and receiving a second load for moving the cartridge in the rotational installation direction when pressed in the downward direction of gravity. In a side view of the cartridge viewed from a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the downward direction of gravity in the cartridge's inserted orientation into the cartridge mounting portion, the angle formed by the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the angle formed by the first operation surface and the insertion direction. According to this configuration, by positioning the second operation surface closer to the downward direction of gravity than the main surface, the external dimensions of the cartridge can be prevented from becoming larger. This prevents a decrease in operability for users when installing or removing a cartridge from a printing device. Furthermore, in the cartridge, the angle formed between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the angle formed between the first operation surface and the insertion direction. This allows the angle formed between the second operation surface and the downward direction of gravity to be closer to 90° than the angle formed between the first operation surface and the downward direction of gravity. Therefore, the direction of the second load can be made closer to 90° with respect to the second operation surface, thereby preventing the second load from being dispersed.This allows the cartridge to be moved in the rotational mounting direction by pressing the second operation surface downward with a smaller force, thereby preventing a decrease in operability in the rotational mounting direction of the cartridge when mounting the cartridge.

[0068] (7) In the above embodiment, the cartridge body may further include an opposing surface that faces the second operation surface, and the opposing surface may be located between the second operation surface and the bottom surface in the central axis direction. This embodiment can prevent the cartridge body from becoming large.

[0069] (8) In the above embodiment, the top surface further has an inclined surface extending from the main surface toward the removal direction, the inclined surface being inclined with respect to the insertion direction so as to be positioned toward the bottom surface as it approaches the removal direction, and in the insertion posture and in the side view, The first angle formed between the second operation surface and the insertion direction may be smaller than the second angle formed between the inclined surface and the insertion direction. According to this embodiment, the cartridge has an inclined surface positioned toward the bottom as it approaches the second operation surface, thereby preventing the cartridge from becoming larger in size. This prevents a decrease in operability for users when installing or removing the cartridge from a printing device. Furthermore, in the cartridge, the first angle formed between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the second angle formed between the inclined surface and the insertion direction. This allows the angle formed between the second operation surface and the downward direction of gravity to be closer to 90° than the angle formed between the inclined surface and the downward direction of gravity. Therefore, the direction of the second load can be closer to 90° with respect to the second operation surface, preventing the second load from being dispersed more than when the inclined surface is pushed downward in the downward direction of gravity. This reduces the force required to push the second operation surface downward in the downward direction of gravity to move the cartridge in the rotational installation direction. This prevents a decrease in operability of the cartridge in the rotational installation direction when installing the cartridge.

[0070] (9) A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a cartridge that is removably mounted in a cartridge mounting portion of a printing device. The cartridge is inserted into a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting portion by moving in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction, and then rotated in a rotational mounting direction that has a component in the downward direction of gravity, with the rear side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, thereby completing the mounting of the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion. The cartridge includes: a first operating surface located on the near side in the insertion direction when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; a second operating surface located on the near side in the rotational mounting direction when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; a second operating surface located on the near side in the rotational mounting direction when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; and a sloped surface located on the near side in the rotational mounting direction when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; the second operating surface located on the near side in the rotational mounting direction when the cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion; an inclined surface connected to the second operating surface; the inclined surface inclined with respect to the insertion direction so as to be positioned inward as it approaches the second operating surface; and a first angle formed between the second operating surface and the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the gravity downward direction; a first angle formed between the second operating surface and the insertion direction and the inclined surface connected to the second operating surface; and a second angle formed between the second operating surface and the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in the insertion direction when viewed from a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the gravity downward direction; and a second angle formed between the second operating surface and the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in ... side of the cartridge in the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in the insertion direction when viewed from a side of the cartridge in the insertion Furthermore, in the cartridge, the first angle formed between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the second angle formed between the inclined surface and the insertion direction. As a result, the angle formed between the second operation surface and the downward direction of gravity can be closer to 90° than the angle formed between the inclined surface and the downward direction of gravity. Therefore, the direction of the second load can be closer to 90° with respect to the second operation surface, which makes it possible to suppress dispersion of the second load compared to when the inclined surface is pressed in the downward direction of gravity. Therefore, the force pressing the second operation surface in the downward direction of gravity to move the cartridge in the rotational mounting direction can be made smaller.This makes it possible to prevent a decrease in operability in the rotational mounting direction of the cartridge when mounting the cartridge.

[0071] In addition to the above aspects, the present disclosure can be realized in other aspects, such as a method for manufacturing a cartridge, and a printing system including a cartridge and a printing device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1...printing system, 2...printing paper, 4, 4C, 4M, 4Y, 4K...cartridge, 4A...first type cartridge, 4B...second type cartridge, 6...cartridge mounting section, 8...cap member, 10...printing device, 13...replacement cover, 15...operation button, 20...carriage, 22...ejection head, 24...tube, 30...drive mechanism, 31...control section, 32...timing belt, 34...drive motor, 41...cartridge body, 42...front surface, 43...top surface, 44...bottom surface, 45...first side surface, 46... Second side surface, 47...first operation surface, 47a...first portion, 47b...edge, 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, 87...step surface, 89...corner portion, 90...terminal arrangement portion, 401...liquid container, 402...adapter, 431...opposing surface, 431a...second portion, 431b...connection portion, 432...main surface, 433...inclined Inclined surface, 435...second operation surface, 442...liquid supply portion, 442a...supply portion tip portion, 446...insertion opening portion, 448...supply portion positioning portion, 450...liquid storage portion, 497...cartridge engaging portion, 521...cartridge side terminal, 602...device guide portion, 602a...first device guide portion, 602b...second device guide portion, 610...support member, 611...first support side wall, 612...second support side wall, 613...main wall, 614...device opening portion, 642...liquid introduction portion, 642b...tip portion, 644...device side supply portion positioning portion, 644b...other end portion, 674...insertion / removal opening, 677...engagement formation body, 697...mounting / engaging portion, 698...rotation fulcrum, 699...liquid storage portion, 721...device side terminal, 831...supply portion arrangement portion, AG1...first angle, AG2...second angle, AGa...angle, CA1...central axis, CA2...central axis, D1...insertion direction, D2...rotational mounting direction, D3...connection / disconnection direction, D4...removal direction, FD1...first load, FD2...second load, SP1...first space, SP2...second space, V1...normal vector, VC...virtual rectangular parallelepiped

Claims

1. A cartridge that is detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a printing device, a first operation surface located on a front side in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction into the cartridge mounting portion when the cartridge is in an insertion posture into the cartridge mounting portion, the first operation surface being pressed toward the insertion direction to receive a first load for moving the cartridge in the insertion direction; a main surface that constitutes an upper surface located on the upward side in the direction of gravity in the insertion posture; a second operation surface that constitutes the upper surface in the insertion posture and is located on the downward side of gravity relative to the main surface, and that receives a second load when pressed toward the downward direction of gravity to move the cartridge in a rotational mounting direction that has a component in the downward direction of gravity, In a side view of the cartridge in the insertion posture, the cartridge is viewed from a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the gravity direction. an angle formed between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than an angle formed between the first operation surface and the insertion direction.

2. 10. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising: a bottom surface having an insertion opening into which a liquid introduction section of the cartridge mounting section is inserted; The first operation surface extends from the second operation surface toward the side where the bottom surface is located.

3. 3. The cartridge according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: a cartridge body forming an outer shell, the cartridge body having the first operating surface and the second operating surface; A cartridge in which a first portion of the first operating surface other than the end portion on the rotational mounting direction side and the second operating surface are located inside an imaginary rectangular parallelepiped of minimum volume that can accommodate the cartridge body.

4. 4. The cartridge of claim 3, the second operation surface is connected to the first operation surface, the cartridge further has an opposing surface facing the second operation surface and connected to the first operation surface; A cartridge, wherein a second portion of the opposing surface excluding a connection portion connected to the first operation surface is positioned inside the imaginary rectangular parallelepiped.

5. 5. A cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, In the insertion posture and in the side view, the first operation surface is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction, The cartridge, wherein the second operation surface is substantially perpendicular to the downward direction of gravity.

6. A cartridge that is detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a printing device, a liquid storage portion for storing liquid; a liquid supply section communicating with the liquid storage section and having a central axis; a front surface located on the far side in an insertion direction, which is a direction in which the cartridge is inserted to a predetermined position in the cartridge mounting portion and is perpendicular to a central axis direction along the central axis; a first operation surface facing the front surface in the insertion direction, the first operation surface receiving a first load for moving the cartridge in the insertion direction; a bottom surface having an insertion opening into which a liquid introduction portion of the cartridge mounting portion is inserted, the bottom surface being located on the far side in a rotational mounting direction having a component in the downward direction of gravity, the rotational mounting direction being centered on the far side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction; an upper surface that faces the bottom surface in the central axis direction and connects the front surface and the first operation surface; The upper surface is a main surface extending from the front surface along a removal direction opposite to the insertion direction; a second operation surface located closer to the bottom surface than the main surface, the second operation surface receiving a second load for moving the cartridge in the rotational mounting direction, the second operation surface being pressed in the downward direction of gravity, A cartridge, wherein when viewed from the side in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the gravity downward direction in an insertion position of the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion, the angle formed between the second operating surface and the insertion direction is smaller than the angle formed between the first operating surface and the insertion direction.

7. 7. The cartridge of claim 6, further comprising: a facing surface facing the second operation surface, The cartridge, wherein the opposing surface is located between the second operation surface and the bottom surface in the central axis direction.

8. 8. The cartridge according to claim 6 or claim 7, the top surface further includes an inclined surface extending from the main surface toward the removal direction, the inclined surface being inclined with respect to the insertion direction so as to be positioned toward the bottom surface as it approaches the removal direction, In the insertion posture and in the side view, a first angle formed between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than a second angle formed between the inclined surface and the insertion direction.

9. A cartridge that is detachably mounted in a cartridge mounting section of a printing device, the cartridge is inserted into a predetermined position of the cartridge mounting portion by moving in an insertion direction along a horizontal direction, and then rotated in a rotational mounting direction having a component in the downward direction of gravity, with the back side of the cartridge mounting portion in the insertion direction as a rotation fulcrum, thereby completing the mounting of the cartridge into the cartridge mounting portion; The cartridge comprises: a first operation surface located on the front side in the insertion direction when the cartridge is in an insertion posture into the cartridge mounting portion, the first operation surface being pressed toward the insertion direction to receive a first load for moving the cartridge in the insertion direction; a second operation surface located on the front side in the rotational mounting direction in the insertion posture, the second operation surface being pressed downward in the gravity direction to receive a second load for moving the second operation surface in the rotational mounting direction; an inclined surface connected to the second operation surface, the inclined surface being located on the front side of the rotational mounting direction in the insertion posture and inclined with respect to the insertion direction so as to be located on the inward side toward the second operation surface, A cartridge, wherein, in a side view of the cartridge in the insertion position from a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction and the gravity downward direction, a first angle formed between the second operation surface and the insertion direction is smaller than a second angle formed between the inclined surface and the insertion direction.

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