Ink cartridges

Abstract

An ink cartridge 1 comprises: a case body 2 in the form of a rectangular box, having side wall sections and an open top section; and a cover 3 in the form of a rectangular plate, which has cover side wall sections on long sides inserted into body-side wall sections 2A on the long sides of the case body 2 in an attached state and which detachably covers an opening 2a in the case body 2. The cover 3 has six engaging claws 5 protruding toward the body-side wall sections 2A facing the cover-side wall sections on the two long sides in the attached state. The body-side wall sections 2A of the case body 2 include six engaging holes 6 with which the six engaging claws 5 of the cover-side wall section can be engaged, respectively, and a sliding section 8 which includes an inclined surface 8b extending in the long-side direction and inclined upward in the vicinity of each engaging hole 6 and on which each engaging claw 5 can slide and be guided at the time of attaching / detaching the case 3. Due to this configuration, this ink cartridge enables secure attachment and easy removal of the cover 3. Moreover, the ink cartridge is configured to accommodate a replaceable ink bag 4 within a space formed by the case body 2 and the cover 3.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for supplying ink to a recording head of an inkjet printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Inkjet printers are devices that print by moving a recording head, which receives ink from an ink cartridge, back and forth across the width of the recording paper. However, in inkjet printers that print large volumes, the ink cartridges become large, making it impossible to mount these large ink cartridges on a carriage.

[0003] Therefore, a system has been adopted in which an ink cartridge is removably loaded into the main body of an inkjet printer and ink is supplied from this ink cartridge to the recording head via a tube. Here, the ink cartridge has a case body and a cover that form a container for accommodating an ink bag (pouch). When the ink in the ink bag is consumed, the cover of the ink cartridge is opened and a new ink bag is placed in the case body, and the opening of the case body is then closed with the cover.

[0004] Such an ink cartridge opening / closing structure is proposed, for example, in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses an opening / closing structure in which a hook on the long side of the cover is connected to a locking unit on the long side of the case body, the locking unit being composed of a groove and an elastic locking portion. Furthermore, in this opening / closing structure, a positioning protrusion is provided on the short side of the cover, and a positioning hole is formed on the short side of the case body.

[0005] In an ink cartridge equipped with the above-described opening / closing mechanism, the cover is attached to the case body by inserting the positioning protrusion on the cover into the positioning hole on the case body and rotating the cover around the insertion point. Then, the hook on the cover engages with the elastic locking part on the case body, pushing the elastic locking part open, and the hook is inserted into the groove on the case body, thereby assembling the cover to the case body.

[0006] Furthermore, when removing the cover from the case body, a finger is inserted into the operating hole formed in the cover and the cover is slid in the longitudinal direction to release the engagement between the hook and the groove, and the cover is then raised and separated from the case body.

[0007] Incidentally, the replaceable ink bag housed inside the case body of the ink cartridge is provided with an ink supply connector (spout), which is fitted and fixed into a U-groove-shaped mating groove of an adapter provided on the case body (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5586737 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-025900 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in the ink cartridge opening and closing structure proposed in Patent Document 1, the elastic locking portion of the locking unit provided on the case body side is an L-shaped cantilever piece, so the hook on the cover side is easily disengaged from the elastic locking portion, and there is also a possibility that the elastic locking portion may break due to external force.

[0010] Furthermore, when removing the cover from the case body, the cover is slid in the long direction to release the engagement between the hook and the groove, and the cover remains closed to the case body, so no gap is formed between the cover and the case body. This means that it is necessary to insert a finger into the cover's operating hole to remove the cover from the case body, making the cover's operating hole essential.

[0011] Furthermore, in the structure for fitting the ink supply connector of the ink bag into the adapter on the case body side as disclosed in Patent Document 2, when the user replaces the ink bag, the positioning of the ink supply connector of the ink bag is unclear, which can lead to the ink supply connector being fitted in the adapter in an incomplete state, and the user cannot clearly recognize when the ink supply connector has been fitted into the adapter. Another problem is that the ink supply connector is easily disengaged from the fitting groove of the adapter.

[0012] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide an ink cartridge in which the cover can be securely attached to the case body and easily removed from the case body, and in which the ink supply connector of the ink bag is accurately positioned and securely fitted into the adapter of the case body, and in which the user can clearly recognize that the ink supply connector has been fitted into the adapter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the ink cartridge according to claim 1 is An ink cartridge comprising: a box-shaped case body having opposing side walls and an opening; a cover that detachably covers the opening of the case body and has cover side walls that overlap with the body side walls of the case body when attached; and a replaceable ink bag housed in a space formed by the case body and the cover, one or more engagement claws protruding toward the opposing body side wall portion in the attached state on one of the cover side wall portion or the body side wall portion, one or more engagement holes formed on the other of the main body side wall portion or the cover side wall portion, with which the one or more engagement claws can be engaged; a slope extending from the engagement hole in the vicinity of the engagement hole toward the end of the main body side wall portion or the cover side wall portion; case The cover is characterized by comprising a slide portion that can guide the engagement claws to slide when the main body and the cover are removed.

[0014] According to the present invention, the cover can be easily and securely attached to the case body with one touch by simply aligning its engaging claw with the position of the engaging hole on the case body and pushing it down, and the cover can be reliably prevented from coming off (detaching) from the case body.

[0015] Furthermore, when the cover is slid, the engagement between the cover's engagement claws and the case body's engagement holes is released, and as the cover's engagement claws slide along the slope of the slide section, it lifts up from the device body, creating a gradually increasing gap between the two. This allows the user to insert their hand into the gap and lift the cover, allowing them to easily and efficiently remove it from the case body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the cover can be securely attached to the case body, and the ink cartridge can be easily removed from the case body.

[0017] In addition, the ink supply connector of the ink bag can be accurately positioned and securely fitted into the mating groove of the case body, and the user can clearly recognize that the ink supply connector has been fitted into the adapter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ink cartridge according to the present invention with the cover open. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of part A in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 5(a) to 5(c) are partial vertical cross-sectional views showing a method for attaching a cover to an ink cartridge according to the present invention in the order of steps. [Figure 6] 1(a) to 1(c) are partial side views (views of the case body viewed from the inside) showing the steps of removing the cover of the ink cartridge according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 6(a). [Figure 8] FIG. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the state before the ink bag of the ink cartridge according to the present invention is attached. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing the state before the ink bag of the ink cartridge according to the present invention is attached. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing a state in which an ink bag of the ink cartridge according to the present invention is attached; [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the state after the ink bag of the ink cartridge according to the present invention has been attached. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing the state after the ink bag of the ink cartridge according to the present invention has been attached. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a partial front view showing another embodiment 1 of the ink bag mounting structure. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a front view of a main part of an adapter showing another embodiment 2 of the ink bag mounting structure. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a partial front view showing the ink bag mounted state according to another embodiment 2 of the ink bag mounting structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] (Ink cartridge configuration) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to the present invention with its cover open, and the illustrated ink cartridge 1 is composed of a rectangular box-shaped case body 2 with one side (the top side in Figure 1) open, a removable rectangular plate-shaped cover 3 that covers the opening 2a of the case body 2, and a replaceable ink bag 4 housed in the space formed by the case body 2 and cover 3. The directions of the arrows in Figure 1 represent the "front-rear" direction, the "left-right" direction, and the "up-down" direction, respectively.

[0021] Three engagement claws (hooks) 5 are integrally provided on both left and right end edges (long sides, cover sidewall portions) of the cover 3, protruding downward (towards the case main body 2) at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction). That is, a total of six engagement claws 5 are provided protruding from the cover 3. Rectangular engagement holes 6 are formed in three locations on each of the left and right long side walls (main body sidewall portions) 2A of the case main body 2 (three locations on each side corresponding to the engagement claws 5 on the cover 3 side, a total of six locations).

[0022] (Cover detachable structure) The cover 3 is attached to the case body 2 by engaging each engagement claw 5 with each engagement hole 6 on the case body 2, and is removed from the case body 2 by disengaging each engagement claw 5 from each engagement hole 6. Below, the attachment and detachment structure (removal structure) of this cover 3 to the case body 2 will be explained based on Figures 2 to 4.

[0023] Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of portion A in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a view taken along the direction of arrow B in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a view taken along the direction of arrow C in Fig. 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a guide protrusion 7 is integrally provided on the inner surface of a long side wall 2A (the left side wall in Figs. 2 and 3) along the front-rear direction of the case body 2, along the right edge (one edge in the long side direction (the right edge in Fig. 3)) of the engagement hole 6. As shown in Fig. 4, this guide protrusion 7 has a tapered surface 7a that is inclined obliquely toward the inside of the case body 2 (the right side in Fig. 4). Note that the tapered surface 7a of this guide protrusion 7 functions to deflect the cover 3 in a direction that disengages the engagement claw 5 on the cover 3 from the engagement hole 6 on the case body 2 when the cover 3 is removed from the case body 2, as will be described later.

[0024] Furthermore, a slide portion 8 is formed on the inner surface of the long side wall 2A of the case body 2, extending rearward (to the right in FIG. 3) from the bottom surface of the engagement hole 6. This slide portion 8 has a linear straight surface 8a that extends horizontally rearward from the guide protrusion 7, and an inclined surface 8b that slopes obliquely upward rearward from the straight surface 8a.

[0025] Additionally, an engagement protrusion 9 extending horizontally in the front-to-rear direction is integrally formed above the engagement hole 6 on the inner surface of the long side wall 2A of the main case 2. This engagement protrusion 9 serves to guide the engagement claw 5 on the cover 3 to the engagement hole 6 on the case main body 2 and to prevent it from coming off (detaching) from the engagement hole 6 when the cover 3 is attached to the case main body 2 as will be described later.

[0026] Note that the above only illustrates and explains the detachable structure of the cover 3 provided on a part of the case body 2 (part A in Figure 1), but the detachable structure of the other five parts of the case body 2 (five parts where engagement holes 6 are formed) is the same, so illustrations and explanations of these will be omitted.

[0027] (How to install the cover) Next, a method for attaching the cover 3 to the case body 2 of the ink cartridge 1 according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0028] 5(a) to 5(c) are partial vertical cross-sectional views showing the process of attaching a cover to the case body 2. To attach the cover 3 to the case body 2, as shown in Fig. 5(a), the cover 3 is lowered downward (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) relative to the case body 2 so as to cover the case body 2 from above. Then, as shown in Fig. 5(b), the claw portion 5a at the tip (lower end) of the engagement claw 5 on the cover 3 side comes into contact with the tapered surface 9a of the engagement protrusion 9 on the case body 2 side. Then, when the cover 3 is pressed downward (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) with a predetermined force from this state, the engagement claw 5 on the cover 3 side is bent and deformed inward (to the left in Fig. 5(b)), and the engagement claw 5 moves downward, passing through the engagement protrusion 9 on the case body 2 side.

[0029] 5(c), when the cover 3 is pushed down until it completely covers the case body 2 and the claw portions 5a of the engagement claws 5 on the cover 3 pass through the engagement projections 9 and mate with the engagement holes 6 on the case body 2, the engagement claws 5 return to their original state due to their elastic restoring force, and the claw portions 5a at their tips engage with the engagement holes 6. As a result, the cover 3 is securely attached to the case body 2, covers the opening 1a (see FIG. 1) of the case body 2 from above, and is securely prevented from coming off (detaching) from the case body 2.

[0030] As described above, the cover 3 can be easily and securely attached to the case body with one touch by simply aligning its engagement claws with the positions of the engagement holes on the case body and pushing them down, and the cover can be reliably prevented from coming off (detaching) from the case body.

[0031] (How to remove the cover) Next, a method for removing the cover 3 attached to the case body 2 by the above method will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0032] 6(a) to 6(c) are partial side views (views of the case body from the inside) showing the steps of how to remove the cover, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 6(a), and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 6(b).

[0033] To remove the cover 3 from the case body 2 when the engagement claws 5 on the cover 3 are engaged with the engagement holes 6 on the case body 2 and preventing the cover 3 from being removed from the case body 2 (see FIGS. 6(a) and 7), the cover 3 is slid horizontally rearward (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) as shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 8. Then, the claw portions 5a of the engagement claws 5 on the cover 3 engage with the tapered surfaces 7a of the guide protrusions 7, causing the engagement claws 5 to bend toward the inside of the case body 2 (the front side in FIG. 6(b)), allowing the guide protrusions 7 of the cover 3 to pass through. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 8, the engagement between the engagement claws 5 on the cover 3 and the engagement holes 6 on the case body 2 is released.

[0034] When cover 3 is further slid rearward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6(b)) from the above state, engagement claws 5 on cover 3 slide along slide portion 8. While engagement claws 5 on cover 3 slide on straight surface 8a of slide portion 8, cover 3 remains attached to case body 2. However, when engagement claws 5 slide along inclined surface 8b of slide portion 8 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6(c), cover 3 lifts up from case body 2, creating a gradually increasing gap between them. When cover 3 lifts up from case body 2 after disengagement between engagement claws 5 on cover 2 and engagement holes 6 on case body 2, creating a predetermined gap between them, a user can insert their hand into the gap and lift cover 3, allowing them to easily and efficiently remove cover 3 from case body 2.

[0035] As described above, with the ink cartridge 1 according to this embodiment, the cover 3 can be securely attached to the case body 2, and the cover 3 can be easily removed from the case body 2.

[0036] (Ink bag mounting structure) Next, the mounting structure of the ink bag 4 of the ink cartridge 1 according to this embodiment, particularly the mounting structure of the ink bag 4 to the adapter 11 on the case body 2 side of the ink supply connector 10, will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0037] 9 is a front view showing the state before the ink bag is attached, FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of the same, FIG. 11 is a partial front view showing the state when the ink bag is attached, FIG. 12 is a front view showing the state after the ink bag has been attached, and FIG. 13 is a partial plan view of the same.

[0038] A resin ink supply connector 10 is attached to the widthwise center of one longitudinal end of the ink bag 4, and ink in the ink bag 4 is supplied to a recording head of an inkjet printer (not shown) via a tube (not shown) connected to this ink supply connector 10. As shown in FIG. 10, the ink supply connector 10 has two flanges 10a and 10b integrally formed at its tip and spaced apart in the axial direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 10). A cylindrical mating portion 10c having an outer diameter φd smaller than the outer diameters of the flanges 10a and 10b is integrally formed between the flanges 10a and 10b. A rectangular connecting plate 10d is integrally formed at the connection portion (base end) of the ink supply connector 10 with the ink bag 4.

[0039] Meanwhile, a resin adapter 11, separate from the case main body 2, is provided on the case main body 2 side, and a mating plate 11A is erected vertically at the center of the width direction (left-right direction) of the front end (lower end in FIG. 10) of this adapter 11, as shown in FIG. 9. A mating groove 11a, which is U-shaped in front view and opens upward, is formed in the vertical direction in this mating plate 11A. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, a pair of left and right guide walls 11B extend integrally from the rear of the mating plate 11A (upper side in FIG. 10), and a concave mating groove 11b, into which a connecting plate 10c of the ink supply connector 10 is mated, is formed facing each other in the middle of each guide wall 11B in the front-to-rear direction.

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a pair of claw-shaped anti-detachment protrusions 12 are integrally formed on the inner surface of the opening side of the mating groove 11a formed in the mating plate 11A of the adapter 11, with a gap δ (<φd) smaller than the outer diameter φd of the mating portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 provided therebetween.

[0041] The ink bag 4 is attached by fitting the ink supply connector 10 of the ink bag 4 from above into the fitting groove 11a formed in the fitting plate 11A of the adapter 11. Specifically, when the fitting portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 is fitted into the fitting groove 11a of the adapter 11 from above, as described above, the outer diameter φd of the fitting portion 10c is larger than the gap δ between the retaining protrusions 12 protruding from the inner surface of the fitting groove 11a of the adapter 11 (φd > δ). Therefore, as shown in Figure 11, the fitting portion 10c passes through the retaining protrusions 12 while bending the retaining protrusions 12 and widening the gap δ between them, and the fitting portion 10c is fitted into the fitting groove 11a of the adapter 11 as shown in Figures 13 and 14.

[0042] When the mating portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 is mated with the mating groove 11a on the adapter 11 as described above, the gap δ between the pair of retaining projections 12 protruding from the inner surface of the mating groove 11a is smaller than the outer diameter φd of the mating portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 (δ<φd), so the ink supply connector 10 is reliably prevented from coming off the mating groove 11a by the retaining projections 12. At this time, the connecting plate 10d of the ink supply connector 10 is mated with the mating grooves 11b formed in the pair of guide walls 11B on the adapter 11 as shown in FIG. 13, and the ink supply connector 10 is reliably positioned relative to the adapter 11.

[0043] As described above, according to the mounting structure of the ink supply connector 10 to the adapter 11 in this embodiment, the ink supply connector 10 of the ink bag 4 can be accurately positioned and securely fitted into the adapter 11 on the case main body 2 side, thereby reliably preventing the ink supply connector 10 from coming off the adapter 11 and enabling the user to clearly recognize that the ink supply connector 10 has been completely fitted into the adapter 11.

[0044] 14, it is also possible to provide claw-shaped support protrusions 13 at the bottom of the mating groove 11a formed on the adapter 11, so that the ink supply connector 10 is supported at three points by the two retaining protrusions 12 and the one support protrusion 13. Supporting the ink supply connector 10 at three points in this manner allows the ink supply connector 10 to be positioned with respect to the adapter 11 more accurately.

[0045] 15, a pair of mountain-shaped retaining projections 14 may be integrally provided facing each other on part of the inner surface of the mating groove 11a on the adapter 11. Before the ink supply connector 10 is mated with the mating groove 11a, the gap (initial gap) δ between the pair of retaining projections 14 is set smaller than the outer diameter φd (see FIG. 16) of the mating portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 (δ<φd).

[0046] Therefore, when the mating portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 is fitted into the mating groove 11a of the adapter 11 from above, the mating portion 10c passes through while pushing apart a pair of anti-slip protrusions 14 protruding from the inner surface of the mating groove 11a, and is securely mated with the mating groove 11a as shown in Figure 16. At this time, the mating portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 is pressed by the pair of anti-slip protrusions 14, and a predetermined frictional resistance force acts on the pressing portion, and this frictional resistance force securely prevents the ink supply connector 10 from coming off the mating groove 11a.

[0047] In addition, a guide protrusion 7 is provided along the edge of the engagement hole 6, and a tapered surface 7a is formed on the guide protrusion 7, which bends the engagement claw 5 in a direction that disengages it from the engagement hole 6 when the cover 3 is removed, so that the cover 3 can be removed from the case body 2 easily and with good workability.

[0048] In addition, the slide portion 8 has a straight surface 8a extending linearly along the main case 2 between the engagement hole 6 and the inclined surface 8b, so that the cover 3 can be removed from the case main body 2 easily and with good workability.

[0049] ←Claim 4, Effect The ink supply connector 10 of the ink bag 4 is fitted into a U-shaped fitting groove 11a on the case body 2 to secure the ink supply connector 10 to the case body 2, and a pair of opposing anti-slip protrusions are provided on the inner surface of the fitting groove 11a with a gap smaller than the outer diameter of the fitting portion of the ink supply connector 10. This allows the ink supply connector 10 of the ink bag 4 to be accurately positioned and securely fitted into the fitting groove 11a on the case body 2, and the anti-slip protrusions reliably prevent the ink supply connector 10 from coming off the case body 2, and the user can clearly recognize that the ink supply connector 10 has been fitted into the adapter 11.

[0050] In addition, the mounting structure is provided on the adapter 11 of the ink supply connector 10 and fixes the adapter 11 to the case body 2, so that the ink supply connector 10 of the ink bag 4 can be accurately positioned and securely fitted into the adapter 11, reliably preventing the ink supply connector 10 from coming off the adapter 11 and allowing the user to clearly recognize that the ink supply connector 10 has been completely fitted into the adapter 11.

[0051] Furthermore, since the support projection 13 for supporting the mating portion 10c of the ink supply connector 10 is provided at the bottom of the mating groove 11a, the ink supply connector 10 can be positioned relative to the adapter 11 more accurately.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical concept described in the claims, specification, and drawings. For example, in this embodiment, the cover has an engagement claw and the case body has an engagement hole, but the cover may have an engagement hole and the case body may have an engagement claw. Furthermore, the relationship between the inside and outside of the side wall of the body and the side wall of the cover may be either the inside or the outside. Furthermore, a cartridge may be formed by stacking box-shaped side walls of similar lengths. Furthermore, the shape is not limited to a rectangle, as long as there are opposing, approximately parallel side walls and the case body and cover can slide relative to each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 ink cartridge 2 Case body 2A Long side wall of the case body (side wall of the body) 2a Case body opening 3 Cover 4 ink bags 5 Engagement claw 5a Claw portion of engaging claw 6 Engagement hole 7 Guide protrusion 7a Tapered surface of guide protrusion 8 Slide section 8a Straight surface of the slide 8b Slope of slide 9 Engagement protrusion 9a Tapered surface of engagement protrusion 10 Ink supply connector 10c Ink supply connector fitting 11 Adapter 11A Mating plate 11a Engagement groove 12 Anti-slip protrusion 13 Support protrusion 14 Anti-slip protrusion φd Outer diameter of joint δ Gap between retaining protrusions

Claims

1. An ink cartridge comprising: a box-shaped case body having opposing side walls and an opening; a cover that detachably covers the opening of the case body and has cover side walls that overlap with the body side walls of the case body when attached; and a replaceable ink bag housed in a space formed by the case body and the cover, one or more engagement claws protruding toward the opposing body side wall portion in the attached state on one of the cover side wall portion or the body side wall portion, one or more engagement holes formed in the other of the main body side wall portion and the cover side wall portion, the engagement holes being engageable with the one or more engagement claws; a slide portion that includes a slope extending from the engagement hole in the vicinity of the engagement hole toward an end of the main body side wall portion or the cover side wall portion, and that can slide and guide the engagement claw when removing the case main body and the cover; An ink cartridge comprising:

2. A guide protrusion is provided along the edge of the engagement hole, 2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the guide projection is formed with a tapered surface that bends the engaging claw in a direction that disengages the engaging claw from the engaging hole when the cover is removed.

3. 3. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the slide portion has a straight surface extending linearly along the case body between the engagement hole and the inclined surface.

4. a mounting structure for fastening the ink supply connector of the ink bag to the case body by fitting the ink supply connector to a U-shaped fitting groove on the case body; 4. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a pair of opposing anti-detachment protrusions are provided on the inner surface of the mating groove, with a gap smaller than the outer diameter of the mating portion of the ink supply connector.

5. 5. The ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the mounting structure is provided on an adapter of the ink supply connector, and fixes the adapter to the case body.

6. 6. An ink cartridge according to claim 4, wherein a support protrusion for supporting a mating portion of said ink supply connector is provided at the bottom of said mating groove.

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