Cartridge and printing material supply system
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsHidetoshi Kodama, Izumi Nozawa, Tadahiro Mizutani, Kazutoshi Matsuzaki, Kazumasa Harada, Satoshi Nakata, Hidetaka Kawata
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cartridge comprises an ink supply structure, a terminal bearing structure, and a first restriction portion. The terminal bearing structure has terminals arranged in a terminal plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to a plane defined by a mounting direction leading edge of the ink supply structure, so that the contact portions of the terminals receive a force in a direction opposite from the mounting direction. An engagement portion of the first restriction portion is provided at a position adjacent to the terminal bearing structure.
Claims30
An ink cartridge for mounting on an ink jet printing apparatus, the ink jet printing apparatus comprising a plurality of apparatus-side contact forming members constructed and arranged to apply elastic force to the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is pressed against said apparatus-side contact forming members, the ink jet printing apparatus also comprising a lever adapted to move with respect to the printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the lever having an engagement portion, the ink cartridge, comprising:
- a cartridge body including a first surface, second surface, third surface and fourth surface, wherein the first surface and second surface are opposite each other and the third surface and fourth surface are opposite each other;
- an electrical device coupled to the cartridge body;
- an ink chamber for storing ink;
- an ink supply structure positioned at the fourth surface of the cartridge body, adapted and configured to supply ink from the ink chamber to the ink jet printing apparatus, the ink supply structure having a mounting direction leading edge defining a plane of the ink cartridge;
- a terminal bearing structure located proximate to the first surface of the cartridge body, the terminal bearing structure having a plurality of terminals, the terminals adapted and arranged on the terminal bearing structure to make contact with and receive elastic force from the contact forming members at contact portions of said terminals when the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the contact portions arranged substantially in a contact portion plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the plane defined by the leading edge;
- and
- a first restriction portion including an engagement portion adapted to engage with the engagement portion of the lever so as to restrict movement of the ink cartridge in a direction opposite the mounting direction, the engagement portion of the first restriction portion located adjacent the terminal bearing structure.
An ink cartridge for mounting on an ink jet printing apparatus, the ink jet printing apparatus comprising a plurality of apparatus-side contact forming members constructed and arranged to apply elastic force to the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is pressed against said apparatus-side contact forming members, the ink jet printing apparatus also comprising a lever adapted to move with respect to the printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the lever having an engagement portion, the ink cartridge, comprising:
- a cartridge body including a first surface, second surface, third surface and fourth surface, wherein the first surface and second surface are opposite each other and the third surface and fourth surface are opposite each other;
- an ink chamber for storing ink;
- an ink supply structure positioned at the fourth surface of the cartridge body, adapted and configured to supply ink from the ink chamber to the ink jet printing apparatus, the ink supply structure having a mounting direction leading edge defining a plane of the ink cartridge;
- a terminal bearing structure located proximate to the first surface of the cartridge body, and an electrical device, the terminal bearing structure having a plurality of electrically conductive terminals coupled to the electrical device, the terminals adapted and arranged on the terminal bearing structure to make contact with and receive elastic force from the contact forming members when the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the terminals arranged substantially in a terminal plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the plane defined by the leading edge;
- and
- a first restriction portion including an engagement portion adapted to engage with the engagement portion of the lever so as to restrict movement of the ink cartridge in a direction opposite the mounting direction, the engagement portion of the first restriction portion located adjacent the terminal bearing structure.
A combination of an ink cartridge and a portion of an ink jet printing apparatus, the combination comprising:
- a portion of an ink jet printing apparatus, the portion comprising:
- a plurality of apparatus-side contact forming members applying an elastic force to the ink cartridge;
- and
- a lever adapted to move with respect to the printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the lever having an engagement portion;
- an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body including a first surface, second surface, third surface and fourth surface, wherein the first surface and second surface are opposite each other and the third surface and fourth surface are opposite each other;
- an ink chamber for storing ink;
- an ink supply structure positioned at the fourth surface of the cartridge body, adapted and configured to supply ink from the ink chamber to the ink jet printing apparatus, the ink supply structure having a mounting direction leading edge defining a plane of the ink cartridge;
- a terminal bearing structure located proximate to the first surface of the cartridge body, and a electrical device, the terminal bearing structure having a plurality of electrically conductive terminals coupled to the electrical device, the terminals on the terminal bearing structure contacting with and receiving elastic force from the contact forming members at contact portions of said terminals, the contact portions arranged substantially in a contact portion plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the plane defined by the leading edge;
- and
- a first restriction portion including an engagement portion engaged with the engagement portion of the lever so as to restrict movement of the ink cartridge in a direction opposite the mounting direction, the engagement portion of the first restriction portion located adjacent the terminal bearing structure.
A combination of an ink cartridge and a portion of an ink jet printing apparatus, the combination comprising:
- a portion of an ink jet printing apparatus, the portion comprising:
- a plurality of apparatus-side contact forming members applying an elastic force to the ink cartridge;
- and
- a lever adapted to move with respect to the printing apparatus as the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, the lever having an engagement portion;
- an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body including a first surface, second surface, third surface and fourth surface, wherein the first surface and second surface are opposite each other and the third surface and fourth surface are opposite each other;
- an ink chamber for storing ink;
- an ink supply structure positioned at the fourth surface of the cartridge body, adapted and configured to supply ink from the ink chamber to the ink jet printing apparatus, the ink supply structure having a mounting direction leading edge defining a plane of the ink cartridge;
- a terminal bearing structure located proximate to the first surface of the cartridge body, and an electrical device, the terminal bearing structure having a plurality of electrically conductive terminals coupled to the electrical device, the terminals on the terminal bearing structure contacting with and receiving elastic force from the contact forming members, the terminals arranged substantially in a terminal plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the plane defined by the leading edge;
- and
- a first restriction portion including an engagement portion engaged with the engagement portion of the lever so as to restrict movement of the ink cartridge in a direction opposite the mounting direction, the engagement portion of the first restriction portion located adjacent the terminal bearing structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.