# US 9,039,152 B2 · Liquid cartridge and image forming apparatus incorporation same

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- Number: US 9,039,152 B2
- Document ID: US9039152B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/471,180
- Filed: 2014-08-28
- Published: 2015-03-19
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-17
- Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Yoichi Kawabata; Masashi Ohnishi; Yuta Moriwaki; Yuta Kashiwagi; Shotaro Takeuchi
- Inventors: Yoichi Kawabata; Masashi Ohnishi; Yuta Moriwaki; Yuta Kashiwagi; Shotaro Takeuchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039152B2

## CPC

- B41J 2/17546: {electronically}
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer}
- B41J 2/1753: {Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts}
- B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure}
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A liquid cartridge is detachably attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus. The liquid cartridge includes a cartridge case, an information memory element, and a holding unit. The cartridge case includes at least two dividable case parts. The at least two dividable case parts form a front face of the cartridge case to face the apparatus body when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus body. An information memory element is held at the front face of the cartridge case. The holding unit is provided in one of the at least two dividable case parts to hold the information memory element with only the one of the at least two dividable case parts. The holding unit includes a groove to receive the information memory element and a displaceable claw to hold the information memory element between the groove and the claw.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid cartridge detachably attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, the liquid cartridge comprising:
a cartridge case including at least two dividable case parts, the at least two dividable case parts forming a front face of the cartridge case to face the apparatus body when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus body;
an information memory element held at the front face of the cartridge case; and
a holding unit provided in one of the at least two dividable case parts to hold the information memory element with only the one of the at least two dividable case parts, the holding unit including a groove to receive the information memory element and a displaceable claw to hold the information memory element between the groove and the claw.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein another one of the at least two dividable case parts includes a restricting portion to restrict displacement of the claw of the one of the at least two dividable case parts.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the one of the at least two dividable case parts includes an identification rib to identify a type of liquid contained in the one of the at least two dividable case parts.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the one of the at least two dividable case parts includes an identification groove to identify a type of liquid contained in the one of the at least two dividable case parts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The liquid cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the one of the at least two dividable case parts includes an identifying shape portion having a shape to identify a type of the apparatus body to which the liquid cartridge is to be attached.

### Claim 6

An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an apparatus body; and
a liquid cartridge detachably attached to the apparatus body,
the liquid cartridge including
a cartridge case including at least two dividable case parts, the at least two dividable case parts forming a front face of the cartridge case to face the apparatus body when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus body,
an information memory element held at the front face of the cartridge case, and
a holding unit provided in one of the at least two dividable case parts to hold the information memory element with only the one of the at least two dividable case parts, the holding unit including a groove to receive the information memory element and a displaceable claw to hold the information memory element between the groove and the claw.