JP2000127444A - Ink tank, tank holder, inkjet head cartridge, and inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To mount an ink tank in a tank holder with high positional accuracy. A positioning pin (37) on the bottom surface of an ink tank (30) is arranged near a prism (38). The prism 38 is located at a position sandwiched between the positioning pins 37 and the second claws 33a and 33b serving as engagement fulcrums when the ink tank is mounted. When the ink tank 30 is mounted on the tank holder 36, the ink tank 30 is pressed against the side surface of the tank holder 36 provided with the second holes 33 a and 33 b by the repulsive force of the movable lever 31. . The side surface of the positioning pin 37 of the ink tank 30 on the side of the second claw 33a, 33b is a flat portion and serves as an abutting portion. A flat portion is provided on the side surface of the positioning hole 26 of the tank holder 36 so as to receive the abutting portion of the positioning pin 37.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet head cartridge having an ink tank, a tank holder for detachably holding the ink tank, an ink jet head for discharging ink to the tank holder to perform recording, and the ink jet. The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus having a head cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional general ink jet recording apparatus. In the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 8, a lead screw 104 and a guide shaft 105 which are parallel to each other are provided in a housing. The carriage 101 is attached to the lead screw 104 and the guide shaft 105 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the lead screw 104 and the guide shaft 105. The carriage 101 is translated by rotating a lead screw 104 by a carriage motor (not shown).

An ink jet head cartridge having an ink jet head 102 is mounted on the carriage 101 as described later with reference to FIG. A paper pressing plate 109 is provided near the movement locus surface of the ejection surface of the inkjet head 102.

[0004] In addition, an ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording sheet 106 as a recording medium and an ink jet head 1.
02, a paper feed roller 107 that conveys toward the recording area 02,
A discharge roller 108 for discharging the recording paper 106 recorded by the inkjet head 102 is provided. The paper feed roller 107 and the paper discharge roller 108
It is rotated by a motor (not shown).

[0005] The ink ejected from the ink jet head 102 adheres to the recording sheet 106 facing the ejection opening face of the ink jet head 102, thereby forming a recorded image on the surface of the recording sheet 106. The recording paper 106 is discharged to the outside of the ink jet recording apparatus by a paper feed roller 107 and a paper discharge roller 108 rotated by a motor and a paper pressing plate 109 in conjunction with recording on the recording paper 106 by the ink jet head 102. .

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an ink jet head cartridge mounted on the carriage 101 shown in FIG. FIG. 9A shows the carriage 1
FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing the inkjet head cartridge mounted on the inkjet head 01, and FIG. 9B is a perspective view showing a state where the ink tank is removed from the inkjet head cartridge shown in FIG. 9A.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the ink jet head cartridge 301 mounted on the carriage 101 is
And a tank holder 103 provided with
Ink tanks 111, 112,
113 and 114. Ink tank 11
1 is for black ink, ink tank 112 is for yellow ink, ink tank 113 is for magenta ink, and ink tank 114 is for cyan ink.
Thus, the ink tanks 111, 112, 113, 11
Each of the ink tanks 4 is detachable from the tank holder 103 and each ink tank is replaceable, so that the printing running cost in the ink jet recording apparatus is reduced.

Ink tanks 111, 112, 113, 1
In each of the fourteen, ink of a corresponding color is stored. In addition, an ink supply port for supplying the ink in the ink tank to the inkjet head 102 is formed in each ink tank. For example,
An ink supply port 211 is formed in the ink tank 111, and black ink in the ink tank 111 is supplied to the inkjet head 102 via the ink supply port 211 while the ink tank 111 is mounted on the tank holder 103. You.

FIG. 10 shows the tank holder 10 shown in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the inkjet head 102. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, the upper surface of the box-shaped tank holder 103 is open, and the ink jet head 102 is provided on one side of the lower surface of the tank holder 103. In the inkjet head 102, the silicon substrate 201 is supported by the base plate 205. On the silicon substrate 201, a heater or the like as an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for discharging ink is formed.

The ink jet head 102 includes:
When an ink tank is mounted on the tank holder 103, a joint 204 connected to the ink supply port of the ink tank is provided. In the joint 204, an ink flow path 206 extending toward the silicon substrate 201 is formed.

The flow of ink in such an ink jet head cartridge will be described by taking an ink tank 111 for black ink as an example. The ink in the ink tank 111 is supplied into the ink jet head 2 via the ink supply port 211 of the ink tank 111 and the joint 204. Inkjet head 2
The ink supplied to the inside is supplied to the silicon substrate 201 through the ink flow path 206, and the supplied ink is ejected toward a recording sheet as a recording medium by thermal energy generated by a heater of the silicon substrate 201.

FIG. 11 shows the ink tank 11 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining No. 1; FIG. 11 (a)
FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the ink tank 111 viewed from a direction in which the second claw 132 can be seen. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the movable lever 130 seen from a direction in which the movable lever 130 can be seen. FIG. 11C is a sectional view of the ink tank 111.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a movable lever 130 having a first claw 131 is provided on one side of the ink tank 111, and the other side of the ink tank 111 is provided. Is provided with a second claw 132. Each of the first claw 131 and the second claw 132 has a first hole 2 formed in the tank holder 103 when the ink tank 111 is mounted on the tank holder 103.
41 and the second hole 242 (see FIG. 10). As a result, the ink tank 111 is
03 is fixed. On the lower surface of the ink tank 111, there is provided an ink supply port 211 projecting cylindrically from the lower surface.

As shown in FIG. 11C, the inside of the ink supply port 221 is filled with a joint member 137 in contact with the liquid. When the ink tank 111 is mounted on the tank holder 103, the ink inside the ink tank is supplied to the ink supply port 211 through the joint member 137.
Is supplied to the inkjet head 102. Also,
On the bottom surface inside the ink tank 111, a prism 138 used for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the tank is provided.

Next, a procedure for mounting (setting) the ink tank 111 on the tank holder 103 of the ink jet head cartridge 301 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 12A, the surface on the ink supply port 211 side of the ink tank 111 is turned to the upper surface of the tank holder 103, and the second claw 132 of the ink tank 111 is inclined downward. The ink tank 111 is inserted into the tank holder 103.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12B, the second hole 242 of the tank holder 103 is first inserted by being inserted along the inclined surface on the right side of the tank holder 103 in the drawing.
The second claw 132 of the ink tank 111 is engaged with the second claw 132.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12C, when the ink tank 111 is pushed into the tank holder 103, the movable lever 130 is bent inward, and the first claw 131 is inserted into the first hole 241 of the tank holder 103. By being engaged,
The ink tank 111 is fixed to the tank holder 103.

In this state, the ink held in the ink tank is supplied to the joint member 1 of the ink supply port 211.
It is introduced into the ink jet head 202 via 37 and is discharged from a discharge port (not shown) by the energy generated by the electrothermal transducer (not shown).

When the ink tank 111 is to be removed, the movable lever 130 is bent inward so that the first claw 131 is removed.
By removing the ink tank 111 from the first hole 241 of the tank holder 103, the ink tank 111 can be easily taken out from the tank holder 103. Further, the lower side of the inkjet head cartridge 301 having the above-described configuration is shown in FIG.
When the ink tank 111 is mounted on the tank holder 103, the sensor 302 is arranged for each color ink tank as shown in FIG. It is supposed to do.

[0021]

However, in the above prior art, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the mounting and fixing of the ink tank is performed by the first hole 241 and the second hole 242 of the tank holder 103. A first claw 131 and a second claw 132 of the corresponding ink tank 111, respectively.
, The positional accuracy of the ink tank in the tank holder was poor. As a result, depending on the structure of the sensor and the prism used, the accuracy of the remaining amount detection in the tank may be deteriorated, and there is a problem that the user is prompted to replace the tank without using up the ink in the tank sufficiently.

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink tank, a tank holder, an ink jet head cartridge, and an ink jet recording apparatus having the ink jet head cartridge which can be mounted in the tank holder with high positional accuracy. It is to provide a device.

[0023]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an ink tank detachably held in a tank holder, and a first engagement hole formed in one side wall of the tank holder. A movable lever having a first engaging claw that engages with a second engaging hole provided on a side wall of the tank holder opposite to the one side wall on which the first engaging hole is provided. In the ink tank provided with the second engaging claw to be engaged, a positioning pin is provided on the bottom surface of the ink tank, and the tank holder is provided with a positioning hole for receiving the positioning pin when the ink tank is mounted. When the ink tank is mounted on the tank holder, the position of a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of ink disposed outside the ink tank is provided at the bottom inside the ink tank. An opposing prism is provided, and the position of the prism is disposed at a position sandwiched between the second engagement claw and the positioning pin, and the positioning pin and the positioning hole each have an abutting portion that abuts each other. The contact portion of the positioning pin has a flat surface.

In the above-mentioned ink tank, the first engaging claw of the movable lever is engaged with the first engaging hole of the tank holder by utilizing a repulsive force of the movable lever, and The ink tank in which the second engagement claw is engaged with the second engagement hole of the holder is pressed against a side surface provided with the second hole to be mounted and fixed in the tank holder. Things.

It is preferable that the plane intersects the direction in which the ink tank is pressed.

The prism further includes a first surface for reflecting light incident on the tank bottom from the light emitting portion of the sensor, and a light receiving surface of the sensor outside the tank for further reflecting the light reflected on the first surface. And a second surface to be made incident on the portion. This prism is preferably formed integrally with the ink tank by molding.

Further, the present invention is a tank holder for detachably holding an ink tank, wherein the first engagement hole engages with a first engagement claw of a movable lever provided on one side of the ink tank. And a second engagement claw that engages with a second engagement claw provided on a side of the ink tank opposite to the movable lever.
In the tank holder having an engagement hole, a positioning pin is provided on the bottom surface of the ink tank, and the tank holder is provided with a positioning hole for receiving the positioning pin when the ink tank is mounted. At the bottom, when the ink tank is mounted on the tank holder, a prism is provided opposite to a position of a sensor for detecting the amount of remaining ink arranged outside the ink tank, and the position of the prism is the position of the prism. The positioning pin is disposed at a position sandwiched between the second engaging claw and the positioning pin, and the positioning pin and the positioning hole are provided with abutting portions that abut each other, and the abutting portion of the positioning pin has a flat surface. It is characterized by.

In the above-mentioned tank holder, the first engagement claw of the movable lever is engaged with the first engagement hole of the tank holder by utilizing the repulsive force of the movable lever, and The ink tank in which the second engagement claw is engaged with the second engagement hole of the tank holder is inserted into the second engagement hole.
The ink tank holder is mounted and fixed by pressing the ink tank holder against the side surface provided with the hole.

Further, the tank holder of the present invention is configured such that a side surface of the positioning pin is abutted against a side surface of the positioning hole of the tank holder by a repulsive force of the movable lever when the ink tank is mounted. It is preferable that the abutting portions of the positioning pins and the positioning holes are flat with each other.

It is preferable that the plane intersects the direction in which the ink tank is pressed.

The present invention further encompasses an ink jet head cartridge having the above-described tank holder provided with an ink jet recording head for discharging ink supplied from an ink tank mounted on the tank holder.

Further, the present invention has a carriage which detachably holds the above-mentioned ink jet head cartridge and is supported so as to be able to reciprocate along the surface of the recording medium.
The present invention also includes an ink jet recording apparatus which discharges ink from the ink jet recording head portion of the ink jet head cartridge based on an electric signal for discharging ink to perform recording on the recording medium.

(Operation) In the configuration described above, a positioning pin is provided on the bottom of the ink tank, and when the ink tank is mounted on the tank holder, the positioning pin on the bottom of the ink tank is received in the positioning hole of the tank holder. The position of the ink tank is accurately determined. In particular, in a configuration in which the remaining amount of ink is detected by the bottom prism inside the mounted ink tank and a sensor disposed outside the ink tank, the ink tank is accurately positioned by the positioning pins as described above. This makes it possible to increase the accuracy of ink remaining amount detection. At this time, the positioning accuracy is further improved by arranging the positioning pin near the prism or abutting the positioning pin of the tank and the positioning hole of the holder with each other on a plane. as a result,
After the ink in the tank is sufficiently depleted, the user can be prompted to do so.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) In this embodiment, FIG.
For example, two head cartridges of different types are mounted on the carriage of the recording apparatus as shown in FIG. The two head cartridges are a photo head cartridge having magenta and cyan tanks with low density and a black ink tank, and a color head cartridge capable of discharging yellow, magenta and cyan inks. With these combinations, the recording apparatus can print with six colors of ink, and can perform photographic printing neatly. Alternatively, it is also possible to replace the photo head cartridge with a black head cartridge having only a black ink tank and perform high-speed text printing or high-speed business color printing.

FIG. 1 is a view of a black head cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the upper right front, and FIG. 2 is a view of the black head cartridge viewed obliquely from the lower left rear. I have.

The black head cartridge according to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a large-capacity ink tank 30 for black ink and an ink jet head 29 for holding the ink tank 30 detachably. And a tank holder 36. The movable lever 31 having the knob 54 and the first claw 32 is provided on one side surface of the ink tank 30, and the second claw 33a, 33b is provided on the other side surface of the ink tank 30. Further, the second claw 3 is provided on the other side of the ink tank 30.
Third claws 34a, 34b are provided above 3a, 33b.

At the lower part of the ink tank 30, an ink supply port 35 protruding cylindrically from the lower surface of the tank, a positioning pin 37 when the ink tank 30 is mounted on the tank holder 36, and a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the tank. A prism 28 to be used is provided. The first hole 26 and the second hole with which the first claw 32 and the second claw 33a, 33b engage when the ink tank 30 is mounted on the tank holder 36, respectively. 38a, 3
8b are formed. Further, third holes 39a and 39b into which the third claws 34a and 34b are respectively dropped are formed in the tank holder 36 for alignment in the process of mounting the ink tank 30 on the tank holder 36. I have. Further, a positioning hole 27 in which a positioning pin 37 of the ink tank 30 is fitted is provided in a lower portion of the tank holder 36.

On the other hand, FIG. 3 is a view of the color head cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the upper right front, and FIG. 4 is a view of the color head cartridge viewed obliquely from the lower left rear. Is shown.

The color head cartridge shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a cyan ink tank 40c, a magenta ink tank 40m, and a yellow ink tank 40y.
Ink tank 40 of each color having an inkjet head
c, 40m, and 40y are detachably held. As with the black ink tank described above, the ink tanks 40c, 40m, and 40y of the respective colors
The movable levers 41c, 41m,
41y are provided. Each movable lever has a knob 54
c, 54m, 54y and first claws 42c, 42m, 4
2y.

Each color ink tank 40c, 40m, 40
The second claws 43c, 43m, 4
3y is provided. Furthermore, ink tanks 4 for each color
0c, 40m, and 40y, the second claw 43c,
The third claws 44c, 44m, 4 are located above the 43m, 43y.
4y is provided.

At the lower part of the ink tank 40c (40m, 40y), an ink supply port 45c (45m, 45y) that projects cylindrically from the lower surface of the tank,
The positioning pin 47c (47m, 47y) when the (40m, 40y) is attached to the tank holder 46, and the prism 51c (51m, 47m) used for detecting the remaining amount of ink in the tank.
51y).

When the ink tank 40c (40m, 40y) is mounted on the tank holder 46, the first claw 42c (42m, 42y) and the second
First holes 48c (48m, 48y) and second holes 49c with which the respective claws 43c (43m, 43y) engage.
(49m, 49y) are formed. Further, the third holes 50c (50m, 50y) into which the third claws 44c (44m, 44y) are dropped once are provided in the tank holder 46 for alignment in the process of being mounted on the tank holder 46.
y) is formed. Further, a positioning hole 53c (53m, 53y) into which a positioning pin 47c (47m, 47y) of the ink tank 40c (40m, 40y) is fitted is provided below the tank holder 46.

The photo head cartridge has the same configuration as the above-described color head cartridge.

In this embodiment, the movable lever, the engaging claw, the prism, and the like are molded integrally with the tank body, and the molding material is excellent in ink resistance, gas barrier properties, transparency, and low cost. Uses polypropylene.

Next, the procedure for mounting (setting) the ink tank on the tank holder of the ink jet head cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5F using a black ink jet head cartridge as an example.

First, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B,
The user holds the ink tank 30 on the upper surface of the tank holder 36.
The ink tank 30 is inserted into the tank holder 36 by turning the surface on the ink supply port 35 side and tilting the second claws 33a and 33b of the ink tank 30 downward.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D,
The ink tank 30 is inserted along the inclined surface on the right side of the tank holder 36 in FIG.
The third claws 34a, 3b of the ink tank 30 are attached to 9a, 39b.
4b, the second claws 33a, 33b of the ink tank 30 are engaged with the second holes 38a, 38b of the tank holder 36. At this time, the third holes 39a and 39b and the third claw 34
The engagement with the a and 34b serves as a guide for reliably performing the rotation operation when the ink tank 30 is rotated with the positions of the second holes 38a and 38b as a fulcrum later.

Thereafter, the second hole 38 of the tank holder 36 is
The ink tank 30 is pushed into the tank holder 36 while rotating the ink tank 30 around the second claws 33a, 33b engaged with the a, 38b. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (e) and (f), the movable lever 31 is bent inward, and the first claw 32 is inserted into the first hole 26 of the tank holder 36.
At the same time, the positioning pin 37 of the ink tank 30 enters the positioning hole 27 of the tank holder 36, and the ink tank 30 is accurately fixed to the tank holder 36.

In this state, the ink held by the ink absorber 55 is supplied to the joint member 5 of the ink supply port 35.
6, the ink is introduced into the inkjet head 29, and is discharged from a discharge port (not shown) by energy generated by an electrothermal converter (not shown) in the head 29.

When the ink tank 30 is to be removed, the movable lever 31 is bent inward, the first claw 32 is pulled out of the first hole 26 of the tank holder 36, and the knob 54 of the movable lever 31 is pulled up. The ink tank 30 can be easily taken out of the tank holder 36.

In the above description, the basic structure and mounting method of the ink jet head cartridge of the present invention have been described. Hereinafter, various modifications will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

(Second Embodiment) Here, a structure for mounting an ink tank to a tank holder of a head cartridge with high positional accuracy will be described using a large-capacity ink tank 30 for black ink as an example.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the positional relationship between the prism 28 on the bottom of the ink tank of the ink jet head cartridge of the present invention and the sensor 25 for detecting the remaining amount of ink outside the head cartridge.
(B) shows a state after mounting the tank.

As described in the above embodiment, the movable lever 31 having the first claw 32 is provided on one side surface of the ink tank 30, and faces the side surface of the ink tank 30 where the movable lever 31 is provided. Second claws 33a and 33b are provided on the other side surface. Ink tank 30
A prism 28 used for detecting the remaining amount of ink is provided on the bottom surface of the chamber in which only the raw ink inside is stored.

The first claw 3 is attached to the tank holder 36.
2 engages with the first hole 26 and the second claws 33a and 33b.
Are formed with the second holes 38a and 38b.

Then, the second claw 33 of the ink tank 30
a, 33b into the second holes 38a, 38 of the tank holder 36.
8b, dropping the ink tank 30 while rotating it around the fulcrum, thereby bending the movable lever 31 inward on the side of the tank holder, and using the repulsive force of the bent movable lever 31 to move the movable lever 31. The first claw 32 of the tank 31 is engaged with the first hole 26 of the tank holder 36 and the second hole 38 of the tank holder 36 is
The ink tank 30 in which the second claws 33a, 33b are engaged with the ink tanks 30a, 38b is pressed against the side surface provided with the second holes 38a, 38b, so that the ink tank 30 is securely mounted in the tank holder 36. Fixed.

Further, in this mounted state, the ink tank 30
Is located at a position facing the sensor 25 outside the head cartridge, and the light entering the tank from the light emitting portion of the sensor 25 is reflected by the first surface of the prism 28, and this reflected light is reflected by the prism 28. An optical path is formed that is further reflected by the second surface and is incident on the light receiving portion of the sensor 25 outside the tank.

At this time, if the optical path shifts, it affects the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of ink. Therefore, in the present invention, a positioning pin is provided on the bottom of the ink tank, and a positioning hole for receiving the positioning pin when the tank is mounted is formed in the tank holder. Provided. Thereby, the positional accuracy of the attached ink tank can be improved, and the remaining ink amount can be accurately detected.

Here, in order to make the detection of the remaining ink amount more accurate, the positioning pins 37 on the bottom surface of the ink tank 30 are arranged near the prism 28 as shown in FIG. Further, the position of the prism 28 is located at a position sandwiched between the positioning pins 37 and the second claws 33a and 33b serving as engagement fulcrums when the ink tank is mounted. With this arrangement, the distance between the prism 38 and the second claws 33a, 33b is shorter than that of the case where the positioning pin 37 in FIG.
The positional accuracy of the prism 28 in the horizontal rotation direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) around the a and 33b is improved.

The ink tank 30 is mounted on the tank holder 3.
6, the ink tank 30 is pressed against the side surface of the tank holder 36 where the second holes 38 a and 38 b are provided by the repulsive force of the movable lever 31. As a result, the positioning pins 3 on the bottom of the ink tank are
7 is pressed against the side surface of the positioning hole 27 of the tank holder 36.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the ink tank 30
The side surface of the positioning pin 37 on the side of the second claws 33a and 33b is a flat surface and is used as an abutting portion. A flat portion is provided on the side surface of the positioning hole 27 of the tank holder 36 so as to receive the abutting portion of the positioning pin 37. Since the positioning pin 37 and the positioning hole 27 abut against each other at a surface or a point as described above, the positional accuracy of the attached ink tank is further improved. Here, the flat portion is provided in a direction intersecting the biasing direction of the tank lever, but from the viewpoint of further improving the accuracy, it is more preferable to provide the flat portion orthogonally as in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the ink tank showing the specific shape of the positioning pin on the bottom of the ink tank. As shown in this figure, as the shape of the positioning pin, for example, a D-cut pin (FIG. 7A) in which the opposite side of the movable lever 31 of a cylindrical pin is cut into a plane, and one side is opposite to the movable lever 31 Triangular prism pin (Fig. 7
(B)) Alternatively, a square pole pin (FIG. 7 (c)) having one side surface disposed on the side opposite to the movable lever 31 can be applied. Here, regarding the shape of the pin, considering the attachment / detachment due to the above-described rotation operation, since there is less damage to the positioning pin due to attachment / detachment, the smaller the bent portion in the portion other than the ridge of the surface constituting the reference flat portion, desirable. Therefore, the shape of the D-cut pin as shown in FIG. 7A can be particularly suitably used in the ink tank of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the large-capacity tank for black ink is used as an example. However, the small-capacity tanks 40 (40c, 40m, 40y) for color ink are also arranged and arranged as described above. Is similarly applied.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the positioning pins are provided on the bottom surface of the ink tank, and the positioning holes on the bottom surface of the ink tank are received in the tank holder when the ink tank is mounted on the tank holder. Thus, the positional accuracy of the ink tank at the time of mounting can be improved, and in the configuration for detecting the remaining amount of ink, the detection accuracy can be improved.

In the configuration for detecting the remaining amount of ink, the positioning accuracy of the prism is ensured by disposing the positioning pin near the prism. Further, by disposing the prism at a position sandwiched between the second engaging claw, which is an engagement fulcrum when the ink tank is mounted, and the positioning pin, the distance between the second engaging claw and the prism can be increased. And the positional accuracy of the prism in the horizontal rotation direction about the second engagement claw is improved. In addition, the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of ink is further improved by abutting the positioning pin of the tank and the positioning hole of the holder with each other on a plane.
As a result, it is possible to prompt the user after the ink in the tank is sufficiently depleted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an ink tank and a tank holder constituting a black inkjet head cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of an ink tank and a tank holder that constitute the black inkjet head cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an ink tank and a tank holder constituting the color inkjet head cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the back side of an ink tank and a tank holder constituting the color inkjet head cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where an ink tank is mounted on a tank holder in the black inkjet head cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between a prism on the bottom surface of an ink tank of an ink jet head cartridge and a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of ink outside the head cartridge in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a tank bottom view showing the shape of a positioning pin on the bottom of an ink tank of an ink jet head cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional general inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state of a conventional inkjet head cartridge.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a conventional ink jet head cartridge.

11 is a detailed view of an ink tank of the ink jet head cartridge shown in FIG.

12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the ink tank is mounted on a tank holder in the conventional ink jet head cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a positional relationship between a prism on the bottom surface of an ink tank of a conventional ink jet head cartridge and a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of ink outside the head cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 25 Sensor for detecting remaining ink amount 26, 48c, 48m, 48y First hole 27, 53c, 53m, 53y Positioning hole 28, 51c, 51m, 51y Prism 29, 52 Ink jet head 30 Ink tank 31, 41c, 41m, 41y Movable lever 32, 42c, 42m, 42y First claw 33a, 33b, 43c, 43m, 43y Second claw 34a, 34b, 44c, 44m, 44y Third claw 35, 45c, 45m, 45y Ink supply port 36, 46 Tank holder 37, 47c, 47m, 47y Positioning pin 38a, 38b, 49c, 49m, 49y Second hole 39a, 39b, 50c, 50m, 50y Third hole 40c Cyan ink tank 40m Magenta ink tank 40y Yellow Ink tanks 54, 54c, 54m 54y knob 55 ink absorber 56 Joint member

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Koshikawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C056 EA29 EB20 EB52 FA10 KC04 KD06

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An ink tank detachably held by a tank holder, wherein a movable lever having a first engagement claw engaged with a first engagement hole provided on one side wall of the tank holder is provided. The first of the tank holder
An ink tank provided with a second engagement claw that engages with a second engagement hole provided on a side wall opposite to the one side wall provided with the engagement hole, wherein a positioning pin is provided on a bottom surface of the ink tank. Is provided, the tank holder is provided with a positioning hole for receiving the positioning pin when the ink tank is mounted, and at the bottom inside the ink tank, when the ink tank is mounted on the tank holder, A prism is provided opposite to a position of an ink remaining amount detection sensor arranged outside the ink tank, and the prism is located at a position sandwiched between the second engagement claw and the positioning pin. The positioning pin and the positioning hole each have an abutting portion that abuts each other, and the abutting portion of the positioning pin has a flat surface. Nkutanku. 2. The first engaging claw of the movable lever is engaged with the first engagement hole of the tank holder by utilizing a repulsive force of the movable lever, and the first engaging claw of the tank holder is engaged with the first engaging claw of the tank holder. The ink tank in which the second engagement claw is engaged with the second engagement hole is pressed against a side surface provided with the second hole, whereby the ink tank is mounted and fixed in the tank holder. The ink tank according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The ink tank according to claim 2, wherein the plane intersects a direction in which the ink tank is pressed. 4. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the prism is configured to reflect a light incident on a tank bottom from a light-emitting portion of the sensor, and further reflect the light reflected by the first surface to reflect the light reflected from the first surface. The ink tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second surface that is incident on the light receiving unit. 5. The ink tank according to claim 4, wherein the prism is molded integrally with the ink tank. 6. A tank holder for detachably holding an ink tank, the tank holder having a first engagement hole for engaging a first engagement claw of a movable lever provided on one side surface of the ink tank. A tank having a second engagement hole for engaging a second engagement claw provided on a side of the ink tank opposite to the movable lever, wherein a positioning pin is provided on a bottom surface of the ink tank; The tank holder is provided with a positioning hole for receiving the positioning pin when the ink tank is mounted. An outer bottom of the ink tank when the ink tank is mounted on the tank holder is provided at a bottom inside the ink tank. A prism facing the position of the sensor for detecting the remaining amount of ink, which is disposed at a position between the second engagement claw and the positioning pin; A tank holder, which is arranged at a position sandwiched between the positioning pins, wherein the positioning pin and the positioning hole each have an abutting portion that abuts each other, and the abutting portion of the positioning hole has a flat surface. 7. The first engagement claw of the movable lever is engaged with the first engagement hole of the tank holder by utilizing a repulsive force of the movable lever, and the first engagement claw of the tank holder is provided. The ink tank holder in which the second engagement claw is engaged with the second engagement hole is pressed against a side surface provided with the second hole, whereby the ink tank holder is mounted and fixed. The tank holder according to claim 6. 8. The tank holder according to claim 7, wherein the plane intersects a direction in which the ink tank is pressed. 9. An ink jet head cartridge comprising the tank holder according to claim 6 and an ink jet recording head unit for discharging ink supplied from an ink tank mounted on the tank holder. . 10. An ink jet head cartridge according to claim 9, wherein said ink jet head cartridge is detachably held, has a carriage supported so as to be able to reciprocate along a surface of a recording medium, and based on an electric signal for discharging ink. An inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording on the recording medium by discharging ink from the inkjet recording head unit of the inkjet head cartridge.