초록 ▼

An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a bottom face and a front face; interfaces on the front face for connection to a cartridge receiving structure, the interfaces including an ink interface; a guide interface in the bottom face for guiding the cartridge along a straight line during inser

An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a bottom face and a front face; interfaces on the front face for connection to a cartridge receiving structure, the interfaces including an ink interface; a guide interface in the bottom face for guiding the cartridge along a straight line during insertion in the cartridge receiving structure for connecting the interfaces, where the guide interface comprises a guide track for guiding a T-rail guide of the cartridge receiving structure, said guide track extending parallel to said straight line; and a latch track and a latch strop disposed in the bottom face of the ink cartridge to guide and retain, respectively, a latch of the cartridge receiving structure. The guide track and the latch track are formed by one integral cut out in the bottom face of the cartridge.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising: a bottom face and a front face;interfaces on the front face for connection to a cartridge receiving structure, the interfaces including an ink interface;a guide interface in the bottom face for guiding the cartridge along a str

1. An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising: a bottom face and a front face;interfaces on the front face for connection to a cartridge receiving structure, the interfaces including an ink interface;a guide interface in the bottom face for guiding the cartridge along a straight line during insertion in the cartridge receiving structure for connecting the interfaces, wherein the guide interface comprises a guide track for guiding a T-rail guide of the cartridge receiving structure, said guide track extending parallel to said straight line; anda latch track and a latch stop disposed in the bottom face of the ink cartridge to guide and retain, respectively, a latch of the cartridge receiving structure;wherein the guide track and the latch track are formed by one integral cut out in the bottom face of the cartridge. 2. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the guide track comprises a T-shaped cut out. 3. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the guide track comprises a tapered receiving opening at the front face of the ink cartridge. 4. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the guide track comprises flanges, said flanges being tapered near a receiving opening of the guide track. 5. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the guide track comprises a guide stop for engaging an end of a T-rail guide of the cartridge receiving structure. 6. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the ink interface comprises a socket for receiving a pen of the cartridge receiving structure, the pen having a length that is equal to, or shorter than, the guide track, wherein the central axis of the socket is parallel to said straight line. 7. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the ink interface comprises a socket for receiving a conically shaped pen of the cartridge receiving structure, the ink interface further comprising a seal ring of resilient material to stretch an inner diameter for engaging the pen along its conical shape at insertion. 8. The ink cartridge of claim 7, wherein the seal ring comprises a tapering receiving mouth. 9. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the interfaces comprise an electrical circuit for electrical contact between the ink cartridge and the cartridge receiving structure. 10. The ink cartridge of claim 9, wherein the electrical circuit is recessed in the front face of the ink cartridge such that electrical contact between the ink cartridge and the cartridge receiving structure is made after at least one other interface is connected. 11. The ink cartridge of claim 10, wherein the electrical circuit comprises electrodes that extend in a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the front face of the ink cartridge and approximately parallel to the straight line for establishing a sideways connection with a corresponding connector circuit of the cartridge receiving structure. 12. The ink cartridge of claim 9, wherein the electrical circuit is disposed in a top portion of the front face of the ink cartridge and the ink interface is disposed in a bottom portion of the front face of the ink cartridge. 13. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the latch track comprises a locking track and an at least partly separate unlocking track, and is arranged to accommodate movement of the latch with respect to the latch stop, said movement being: along the locking track into a locked engagement position at insertion, andalong the unlocking track into an unlocked position at ejection. 14. The ink cartridge of claim 13, wherein the latch stop is disposed between the locking track and the unlocking track. 15. The ink cartridge of claim 13, comprising a latch guide wall at an end of the locking track to direct the latch to engage the latch stop. 16. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the latch stop comprises a latch stop wall and a latch abutment, the latch abutment comprising a protrusion in the latch stop wall for retaining the latch from sliding off the latch stop wall. 17. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the interfaces on the front face of the ink cartridge comprise an ejector alignment interface, the ejector alignment interface comprising a ring-shaped ridge. 18. The ink cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a projection extending into the latch track that directs the latch to a locking track on a first side of the latch stop, rather than an unlocking track on an opposite side of the latch stop. 19. An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising: a bottom face and a front face;an ink interface on the front face for connection to a cartridge receiving structure;a guide track in the bottom face of the ink cartridge for guiding the cartridge along a straight line during insertion in the cartridge receiving structure for connecting the ink interface, wherein the guide track has a T-shaped cut out for guiding a corresponding T-rail guide of the cartridge receiving structure, said guide track extending parallel to said straight line;a latch track comprising a latch stop, said latch track and latch stop being disposed in the bottom face of the ink cartridge to guide, the latch track accommodating movement of a latch of the cartridge receiving structure to and from engagement with the latch stop;wherein the guide track and the latch track are formed from one integral cut out in the bottom face of the cartridge. 20. The ink cartridge of claim 19, further comprising a jog in the latch track directing the latch along a first side of the latch stop for insertion of the ink cartridge in the cartridge receiving structure, wherein the latch moves along a second, opposite side of the latch stop during removal of the ink cartridge.