PURPOSE: To prevent an operational error with a simple structure at the time of loading a cartridge by a method wherein locking members for inhibiting an opening action are unsymmetrically provided in the insertion direction of an insertion path to a loading part.
CONSTITUTION: When an ink cartridge 104 is normally loaded, unlocking members 141, 142 provided on the both sides of the ink cartridge 104 separately come into slide contact with wedge parts 136A, 137B of locking members 136, 137, thereby shaking the locking members 136, 137 in opposite directions. Then, a protective plate 33 is rotated in a direction B, and the ink cartridge 104 is led to a loading position. On the other hand, when the ink cartridge 104 is loaded, for example, upside down, the unlocking members 141, 142 cannot shake the locking members 136, 137 and release the protective plate 33 from these locking members. The right and left locking members 136 and 137 provided along the right and left edges of an insertion path 32 differ in shape from each other.
HASHIMOTO KENICHIRO
INOUE HIROYUKI
NOJIMA TAKASHI
MATSUI SHINYA
HIRAMATSU SOICHI
