Abstract: A printer includes a recording head having a nozzle that ejects ink and a suction pump that draws the ink through the nozzle. A valve unit and a filter are arranged in a passage that supplies the ink to the recording head. A controller of the printer operates the suction pump to perform suction/suspension in which suction of the ink from the passage through the nozzle and suspension of the suction are alternately repeated with the valve unit maintained in a closed state, thus promoting joining of bubbles on the filter. The controller then operates to open the valve unit to drain the joint bubbles from the filter, together with the ink, using negative pressure accumulated in the passage.

Abstract: An ink cartridge and an ink cartridge holder maintain the relative position between the information reading section of the ink cartridge holder and the information storing unit of the ink cartridge, which should be aligned accurately, even if the ink cartridge has instability to the ink cartridge holder due to variation in each product. The ink cartridge which supplies ink to a recording apparatus includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped ink cartridge main body holding ink; a connection electrode section provided on part of a first side of the ink cartridge main body and including a connection terminal; an ink supply unit provided in a front surface intersecting the first wall; and a positioning section guiding a positioning member of the recording apparatus to the vicinity of the connection electrode on the front surface so that the positioning member opposes the connection electrode section in the direction parallel with the connection electrode section.

Abstract: An ink container which includes an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head, and is formed with a flexible member shaped like a bag, which deforms in accordance with an amount of remaining ink contained therein, the ink container including: a sensor module serving as vibration activating and detecting unit, provided on one of the surfaces of the ink container, for emitting a vibration to the ink; and a rigid member provided on a location of the other surface of the ink container, which is opposed to the sensor module; wherein an amount of remaining ink is detected based on a vibration characteristic of the vibration activating and detecting unit which depends on a distance between the vibration activating and detecting unit and the rigid member.

Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.

Abstract: An ink cartridge having a container for storing ink therein and having an ink supply port formed at a leading end side in an insertion direction of the container, a memory device disposed on a first of two opposite surfaces parallel to the insertion direction of the container, the memory device having an electrode for electrical connection to the recording device; a retaining member disposed on the first surface and located at a trailing end side relative to the memory device in the insertion direction, the retaining member serving to selectively engage with the recording device; and another retaining member disposed on the second surface and which also serves to selectively engage with the recording device.

Abstract: An ink cartridge and an ink cartridge holder for maintaining the relative position between the information reading section of the ink cartridge holder and the information storing unit of the ink cartridge, which should be aligned accurately, even if the ink cartridge has instability to the ink cartridge holder due to the variation in each products. The ink cartridge which supplies ink to a recording apparatus includes: a substantially rectangular parallelepiped ink cartridge main body holding the ink; a connection electrode section provided on a part of a first side of the ink cartridge main body and including a connection terminal; an ink supply unit provided in a front surface which intersects the first wall; and a positioning section guiding a positioning member of the recording apparatus to the vicinity of the connection electrode on the front surface so that the positioning member opposes to the connection electrode section in the direction parallel with the connection electrode section.

Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid container, a liquid ejection device and a liquid container case, which may effectively use a liquid stored in the liquid container, and may be reduced in size in simple constitution. An ink cartridge as a liquid container includes a plurality of ink packs and a container case for storing the ink packs. Each ink pack includes an ink outlet member having an ink supply port, which is mounted on a bag part. The container case has a substantially box-shaped case body part and a lid case covering an opening. In the ink cartridge, the ink packs are inclined at an angle of q to the container case, and the ink packs are accommodated in the state of overlapping a part of the adjacent ink pack.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has pivotable levers connected to walls of a container, and both pawls and protruded guide portions formed on the levers. The pawls are engageable with an ink cartridge holder. The protruded guide portions contact the ink cartridge holder to move the levers in the opening direction. Further, protruded stopper portions are formed to permit pivoting movement of the levers to such a degree as to disengage the pawls from the ink cartridge holder.

Abstract: An ink container which includes an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head, and is formed with a flexible member shaped like a bag, which deforms in accordance with an amount of remaining ink contained therein, the ink container including: a sensor module serving as vibration activating and detecting unit, provided on one of the surfaces of the ink container, for emitting a vibration to the ink; and a rigid member provided on a location of the other surface of the ink container, which is opposed to the sensor module; wherein an amount of remaining ink is detected based on a vibration characteristic of the vibration activating and detecting unit which depends on a distance between the vibration activating and detecting unit and the rigid member.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for a printing apparatus providing ink to a print head through a tapered ink supply needle and removably attached to the print head. The ink cartridge comprises an ink chamber for containing ink, an ink supply port, a packing member and a valve device. The ink supply port supplies ink from the ink chamber to the print head of the printing apparatus, the ink supply port comprising an external opening. The packing member is provided in the ink supply port and forms an ink channel for allowing a flow of ink. The packing member seals the ink supply needle of the printing apparatus by fitting therewith. The valve device is contained in the ink supply port and elastically abuts against the packing member. The valve, device selectively opens and closes the ink channel in conjunction with the ink supply needle.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has pivotable levers connected to walls of a container, and both pawls and protruded guide portions formed on the levers. The pawls are engageable with an ink cartridge holder. The protruded guide portions contact the ink cartridge holder to move the levers in the opening direction. Further, protruded stopper portions are formed to permit pivoting movement of the levers to such a degree as to disengage the pawls from the ink cartridge holder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid container, a liquid ejection device and a liquid container case, which may effectively use a liquid stored in the liquid container, and may be reduced in size in simple constitution. An ink cartridge (11) as a liquid container includes a plurality of ink packs (12) and a container case (13) for storing the ink packs. Each ink pack (12) includes an ink outlet member (15) having an ink supply port, which is mounted on a bag part. The container case (13) has a substantially box-shaped case body part (21) and a lid case (22) covering an opening. In the ink cartridge (11), the ink packs (12) are inclined at an angle of ? to the container case (13), and the ink packs (12) are accommodated in the state of overlapping a part of the adjacent ink pack (12).

Abstract: An ink cartridge comprising a container body 3 housing an ink absorbing member 6? so as to absorb ink, a lid member 4, and a spacer 30 pressing the ink absorbing member 6? between the lid member 4 and the ink absorbing member 6?. It is possible to decrease the volume of the ink absorbing member 6? without changing structure in the vicinity of an ink supply port by using the same shape of a container body 3 and a lid member 4.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has pivotable levers connected to walls of a container, and both pawls and protruded guide portions formed on the levers. The pawls are engageable with an ink cartridge holder. The protruded guide portions contact the ink cartridge holder to move the levers in the opening direction. Further, protruded stopper portions are formed to permit pivoting movement of the levers to such a degree as to disengage the pawls from the ink cartridge holder.

Abstract: In a first preliminary filling step, ink edge is moved to a position between first and second pressure chambers in an ink supply passage and the second pressure chamber is filled preliminarily with the ink. In a second preliminary filling step, the ink edge is moved to a position between the first pressure chamber and a nozzle in the ink supply passage. Meanwhile, bubbles are discharged from the second pressure chamber and the first pressure chamber is preliminarily filled with the ink. Finally, in the complete filling step, the supply passage is filled entirely with the ink.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has pivotable levers connected to walls of a container, and both pawls and protruded guide portions formed on the levers. The pawls are engageable with an ink cartridge holder. The protruded guide portions contact the ink cartridge holder to move the levers in the opening direction. Further, protruded stopper portions are formed to permit pivoting movement of the levers to such a degree as to disengage the pawls from the ink cartridge holder.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.