Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink tank containing ink; a recording head for performing recording by selectively ejecting ink; a mounting portion for mounting the ink tank and the recording head; a liquid passage coupling portion provided on either or both of the ink tank and the recording head for separating or connecting the ink passages in the ink tank and the recording head; a holding portion provided on either or both of the ink tank and recording head for guiding the ink tank to the recording head in order to hold them separably; and an electrically or mechanically connecting portion provided on either or both of the recording head and mounting portion for electrically or mechanically connecting the recording head to or separating it from the mounting portion.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises an ink tank containing ink; a recording head for performing recording by selectively ejecting ink; a mounting portion for mounting the ink tank and the recording head; a liquid passage coupling portion provided on either or both of the ink tank and the recording head for separating or connecting the ink passages in the ink tank and the recording head; a holding portion provided on either or both of the ink tank and recording head for guiding the ink tank to the recording head in order to hold them separably; and an electrically or mechanically connecting portion provided on either or both of the recording head and mounting portion for electrically or mechanically connecting the recording head to or separating it from the mounting portion.

Abstract: A recording head cartridge includes a recording head for ejecting recording liquid in the form of a droplet thereof; a container for containing the recording liquid; a communicating pipe for substantially balancing pressure in the container with an ambient pressure; a blocking plate disposed adjacent an inside opening of the pipe at a position away from the opening.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge has a recording head portion and an ink containing portion which are detachably mountable relative to each other. The recording head portion ejects ink to effect recording with the ink. The cartridge includes a first ink container, provided in the recording head portion, for containing the ink; a second ink container, provided in the ink containing portion, for containing the ink; and an ink communication tube for establishing ink communication between the first ink container and the second ink container, wherein the ink communication tube is not externally exposed.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes first and second members for constituting liquid passages by joining them together; the second member has an ejection outlet forming member having a thickness a and is provided with a jaw having a dimension b, wherein an inside end of an ejection outlet of the ejection outlet forming member is displaced by a distance c from adjacent wall of a liquid passage, with b.gtoreq.5 microns, c.gtoreq.3 microns, and 20 microns.ltoreq.a+b.ltoreq.60 microns.

Abstract: A liquid storing container storing liquid, therein and having a supply port for supplying the liquid to the outside has flow rate control means having a slit adapted to be closed in a steady state and to be opened for predetermined differential pressure or greater and controlling the flow rate of the liquid supplied from the supply port to the outside, and pressure regulating means disposed more adjacent to the supply port than to the flow rate control means for regulating the pressure of the liquid more adjacent to the supply port than to the flow rate control means.

Abstract: An ink tank for storing ink to be supplied to a recording unit comprises a bag-like member arranged in an inner space of the ink tank and communicating with the atmosphere, which bag-like member has a volume variable from substantially zero to a volume substantially equal to that of the inner space of the ink tank. Ink is stored in a space defined between the ink tank and the bag-like member and a liquid path is formed in an inner wall surface of the ink tank.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head unit for performing a recording operation by discharging ink is desclosed. The ink jet recording head unit includes an ink jet head portion having an ink passage communicated with a discharge port for discharging ink and a substrate having an energy generating element for causing energy for discharging ink to act on ink present in the ink passage, the ink being supplied through an ink receiving port of a connecting portion; and an ink supply member having a connecting portion to be connected to the ink jet head portion so as to supply ink to the ink jet head portion via the connecting portion.

Abstract: An ink storage unit used in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink comprises a plurality of ink storage chambers, a plurality of movable walls and a mechanism for holding each of the movable walls. Each of the ink storage chambers stores ink. Each of the movable walls is provided in the each ink storage chamber respectively so as to seal stored ink against air, and each movable wall can move according to a change of amount of ink in each ink storage chamber. The mechanism for holding the movable walls exerts a force opposed to a force which is exerted on the each movable wall according to the change of amount of ink, on each of the movable walls so as to make the pressure in each ink storage chamber an appropriate negative pressure.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes first and second members for constituting liquid passages by joining them together; and a clamp for applying a line pressure to one of the members. By using such a clamp, the pressing force can be concentrated in a line to provide a uniform pressing force to ensure reliable clamping.

Abstract: An ink container for containing ink includes an outer casing; an inner casing, in the outer casing, for containing the ink therein; filler material disposed between the outer casing and the inner casing to isolate the ink from ambient condition change.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge is composed integrally of a recording head and an ink tank, which are constructed in mutually separable manner, in order to enable repeated use of the recording head by replacement of the ink tank. In an ink supply part in the ink tank, an elastic partition wall is provided with a slit which is normally closed but is opened under a predetermined pressure difference. The slit is so designed as to generate an appropriate negative pressure on the recording head, thereby preventing ink leakage. Also a slit shielding valve member is provided to shield the slit at the abrupt inhaling action of the ink tank at the detaching of the ink tank, in order to prevent air intrusion into the ink tank.

Abstract: An ink jet head cartridge include an ink container and a porous material contained in the container for retaining the ink. A process for filling the ink container includes the steps of supplying ink in a quantity greater than that which the porous material can retain through a first port and removing through a second port at least a quantity of ink which the porous material cannot retain. The process can also be performed through a single port. At least one of the ports can also be used for communicating with a recording head portion of the cartridge.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a liquid outlet for supplying liquid, a pressure control device disposed in the container and adjacent to the outlet The pressure control device has a value function for permitting liquid supply through the outlet within a predetermined pressure range.

Abstract: A recording head is proposed having an ejection outlet for ejecting recording ink, and a container for the recording ink having an air vent. A single sealing member seals both the ejection outlet and the air vent so that when this sealing member is removed, both the ejection outlet and the air vent are unsealed.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes an ink container; a recording head having an ink ejection outlet; a supply pipe for supplying the ink from the container to the recording head; a porous material contained in the container for retaining the ink; wherein the supply pipe is pressed to the porous material to deform it, wherein a depth of the deformation is larger than a maximum length of a cross-section of the supply pipe.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus includes an ink jet recording head having a housing, an ink container in the housing for containing ink, ejection outlets for ejecting the ink supplied from the ink container, and energy generating elements for generating energy contributable to the ejection of the ink through the ejection outlets, the housing being provided with a cavity. The ink jet recording head further comprises electric contacts for supplying the energy, the contacts being provided on a wall defining the cavity and a carriage on which the ink jet recording head is mounted, the carriage being provided with a contact member having electric contacts for electric coupling with the aforementioned contacts. The ink jet recording head is mounted on the carriage with the contact member being in the cavity. The housing is provided with a window extending from a cavity to permit observation of the contact member.