Abstract: An ink cartridge with ink level indication for containing dispensable ink is disclosed. The ink cartridge includes a cartridge body and a reservoir for receiving and storing ink within the cartridge body. The reservoir is filled with a porous material member. A window is supported by the cartridge body to be disposed adjacent the porous material member. The window interacts with the porous material member to define porous material member portions of predetermined increasing capillarities. Each portion is able to retain ink therein for viewing through the window depending on its capillarity and the amount of ink in the reservoir to thereby provide an overall indication of the amount of ink in the print cartridge.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for maintaining a negative pressure in an ink reservoir of a liquid ink cartridge is disclosed. The pressure regulator includes at least a prop plate for propping a moveable wall away from another wall of the reservoir. A biasing means is attached to the plate a predetermined distance away from a central axis of the plate for urging the plate against the moveable wall to space apart the pair of walls and to allow controlled lopsided collapse of the moveable wall. An ink jet printer ink cartridge that includes the pressure regulator in a reservoir is also disclosed. An indicator member is attached to the moveable wall of the reservoir and viewable from outside of the housing. The pressure regulator is placed within the reservoir with the biasing means adjacent the indicator member. A method of indicating an amount of remaining ink in the reservoir is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for maintaining a negative pressure in an ink reservoir of a liquid ink cartridge is disclosed. The pressure regulator includes at least a prop plate for propping a moveable wall away from another wall of the reservoir. A biasing means is attached to the plate a predetermined distance away from a central axis of the plate for urging the plate against the moveable wall to space apart the pair of walls and to allow controlled lopsided collapse of the moveable wall. An ink jet printer ink cartridge that includes the pressure regulator in a reservoir is also disclosed. An indicator member is attached to the moveable wall of the reservoir and viewable from outside of the housing. The pressure regulator is placed within the reservoir with the biasing means adjacent the indicator member. A method of indicating an amount of remaining ink in the reservoir is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge with ink level indication for containing dispensable ink is disclosed. The ink cartridge includes a cartridge body and a reservoir for receiving and storing ink within the cartridge body. The reservoir is filled with a porous material member. A window is supported by the cartridge body to be disposed adjacent the porous material member. The window interacts with the porous material member to define porous material member portions of predetermined increasing capillarities. Each portion is able to retain ink therein for viewing through the window depending on its capillarity and the amount of ink in the reservoir to thereby provide an overall indication of the amount of ink in the print cartridge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink jet print cartridge is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a vented foam-filled type or a spring-bag type cartridge. The method also includes introducing ink into a reservoir. For a foam-filled cartridge, the method further includes covering orifices of an orifice plate to prevent leakage of ink through the orifices and subjecting the cartridge to a predetermined centrifugal force to force ink into a standpipe chamber to displace air trapped therein. For a spring-bag type cartridge, the method further includes subjecting the cartridge to a predetermined centrifugal force to force ink away from a standpipe chamber to displace air in a reservoir to force the air to collect adjacent a standpipe and priming the cartridge by drawing the air out of the cartridge through orifices of an orifice plate. A print cartridge manufactured according to the above method is also disclosed.