Abstract: An ink cartridge for supplying the ink in an ink reserving chamber via an ink supply port into a recording head has a differential pressure valve mechanism disposed between an ink flow port and the ink supply port in the ink reserving chamber, whereby the ink is supplied an adequate amount to the recording head by opening or closing the differential pressure valve mechanism in accordance with an ink pressure of the recording head. As a result, it is possible to supply the ink at a substantially constant pressure to the recording head without regard to the variation in the amount of ink or the-movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A valve unit 36 is placed in an ink flow passage 35 between an ink cartridge 8 and a recording head 7 and can be controlled in association with the cleaning operation of the recording head 7. Under the control of a drive controller, the valve unit 36 holds for a predetermined time a state in which negative pressure produced by a suction pump is accumulated, and is opened after the expiration of the predetermined time or is opened with the negative pressure accumulated and driving the suction pump is continued. The air bubbles remaining in a stuck state in the ink flow passage can be peeled from the ink flow passage together with an instantaneous fast ink flow produced as the valve unit 36 is opened, and the peeled air bubbles can be discharged effectively from the ink flow passage following the subsequent ink flow.

Abstract: A cleaning device mounted on a liquid jet apparatus having a liquid jet head for ejecting liquid in order to clean the liquid jet head is provided. The cleaning device includes: a capping unit having a function of sealing a nozzle forming surface of the liquid jet head and a function of receiving waste liquid discharged from the liquid jet head; a lifting unit raising and lowering the capping unit so as to attach and detach the capping unit to and from the liquid jet head; an urging unit urging the capping unit toward the liquid jet head; and a locking unit locking the urging unit in a state that the capping unit makes contact with the liquid jet head and seals the nozzle forming surface.

Abstract: An inkjet type printer having a recording head is disclosed. The printer includes a cap and a raising and lowering unit. The raising and lowering unit moves the cap between a sealing position at which the cap contacts the recording head and a retreat position at which the cap is separated from the recording head. The raising and lowering unit includes a selection cam, a cleaning mechanism, and a lift lever. The cleaning mechanism supports the cap and the selection cam, and is movable along the moving direction of the cap. The distal end of the lift lever is engaged with the selection cam at a position near the outer circumference of the selection cam, and the proximal end of the lift lever is coupled to a pressure adjustment shaft. The selection cam is raised or lowered while being rotated about the distal end of the lift lever, so that the cap is moved between the sealing position and the retreat position.

Abstract: A maintenance device for use in a liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head is disclosed. The maintenance device maintains the liquid ejection head and includes a cap, wiper, and head guide portion. The cap is movable between a capping position, in which the cap contacts the liquid ejection head, and a retreat position, in which the cap is separated from the liquid ejection head. The wiper is capable of wiping a nozzle forming surface of the liquid ejection head by moving in a wiping direction. The head guide portion positions the cap relative to the liquid ejection head so that the cap is parallel to the nozzle forming surface when arranged at the capping position and positions the wiper relative to the liquid ejection head so that the wiper is parallel to the nozzle forming surface during the wiping.

Abstract: A maintenance device for doing maintenance of an inkjet type recording apparatus having a recording head is provided. The maintenance device includes a selecting portion. The selecting portion has a plurality of movable bodies each corresponding to one of nozzle groups of the recording head. Each movable body is driven by the drive source so as to be movable between a selection position and a non-selection position. When arranged at the selection position, each movable body allows the suction portion to apply suction to the movable body and allows the wiper corresponding to the movable body to perform wiping. When arranged at the non-selection position, each movable body inhibits the suction portion from applying suction to the movable body and inhibits the wiper corresponding to the movable body from performing wiping.

Abstract: A maintenance device for use in a liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head with a nozzle forming surface provided with nozzle for ejecting a liquid. The maintenance device maintains the liquid ejection head and includes a wiper and an urging member. The wiper includes a wiper member formed from an elastic material. The wiper is movable in a wiping direction that is parallel to the nozzle forming surface in a state in which the wiper member is in contact with the nozzle forming surface to wipe the nozzle forming surface.

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: In an ink cartridge, a negative pressure generating mechanism is disposed between an ink storage region and an ink supply port, and has a wall surface having two through-holes for ink flow, and a valve member contacted with and separated from the through-hole by receiving a pressure in an ink supply port side. Ink flowing via the through-hole is supplied via the through-hole to the ink supply port.

Abstract: Ink maintained at a negative pressure state is supplied to an ink-jet recording head via an ink supply mechanism constructed as a differential pressure valve having a coil spring and a movable membrane normally contacted elastically with a valve seat by the coil spring.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body which stores the liquid in its inside. The container body includes a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside. A detection unit is provided in the container body and outputs an output signal which is changed in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the inside of the container body.

Abstract: In an ink cartridge, a negative pressure generating mechanism is disposed between an ink storage region and an ink supply port, and has a wall surface having two through-holes for ink flow, and a valve member contacted with and separated from the through-hole by receiving a pressure in an ink supply port side. Ink flowing via the through-hole is supplied via the through-hole to the ink supply port.

Abstract: Ink maintained at a negative pressure state is supplied to an ink-jet recording head via an ink supply mechanism constructed as a differential pressure valve having a coil spring and a movable membrane normally contacted elastically with a valve seat by the coil spring.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording device for supplying ink to a recording head from at least one ink cartridge having a bottom wall, and first and second side walls connected to each other through the bottom wall and facing each other, the ink cartridge further having an ink supply port at the bottom wall, a first retaining member extending from the first side wall and a recess provided in the vicinity of the second side wall, the retaining member having a first engagement portion displaceable toward and away from the first side wall.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid container for storing liquid to be supplied to a liquid consuming apparatus. The liquid container is constructed such that pressurized fluid is sent to its inside so that the liquid in the inside is delivered to the outside. The liquid container includes a container body which stores the liquid in its inside. The container body includes a pressurized fluid introduction port for introducing the pressurized fluid to the inside and a liquid delivery port for delivering the liquid to the outside. A detection unit is provided in the container body and outputs an output signal which is changed in accordance with a change in pressure of the liquid in the inside of the container body.

Abstract: Ink maintained at a negative pressure state is supplied to an ink-jet recording head via an ink supply mechanism constructed as a differential pressure valve having a coil spring and a movable membrane normally contacted elastically with a valve seat by the coil spring.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording device for supplying ink to a recording head from at least one ink cartridge having a bottom wall, and first and second side walls connected to each other through the bottom wall and facing each other, the ink cartridge further having an ink supply port at the bottom wall, a first retaining member extending from the first side wall and a recess provided in the vicinity of the second side wall, the retaining member having a first engagement portion displaceable toward and away from the first side wall.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet recording device, includes: a container having an ink supply port; at least two ink chambers partitioned in the container, one being located substantially in an upper section and the other being located substantially in a lower section; an ink suction passage connecting a bottom region of the lower section ink chamber to a bottom region of the upper section ink chamber; and a negative pressure generating mechanism provided to a flow passage connecting the upper section ink chamber to the ink supply port.

Abstract: Ink maintained at a negative pressure state is supplied to an ink-jet recording head via an ink supply mechanism constructed as a differential pressure valve having a coil spring and a movable membrane normally contacted elastically with a valve seat by the coil spring.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus ejects liquid retained in a liquid container from a liquid ejection head. The apparatus includes a liquid supply needle having an outlet line that can be connected to the interior of the liquid container, a liquid supply line connecting the outlet line of the liquid supply needle to the recording head, and a control valve provided in the liquid supply line. The control valve closes the liquid supply line when negative pressure is applied to the liquid ejection head. A seal valve is arranged between the control valve and the liquid supply needle in the liquid supply line. The seal valve seals the liquid supply line using liquid pressure applied from the control valve to the outlet line. Accordingly, the liquid is prevented from leaking from the liquid supply needle when the liquid container is separated from the liquid supply needle.