Abstract: An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer comprises an ink supply container in the form of an ink bag and a waste ink recovery returner for recovering waste ink, which are both housed within the same cartridge chamber and wherein the waste ink recovery retainer comprises a waste ink bag including a polymeric absorber therein. The polymeric absorber of this invention has great absorption capabilities with a volume requirement of about one-half to one-tenth of that compared to porous absorption members utilized in the prior art and are still capable of absorbing the entire volume of ink within the ink bag. This permits a large reduction in cartridge volume and permits sharing of same cartridge chamber volume by both bags due to the continual exchange of ink from one bag to another. As a result, it becomes possible to further reduce the size of the entire ink jet printer and its printing mechanism.

Abstract: A paper feeding apparatus for a printer. There are at least two mounting members, each of which is adapted to contain sheets of paper. A paper feeding assembly is associated with each of the mounting members and contacts the paper in the mounting member for feeding single sheets of paper. A paper feed gear is operatively coupled to each of the paper feeding assemblies for co-rotation therewith. A sun gear is present proximate each of the paper feeding gears and each is rotatable about a center point. A transmission mechanism transmits rotational power in first and second directions from a paper feed motor in the printer to each of the sun gears. The first and second directions are opposite to one another. A selector member is associated with each of the paper feed assemblies and has a planet gear on a first arm and a protrusion on a second arm. The selector member is rotatable about the center point of the corresponding sun gear. The planet gear engages with the corresponding sun gear.