Abstract: An ink cartridge attachable to and detachable from an imaging apparatus, and including an ink accommodating unit; and a cartridge casing having an opening, whereby the ink accommodating unit includes: an ink accommodating body; and an ink supplying portion including a nozzle insertion path and connected to the ink accommodating body, whereby the ink supplying portion is held by the cartridge casing so that the ink supplying portion is rotatable between a position where the nozzle insertion path faces the opening and a position where the nozzle insertion path faces an inner wall surface of the cartridge casing, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the imaging apparatus the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the opening, and when the ink cartridge is detached the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the inner wall surface.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a flexible container containing ink; and a restriction mechanism allowing the flexible container to deform only in the direction to decrease the volume of the flexible container. The ink cartridge is used for an image forming apparatus including an inkjet head for jetting ink from nozzles.

Abstract: An ink cartridge removably mountable in an image forming apparatus includes a flexible storage member, a pressurization-space formation member, an output port, and an opening-and-closing assembly. The flexible storage member stores ink. The pressurization-space formation member hermetically houses the storage member and forms a pressurization space to which a fluid is supplied between the pressurization-space formation member and the storage member. The output port is connected to the storage member, through which the ink is supplied from the storage member to the image forming apparatus. The opening-and-closing assembly opens and closes between the output port and the storage member by the fluid supplied into the pressurization space.

Abstract: A liquid carrying container which is removably mounted to a body of an image forming device is disclosed. The liquid carrying container includes a liquid containing bag which contains liquid; and a supply port section which has an elastically deformable portion through which a hollow nozzle member is pierced from the side of the image forming device, wherein the supply port section is directly held within a recess section formed on the liquid containing bag, and the hollow nozzle member penetrates through the supply port section and the liquid containing bag to face inside the liquid containing bag.

Abstract: An imaging-material container that stores imaging material to be supplied to an image forming device includes a flexible storage member, a pressure unit, a regulation member, and a pushing unit. The flexible storage member stores imaging material. The pressure unit applies pressure on the flexible storage member. The regulation member contacts the flexible storage member to deform the flexible storage member. The pushing unit moves the regulation member as the imaging material is consumed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge attachable to and detachable from an imaging apparatus, and including an ink accommodating unit; and a cartridge casing having an opening, whereby the ink accommodating unit includes: an ink accommodating body; and an ink supplying portion including a nozzle insertion path and connected to the ink accommodating body, whereby the ink supplying portion is held by the cartridge casing so that the ink supplying portion is rotatable between a position where the nozzle insertion path faces the opening and a position where the nozzle insertion path faces an inner wall surface of the cartridge casing, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the imaging apparatus the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the opening, and when the ink cartridge is detached the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the inner wall surface.

Abstract: A liquid discharging-type image forming apparatus capable of securely eliminating mixed air bubbles from the ink liquid and forming a stable image. The apparatus includes: a sub tank 35 of which negative pressure amount is detected; a pump 115 sucking ink when the detected amount of the sub tank 35 is lower than a predetermined amount so that the sub tank 35 and recording heads 34 have negative pressure; a second backflow prevention unit 203 to stop the sent ink to be reserved in a second liquid container 201, which is pressurized as ink increases. When the ink is again filled in the sub tank 35, the ink is sent from the second liquid container 201 before being sent from the first liquid container. Accordingly, ink is not accumulated in the second liquid container 201, allowing the second liquid container 201 to be smaller and the image forming apparatus as a whole to be more compact.

Abstract: An ink cartridge attachable to and detachable from an imaging apparatus, and including an ink accommodating unit; and a cartridge casing having an opening, whereby the ink accommodating unit includes: an ink accommodating body; and an ink supplying portion including a nozzle insertion path and connected to the ink accommodating body, whereby the ink supplying portion is held by the cartridge casing so that the ink supplying portion is rotatable between a position where the nozzle insertion path faces the opening and a position where the nozzle insertion path faces an inner wall surface of the cartridge casing, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the imaging apparatus the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the opening, and when the ink cartridge is detached the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the inner wall surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image includes a recording head, a nozzle, an ink repellent layer, and an elastic wiper blade. The nozzle is provided in the recording head and includes an ink discharge surface including a substantially elongated discharge opening from which ink is ejected. The ink repellent layer is formed on the ink discharge surface of the nozzle. The elastic wiper blade moves over the ink discharge surface to wipe away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface while slidably contacting the ink discharge surface. The wiper blade moves in a long axis direction of the ink discharge opening as the wiper blade wipes away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface of the nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid container is detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus having a liquid introducing member. The liquid container includes a storage unit, a supply port assembly, and an elastic seal member. The storage unit is disposed in the liquid container to store a liquid usable for image formation. The supply port assembly is mounted in the storage unit and has a supply channel therein. The liquid introducing member of the image forming apparatus is inserted into the supply port assembly. The elastic seal member is disposed in the supply port assembly. When penetrated by the liquid introducing member, the elastic seal member moves together with the liquid introducing member relative to the supply port assembly to open and close the supply channel.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a flexible container containing ink; and a restriction mechanism allowing the flexible container to deform only in the direction to decrease the volume of the flexible container. The ink cartridge is used for an image forming apparatus including an inkjet head for jetting ink from nozzles.

Abstract: A liquid carrying container which is removably mounted to a body of an image forming device is disclosed. The liquid carrying container includes a liquid containing bag which contains liquid; and a supply port section which has an elastically deformable portion through which a hollow nozzle member is pierced from the side of the image forming device, wherein the supply port section is directly held within a recess section formed on the liquid containing bag, and the hollow nozzle member penetrates through the supply port section and the liquid containing bag to face inside the liquid containing bag.

Abstract: A liquid discharging-type image forming apparatus capable of securely eliminating mixed air bubbles from the ink liquid and forming a stable image. The apparatus includes: a sub tank 35 of which negative pressure amount is detected; a pump 115 sucking ink when the detected amount of the sub tank 35 is lower than a predetermined amount so that the sub tank 35 and recording heads 34 have negative pressure; a second backflow prevention unit 203 to stop the sent ink to be reserved in a second liquid container 201, which is pressurized as ink increases. When the ink is again filled in the sub tank 35, the ink is sent from the second liquid container 201 before being sent from the first liquid container. Accordingly, ink is not accumulated in the second liquid container 201, allowing the second liquid container 201 to be smaller and the image forming apparatus as a whole to be more compact.

Abstract: An imaging-material container that stores imaging material to be supplied to an image forming device includes a flexible storage member, a pressure unit, a regulation member, and a pushing unit. The flexible storage member stores imaging material. The pressure unit applies pressure on the flexible storage member. The regulation member contacts the flexible storage member to deform the flexible storage member. The pushing unit moves the regulation member as the imaging material is consumed.

Abstract: An ink cartridge removably mountable in an image forming apparatus includes a flexible storage member, a pressurization-space formation member, an output port, and an opening-and-closing assembly. The flexible storage member stores ink. The pressurization-space formation member hermetically houses the storage member and forms a pressurization space to which a fluid is supplied between the pressurization-space formation member and the storage member. The output port is connected to the storage member, through which the ink is supplied from the storage member to the image forming apparatus. The opening-and-closing assembly opens and closes between the output port and the storage member by the fluid supplied into the pressurization space.

Abstract: A liquid container is detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus having a liquid introducing member. The liquid container includes a storage unit, a supply port assembly, and an elastic seal member. The storage unit is disposed in the liquid container to store a liquid usable for image formation. The supply port assembly is mounted in the storage unit and has a supply channel therein. The liquid introducing member of the image forming apparatus is inserted into the supply port assembly. The elastic seal member is disposed in the supply port assembly. When penetrated by the liquid introducing member, the elastic seal member moves together with the liquid introducing member relative to the supply port assembly to open and close the supply channel.

Abstract: An ink cartridge attachable to and detachable from an imaging apparatus, and including an ink accommodating unit; and a cartridge casing having an opening, whereby the ink accommodating unit includes: an ink accommodating body; and an ink supplying portion including a nozzle insertion path and connected to the ink accommodating body, whereby the ink supplying portion is held by the cartridge casing so that the ink supplying portion is rotatable between a position where the nozzle insertion path faces the opening and a position where the nozzle insertion path faces an inner wall surface of the cartridge casing, and when the ink cartridge is attached to the imaging apparatus the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the opening, and when the ink cartridge is detached the ink supplying portion is rotated to direct the nozzle insertion path toward the inner wall surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image includes a recording head, a nozzle, an ink repellent layer, and an elastic wiper blade. The nozzle is provided in the recording head and includes an ink discharge surface including a substantially elongated discharge opening from which ink is ejected. The ink repellent layer is formed on the ink discharge surface of the nozzle. The elastic wiper blade moves over the ink discharge surface to wipe away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface while slidably contacting the ink discharge surface. The wiper blade moves in a long axis direction of the ink discharge opening as the wiper blade wipes away ink adhering to the ink discharge surface of the nozzle.

Abstract: A head capping member for capping an ejection face of a liquid ejecting head which face is provided with a nozzle for ejecting a liquid drop is provided, which includes a contact part which contacts the ejection face of the head and is made of an elastic member and a recess which forms a closed space together with the ejection head when the contact part contacts the ejection head, wherein a flat part is formed around the recess and an absorbing member is provided on the flat part so as to cover the recess.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a recording head for discharging an ink includes a fuel cell unit and a water supply unit. The fuel cell unit generates power for the image forming apparatus and water when the power is generated in the fuel cell unit. The water supply unit supplies the water, generated by the fuel cell unit, to an ink accumulation area in the image forming apparatus.