Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, an ink supply portion, and a supply chamber positioned adjacent to the ink supply portion. The supply chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with the ink chamber and the ink supply portion, and the ink supply portion is configured to dispense ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber via the supply chamber. Moreover, the supply chamber has a central axis extending from an open end of the supply chamber to a closed end of the supply chamber, a wall defining a portion of the supply chamber has an opening formed therethrough, and the opening of the wall is offset from the central axis of the supply chamber.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber comprising a first wall, and an ink dispensing portion disposed within the ink chamber. The ink dispensing portion has a dispensing chamber formed therein, and a first end of the dispensing chamber is positioned adjacent to the first wall. The ink dispensing portion includes a second wall which bounds the dispensing chamber, and the second wall has an opening formed therethrough adjacent to a second end of the dispensing chamber opposite the first end of the dispensing chamber. Moreover, the dispensing chamber is configured to communicate with the ink chamber via the opening of the second wall. The ink cartridge also includes a rib member extending from an exterior surface of the second wall. The rib member includes an open end and a closed end, and the closed end of the rib member surrounds the opening of the second wall. In addition, the open end of the rib member is positioned adjacent to the first wall.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first case having a wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The wall has a first opening and a second opening formed therethrough, the first opening has a first center, and the second opening has a second center. The wall also has a first center line and a second center line which is perpendicular to the first center line, and each of the first center and the second center is offset from each of the first center line and the second center line. The ink cartridge also includes a second case enclosed within the first case, and an ink supply portion positioned adjacent to the second end of the wall, in which a portion of the ink supply portion is configured to be received by the first opening. The ink cartridge also include a translucent portion extending from the second case and positioned at the wall between the first end of the wall and the ink supply portion, and a portion of the translucent portion is aligned with the second opening.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an enclosure, and the enclosure includes a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, a third wall connected to each of the first wall and the second wall, and a fourth wall connected to each of the first wall and the second wall. The third wall is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall and the second wall, and the fourth wall is opposite the third wall and is substantially perpendicular to each of the first wall and the second wall. The ink cartridge also includes an ink chamber disposed within the enclosure, an air intake portion positioned at the first wall, and a first chamber disposed within the enclosure. The first chamber is coupled to the air intake portion via a first opening formed through the first chamber. Moreover, the ink cartridge includes an air communication path disposed within the enclosure and having a first end coupled to the first chamber, and a second chamber disposed within the enclosure.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a communication path coupled to an ink supply portion and configured to dispense ink from an interior of an ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber via an opening, and the communication path has a center line. The ink cartridge also includes a movable member which has a signal blocking portion provided at a first end of the movable member, ant the signal blocking portion is disposed within an inner space of a translucent portion. The movable member also includes a float provided at a second end of the movable member opposite the first end of the movable member, and the float is disposed within the ink chamber and has a specific gravity which is less than the specific gravity of the ink within the ink chamber. Moreover, the float is configured to move between a first position and a second position based at least on an amount of ink disposed within the ink chamber.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge case; an ink chamber situated within the cartridge case; an ink supply opening formed in the cartridge case for supplying ink from the ink chamber to an exterior of the cartridge; and a lever mechanism provided in the ink chamber, the lever mechanism including a light blocking member at a first end of the lever mechanism, the lever mechanism being rotatable about a rotation point on the lever mechanism, and the light blocking member being movable in association with rotation of the lever mechanism.

Abstract: A manipulating rod is provided on an air intake valve so as to project through an air intake port. A protective member is provided with a projection, which causes the manipulating rod to move so as to open the air intake valve, in response to a motion for detaching the protective member from an ink cartridge.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge case; an ink chamber situated within the cartridge case; an ink supply opening formed in the cartridge case for supplying ink from the ink chamber to an exterior of the cartridge; and a lever mechanism provided in the ink chamber, the lever mechanism including a light blocking member at a first end of the lever mechanism, the lever mechanism being rotatable about a rotation point on the lever mechanism, and the light blocking member being movable in association with rotation of the lever mechanism.

Abstract: An ink cartridge including: an ink chamber storing ink; a communication chamber communicating the ink chamber with the exterior of the ink cartridge; a valve member disposed in the communication chamber such that the valve member is displaceable between a first position to shut off communication between the ink chamber and the exterior, and a second position to permit the communication; a biasing member including a side wall portion surrounding the valve member, and an engaging portion extending inward from an end of the side wall portion and engaging with the valve member, the biasing member normally holding the valve member at the first position but allowing the valve member to be placed at the second position by an elastic deformation of at least one of the side wall portion and the engaging portion, and generating a biasing force to restore the valve member to the first position; and a disengagement preventer which prevents the valve member from disengaging from the engaging portion when the valve member

Abstract: An ink cartridge has an ink tank in which the ink is stored, and a shutter mechanism which is arranged in the ink tank. The shutter mechanism includes a lever which is supported swingably and which has one end provided with a shutter and the other end provided with a float. The mass and the volume of the float are set so that the first direction, in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity generated when the entire shutter mechanism is positioned in the ink, is opposite to the second direction in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity when a part of the float protrudes from the ink liquid surface. A residual amount of an ink is indicated without being excessively affected by any disturbance such as the surface tension of the ink.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes at least one wall; an ink chamber capable of storing ink, the ink chamber being bounded, at least in part, by the at least one wall; an ink supply opening configured to permit communication between the ink chamber and an area outside of the ink chamber; and a detection portion. The detection portion extends away from the ink chamber relative to portions of the ink cartridge adjacent to the detection portion, at least when the ink cartridge is installed in an image forming apparatus; and at least one part of the detection portion is capable of obstructing at least a portion of a light beam directed through the detection portion.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a bottom wall, a first surface having a first intersection with the bottom wall, a second surface having a second intersection with at least one of the bottom wall and the first surface, an ink chamber bounded, at least in part, by the bottom wall, the first surface and the second surface, and an ink supply opening for supplying ink in the ink chamber to a location outside of the ink chamber, the ink supply opening being provided in the bottom wall. The first intersection has a first curvature and the second intersection has a second curvature and the first curvature is greater than the second curvature, and at least a portion of the first intersection is closer to the ink supply opening than at least a portion of the second intersection.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first side wall, a second side wall opposite from the first side wall, a front wall, a back wall opposite from the front wall, a bottom wall, a top wall opposite from the bottom wall, and an ink chamber formed in a space enclosed by the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, the back wall, the bottom wall and the top wall. The bottom wall includes an ink supply opening through which ink may be provided to a print head, and a protruding region of the ink cartridge protrudes outwardly from the first side wall.

Abstract: An ink cartridge, includes an ink chamber capable of storing ink, an opening in a bottom surface of the ink cartridge, through which the ink may be supplied from the ink chamber to an image forming device, a first side wall, a second side wall opposite from the first side wall, a front wall, and a back wall opposite the front wall, wherein a first distance between the first side wall and the second side wall is greater than a second distance between the front wall and the back wall, at least one of the front wall or the back wall includes a recess, which protrudes inwardly with respect to adjacent regions of the at least one of the front wall or the back wall, a third distance from the bottom surface to the top of the recess is more than about 4.5 mm, and a fourth distance from the adjacent regions of the at least one of the front wall or the back ball and an end of the recess is less than about 3 mm.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case having a bottom wall and side walls forming an ink chamber, with a top surface of the case being open, an air introduction opening formed in the bottom wall of the case that introduces air into the ink chamber, and a hollow member that is in direct communication with the air introduction opening, wherein the hollow member is formed integrally with and extends from the bottom wall of the case towards the top surface in a first direction, and an upper end of the hollow member is open.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, an air introduction opening that introduces air inside the ink chamber, a first sealing member that is capable of blocking and allowing communication between the air introduction opening and an area outside of the ink cartridge, an ink supply opening that supplies ink from the ink chamber, a second sealing member that is capable of blocking and allowing communication between the ink supply opening and the area outside of the ink cartridge, and a check valve provided between the second sealing member and the ink chamber, wherein the check valve blocks a flow of the ink in the ink supply opening from the area outside of the ink supply opening toward the ink chamber.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, a communication chamber that is capable of communicating with the ink chamber and an outside of the ink cartridge, a valve disposed within the communication chamber that is capable of moving from a first position where a communication between the ink chamber and the outside of the ink cartridge is blocked, to a second position where the communication is allowed, and an operation member that extends from the communication chamber to the outside of the ink cartridge and is capable of moving the valve from the first position to the second position.