Abstract: An ink reservoir (166) has a plurality of thin bodies (164) provided in a housing (161) at gaps from each other. Ink in the housing (161) is held by a capillary force generated by the thin bodies (164). An ink guide portion (167) which is set at a gap between one end of the liquid ink (166) and an inner wall of the housing (161) is provided so that a capillary force in the vicinity of an ink supply port (165) is larger than that of the liquid reservoir (166).

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a sub tank unit mounted to a carriage, and an ink supply recovery unit. In the sub tank unit, a recording head and a sub tank are mounted to the carriage. The ink recovery unit has a main tank, and is connected with the sub tank unit via a supply joint, so as to be capable of supplying ink from the main tank to the sub tank. The sub tank houses an ink absorber having a lot of cavities for holding the ink, and an average distance between cavities is 0.12 mm to 0.25 mm.

Abstract: In a sub-tank of an ink jet recording head, an ink absorbing member capable of being impregnated with and holding an ink is arranged and a space V2, which is an area formed by a first wall surface of an ink reservoir and the ink absorbing member and in which the ink absorbing member is not present, is formed. A gas-liquid separation member made of a porous member, transmitting a gas but shutting off a liquid such as the ink is provided in a cap member in which an air hole is formed. A volume of the space V2 and a total volume V2 of an amount of the ink by which the ink is discharged from a discharge port of an ink jet recording element in one recovery operation and an initial pre-discharge amount hold a relationship of 0.7V1≦V2≦V1.

Abstract: A covering member is installed on the upper face of a liquid storing chamber, which further covers a communicating for covering a gas-liquid separation member. For the ink jet cartridge, given the length of each of paths from the gas-liquid separation member to the atmosphere communication port as Ln, and the sectional area of each path as Sn, and then, the diffusion resistance R=&Sgr;(Ln/Sn), and the coefficient K=10,000 (mg·mm/mm2), it is arranged to set the Ln and Sn to satisfy the K/V<R<2,000, provided that the total weight of liquid filled in the liquid storing chamber is V.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation membrane is provided with high reliability and performance while having gas-permeable pores formed independently of each other in even pore size and in uniform distribution. The gas-liquid separation membrane has a plurality of gas-permeable pores that permit permeation of gas and that prevent permeation of liquid by capillary force, and the plurality of gas-permeable pores are formed independently of each other and in even pore size by laser machining.

Abstract: A sub-tank unit of an ink jet cartridge can contain ink for image printing therein. The sub-tank unit includes a container main body having a ink storage for storing the ink, a ventilation path enabling the liquid storage and the outside of the container main body to communicate with each other, a gas liquid separation member disposed to communicate with the ventilation path, and a capillary member disposed between the ink storage and the gas liquid separation member.

Abstract: A simple configuration is used to prevent a gas-liquid separating membrane which allows a gas to pass through while hindering the passage of a liquid, from undergoing a pressure equal to or higher than the withstanding pressure of the membrane, thus enabling a liquid to be stably fed into a container. To achieve this, in one preferred mode, a buffer is provided in a suction path connected to a suction pump. The buffer serves to prevent a gas-liquid separating membrane which allows a gas to pass through while hindering the passage of a liquid, from undergoing a pressure equal to or higher than the withstanding pressure of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention to provide a liquid reserving device which can be manufactured inexpensively, which allows various liquids such as ink to be used chemically stably, and which can stably supply a liquid by reducing channel resistance irrespective of changes in position during operation to generate a predetermined negative pressure. To achieve this object, in one preferred mode, a plurality of thin plates are disposed at predetermined intervals to form reserving portions in which predetermined capillary force is generated. Furthermore, a predetermined gap is formed between the reserving portion and a liquid outlet to form a guiding portion in which capillary force is generated which is stronger than the capillary force of the reserving portion.

Abstract: An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, inclues an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.

Abstract: An ink cartridge (3) including an ink reservoir portion having a porous member (37) for storing ink and an ink supply portion (39) has an ink inducing element (47) disposed between the ink reservoir portion and the ink supply portion (39). The ink inducing element (47) is made of bundle of fibers in which each fiber is disposed in parallel to the direction of ink supplying from the ink reservoir to the ink supply portion (39), and one end of the ink inducing element (47) is press-touched to the porous member (37).

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation membrane is provided with high reliability and performance while having gas-permeable pores formed independently of each other in even pore size and in uniform distribution. The gas-liquid separation membrane has a plurality of gas-permeable pores that permit permeation of gas and that prevent permeation of liquid by capillary force, and the plurality of gas-permeable pores are formed independently of each other and in even pore size by laser machining.

Abstract: An ink cartridge (3) including an ink reservoir portion having a porous member (37) for storing ink and an ink supply portion (39) has an ink inducing element (47) disposed between the ink reservoir portion and the ink supply portion (39). The ink inducing element (47) is made of bundle of fibers in which each fiber is disposed in parallel to the direction of ink supplying from the ink reservoir to the ink supply portion (39), and one end of the ink inducing element (47) is press-touched to the porous member (37).

Abstract: An ink cartridge (3) including an ink reservoir portion having a porous member (37) for storing ink and an ink supply portion (39) has an ink inducing element (47) disposed between the ink reservoir portion and the ink supply portion (39). The ink inducing element (47) is made of bundle of fibers in which each fiber is disposed in parallel to the direction of ink supplying from the ink reservoir to the ink supply portion (39), and one end of the ink inducing element (47) is press-touched to the porous member (37).

Abstract: An ink cartridge (3) including an ink reservoir portion having a porous member (37) for storing ink and an ink supply portion (39) has an ink inducing element (47) disposed between the ink reservoir portion and the ink supply portion (39). The ink inducing element (47) is made of bundle of fibers in which each fiber is disposed in parallel to the direction of ink supplying from the ink reservoir to the ink supply portion (39), and one end of the ink inducing element (47) is press-touched to the porous member (37).

Abstract: An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, inclues an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.

Abstract: An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, inclues an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.

Abstract: An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, inclues an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; an air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.

Abstract: An ink cartridge (3) including an ink reservoir portion having a porous member (37) for storing ink and an ink supply portion (39) has an ink inducing element (47) disposed between the ink reservoir portion and the ink supply portion (39). The ink inducing element (47) is made of bundle of fibers in which each fiber is disposed in parallel to the direction of ink supplying from the ink reservoir to the ink supply portion (39), and one end of the ink inducing element (47) is press-touched to the porous member (37).

Abstract: An ink cartridge, removably mountable on a fixed mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus for supplying discharged ink to a recording head carried on a movable carriage of the apparatus, comprises a flag member mounted for protrusion and retraction, an arrangement for protruding the flag member toward a path along which the carriage is moved when the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion, and a photosensor mounted on the carriage in a position where it will be shielded from light by the protruding flag member.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ink jet unit detachably mounted to the carriage of an ink jet recording apparatus. The ink jet unit includes an ink container for storing ink and a casing for retaining the ink container, wherein the casing and ink container are independent from each other so that the ink container can be exchangeably installed in the casing. The casing includes an ink jet recording portion, an opening for mounting the ink container thereto, a guide portion for installing the ink container into an accommodating portion through a rotary motion, a shoe portion generating a resistive feel when the ink container is inserted into the accommodating portion, and a dislocation preventive member. The shoe portion has a pressing device for maintaining fluid communication between the ink container and an ink supply tube contained in the casing.