Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus has a liquid cartridge including a liquid container that has a flexible portion and stores liquid therein and a pressure chamber for applying pressure to the flexible portion of the liquid container; a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid; a liquid flow path for guiding liquid from the liquid container to the liquid ejection head; a pressure pump for generating pressurized air; and an air flow path for guiding the pressurized air to the pressure chamber. The pressure pump includes an air chamber that communicates with the air flow path and a pressing member for pressing the air chamber so as to decrease the capacity of the air chamber. The capacity of the air chamber is decreased by the pressing member so as to increase the pressure in the air chamber to an upper limit value of a liquid supply pressure range where a prescribed liquid ejection characteristic is obtained, before a liquid ejecting operation is performed on an ejection target member.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes liquid cartridges, each of which includes a liquid container and a pressure chamber, the liquid container having a flexible portion and storing liquid therein, and the pressure chamber applying pressure to the flexible portion of the liquid container; a liquid ejection head, which ejects the liquid; liquid flow paths, which communicate the liquid containers with the liquid ejection head; and an air supply member, which supplies pressurized air to the pressure chambers for compressing the flexible portions so as to supply the liquid from the liquid containers to the liquid flow paths. The air supply member includes: a distribution member, which has an air intake portion for introducing the pressurized air, and air outlet portions for distributing the pressurized air to the liquid cartridges, and branch flow paths, which respectively communicate the air outlet portions with the pressure chambers of the liquid cartridges.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid injecting apparatus equipped with a liquid injecting head, which is mounted on a carriage and moved reciprocally in a widthwise direction of a target, and a valve unit, which is mounted on the carriage to be supplied with liquid via a supply passage from a liquid retainer and to supply liquid to the liquid injecting head. The valve unit has a pressure chamber connected to the liquid retainer via the supply passage; a valve, which opens or closes the supply passage to supply liquid to the pressure chamber; and a flexible film member, which is displaced based on a negative pressure generated as liquid in the pressure chamber decreases to thereby operate the valve.

Abstract: A liquid supplying member supplies liquid from a liquid container to a liquid ejection head which are provided in a liquid ejection apparatus. In the liquid supplying member, a flexible base member has a face formed with at least one groove. A flexible first plate member is joined to the face of the base member so as to seal at least a part of the at least one groove to form at least one liquid supplying passage, through which the liquid is supplied from the liquid container to the liquid ejection head. A first connector is monolithically formed with a longitudinal end portion of the base member to connect the at least one groove to one of the liquid container and the liquid ejection head.

Abstract: In a liquid supplying member, for supplying liquid from a liquid container to a liquid ejection head which are provided in a liquid ejection apparatus, a plurality of elastic members, each of which is elongated in a first direction so as to have a first face and a second face, are arrayed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first film member is joined to the first face of each of the elastic members. A second film member is joined to the second face of each of the elastic members, such that a passage, through which the liquid is supplied from the liquid container to the liquid ejection head, extending in the first direction is hermetically defined between the adjacent elastic members by inner faces of the first film member and the second film member.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes liquid cartridges, each of which includes a liquid container and a pressure chamber, the liquid container having a flexible portion and storing liquid therein, and the pressure chamber applying pressure to the flexible portion of the liquid container; a liquid ejection head, which ejects the liquid; liquid flow paths, which communicate the liquid containers with the liquid ejection head; and an air supply member, which supplies pressurized air to the pressure chambers for compressing the flexible portions so as to supply the liquid from the liquid containers to the liquid flow paths. The air supply member includes: a distribution member, which has an air intake portion for introducing the pressurized air, and air outlet portions for distributing the pressurized air to the liquid cartridges, and branch flow paths, which respectively communicate the air outlet portions with the pressure chambers of the liquid cartridges.

Abstract: The pressure of a pressure chamber decreases as liquid is ejected from an ejecting head. A valve element of a valve unit is provided inside the pressure chamber. The valve element has a power point part, fulcrum part and application point part. The power point part is subject to a pushing force in accordance with a decline in the pressure of the pressure chamber. The fulcrum part supports the valve element with respect to a wall surface defining the pressure chamber such that the valve element rotates. The application point part separates from the valve seat as the valve element rotates. The fulcrum part is not fixed to the wall surface. Hence, the valve unit operates favorably in accordance with the pressure of ink.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid injecting apparatus equipped with a liquid injecting head, which is mounted on a carriage and moved reciprocally in a widthwise direction of a target, and a valve unit, which is mounted on the carriage to be supplied with liquid via a supply passage from a liquid retainer and to supply liquid to the liquid injecting head. The valve unit has a pressure chamber connected to the liquid retainer via the supply passage; a valve, which opens or closes the supply passage to supply liquid to the pressure chamber; and a flexible film member, which is displaced based on a negative pressure generated as liquid in the pressure chamber decreases to thereby operate the valve.

Abstract: There is provided an ink cartridge which is formed from an ink-filled ink pack and a hermetic outer shell case for housing the ink pack and which supplies ink to a recording head by means of application of air pressure to a space between the outer shell case and the ink pack. The outer shell case is formed by coupling an upper case and a lower case together. The ink-filled ink pack is housed in the lower case, and the upper case is laid on the lower case from above. The upper and lower cases are hermetically sealed by vibratory welding or heat welding, thus constituting the ink cartridge.

Abstract: In a liquid ejection apparatus, liquid is supplied to a liquid ejection head through a liquid flow promoter device. The liquid flow promoter device includes a liquid passage and a liquid receiving chamber provided in a liquid passage. The liquid receiving chamber is defined by an inner wall surface including a substantially arcuate surface. The liquid flow promoter device also includes a liquid inlet portion through which a liquid is introduced from a portion of the liquid passage upstream from the liquid receiving chamber to the liquid receiving chamber in a tangential direction of the substantially arcuate surface. After having been introduced into the liquid receiving chamber through the liquid inlet portion, the liquid proceeds in the liquid receiving chamber in a manner revolving along the substantially arcuate surface.

Abstract: A printer has a carriage on which a recording head and pumps are mounted. An air supply device and ink cartridges are provided in a frame of the printer. The pumps are connected to the air supply device with an air supply tube. Each pump is connected to corresponding one of the ink cartridges with an ink supply tube. Based on actuation of a drive mechanism of the air supply device, air is supplied from the air supply device to the pumps. Based on changes in the pressure of the air, each pump draws ink from the corresponding ink cartridge and supplies the ink to the recording head. This permits the carriage to reciprocate in a reliable manner.

Abstract: A liquid container of the invention has a container body including a storage space and a liquid feed port and a liquid injection port which are installed on the container body. The liquid feed port is structured so as to interconnect the storage space and the liquid ejecting head with each other, when the liquid container is mounted on a liquid ejecting unit. The liquid injection port is structured so as to interconnect the storage space of the container body and a liquid tank of a stationary unit with each other, when the liquid ejecting unit is united with the stationary unit. The invention provides a liquid container effective in realization of a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a portable liquid ejecting unit for independently performing by itself a liquid ejection operation to an object, and a stationary unit to be equipped with the liquid ejecting unit so that the stationary unit is separably united with the same. The liquid ejecting unit has a liquid ejecting head for ejecting a liquid toward the object and a liquid container including a storage space for storing a liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head. The stationary unit has a liquid tank for storing a liquid to be fed to the liquid ejecting head. The apparatus further has liquid tank connection member for enabling interconnection between the liquid tank and the liquid ejecting head when the liquid ejecting unit is united with the stationary unit. The invention provides a liquid ejecting apparatus which can meet two needs for executing a large amount of printing and transporting when necessary.

Abstract: Ink type information is read by a read and write system (b 62) from a semiconductor storage system mounted on ink cartridges (9a to 9d) attached to a cartridge holder (8). A decision control system (61) decides whether or not ink type information has already been stored in ink type storage system (63), and stores the ink type information thus read when the ink type information is not stored. In the case in which the ink cartridge is exchanged, the ink type information is similarly read and it is decided whether or not the same ink type information is identical to the ink type information stored in the ink type storage system (63). If they are not identical to each other, the operation of the recording apparatus is inhibited and a display system (68) is caused to display an error message thereon. (FIG.

Abstract: The pressure of a pressure chamber decreases as liquid is ejected from an ejecting head. A valve element of a valve unit is provided inside the pressure chamber. The valve element has a power point part, fulcrum part and application point part. The power point part is subject to a pushing force in accordance with a decline in the pressure of the pressure chamber. The fulcrum part supports the valve element with respect to a wall surface defining the pressure chamber such that the valve element rotates. The application point part separates from the valve seat as the valve element rotates. The fulcrum part is not fixed to the wall surface. Hence, the valve unit operates favorably in accordance with the pressure of ink.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus, includes a main tank storing liquid, a liquid ejecting head ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply passage connecting the main tank with the liquid ejecting head for supplying the liquid, a subtank storing the liquid and supplying the liquid to the liquid ejecting head, and the subtank provided on the liquid supply passage, and a pressurizing unit supplying pressurized air to the liquid supply passage from the side of the main tank so that liquid in a liquid supply passage is evacuated to the subtank.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus (11) includes a slide member (44) slidably supported at a cartridge holder (12a) and a lock claw member (49) rotatably supported at the cartridge holder (12a). The slide member (44) slides along an insertion direction of an ink cartridge (23) with respect to the cartridge holder (12a) between a first slide position and a second slide position. When the slide member (44) is located at the second slide position, the lock claw member (49) is located at a first rotation position. At this time, the ink cartridge (23) is incapable of being removed from the cartridge holder (12a). When the slide member (44) moves to the first slide position from the second slide position, the lock claw member (49) is located at the second rotation position. At this time, the ink cartridge (23) is removable from the cartridge holder (12a).

Abstract: An ink cartridge which has an IC memory for holding information about the cartridge. At the time the ink cartridge is to be installed in a printing apparatus, its insertion is inhibited at a position before installation by a lock mechanism. In this state, the information in the IC memory is read out via a first electrode terminal located on the cartridge side and connected to the IC memory and the propriety of the installation of the ink cartridge to the apparatus is determined. When the ink cartridge is determined to be appropriate, the lock mechanism is unlocked and the ink cartridge can be installed into the printing apparatus. When the ink cartridge is installed in the printing apparatus, data is exchanged between the printing apparatus and the IC memory via a second electrode terminal connected to the IC memory.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.