Abstract: A method of filling an ink cartridge with ink, the ink cartridge being to be mounted on a main body of a recording apparatus and including: a casing in which is formed an ink chamber for accommodating ink; and at least one valve member which is disposed on one side of the casing and which is biased, in an ordinary state, in a direction to close at least one communication passage through which the ink chamber communicates with an exterior of the ink cartridge, the at least one valve member being arranged to be placed in an open state when the ink cartridge is mounted on the main body of the recording apparatus, the method including: forming, at a portion of the casing except for the one side thereof on which the valve member is disposed, an opening through which the ink chamber and the exterior of the ink cartridge communicate with each other; and filling the ink cartridge with ink by introducing the ink into the ink chamber through the opening.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is used mounted in a recording device with a hollow needle, a lever, a protruding wall, and an optical sensor. The lever and the optical sensor are located on either side of the hollow needle, but closer to the opening through which the ink cartridge is mounted. The ink cartridge is formed with two grooves open to the front and lower surfaces of the ink cartridge at positions that correspond to the protruding wall and the optical sensor. A light blocking member is disposed in the groove that corresponds to the optical sensor. When the ink cartridge is mounted into the recording device, one groove accommodates and is guided by the protruding wall. The other groove accommodates the sensor so that the light blocking member protrudes into the optical sensor. Also, the front surface of the ink cartridge abuts the lever, which uncovers the hollow needle so that ink supply hole in the front surface of the ink cartridge is inserted with the hollow needle.

Abstract: A method of filling an ink cartridge which has (i) an ink supplying portion, (ii) an air introducing portion, (ii) a first valve member disposed in the ink supplying portion and biased in a biased direction that causes the first valve member to be placed in its closed position, and (iv) a second valve member disposed in the air introducing portion and biased in a biased direction that causes the second valve member to be placed in its closed position. The method including: (a) moving each of the first and second valve members in the opposite direction away from the closed position; and (b) supplying the ink into the ink cartridge through one of the air introducing portion and the ink supplying portion, while discharging the air out of the ink cartridge through the other of the air introducing portion and the ink supplying portion. Also disclosed are a cartridge filler, a jig and an ink supply system.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a first partitioning wall 5 and a third partitioning wall 7 for dividing the inside of a case 2 into a first ink chamber 9 and a second ink chamber 10, and a second partitioning wall 6 for demarcating an atmosphere connection chamber 11. In an upper case cover 3 are formed an ink filling hole 13 communicating with the second ink chamber 10 and a pressure reduction hole 14 communicating with the atmosphere connection chamber 11. Therefore, when ink filling is being done, the filling apparatus and the pressure reduction apparatus need only be brought to bear from one side of the upper case cover, resulting in improved work efficiency. Ink filling can be performed efficiently because the ink successively passes to the second ink chamber 10 and the first ink chamber 9. After ink filling, the ink filling hole 13 and the pressure reduction hole 14 can easily be sealed off with sealing material. An ink cartridge is thus provided that can be easily assembled at low cost.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a container; an ink reservoir provided in the container; an opening provided in the container, the opening being situated in the container so that the opening can communicate with the ink reservoir through a fluid path; and a stop fitted in the opening, the stop having elasticity and being formed of a material such that a hollow needle can be penetrated through the stop. The stop is moveable between a first position permitting communication between the opening and the fluid path, and a second position in which the stop substantially obstructs communication between the opening and the fluid path.

Abstract: To accurately position and fix an ink cartridge on an ink cartridge mounting unit, a first engaging depression is formed in the bottom wall of the ink cartridge and a corresponding protrusion is formed in the mounting unit. Also, an ink supply port is formed in the bottom wall. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit, the ink supply port is engaged first with an ink supply channel formed in the mounting unit and fluidly connected to the head unit. Then, the first engaging depression is brought into engagement with the corresponding protrusion in the mounting unit. A second engaging depression is further formed in the top. The engaging pawl of a locking arm engages the second engaging, depression when the locking arm locks the ink cartridge to the head unit. Further, a pair of ribs is provided on the rear side wall of the ink cartridge. The ribs oppose each other with a prescribed interval.

Abstract: An ink cartridge including a case in which an ink chamber and an atmosphere connection path are formed, the atmosphere connection path connecting the first chamber with the outside of the case, a through hole formed in the atmosphere connection path, the through hole having an end surface that faces upward, and an ink sump positioned lower than the end surface of the through hole, wherein the through hole is formed midway along the atmosphere connection path.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is provided with a housing defining a body of the cartridge, an ink reservoir accommodated in the housing, an opening formed on the housing. The opening communicates with the ink reservoir through a fluid path. The cartridge further includes a stop to be tightly fitted in the opening. The stop has an elasticity, and is configured such that a hollow needle can be penetrated therethrough. A hole formed on the stop by penetration of the hollow needle is closed by the elasticity of the stop after removal of the same. A valve structure is provided to a part of the stop, the valve structure selectively opens and closes the communication between the opening and the ink reservoir through the fluid path.

Abstract: Methods for filling an ink cartridges having a cartridge body including an ink tank, an ink inflow passage that communicates with the ink tank at a first end through a first opening and that communicates with an exterior of the ink cartridge at a second end through a second opening, and a sealing member that is positioned in the ink inflow passage, are provided. An ink cartridge includes a cartridge body, an ink tank formed in the cartridge body for storing ink, and an ink inflow passage formed in the cartridge body for filling the cartridge. The ink inflow passage communicates with the ink tank at a first end through a first opening and communicates with an exterior of the cartridge at a second end through a second opening, the ink inflow passage includes a first region adjacent to the first opening and a second region adjacent to the second opening, and the first region has a smaller diameter than the second region.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a first detection portion positioned on the cartridge so as to be detectable by a detector of an image forming apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus and a second detection portion positioned on the cartridge so as to be detectable by the detector during installation and removal of the ink cartridge into/from the image forming apparatus. The second detection portion is positioned apart from the first detection portion toward a surface of the ink cartridge that is first inserted into the image forming apparatus during installation of the ink cartridge in the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatuses compatible with such ink cartridges are also provided.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is used mounted in a recording device with a hollow needle, a lever, a protruding wall, and an optical sensor. The lever and the optical sensor are located on either side of the hollow needle, but closer to the opening through which the ink cartridge is mounted. The ink cartridge is formed with two grooves open to the front and lower surfaces of the ink cartridge at positions that correspond to the protruding wall and the optical sensor. A light blocking member is disposed in the groove that corresponds to the optical sensor. When the ink cartridge is mounted into the recording device, one groove accommodates and is guided by the protruding wall. The other groove accommodates the sensor so that the light blocking member protrudes into the optical sensor. Also, the front surface of the ink cartridge abuts the lever, which uncovers the hollow needle so that ink supply hole in the front surface of the ink cartridge is inserted with the hollow needle.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a first partitioning wall 5 and a third partitioning wall 7 for dividing the inside of a case 2 into a first ink chamber 9 and a second ink chamber 10, and a second partitioning wall 6 for demarcating an atmosphere connection chamber 11. In an upper case cover 3 are formed an ink filling hole 13 communicating with the second ink chamber 10 and a pressure reduction hole 14 communicating with the atmosphere connection chamber 11. Therefore, when ink filling is being done, the filling apparatus and the pressure reduction apparatus need only be brought to bear from one side of the upper case cover, resulting in improved work efficiency. Ink filling can be performed efficiently because the ink successively passes to the second ink chamber 10 and the first ink chamber 9. After ink filling, the ink filling hole 13 and the pressure reduction hole 14 can easily be sealed off with sealing material. An ink cartridge is thus provided that can be easily assembled at low cost.

Abstract: To accurately position and fix an ink cartridge on an ink cartridge mounting unit, a first engaging depression is formed in the bottom wall of the ink cartridge and a corresponding protrusion is formed in the mounting unit. Also, an ink supply port is formed in the bottom wall. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit, the ink supply port is engaged first with an ink supply channel formed in the mounting unit and fluidly connected to the head unit. Then, the first engaging depression is brought into engagement with the corresponding protrusion in the mounting unit. A second engaging depression is further formed in the top. The engaging pawl of a locking arm engages the second engaging depression when the locking arm locks the ink cartridge to the head unit. Further, a pair of ribs is provided on the rear side wall of the ink cartridge. The ribs oppose each other with a prescribed interval.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a first partitioning wall 5 and a third partitioning wall 7 for dividing the inside of a case 2 into a first ink chamber 9 and a second ink chamber 10, and a second partitioning wall 6 for demarcating an atmosphere connection chamber 11. In an upper case cover 3 are formed an ink filling hole 13 communicating with the second ink chamber 10 and a pressure reduction hole 14 communicating with the atmosphere connection chamber 11. Therefore, when ink filling is being done, the filling apparatus and the pressure reduction apparatus need only be brought to bear from one side of the upper case cover, resulting in improved work efficiency. Ink filling can be performed efficiently because the ink successively passes to the second ink chamber 10 and the first ink chamber 9. After ink filling, the ink filling hole 13 and the pressure reduction hole 14 can easily be sealed off with sealing material. An ink cartridge is thus provided that can be easily assembled at low cost.

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 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.