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: 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 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: 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 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: 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 for storing ink to be supplied to an ink-jet head includes a porous member that absorbs the ink, a porous member storage chamber that accommodates a porous member therein, and an ink chamber that stores the ink supplied from the porous member. The inside of the ink cartridge is separated into the ink chamber and the porous member storage chamber by side partition walls and a bottom partition wall. The bottom partition wall has a connecting hole that connects the porous member storage chamber and the ink chamber to each other. The opening of the connecting hole is noncircular in horizontal cross-section. Accordingly, the connecting hole is not occluded by an air-bubble trapped in the ink, so that the ink absorbed by the porous member and the ink stored in the ink chamber can be always be in contact with each other via the connecting hole.

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 includes a main case and a flexible film. The main case includes an ink-holding portion for holding ink. The ink-holding portion has an indented surface portion and an open side. The flexible film covers the open side of the ink-holding portion. The flexible film has a shape that substantially follows shape of the indented surface portion when substantially no ink is held in the ink-holding portion.

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 includes an ink-holding portion and a rigid upper surface. The ink-holding portion includes a rigid indented surface portion and a flexible film. The indented surface portion has an open side at one side thereof that is covered by the flexible film. Ink is accommodated between the indented surface portion and the flexible film. The upper surface is positioned opposite from the indented surface portion with respect to the flexible film. The upper surface is formed with a substantial semispherical shape that bulges in a direction away from the indented surface portion.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink-holding portion, a flexible film, and a sensor lever. The ink-holding portion has an indented surface portion and an opening portion. The flexible film covers the opening portion of the ink-holding portion and is capable of deforming toward the indented surface portion in association with reduction in ink amount in the indented surface portion. The sensor lever has two ends, One end serves as an ink residual amount detection point and is disposed to protrude upward above the indented surface portion in the ink-holding portion. The other end extends away from the ink-holding portion. The flexible film presses the ink residual amount detection point of the sensor lever when the flexible film deforms toward the indented surface portion.