Abstract: An ink cartridge determination system includes a cartridge mounting portion, an optical sensor positioned at the cartridge mounting portion, at least one ink cartridge configured to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and a determiner. The optical sensor includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The optical sensor is configured to selectively output a first signal and a second signal based on an intensity of the light received by the light-receiving element. The at least one ink cartridge includes a first light altering portion, a second light altering portion, and a light passing portion, which are configured to sequentially intersect a optical path of the optical sensor when the at least one ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and the determiner is configured to determine a type of the at least one ink cartridge based on a time profile of a signal outputted from the optical sensor.

Abstract: An ink cartridge assembly includes an ink cartridge including a body defining an ink chamber therein, and a sealing member. The body has an opening formed therethrough, and an interior of the ink chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with an exterior of the ink chamber via the opening. The sealing member is configured to close the opening. The ink cartridge assembly also includes a cover member including a first portion configured to engage the body, and a second portion. The cover member is configured to cover the opening when the first portion engages the body. When the second portion moves the second portion is configured to apply a force to the sealing member to move the sealing member away from the opening to facilitate fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the ink chamber, and to disengage the first portion from the body.

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: 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 includes a particular wall, a protruding member extending from the particular wall in a particular direction, a protrusion extending from the particular wall in the particular direction, and an ink chamber configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a translucent portion defining an enclosure, an ink supply portion configured to supply ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, in which the ink supply portion and the translucent portion are each positioned between the protrusion and the protruding member. The ink cartridge further includes a signal blocking member positioned within the enclosure. Moreover, the signal blocking member is configured to move within the enclosure based at least on an amount of ink disposed within the ink chamber, and the signal blocking member is sandwiched between the at least one pair of wall surfaces.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink cartridge system includes the steps of using a first mold to make a first case member a first ink cartridge, using a second mold to make a second case member of the first ink cartridge, using the first mold to make a first case member of a second ink cartridge, using a third mold to make a second case member of the second ink cartridge, using a fourth mold to make a first case member of a third ink cartridge, and using the third mold to make the second case member of the third ink cartridge. Moreover, a size of the first ink cartridge is not equal to a size of the second ink cartridge, the size of the first ink cartridge is not equal to a size of the third ink cartridge, and the size of the second ink cartridge is not equal to the size of the third ink cartridge.

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: 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 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.

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 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 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 includes a particular wall, a protruding member extending from the particular wall in a particular direction, a protrusion extending from the particular wall in the particular direction, and an ink chamber configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a translucent portion defining an enclosure, an ink supply portion configured to supply ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, in which the ink supply portion and the translucent portion are each positioned between the protrusion and the protruding member. The ink cartridge further includes a signal blocking member positioned within the enclosure. Moreover, the signal blocking member is configured to move within the enclosure based at least on an amount of ink disposed within the ink chamber, and the signal blocking member is sandwiched between the at least one pair of wall surfaces.

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; a communication chamber that is capable of communicating with the ink chamber; a valve that is movable; a support disposed within the communication chamber, the support including a valve seat and an opening exposing a bottom of the valve at an approximately central portion, wherein the valve seat is adjacent to the valve at an outer periphery of the opening; and an urging device that extends from the valve seat, the urging device directly contacting the valve and urging the valve toward the valve seat, wherein the valve separates from the valve seat when a predetermined force is applied to the valve and the support and the urging device are formed as a one-piece member.

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 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 includes an opaque, protruding 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 protruding portion is aligned with the second opening.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case which includes a particular wall having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a protrusion extending from the second end of the particular wall in a predetermined direction. The case also includes an air intake portion, and an ink supply portion positioned at the particular wall adjacent to the second end of the particular wall. Moreover, the ink supply portion is positioned between the protrusion and the air intake portion.

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: A fluid cartridge includes a fluid container, with the fluid container having a fluid chamber configured to store a fluid, a first passage configured to supply a fluid from an interior of the fluid chamber to an exterior, a first flexible sheet portion with first and second surfaces, and a second flexible sheet portion with third and fourth surfaces. The first flexible sheet portion deforms when a pressure difference is greater than or equal to a first value, and the second flexible sheet portion deforms when a pressure difference is greater than or equal to a second value. The fluid cartridge may also be used in a fluid amount detection system, with a light emitting portion, and a light receiving portion, where the second flexible sheet reflects light so that the reflected light reaches the light receiving portion.