Abstract: To provide an ink filling method for pouring ink into an ink tank to be mounted to a printer, an ink filling apparatus, and the ink tank to be properly filled with the ink by the ink filling method. The ink filling method includes the steps of: pouring a predetermined amount of ink into a housing in a state in which an ink holding member is opened to the atmosphere, and filling the ink holding member with the ink by imparting, to the ink poured, an inertial force, which is greater than a sum of a static ink holding force of the ink holding member and a dynamic resistant force to movement of the ink.

Abstract: An ink jet recording head comprises a grooved ceiling plate provided with a plurality of discharge openings for discharging ink, and a plurality of ink flow path grooves to form ink flow paths conductively connected with the discharge openings, a plurality of elemental substrates provided with a plurality of electrothermal transducing devices to generate thermal energy used for discharging ink, and a metallic pressure member for pressing the plurality of elemental substrates to be in contact with the grooved ceiling plate. The grooved ceiling plate and the elemental substrates are coupled to enable the ink flow path grooves and the electrothermal transducing devices to correspond to each other for the formation of ink flow paths. Here, the pressure member presses the reverse side of the surface of the elemental substrates having the electrothermal transducing devices provided therefor in order to couple the elemental substrates with the grooved ceiling plate.

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 jet head cartridge having a recording head without an ink container includes a casing with an ink ejection device; and a structural member on the casing for improving handling of the recording head.

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: A method for coupling a liquid jet head unit is to couple a liquid jet head unit for recording by discharging liquid to a recording medium with a head installation member capable of installing the head unit through an elastic 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording head comprising a top plate in which two groups of ink passage grooves for forming ink passages, two ink chamber frames, ink introduction passages, two rows of ink discharge ports are formed, two substrates on which a plurality of resistive heat generating elements for discharging ink are formed in correspondence to the two rows of ink discharge ports, and two elastic members for contacting under pressure and securing the substrates and the top plate for each said substrate, and wherein the junction between the substrates and the top plate forms the ink passages and the ink chambers therebetween, and further wherein a groove for isolating the ink discharge port rows from each other is formed between the ink discharge port rows and a depth of the groove is greater than depths of the ink discharge ports and the ink passages.

Abstract: A liquid storing container employable for an ink jet recording apparatus includes a housing, a storing area containing a porous ink absorbing member, a valve mechanism, a filter in contact with the porous member, and a stopper. The liquid storing container is detachably connected to an ink jet recording head, where the valve mechanism allows an outflow of ink to the ink jet head through the joint portion when connected to an ink feed pipe, and closes the joint portion when disconnected from the ink feed pipe.

Abstract: A mounting method of an ink container to an ink jet unit mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the ink container is mounted while a corner portion of the ink container between a top surface and a rear side is slid in contact with an urging member and while a corner portion of the ink container between a front side and a bottom side is slid toward a front side of the ink jet unit in contact with an inner bottom surface of the ink jet unit.

Abstract: An ink refilling method for an ink container having a porous material capable of producing negative pressure therein and having an ink absorbing portion in a connecting zone with an ink jet recording head, after at least a part of initially contained ink is consumed through the ink absorbing portion includes breaking ink meniscus at the ink absorbing portion of the ink container; supplying the ink into the ink container by a negative pressure produced in the porous material by consumption of the ink, while maintaining fluid communication between the ink absorbing portion and the ink to be supplied.