Abstract: A plurality of cylindrical port defining portions project from a passage defining member defining a plurality of passages. A supply line defining body defining a plurality of supply lines is formed of an elastic member. The supply line defining body includes a plurality of openings each communicating with a corresponding one of the liquid supply lines. Each of the port defining portions extends perpendicularly to the direction in which each of the passages extends. Each of the openings extends perpendicular to the direction in which each of the liquid supply lines extends. A securing member fastens the port defining portions with respect to the corresponding openings collectively, by applying fastening force to the passage defining member and the supply line defining body in the axial direction of each port defining portion.

Abstract: An ink cartridge including a cartridge case that contains an ink pack, on one surface of the cartridge case having an ink outlet port from the ink pack, a pressurized air inlet port and a connection terminal of a circuit board having a data storage means that stores ink information of the cartridge therein, a cartridge side compatibility detection mechanism and a positioning means used in case that the ink cartridge is attached to an ink jet recording apparatus. The cartridge is exactly positioned and fixed to a holder three-dimensionally by the positioning means, a mechanical positional adjustment and electrical connection can be exactly performed, so that operation reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved and even if ink leaks from the ink outlet port, the connection terminal can be prevented from being stained with the ink.

Abstract: A circuit board on an ink cartridge has contact pads which are electrically conducted to a semiconductor storage element mounted on the circuit board. Connector terminals on an ink jet recording apparatus are brought into relative slide contact with a surface of this circuit board, and electrically connected to the contact pads. When the connector terminals come in contact with the contact pads, the dust adhering to the connector terminals is wiped and removed by step portions that are constituted by no-resist-film formation parts and that are adjacent to the contact pads. Consequently, the reliability of the electrical contact between the connector terminals and the contact pads is ensured.

Abstract: A circuit board on an ink cartridge has contact pads which are electrically conducted to a semiconductor storage element mounted on the circuit board. Connector terminals on an ink jet recording apparatus are brought into relative slide contact with a surface of this circuit board, and electrically connected to the contact pads. When the connector terminals come in contact with the contact pads, the dust adhering to the connector terminals is wiped and removed by step portions that are constituted by no-resist-film formation parts and that are adjacent to the contact pads. Consequently, the reliability of the electrical contact between the connector terminals and the contact pads is ensured.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus of an off-carriage type, when a pump motor is rotated regularly for delivering pressurizing air to an ink cartridge, rotation thereof is converted into a linear reciprocating movement of a pressing member by a cam mechanism and a pressurizing operation is executed by repeating to operate to expand and contract a diaphragm. On the other hand, the pump motor is started to rotate inversely, a driven part is rotated by a friction clutch mechanism, and a pressing portion of the driven part is brought into contact with a valve opening lever of an atmospheric release valve. At this occasion, the valve opening lever is pivoted to bring a valve hole into an opened state and pressurizing air is discharged to outside by bringing the atmospheric release valve into an opened state.

Abstract: A liquid injection apparatus having a liquid reservoir for containing liquid, a recording head for injecting the liquid, and a liquid supply passage for supplying the liquid in the liquid reservoir to the recording head is disclosed. A valve unit is located on the liquid supply passage. The valve unit has pressure chamber for temporarily retaining the liquid. As the recording head injects the liquid, the liquid in the pressure chamber decreases. In response to a negative pressure generated by the decrease of the liquid in the pressure chamber, a valve mechanism of the valve unit selectively establishes a supply state where the liquid is supplied from the liquid supply passage to the pressure chamber and a non-supply state where the liquid is not supplied from the liquid supply passage to the pressure chamber. An flow rate adjuster forcibly changes a flow rate of the liquid that flows through the liquid supply passage.

Abstract: An ink cartridge in which on one surface of a cartridge case, there are provided a positioning means used in case that the ink cartridge is attached to a recording apparatus, an ink outlet port from an ink pack, an inlet port of the pressurized air and a connection terminal of a circuit board having a data storage means that stores ink information of the cartridge therein, and an ink jet recording apparatus provided with its ink cartridge are provided. According to the ink cartridge of this mode, since the cartridge is exactly positioned and fixed to a holder three-dimentionally by the positioning means, mechanical positional adjustment and electrical connection can be exactly performed, so that operation reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved. Further, in the recording apparatus of this mode, in a state where the cartridge has been mounted on the recording apparatus by the positioning means, the connection terminal of the board is located at the upper portion of the ink outlet port.

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: An information communicating member is adapted to be disposed on a liquid container for supplying a liquid to a liquid ejecting head of a liquid ejection apparatus. The information communicating member includes: an information storing portion storing therein liquid information with regard to the liquid contained in the liquid container; an antenna portion for communicating the liquid information stored in the information storing portion between the information communicating member and the liquid ejection apparatus in a wireless manner; and a base member on which the information storing portion and the antenna portion are disposed. The base member has an electric insulating property and an ultraviolet ray shielding property.

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: A circuit board on an ink cartridge has contact pads which are electrically conducted to a semiconductor storage element mounted on the circuit board. Connector terminals on an ink jet recording apparatus are brought into relative slide contact with a surface of this circuit board, and electrically connected to the contact pads. When the connector terminals come in contact with the contact pads, the dust adhering to the connector terminals is wiped and removed by step portions that are constituted by no-resist-film formation parts and that are adjacent to the contact pads. Consequently, the reliability of the electrical contact between the connector terminals and the contact pads is ensured.

Abstract: A valve unit 36 is placed in an ink flow passage 35 between an ink cartridge 8 and a recording head 7 and can be controlled in association with the cleaning operation of the recording head 7. Under the control of a drive controller, the valve unit 36 holds for a predetermined time a state in which negative pressure produced by a suction pump is accumulated, and is opened after the expiration of the predetermined time or is opened with the negative pressure accumulated and driving the suction pump is continued. The air bubbles remaining in a stuck state in the ink flow passage can be peeled from the ink flow passage together with an instantaneous fast ink flow produced as the valve unit 36 is opened, and the peeled air bubbles can be discharged effectively from the ink flow passage following the subsequent ink flow.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink pack 21 which discharges ink from an ink outlet 22 upon reception of pressure by air pressure; an outer case 20a, 20b which houses the ink pack 21 therein with the ink outlet 22 exposed so that the ink pack 21 can be pressurized by the air pressure, and includes a pressurized air inlet 23 that is connectable to an air source for pressurizing the ink pack 21; and a pressure adjusting unit 30 which is housed in the outer case and discharges air in the outer case to the outside so that pressure in space of the outer case is kept at a setting value. The setting value of the pressure adjusting unit 30 is set to an optimum value for each ink cartridge, whereby the ink pack can be pressurized in an optimum state regardless of the air pressure from the pressurized air inlet 23.

Abstract: A valve unit 36 is placed in an ink flow passage 35 between an ink cartridge 8 and a recording head 7 and can be controlled in association with the cleaning operation of the recording head 7. Under the control of a drive controller, the valve unit 36 holds for a predetermined time a state in which negative pressure produced by a suction pump is accumulated, and is opened after the expiration of the predetermined time or is opened with the negative pressure accumulated and driving the suction pump is continued. The air bubbles remaining in a stuck state in the ink flow passage can be peeled from the ink flow passage together with an instantaneous fast ink flow produced as the valve unit 36 is opened, and the peeled air bubbles can be discharged, effectively from the ink flow passage following the subsequent ink flow.

Abstract: Liquid is sent from a liquid retainer to a liquid ejection head via a liquid supply line by pressurization force generated by a pressurization device that is driven by a driver. A method for cleaning a liquid ejection apparatus includes drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head through a nozzle by a suction device; and obtaining a liquid remaining amount of the liquid retainer. The method further includes determining an operational speed of the driver in correspondence with a result of the calculation; and operating the driver at the determined operational speed when drawing the liquid by the suction device. Thus, liquid is consumed completely without being wasted.

Abstract: A circuit board on an ink cartridge has contact pads which are electrically conducted to a semiconductor storage element mounted on the circuit board. Connector terminals on an ink jet recording apparatus are brought into relative slide contact with a surface of this circuit board, and electrically connected to the contact pads. When the connector terminals come in contact with the contact pads, the dust adhering to the connector terminals is wiped and removed by step portions that are constituted by no-resist-film formation parts and that are adjacent to the contact pads. Consequently, the reliability of the electrical contact between the connector terminals and the contact pads is ensured.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink pack 21 which discharges ink from an ink outlet 22 upon reception of pressure by air pressure; an outer case 20a, 20b which houses the ink pack 21 therein with the ink outlet 22 exposed so that the ink pack 21 can be pressurized by the air pressure, and includes a pressurized air inlet 23 that is connectable to an air source for pressurizing the ink pack 21; and a pressure adjusting unit 30 which is housed in the outer case and discharges air in the outer case to the outside so that pressure in space of the outer case is kept at a setting value. The setting value of the pressure adjusting unit 30 is set to an optimum value for each ink cartridge, whereby the ink pack can be pressurized in an optimum state regardless of the air pressure from the pressurized air inlet 23.

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: An ink cartridge in which on one surface of a cartridge case, there are provided a positioning means used in case that the ink cartridge is attached to a recording apparatus, an ink outlet port from an ink pack, an inlet port of the pressurized air and a connection terminal of a circuit board having a data storage means that stores ink information of the cartridge therein, and an ink jet recording apparatus provided with its ink cartridge are provided. According to the ink cartridge of this mode, since the cartridge is exactly positioned and fixed to a holder three-dimentionally by the positioning means, mechanical positional adjustment and electrical connection can be exactly performed, so that operation reliability of the recording apparatus can be improved. Further, in the recording apparatus of this mode, in a state where the cartridge has been mounted on the recording apparatus by the positioning means, the connection terminal of the board is located at the upper portion of the ink outlet port.