Abstract: A fluid ejection cartridge includes a fluid container that has both a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid ejection cartridge has one or more fluid ejectors fluidically coupled to the fluid container outlet and a fluid valve fluidically coupled to the fluid container inlet. The fluid ejection cartridge has a filter assembly having a compliant portion with an internal volume fluidically coupled to the fluid container outlet such that the internal volume changes when fluid flows into the fluid container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink-contacting member used in an ink-jet recording apparatus, which comprises, as a principal component, a polyolefin obtained by adding a hydrotalcite-like compound as a neutralizer.

Abstract: A pressure regulation apparatus for an ink reservoir is provided. The apparatus includes: an elastic bag mounted in the ink reservoir for freely passing an ambient air of an ambient environment outside the ink reservoir in and out the elastic bag, wherein the ink reservoir has an interior for holding an ink, and a porous filter mounted in the ink reservoir for entering the ambient air outside the ink reservoir into the interior of the ink reservoir therethrough, thereby the elastic bag and the porous filter complementarily regulating a pressure difference between the interior of the ink reservoir and the ambient environment outside the ink reservoir. By this apparatus, the pressure change within the ink reservoir is able to respond immediately for a big pressure change by the elastic bag and to regulate sensitively for a slight pressure change by the porous filter.

Abstract: This present invention is embodied in a printing system with thermally efficient heat transfer capabilities for reducing dimpling of a nozzle member during fabrication of the printhead portion of an inkjet printer. The printing system of the present invention includes a printhead assembly and an ink supply for printing ink on print media. The printhead assembly includes a printhead body having a heat transfer device, ink channels and a nozzle member having plural nozzles coupled to respective ink channels. The nozzle member is secured to the printhead body with a suitable adhesive layer. The heat transfer device can be defined by a portion of or the entire printhead body for reducing thermal expansion of the printhead body during exposure to heat.

Abstract: Ink supplied from an ink tank via a tube and air bubbles contained in the ink are stored in a first chamber of an air trap unit. At recording operation, the ink is allowed to flow from the first chamber to a third chamber via a filter disposed therebetween, and is supplied to a recording head via the third chamber. At purging operation, the ink flows at high speed, so that the filter regulates the high-speed ink-flow to flow from the first chamber to the third chamber. Therefore, the ink flows from the first chamber to a second chamber via a first connecting portion and then flows from the second chamber to the third chamber that connects a lower end of the second chamber with the recording head. Thus, the air trapped in the first chamber is discharged from the recording head along the high-speed ink-flow. In addition, a second rib is provided to an upper wall of the air trap unit so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to an ink-flow direction.

Abstract: A liquid drop jet head includes a nozzle jetting a liquid drop, a liquid room connected to the nozzle, a common liquid room connected to the liquid room, a supply opening part supplying the liquid to the common liquid room, and a pressure generating part generating a pressure which pressurizes the liquid provided in the liquid room, wherein the common liquid room has a configuration in which a width of the common liquid room on a plane level is narrower as a point of the width is more remote from the supply opening part.

Abstract: The present invention has as its object to detect the termination of ink reliably and highly accurately in an ink jet recording apparatus. An ink cartridge 2 has an opening 5 for connection to a recording head 1, and is include of a negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 containing a negative pressure generating member 13 and having an atmosphere communicating port 10, and an ink containing portion 16 which is adjacent to the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 and communicates therewith at the bottom 11 of the ink cartridge. Ink detecting device 3 is provided below the ink containing portion 16. When the detecting device 3 detects a reduction in the remain in the ink containing portion 16, ink remains only in the negative pressure generating member containing portion 14 and the remainder can be substantially estimated.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet head, a body frame, and a cover plate. The ink jet head has a plurality of nozzles that eject ink onto a recording medium, a plurality of pressure chambers provided in association with the nozzles, and a plurality of pressure generating portions that apply pressure to the pressure chambers so as to allow the ink to be ejected from the nozzles. The body frame communicates with an ink supply source and the ink jet head so as to supply the ink to the ink jet head. The cover plate has at least one window in a shape so as to enclose the nozzles. The cover plate is fixed to cover the ink jet head and fixed to the body frame. The ink jet recording apparatus further includes an inlet that communicates with an internal space formed between the body frame and the cover plate and an at least one outlet that communicates with the internal space. A filling material is supplied from the inlet and ejected to the at least one outlet.

Abstract: An air pressure regulating device for ink cartridges that is not affected or interfered with by magnetic fields. In accordance with the invention a ventilating vent is settled inside the ink cartridge so that the inside region of the ink cartridge is open to the ambient air and at the same time this ventilating vent is also directed to a fixed seat. In the fixed seat a gas vent is settled to direct to the ink cartridge. On the outside region of the gas vent settled in the fixed seat a layer of elastic gastight material is covered such that it can be utilized to seal the gas vent to keep the ink cartridge sealed under ordinary conditions. When the pressure difference between the outside and inside regions of the ink cartridge reaches a critical value, the layer of the elastic gastight material is slightly pushed away so that a small quantity of air can flow into the ink cartridge to return the pressure to within a normal operating range.

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: In a structure which includes a second tank for reserving a predetermined amount of ink to be supplied to a printing head and in which a supply system is configured such that ink is intermittently supplied to the second tank from a first tank, a high charging efficiency to and shortened processing time for charging the second tank, and high overall usability of ink are achieved. In an orientation upon using the printing apparatus, a port of a channel located at the second tank side for supplying ink from the first tank to the second tank is arranged relatively high position and an outlet port for supplying ink from the second tank to the head is arranged relatively low position in relation to the direction of gravity, and a port of the channel located at the first tank side is arranged at the bottom of the first tank.

Abstract: A discharge port is formed in a bottom surface of ink tank. The ink tank is made to communicate with a waste ink tank by connecting the discharge port to the waste ink tank in a position lower than the discharge port, and a part of connection member is openable/closable by a valve. If the connection member is opened, ink is discharged from the discharge port of the ink tank to the waste ink tank. If impurities are deposited on the bottom surface of the ink tank, the impurities can be discharged with ink from the discharge port to the waste ink tank, thereby clogging in the nozzle head due to impurities can be reliably prevented.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a structure for preventing ink shorting of conductors connected to a printhead is provided. The structure includes a layer of insulating material shaped to at least partially encapsulate the conductors on the printhead. The insulating material includes a first surface and a second surface, with each of the surfaces having an adhesive coated thereon. The adhesive includes a polymer of ethylene and glycidyl methacrylate. The adhesive may also further include an acrylic ester. Alternatively, a first adhesive may be coated onto a first surface of the insulating material or coverlayer and a second adhesive (distinct in composition from the first adhesive) may be coated onto a second surface of the insulating material or coverlayer. In another embodiment of the invention, a print cartridge for an inkjet printer, including the structure for preventing ink shorting of conductors connected to the printhead is provided.

Abstract: An ink-jet cartridge includes a cartridge body forming an ink reservoir, a standpipe coupled to one side of the ink reservoir, a printhead formed under an ink supply passage formed by the standpipe, through which ink from the ink reservoir is ejected onto a printing medium in a droplet shape, and a filter which covers a top portion of the standpipe. The filter is formed in a convex shape protruding toward the printhead. Ink particles and bubbles flowing from the ink reservoir to the printhead are filtered out, bubbles which may flow from the printhead to the ink reservoir, move to edges of the filter, and the ink is smoothly supplied to the printhead.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a seal between two or more components using a thermally cured sealing material. One exemplary method includes selectively applying an electrical signal to a heating trace on a first component, applying a sealing material between at least a portion of the first component and at least a portion of a second component, and at least partially thermally curing the sealing material using thermal energy generated by the application of the electrical signal to the heating trace.

Abstract: A pressure control device for an inkjet pen. The inkjet pen is provided with a reservoir having a first opening and maintaining a back pressure established therein. The pressure control device comprises a bag, a pressure plate, an isolation member, a bias member, and an elastic member. The bag, disposed inside the reservoir, communicates with outside the reservoir so as to expand inside the reservoir. The pressure plate is disposed inside the reservoir and adjacent to the bag so as to move inside the reservoir. The bias member is disposed inside the reservoir and adjacent to the pressure plate, the isolation member, and the reservoir respectively such that the bag expands to move the pressure plate when the back pressure inside the reservoir changes, then the pressure plate moves the bias member so that the isolation member separates from the first opening.

Abstract: Ink flow paths are formed that corresponds in number to the ink chambers of a mounted ink cartridge, to supply ink from the ink chambers to a recording head. These ink flow paths are constituted by first communication paths (59, 60), which communicate with the ink outlets of corresponding ink chambers, second communication paths (61, 67), which communicate with the corresponding ink inlets of the recording head, and convergent flow paths (65), which connect the first and the second communication paths and converge as they approach the recording head. Filters (56) are located in the second communication paths.

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 device for filling an ink cartridge, particularly a refilling device for filling ink cartridges of ink-jet systems, such as printers and plotters, or other automatic registering, writing or drawing apparatus, includes a refilling container and an ink cartridge connected through an adaptor and arranged essentially one above the other in the filling position. The adaptor has at least two connections for the refilling container and the cartridge to be connected. A separate ink reservoir is arranged in the ink cartridge, wherein the ink reservoir of the ink cartridge and/or the filling container of the refilling container includes an easily deformable bag, and wherein the reservoir bag and/or container bag are of a flexible, elastic material. A hermetically sealed cartridge space is formed between the cartridge housing and the separate ink reservoir.

Abstract: A pressure control device installed inside an ink reservoir. The ink reservoir further includes a pressure regulator. The pressure control device at least includes a nozzle stand, a plugging block and a spring-loaded structure. The nozzle stand is attached to the bottom wall of the ink reservoir. The nozzle stand further includes a nozzle hole for linking up the interior of the ink reservoir with the exterior. The nozzle stand has a groove near the upper end of the nozzle. The plugging block is placed inside the groove for partitioning the interior of the ink reservoir from the exterior. The spring-loaded structure has a first section and a second section that connect with each other. The first section presses against the outer edge of the plugging block with an elastic force. The pressure regulator pushes the second section and lifts the first section away from the outer edge of the plugging block.

Abstract: An ink jet head cartridge includes a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink container for containing the ink to be supplied to the recording head; an air venting opening for communication between the container and ambience to allow supply of the ink from the container to the recording head; wherein the air venting opening is constituted by an outside opening and an inside opening and a passage connecting them, the passage has a length larger than a thickness of the ink container.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises recording liquid flow paths communicated with plural discharge ports for discharging liquid droplets; a flow path formation member on the upstream of the recording liquid flow path on which a recording liquid supply passage for supplying recording liquid to the recording liquid flow path is provided; a recording liquid storing member on the upstream of the recording liquid supply passage on which a common liquid chamber for containing recording liquid to be supplied to the recording liquid supply passage is provided; a plug member for supplying recording liquid from the outside into the common liquid chamber; and a porous member held at the end portion of the flow path formation member to remove dust particles and others in recording liquid supplied from the common liquid chamber to the recording liquid supply passage. In this liquid jet recording head, the porous member is arranged above a bottom face of the common liquid chamber.

Abstract: A head chip and a recording liquid storing unit are bonded through a sealing member. The head chip comprises a recording element base plate, and a flow path formation member provided with a bonding face and a supply hole. The frame member of the recording liquid storing unit is formed by a single member, which is provided with a recording liquid storing chamber, one side face of which forms a totally open portion. The shape of the opening portion is equal to the sectional shape of the recording liquid storing chamber. For the flat portion of the sealing member, there are formed a hole portion, the circumferential first face-side ribs that surround it, and the second face-side ribs, which are exactly symmetrical to the first face-side ribs, with the flat portion between them. These ribs are compressed and held by both bonding faces. An inner extrusion of the rib on the flat portion is fitted into the position hole of the bonding face.

Abstract: An ink jet print cartridge having a compact electrical interconnect structure that includes a plurality of pairs of columnar arrays of electrical contact areas disposed on a rear wall of the print cartridge and electrically connected to a plurality of arrays of ink drop generators organized in sets of primitive groups.

Abstract: The specification discloses an ink container having a pressure stabilizer module. The module contains an airtight membrane, a passive plate, and an elastic device. The airtight membrane separates a box into an ink chamber and an air chamber. The passive plate is connected to one side of the airtight membrane and to the elastic device. The elastic device is normally depressed or stretched to move the airtight membrane. The ink chamber is thus slightly extended outward and maintains a negative pressure. As the ink stored inside the ink chamber gets less, the elastic device provides a restoring force to push or drag the passive plate. The negative pressure is thus maintained within a specific range. The invention further uses a conic spiral spring to avoid ink waste.

Abstract: An inkjet cartridge for use with a thermal inkjet printer includes a standpipe area and an entrained ink chamber that are connected in fluidic communication. The entrained ink chamber and standpipe area can be enclosed by a wall that can have a plurality of panels or facets. The inkjet cartridge also includes a duct or passage that is connected in fluidic communication to both the standpipe area and the entrained ink chamber, wherein the connection to the entrained ink chamber is operatively located above the standpipe area, thus enabling anomalous air bubbles to migrate from the standpipe area and into the entrained ink chamber.

Abstract: A fluid ejection cartridge includes a fluid container that has both a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid ejection cartridge has one or more fluid ejectors fluidically coupled to the fluid container outlet and a fluid valve fluidically coupled to the fluid container inlet. The fluid ejection cartridge has a filter assembly having a compliant portion with an internal volume fluidically coupled to the fluid container outlet such that the internal volume changes when fluid flows into the fluid container.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a seal between two or more components using a thermally cured sealing material. One exemplary method includes selectively applying an electrical signal to a heating trace on a first component, applying a sealing material between at least a portion of the first component and at least a portion of a second component, and at least partially thermally curing the sealing material using thermal energy generated by the application of the electrical signal to the heating trace.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a housing, an output channel, a porous material and an adhesive layer. The housing has a vertical ink chamber for storing ink and an opening disposed on a top side of the ink chamber for interchanging air inside the ink chamber with air outside the ink chamber. The output channel is connected with a bottom side of the ink chamber for receiving ink from the ink chamber. The porous material is filled in the ink chamber for absorbing ink within the ink chamber. The adhesive layer is formed on a top end of the porous material for forming a sealed surface on the top end of the porous material.

Abstract: An adsorbent for ink jet use arranged in a position to be in contact with ink, having the higher capability of adsorption with respect to hydrophobic substance contained in ink than colorant therein. Then, an ink retaining container comprises an ink retaining portion for retaining ink to be supplied to an ink jet head, an ink supply opening which becomes the ink supply portion from the ink retaining portion to the head, an atmospheric communication opening for communicating the ink retaining portion with the air outside. This ink retaining container is provided with the above-mentioned adsorption member arranged in a position to be in contact with ink in it. With the adsorbent and the ink retaining container thus arranged, it is made possible to perform ink jet recording with excellent print characteristics by effectively removing the hydrophobic substance eluted form the ink absorbent in the ink retaining container.

Abstract: A pressure control device for an inkjet pen. The inkjet pen is provided with a reservoir having a first opening and maintaining a back pressure established therein. The pressure control device comprises a bag, a pressure plate, an isolation member, a bias member, and an elastic member. The bag, disposed inside the reservoir, communicates with outside the reservoir so as to expand inside the reservoir. The pressure plate is disposed inside the reservoir and adjacent to the bag so as to move inside the reservoir. The bias member is disposed inside the reservoir and adjacent to the pressure plate, the isolation member, and the reservoir respectively such that the bag expands to move the pressure plate when the back pressure inside the reservoir changes, then the pressure plate moves the bias member so that the isolation member separates from the first opening.

Abstract: A ink jet recording head has a discharge port forming member, an ink supply member for supplying ink into the discharge port forming member from an ink container, an ink discharge port formed by the discharge port forming member, and discharge pressure generation means for generating a discharge pressure for discharging ink from the discharge port. A discharge port forming face of the discharge port forming member and a face of the ink supply member are substantially coplanarly connected, and a protective member is adhered over both faces. The adhering area of the protective member per unit area of the ink supply member is smaller than that on the discharge port forming face.

Abstract: A pressure-compensation device for adjusting the backpressure inside the cartridge of an ink jet printer includes an accumulator bag, a resilient element, and a motion element. The accumulator bag, installed inside the cartridge, communicates with the external atmosphere through an air duct. The resilient element, kept at a tension state, has a first end connected with the accumulator bag and a second end connected with the motion element. The resilient element restrains the inflation of the accumulator bag so as to induce a backpressure inside the cartridge. The accumulator bag, gradually inflating along with consumption of the ink inside the cartridge, can move the resilient element and the motion element downwards to keep the resilient element at a stable tension state, and thereby a stable backpressure inside the cartridge can be provided.

Abstract: An ink container includes a housing, a print head, and a fluid chamber. The housing has two inclined walls formed to divide the fluid chamber into a center ink well and two side ink wells. The housing also has two side walls, each having an inclined inner surface. The center ink well is formed between the two inclined walls. Each side ink well is formed between an inclined wall and a side wall. The inner surface of each side wall has a greater inclination than those of the inclined walls, so that each side ink well has a width decreasing from top to bottom.

Abstract: Disadvantages relating to ink refill specific to an increase in a number of ink ejection openings in an ink jet print head is eliminated to provide a particularly excellent fast-response capability and ejection performance. More specifically, when an ink is supplied to a liquid chamber via an ink supply path and an ink supply opening formed in a support member and a print element substrate in a print head, and is then ejected from ejection openings, a pressure of an ink effected upon the ejection is transmitted to the ink supply path. This pressure, however, can be absorbed by air chambers via communication paths to reduce adverse effects of the pressure on ink refill in the liquid path after the ejection. In this case, since the air chambers and other components are structured to be closed with respect to the atmosphere, problems such as an increase in viscosity which are associated with communication of the air chambers and other components with the atmosphere can be prevented.

Abstract: The invention provides a recording unit and an image recording apparatus of a configuration in which the black image and character formed by the black ink in the presence of the color ink satisfy various properties such as a high optical density, high image quality and high image fastness and which also enables prevention of bleeding and white haze and saving of the ink consumption.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a structure for preventing ink shorting of conductors connected to a printhead is provided. The structure includes a layer of insulating material shaped to at least partially encapsulate the conductors on the printhead. The insulating material includes a first surface and a second surface, with each of the surfaces having an adhesive coated thereon. The adhesive includes a polymer of ethylene and glycidyl methacrylate. The adhesive may also further include an acrylic ester. Alternatively, a first adhesive may be coated onto a first surface of the insulating material or coverlayer and a second adhesive (distinct in composition from the first adhesive) may be coated onto a second surface of the insulating material or coverlayer.

Abstract: An ink supply mechanism, which is provided with an ink supply path to supply ink contained in an ink container to an ink jet recording head for recording images on a recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports, comprises agitating means provided for the ink supply path for agitating ink flowing in the ink supply path. With the structure thus arranged, ink is supplied to the ink jet recording head in a state of being agitated by agitating means arranged in the ink supply path, thus making it possible to prevent the uneven concentrations of ink in an ink container left intact for a long time from appearing as the uneven densities of recorded images on a recording medium.

Abstract: A common print head module that can accommodate either a single-color or multi-color inkjet print head comprises an ink cartridge having an ink output, and an inkjet chip arranged over the ink output. The ink cartridge internally includes ink channels that terminate through a surface of the ink output, wherein two adjacent ink channels are spaced apart by a channel wall. The channel wall has a top surface lower than the surface of the ink output where the ink channels terminate. The ink channels communicate with ink slots of the inkjet chip. When accommodating a single-color print head, the ink flows out through the ink channels over the channel wall. When accommodating a multi-color print head, the ink slots of the inkjet chip have slot walls that are sealed with the channel walls such that inks of different colors can be separately ejected through the ink slots.

Abstract: It is checked whether an ink used in a printhead has a high density. The type of a printing medium used for a print operation is also identified. An image is printed by scanning the printhead once or a plurality of times. When a print operation is to be performed by using a thick ink, an image is printed by using mask data and the driving frequency of the head which are set for the thick ink. When a print operation is to be performed by using a thin ink, an image is printed by using mask data and the driving frequency of the head which are set for the thin ink and the type of printing medium used for the print operation. Codes of the respective color data of print data are determined in accordance with the types of inks used for a print operation, and an image is printed by printing a plurality of dots or dots in an overlapping state by the multi-pass method.

Abstract: A transaction printing device having a base with a width dimension of no greater than about 6.5 inches includes a printhead cartridge stall coupled to the base and mounted for rectilinear movement along a path of travel along the width dimension of the printing device. The stall supports from below a printhead cartridge to facilitate the ejecting of ink onto a transaction receipt having a width dimension of about 3 inches. The printhead cartridge has a generally box like shape with a front wall member having an integrally connected outwardly projecting for defining a pair of printhead linear translation reversing spaces adjacent the front wall member to facilitate reversing the linear translation of the printhead cartridge to print the transaction receipt. The method of printing the transaction receipt includes moving the printhead cartridge and a printhead wiper relative to one another in one direction along a rectilinear path of travel of substantially less than 6.

Abstract: An ink cartridge including an ink storage chamber in which ink is stored, a cover to cover the upper portion of the ink storage chamber and a head to eject ink droplets in the ink storage chamber onto a recording medium, wherein the cover includes an inner cover to cover the upper portion of the ink storage chamber and an outer cover that seals the ink storage chamber and the inner cover, and is positioned at a predetermined distance above the inner cover. Also provided are plates to form zigzag air passages by blocking a space between the inner cover and the outer cover. With the ink cartridge according to the present invention, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the backward flow of ink contained in an ink storage chamber due to overheating of or careless treatment of the ink cartridge. Even if ink flows backward from the ink storage chamber, it is stored in an ink storage space, thus preventing the clogging of an air passage.

Abstract: An ink jet recording cartridge mounted on a movable carriage comprises an ink jet recording head for recording by discharging ink from the discharge ports to a recording medium, and a housing for holding the ink jet recording head. For the housing of this cartridge, extrusions are arranged to abut upon the grooved portions arranged for the carriage, and the extrusions are made capable of adjusting the relative positions of the ink jet recording cartridge and the carriage. With the ink jet recording cartridge thus structured, it becomes possible to position the discharge ports of the recording head easily and exactly corresponding to the predetermined position in the carriage. Even if the precision varies when the recording head is installed on the housing of the cartridge, the extrusions are arranged to shift in accordance with such variation to serve the purpose.

Abstract: A fluid ejection cartridge includes an ejector head having at least one nozzle and a fluid reservoir containing an ejectable fluid, fluidically coupled with the at least one nozzle. The fluid ejection cartridge has a tape that includes a thermoplastic polymer film in contact with and releasably bonded to the nozzles.

Abstract: An ink supply mechanism, which is provided with an ink supply path to supply ink contained in an ink container to an ink jet recording head for recording images on a recording medium by discharging ink from discharge ports, comprises agitating means provided for the ink supply path for agitating ink flowing in the ink supply path. With the structure thus arranged, ink is supplied to the ink jet recording head in a state of being agitated by agitating means arranged in the ink supply path, thus making it possible to prevent the uneven concentrations of ink in an ink container left intact for a long time from appearing as the uneven densities of recorded images on a recording medium.

Abstract: A liquid container for containing recording liquid to the supplied to a ink jet recording mechanism to which the liquid container is detachably mountable, the liquid container includes a main body; a liquid supply opening formed in the main body and connectable with the ink jet recording mechanism to supply the recording liquid out; wherein the liquid supply opening has an elongated circle configuration.

Abstract: Ink supplied from an ink tank via a tube and air bubbles contained in the ink are stored in a first chamber of an air trap unit. At recording operation, the ink is allowed to flow from the first chamber to a third chamber via a filter disposed therebetween, and is supplied to a recording head via the third chamber. At purging operation, the ink flows at high speed, so that the filter regulates the high-speed ink-flow to flow from the first chamber to the third chamber. Therefore, the ink flows from the first chamber to a second chamber via a first connecting portion and then flows from the second chamber to the third chamber that connects a lower end of the second chamber with the recording head. Thus, the air trapped in the first chamber is discharged from the recording head along the high-speed ink-flow. In addition, a second rib is provided to an upper wall of the air trap unit so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to an ink-flow direction.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system, which includes a printhead having a plurality of ink ejection elements, a first ink supply having a capillary material disposed therein for holding a volume of ink and fluidically coupled with the printhead, and a second ink supply having a volume of ink and fluidically coupled with the printhead. The second ink supply provides ink to the printhead when a differential pressure between the printhead and the second supply exceeds a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: An ink container includes a housing, a print head, and a fluid chamber. The housing has two inclined walls formed to divide the fluid chamber into a center ink well and two side ink wells. The housing also has two side walls, each having an inclined inner surface. The center ink well is formed between the two inclined walls. Each side ink well is formed between an inclined wall and a side wall. The inner surface of each side wall has a greater inclination than those of the inclined walls, so that each side ink well has a width decreasing from top to bottom.

Abstract: An ink-jet cartridge adapted to be used for a thermal ink-jet printer is disclosed. The ink-jet cartridge includes a housing for storing the ink in an interior thereof, a printhead having a plurality of orifices thereon for allowing the ink to be Jetted therethrough when the thermal ink-jet printer is printing, and a pressure-adjusting device disposed in the housing for regulating a back pressure of the interior of the housing, wherein the pressure-adjusting device includes a first opening fixed on an upper portion of the housing and exposed to an ambient atmosphere, and a second opening disposed at a bottom of the interior of the housing and having at least one regulating hole thereon. Each regulating hole has a cross-sectional area being smaller than that of the first opening for maintaining the back pressure when the ink-jet cartridge is inverted.