Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ink jet print cartridge is disclosed. The method includes fabricating a vented foam-filled type or a spring-bag type cartridge. The method also includes introducing ink into a reservoir. For a foam-filled cartridge, the method further includes covering orifices of an orifice plate to prevent leakage of ink through the orifices and subjecting the cartridge to a predetermined centrifugal force to force ink into a standpipe chamber to displace air trapped therein. For a spring-bag type cartridge, the method further includes subjecting the cartridge to a predetermined centrifugal force to force ink away from a standpipe chamber to displace air in a reservoir to force the air to collect adjacent a standpipe and priming the cartridge by drawing the air out of the cartridge through orifices of an orifice plate. A print cartridge manufactured according to the above method is also disclosed.

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: A spacer is incorporated into the standpipe of a foam-ink-containment type of inkjet print cartridge for retarding the growth of a diffused-air bubble in the standpipe, thereby extending the shelf life of the cartridge by ensuring the bubble will not become so large during storage of the cartridge that the bubble occludes flow of ink to the printhead.

Abstract: In a liquid ejecting head having a first liquid flow path communicating with an ejecting port for ejecting a liquid to be ejected and an element substrate having a heating element for forming a bubble from a bubble forming liquid as well as including a second liquid flow path corresponding to the first liquid flow path and a movable separation membrane for substantially separating the first liquid flow path and the second liquid flow path corresponding to the first liquid flow path from each other at all times, the liquid ejecting head includes an atmosphere communication port facing the atmosphere for communicating the second liquid flow path with the atmosphere, and an atmosphere communication path having an atmosphere communication path introduction port facing the second liquid flow path, wherein the atmosphere communication port is formed through the same surface as that of the ejecting port, whereby the liquid ejecting head can remove remaining bubbles in the bubble forming liquid by a simple arrangemen

Abstract: A spacer is incorporated into the standpipe of a foam-ink-containment type of inkjet print cartridge for retarding the growth of a diffused-air bubble in the standpipe, thereby extending the shelf life of the cartridge by ensuring the bubble will not become so large during storage of the cartridge that the bubble occludes flow of ink to the printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet pen including an ink reservoir for storing ink and providing ink for jetting. A port, located on top of the ink reservoir, fluid-communicated with the ambient air, is used for adjusting the air pressure inside the reservoir. A valve, operated by a spring or a resilient element, normally seals the port, while occasionally opening the port to introduce air into the reservoir when the ink level is low and the underpressure rises. In other embodiments, an elastic bag is included in the reservoir that has an opening communicated with the ambient air through a second port formed on top of the reservoir. The elastic bag expands in response to the increasing underpressure generated in the reservoir when ink is being used. The bag expansion actuates the opening of the valve so as to regulate the underpressure.

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 with negative-pressure regulating mechanism, comprising a first ink chamber, a second ink chamber and an regulating mechanism; the regulating mechanism is of a interlocking device composed of a damping device and a valve that, installed between the first ink chamber and the second ink chamber, is used for being the valve connecting the first ink chamber and the second ink chamber; when ink in the second ink chamber is being used, the inner pressure of the second ink chamber is to be lowered, thus activating the regulating mechanism, so that ink in the first ink chamber is led into the second ink chamber for stable replenishment.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink tank in which an ink holding member is inhibited from being excessively deformed, and which steadily supplies an ink. A foaming direction of urethane of a first ink holding member is disposed substantially vertically (arrow B) to an abutment direction of an ink jet head onto an ink receiving tube so that the member is easily deformed with respect to a press force of a pressing direction (arrow A) substantially parallel to the abutment direction onto the ink receiving tube 34B, and the foaming direction of urethane of a second ink holding member is disposed in a direction substantially parallel to (arrow C) the abutment direction onto the ink receiving tube so that the member is not easily deformed with respect to the press force of the pressing direction substantially parallel to the abutment direction onto the ink receiving tube.

Abstract: There is provided a print head device which is capable of mounting an ink cartridge therein with a small mounting force without spoiling the sealing performance of a seal packing and minimizing the deformation of a contact portion of the seal packing where the ink cartridge is brought into contact, and an ink jet printer incorporating the print head device. The print head device includes a print head unit, an ink cartridge removably mounted in the print head unit, and a seal packing. The print head unit has an ink jet print head, and an ink reception block for receiving supply of ink. The ink cartridge is removably mounted in said print head unit, and has an ink delivery block for delivering ink therefrom. The seal packing has a generally hollow cylindrical shape and arranged between said ink delivery block of said ink cartridge and said ink reception block of said print head unit.

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: 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: 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: A container of the present invention for use of ink jet recording liquid is arranged to store recording liquid to be supplied to an ink jet recording head. This recording liquid container comprises the container main body, and an absorber holding recording liquid contained in the interior of the container main body, and the absorber is constituted by the fiber having its elongation percentage (Japanese Industrial Standard JIS-L1015) of 250% or less. With the elongation percentage of the fibrous absorber manufactured by the thermal processing which is defined within a specific range, it becomes possible to suppress the dimensional changes before and after the execution of the thermal processing, as well as to make the difference smaller between the higher and lower densities on the surface layer and the central portion of the fibrous absorber, respectively, hence providing a highly uniform absorber.

Abstract: An improved ink cartridge of the type used to dispense ink in automatic lithographic presses. The ink cartridge comprises a hollow cylindrical body for holding a supply of extrudable ink, a plunger and a dispensing fitment. The improvement comprises a valve member mounted over a central aperture in the dispensing fitment and a flexible molded plastic spring that biases the valve member in the closed position. The valve member opens when subjected to pressure from the ink and closes automatically and completely when the ink pressure is less than the biasing force of the flexible spring.

Abstract: When a thermoplastic spacer is applied to a glass pane in the production of insulating glass panes, the nozzle from which the plastic with the desired cross sectional shape is extruded along the edge of the glass pane. The speed with which the plastic is applied along the edge of the glass pane is chosen depending on the temperature of the plastic. Here, for a stipulated temperature setpoint the speed with which the plastic is applied along the edge of the glass pane is stipulated. If the temperature increases, the speed is increased; conversely, when the temperature drops below the setpoint, the speed with which the plastic is applied along the edge of the glass pane is reduced. This ensures that the correct amount of thermoplastic is always extruded onto the glass pane and a spacer with a uniform cross section is obtained.

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 comprises an ink jet head unit for discharging the ink, and an ink tank unit having an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head unit. The ink tank unit has a partition portion for partitioning between an ink storing portion for storing the ink to be supplied to the ink jet head unit and a negative pressure generating member receiving portion having a negative pressure generating member. The ink supply port is provided on the negative pressure generating member receiving portion. The partition portion has an ink communicating portion at an end portion of the partitioning portion on the side of the negative pressure generating member receiving portion where the ink supply port is provided, and makes contiguous the ink storing portion and the negative pressure generating member receiving portion in a movement direction of the ink tank unit when discharging the ink.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The apparatus comprises one or more microheater resistors and a material, which can be reflowed by use of the heat generated by the microheater, disposed proximate to the heater resistor. The microheater resistor comprises a heater resistor with an input port and an output port. A first electrical conductor, coupled to the input port of the heater resistor, receives a first voltage and a second electrical conductor, coupled to the output port of the heater resistor, receives a second voltage. A curing effect in the adhesive is produced by heat generated in the heater resistor when electrical current flows through the resistor in response to an application of a first voltage to the first electrical conductor and a second voltage to the second electrical conductor.

Abstract: Hot-melt Seal For Nozzles on Print Cartridges And Method. A layer of hot-melt is adhesively bonded to a print cartridge to seal the nozzles through which ink is jetted. In another aspect, a layer of hot-melt seals the electrical contacts and leads mounted on the print cartridge. The hot-melt adhesive can be either laminated with a moisture retardant (preferably impermeable) base film or block coated on moisture retardant (preferably impermeable) pouch material. These materials are thereafter adhesively bonded to the print cartridge, sealing the nozzles and preferably the electrical contacts and leads as well.

Abstract: The present invention provides a storing structure for storing an ink jet head comprising a nozzle communicated with an opening for discharging liquid, a liquid storing portion for storing the liquid to be supplied to the nozzle, and a liquid introduction portion for introducing the liquid into the liquid storing portion from exterior, wherein, in the ink jet head, air is housed in the liquid storing portion and the liquid is contained at least in the nozzle, and a cap unit including an elastic cap for covering an area of the opening and a liquid absorbing member disposed in the elastic cap is closely contacted with and attached, around the opening, to a face in which the opening is formed, and the liquid introduction portion is communicated with atmosphere at least when inner pressure of the liquid storing portion is increased, thereby maintaining a space within the cap unit to a wetting condition.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes the problem of filter blockage created by bubble accumulation underneath the filter of previous printheads with a filter carrier and filter that reduces air bubble blockage of the filter. Namely, air bubble blockage of the filter is avoided by trapping more bubbles in a designated area with a horizontal ink flow, relative to the substrate. In addition to the filter carrier and filter, the printing device further includes an outer housing, a substrate and an ink conduit. The substrate has a back surface and a front surface with ink ejection chambers formed thereon. The ink conduit has a distal end proximate to the back surface of the substrate. The ink conduit, the outer housing and the substrate define an ink flow path to the ink ejection chambers and a bubble accumulation chamber in communication with the ink flow path such that buoyancy will tend to move bubbles that accumulate in the ink flow path into the bubble accumulation chamber.

Abstract: A lid for a print cartridge. The lid includes a barrier configured to seal the ink reservoir of the print cartridge and a stand-off spaced from the barrier. The stand-off is configured to engage ink-permeable foam. The lid may also include an alignment structure coupled with the stand-off and a capillary break adjacent the alignment structure. The capillary break is configured to impede the formation of capillary paths between the ink reservoir and the lid.

Abstract: An ink reservoir for an ink refill has a stalk-like front portion, a tubular body portion, and a transitional portion between the stalk-like front portion and the tubular body portion. The transitional portion has a tapered inner surface tapered gently from a boundary between the tubular body portion and the transitional portion toward the stalk-like front portion.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head unit is positioned in high precision when mounted on the carriage of a liquid discharge recording apparatus. For the liquid discharge head unit, a side extrusion formed in column, which is rotatively supported in carriage, presses the upper surface of guide ribs formed on both side ends on the upper rear portion. This upper surface is made higher toward the rear side in order to effectuate the substantially horizontal movement of the pressurized position from the front side to the rear side. Then, the liquid discharge head unit is rotated around the side extrusion formed in column so as to be mounted on the carriage smoothly. Lastly, a guide pin, a rear extrusion, and a lower extrusion are allowed to abut against the corresponding portions of the carriage by means of pressure exerted on a receiving rib in order to perform positioning in the front, rear, left, right, up and down directions exactly.

Abstract: A printer ink cartridge includes a jet plate and memory storage element mounted different surfaces thereof. A connector circuit affixes to the jet plate and the memory storage element. The memory storage element stores information about ink expelled from the cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an internal negative pressure of an ink container used in an ink-jet printing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hollow tube located in an interior of the ink container, and a containing member connected to the hollow tube for containing therein an ink of the container to prevent an atmospheric air from entering the interior of the ink container while the ink container is placed upside down. Thus, upon the ink container is black to the normal placement and in the working status, the ink will not leak from the ink-jet head.

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 ink jet printer for recording graphic and photo quality images is provided and includes a frame; a recording medium handling assembly mounted to the frame; and printing assembly including supplies of black, magenta, cyan and yellow liquid inks, and a printhead assembly mounted to the frame. The printhead assembly consists of (i) a first printhead including nozzles each having a first uniform size for recording high quality graphic images on a recording medium, and (ii) a second printhead including a printhead segment for each of the black, magenta, cyan and yellow liquid inks, and each printhead segment including a first set of nozzles having the first uniform size and a second set of nozzles having a second and different size, relative to the first uniform size, for recording photo quality images on the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink tank and ink tank support structure which contains structural elements which are designed to permit proper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank support structure while minimizing the chances of improper installation of the ink tank in the ink tank structure. A primary ink tank seal is provided in the ink tank, and a relatively low compressive force seal is provided between the ink tank support structure and the ink tank to reduce leakage of fluid from the tank and limit evaporation of fluid from the tank despite repeated insertions and removals of the ink tank from the ink tank support structure. A variable capacity ink tank and an ink tank with staggered height walls are disclosed, as well as a code reader for determining characteristics of ink tanks.

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: In a print head which can be mounted in a printer and which has a first ejection portion to eject an ink and a second ejection portion to eject a print performance improving liquid to aggregate or make insoluble the ejected ink, the storage method effectively prevents the mixing of the ink and the print performance improving liquid if one or both of these liquids should leak before the print head is mounted in the printer. The seal member having an opening and adapted to seal the first and second ejection portions so that its opening is located between these ejection portions is removably bonded to the print head. This arrangement closes the ejection portions with the protective tape, preventing leakage of the ink and the print performance improving liquid.

Abstract: An ink jet print head includes an ink jet print module contained in a cartridge housing. The ink jet print module includes a surface containing a plurality of ink jet nozzles and this surface extends in a aperture of the cartridge housing. An element extends from the housing and supports a set of electrical terminals and electrical connection means provide electrical interconnections between electrical contacts of the set of electrical contacts of the ink jet print module and electrical terminals of the set of electrical terminals supported in the element.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a packaging method and the structure of an inkjet cartridge print head chip. The main technique disclosed herein is to package a chip substrate that can resist the corrosion of the ink at the ink cartridge outlet. A preferred embodiment is to package the chip substrate at the ink outlet at the same time when the inkjet cartridge is formed through plastic molding. Another preferred embodiment is to package the chip substrate at the ink cartridge outlet using ultrasonic or heat welding and then glue the print head on the chip substrate. These means can solve the problem of ink leakage in conventional ink cartridge because of the corrosion of ink to the glue between the print head chip and the ink cartridge.

Abstract: In a postage meter machine that has a printing unit with a replaceable print head, a print head for such a postage meter machine and a method for the authentication of such a print head, a number of manipulation possibilities are precluded, such as refilling an authorized print head, unauthorized ink usage of a printhead and using an authorized print head in a conventional printer without paying fees for franking. For this purpose a security code is generated by an encryption algorithm from a first identification code attached to the print head and from a second identification code stored in a memory unit allocated to the print head, and is compared to a security code that is likewise stored in the memory unit when the print head is manufactured.

Abstract: A pressure-compensation device for ink reservoirs includes an accumulator bag, a resilient element and an air-compensation means. The accumulator bag is installed inside the ink reservoir and provides a duct for air communicating with the atmosphere. While the ink inside the ink reservoir is running off, external air can be led automatically through the duct to inflate the accumulator bag. The resilient element has a lower end to engage with a bottom end of the accumulator bag for stabilizing a back pressure inside the ink reservoir by acting contraction against the inflating of the accumulator bag. While the accumulator bag is expanded to a saturated state, the air-compensation means can introduce automatically external air into the ink reservoir for maintaining the back pressure and thus for avoiding any ink leakage and stalling of the print head.

Abstract: In a print head which can be mounted in a printer and which has a first ejection portion to eject an ink and a second ejection portion to eject a print performance improving liquid to aggregate or make insoluble the ejected ink, the storage method effectively prevents the mixing of the ink and the print performance improving liquid if one or both of these liquids should leak before the print head is mounted in the printer. The seal member having an opening and adapted to seal the first and second ejection portions so that its opening is located between these ejection portions is removably bonded to the print head. This arrangement closes the ejection portions with the protective tape, preventing leakage of the ink and the print performance improving liquid.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet cartridge comprising an ink jet head including a plurality of arranged discharge ports for discharging ink, an element substrate provided with a plurality of energy generating elements for generating an energy to discharge the ink, and a base plate for supporting the element substrate; an ink tank holding member for holding an ink tank for containing the ink; and a head holding member for connecting the ink tank holding member to the ink jet head, and by holding the ink jet head by the ink tank holding member and the head holding member, the ink jet head is elastically supported in a head sandwiching direction, so that the positioning of the ink jet head can easily be performed with respect to the ink jet cartridge with a high precision, the high quality recording is possible, and the ink jet apparatus using this cartridge can be realized with a simple construction and at a low cost.

Abstract: An ink reservoir having a bubble generator includes an enclosure defining an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space being adapted for containing a supply of ink, the enclosure having a passage formed therein which permits fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior space, the passage including a surface, the passage defining a first aperture and a second aperture, wherein the second aperture is adjacent the interior space. A sphere is positioned in the passage and contacts a portion of the surface of the passage, the surface having a shape that permits ink to pass between the sphere and the surface. A membrane is positioned over the first aperture to retain the sphere in the passage, the membrane including at least one hole being sized to define a bubble admission pressure difference across a thickness of the membrane.

Abstract: An ink tank is to be held detachably on a tank holder provided with a movable lever having a first engaging pawl to engage with a first engagement hole provided for one side wall of the tank holder, and a second engaging pawl to engage with a second engagement hole provided for side wall opposite to the one side wall having the first engagement hole of the tank holder. For this ink tank, the distance S between the outer side face of the base portion of the movable lever of the ink tank and the leading end of the second engaging pawl is set to be larger than the distance between the inner wall faces of the side wall having the first engagement hole of the tank holder and the side wall having the second engagement hole. With the structure thus arranged, unless the ink tank is kept in the normal posture, the ink tank is not allowed to enter the tank holder, hence enabling the user to recognize it easily and prompt him to operate the installation of the ink tank correctly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a flexible circuit having a nozzle member formed therein, the nozzle member including a plurality of ink orifices and the flexible circuit having window openings therein. The window openings expose electrical leads on the flexible circuit. A substrate containing a plurality of heating elements and associated ink ejection chambers, and having electrodes to which the electrical leads are bonded, is mounted on the back surface of the nozzle member. Each heating element is located proximate to an associated ink orifice. The back surface of the nozzle member extending over two or more outer edges of the substrate. A print cartridge body having a headland portion located proximate to the back surface of the nozzle member and including an inner raised wall circumscribing the substrate. The inner raised wall having an adhesive support surface formed thereon and having wall openings therein. The wall openings having an adhesive support surface.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is provided in a printer for removable installation in a carriage which typically holds a plurality of print cartridges of different color printing liquids. In order to minimize overall size of the printer and its carriage, a handle is pivotally mounted on a crown of the print cartridge to move from a down recessed position during normal printing and servicing operations to an upraised position for gripping while removing the printhead from a carriage chute. The handle forms a loop to facilitate gripping with the fingers and thumb, and in its preferred form is bendable in order to provide flexible yielding upon application of undesirable lateral or torsional forces during a removal procedure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print cartridge for an inkjet printer includes a flexible circuit having a nozzle member formed therein, the nozzle member including a plurality of ink orifices and the flexible circuit having window openings therein. The window openings expose electrical leads on the flexible circuit. A substrate containing a plurality of heating elements and associated ink ejection chambers, and having electrodes to which the electrical leads are bonded, is mounted on the back surface of the nozzle member. Each heating element is located proximate to an associated ink orifice. The back surface of the nozzle member extending over two or more outer edges of the substrate. A print cartridge body having a headland portion located proximate to the back surface of the nozzle member and including an inner raised wall circumscribing the substrate. The inner raised wall having an adhesive support surface formed thereon and having wall openings therein. The wall openings having an adhesive support surface.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer including an ink tank and at least one print head having nozzles to spurt out ink supplied from the ink tank and at least two ink inlet in total. The ink tank comprises at least two level tanks arranged in correspondence with the at least two ink inlets and a main tank for recovering excess ink in the respective level tanks and storing the excess ink. The level tanks are piled over the main tank in a tiered manner, and the vertically adjoining level tanks are communicated with each other through the communication passages and the main tank and the level tank of the set ink level being the lowest are communicated with each other through the communication passage. The communication passages each have an upper opening that opens at a level equal to the set ink level in the each level tank, and an ink supply port is provided in the uppermost level tank.

Abstract: An ink supply unit including at least one ink storage chamber for holding ink for supply to a portable ink jet printing arrangement, the ink supply unit including a series of spaced apart baffles configured so as to reduce the acceleration of the ink within the unit as may be induced by movement of the portable printer, whilst allowing for flows of ink to the printing arrangement in response to active demand therefrom. Preferably there are several chambers for holding different color inks and are desirably formed through the injection molding of at least two separate parts which are preferably sealed together to form the ink supply unit.

Abstract: An ink tank for storing ink supplied to an ink jet recording head includes an ink tank body, an ink absorbing member inserted in the ink tank body in a compressed state, an atmosphere communicating port for communicating an inner space of the ink tank body with the atmosphere, and an ink supply port coupled to the ink jet recording head and serving as an ink supply port. A corner of the ink absorbing member which would be located near the atmosphere communicating port is cut out, a portion of the ink absorbing member around the cutout area is partly released in a degree of compression as compared with the other portion thereof under the state where the ink absorbing member is inserted in the ink tank body in a compressed state, and a space area is formed between the cutout area of the ink absorbing member and the atmosphere communicating port.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid jet recording head comprises of the steps of calculating the difference between the distance B from the first heater on the element substrate to the cut face of the element substrate and the distance A from the first flow path groove on the ceiling plate to the abutment reference of the ceiling plate, measuring the amounts of deviation in the positional precisions in the state where the element substrates and the ceiling plates are actually positioned, working out a correction value from the distributional condition of such deviations, feeding back the correction value for determining the corrected amount of retraction. Then, after the abutment reference of the ceiling plate is allowed to abut upon the cut face of the element substrate by means of a push jig, retraction is performed by moving the ceiling plate by means of a retraction jig in the reverse direction with respect to the element substrate, hence positioning the ceiling plate and the element substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ink container for providing ink to an ink-jet printer. The ink container includes an electrical storage device for providing ink container parameters to the ink-jet printer. The electrical storage device contains a configuration parameter for specifying an ink container configuration and an ink volume parameter for specifying an ink volume for the ink container.

Abstract: A kit comprising a holder for holding a memory device in the form of a chip, elements for inputting data to or altering data in the chip, a printer cartridge for containing ink, and a retaining element to retain the chip on the printer cartridge.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge and carriage assembly (10) is provided comprising: a carriage (12); a snap-spring (62) for securing a printing cartridge (14) in postion on the carriage; and an interconnect strip (16) for supplying electrical signals to the cartridge, including a force loading spring pad (24) for urging a portion of the interconnect strip against a portion of the cartridge. The cartridge has top (32), bottom (34), sides (36, 38), front (40) and rear (42) surfaces and includes a printhead (44) on the bottom surface, an electrical contact strip (46) on the back surface connected to the printhead, referencing pads (56) on the side surface, and a lip (64) on the back surface for accepting the snap-spring. Referencing surface (60) are provided for receiving the referencing pads on the cartridge. The spring pad urges the interconnect strip against the electrical contact of the cartridge.