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 numbers 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 closed ink replenishment system for replenishing the supply of ink in negative pressure spring-bag reservoirs in a printer/plotter. A tube runs between each cartridge reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir mounted to the printer/plotter frame to form the closed ink system. As ink is depleted from the spring-bag reservoir during printing operation, the negative pressure in the cartridge increases, drawing ink through the tube from the auxiliary reservoir into the cartridge until the negative pressure decreases to an equilibrium point. As a result, the volume of ink within the spring-bag reservoir remains substantially constant so long as there is ink remaining within the auxiliary reservoir. This maintains the print quality. The auxiliary reservoir is a flat bag mounted on a spring-biased platform, which acts as a height regulating system. As ink is depleted from the auxiliary bag, the height of the platform and bag increases to maintain a constant pressure and elevation head at the spring-bag reservoir.

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: 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 wastage absorber is made from a flexible polyurethane foam having an air-permeability of 1.0 cc/cm2/sec or more, or is made from a flexible polyurethane foam produced by using a foamable raw material containing a polyol, an isocyanate, a catalyst, and a foaming agent, wherein the polyurethane foam is impregnated with a surface active agent. An ink supporter includes an ink permeation member provided at a portion corresponding to a printer head and an ink absorbing member being in contact with the ink permeation member.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus of the invention uses a liquid container having a liquid chamber that contains liquid and a storing part that stores information about a time when the liquid container was manufactured. The liquid jetting apparatus includes a container-setting portion at which the liquid container is set, a head member having a nozzle, a liquid way that can communicate with the liquid chamber of the liquid container set at the container-setting portion and the nozzle, and a information reader that can read out the information stored in the storing part of the liquid container set at the container-setting portion. A liquid discharging unit that can cause the liquid to be discharged from the nozzle is controlled based on the information about the time when the liquid container was manufactured read out by the information reader.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes a compact substrate of increased stability and structural integrity to provide a high resolution 600 dot-per-inch nozzle array having a one-half inch swath. A plurality of ink vaporization chambers are respectively aligned with the nozzles in two longitudinal columns, one column extending longitudinally along one edge of the substrate and a second column extending longitudinally along an opposite edge of the substrate, with ink feed channels communicating through an ink passage from an underside of the substrate around both edges of the substrate to the vaporization chambers. The ink feed channels have thereby been eliminated from the central portion of the substrate, and replaced by the ink feed channels at the edges of the substrate.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge comprises a first chamber for accommodating a negative pressure producing material and having an air communication part for communication with ambient air, and a second chamber, substantially closed except for a liquid communication part, in communication with the first chamber, which second chamber contains a reservoir of ink to be supplied to the first chamber. A deformation prevention member is disposed within the second chamber thereby preventing or at least inhibiting deformation of the second chamber walls. A wall of the second chamber is 1.3 to 3 times as thick as a wall of the first chamber.

Abstract: A method for making an orifice plate for an ink-jet printer. The orifice plate defines both the orifices and the connected ink chambers. The orifice plate is constructed to permit, in the same print head, one chamber (or orifice) to be deeper (as well as, if desired, wider and longer) than another chamber (or orifice) that may be next to the first chamber. Similarly, a channel delivering ink to the first chamber may be configured to be deeper or shallower, as needed, relative to another channel in the orifice plate.

Abstract: A multi-compartment ink-jet cartridge body structure, which includes a unitary body having a plurality of ink reservoir compartments. Each compartment includes an outlet port through which ink passes to feed the ink to an ink-jet printhead nozzle array. The body further includes a printhead nozzle array mounting region, and an ink manifold structure including a plurality of corresponding ink channels each leading from a corresponding outlet port to a feed opening formed at the printhead mounting region. The body and manifold structure are formed as a unitary one-piece structure. A lid is attached to the unitary body to cover the compartments. The body includes an external wall, and an access opening is formed in the wall adjacent the manifold structure. A seal structure attached to the body for sealing the access opening. The body structure can be fabricated by a plastic material using an injection molding process.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a movable carriage capable of moving as designed while carrying, hereon, a plurality of different recording heads for discharging ink to record characters and/or images and a plurality of different ink tanks for storing ink to be supplied to the recording heads, the recording heads and the ink tanks being changeable; a restoring unit capable of restoring the recording heads; a detection unit for determining the type of the recording head or the ink tank; and a control unit for causing the restoring unit to restore the recording head in a case where the detection unit has detected change of the recording head or the ink tank to the recording head or the ink tank of the same type, and inhibiting the restoring unit from restoring the recording head in a case where the detection unit has detected change to the recording head or the ink tank of a different type.

Abstract: A printhead cartridge has a generally box like shape, a recessed channel area on which a printhead is mounted, and an integrally formed wiper cleaning station. The wiper cleaning station includes a pair of spaced apart cleaning surfaces on right and left sidewalls for engaging a wiper, a pair of debris accumulation plateaus, and right and left recessed debris collectors which sandwich the recessed channel area and which are disposed below corresponding ones of the plateaus. The printhead cooperates with the right and left side walls to form right and left debris accumulation channels which extend into the right and left recessed debris collectors. A pair of spaced apart cutout areas are provided for allowing the wiper to disengage from the wiper cleaning station when the printhead stops and reverses its direction.

Abstract: An ink tank for storably receiving ink therein comprises a housing having an ink feeding port to allow ink to be storably received therein and fed through the ink feeding port, an ink absorbing member accommodated in the housing for retaining ink, the ink absorbing member being a porous block with a first surface facing the ink feeding port and having a three-dimensional net-shaped structure, and comprising a foamed block molded of a condensate of a compound having an amino group and a formaldehyde as base materials. The ink absorbing member is pressed toward the ink feeding port by pressing substantially an entire area of a second surface of the ink absorbing member opposite its first surface.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead which includes a substrate having a plurality of individual ink ejection chambers defined by a barrier layer formed on a first surface of said substrate and having an ink ejection element formed on the first surface of said substrate in each of said ink ejection chambers, said ink ejection elements electrically connected to electrodes on said substrate.

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: A transaction printing device includes a printhead cartridge having an integrally formed wiper cleaning station and printhead. The wiper cleaning station is positioned so as to engage a wiper as the cleaning station travels and includes a pair of recessed wiper debris collectors. Each of the debris collectors opens into a corresponding debris accumulation channel to facilitate accumulating removed wiper debris with the debris collectors.

Abstract: An ink reservoir container for an ink jet printer comprises an ink outlet, a first mounting location being located on a print carriage for mounting the ink outlet, and an alternative second mounting location being located on the print carriage for mounting the ink outlet. The container is useful in a double plumbed print carriage of the ink jet printer.

Abstract: An apparatus for horizontally loading and unloading an ink-jet print cartridge from a carriage in a printer. The apparatus includes a generally rectangular print cartridge, an elongate supporting lip located on a side wall of the print cartridge, a carriage body, a chute mounted on the carriage for receiving the print cartridge, and a generally horizontal rail on a side wall of the chute for guiding the print cartridge into the carriage. In operation, the apparatus horizontally loads a print cartridge into a carriage by translating the print cartridge horizontally forward into a carriage, engaging a lip on the print cartridge with a guide rail on the carriage, sliding the print cartridge up and over a datum on the carriage with the guide rail and latching the print cartridge in the carriage.

Abstract: An ink container includes at least one partition dividing the container into plural ink chambers connected in series through an ink path in each the partition; an air vent for communicating a first ink chamber with the atmosphere and an ink supply port for supplying ink from a second ink chamber; wherein the ink path in each the partition provides for an ink flow to the supply port that empties each the chamber in the series in turn as ink is supplied from the supply port; wherein the second ink chamber has a volume smaller than another ink chamber.

Abstract: A multicolor liquid ink jet print head including a print head body containing liquid ink and having a nozzle assembly and electrical connections to the nozzle assembly. The print head body defines passageways to couple the ink from ink chambers in the print head body to the nozzle assembly. The disclosed print head body contains three ink chambers for inks of three different colors, each of which are connected by a separate pathway in the print head body to a separate section of the nozzle assembly. The ink flow channels of the print head body are designed to assure total isolation of each color of ink from each of the other colors. The print head body includes sidewalls and a bottom, with the bottom of the print head body defining three exit ports communicating with the nozzle assembly. One of the nozzle ports communicates with an opening in the bottom of one of the ink chambers.

Abstract: An ink-jet writing system having a pen and a detachable ink reservoir. The pen includes a dual capillarity ink accumulator wherein a balance is provided such that the pen nozzles will neither drool ink nor suck up air when the pen is decoupled from the reservoir. A high capillarity member and a low capillarity member of the accumulator respond to changes in volume of a gas bubble within the pen to absorb or expel ink when operational and ambient atmospheric pressure changes occur.

Abstract: A pressure adjustment device in an ink cartridge employs an elastic air bag in communication with the atmosphere through a ventilation hole in a connection body which is installed in a top wall of the cartridge housing. Response to pressure changes is increased by a spring connected between a bottom end of the air bag and a bottom wall of the cartridge housing which applies a pulling force to the bottom end of the air bag.

Abstract: A universal inkjet cartridge body with multiple ink reservoirs that can be used for single color or multiple color applications. The ink flow routing is accomplished by merely changing the printhead-to-body sealing structure, which can be an adhesive pattern. This allows for all the reservoirs' inks to be mixed at the head for one cartridge configuration, or the respective inks can be directed to different parts of the printhead for a multiple color application. The same cartridge body structure can be used for two or more cartridge configurations. A nose piece structure defines multiple ink channels leading from the respective ink reservoirs to a printhead mounting region. The sealing structure is applied to mount the printhead to the nose piece and to complete the ink path routing from the reservoirs to the printhead nozzle array(s).

Abstract: A replaceable cartridge for supplying consumable material to an ink jet printer, the printer having a printhead assembly; air pump to provide air to the printhead assembly; and binding material adapted to bind printed pages into a bound document, wherein, the replaceable cartridge includes an air filter unit, such that in use the air provided to the printhead assembly is filtered by the air filter unit; and a storage chamber containing binding material suitable to bind the printed pages into the bound document.

Abstract: An ink jet-type printer apparatus has a purging device which purges ink in an ink cartridge through ink jet nozzles by applying vacuum to the ink jet nozzles at the time of exchange of the ink cartridge and before normal printing operation. It is first determined whether a previous purging operation is an initial one which is performed at the time of the exchange of the ink cartridge. The next purging operation is performed at an earlier timing if the determination is Yes, while it is performed at a later timing if the determination is No. In each instance, the amount of ink to be purged is increased as the time period elapsed from the previous purging operation is longer. The amount of ink to be purged is varied by the number of times of purging in each purging operation.

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 bended, 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 pen has a body enclosing an ink reservoir and defining a vent aperture. A vent plug defining an elongated serpentine channel occupies the aperture. The plug may be cylindrical, with smaller diameter pilot ends to facilitate insertion. The serpentine channel may include several segments that alternate in direction, and which occupy a major portion of the plug surface away from an elongated spine surface portion that extends the length of the plug without interruption by the channel.

Abstract: A multi-compartment ink-jet cartridge body structure, including a unitary body having a plurality of ink reservoir compartments. Each compartment includes an outlet port through which ink passes to feed ink to an ink-jet printhead nozzle array. The body further includes a printhead nozzle array mounting region, and an ink manifold structure including a plurality of corresponding ink channels each leading from a corresponding outlet port to a feed opening formed at the printhead mounting region. The body and manifold structure are formed as a unitary one-piece structure. A lid is attached to the unitary body to cover the compartments. The body includes an external wall, and an access opening is formed in the wall adjacent the manifold structure. A seal structure attached to the body for sealing the access opening. The body structure can be fabricated by a plastic material using an injection molding process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing air from an inkjet print cartridge by collecting the air in a predetermined area and forcing the air from the air collection area using a conduit.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer and a method for making the improved ink jet cartridge. The ink jet cartridge includes a substantially inflexible frame having at least one pressure port, the frame having at least one peripheral edge. At least one malleable web is provided having a first side and a second side the first side being attached to the peripheral edge of the frame defining a substantially closed cavity. The malleable web is conformed to the cavity by applying a subatmospheric pressure to the cavity before, after or while heating the malleable web in order to substantially conform the web to the cavity thereby creating a variable volume cavity having a substantially predictable pressure/volume relationship. A biasing element is disposed adjacent the first or second side of the malleable web for biasing the web relative to the cavity.

Abstract: Reinforcing ridges are formed so as to project from corner portions of peripheral walls, and an opening end edge is made thick-walled, so that an ink cartridge having a sufficient rigidity can be molded using vapor impermeable soft synthetic resins. In addition, shape keeping ribs are formed so as to project from the outer sides of longitudinal ribs that are formed on an inner surface of a cover body, so that deformation of the cartridge can be suppressed during vibration welding. Further, an engaging recess arranged in a lower surface of an ink cartridge is adapted to receive a support rod of an ink cartridge loading mechanism. A carriage cover body of the loading mechanism is closed as a lifter is guided with a guide groove which is parallel to the axial center of an ink supply needle so that the ink cartridge is allowed to descend correctly toward a recording head, so that the ink cartridge can be loaded correctly without breaking the ink supply needle.

Abstract: A liquid ejection head cartridge includes a liquid ejecting head and a liquid container. The liquid ejection head includes an ejection outlet, a bubble generation region, and a movable member disposed faced to the bubble generation region and displaceable between a first position and a second position further from the bubble generation region than the first position. The movable member moves from the first to the second position by pressure produced by the generation of a bubble to permit expansion of the bubble more in a downstream side closer to the ejection outlet.

Abstract: An ink-jet cartridge for an ink-jet pen is disclosed. The cartridge includes a back pressure chamber in which the level of ink will be self-adjusted to provide ink for ejection and prevent ink from leakage. The ink-jet cartridge includes an ink reservoir for storing ink, a back pressure chamber, a print ink chamber and a print head. The back pressure chamber has one end fluid-communicated with the ink in the ink reservoir, and the other end fluid-communicated with the print ink chamber via an overflow vent which is at a position higher than the ink level of the ink reservoir.

Abstract: A storage container for sealingly carrying an ink jet recording head cartridge having an ink jet recording head having the discharge orifices for discharging the ink and a mounting portion for mounting an ink tank replaceably. The ink jet recording head cartridge comprises a storage tank, mounted on the mounting portion, having a negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber having a negative pressure producing member for producing the negative pressure, with an atmosphere communicating portion for communicating to the outside, and a sealed chamber having a communicating portion for communicating to the negative pressure producing member accommodating chamber and forming a sealed space from the outside, except for the communicating portion, with a sealing member for sealing the discharge orifices.

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: Disclosed is a flexible circuit that has a nozzle member formed therein with the nozzle member including a plurality of ink orifices and the flexible circuit having electrical leads. 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 a back surface of the nozzle member. Each heating element is located proximate to an associated ink orifice with 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 is located proximate to the back surface of the nozzle member and includes an inner raised wall circumscribing the substrate with an adhesive support surface formed thereon and having wall openings therein. The wall openings have an adhesive support surface and an elevated substrate support surface raised above the adhesive support surface for supporting the substrate.

Abstract: Recording means having integrally a recording head unit having discharge ports for discharging the ink and ink channels communicating to said discharge ports and leading the ink thereto, and an ink tank unit for storing the ink to be supplied to said recording head unit, wherein said recording head unit comprises a device for storing the parameter information concerning the ink discharge characteristics, and a protective member disposed on a side face area adjacent to said discharge port formation face for preventing the ink from flowing around.

Abstract: A print head having an ink reservoir therein is made by forming, in a one-shot plastic injection molding step, a rigid monolithic frame comprising high melt temperature material having an opening therein extending from a first side to a second side, and first and second bonding surfaces surrounding the opening and facing the first and second sides, respectively. First and second thin flexible films are adhesively secured to the first and second bonding surfaces, respectively. The adhesive material may be a hot melt adhesive or dry adhesive films pre-formed to the shape of the bonding surfaces. By securing the flexible films to the bonding surfaces adhesively, rather than by heat staking, it is not necessary to form the frame of different materials during two separate molding steps.

Abstract: A print cartridge includes a support arrangement. A supply of print media and a supply of ink are arranged within the support arrangement. A filter is carried by the support arrangement for filtering air to be supplied to a printhead of a device in which the print cartridge is installed, in use.

Abstract: An ink is stored directly in an ink storage chamber. An printing head connecting portion is arranged on the bottom side of the ink storage chamber and an ink collector is arranged on the bottom side of the ink storage chamber and alongside on the upper face of the printing head connecting portion. The ink collector is provided with a plurality of vertical plate-like blade portions arranged in parallel in the axial direction so as to form an ink collector spaces therebetween, and the blade portions are provided with communicating notches in a line so that these communicating notches form an air/ink moving groove extending in the axial direction. One end of the air/ink moving groove is communicated with an air intake, and the other end thereof is communicated with the ink storage chamber. The air/ink moving groove moves the ink or the air between the ink storage chamber and the ink collector spaces or the air intake, when the pressure in said ink storage chamber becomes too high or too low.

Abstract: An ink-jet print cartridge having a low profile. The print cartridge includes a print cartridge body, a lid securely affixed to the body, and a latch located on the lid. The print cartridge further includes two elongate supporting lips located along the side walls of the body for supporting the print cartridge during loading. Loading is effected with a plurality of gripping surfaces remotely located from the latch.

Abstract: A manifold 40 is formed with an ink supply path 43, which fluidly connects an ink cartridge 50 and ejection channels 33 of an ink jet head 31. The ink supply path 43 has a broad portion 45 that broadens from a connection path 44 outward in a tapering manner. A space A defined between a mesh filter 40a and a mesh filter 53a is set to have a volume greater than a volume of a spherical shape B, which is inscribed by the ceiling surface of the broad portion 45 and an upper surface 31a of the ink jet head 31. Air is introduced into the space A during exchange of the ink cartridge 50. When the air is drawn into the broad portion 45 during purging operations, the air is supported in contact with the ink jet head 31 and also blocks the connection path 44.

Abstract: An ink-jet cartridge is formed by a rigid outer protective case and an inner ink reservoir having a flexible wall portion and a rigid wall portion which together form a sealed compartment. The flexible wall portion includes two opposing membranes sealed at their periphery to an inner loop-like frame which is integrated with a portion of the outer case. The outer protective case also covers a snout having a shortened length in the media advance direction to allow media positioning rollers closely adjacent to the print zone. The snout includes internal filters in an ink passageway from the reservoir to print nozzles at the end of the snout.

Abstract: A robust printhead is disclosed comprising a substrate, an ink flow channel formed in the substrate, a beveled die having disposed heater resistors and which is inserted into the substrate, a TAB circuit used to electrically couple the beveled die to the substrate, and an encapsulated upper surface. The encapsulant is disposed at least over the electrical coupling between the beveled die and the interconnect.

Abstract: Blockage of the holes in an ink jet nozzle is greatly reduced by immersing the polyether polyurethane foam from the ink jet cartridge in cold water for a period of at least six hours.

Abstract: An ink jet recorder according to the present invention comprises an ink cartridge having an ink supply port for supplying ink to a recording head and an ink holding member composed of a porous member for holding the ink, the ink holding member being so provided inside the ink cartridge as to cover the ink supply port, and a recording head communicating with the ink supply port of the ink cartridge and having a plurality of nozzle holes provided therein, wherein the following conditions are satisfied, letting S0 (mm2) be the cross-sectional area of an opening in the ink supply port, S1 (mm2) be the total sum of the cross-sectional areas of openings in the plurality of nozzle holes, and S2 (mm2) be the average of the cross-sectional areas of holes in the ink holding member: (1/S2)×(1/35)>S0≧S1×5

Abstract: The ink-jet cartridge of the present invention includes two magnetic plates attached to the two sides of a flexible ink reservoir and facing each other with their sides of the same magnetic polarity. Alternatively, the two magnetic plates are attached to two flexible bags within the rigid ink reservoir and face each other with their sides of the same magnetic polarity. Due to the repulsive force generated by the two magnetic plates, a pressure regulating effect can be achieved within the ink reservoir to prevent ink leakage and provide smooth ink delivery while printing.

Abstract: The ink cartridge comprises a casing closed on all sides, with a face wall having an aperture for receiving a tubular socket of the printing head. The casing contains a foam element impregnated with ink. It has locking elements for engaging arrester means of the printing head, as well as a second smaller aperture for feeding air. An elastomeric foil is provided between the face wall and the foam element, the foil having a hole smaller than the aperture and extending coaxially with the aperture. An edge zone of the smaller hole projects beyond an edge of the aperture and rests sealing against the sockets when the cartridge is inserted.

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 tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus is provided. The ink tank cartridge comprises a plural number of first chambers and a plural number of second chambers adjacent to and associated with a first chamber, each pair of first and second chambers being formed as an integral unit. The ink tank cartridge also has a partition wall disposed in the cartridge which separates each second chamber from an associated first chamber, the two chambers communicating through a communicating hole positioned near the bottom of the partition wall disposed between the associated chambers. The communicating hole extends only a portion of the width that the partition wall. Finally, a plural number of ink supply ports, each extending through a wall of a respective one of the plural number of first chambers, supply ink to the exterior of the ink cartridge from each respective porous member of the plural number of porous members.