Abstract: A printer device for emitting a medium or mixing and emitting a medium for quantitation and a medium for emission, in which a correct recording image can be formed with a suppressed running cost. At least one tank 51 is provided which has at least one first liquid chamber 52 in which is disposed a liquid holder 53. A print head is provided which has a nozzle in association with this first liquid chamber 52. Preferably, at least one second tank is provided which has a second liquid chamber in association with the first liquid chamber 52 of the first tank 51 for direct communication between the two chambers. The printer device can be configured for emitting only the emission medium of mixing the quantitation medium and the emission medium and emitting the resulting mixed liquid.

Abstract: A disposable/refillable inkjet cartridge with bubble generator and an adhesively attached bubble generator vent cover. The cartridge is filed through a bubble generator opening in the cartridge bottom eliminating a separate filling orifice and easing the priming operation. The vent cover is adhesively attached making removal for refilling easier and avoiding suspected problems related to welding flash in welded vent covers. The bubble generator includes a tapered opening which receives a ball. The ball contacts ribs extending longitudinally along a tapered portion of the opening. The ribs are spaced over an arc of the opening. A bubble forms as needed between the ball and opening to maintain back pressure. The ribs and taper produce more consistent bubble pressures. A single piece of tape over the bubble generator and printhead nozzles avoids common causes for depriming.

Abstract: A storage container for storing inkjet cartridges when removed from the carriage of a printer having caps for capping each cartridge, cleaning member for cleaning the electrically conductive interconnect pads of a cartridge as it is positioned within the storage container. The cleaning member may comprise abrasive cleaner for mechanically scraping or wiping the electrically conductive interconnect pads of the inkjet cartridge as it is inserted into and/or removed from the container and preferable comprises a flex circuit. The provision of cleaning member within a storage container reduces the chances of poor or defective electrical contact being made to a cartridge when it is returned to the printer.

Abstract: A storage container for storing inkjet cartridges, when the cartridges are removed from the carriage of the printer, having a housing for simultaneously holding a plurality of inkjet cartridges and associated capping means. Preferably the cartridge housing has a plurality of compartments each having a number of biasing means for holding a cartridge against datums in the compartment. A set of components for holding a plurality of inkjet cartridges comprising a first cartridge holder adapted to be mounted on a carriage of an inkjet printer, and a second cartridge holder adapted to be mounted in a storage container for storing inkjet cartridges. Apart from mounting adaptations, the first and second inkjet cartridge holders comprise substantially common structural features so that cartridges are stored in substantially the same manner in which they are mounted on the carriage of a printer.

Abstract: A container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge is provided with the main body of a container for storing an ink jet cartridge having a recording head unit, and an ink tank unit containing ink to be supplied to the recording head unit, a lid element for covering the inlet and outlet of the main body of the container for storing or removing the ink jet cartridge, an elastic cap member provided in the main body of the container for covering the recording head unit. This container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge comprises a rib arranged on the inner wall surface of the lid element for exerting pressure on the recording head unit of the ink jet cartridge to press it to the elastic cap member; and a recess arranged on the inner wall surface of the main body of the container in a position corresponding to the location where the elastic cap member is arranged.

Abstract: An ink jet print cartridge with a body defining an ink chamber and an air outlet. A movable inertia element is connected to the body, and a compressor element is connected to the inertia element and the air outlet. When the pen is accelerated in a selected direction, such as along the carriage path of a printer during printing, the resulting motion of the inertia element operates the compressor to pump a small amount of air from the chamber. To avoid excessive pumping, which may expel ink unintentionally after the air has been expelled, a buoyant ink level detector in the cartridge may prevent air pumping when the ink is above a preselected level.

Abstract: An ink delivery system for providing pressurized ink to an ink jet printing system. The ink delivery system includes a collapsible ink reservoir containing ink, a pressure volume for applying pressure to the collapsible ink reservoir, a gas inlet into the pressure volume, a one-way valve for allowing gas flow into the pressure volume, a pressure source for providing pressurizing gas to the gas inlet, and a relief valve for limiting the pressure of the pressurizing gas.

Abstract: A liquid ejecting head cartridge includes a liquid ejection head, the liquid ejection head including; a first liquid flow path in fluid communication with an ejection outlet; bubble generation region; second liquid flow path distributed adjacent the first liquid flow path; a movable member disposed faced to the bubble generating region and displaceable between a first position and a second position more remote from the bubble generating region than the first position; wherein the first and second liquid flow paths are capable of being supplied with different first 1 and second liquids, respectively; wherein the movable member is displaced from the first position to the second position by pressure produced by the generation of the bubble in the bubble generating portion to direct the pressure toward the ejection outlet, thus ejecting the liquid through the ejection outlet; and the cartridge further comprising: a liquid container device for supplying the liquid to the liquid ejection cartridge, wherein the liqu

Abstract: A refillable cartridge for inkjet printing devices having an ink supply off-board the cartridge carrier is characterized in that it is filled with an ink supply prior to shipment and the refill opening through which replenishment ink is supplied during printing is left open during shipment and storage. The interior of the cartridge is partitioned into a free ink reservoir, a foam-filled ink reservoir and an air buffer region. The foam-filled ink reservoir is filled with a foam material saturated with ink prior to shipment. A portion of the foam material extends into the air buffer region and is left dry. As long as the refill opening is not closed, ambient pressure is applied to the ink supply in the cartridge via the refill opening and the air buffer region. An ink passage permits ink flow in either direction between the free ink reservoir and the foam-filled ink reservoir. Either reservoir may be connected to ink capillaries in a conventional heater chip.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording by discharging ink from a plurality of recording means to a recording material comprises a plurality of ink paths which are communicated with the recording means and an exchangeable ink tank for retaining ink to be discharged. The ink paths are arranged in a given number corresponding to the number of the recording means, and further, the end portion on the ink tank side is arranged in a position facing one or plural ink supply ports of a first ink tank having ink retaining units to supply ink to such a given number of recording means. This apparatus also comprise a second ink tank having ink retaining units in a number smaller than the aforesaid given number. Here, the second ink tank is provided with means for sealing at least one end portion of the aforesaid ink paths on the ink tank side, which supply ink having colors different from that of the ink contained in the second ink tank.

Abstract: To provide a highly reliable and easy-to-manufacture ink jet head connection unit, in which ink supply paths are formed by gluing a substrate on which head component is formed to other components, that is free of ink ejection failure and ink leakage. A head component and case component 240 equipped with opening 241 on the bottom of which supply port 257 for supplying ink to head component 210 and concave area 243 to be filled with an adhesive are formed, are provided. Space 248 to be filled with an adhesive for joining head component 210 and case component 240 when case component 240 and head component 210 are coupled, is formed inside the joined case.

Abstract: A method for controlling the print heads of an ink-jet printer includes the steps of: setting a printing direction and a print head type; loading printing data; removing odd and even data bits from the loaded printing data; determining the set printing direction; transmitting odd data and then even data and latching the transmitted odd data and then latching the transmitted even data, when the determined printing direction is a first direction; transmitting the odd data and then the even data and latching the transmitted odd data and then latching the transmitted even data, when the determined printing direction is a second direction; storing the first-latched data when the head type is monochrome; storing the second-latched data when the head type is color; and generating print data according to the stored data. A circuit for achieving the method is also provided.

Abstract: A container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge is provided with the main body of a container for storing an ink jet cartridge having a recording head unit, and an ink tank unit containing ink to be supplied to the recording head unit, a lid element for covering the inlet and outlet of the main body of the container for storing or removing the ink jet cartridge, an elastic cap member provided in the main body of the container for covering the recording head unit. This container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge comprises a rib arranged on the inner wall surface of the lid element for exerting pressure on the recording head unit of the ink jet cartridge to press it to the elastic cap member; and a recess arranged on the inner wall surface of the main body of the container in a position corresponding to the location where the elastic cap member is arranged.

Abstract: The liquid cartridge 1 of the invention has a housing 25 containing a liquid. A wall 27 of the cartridge has an opening 31 for placement on a stub 11 of a print head 2. The opening 31 also has a sealing ridge 32 protruding in the direction of an axis of the opening 31 which exerts a sealing effect against a frontal surface 21 of a packing ring 17 of the print head 2. A locking shoulder 33 approximately parallel to the wall 27 in which the opening is formed is engaged with a counter shoulder 34 of the print head 2. The liquid cartridge formed according to the present invention is manufactured economically and is easily positioned in a proper position in the print head.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead is mounted on a cartridge which has an outer casing member, an inner collapsible reservoir formed by non-elastic flexible walls, and an internal spring means inside the reservoir for creating negative pressure in the collapsible reservoir during the filling and storage of ink in the collapsible reservoir as well as during the dispensing of ink from the collapsible reservoir to the printhead.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel multi-chamber ink-jet print cartridge (pen) that is formed of a main body member divided into three sections, a center section, and two side sections. Cover members are attached to this main body section to define three ink chambers. Each ink chamber contains a synthetic foam member that receives a respective one of three primary colored inks. The main body member is molded to be a single unitary part, so that the only ink-to-ink sealing interface between inks of different colors occurs at the interface between the main body member and the printhead. The main body member is formed to have a center ink pipe that extends upwardly into compressive contact with the foam member in the center chamber, and two side ink pipes that extend outwardly in a direction orthogonal to the center ink pipe into compressive contact with the foam held in the side ink chambers.

Abstract: An ink printer designed to make users free from any danger when an inktank is replaced and to prevent ink from leaking out when the inktank is detached. The joint part of an inktank is pressed against the ink guide of a print head to couple the inktank and the print head together, so that ink is supplied from the inktank to the print head. The joint part is supplied with a porous material. When the inktank is attached, the porous material is compressed and contained in the joint part. When the inktank is detached from the print head, the volume of the porous material increases thereby raising its porosity. The ink remaining in the joint part is absorbed by the porous material whose porosity has been raised, so that ink is prevented from flowing out in the vicinity of the joint part when the inktank is removed.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate ink supply located within the printer. A fluid interconnect on the print cartridge connects to a fluid interconnect on the carriage when the print cartridge is inserted into the carriage to complete the fluid connection between the external ink supply and the print cartridge. In one embodiment, the fluid interconnection is made between the print cartridge and the ink tube simply by placing the print cartridge into a stall in the scanning carriage. A pressure regulator, which may be internal or external to the print cartridge, regulates the flow of ink from the external ink supply to the print cartridge. The external ink supply may be pressurized or non-pressurized.

Abstract: A method for designing a second ink-jet cartridge characterized by a datum structure, an ink reservoir system and a printhead structure, given a first cartridge design, wherein the printhead structure of the two cartridges are different. The method uses a common datum structure and ink reservoir system for both the first and second cartridges, to save on development and tooling expenses. The cartridges differ in the shapes or configurations of the headland structures, the flexible interconnect circuits, the nozzle plates, the ink channels or the printhead substrates.

Abstract: An ink cartridge is removably attached to a serial printer. The ink cartridge has a memory device in which information on the ink cartridge is stored. The information may include information such as viscosity, temperature coefficient, the hue and brightness of color ink, various user's settings of density of a printed image and color tone of a printed color image, and identification data indicative of a kind of the ink cartridge. A controller in the printer determines whether the attached cartridge is suitable for use with the printer, by comparing the identification data read from the ink cartridge with the reference data stored in the printer. The information may also include data of a maximum count of dots that the ink cartridge is capable of printing and data of a cumulative count of printed dots that the cartridge has printed.

Abstract: An ink jet head unit according to the present invention has an ink container which includes a plurality of absorbers and enables stable ink supply and reduces running cost. A volume Z of the absorber disposed near an ink supply port satisfies 3 V<Z<10 V, where V is the sum of a volume of a liquid passage, a volume of a common liquid chamber and a volume of the ink supply passage of the recording head.

Abstract: An ink supply device includes an ink container connected to an air communication port through a porous member. The ink container is maintained at a negative pressure equivalent to the capillary force of the ink penetrated into the porous member. Since the ink container is in communication with the air through a wide area of the porous member, the ink container can be maintained at a constant negative pressure regardless of the quantity of ink consumed by the recording head.

Abstract: A main ink chamber for housing a capillary member and an intermediate ink chamber are provided, between which a first meniscus formation member is disposed. An ink guide member is in contact with the bottom face of the first meniscus formation member for supplying ink to the first meniscus formation member. The ink guide member is held by ink guide member retainers extending toward the ink guide member from a wall of a communication hole and is kept in contact with the first meniscus formation member. A larger number of the ink guide member retainers are placed on a side of the communication hole closer to a joint port than are placed on a side of the communication hole closer to the intermediate ink chamber. The placement of the ink guide member retainers guides bubbles entering the communication hole through the first meniscus formation member to the intermediate ink chamber to prevent bubbles entering the joint port and reaching the print head.

Abstract: A head cartridge for an ink-jet printer is disclosed. This head cartridge includes an ink storage inside an ink vessel body, a flexible body installed inside the ink storage to hold and deliver ink, an ink filter located on the lower portion inside the ink storage, a heating device with heating elements located under the ink filter to heat and evaporate ink in the ink storage, a nozzle having a spray hole with multiple of apertures for spraying ink particles onto the print media by vapor pressure created by the heating device and a cap attached to the top of the ink vessel by an ultrasonic bonding process. An ink filling hole for the head assembly is located on the cap of the head cartridge, and a plug assembly is mounted on an opening formed on one side of the cap. In the plug assembly, a lid for plugging the ink filling hole, a projection used for fixing the plug assembly to the cap, and a locking portion for locking the head cartridge in a carriage of the printer's main body are integrally formed.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which incorporates an ink recharge port and recharge valve as part of the handle for the print cartridge. The handle is located to be easily accessible when the print cartridge is installed in a carriage within a printer. The handle provides protection for the recharge valve structure, and the valve structure does not interfere with the insertion of the print cartridge into existing carriages.

Abstract: An ink jet printer cartridge includes a memory storage element mounted on a side surface thereof. The memory storage element stores information about ink expelled from the cartridge. The information is routed from the memory storage element to an external device, and the user may be warned when cartridge replacement is advisable.

Abstract: In an ink tank, a main ink chamber is contiguous to a sub ink chamber containing an absorption member, and an air communication hole is formed on the top of the sub ink chamber. The absorption member holds ink pressure constant by capillary attraction of the absorption member. First, ink in the sub ink chamber is consumed with consumption of ink. When ink is consumed in a predetermined amount, air passes through the absorption member and a meniscus forming portion to form bubbles, which then move to the main ink chamber. Ink pressure is held constant by surface tension of the meniscus forming portion. Even if ink remains in a small amount, the ink leading portion makes the meniscus forming portion wet for holding ink pressure.

Abstract: An ink delivery system of an inkjet printer includes a scanning carriage having an ink interconnect coupled, via a flexible tube, to an ink output of a stationary pressure regulator. An ink input of the pressure regulator is connected, via a tube, to a stationary ink supply having replaceable ink cartridges. A relatively small semi-permanent, but replaceable, or permanent print cartridge contains one or more printheads and one or more ink interconnects, one interconnect for each color ink which is printable by the print cartridge. The print cartridge is inserted in the scanning carriage so as to create a fluid coupling between the printhead and the flexible tube leading to the scanning carriage. In the preferred embodiment, the ink pressure regulator is located proximate to the rest position of the carriage to prevent drooling from the printhead should the printer be tipped to a non-level orientation.

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

Abstract: An 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: In an ink tank, there are provided a main ink chamber containing a capillary vessel member, and an intermediate ink chamber. When the ink is consumed, the ink held by capillary force of a capillary vessel member is supplied via a communication port from a joint port. The same amount of air as the amount of the consumed ink is conducted from the atmospheric communication port into the main ink chamber. The conducted ink is supplied via a groove formed in a lid to an upper surface of the capillary vessel member. As a result, the air is entered into the capillary vessel member under better condition. In a plane portion of the lid, the ink is in contact with only the capillary vessel member, and the ink remaining this portion is reduced. Thus, the ink using efficiency is increased.

Abstract: A refillable, unitary ink cartridge and carriage device including a refiner for refilling ink; guides cooperatively guiding the device along a rail; and a shaft insertion hole receiving a shaft on which the ink cartridge unit is reciprocally translated.

Abstract: A thermal ink-jet pen cartridge having a rigid external frame member is fabricated from a rigid engineering plastic and an interior frame structure is attached thereto, formed of a softer, more ductile plastic material than the engineering plastic. An ink reservoir is defined by the interior structure and a pair of flexible bag membranes formed of a plastic material impervious to the ink and compatible with the interior member material, allowing the membranes to be joined to the interior member to form a leak-proof joint. The external structure has locking features formed into an interior surface. When the interior member is injection molded to the external member, the molten material flows into and around the locking features, securing the interior member to the external member and resisting the shrinkage forces as the molten material cools. The ink reservoir is filled through a fill port passageway extending through the external frame member and the inner member.

Abstract: In a packaging for and method of storing a detachable, exchangeable type ink jet printing head to be mounted on ink jet printing device, the ink jet printing head is cleaned and vacuum dried and then contained in a containing member without ink charging until the time of its use, in order to prevent initial printing failure caused by printing ink adhesion, ink evaporation and leakage.

Abstract: A liquid container includes a substantially prism-like outer wall provided with a substantial air vent portion and having a corner formed by 3 surfaces: an inner wall having outer surfaces equivalent or similar to inside surfaces of said outer wall and a corner corresponding the corner of said outer wall, said inner wall defining a liquid accommodating portion for containing liquid therein, said inner wall further having a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid out of said liquid accommodating portion; wherein said inner wall has a thickness which decreases from a central portion of the surfaces of the prism-like shape to the corner, and said outer wall and and said inner wall are separable from each other.

Abstract: A baffle assembly for insertion into an ink supply reservoir includes a first baffle plate having a first end and a second end, wherein a first end plate is coupled to the first end of the first baffle plate and a second end plate is coupled to the second end of the first baffle plate. The first baffle plate, the first end plate, and the second end plate form an integral structure. When the baffle assembly is inserted into the ink supply reservoir, a distance, "b", between the first baffle plate and an adjacent side-wall of the ink supply reservoir satisfies the inequality relationship b<(g/a)Dm/2k, wherein "g" is the local acceleration of gravity; "a" is the acceleration experienced by the ink supply reservoir during a change in a travel direction, "Dm" is the change in an ejected ink drop mass due to a change in an ink reservoir pressure in the ink supply reservoir, and "k" is a slope of the ink drop mass versus the ink reservoir pressure.

Abstract: An ink container, such as that used in an ink jet recording apparatus, is improved to effectively suppress permeation of ambient air into ink compartments through the container walls and to permit easy refilling with ink. The ink container includes a container body which has a plurality of liquid compartments defined therein by a plurality of partition plates to accommodate the ink, and inter-compartment communicating portions through which adjacent ink compartments communicate with each other, so that successive liquid compartments are emptied one after another as the liquid is progressively consumed. The container body also has a buffer compartment which covers at least the top walls of said liquid compartments. The ink container may have a discrete segments of a porous member which are disposed only in the inter-compartment communicating portions.

Abstract: An ink-jet pen is disclosed that has a body of resilient felted polyurethane foam mounted in an ink chamber for ink retention and backpressure. A rectangular ink pipe extends from a bottom wall of the ink chamber between the walls of the ink chamber. A wire mesh filter is mounted to the ink pipe. The ink pipe and mesh filter extend into compressive contact with the foam to locally increase the capillarity of the foam. Any air that comes out of solution collects as a bubble in the rectangular ink pipe. This bubble does not block ink flow to the printhead, however, because the corners of the rectangular ink pipe provide a fluid capillary path. The bubble tends to form in a spheroid shape and does not extend into the corners of the ink pipe. In addition, rectangular filters are used, which reduces waste and expense compared to circular filters.

Abstract: A system for supplying liquid ink to a thermal ink-jet printing apparatus comprises a housing defining a single chamber having a ventilation port and an outlet port. A medium occupies at least a portion of the chamber, the medium being adapted to retain a quantity of liquid ink. A scavenger member is disposed across the outlet port, providing a capillary force greater than that of the medium.

Abstract: A device prevents ink in an ink cartridge from being supplemented more than a predetermined number of times in a printing apparatus. The device can include a head jetting stored ink on a media, an ink storing unit with rail type guides oppositely provided to both insides thereof and perpendicularly protruded, electrode terminals provided in each lower portion of both guides for sensing whether or not ink in the ink storing unit remains. A sensing actuator can be contacted to both electrode terminals while being guided by guide apertures formed in both sides thereof to move up and down. The sensing actuator can be made of a conductor, and having buoying means for moving the sensing actuator up and down along the surface of ink.

Abstract: A process is provided for forming a barrier layer over one or more extending sections of a flexible circuit and one or more bond pads of a print cartridge printhead using an encapsulant material and subsequently inspecting the print cartridge to determine if the encapsulant material has been properly placed on the print cartridge. The process involves providing an inspection mark on an orifice plate of the printhead before the barrier layer is formed. After the barrier layer has been formed, an inspection is made to determine if the barrier layer extends beyond the inspection mark and contacts a second portion of the print cartridge. If it does, then the print cartridge is unacceptable. If not, then the print cartridge is acceptable. Alternatively, the location of the barrier layer may be considered unacceptable if it contacts any portion of the inspection mark even though it may not contact the second portion of the print cartridge.

Abstract: A method for joining two materials together to form a compact leak-resistant seal, particularly suited for use in thermal inkjet print cartridge ink reservoirs. The seal employs a shrink fit to clamp the two materials together. The method includes the steps of forming the first material into a desired first shot structure, placing the first shot structure in a second shot mold, and injecting the second material into the mold under adequate pressure and at an appropriate temperature. The second material has a high degree of mold shrinkage. Upon cooling, the second material shrinks tightly onto the first shot structure to form a molded joint which keeps air out and ink in when wetted and during normal shipping, storage, and operating conditions.

Abstract: An ink refill bottle for a modified inkjet printhead cassette which has a rear wall opening through which the refill bottle may be inserted comprises a front wall connected to a rear wall by sidewalls to form an ink reservoir chamber, a foam adaptor for drawing ink from the ink chamber when called for by the printhead cassette, and an air inlet metering device for metering air into the ink chamber to replace the ink drawn from the ink chamber and for retaining the remainder of the ink in the ink chamber.

Abstract: An ink tank cartridge having ink-storing part for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head which ejects ink in droplets and being mountable to and demountable from a recording apparatus, the ink tank cartridge comprises a main body of a container constituting the ink-storing part; an ink-absorbent held in the main body of the container for storing the ink; an ink-supplying part for supplying the ink to the recording head; and an air communication part to communicate the interior of the main body of the container with the air, the air communication part having a large-diameter opening capable of opening the interior of the main body of the container to the outside and being provided with a plug member having a fine opening attachably to and detachably from the large-diameter opening.

Abstract: A recording head comprises an ink container, an energy generating device for discharging ink from the ink container, an ink discharge section corresponding to the energy generating device and a covering member that covers the ink discharge section and an atmosphere-communicating opening for the ink container, wherein when the recording head is out of recording, a small opening communicating with the atmosphere-communicating opening, or a valve member capable of opening or closing in accordance with an internal pressure change, or an internal pressure change-absorbing member capable of absorbing an internal pressure change by changing its volume is provided on said covering member at a position corresponding to the atmosphere-communicating opening.

Abstract: An ink absorbent member is prepared for holding an ink stored in an ink storing section in an ink jet cartridge. The ink absorbent member contains not more then 0.20% by weight, on the basis of the member, of a fraction of soluble matters in a liquid containing an organic polar solvent incapable of reacting with the ink absorbent member such as monohydric alcohols or alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols.

Abstract: A disposable/refillable inkjet cartridge with bubble generator and an adhesively attached bubble generator vent cover. The cartridge is filed through a bubble generator opening in the cartridge bottom eliminating a separate filling orifice and easing the priming operation. The vent cover is adhesively attached making removal for refilling easier and avoiding suspected problems related to welding flash in welded vent covers. The bubble generator includes a tapered opening which receives a ball. The ball contacts ribs extending longitudinally along a tapered portion of the opening. The ribs are spaced over an arc of the opening. A bubble forms as needed between the ball and opening to maintain back pressure. The ribs and taper produce more consistent bubble pressures. A single piece of tape over the bubble generator and printhead nozzles avoids common causes for depriming.