Abstract: A reservoir is provided for a printhead in an ink jet printing machine, the printhead having at least one printhead inlet at a rear face thereof for flow of ink from the reservoir into the printhead. The reservoir comprises a perimeter wall sealably mounted to the rear face of the printhead and defining a chamber in communication with the printhead inlet. The chamber is open at one face and the reservoir includes a resilient flexible membrane attached to the perimeter wall and covering the one face. An inlet is provided in communication with the chamber for passage of ink into the chamber. The resilient flexible membrane has an initial relaxed condition in a first state in which the reservoir is substantially full of ink, and a flexed condition in which the membrane is collapsed into the chamber.

Abstract: A liquid accommodating container in which in a use position, a port opened to the air is provided at a position that is closer to an air chamber uppermost surface and is included in a first corner portion, an air-side opening is provided at a position that is closer to an air chamber lowermost surface and is included in a second corner portion which is at a diagonal position to the first corner portion, and a liquid-side opening is provided at a position satisfying the following conditions (a) and (b), (a) a position closer to a liquid chamber lowermost surface with respect to the vertical direction in the use position and (b) a position which is included in the second corner portion that is at a position equivalent to a diagonal position to the first corner portion.

Abstract: An ink chamber for an inkjet printer is fluidically connected to the ejector die and includes an air accumulation chamber with an air vent opening and a mass movable along the air accumulation chamber toward and away from the air vent opening. A one-way valve covers the air vent opening, is outside the air accumulation chamber, and includes a flapper valve having a free end.

Abstract: An ink containment system for an inkjet cartridge, for storing ink for printing, comprises a rigid basin member and a rigid moveable plate. A flexible membrane is affixed to a surface of the basin member and to a surface of the plate forming an ink reservoir within the basin member, plate and flexible membrane. A spring-biased mechanism is disposed between the basin member and plate, for biasing the plate apart from the basin member, generating a negative pressure within the ink reservoir and the basin member remaining stationary relative to the movement of the plate. The basin member has a bowl-like configuration and the spring is seated within the reservoir in such a way that when the ink reservoir has collapsed due to depletion of ink, the flexible membrane and moveable plate are substantially flush with surfaces of the basin member.

Abstract: A method of printing using a carriage with an ink container and an ejector die mounted thereon, the ink container includes a vent hole for removing air from the ink container. Air is extracted from the ink container by moving a mass within the ink container toward the vent hole, wherein said movement of the mass toward the vent hole is generated by momentum forces arising in the mass from the back and forth movement of the carriage.

Abstract: An ink supply structure includes at least one ink cartridge, at least one dye ink chamber, and at least one pigment ink chamber. The at least one dye ink chamber is contained in the at least one ink cartridge for storing a dye ink. The at least one pigment ink chamber is contained in the at least one ink cartridge for storing a pigment ink. One of the dye ink within the dye ink chamber and the pigment ink within the pigment ink chamber is selectively supplied from the at least one ink cartridge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cartridge for ink-jet printer, comprising a cartridge body, a protective cover moving relatively to the cartridge body under pressure and a detection mechanism for cartridge and remaining ink volume, wherein the detection mechanism for cartridge and remaining ink volume includes the first and second detecting members respectively matching to the first and second sensors on the printer as well as a soft support cap set on the cartridge body and communicating to the ink storage chamber, of which the said second detecting member includes a movable lever, a fixed shaft set on the cartridge body, and a position adjustment member for the movable lever set on the protective cover. The said movable lever is connected with the rotating shaft of the cartridge body through the fixed shaft.

Abstract: A fluid cartridge for a fluid-jet precision-dispensing device includes a supply of fluid, a fluid interconnect element, and a feature. The fluid interconnect element establishes a fluid interconnection with a corresponding fluid interconnect element of a bracket upon mating of the fluid cartridge with the bracket. The fluid interconnection permits the fluid from the fluid cartridge to be supplied to the bracket. The feature is adapted to physically clear riser surfaces of the bracket upon mating of the fluid cartridge with the bracket so that the fluid cartridge properly mates with the bracket. The riser surfaces of the bracket at least substantially reduce a likelihood of damage to the corresponding fluid interconnect element by the fluid cartridge during mating of the fluid cartridge with the bracket.

Abstract: A printer includes a set cover pivotally movably provided on a carriage. The cover can be set in a closed state in which the cover presses a head of the cartridge housed in the housing portion and an open state in which the cover opens the housing portion when the cartridge is replaced. A release lever is subjected to a bias force so as to protrude from an inner wall surface of the housing portion. The release lever is movable against the bias force. The release lever comes into contact with an end of the cartridge which faces the bottom surface when the cartridge is inserted into the housing portion. The release lever contacts the rear surface of the cartridge housed in the housing portion. The bias force is stronger when the cover is in the open state than when the cover is in the closed state.

Abstract: A liquid-ejection head unit includes a head, an electric-circuit board, electronic components, and a storage tank. The head includes a frame member and ejects droplets of liquid. The electronic components are mounted on the electric-circuit board and connected to the head. The storage tank stores liquid supplied to the head. The electric-circuit board is disposed between the frame member of the head and the storage tank to form a single multi-layered structure. The electronic components of the electric-circuit board are accommodated in at least one of a first internal space defined by the frame member of the head and the electric-circuit board and a second internal space defined by the electric-circuit board and the storage tank.

Abstract: A fluid supply device, a printing device, and a method of cleaning a printing device are disclosed. A fluid supply device includes a main tank, a fluid chamber, a fluid-discharging head, a movable carriage, an expansion mechanism that expands the fluid chamber to draw fluid from the main tank, a suction mechanism, a remaining fluid detection unit, a comparison unit that compares the remaining fluid volume in the main tank with a specified value, and a setting unit that sets a cleaning mode. The expansion mechanism is actuated via a movement of the movable carriage. The setting unit sets a first cleaning mode in which a first amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle or a second cleaning mode in which a second amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle that is less than the first amount. The cleaning mode is selected in response to the amount of fluid remaining in the main tank.

Abstract: A valve 25 includes: a passage 33 having a first passage 31 which communicates an atmosphere-communicating passage 24 and outside of a cartridge body 10, and a second passage 32 which branches from the first passage; an electrode 35 provided on a wall surface forming the second passage 32; an electrode 37 provided on a wall surface of a bottom wall 11d forming the first passage 31; a driver IC 44 which applies a predetermined voltage selectively to one of these two kinds of electrodes 35, 37; an insulating film 36 provided on a surface of the electrode 35; and an insulating film 38 provided on a surface of the electrode 37. Accordingly, there is provided a valve which is capable of opening and closing a passage communicating two spaces separated from each other, which has no movable part, and which has a simple construction.

Abstract: An objective of the invention is to provide an improved ink storage apparatus and an inkjet print head including the ink storage apparatus. Furthermore, an effective elimination of the air bubbles flowed into or generated in the print head is realized by an ink storage apparatus and an inkjet print head including the ink storage apparatus.

Abstract: A method of extracting air from an inkjet printhead includes using an air extraction chamber connected to the printhead. The air extraction chamber comprises an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having open and closed positions used in venting of the air chamber. A compressible member is provided to vent a quantity of air from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve when it's compressed. The compressible member also expands so that a reduced air pressure is applied to the printhead when the one-way relief valve is in its closed position.

Abstract: A handheld device for performing an optical medical examination of a patient. The device comprises a handle; an image sensor positioned at an end of the handle; a trigger provided in the handle; an image memory for storing the image data upon activation of the trigger; a roll of print media mounted in the handle; an ink supply within a core of the roll of print media; a media transportation mechanism; a pagewidth print head extending longitudinally within the handle; a guillotine mechanism for severing a printed image from the transported print media; and a print engine controller.

Abstract: An inkjet recording head, wherein a support member being formed by at least two layers is provided between an ink supply member and a recording element substrate having a substrate, which includes discharge ports to discharge ink and an energy generating element to generate energy to discharge the ink from the discharge ports.

Abstract: A phase change ink includes an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable carrier, at least one gellant, at least one wax and at least one alkoxysilane monomer. In a method of forming an image with the ink, the phase change ink is melted, then jetted onto an image receiving substrate, wherein the phase change ink forms a gel state, and exposed to ultraviolet light to cure the curable components of the phase change ink. The alkoxysilane participates in crosslinking to form silicon-oxygen-silicon bonds, thereby producing an ink with advantageous stability and high image quality.

Abstract: A method of locating a printhead on a printer is provided in which a printhead is provided which has at least one integrated circuit having a plurality of ejection nozzles, the printhead is mounted to the printer by bringing each of a slot defined with respect to the x-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with a mesa feature of the printer, an angled surface defined with respect to the x- and y-coordinates of the printhead into cooperation with a protrusion across the slot of the printer, and a flat surface defined with respect to the z-coordinate of the printhead into cooperation with protrusion located within the slot of the printer, and the location of the nozzles with respect to the x-, y- and z-coordinates is determined from the cooperation.

Abstract: A fluid supply device, a printing device, and a method of cleaning a printing device are disclosed. A fluid supply device includes a main tank, a fluid chamber, a fluid-discharging head, a movable carriage, an expansion mechanism that expands the fluid chamber to draw fluid from the main tank, a suction mechanism, a remaining fluid detection unit, a comparison unit that compares the remaining fluid volume in the main tank with a specified value, and a setting unit that sets a cleaning mode. The expansion mechanism is actuated via a movement of the movable carriage. The setting unit sets a first cleaning mode in which a first amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle or a second cleaning mode in which a second amount of fluid is vacuumed from the nozzle that is less than the first amount. The cleaning mode is selected in response to the amount of fluid remaining in the main tank.

Abstract: An ink jet recording aqueous pigment ink contains a self-dispersing pigment, a quaternary amino acid, a non-polymeric, nonionic material having a melting point of 40° C. or more, and at least one of trialkylamine and trialkanolamine. The content of the non-polymeric, nonionic material is 3% to 15% by mass relative to the total mass of the ink jet recording aqueous pigment ink.

Abstract: A method for using a processor to process image data received from an image data source in preparation for multipass printing, comprising multitoning the image data to produce a multitoned image, using the multitone level of a pixel in the multitoned image to select a plane of a print mask, using the location of the pixel in the multitoned image to select a cell of output pixels in the selected plane of the print mask, and copying the selected cell of output pixels to corresponding locations within a print buffer.

Abstract: The present invention related to an ink-jet head, adaptive for an ink cartridge including two ink tanks, the ink-jet head includes: a nozzle board, having a plurality of nozzles; and an ink-jet chip, being used for controlling the ink-jetting and having a total area region consisting of a length and a width, wherein the total area region includes: a non-wiring region, where two ink flow channels being installed therein; and a wiring region, where an internal circuit being installed therein; wherein the internal circuit includes a plurality of ink-jet unit sets, and every ink-jet units of the plurality of ink-jet unit sets include a heater installed correspondingly to the nozzle; wherein the area of the wiring region of the ink-jet chip is less than 77% of the area of the total area region of the ink-jet chip.

Abstract: An inkjet head is provided. The inkjet head includes an ink reservoir to store ink, an ink inlet, through which the ink is introduced to the ink reservoir, an ink outlet, through which the ink in the ink reservoir is allowed to flow to the inkjet nozzle. The ink reservoir has a wall arising from a bottom of the ink reservoir to divide the ink reservoir into a plurality of ink chambers. The plurality of ink chambers include a first ink chamber and a second ink chamber. The plurality of ink chambers are in fluid communication with each other over a top edge of the wall. The wall is formed to include a through hole, which is formed in a vicinity of the bottom of the ink reservoir and allows the plurality of ink chambers to be in fluid communication with each other.

Abstract: An ink containment system for an inkjet cartridge, for storing ink for printing, comprises a rigid basin member and a rigid moveable plate. A flexible membrane is affixed to a surface of the basin member and to a surface of the plate forming an ink reservoir within the basin member, plate and flexible membrane. A spring-biased mechanism is disposed between the basin member and plate, for biasing the plate apart from the basin member, generating a negative pressure within the ink reservoir and the basin member remaining stationary relative to the movement of the plate. The basin member has a bowl-like configuration and the spring is seated within the reservoir in such a way that when the ink reservoir has collapsed due to depletion of ink, the flexible membrane and moveable plate are substantially flush with surfaces of the basin member.

Abstract: An inkjet printer includes a recording head configured to eject ink onto a recording medium, an ink tank configured to store the ink to be supplied to the recording head, the ink tank having an expandable and contractible bellows portion, and at least one deformation-preventing member configured to contact an outer surface of the bellows portion and configured to prevent the ink tank from deforming in a direction intersecting with an expanding and contracting direction in which the ink tank expands and contracts.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head comprises an element substrate made of Si having a discharge port for discharging a liquid, an energy generating element for generating an energy for allowing the liquid to be discharged from the discharge port, and a supply port for supplying the liquid to the discharge port and a liquid containing member made of a resin having a communication port communicated with the supply port, in which the element substrate and the liquid containing member are adhered with an adhesive agent. An inorganic film obtained by hardening compositions containing a silica precursor is formed on at least a surface corresponding to a portion of the liquid containing member to which the element substrate is adhered.

Abstract: An ink cartridge apparatus for continuously supplying ink is provided, including a connection device, an exposed chip socket and a filtering device on an ink cartridge main body. The connection device is for connecting to an ink bottle and the filtering device is for filtering the impurity from the ink flowing from the ink bottle into ink cartridge main body. The exposed chip socket is for the user to replace the chip more conveniently. With the ink supply mechanism of ink bottle into ink cartridge main body, the ink cartridge main body can maintain good ink quality and when the threshold set by the chip is exceeded, the replacement of the chip can be done without removing the entire ink cartridge from the printer so as to achieve the object of continuously supplying ink.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead assembly comprising an array of nozzles fed by a corresponding ink inlet. An ink chamber corresponding to the array of nozzles is fluidly connected to the ink inlet. An air extraction chamber includes an air chamber, a one-way relief valve having an open position that allows venting of the air chamber to ambient, and a closed position that does not allow venting of the air chamber to ambient. A compressible member forces air to be vented from the air chamber through the one-way relief valve in its open position. It also applies a reduced air pressure to a membrane while the one-way relief valve is in its closed position.

Abstract: A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a coloring agent and water. The coloring agent includes a dye represented by the following general formula (1). In the ink, an amount of glycerin is set so as to satisfy the following condition (A). 3.5X?5?Y1?3.

Abstract: An inkjet cartridge includes an ink absorber capable of being impregnated with ink and an ink-absorber container. The ink-absorber container includes a first housing containing a portion of the ink absorber and a second housing containing a remaining portion of the ink absorber which is not contained in the first housing. The first housing and the second housing are bonded together at bonding portions thereof. The ink absorber has a melted section at least in an area corresponding to the bonding portions, the processed section being formed by melting a surface of the ink absorber.

Abstract: A liquid storage container which is mounted on a printer ejecting a liquid includes a liquid storage chamber that stores the liquid therein, a liquid supply portion that supplies the liquid to the ejecting head, a device chamber that is provided in a pathway supplying the liquid from liquid storage chamber to the liquid supply portion and includes a device in the inner portion thereof, and an air chamber that is provided in a pathway supplying air from the outside to the liquid storage chamber according to a decrease of the liquid in the liquid storage chamber, is filled with air in the inner portion, and prevents the liquid from being leaked to the outside by trapping the liquid when the liquid flows backward from the liquid storage chamber. In addition, among walls which surround the device chamber, at least one wall is adjacent to the air chamber.

Abstract: A printer includes a set cover pivotally movably provided on a carriage. The cover can be set in a closed state in which the cover presses a head of the cartridge housed in the housing portion and an open state in which the cover opens the housing portion when the cartridge is replaced. A release lever is subjected to a bias force so as to protrude from an inner wall surface of the housing portion. The release lever is movable against the bias force. The release lever comes into contact with an end of the cartridge which faces the bottom surface when the cartridge is inserted into the housing portion. The release lever contacts the rear surface of the cartridge housed in the housing portion. The bias force is stronger when the cover is in the open state than when the cover is in the closed state.

Abstract: An imaging material supply cartridge uses a partition map to identify access modes and encryption attributes.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording by reciprocally moving a liquid discharge head includes the liquid discharge head, which includes a case, a connection terminal group including a plurality of connection terminals capable of electrically connecting to the recording apparatus and which is provided on one face of the case, a liquid discharge substrate for discharging a liquid from a discharge port according to a signal transmitted from the recording apparatus via the connection terminals, and a supporting substrate supporting the liquid discharge substrate, which is provided on another one face of the case.

Abstract: An ink status conveyance system comprises a maximum monitored ink level sensor operable with respect to an ink source for holding a supply of ink and delivering the ink to a printhead. The ink level sensor is configured to detect when an available amount of ink in the ink source corresponds to an ample ink level. A notification controller is configured to track the available amount of ink in the ink source between an ample ink level and an ink out level. The notification controller is configured to compare the user designated low ink notification set point to the available ink volume value to generate a low ink notification when the available ink volume value corresponds to the user designated low ink notification set point.

Abstract: There is provided a printing device for carrying out printing with ink supplied from L ink cartridges in which ink of the same hue is accommodated. The printing device includes a print head with a plurality of nozzle rows spaced apart in a main scanning direction, and includes a first nozzle group of L×a nozzle rows, in which the positions of the nozzles in the sub-scanning direction are mutually the same and which receive a supply of the ink from each of the L cartridges in sets of a rows, and a second nozzle group of L×b nozzle rows, in which the positions of the nozzles in the sub-scanning direction differ from those of the nozzles of the first nozzle row and which receive a supply of the ink from each of the L cartridges in sets of b rows.

Abstract: A liquid jetting apparatus includes a first liquid jetting head which has a plurality of first nozzles, a head holder to which a first liquid jetting head is fixed, a liquid cartridge which is detachably mounted on the head holder, and which supplies the first liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the first nozzles, and a head cartridge which has a second liquid jetting head having a plurality of second nozzles, and a liquid tank which supplies the second liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the second nozzles. The second liquid jetting head and the liquid tank are integrated to form the head cartridge, and the head cartridge is detachably mounted on the head holder.

Abstract: A multi-color ink tank includes certain features that properly interface with features on a printhead and carrier support structure to operatively seat the ink tank in the carrier support structure in a sealed flow communicative relationship with the printhead. These interface features are spaced apart relative to one another at distances (or dimensions) that ensure the desired seating and sealing of the ink tank in the carrier support structure and thereby the reliable supply of ink for operation of the inkjet printing system.

Abstract: A valve includes: a passage having a first passage which communicates an atmosphere-communicating passage and outside of a cartridge body, and a second passage which branches from the first passage; an electrode provided on a wall surface forming the second passage; an electrode provided on a wall surface of a bottom wall lid forming the first passage; a driver IC which applies a predetermined voltage selectively to one of these two kinds of electrodes; an insulating film provided on a surface of the electrode; and an insulating film provided on a surface of the electrode. Accordingly, there is provided a valve which is capable of opening and closing a passage communicating two spaces separated from each other, which has no movable part, and which has a simple construction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a carriage on which a head is removably mounted, a cover on the carriage configured to be movable to a first position where the head is fixed to the carriage and to a second position where the head can be removed from the carriage, and a lever configured to press the head mounted on the carriage by rotating with the cover pushed by a part of the cover when the cover is moved from the first position to the second position, wherein a rotational axis of the lever and a rotational axis of the cover are coaxial with each other.

Abstract: A sealing device is disclosed that includes a latching feature configured to facilitate latching of the sealing device to a fluid reservoir; a first region configured to seal or substantially seal a fluid-discharge port on the fluid reservoir from fluid loss when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir; and a second region configured to protect a circuit device on the fluid reservoir when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir. Accordingly, the presently disclosed sealing device provides an effective solution to not only sealing the fluid-discharge ports on the fluid reservoir, but also protecting the circuit device.

Abstract: A printer includes a set cover pivotally movably provided on a carriage. The cover can be set in a closed state in which the cover presses a head of the cartridge housed in the housing portion and an open state in which the cover opens the housing portion when the cartridge is replaced. A release lever is subjected to a bias force so as to protrude from an inner wall surface of the housing portion. The release lever is movable against the bias force. The release lever comes into contact with an end of the cartridge which faces the bottom surface when the cartridge is inserted into the housing portion. The release lever contacts the rear surface of the cartridge housed in the housing portion. The bias force is stronger when the cover is in the open state than when the cover is in the closed state.

Abstract: A pressure buffer is disposed in an ink supply path that connects an ink supply source to an ink-jet head to suppress pressure fluctuations due to vibrations created by movement of a carriage. The pressure buffer includes a chamber having an ink flow inlet through which ink flows from the ink supply source into the chamber and an ink flow outlet through which the ink flows from the chamber to the ink-jet head. A partition wall disposed within the chamber extends at least partly along a side wall of the chamber to define an ink flow path that communicates at its upper end with the chamber and at its lower end with the ink flow outlet. A through-opening is provided in the partition wall in the vicinity of the ink flow outlet and through which the ink flows between the ink flow path and the chamber to suppress pressure fluctuations in the ink flow path. Alternatively, an air pocket may be provided in the partition wall in the vicinity of the ink flow outlet to reduce presure fluctuations in the ink flow path.

Abstract: An inkjet printing cartridge capable of ejecting miniaturized ink droplets in a stable manner while avoiding the complexity of the structure and control as well as suppressing the cost rise. For this purpose, the inkjet printing cartridge is formed of a material having the permeability to liquid and gas, and the ink supply path for supplying ink to the ejection opening having a relatively small ejection amount is arranged adjacent to other ink supply paths via walls.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case having an ink chamber for storing ink, and a face that faces an exterior of the case and has a first opening formed therethrough, and a wall comprising a chamber formed therein. The wall extends from a portion of the face, and the portion surrounds the first opening. The wall supplies ink from the ink chamber to the exterior of the case via the chamber. The ink cartridge also has a cap having a second opening formed therethrough. The cap has an inner surface covering an outer surface of the wall, and a groove formed in the inner surface of the cap and extending to the second opening. The chamber is in fluid communication with the exterior of the case via the second opening.

Abstract: A cartridge is constituted by a plurality of absorbing materials for retaining liquid, an interface formed by press-contact between opposing surfaces of the absorbing materials, an introducing portion for supplying the liquid out of the absorbing materials, and a filter provided at an end portion of the introducing portion. The absorbing materials press against the filter so that an end portion of the interface reaches the filter.

Abstract: An ink jet print head manufacturing method and an ink jet print head are provided in which a shape of an adhesive that bonds a support member and a print element substrate together is controlled to maintain a high level of ink ejection performance even if the print element substrate is reduced in size. The adhesive, after being disposed between the support member and the print element substrate, is elongated and then hardened. This process allows the shape of the adhesive to be controlled, securing a sufficient ink path between an ink supply port on the support member side and an ink introducing port on the print element substrate side.

Abstract: An image writing device is provided and includes: a case including an accommodating part that accommodates a plurality of display media stacked, a entrance and exit port which is communicated with the accommodating part and through which the display media enter and exit the case, and a window through which an image on a display surface of a display medium can be externally browsed, the image being written in the display medium by applying external stimulation; a conveying part that conveys the display medium into and out of the case through the entrance and exit port; and a writing part arranged near the entrance and exit port of the case, the writing part applying the external stimulation to the display medium to write the image in the display medium when the display medium is conveyed into or out of the case by way of the conveying part.

Abstract: An inkjet recording head cartridge includes a container body configured to accommodate a plural colors of ink. The container body has a first side surface and also has a projecting part. The inkjet recording head cartridge includes a recording head unit configured to have ink supply port arrays. The recording head unit also has discharge port arrays which discharge the plural colors of ink. The container body has a first partitioning wall and second partitioning walls. The first partitioning wall is configured to partition the inside of the container body to intersect with the ink supply port arrays, to form a first ink accommodating unit which has the first side surface, and to form a space which does not have the first side surface. The second partitioning walls are in contact with the first partitioning wall and divide the space into a plurality of ink accommodating units.

Abstract: An ink status conveyance system comprises a maximum monitored ink level sensor operable with respect to an ink source for holding a supply of ink and delivering the ink to a printhead. The ink level sensor is configured to detect when an available amount of ink in the ink source corresponds to an ample ink level. A notification controller is configured to track the available amount of ink in the ink source between an ample ink level and an ink out level. A user interface is configured to enable a user to designate a low ink notification set point for the ink source at any ink level between the ample ink level and the ink out level. The notification controller is configured to compare the user designated low ink notification set point to the available ink volume value to generate a low ink notification when the available ink volume value corresponds to the user designated low ink notification set point.