Ink cartridge for an ink jet printer

Claim 2

An ink cartridge (20) for an ink jet printer, the ink cartridge (20) having a chamber (C) therein within which is housed an ink bag (1) containing ink, the chamber (C) having absorbent material (4) therein for absorbing waste ink characterised in that a waste ink bag (3) is disposed within the said chamber (C), the waste ink bag (3) containing the said absorbent material (4).

Claim 3

An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the absorbent material (4) is polymeric absorbent material.

Claim 4

An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that the polymeric absorbent material is selected from among a starch-based acrylic acid graft polymerization product, a polyacrylic acid salt-based polymer, a vinyl alcohol-acrylic acid salt-based polymer, a PVA-based polymer and an isobutylene-maleic anhydride polymer.

Claim 5

An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the absorbent material is dispersed in a non-woven fabric.

Claim 6

An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the amount of absorbent material (4) within the waste ink bag (3) is sufficient to absorb the whole of the ink in the ink bag (1).

Claim 7

An ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the waste ink bag (3) is provided with an air outlet (B).

Claim 8

An ink cartridge (20) for an ink jet printer, the ink cartridge (20) having therein both an ink bag (1) containing ink and absorbent material (4) for absorbing waste ink characterised in that the absorbent material (4) is polymeric absorbent material.

Claim 9

An ink cartridge (20) for an ink jet printer, the ink cartridge (20) having therein both an ink bag (1) containing ink and absorbent material (4) for absorbing waste ink characterised in that the absorbent material (4) is polymeric absorbent material.

Claim 10

An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer comprising: an ink bag (1) composed of a sheet material and filled with an ink; and a waste ink bag (3) for recovering the waste ink, said ink bag (1) and said waste ink bag (3) being housed within the same housing (10), said waste ink bag (3) accommodating a polymeric absorber (4) therein.

Claim 11

An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer comprising: an ink bag (1) composed of a sheet material and filled with an ink; and a waste ink bag (3) for recovering the waste ink, said ink bag (1) and said waste ink bag (3) being housed within the same housing (10), said waste ink bag (3) accommodating a polymeric absorber (4) therein.

Claim 12

An ink jet printer provided with an ink cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the ink cartridge (70) is connected by a first conduit (76) to a printing head (81) of the printer so as to supply ink to a nozzle or nozzles of the printing head (81), the printer having a cap (82) which may be sealed to the said head (81) so as to surround the nozzle or nozzles, and a second conduit (85) including a pump (87) by means of which the interior of the cap (82) communicates with the interior of the waste ink bag (74), the pump being operable to withdraw ink from the cap (82) and introduce it into the waste ink bag (74).