US5051759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet cartridge and ink tank
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1990-01-10
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Granted: 1991-09-24
•
Expires: 2010-01-10
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet cartridge for ink jet printer has an ink jet unit having discharge ports for discharging an ink, an ink tank formed integrally with the ink jet unit and accommodating an ink absorption member which is impregnated with the ink to be discharged from the discharge ports, and electrodes held in contact with or inserted into the ink absorption member for the purpose of detecting the quantity of the ink remaining in the ink tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiichiro Karita
- 👤 Masami Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:53
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17566; B41J2002/17579
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
An ink jet cartridge comprising: an ink jet unit having a discharge port for discharging ink; an ink tank integral with said ink jet unit and accommodating an ink absorption member which is disposed to be impregnated with ink for discharge from said discharge port; and at least one electrode in contact with said ink absorption member for detecting the quantity of ink remaining in said ink tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
An ink jet cartridge comprising: an ink jet unit having a discharge port for discharging ink; an ink tank integral with said ink jet unit and accommodating an ink absorption member which is disposed to be impregnated with ink for discharge from said discharge port; and at least one electrode in contact with said ink absorption member for detecting the quantity of ink remaining in said ink tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink jet unit according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is in the form of a pin and is inserted into said ink absorption member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said electrode has a tabular portion which is held in pressure contact with said ink absorption member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said electrodes are provided and spaced from one another at a distance ranging between 5 mm and 30 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said electrodes are provided and spaced from one another at a distance ranging between 10 mm and 20 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said ink absorption member is a porous member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said ink absorption member is made of fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising an energy generating element disposed in an ink channel leading to the discharge port of said ink jet unit and capable of generating energy for discharging ink from said discharge port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said energy generating element includes a heat-generating resistor and element electrodes connected to said heat-generating resistor for generating heat energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said energy generating element is an electro-mechanical conversion element having a piezoelectric element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 8, wherein ink is discharged from said discharge port in a direction which is substantially the same as the direction in which ink is supplied to the portion of said ink channel where said energy generating element is disposed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 8, wherein ink is discharged from said discharge port in a direction which is different from the direction in which said ink is supplied to the portion of said ink channel where said supplied to the portion of said ink channel where said energy generating element is disposed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 12, wherein ink is discharged from said discharge port in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the direction in which ink is supplied to the portion of said ink channel where said energy generating element is disposed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said ink jet unit is of the full-line type having a plurality of said discharge ports which are arrayed to cover the width of a recording medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is in pressure contact with said ink absorption member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink jet cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said electrode is inserted into said ink absorption member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ink tank comprising: an ink absorption member disposed inside said tank to be impregnated with ink for discharge from discharge ports of an ink jet head; and at least one electrode in contact with said ink absorption member for detecting the quantity of ink remaining in said ink tank.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
An ink tank comprising: an ink absorption member disposed inside said tank to be impregnated with ink for discharge from discharge ports of an ink jet head; and at least one electrode in contact with said ink absorption member for detecting the quantity of ink remaining in said ink tank.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein said electrode is in the form of a pin and is inserted into said ink absorption member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein said electrode has a tabular portion which is held in pressure contact with said ink absorption member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of said electrodes are provided and spaced from one another at a distance ranging between 5 mm and 30 mm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of said electrodes are provided and spaced from one another at a distance ranging between 10 mm and 20 mm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein said ink absorption member is a porous member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein said ink absorption member is made of fibers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein said electrode is in pressure contact with said ink absorption member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink tank according to claim 17, wherein said electrode is inserted into said ink absorption member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
87 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink jet cartridge and a member for mounting said ink jet cartridge, said ink jet cartridge comprising: an ink jet unit having a discharge port for discharging ink; an ink tank integral with said ink jet unit and accommodating an ink absorption member which is disposed to be impregnated with ink for discharge from said discharge port; and at least one electrode in contact with said ink absorption member for detecting the quantity of ink remaining in said ink tank.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
87 words
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising an ink jet cartridge and a member for mounting said ink jet cartridge, said ink jet cartridge comprising: an ink jet unit having a discharge port for discharging ink; an ink tank integral with said ink jet unit and accommodating an ink absorption member which is disposed to be impregnated with ink for discharge from said discharge port; and at least one electrode in contact with said ink absorption member for detecting the quantity of ink remaining in said ink tank.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said electrode is in pressure contact with said ink absorption member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said electrode is inserted into said ink absorption member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-23 | 1995-03-25 | 1995-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-23 | 1999-03-25 | 1999-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-23 | 2003-03-25 | 2003-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |