Patent US5488401A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5488401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink-jet recording apparatus and ink tank cartridge thereof
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1992-08-11
•
Granted: 1996-01-30
•
Expires: 2012-08-11
Abstract
Abstract An ink tank cartridge is provided removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of the ink-jet type recording apparatus body. The cartridge has a housing provided with an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of the housing and into the chamber of the housing. A porous member having ink impregnated thereon is positioned inside the chamber of the housing abutting against the ink supply port. A filter is mounted on the inner end opening of the ink supply port. The ink tank cartridge is further provided with a packing member for resiliently abutting against the outer periphery of the ink supply needle and is positioned adjacent one end of the ink supply port. The outer opening of the ink supply port is sealed with a sealing member through which the ink supply needle penetrates. A further porous member may be positioned in the ink supply port between the packing member and the filter to prevent a false ink end indication caused by air reaching an electrode of an ink end sensor positioned between the filter and the further porous member when the ink tank cartridge is removed from the recording apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiji Mochizuki
- 👤 Kazuhisa Kawakami
- 👤 Masahiro Nakamura
- 👤 Keiichi Ohshima
- 👤 Masanori Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:05
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17566; B41J2/17503; B41J2/1752; B41J2/17523; B41J2/19; B41J2002/17579
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 110
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus being removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of said ink jet type recording apparatus, said ink supply needle having at least one-throughhole to allow ink from said ink tank cartridge to pass therethrough, the ink tank cartridge comprising: a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having a first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a packing member provided within said ink supply port towards said second opening, said packing member being formed with a hole therethrough dimensioned to receive said ink supply needle and to resiliently abut against an outer periphery of said ink supply needle of said ink jet type recording apparatus, said packing member preventing the flow of ink through said ink supply port other than through said ink supply needle when said needle is positioned in said ink supply port; and a sealing member separate from said packing member positioned to seal said second opening of said ink supply port before said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle and to be penetrated by said ink supply needle when said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus being removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of said ink jet type recording apparatus, said ink supply needle having at least one-throughhole to allow ink from said ink tank cartridge to pass therethrough, the ink tank cartridge comprising: a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having a first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a packing member provided within said ink supply port towards said second opening, said packing member being formed with a hole therethrough dimensioned to receive said ink supply needle and to resiliently abut against an outer periphery of said ink supply needle of said ink jet type recording apparatus, said packing member preventing the flow of ink through said ink supply port other than through said ink supply needle when said needle is positioned in said ink supply port; and a sealing member separate from said packing member positioned to seal said second opening of said ink supply port before said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle and to be penetrated by said ink supply needle when said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, further including a filter essentially positioned at the first opening of said ink supply port so that said porous member resiliently abuts against said filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 2, wherein said ink supply port substantially extends both inwardly and outwardly from said wall of said housing so that said ink supply port partially extend into said chamber and away from said wall of said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein said packing includes at least one resilient ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein said packing includes at least one elastic sealing member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein said hole of said packing member is defined by an interior wall, said packing member including at least one elastic sealing member having a central interior groove in said interior wall for facing the ink supply needle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 3, wherein said porous member has a region facing said first opening of said ink supply port and is compressed at said region facing said first opening of said ink supply port so that pores of said porous member are smaller in said region than in other regions of said porous member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink cartridge of claim 3, wherein said at least one porous member essentially fills the chamber of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein said porous member has a region facing said first opening of said ink supply port and is compressed at said region facing said first opening of said ink supply port so that pores of said porous member are smaller near said first opening than in other regions of the chamber of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein said at least one porous member includes at least two porous members, each of said porous member having pores, the pores of the porous member positioned adjacent said first opening of said ink supply port being smaller in size than the pores of a porous member positioned away from said first opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 3, wherein said at least one porous member includes at least two porous members, each of said porous member having pores, the pores of the porous member positioned adjacent said first opening of said ink supply port being smaller in size than the pores of a porous member positioned away from said first opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, further including a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port between said first opening of ink supply port and said packing member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 12, wherein said further porous member and said at least one porous member have a capillary force, said further porous member having a capillary force which is substantially equal to that of said at least one porous member accommodated within said chamber of said housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 12, further including a step portion formed inside said ink supply port for engagment by said further porous member to limit its position relative to said first opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 12, wherein said at least one porous member and said further porous member each have pores, the at least one porous member having a region adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port, the pores of the further porous member being smaller than the pores of the region of the at least one porous member adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 12, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 7, further including a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port between said filter and said packing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 17, wherein said further porous member and said at least one porous member have a capillary force, said further porous member having a capillary force which is substantially equal to that of said at least one porous member accommodated within said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 17, wherein said at least one porous member within said chamber and said further porous member each have pores, the at least one porous member having a region adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port, the pores of the further porous member being smaller than the pores of the region of the at least one porous member adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 17, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 17, further including a step portion formed inside said ink supply port for engagment by said further porous member to limit its position relative to said first opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 2, wherein said filter includes a mesh filter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 22, wherein said filter is fuse bonded onto said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 22, wherein said mesh filter has a pore size of about 20 to 100 μm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 2, wherein said filter has a diameter of 4 mm and a thickness of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 2, wherein said filter is formed of a high polymer material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 2, wherein said filter is formed of an anti-corrosion metal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 22, wherein said mesh filter is formed of a stainless steel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein porous member is formed of a urethane foam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein said sealing member is formed of a high polymer film with at least one metal layer laminated on said high polymer film.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 1, wherein said sealing member is surrounded by a wall projecting from said second opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
295 words
An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus being removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of a recording apparatus body, said ink supply needle having at least one throughhole to allow ink to pass therethrough, the ink tank cartridge comprising: a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having a first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a packing member provided within said ink supply port towards said second opening, said packing member being formed with a hole therethrough dimensioned to receive said ink supply needle and to resiliently abut against an outer periphery of said ink supply needle of said ink-jet type recording apparatus, said packing member preventing the flow of ink through said ink supply port other than through said ink supply needle when said needle is positioned in said ink supply port; a sealing member separate from said packing member positioned to seal said second opening of said ink supply port before said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle and to be penetrated by said ink supply needle when said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle; and a stopping member provided between said packing member and said sealing member positioned and dimentioned to prevent pieces of said sealing member produced when said ink supply needle penetrates said sealing member from entering said ink supply port past said sealing member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
295 words
An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus being removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of a recording apparatus body, said ink supply needle having at least one throughhole to allow ink to pass therethrough, the ink tank cartridge comprising: a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having a first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a packing member provided within said ink supply port towards said second opening, said packing member being formed with a hole therethrough dimensioned to receive said ink supply needle and to resiliently abut against an outer periphery of said ink supply needle of said ink-jet type recording apparatus, said packing member preventing the flow of ink through said ink supply port other than through said ink supply needle when said needle is positioned in said ink supply port; a sealing member separate from said packing member positioned to seal said second opening of said ink supply port before said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle and to be penetrated by said ink supply needle when said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle; and a stopping member provided between said packing member and said sealing member positioned and dimentioned to prevent pieces of said sealing member produced when said ink supply needle penetrates said sealing member from entering said ink supply port past said sealing member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said packing member includes at least one resilient ring and said stopping member includes at least one resilient ring.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said packing member includes at least one elastic stopping member and said sealing member includes at least one resilient ring.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
78 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said stopping member and said packing member are formed by a single unitary elastic sealing member being formed with an interior wall defining a hole therethrough for receiving said ink supply needle to resiliently abut against said outer periphery of said ink supply needle, said interior wall having a circumferential groovy formed therein positioned to face the ink supply needle, when said ink supply needle is inserted in said hole.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said stopping member and said packing member are each formed by a resilient ring.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said ink supply port is formed with a passage therethrough between said first and second openings defined by a stepped wall, said stepped wall facing said second opening for positioning said stopping means and said packing means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, further including a filter essentially positioned at the first opening of said ink supply port so that said porous member resiliently abuts against said filter.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 38, wherein the ink supply port extends both inwardly and outwardly from said wall of said housing so that said ink supply port partially extends into said chamber.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
58 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 39, wherein said porous member has a region facing said first opening of said ink supply port and is compressed at said region facing said first opening of said ink supply port so that pores of said porous member are smaller in said region than in other regions of said porous member.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 39, wherein said at least one porous member essentially fills the chamber of said housing.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
58 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said porous member has a region facing said first opening of said ink supply port and is compressed at said region facing said first opening of said ink supply port so that pores of said porous member are smaller in said region than in other regions of said porous member.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said at least one porous member includes at least two porous members, each of said porous members having pores, the pores of the porous member positioned adjacent said first opening of said ink supply port being smaller in size than the pores of a porous member positioned away from said first opening.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 39, wherein said at least one porous member includes at least two porous members, each of said porous member having pores, the pores of the porous member positioned adjacent said first opening of said ink supply port being smaller in size than the pores of a porous member positioned away from said first opening.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, further including a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port between said first opening of ink supply port and said packing member.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 45, wherein said further porous member has a capillary force which is substantially the same as that of said porous member means accommodated within said chamber of said housing.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 45, further including a step portion formed inside said ink supply port for engagment by said further porous member to limit its position relative to said first opening.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
71 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 45, wherein said at least one porous member and said further porous member each have pores, the at least one porous member having a region adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port, the pores of the further porous member being smaller than the pores of the region of the at least one porous member adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 45, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 38, further including a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port between said filter and said packing mean.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 50, wherein said further porous member and said at least one porous member have a capillary force, said further porous member having a capillary force which is substantially equal to that of said at least one porous member accommodated within said housing.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
65 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 50, wherein, said porous member means and said additional porous member each have pores, the porous member means having a region adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port, the pores of the further porous member being smaller than the pores of the region of the porous member means adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 50, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 50, further including a step portion formed inside said ink supply port for engagment by said further porous member to limit its position relative to said first opening.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 40, wherein said at least one porous member and said further porous member are formed of urethane foam.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said sealing member is formed of a high polymer film with at least one metal layer laminated on said high polymer film.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 32, wherein said sealing member is surrounded by a wall projecting from said second opening of said ink supply port for protecting said sealing member and serving as a guide for needle penetration.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
290 words
An ink-jet type recording apparatus for outputting ink onto a recording medium, comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink supply needle coupled to said recording head and having at least one throughhole; and an ink tank cartridge configured for storing ink and for receiving the ink supply needle so that ink can flow from said ink tank cartridge to said recording head through said throughhole in said ink supply needle, said ink tank cartridge having a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said at least one porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a packing member provided within said ink supply port towards said second opening, said packing member being formed with a hole therethrough dimensioned to receive said ink supply needle and to resiliently abut against an outer periphery of said ink supply needle of said ink jet type recording apparatus, said packing member preventing the flow of ink through said ink supply port other than through said ink supply needle when said needle is positioned in said ink supply port; and a sealing member separate from said packing member positioned to seal said second opening of said ink supply port before said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle and to be penetrated by said ink supply needle when said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
290 words
An ink-jet type recording apparatus for outputting ink onto a recording medium, comprising: a recording head for ejecting ink; an ink supply needle coupled to said recording head and having at least one throughhole; and an ink tank cartridge configured for storing ink and for receiving the ink supply needle so that ink can flow from said ink tank cartridge to said recording head through said throughhole in said ink supply needle, said ink tank cartridge having a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said at least one porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a packing member provided within said ink supply port towards said second opening, said packing member being formed with a hole therethrough dimensioned to receive said ink supply needle and to resiliently abut against an outer periphery of said ink supply needle of said ink jet type recording apparatus, said packing member preventing the flow of ink through said ink supply port other than through said ink supply needle when said needle is positioned in said ink supply port; and a sealing member separate from said packing member positioned to seal said second opening of said ink supply port before said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle and to be penetrated by said ink supply needle when said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, further including a filter essentially positioned at the first opening of said ink supply port so that said porous member resiliently abuts against said filter.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein the ink supply port extends both inwardly into said chamber and outwardly from said wall of said housing.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said packing member includes at least one resilient ring.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said packing member includes at least one elastic sealing member.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
63 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said porous member has a region facing said first opening of said ink supply port and is compressed at said region facing said first opening of said ink supply port so that pores of said porous member are smaller in said region of facing said first opening than in other regions of the porous member.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
71 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 59, wherein said porous member has a region facing said first opening of said ink supply port and is compressed at said region facing said first opening of said ink supply port so that pores of said porous member are smaller in said region facing said first opening than in other regions of said porous member in the remainder of the chamber of said housing.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ink cartridge of claim 59, wherein said at least one porous member essentially fills the chamber of said housing.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said at least one porous member includes at least two porous members, each of said porous member having pores, said pores of the porous member positioned adjacent said first opening of said ink supply port being smaller in size than the pores of a porous member positioned away from said first opening.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 59, wherein said at least one porous member includes at least two porous members, each of said porous member having pores, said pores of the porous member positioned adjacent said first opening of said ink supply port being smaller in size than the pores of a porous member positioned away from said first opening.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, further including a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port between said first opening of ink supply port and said packing member.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
51 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 68, wherein said further porous member and said at least one porous member have a capillary force, said further porous member having a capillary force which is substantially equal to that of said at least one porous member accommodated within said chamber of said housing.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 68, further including a step portion formed inside said ink supply port for engagment by said further porous member to limit its position relative to said first opening.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 68, wherein the pores of the further porous member are smaller than the pores of the region of the at least one porous member adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 68, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 59, further including a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port between said filter and said packing member.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 73, wherein said further porous member and said at least one porous member have a capillary force, said further porous member having a capillary force which is substantially equal to that of said at least one porous member accommodated within said housing.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
72 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 73, wherein said at least one porous member and said further porous member each have pores, the at least one porous member facing a region adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port, the pores of the further porous member being smaller than the pores of the region of the at least one porous member adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port to.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 73, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 73, further including a step portion formed inside said ink supply port for engagment by said further porous member to limit its position relative to said first opening.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 59, wherein said filter includes a mesh filter.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 59, wherein said filter is fuse bonded onto said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 78, wherein said mesh filter has a pore size of about 20 to 100 μm.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 59, wherein said filter has a diameter of about 4 mm and a thickness of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 78, wherein said mesh filter is formed of a high polymer material.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 78, wherein said mesh filter is formed of an anti-corrosion metal.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 83, wherein said mesh filter is formed of a stainless steel.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 68, wherein said further porous member and said at least one porous member are formed of urethane foam.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said sealing member is formed of a high polymer film with at least one metal layer laminated on said high polymer film.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said sealing member is surrounded by a wall projecting from said second opening of said ink supply port for protecting said sealing member and serving as a guide for said needle.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
56 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said ink supply needle is formed with a wall at least in part defining said throughhole of said ink supply needle, said wall of said ink supply needle including a plurality of holes therethrough configured to permit ink to flow into said throughhole of said ink supply needle.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
51 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 88, wherein said wall of said ink supply needle is a peripheral wall, said holes being formed in said peripheral wall of said ink supply needle in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which said ink supply needle penetrates the hole in said sealing.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said ink supply needle is formed with a peripheral wall at least in part defining said throughhole of said ink supply needle, said peripheral wall including a plurality of holes at a side surface thereof configured to permit ink to flow into said throughhole of said ink supply needle.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 90, wherein said holes in said peripheral wall of said ink supply needle are dimensioned to form an ink meniscus when an ink cartridge is removed therefrom.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
83 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 89, wherein said ink tank cartridge and ink supply needle are dimensioned so that when said ink tank cartridge is mounted onto said ink supply needle a distance between where said ink supply needle makes contact with said packing member and the center of one of said holes extending through said peripheral wall closest to the end of said ink supply needle closest to said chamber of said ink tank cartridge is less than about 2.5 mm.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein an outer diameter of said ink supply needle is within a range of about 2-4 mm.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
75 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 90, further including a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port between said first opening of said ink supply port and said packing member, said ink supply needle having a tip end closest to said chamber of said ink tank cartridge, said tip end of said ink supply needle engaging into said further porous member when said ink tank cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 94, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said ink supply needle is formed of a high polymer material.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said ink supply needle is formed of an anti-corrosion metal.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said ink supply needle is formed of stainless steel.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
77 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 58, wherein said ink supply needle includes a tip end closest to said chamber of said ink tank cartridge, said ink supply needle further including a wall at least in part defining said throughholes and said tip end of said ink supply needle, said wall being formed with a plurality of holes at the tip end of said ink supply needle for communicating to said throughholes of said ink supply needle.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ink-jet recording apparatus of claim 99, wherein each of said holes in the tip end of the wall of the ink supply needle is dimensioned to form an ink meniscus when the ink supply cartridge is removed from the ink supply needle.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
192 words
An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus being removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of an ink-jet type recording apparatus, said ink supply needle having at least one throughhole to allow ink to pass therethrough, the ink tank cartridge comprising: a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having a first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one first porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said first porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port toward said first opening of said ink supply port, said ink supply needle engaging into said further porous member but not into said chamber of said housing when said cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle; and a sealing member for sealing said second opening of said ink supply port penetrated by said ink supply needle.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
192 words
An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus being removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of an ink-jet type recording apparatus, said ink supply needle having at least one throughhole to allow ink to pass therethrough, the ink tank cartridge comprising: a housing formed with a chamber therein; an ink supply port extending through and projecting from a wall of said housing, said ink supply port having a first opening directed towards said chamber of said housing and a second opening directed away from said wall of said housing; at least one first porous member accommodated in said chamber of said housing for having ink impregnated therein, said first porous member resiliently abutting against said first opening of said ink supply port; a further porous member disposed within said ink supply port toward said first opening of said ink supply port, said ink supply needle engaging into said further porous member but not into said chamber of said housing when said cartridge is mounted on said ink supply needle; and a sealing member for sealing said second opening of said ink supply port penetrated by said ink supply needle.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 101, further including an ink end sensor positioned in said ink supply port intermediate said further porous member and said first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 102, further including a filter essentially positioned at the first opening of said ink supply port so that said first porous member resiliently abuts against said filter.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
50 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 101, wherein said further porous member and said at least one first porous member have a capillary force, said further porous member having a capillary force which is substantially equal to that of said first porous member accommodated within said chamber of said housing.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
65 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 101, wherein said first porous member and said further porous member each have pores, the first porous member having a region adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port, the pores of the further porous member being smaller than the pores of said region of the first porous member adjacent the first opening of said ink supply port.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
69 words
The ink tank cartridge of claim 101, wherein said first porous member has a region facing said first opening of said ink supply port and is compressed at said region facing said first opening of said ink supply port so that pores of said first porous member are smaller in the region of said first porous member facing said first opening than in other regions of said porous member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-07-31 | 2000-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-29 | 2003-07-31 | 2004-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-29 | 2007-07-31 | 2008-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |