Ink tank and ink jet printer incorporating the same
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorsYukihiro Hanaoka, Koji Yamada, Hiroyuki Nakayama, Manabu Yamada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink chamber is formed with a vent port allowing atmospheric air to enter therein and an ink outlet from which ink is taken out. An optical member has an ink contact face capable of contacting with ink contained in the ink chamber. The ink contact face includes a detection face at which a remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber is optically detected in accordance with an amount of air entered into the ink chamber via the vent port. A first ink absorbing member is disposed in the vicinity of the ink contact face, and capable of absorbing the ink in the ink chamber.
Claims8
1-13. (canceled)
An ink tank, comprising:
- an ink chamber, formed with a vent port allowing atmospheric air to enter therein and an ink outlet from which ink is taken out;
- an optical member, having an ink contact face capable of contacting with ink contained in the ink chamber, the ink contact face including a detection face at which a remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber is optically detected in accordance with an amount of air entered into the ink chamber via the vent port;
- and
- an ink absorbing member, disposed so as to come in contact with a part of the ink contact face of the optical member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.