Ink cartridges and ink supply systems

An ink cartridge, comprising:

• an ink storing portion configured to store ink therein;
• a particular wall defining at least a portion of the ink storing portion, wherein the particular wall has a particular passage formed therethrough;
• a pipe extending from the particular wall away from the ink storing portion, wherein the pipe has an inner passage formed therethrough, and the inner passage is continuous with the particular passage, wherein the particular passage and the inner passage are configured to transmit ink from the interior of the ink storing portion to an exterior of the ink storing portion;
• and
• an absorbing member configured to absorb ink, wherein the absorbing member is positioned within the ink storing portion and adjacent to the particular passage.

An ink supply system configured to supply ink to a recording head, comprising:

• a connecting portion configured to be in fluid communication with the recording head;
• an ink cartridge comprising:
• an ink storing portion configured to store ink therein, wherein the ink storing portion comprises:
• an ink chamber configured to store a first predetermined amount of the ink therein;
• and
• a valve chamber configured to store a second predetermined amount of ink therein, which is less than the first predetermined amount of ink;
• a particular wall defining at least a portion of the valve chamber, wherein the particular wall has a particular passage formed therethrough;
• a valve body comprising:
• a moving body positioned within the valve chamber;
• and
• a pipe extending from the moving body, wherein the pipe extends from an interior of the valve chamber to an exterior of the valve chamber via the particular passage, and the pipe is configured to be removably connected to the connecting portion, wherein the pipe has an inner passage formed therethrough, and ink is supplied from the interior of the valve chamber to the connecting portion via the inner passage of the pipe when the pipe is connected to the connecting portion, wherein the pipe has an outer periphery and a further passage formed therein, and the further passage extends from the outer periphery to the inner passage, wherein the valve body is configured to move between a first position in which the particular passage is positioned between the further passage and the valve chamber, and a second position in which the further passage is positioned within the valve chamber;
• and
• a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to the moving body to position the valve body in the first position, wherein the valve body is configured to move from the first position to the second position against the biasing force when the pipe is connected to the connecting portion.

An ink supply system configured to supply ink to a recording head, comprising:

• an ink cartridge, comprising:
• an ink storing portion configured to store ink therein;
• a particular wall defining at least a portion of the ink storing portion, wherein the particular wall has a particular passage formed therethrough;
• and
• a pipe extending from the particular wall away from the ink storing portion, wherein the pipe has an inner passage formed therethrough, and the inner passage is continuous with the particular passage;
• and
• a connecting portion configured to be in fluid communication with the recording head, wherein the pipe is configured to be removably connected to the connecting portion, and the connecting portion comprises;
• a further wall defining at least a portion of a space therein, wherein the further wall has a further passage formed therethrough;
• a valve body which is positioned in the space and is configured to move between a first position in which the valve body covers the further passage and a second position in which the valve body is separated from the further passage;
• and
• a biasing member configured to apply a biasing force to the valve body to position the valve body in the first position, wherein the valve body is configured to move from the first position to the second position against the biasing force when the pipe is connected to the connecting portion to supply ink from an interior of the ink storing portion to the connecting portion.