Ink jet recording apparatus using recording unit with ink cartridge having ink inducing element

An ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to a recording head through an ink-inlet portion of said recording head, the ink cartridge being attached to the recording head and detachable therefrom, the ink cartridge comprising:

• an ink-reserving portion having a space for storing ink;
• an ink absorbing member housed in said ink-reserving portion to hold the ink;
• an ink-supply opening portion having an opening for supplying ink from said ink-reserving portion to an ink receiving portion of the recording head;
• an ink-inducing element arranged between said ink absorbing member and said ink-supply opening portion to contact with said ink absorbing member so that the ink held by said ink absorbing member is induced toward the recording head, said ink-inducing element having a first end portion press-contacting with said ink-inlet portion when said cartridge is attached to the recording head and a second end portion press-contacting with said ink absorbing member, and being formed as a bundle of fibers in which each fiber is provided along a direction extending from said first end portion to said second end portion;
• a holding portion for holding said ink-inducing element slidably;
• and
• a restriction member for restricting movement of said ink-inducing element toward an outside of said ink cartridge to prevent said ink-inducing element from sliding to project out of said ink supply opening portion, wherein said first end portion of said ink-inducing element press-contacts with the ink-inlet portion of the recording head to slide said ink-inducing element toward said ink absorbing member to ensure that said second end portion is in press-contact with said ink absorbing member.

An ink-jet recording apparatus comprising:

• a recording unit including a recording head with a plurality of ejection ports;
• and
• an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to said recording head through an ink-inlet portion of said recording head and being attached to the recording head and detachable therefrom, said ink cartridge having an ink-reserving portion with a space for storing ink, an ink absorbing member housed in said ink-reserving portion to hold the ink, an ink supply opening portion having an opening for supplying ink from said ink-reserving portion to an ink receiving portion of the recording head, an ink inducing element arranged between said ink absorbing member and said ink-supply opening portion to contact with said ink absorbing member so that the ink held by said ink absorbing member is induced toward the recording head, said ink-inducing element having a first end portion press-contacting with said ink-inlet portion when said ink cartridge is attached to the recording head and a second end portion press-contacting with said ink absorbing member and being formed as a bundle of fibers in which each fiber is provided along a direction extending from said first end portion to said second end portion, a holding portion for holding said ink-inducing element slidably, and a restriction member for restricting movement of said ink-inducing element toward an outside of said cartridge to prevent said ink-inducing element from sliding to project out of said ink-supply opening portion, wherein said first end portion of said ink-inducing element press-contacts with the ink-inlet portion of the recording head to slide said ink-inducing element toward said ink absorbing member to ensure that said second end portion is in press-contact with said ink absorbing member.

An ink-jet recording unit comprising:

• a recording head with a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting ink;
• and
• an ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to said recording head through an ink-inlet portion of said recording head and being attached to the recording head and detachable therefrom, said ink cartridge including an ink-reserving portion with a space for storing ink, an ink absorbing member housed in said ink-reserving portion to hold the ink, an ink-supply opening portion having an opening for supplying ink from said ink-reserving portion to an ink-receiving portion of the recording head, an ink inducing element arranged between said ink absorbing member and said ink-supply opening portion to contact with said ink absorbing member so that the ink held by said ink absorbing member is induced toward the recording head, said ink-inducing element having a first end portion press-contacting with said ink-inlet portion when said ink cartridge is attached to the recording head and a second end portion press-contacting with said ink absorbing member and being formed as a bundle of fibers in which each fiber is provided along a direction extending from said first end portion to said second end portion, a holding member for holding said ink-inducing element slidably, and a restriction member for restricting movement of said ink-inducing element toward an outside of said cartridge to prevent said ink-inducing element from sliding to project out of said ink-supply opening portion, wherein said first end portion of said ink-inducing element press-contacts with the ink-inlet portion of the recording head to slide said ink-inducing element toward said ink absorbing member to ensure that said second end portion is in press-contact with said ink absorbing member.