Ink cartridge

An ink cartridge, comprising:

• a housing defining a body of said cartridge;
• an ink reservoir accommodated in said housing;
• a first opening formed on said housing, said first opening communicating with said ink reservoir through a first fluid path;
• a second opening formed on said housing, said second opening communicating with said ink reservoir through a second fluid path;
• a first stop to be fitted in said first opening, said first stop having elasticity, said first stop being configured such that a hollow needle can be penetrated therethrough, a hole formed by penetration of the hollow needle being closed by the elasticity of said first stop after removal of the needle;
• a second stop to be fitted in said second opening, said second stop having elasticity, said second stop being configured such that a needle can be penetrated therethrough, a hole formed by penetration of the hollow needle being closed by the elasticity of said second stop after removal of the needle;
• a one-way valve provided between said first opening and said first fluid path, said one-way valve allowing a flow of fluid only in a direction from said ink reservoir to said first opening, the air inside said ink reservoir being evacuated through said first opening;
• a valve structure provided to a part of said second stop, said valve structure selectively opening and closing the communication between said second opening and said ink reservoir through said second fluid path.

A method of filling an ink in an ink reservoir accommodated in an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge including a housing defining a body of the cartridge, an opening being formed on the housing, the opening communicating with the ink reservoir through a fluid path, a stop to be fitted in the opening being provided, the stop having elasticity, the stop being configured such that a hollow needle can be penetrated therethrough, a hole formed by penetration of the hollow needle being closed by the elasticity of the stop after removal of the hollow needle, a valve structure being provided to a part of the stop, the valve structure selectively opening and closing the communication between the opening and the ink reservoir depending on a location of the stop,

• the method comprising:
• locating the stop at a position where the valve structure is opened;
• penetrating a hollow needle;
• supplying the ink to the ink reservoir through the hollow needle;
• removing the hollow needle from the stop;
• and
• locating the stop at a position where the valve structure is closed.