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US 7,350,909 B2Granted
Ink cartridge and inkjet printer
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsAtsuhiro Takagi, Toyonori Sasaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink cartridge includes a first detection portion positioned on the cartridge so as to be detectable by a detector of an image forming apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus and a second detection portion positioned on the cartridge so as to be detectable by the detector during installation and removal of the ink cartridge into/from the image forming apparatus. The second detection portion is positioned apart from the first detection portion toward a surface of the ink cartridge that is first inserted into the image forming apparatus during installation of the ink cartridge in the image forming apparatus. Image forming apparatuses compatible with such ink cartridges are also provided.
Claims29
An ink cartridge, comprising:
- a first detection portion positioned on the cartridge so as to be detectable by a detector of an image forming apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus;
- and
- a second detection portion positioned on the cartridge so as to be detectable by the detector during installation and removal of the ink cartridge into/from the image forming apparatus;
- wherein the second detection portion is positioned apart from the first detection portion, at least a portion of the second detection portion located beyond the first detection portion in a direction of inserting the ink cartridge into the image forming apparatus during installation of the ink cartridge in the image forming apparatus.
1 more element
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a cartridge mounting portion capable of mounting an ink cartridge including a first detection portion and a second detection portion;
- a detector capable of detecting the first detection portion when the ink cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus and detecting the second detection portion during installation and removal of the ink cartridge into/from the image forming apparatus;
- and
- a control device that calculates a residual ink amount in the ink cartridge based on detection of the first detection portion by the detector, and determines whether the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion based on whether the second detection portion is detected by the detector.
1 more element
An ink cartridge, comprising:
- an ink tank capable of containing ink;
- an ink supply passage through which ink in the ink tank can be selectively supplied to a location outside of the ink tank, the ink supply passage being capable of engaging with a connecting tube for supplying ink to a print head in an image forming apparatus when the ink cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus;
- a first protrusion provided on an outer wall of the ink cartridge, the first protrusion extending along the outer wall in a direction in which ink is supplied to a location outside of the ink tank;
- and
- a second protrusion provided on an outer wall of the ink cartridge, the second protrusion extending along the outer wall in the direction in which ink is supplied to a location outside of the ink tank, and being formed from a material that is substantially impermeable to light;
- wherein:
- at least a part of the first protrusion is positioned on the ink cartridge so as to be interposed between a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of a through-beam sensor provided in the image forming apparatus, when the ink cartridge is installed in the image forming apparatus;
- and
- at least a part of the second protrusion is positioned on the ink cartridge so as to pass between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion during installation and removal of the ink cartridge into/from the image forming apparatus.
6 more elements
An inkjet printer, comprising:
- a print head capable of ejecting ink onto a recording medium;
- and
- a cartridge mounting portion capable of mounting an ink cartridge including a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and an ink supply passage, the cartridge mounting portion including:
- a through-beam sensor having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion;
- and
- a connecting tube for supplying ink in the ink cartridge to the print head;
- wherein the cartridge mounting portion is configured so that:
- during installation of the ink cartridge in the inkjet printer, the second protrusion passes between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion before the first protrusion;
- when the cartridge is installed in the inkjet printer, at least a part of the first protrusion is interposed between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion and at least a part of the connecting tube is engaged with the ink supply passage;
- and
- during removal of the ink cartridge from the inkjet printer, the second protrusion passes between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion after the first protrusion is moved away from a position between the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion.
8 more elements
An ink cartridge, comprising:
- a cartridge body defining an ink chamber therein;
- a translucent portion provided on the cartridge body, wherein the translucent portion has an inner space formed therein and the inner space communicates with the ink chamber,
- a movable member comprising a first light shielding portion, wherein the first light shielding portion is provided within the inner space of the translucent portion and the movable member is movable in response to a change in an amount of ink in the ink chamber;
- and
- a second light shielding portion, wherein the first light shielding portion and second light shielding portion are separate members and are aligned in a first direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.