Ink cartridge
AssigneeSeiko Instruments Inc.
InventorHiroaki Kambe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink cartridge has a case in which is disposed a flexible ink bag containing ink. The ink bag has two opposed major surfaces, one of which is fixed to the case. Two regulation members are adhered to the other major surface and are spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the ink bag to define therebetween a deformable region which extends the full width of the ink bag and along which the ink bag deforms as the ink is consumed and the ink bag contracts. An ink end detection plate is adhered to the other major surface, adjacent one of the regulation members, and undergoes movement with the ink bag as it contracts to provide an indication of when the ink is nearly used up.
Claims14
An ink cartridge, comprising:
- a flat ink bag that has flexibility and has an ink supply port on one end thereof, the ink bag comprising two resin films welded together along opposed side edge portions thereof;
- an ink end detection plate adhered to the ink bag so that the ink end detection plate moves in accordance with a change of capacity of ink in the ink bag;
- a case that receives the ink bag while fixing one flat surface of the ink bag thereto so that ink can be supplied to outside from the ink supply port, the case having a recessed portion between a planar portion of the case and an inclined portion of the case;
- and
- regulation members which control deformation of the ink bag so that another flat surface of the ink bag can be deformed at a deformable position opposite the recessed portion of the case when the ink is consumed from the ink bag and the ink bag contracts, the regulation members comprising elastic film members adhered to the another surface at positions sandwiching the deformable position therebetween on the another surface of the ink bag, the regulation members extending to positions which cover the welded side edge portions of the ink bag in a lateral direction of the ink bag and being adhered the full width of the ink bag in the lateral direction thereof, one of the elastic film members being opposed to the planar portion of the case and another of the elastic film members being opposed to the inclined portion of the case.
An ink cartridge, comprising:
- a case;
- a flexible ink bag containing ink disposed in the case, the ink bag having a generally flat shape with two opposed major surfaces each having a length and a width, the two major surfaces being welded together at side edge portions thereof along the length of the ink bag, one of the two major surfaces being fixed to the case, and an ink supply port for supplying the ink to outside the ink cartridge;
- and
- two regulation members adhered to the other of the two major surfaces and spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the ink bag to define therebetween a deformable region of the ink bag which extends substantially the full width of the ink bag and along which the ink bag deforms when the ink is consumed and the ink bag contracts, the two regulation members extending widthwise the full width of the ink bag to cover the welded side edge portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.