Patent ID: 6193364
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: B41J,F16K,G05D

Abstract:
An ink tank unit for an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:a container for supplying ink to a recording head;an ink supply chamber having an ink supply passage and a side, the ink supply chamber being in fluid communication with said recording head through the ink supply passage; anda negative pressure generating mechanism for selectively communicating said container with said ink supply chamber in response to pressure variations in said ink supply chamber due to ejection of ink from said recording head, said negative pressure generating mechanism including:a valve body mounted within said negative pressure generating mechanism;an elastically deformable valve seat mounted within said negative pressure generating mechanism and defining the side of said ink supply chamber, said valve seat having a through hole therein; anda biasing spring positioned to urge said valve body towards said valve seat for selectively maintaining said valve body and said valve seat in contact with said through hole to close said through hole, said valve seat separating from said valve body to open said through hole in response to variations in pressure within said ink chamber, said container communicating with said ink supply passage when said through hole is open.