Patent ID: 6666542
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink cartridge mounted, in use, on a head unit having an ink jet head and a mounting unit for receiving the ink cartridge, the mounting unit being formed with an engaging protrusion and an ink supply channel, the head unit being fixedly mounted on a carriage on which a locking arm formed with an engaging pawl is swingably supported for locking the ink cartridge to the head unit, the ink cartridge comprising:a bottom wall that is substantially a rectangular shape having a first side, a second side opposing the first side, a third side connecting the first side and the second side, and a fourth side opposing the third side, wherein a first engaging depression is formed in the bottom wall in a position nearer to the fourth side than the third side, the first engaging depression engaging, in use, the engaging protrusion formed in the mounting unit; a first side wall upstanding from the bottom wall along the first side; a second side wall upstanding from the bottom wall along the second side; a third side wall upstanding from the bottom wall along the third side; a fourth side wall upstanding from the bottom wall along the fourth side; a top wall opposing the bottom wall and connected to the first side wall, the second side wall, the third side wall, and the fourth side wall wherein the bottom wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the third side wall, the fourth side wall, and the top wall form a substantial box shape and define an inner space; an ink reservoir provided in the inner space for storing ink; and an ink supply port formed in the bottom wall in a position nearer to the third side than the fourth side and fluidly connected to the ink reservoir, the ink supply port engaging, in use, the ink supply channel and supplying ink in the ink reservoir to the ink channel.