Patent ID: 6070975
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet cartridge removably mountable onto a carriage of an ink jet apparatus in a mounting direction, the carriage having a contact portion, said cartridge comprising:a head housing comprising an ink jet head and a receiving portion; andan ink tank removably mounted to said receiving portion of said head housing, said ink tank for storing ink to be supplied to said ink jet head,wherein said receiving portion defines an opening which is open in a direction parallel to the mounting direction of said head housing onto the carriage, the carriage defines an opening, which is open in the direction parallel to the mounting direction, for receiving said head housing, and said ink tank is removably mountable to said receiving portion regardless of whether said head housing is mounted on the carriage,wherein said ink tank comprises first connecting portions, provided at two facing side surfaces of said ink tank and sandwiching an ink supply opening of said ink tank, for connecting said ink tank to said head housing, andwherein said head housing comprises second connecting portions removably connected with said first connecting portions of said ink tank, a contact pad electrically connectable to the contact portion of the carriage for receiving a driving signal, and a third connecting portion provided so as to face a surface of the carriage opposed to said contact pad and connectable with a fourth connecting portion of the carriage.