Patent ID: 6938997
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink cartridge detachably mountable on an ink-jet printing apparatus, comprising: an ink accommodating portion for holding ink; an air passage through which said ink accommodating portion communicates with the atmosphere; a valve mechanism, provided in said air passage, including an air-releasing valve member that can seal from a certain sealing direction a communication hole provided in a partition wall that separates an ink-accommodating-portion side of the ink cartridge, that is a side close to said ink accommodating portion, from an atmosphere side of the ink cartridge, that is a side close to the atmosphere, the sealing direction being from said ink-accommodating-portion side toward said atmosphere side; and a pressing member that presses said air-releasing valve member in a direction from said accommodating portion side toward the atmosphere side, wherein said air-releasing valve member comprises a pressed portion pressed by said pressing member at said ink-accommodating portion side of the ink cartridge, and said air-releasing valve member further comprises a contact portion that opens said air passage in response to an applied external force, transmitted through a part of the printing apparatus when the ink cartridge is mounted on the printing apparatus, from said atmosphere side toward said ink-accommodating-portion side.