Patent ID: 6783215
Filing Date: 2004-08-31
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink container that can be disposed halfway of an ink supply path connecting a printing head for performing printing by ejecting ink and an ink tank serving as a supply source of ink to be supplied to said printing head, comprising:an ink containing body capable of containing ink introduced thereto from said ink tank in a state in which it is in fluid communication with said ink tank, said ink containing body supplying the ink contained therein to said printing head during printing and having a part that can be displaced in the direction of increasing an internal volume thereof to introduce the ink; a housing having an inner space in which a pressure can be adjusted, said housing allowing said ink containing body to be contained in the space and allowing an increase in the internal volume thereof in accordance with the pressure adjustment; and urging means provided at said ink containing body for urging said ink containing body in the direction of increasing of the internal volume of the same to generate a negative pressure that is in equilibrium with an ability to hold meniscus formed at an ink ejecting portion of said printing head, wherein said ink containing body has a flexible structure which expands when the inner space of said housing is depressurized to increase said internal volume and which contracts when the inner space of said housing is pressurized to decrease said internal volume; and said urging means generates said negative pressure when the inner space of said housing is pressurized to decrease the internal volume of said ink containing body after the internal volume of said ink containing body is maximized as a result of depressurization of the inner space of said housing.