Patent ID: 7334889
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An ink cartridge, comprising: a case having a bottom wall and side walls forming an ink chamber, a top end of the case being open; a first chamber defined by at least one wall formed integrally with a lower surface of the bottom wall; an air introduction opening formed in the bottom wall of the case for introducing air into the ink chamber, the air introduction opening being configured to provide direct communication between the ink chamber and the first chamber; a hollow member that is in direct communication with the air introduction opening; and a first sealing member provided in the first chamber, the first sealing member is configured to seal the air supply opening from an outside of the ink cartridge, wherein the first sealing member is a valve system comprising: wherein: the hollow member is formed integrally with and extends from the bottom wall toward the top end of the case, and an upper end of the hollow member is open; communication between an inside of the ink chamber and the outside of the ink cartridge is prevented when the valve and the valve seat of the valve system are in contact; communication between the inside of the ink chamber and the outside of the ink cartridge is allowed when the valve and the valve seat of the valve system are separated by a predetermined distance; and communication between the inside of the ink chamber and the outside of the ink cartridge is prevented by at least an end portion of the blocking member being fitted into the hollow member when the valve and the valve seat of the valve system are separated by more than the predetermined distance.