Patent ID: 6799840
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink supply mechanism comprising:a first ink tank for storing ink; a joint portion connected to said first ink tank; a second ink tank disposed to be movable to said first ink tank; a connection portion provided in said second ink tank, and connected to said joint portion in order to make ink supply from said first ink tank possible, wherein said joint portion is movable between a connected position where said connection portion is connected thereto and a disconnected position where said connection portion is not connected thereto, in a direction intersecting with a moving direction of said second ink tank, and said joint portion is provided with a cap member for sealing a region between said connection portion and said joint portion at said connected position; wherein said joint portion comprises a joint base disposed to be able to contact with and separate from said second ink tank; a supply tube provided within the joint base so as to be movable in the same direction as that of the joint base and so that an end portion on said second ink tank side may be protruded from said joint base; a spring for urging the supply tube in the direction approaching said second ink tank; and a joint plug disposed nearer to said first ink tank than said supply tube in said joint base and having a built-in slit through which said supply tube can be inserted and drawn out, and wherein a second ink tank plug, through which said supply tube can be inserted and drawn out, for shutting off the interior of said second ink tank from the exterior, is provided at the connection portion of said second ink tank.