Abstract:
An ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, inclues an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording images on recording medium by means of ejecting ink thereon. In particular, it relates to such an in jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink container for storing the recording ink; an ink container holder for removably holding the ink container, a carriage which removably holds the recording head, and is moved in a manner of scanning the recording medium, in terms of the relative movement between the carriage and recording medium.  
           [0002]    Conventionally, the recording apparatus, which records images on recording medium (hereinafter, it may be called “recording paper”) such as paper, fabric, plastic sheet, OHP sheet, or the like, has been proposed in the form of an apparatus capable of accommodating recording heads of various system; for example, the wire-dot system, thermal system, thermal transfer system, and ink jet system.  
           [0003]    Among such recording systems, the ink jet system is a quite non-impact system, which records images on the recording medium by means of ejecting ink from ejection orifices (nozzles) aligned on a recording element. Therefore, recording apparatuses employing this ink jet system (hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus) can record with high density at a high speed.  
           [0004]    The form of the ink jet recording apparatus is chosen to accommodate specific functions of a system in which the recording apparatus is employed, and also to match the way it is used. Generally speaking the ink jet recording apparatus comprises: a carriage for mounting the recording ink container; conveying means for conveying the recording medium; and controlling means for controlling these sections.  
           [0005]    When recording, a recording head which ejects ink droplets from a plurality of ejection orifices is moved in the direction (primary scanning direction) perpendicular to the direction (secondary scanning direction) in which the recording paper is conveyed, in a manner of serially scanning the recording medium. When not recording, that is, during the intervals between one line of the primary scanning and the following one, the recording medium is moved in the secondary scanning direction by a pitch equivalent to the recording width. Each time the recording head makes a single line of scanning run across the recording medium, a recording is made on the recording medium across a width correspondent to the number of nozzles aligned in the recording head in parallel to the secondary scanning direction.  
           [0006]    Further, the ink jet recording apparatus is inexpensive to run, and its size can be easily reduced. In addition, it can be easily used with a plurality of color inks to record color images. Lastly, it can record at a high speed. In particular, when a line-type recording apparatus employing a line-type recording head, in which a large number of ejection orifices are aligned across the entire width of the recording medium, is used, the recording speed can be increased to a higher level.  
           [0007]    Thus, the ink jet recording apparatus is used, being commercialized, as output means for information processing systems. For example, it is used as a printer as a peripheral output device for a copying machine, an electric typewriter, a word processor, a work station, and the like, or as a printer (or a portable printer) for a personal computer, a host computer, an optical disc apparatus, a video apparatus, and the like.  
           [0008]    In terms of an energy generating element for generating the energy to be used for ejecting the ink from the ejection orifices of the recording head, there are: the ink jet recording heads employing electromechanical transducers such as piezoelectric elements; those employing electromagnetic devices such as a laser that irradiates electromagnetic wave to generate the heat to be used for ejecting the ink droplets; those employing electrothermal transducers comprising heat generating resistors to be used for heating the liquid; and the like.  
           [0009]    Among the ink jet recording heads described in the foregoing, those employing the ink jet recording system that uses thermal energy to eject the ink droplets can record with high resolution, since the ejection orifices thereof can be aligned with high density. In particular, those employing the electrothermal elements as the energy generating elements enjoy several advantages in that their size can be easily reduced; they can be highly integrated, and their production cost is lower, since they can make full use of the highly advanced, reliable IC and microprocessing technologies, which have been developed in the semiconductor field.  
           [0010]    The ink container for supplying the ink to the recording head generally comprises an ink absorbing member, a container for storing this ink absorbing member, and a cover member for sealing this container.  
           [0011]    The aforementioned recording heads can be classified into two groups: a chip type head integral with the ink container, and a separate type head removably connectable to the ink container. In either type, the positional relationship between the recording head and ink container, or between a recording head cartridge comprising the recording head and ink container integral therewith, and the carriage, is an essential matter in terms of printing quality. One of the means for fixing their relationship comprises a hole, and a pin that engages into the hole, wherein the positional relationship can be accurately fixed as the hole and bin are engaged.  
           [0012]    In the case of a small ink jet recording apparatus, a mechanism comprising a lever or the like, which is operated for moving the ink container or recording head cartridge in various directions, has been employed as a mechanism for fixing the aforementioned positional relationship between the recording head and ink container, or between the recording head cartridge and carriage, so that the installation or removal thereof requires a smaller space than otherwise.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The aforementioned mechanism, which moves the ink container or recording head cartridge in various directions during installation or removal thereof, requires only a small space for the installation or removal, and therefore, contributes to the size reduction of the ink jet recording apparatus. However, its operation for installing or removing the ink container or recording head is relatively complicated. Therefore, it is important to obtain a structure which is small, simple to operate, trouble free during the installing or removing operation, and also does not reduce accuracy in the positional relationship.  
           [0014]    Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide: an ink container, an ink container holder, and a carriage, which have a simple structure, and can simplifying the operation for mounting or removing the ink container, without reducing the positioning accuracy, and the sizes of which can be easily reduced; and an ink jet recording apparatus comprising such a carriage.  
           [0015]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink container which is capable of effectively utilizing the available internal space for storing the ink, has a simple structure, can be mounted or removed through a simple operation, and which is more reliable and durable, and the size of which can be further reduced; and an ink jet recording apparatus comprising such an ink container and a holder for such an ink container.  
           [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an ink container structure that improves the ink supplying capacity while allowing the ink container size to be reduced.  
           [0017]    From a different point of view, the object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of improving operational properties.  
           [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective member which makes it possible to protect more reliably the ink container produced in accordance with the present invention, while it is sold or stored.  
           [0019]    The present invention was made based on the discovery that the internal structure of the ink container affected the long term usage of the ink container, in terms of the ink supplying performance of a small ink container. Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide an internal structure for an ink container which can stabilize the ink supply performance.  
           [0020]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive ink container by means of simplifying the external configuration of the small ink container, and a method for reliably mounting such an ink container into the holder.  
           [0021]    Another object of the present invention is to solve the problems that occur when an ink container, the ink supply port of which is fitted with a unidirectional ink supplying member, is mounted; in particular, when such an ink container is mounted through a rotary motion.  
           [0022]    The present invention was made in consideration of the discovery that the ink container failed to be reliably mounted depending on acting point. Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a structure and/or method, which is effective for mounting the ink container, in particular, when at least the width or length of the ink container is more than the thickness (height) thereof.  
           [0023]    The present invention is an invention capable of accomplishing at least one of the aforementioned objects, and effectively solves various shortcomings of the ink container, which have not been recognized.  
           [0024]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head to which the ink container is detachably mountable, comprising: an ink supply port for supplying the ink to the ink jet head; a air vent for fluid communication with ambience; a claw-like projection provided on a first side of the ink container; a latching lever provided on a second side opposite from the ink container, the latching lever being resiliently supported on the ink container and having a latching claw.  
           [0025]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink container holder for holding an ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head, comprising: an opening or receiving the ink container; an ink receiving tube for receiving the ink from the ink container; a first internal wall having a first engaging hole for engagement with a claw-like projection of the ink container; a second internal wall having a second engaging hole for engagement with a latching claw of a latching lever of the ink container; and a projected portion for covering a part of the opening.  
           [0026]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink container holder for holding an ink container for containing ink to be supplied to an ink jet head with which the ink container is integral, the ink container holder is detachably mountable to a carriage reciprocally movable, comprising: the improvement residing in that an operating portion from mounting and demounting of the ink container and an operating portion for mounting and demounting thereof relative to the carriage, are provided in a same side relative to a movement direction of the carriage.  
           [0027]    According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reciprocable carriage for an ink jet apparatus, comprising: a mounting portion for mounting an ink container holder; a positioning portion, on a first side, for positioning the ink container; an electric contact for electric connection with head contacts of an ink jet head mounted to the ink container; a guiding member, resiliently supported on a second side, for engagement with an engaging portion of the ink container holder.  
           [0028]    The protective member in accordance with the present invention is a protective member for protecting an ink container, the bottom surface of which is provided with a delivery port for delivering the recording ink stored within the ink container, and one of the surfaces of the protective member is provided with a projection which is inserted into a recess of the holder into which the ink container is mounted; wherein the ink container is mounted into, or released from, the holder by means of engaging the latching claw of an elastic, operational latch lever, which is disposed on the container, on the surface opposite to the surface on which the projection is disposed, with the engagement portion of the holder, or disengaging them. It is characterized by comprising: a protective portion for covering, with no contact, the elastic, operational latch lever, on which the aforementioned latching claw is disposed; a bottom portion on which an absorbent member or a cap for sealing the peripheries of the aforementioned delivery port; a recess for accommodating the projection; and an engagement portion which engages with the upper corner of the ink container, on the side of the aforementioned elastic, operational latch lever. Therefore, the present invention can offer reliable, effective, and comprehensive protection for the ink container, by means of protecting and/or using the projection member of the ink container.  
           [0029]    From the standpoint of the operational improvement accomplished by the present invention, the present invention is characterized by the provision of a first ink container and a second ink container, which are integral with a color recording head which records image by means of ejecting the ink onto the recording medium; are removably mountable on the carriage, which is reciprocated along the surface of the aforementioned recording medium in order to scan the recording medium by the recording head; and can be held in the ink container holder capable of holding a plurality of ink containers correspondent to the number of the recording heads. It is also characterized in that the first and second ink containers are marked with first and second colors, respectively, and the corresponding ink container retaining portions of the ink container holder are marked with the first and second colors, respectively. With the provision of the above described structure and/or color marks, it is possible to eliminate ink container installation error as well as other operational errors.  
           [0030]    As seen from the standpoint of the operational improvement of the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink jet recording apparatus in accordance with the present invention, which records images by means of ejecting the ink onto the recording medium, is characterized by comprising: a reciprocatively supported carriage; a holder, which is integral with the ink jet recording head, and is mountable on the carriage; and ink containers, the bottom surface of which is provided with a delivery port for delivering the recording ink stored in the ink container, and which is mounted into, or demounted from, the holder by means of engaging the latching claw with the engagement portion of the holder in which the ink container is mounted; wherein the colors of the ink containers are different from each other. It is preferred that thee colors resemble the color of the carriage integrated with the apparatus, and the colors of the removably mountable ink containers are brighter than the carriage. Such a color scheme offers various advantages as will be described in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 27, in particular, when the mounting or demounting operation involves limited portions of the carriage or holder, since the structure involves in mounting or demounting of the ink containers can be easily recognized by the colors, making it easier to mount or demount the containers.  
           [0031]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, which is in a case.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head guide of the carriage illustrated in FIG. 3, and its peripheries.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a monochrome recording head mountable in the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, being connected with the ink container, and oriented to show the head terminal.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the monochrome recording head cartridge mountable in the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, being connected with the ink container, and oriented to show the side opposite to the side where the head terminal is located.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the bottom of the monochrome recording head cartridge mountable in the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the nozzle portion of the recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 7.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 9 is a perspective view depicting the first step for mounting the recording head cartridge into the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 10 is a perspective view depicting the second step for mounting the recording head cartridge into the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11 is a plan view of the recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 5.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 11, at a sectional line A-A.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 13 is a plan view of an ink container mountable in the recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 5.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the ink container illustrated in FIG. 13, at a sectional line B-B.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 15 is a sectional view depicting how the ink delivery port of the ink container illustrated in FIG. 14 is connected to a mono-color holder.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 16 is a perspective view depicting the first step for mounting the ink container into the recording head cartridge.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 17 is a perspective view depicting the second step for mounting the ink container into the recording head cartridge.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 18 is a sectional view of an example of a recording head cartridge at a sectional line equivalent to sectional line A&#39;-A&#39; drawn across the recording head cartridge in FIG. 11, wherein the mono-color holder of this head cartridge has a pop-up spring on its bottom wall.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the carriage illustrated in FIG. 3, and the recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the cartridge is on the carriage.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 20 is a perspective view depicting the color recording head cartridge mountable in the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, together with two ink containers to be welded to this cartridge.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 21 is a plan view of the bottom of the color recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 20.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 22 is a plan view of the color recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 20, wherein two ink containers are in the cartridge.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 23 is a sectional view of FIG. 22, at a sectional line D-D.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 24 is a sectional view of FIG. 22, at a sectional line E-E.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 25 is a plan view of the bottom of the color ink container illustrated in FIG. 20.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 26 is a side view of the color ink container illustrated in FIG. 20.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the carriage illustrated in FIG. 3, and the color recording head cartridge illustrated in FIG. 22, wherein the cartridge is on the carriage.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 28( a ) is a perspective view of a container holder  60 , which is integral with black-dedicated recording head BHD, and holds only the black ink container  30 ; and FIG. 28( b ) is a perspective view of a container holder  160 , which is integral with a black-color recording head BCHD, and holds a black ink container  130  and a color ink container  140 .  
         [0060]    FIGS.  29 ( a ) and  29 ( b ) are top and bottom views of the container holders  60  and  160 , respectively.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 30( a ) is a perspective view of the black ink container  30 , mainly showing the bottom thereof; FIG. 30( b ), a perspective view of the black ink container  130 , mainly showing the bottom thereof; and FIG. 30( c ) is a perspective view of the color ink container  140 , mainly showing the bottom thereof.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 31( a ) is a perspective view depicting the operation for removing the black ink container  130  as well as the protective member  200 ; FIG. 31( b ), a perspective view depicting the operation for removing the color ink container  140  as well as the protective member  201 ; and FIG. 31( c ) is a sectional view of the partial structure of the protective member.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 32( a, b, c, d, e  and  f ) are drawings of an embodiment of the black ink container  30 , which give a left side view (a), a top view (b), a front view (c), a right side view (d), a further reduced projection (e) of the top view (b), the absorbing member having been removed, and a further reduced sectional view (f) at a sectional plane that includes the center line of the unidirectional ink delivery member, wherein the container measurement has been accurately (proportionally) reduced, and FIGS.  32 ( a, c  and  d ) are triangularly arranged around FIG. 23( b ).  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 33( a, b, c, d, e, f  and  g ) are drawings of an embodiment of the black ink container  130 : a left side view (a), a top view (b), a front view (c), a right side view (d),a bottom view (e), a sectional view (f) at a sectional plane that includes the center line of the unidirectional ink delivery member illustrated in (c), and a projection (g) of the top view (b), the absorbing member having been removed, wherein the container measurement has been accurately (proportionally) reduced, and drawings (a, d, c and e) are triangularly arranged around the drawing (b).  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 34( a, b, c, d, e  and  f ) are drawings of an embodiment of the color ink container  160 : a left side view (a), a top view (b), a front view (c), a right side view (d), a bottom view (e), and a sectional view (f) of the front view (c) at a sectional plane that includes the center line of the unidirectional ink delivery member illustrated in (c), wherein the container measurement has been accurately (proportionally) reduced, and drawings (a, d, c and e) are triangularly arranged around the top view (b).  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 35 is an enlarged projection of FIG. 34( c ), that is, the top view, in which the absorbing member has been removed.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 36 is a conceptual drawing depicting the relationship among the various measurements of the ink container, which contributes to increase the ink delivery efficiency.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the structure of the ink jet recording apparatus carriage, on which the container holders  60  and  160  illustrated in FIG. 28 are mounted.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 38 is a top view of the protective member  200  of the black ink container  130 .  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 39 is a drawing of the packaged protective member  200  containing the black ink container  130 , wherein (a) is a drawing as seen from the direction of an arrow mark A in FIG. 38, and (b) is a drawing as seen from the direction of an arrow mark B in the drawing (a).  
         [0071]    [0071]FIG. 40 is a top view of the protective member  201  of the color ink container  140 .  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 41 is a drawing of the packaged protective member  201  containing the color ink container  140 , wherein (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 42 is a drawing of the protective member  400  of the black ink container  300 , wherein (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view.  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 43 is a drawing of the packaged protective member  400  containing the black ink container  30 , wherein (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 44 is a detailed drawing of the protective member  400  illustrated in FIGS. 42 and 43, wherein(a) is a partial sectional view; (b), an enlarged, partial view; and (c) is a partial sectional view depicting how the protective member  400  is engaged with the ink container.  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 45 is an explanatory drawing describing the first aspect of the present invention h≦H≦4 h.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 46 is an explanatory drawing describing the fifth aspect of the present invention: the movement is no less than 0.1 mm and no more than 0.5 mm.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 47 is an explanatory drawing describing the third aspect of the present invention: 0.3 mm≦α≦0.8 mm.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 48 is an explanatory drawing describing the fourth aspect of the present invention: 40 gf/mm 2 ≦N≦80 gf/mm 2 , wherein N is a contact pressure.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 49 is an explanatory drawing describing the second aspect of the present invention: the distance is no more than 10 mm.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 50 is a sectional view of the modification of the ink container holder and ink container.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 51 is a sectional view of further modification of the ink container holder and ink container.  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 52 is a sectional view of further modification of the ink container holder and ink container.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 53 is a sectional view of further modification of the ink container holder and ink container.  
         [0085]    [0085]FIG. 54 is a sectional view of further modification of the ink container holder and ink container.  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 55 is a sectional view of further modification of the ink container holder and ink container.  
         [0087]    [0087]FIG. 56 is a perspective view of a modification of the ink container.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 57 is a perspective view of another modification of the ink container.  
         [0089]    [0089]FIG. 58 is a perspective view of another modification of the ink container.  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 59 is a perspective view of another modification of the ink container.  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 60 is a plan view of another modification of the ink container.  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 61 is a sectional view of the ink container illustrated in FIG. 60, at a sectional line B-B.  
         [0093]    [0093]FIG. 62 is a sectional view of the ink container and mono-color holder, wherein the container is in the holder.  
         [0094]    [0094]FIG. 63 is a sectional view of the ink container and mono-color holder, wherein the latch claw of the ink container is off the holder.  
         [0095]    [0095]FIG. 64 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the ink container in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 65 is a sectional view of the ink container illustrated in FIG. 64.  
         [0097]    [0097]FIG. 66 is en enlarged perspective view,of the latch lever knob in the third embodiment of the ink container in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0098]    Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.  
         [0099]    [0099]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus in accordance with the present invention. In the drawing, a recording head cartridge  1  is removably mounted on a carriage  2 , which is supported on a guide shaft  5  and a guide rail  12 . The guide shaft  5  and guide rail  12  are fixed to a frame  4  at both ends, in parallel to each other, and the carriage  2  is slidable on these shafts  5  and  12  in the direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which recording medium P is conveyed, and also is parallel to the surface of recording medium P. A carriage  2  is connected to a part of a carriage driving belt  11  which is stretched around a drive pulley  13  and a rotatively supported follower pulley (unillustrated). A driver pulley  13  is fixed to the output shaft of a carriage drive motor  10 . As the carriage driver motor  10  is driven, the carriage driver belt  11  is rotated, reciprocating the carriage in the aforementioned direction.  
         [0100]    The recording head cartridge  1  is constituted of an ink container holder comprising: a nozzle portion  50  (FIG. 5) as a recording head for ejecting the ink in response to a recording signal, that is, an electric signal for ejecting the ink; and a mono-color holder  60  (FIG. 5) which removably holds the ink container  30  for storing the ink. The nozzle portion  50  is located at the bottom (bottom end portion of the drawing) of the recording head cartridge  1 , from which the ink is ejected downward of the drawing. The recording signal is sent from a controller circuit to the nozzle portion, through a flexible cable  3  provided on the carriage  2 . The controller circuit controls the operation of this ink jet recording apparatus. The flexible cable  3  is disposed in parallel to the moving direction of the carriage  2 , and forms a loop as the carriage moves. The recording head cartridge  1  and carriage  2  will be described in detail at a later time.  
         [0101]    The recording medium P is mounted on a pressure plate  8  rotatively supported on the frame  4  at both ends. The pressure plate  8  is under a pressure directed toward a pickup roller  9  by a pressing means (unillustrated). The recording medium P placed on the pressure plate  8  is pressed upon the pickup roller  9 . As the pickup roller  9  is rotated in response to a sheet feed command, the recording medium P is fed out by the friction that occurs between the pickup roller  9  and recording medium P. The pressure plate  8  has separating means (unillustrated) such as a separating claw, which is employed in a conventional automatic sheet feeding apparatus; therefore, only a single recording medium P, that is, the topmost sheet, is fed out by the function of this separating means.  
         [0102]    The recording medium P having been fed out by the pickup roller  9  is fed downward of the carriage  2 , being held between a conveyer roller  6 , which is supported by the frame  4  at both ends, and a pinch roller  7  provided on a base  14 . The recording is made on the recording medium P positioned in this manner. On the further downward side of the carriage  2 , relative to the direction in which the recording medium P is conveyed, a sheet discharger roller  15  and a spur  16  are disposed, opposing each other, and the recording medium P having passed underneath the carriage  2  is held between the sheet discharger roller  15  and spur  16 , and is subsequently discharged. The pickup roller  9 , conveyer roller  6 , and sheet discharger roller  15  are driven by a sheet feeder motor (unillustrated).  
         [0103]    Hereinafter, the upstream side, relative to the recording medium P conveying direction, will be called a rear side, and the surface on the rear side will be called a back surface; the downstream side will be called a front side, the surface thereof being a front surface.  
         [0104]    [0104]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the apparatus is placed in a case. Referring to FIG. 2, the outer shell is constituted of a bottom case  18  and a top case  17 , and the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is placed in the shell.  
         [0105]    At the rear side portion of the top case, a top cover  19  for covering the top case is attached. This top cover  19  can be freely opened or closed. The top case  17  has an opening which is located adjacent to the pressure plate  8 , and the opened top cover  19  serves as a tray to be used for setting the recording medium P on the pressure plate  8 . The top case  17  has another opening which extends from its central portion to the front surface, and from this opening, the recording head cartridge  1  or the ink container  30  can be mounted or dismounted. Therefore, when the recording head cartridge  1  or the ink container  30  is replaced, the carriage  2  is moved to the central point of its moving range through a predetermined operation. On the front side of this opening for exchanging the recording head cartridge  1  or ink container  30 , a head cover  20  is attached, which covers a part of the top portion of this opening, and constitutes a portion of the front surface. This head cover  20  is also freely opened or closed, but, when the recording head cartridge  1  or ink container  30  is not exchanged, it is left closed to protect the recording head cartridge.  
         [0106]    Next, referring to FIG. 3, the carriage  2  will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carriage  2  of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0107]    Generally, the carriage  2  has a configuration like a frame, and in its void, the recording head cartridge  1  (FIG. 1) is mounted. On the back surface of the carriage  2 , two bearings  2   a  are integrally attached, through which a guide shaft  5  is put. On the front surface of the carriage  2 , two guide rail holders  2   b  as holding means, and a stopper  2   c  for preventing the carriage deformation, are integrally mounted. The guide rail holders  2   b  are located on the side of a cable retainer  21 , and the carriage deformation preventing stopper  2   c  is located on the side of a head guide  22 . The guide rail holder  2   b  and carriage deformation preventing stopper  2   c  are disposed a predetermined distance away from each other, and are constituted of two members, which hold a guide rail  12  in the form of plate, and vertically project. As is evident from the above description, the carriage  2  is supported by two bearings  2   a , the guide rail holder  2   b , and the carriage deformation preventing stopper  2   c . With this arrangement, the carriage  2  is supported in parallel to the base  14  (FIG. 1), so that the distance between the nozzle portion  50  (FIG. 5) of the recording head cartridge  1  mounted on the carriage  2 , and the recording medium P (FIG. 1), can be kept substantially stable.  
         [0108]    However, the distance between the two members constituting the carriage deformation preventing stopper  2   c  is rendered larger than the distance between the two members constituting the guide rail holder  2   b ; therefore in practical terms, the carriage  2  is supported at three points excluding the carriage deformation preventing stopper  2   c . This is due to the following factor. In consideration of the load applied by the sliding carriage  2 , three supporting points, which are not in a straight line, are enough to support the carriage  2  in parallel to the base  4 . Further, the provision of the carriage deformation preventing stopper  2   c  is for preventing the carriage  2  from being unnecessarily displaced or deformed by the load added to the guide rail holder  2   b  and bearings  2   a  when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on, or removed from, the carriage  2 , so that operational troubles can be avoided. The reasons for disposing the carriage deformation preventing stopper  2   c  on the head guide  22  side is that, when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on, or removed from, the carriage  2 , a certain amount of force is applied to this head guide  22 .  
         [0109]    The flexible cable  3  is routed through a predetermined path, and a cable terminal  3   a  attached to its end is fixed to the carriage  2 , on the inner side of the right wall in the drawing. The cable terminal  3   a  comes in contact with the head terminal  53  of the recording head cartridge  1 , establishing thereby an electrical connection for the recording head cartridge  1 , when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 .  
         [0110]    The cable retainer  21  is constituted of a bent plate member of electrically conductive material such as stainless steel. The top end constitutes a cover portion  21   a  extending further inward of the carriage  2  than the cable terminal  3   a . Also, a part of the cable retainer  21  is in contact with the CND pattern of the flexible cable  3 . In other words, the cable retainer  21  is grounded through the flexible cable  3 . This arrangement is made so that the static electricity carried on the fingers or the like-of the operator, the static electricity accumulated on the recording head cartridge  1 , and the like, can be discharged to the GND, through the cable retainer  21 , when an operator mounts the recording head cartridge  1  on the carriage  2 , or removes it. With this arrangement, the aforementioned static electricity or the like is prevented from being discharging to the cable terminal  3   a , preventing thereby the damage to the control circuit of this ink jet recording apparatus.  
         [0111]    Since a portion of the cable retainer  21  constitutes the cover portion  21   a , the able terminal  3   a  comes under the cover portion  21   a ; therefore, it becomes unlikely for the fingers or the like of the operator to touch the cable terminal  3   a . As a result, it becomes easier for the aforementioned static electricity or the like to be discharged to the cable retainer  21 , and in addition, the cable terminal  3   a  itself can be protected by the cover portion  21   a.    
         [0112]    On the carriage  2  surface on which the cable terminal  3   a  is located, two projection is  2   d  and  2   e  for positioning the head are integrally formed. The head positioning projection  2   d  is in the form of a square piller, and is located on the rear side of the cable terminal  3   a . The other positioning projection  2   e  is in the form of a cylinder with a conic tip, and is located on the front side of the cable terminal  3   a . When the recording head cartridge  1  is on the carriage  2 , the head positioning projection  2   d  is in the head positioning notch  53   a  (FIG. 5) of the recording head cartridge  1 , and the other head positioning projection  2   e  is in the head positioning hole  53   b  (FIG. 5) of the recording head cartridge  1 , whereby the position of the recording head cartridge  1  on the carriage  2  is accurately fixed. As is evident from the above description, the head positioning projections  2   d  and  2   c  constitute the head positioning means of the carriage  2 , and the head positioning notch  53   a  and head positioning hole  53   b  constitute the head positioning means of the recording head cartridge  1 .  
         [0113]    Also on the carriage  2 , a contact spring  23  is disposed at a location facing the cable terminal  3   a , and the head guide  22  formed of resin material is fixed to one end of the contact spring  23 . In other words the head guide  22  is elastically supported on the carriage  2 . When the recording head cartridge  1  is on the carriage  2 , the head guide  22  is in the head pressing portion  60   b  (FIG. 6) of the recording head cartridge  1 , and presses the recording head cartridge  1  toward the cable terminal  3   a  due to the force from the contact spring  23 , as will be described later. The cable terminal  3   a  and head guide  22  are positioned to face directly to each other, so that the contact between the cable terminal  3   a  and head terminal  35  is guaranteed. Further, the head guide  22  plays the role of a guide when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 .  
         [0114]    Referring to FIG. 4, in this embodiment, a torsional coil spring of the double torsion type is employed as the contact spring  23 , and two portions of the coil are supported by a supporting rod integrally formed on the carriage  2 . A metallic shaft  24 , which is supported on the carriage  2  at both ends, it held between the two end portions extending from each coiled portion. With this arrangement, the load imparted on the carriage  2  when a load is imparted to the contact spring  23  is dispersed to prevent the carriage  2  deformation. The pressure applied to the recording head cartridge  1  is set at approximately 2 kfg, so that, when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 , the cable terminal  3   a  and head terminal  53  are reliably placed in contact with each other.  
         [0115]    As described above, a portion of the cable retainer  21  constitutes the cover portion  21   a , and the head guide  22  is located at the point directly facing the cable terminal  3   a ; therefore, when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 , the carriage  2  surface on the head terminal  53  side is placed under the cover portion  21   a , and the recording head cartridge  1  is rotated about the edge of the cover portion  21   a . As a result, it requires only a small space to mount the recording head cartridge  1  on the carriage  2 , with the cover portion  21   a  serving as a guide.  
         [0116]    Further, the cover portion  21   a  extends over the cable terminal  3   a ; therefore, if an attempt is made to amount the recording head cartridge  1  without placing the head terminal  35  side of the recording head cartridge  1 , under the cover portion  21   a , the base plate  51  or the like of the recording head cartridge  1  touches the cover portion  21   a  before it comes in contact with the cable terminal  3   a , preventing thereby the recording head cartridge  1  from damaging the cable terminal  3   a.    
         [0117]    Next, the recording head cartridge  1  will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the recording head cartridge  1  of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, as seen from the direction from which the head terminal  53  can be seen. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the recording head cartridge  1  of the in jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, as seen from the direction from which the recording head cartridge  1  surface, opposite to the head terminal  35 , can be seen. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the recording head cartridge  1  of the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the essential portions of the nozzle portion  50  of the recording head cartridge  1 , illustrated in FIG. 7.  
         [0118]    This recording head cartridge  1  is a cartridge for monochrome printing. Referring to FIGS.  5 - 7 , it integrally comprises the nozzle portion  50  for ejecting the ink, and the mono-color holder  60 . The mono-color holder is a box shaped holder, and its top surface has an opening. In the internal space of the mono-color holder  60 , the ink container  30  containing monochromatic ink is removably mounted.  
         [0119]    Referring to FIG. 8, an enlarged drawing, the nozzle portion  50  comprises a base plate  51  formed of metallic material such aluminum, and a grooved member  52 . The grooved member has various grooves for forming a plurality of liquid passages  50   d  and a common liquid chamber  50   c  and is fixed to the base plate. On the ejection orifice surface  50   a  of the nozzle portion  50 , which faces the recording medium P (FIG. 1), a plurality of ejection orifices  50   b  are formed, constituting the opening ends of the plurality of ink passages  50   d . On the base plate  51 , electrothermal transducers (heat generating resistors or the like) for generating the energy to be used for ejecting the ink are disposed in correspondence to the aforementioned plurality of ink passages  50   d , which are arranged at a predetermined pitch. The common liquid chamber  50   c  is connected to the ink container (FIG. 5), and the ink is supplied to the common liquid chamber  50   c  from the ink container  30 . Each electrothermal transducer  50   e  is electrically connected to the head terminal  53  through wiring (unillustrated).  
         [0120]    The head terminal  53  is constituted of a piece of electrical substrate such as glass epoxy resin fixed to the base plate, and the wiring connected to the electrothermal transducer  50   e  is also connected to the head terminal  53  using the wire bonding means. Referring to FIG. 7, the base plate  51  is tilted one to four degrees, relative to the recording medium P conveying direction; therefore, the line formed by the ejection orifices  50   b  is also tilted one to four degrees, relative to the recording medium P conveying direction.  
         [0121]    The ink, which is temporarily stored in the common liquid chamber  50   c  after having been supplied thereto from the ink container, enters the liquid passage  50   d  due to the capillarity, and forms a meniscus at the ejection orifice  5 O b . This meniscus keeps the liquid passage filled with the ink. Under this condition, power is supplied to the electrothermal transducer  50   c  in response to the recording signal transmitted to the head terminal  53 , and the electrothermal transducer  50   e  generates heat. Then, the ink on the ink electrothermal transducer  50   e  is suddenly heated to cause the film-boiling, and develops bubbles in the liquid passage  50   d . As these bubbles expand, the ink is ejected from the ejection orifices  50   b . In the above description, the electrothermal transducer  50   c  was quoted as the energy generating element, but the energy generating element is not limited to the electrothermal transducer  50   c . Instead, a piezoelectric element, which generates mechanical energy capable of instantly applying the ejection pressure to the ink, may be employed.  
         [0122]    Also on the base plate  51 , a head positioning notch  53   a  with which the head positioning projection  2   d  in the form of a square piller engages, and a head positioning hole  53   b , with which the cylindrical head positioning projection  2   e  engages, and formed in correspondence to the locations of the head positioning projections  2   d  and  2   e  of the carriage  2  (FIG. 3), respectively.  
         [0123]    The base plate  51  is fixed to one of the lateral walls of the mono-color holder  60 , using the thermal welding, the ultrasonic welding, or the like welding method. On the upper surface of the mono-color holder  60 , a stepped portion  60   a  is formed at the end portion, on the side of the base plate  51 ; in other words, this portion is one step lower than the other portions. When the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 , the recording head cartridge  1  can be easily positioned with substantial accuracy, by means of placing the top surface of this stepped portion  60   a  under the cover portion  21   a  (FIG. 3) of the cable retainer  21 .  
         [0124]    As for the mechanism for mounting the recording head cartridge  1  on the carriage  2 , or removing it, a head pressing portion  60   b  and a head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c , are formed on the mono-color holder  60 , on the outward facing surface of the lateral wall located on the opposite side of the base plate  51 . The head pressing portion  60   b  is a head fixing portion, which is held by the head guide  22  (FIG. 3) of the carriage  2  when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 . The head mounting dismounting tab  60   c  is a tab to be used to mount the recording head cartridge  1  on the carriage  2 , or remove it. The head pressing portion  60   b  is a recessed portion formed on the mono-color holder  60 , on the wall opposite to the base plate  51 , extending from the bottom edge of the surface to the top edge thereof. The top end portion of the head pressing portion  60   b  constitutes a head guide engaging portion  64 , which is further recessed, and when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 , the head guide  22  of the carriage  2  is engaged with this head guide engaging portion  64 . As the head guide  22  engages with the head guide engaging portion  64  the recording head cartridge  1  is accurately positioned and fixed on the carriage  2 . The head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  is located on the front side of the recording head cartridge  1  in the drawing, that is, on the surface where the head pressing portion  60   b  is formed, at the top portion of the area farthest away from the head pressing portion  60   b . IT is provided to make it easier for the operator to remove the recording head cartridge  1  from the carriage  2 ; the operator can place a finger on the tab to pull up the recording head cartridge  1 .  
         [0125]    The head pressing portion  60   b  is formed in one of the recessed regions, and the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  is formed in the other. These recessed regions are recessed relative to the neighboring (projecting) regions, which project due to the formation of a latch lever guide groove  60   h  (FIG. 12). The latch lever guide groove  60   h , which will be described later, constitutes the guide for a latch lever  32   a . Therefore, the limited space available for the recording head cartridge  1  is effectively used; a minimum space is used to provide a head fixing portion which is held by the head guide  22 , and also, the head mounting-dismounting tab to be used when the recording head cartridge  1  is removed from the carriage  2 .  
         [0126]    At this time, the operation for mounting the recording head cartridge  1  on the carriage  2 , or removing it, will be described.  
         [0127]    When the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted on the carriage  2 , the recording head cartridge  1  is diagonally inserted in the direction of an arrow mark, with the base plate  51  (FIG. 5) side being placed under the cover portion  21   a  of the cable retainer  21  disposed on the carriage  2 , as shown in FIG. 9. With this procedure, the upright surface of the stepped portion  60   a  (FIG. 5) of the recording head cartridge  1  runs into the edge of the cover portion  21   a , fixing the position of the recording head cartridge  1  with substantially accuracy.  
         [0128]    Next, the recording head cartridge  1  is pushed downward as shown in FIG. 10. At this time, the slanted surface of the heat pressing portion  60   b  (FIG. 6) of the recording head cartridge  1  is guided by the head guide  22  (FIG. 3) of the carriage  2 , whereby the recording head cartridge  1  is smoothly mounted on the carriage  2 , with the head positioning projections  2   d  and  2   e  of the carriage  2  engaging with the head positioning notch  53   a  and head positioning hole  53   b  of the recording head cartridge  1 . As the recording head cartridge  1  is completely mounted the head guide  22  engages with the head guide engaging portion  64  (FIG. 6), whereby the position of the recording head cartridge  1  is fixed. Further, due to the pressure from the head guide  22 , the head terminal  53  of the recording head cartridge  1  is pressed upon the cable terminal  3   a  of the carriage  2 , assuring a reliable electrical connection between them.  
         [0129]    When the recording head cartridge  1  is removed from the carriage  2 , the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  of the recording head cartridge  1  is pulled upward. With this action, the engagement between the head guide  22  and head guide engaging portion  64  is broken, and as a result, the head pressing portion  60   b  climbs over the head guide  22 .  
         [0130]    As the head pressing portion  60   b  climbs over the head guide  22 , the recording head cartridge  1  becomes tilted, with the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  side projecting from the carriage  2 . Then, the recording head cartridge  1  can be easily taken out of the carriage  2  by grasping the portion projecting from the carriage  2 .  
         [0131]    Further, the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  is located on the same surface as the head pressing portion  60   b , at a point farthest away from the head pressing portion  60   b ; therefore, when the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  is pulled up to disengage the head guide engaging portion  64  from the head guide  22 , a larger moment is generated. Therefore, the recording head cartridge  1  can be removed by a lessor force; it can be easily removed while being securely held. To sum up, in order to make it possible to remove the recording head cartridge  1  by a smaller force, the head pressing portion  60   b  is to be disposed on the rear side of the recording head cartridge  1 , relative to the center line of the recording head cartridge  1  parallel to the moving direction of the carriage  2 , and the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  is to be disposed at the edge of the front side, relative to the same.  
         [0132]    [0132]FIG. 11 is a plan view of the recording head cartridge  1  illustrated in FIG. 5, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the recording head cartridge  1  illustrated in FIG. 11, at a sectional line A-A. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the bottom wall of the mono-color holder  60  has an ink tapping tube  60   d , which projects from the bottom surface and an ink passage  60 , one end of which opens up in this ink tapping tube  60   d , and is connected to the common liquid chamber  50   c  (FIG. 8) of the nozzle portion  50 . Around the ink tapping tube  60   d  a sealing ring  61 , composed of an elastic material such as rubber is fixed. Further, at the projection end of the ink tapping tube  60   d , a filter  62  is attached to prevent foreign matter from being taken into the nozzle portion  50 .  
         [0133]    Also on the mono-color holder  60 , an extended portion  60   f  is formed at both top ends, on the base plate  51  side, and a container projection guiding portion  60   g , which is a semicircular recessed portion, is formed adjacent to the extended portion  60   f . On the other hand, the latch lever guide groove  60   h , which serves as the latch lever  32   a  (FIGS. 5 and 6) guide when the ink container  30  (FIGS. 5 and 6) is mounted, is formed on the internal surface of the mono-color holder  60  wall located opposite to the base plate  51 . Further, a slanted surface  60   k  is formed at the edge where the bottom mono-color holder  60  wall and the base plate  51  side wall join.  
         [0134]    At this time, the ink container  30  to be mounted in this recording head cartridge  1  will be described. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the ink container  30  to be mounted in the recording head cartridge  1  illustrated in FIG. 5, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the ink container  30  illustrated in FIG. 13, at a sectional line B-B.  
         [0135]    The ink container  30  comprises a container  32  for holding the ink, and a cover member  31  for covering and sealing the container  32 . The cover member  31  has an air vent (unillustrated).  
         [0136]    At the bottom portion of the container  32 , an ink delivery port  32   b  is formed, into which the ink tapping tube  60   d  (FIG. 12) of the mono-color holder.  60  is inserted. Around the ink delivery port  32   b  , a cylindrical supporting portion  32   c  is erected. Before the ink container is mounted in the mono-color holder  60 , its ink delivery port  32   b  remains sealed with a sealing member (unillustrated) to prevent ink leakage.  
         [0137]    Within the container  32 , an ink absorbing member  33  formed of sponge or the like material is stored, and the ink is absorbed and retained by this ink absorbing member  33 . In the supporting portion  32   c , an ink delivery member  35  constituted of a bundle of unidirectional fiber is inserted and supported, and the ink absorbing member  33  is airtightly placed in contact with the top end surface of the ink delivery member  35 . The ink, having been absorbed and retained in the ink absorbing member  33 , is led to the ink delivery port  32   b  by way of this ink delivery member  35 . As the ink container  30  is mounted in the mono-color holder  60 , the ink tapping tube  60   d  of the mono-color holder  60  is inserted into the ink delivery port  32   b , forming an ink path, and then, the ink is supplied to the nozzle portion  50  through the ink passage  60   d . At this time, the seal ring  61  fitted around the ink delivery port  32   b  is airtightly pressed on the peripheries of the ink delivery port  32   b , preventing ink leakage.  
         [0138]    In order to keep the ink delivery port  32   b  and the aforementioned air vent connected with an air layer, ribs  34  are formed on the internal surfaces of the container  31  and cover member  31 , at predetermined locations (in FIG. 14, only the ribs  34  of the cover member  31  are illustrated), so that a predetermined amount of space is formed between the ink absorbing member  33  and the container walls, and between the ink absorbing member  33  and cover member  31 ; and also, a slit (unillustrated) for connecting the internal space of the container  32  to the outside is formed on the internal surface of the supporting member  32   c . By means of connecting the internal space of the ink container  30  to the outside with the air layer, the ink is prevented from blowing out of the ink delivery port  32   b  or leaking therefrom when the sealing member sealing the ink delivery port  32   d  is peeled off. Further, even when the ambient temperature of the ink container  30  rises while recording, the ink within the ink container  30  is not forced out. Further, the ink ceases to adhere to the internal walls of the container  32 ; therefore, it becomes unnecessary to be concerned about the ink leak from the ink delivery port  32  and air vent, and also, the ratio of the usable ink increases.  
         [0139]    On the other hand, as for the external structure of the ink container  30 , the container  32  integrally comprises a disengagement prevention claw  32   d , which is a claw-like projection. This disengagement prevention claw  32   d  is located on the container surface, which comes in contact with the internal surface of the mono-color holder  60  wall on the base plate  51  side when the ink container  30  is mounted in the mono-color holder  60 . It engages with a container disengagement prevention hole  60   i  (FIG. 12) provided on the mono-color holder  60 . It also serves as a guide when the ink container  30  is mounted in the mono-color holder  60 , and also plays a role for holding the ink container  30  when the ink container  30  is in the mono-color holder  60 .  
         [0140]    At the container  32  edge where the bottom wall joins with the wall on which the disengagement prevention claw  32   d  is formed, a slanted surface  32   f  is formed. The angle and configuration of this slanted surface  32   f  are substantially the same as the slanted surface  60   k  (FIG. 12) of the mono-color holder  60 .  
         [0141]    On the opposite container  32  wall of the aforementioned container wall with the engagement prevention claw  32   d , a latch lever  32  is integrally formed, the bottom portion of which is elastically supported. The latch lever  32   a  is extended upward in a manner to move away from the container  32  wall, and it engages with the latch lever guide groove  60   h  (FIGS. 11 and 12) of the mono-color holder  60 . When the ink container  30  is in the mono-color holder  60 , the latch lever  32   a  is used the pressure from the latch lever guide groove  60   h , being bent in the direction of an arrow mark C indicated in FIG. 14, and the latch claw  32   e  formed on the latch lever  32   a  is in the latch claw engagement hole  60   j  formed in the latch lever guide groove  60   h . In this embodiment, the latch lever  32   a  is integrally formed on the container  32 .  
         [0142]    As for the structure of the cover member  31 , a stepped portion  31   a , which is one step lower than the top surface of the cover member  31 , is formed on the cover member  31  top surface, at the disengagement prevention claw  31   a  side end. When the ink container  30  is mounted in the mono-color holder  60 , the ink container  30  is to be inserted placing this stepped portion  31   a  under the extended portions  60   f  (FIGS. 11 and 12) of the mono-color holder  60 , so that the ink container  30  can be positioned with substantial accuracy. Also on the cover member  31 , a container projection  31   b  is formed, which engages with the container projection guide  60   g  of the mono-color holder  60 .  
         [0143]    Next, the operation for mounting the ink container  30  in the mono-color holder  60 , or removing it, will be described. When the ink container  30  is mounted in the mono-color holder  60 , the sealing member sealing the ink delivery port  32   b  is first peeled. Then, the ink container  30  is diagonally inserted in the direction of an arrow, from the engagement prevention claw  32   d  side, as shown in FIG. 16, placing the stepped portion  31   a  of the ink container  30  under the extended portion  60   f  of the mono-color holder  60 , engaging the disengagement prevention claw  32   d  of the ink container  30  with the container disengagement prevention hole  60   i  (FIG. 12) of the mono-color holder  60 , so that the ink container  30  is positioned with substantial accuracy. Since the slanted surface  32   f  is formed on the ink container  30 , it is easy to place the stepped portion  31   a  of the ink container  30  under the extended portion  60   f  of the mono-color holder  60 ; all that is needed is to insert the ink container  30 , keeping this slanted surface  32   f  substantially in parallel to the bottom wall of the mono-color holder  60 . Also, since the mono-color holder  60  and ink container  30  are provided with the slant surfaces  60   k  and  32   f , respectively, which match each other, a different type of ink container cannot be mounted in this mono-color holder  60 , preventing a wrong ink container from being mounted.  
         [0144]    Next, referring to FIG. 17, the ink container  30  is pushed in downward, so that the latch lever  32   a  moves along the latch lever guide groove  60   h  (FIGS. 11 and 12). Then, the ink container  30  makes a substantially rotational movement about the ink container  30  portion having been already inserted in the mono-color holder  60 . As a result, the latch lever  32   a  is forced into the mono-color holder  60 , being bent inward by the latch lever guide groove  60   h , and the latch claw  32   e  (FIG. 14) of the latch lever  32   a  engages with the latch claw engagement hole  60   j  (FIG. 12) of the mono-color holder  60 , fixing the ink container  30  to the mono-color holder  60 . Further, there are a sound and a feed of clicking at the moment the latch  32   e  engages with the latch claw engagement hole  60   j , assuring the operator that the ink container  30  has been successfully mounted.  
         [0145]    When dismounting the ink container  30  from the mono-color holder  60 , the latch lever  32   a  is pushed inward, so that it becomes diengaged from the latch claw engagement hole  60   j . Since the latch lever  32   a  is elastically supported at the bottom end, and is extended in the diagonally upward direction, it tries to restore the state illustrated in FIG. 14, as soon as the engagement between the latch claw  32   e  and latch claw hole  60   j  is broken. Therefore, the bottom side surface of the latch lever  32   a  slides up along the latch lever guide  60   h , automatically tilting the ink container  30 , that is, automatically raising the latch lever  32   a  side of the ink container  30  out of the mono-color holder  60 . Then, the ink container  30  can be easily dismounted from the mono-color holder  60  just by grasping the raised portion.  
         [0146]    Since the ink container  30  is mounted on the mono-color holder  60 , or dismounted, through the substantially rotational movement, it requires only a small space to do so. Further, when mounting, the stepped portion  31   a  is placed under the extended portion  60   f  of the mono-color holder  60 , with the slanted surface  32   f  of the ink container  60  serving as the guide; therefore, the direction in which the ink container  30  is inserted into the mono-color holder  60  is regulated. Further, the container projection  31   b  is provided on the ink container  30 , and also, the container projection guide portion  60   g  is provided on the mono-color holder  60 ; therefore, it is also regulated where in the mono-color holder  60  the ink container  30  is inserted, and the ink container  30  is rotated substantially about the container projection  31   b.    
         [0147]    Therefore, the ink container  30  can be mounted without interfering with the filter  62  (FIGS. 11 and 12) of the mono-color holder  60 , eliminating concern for the filter  62  damage which might occur when mounting the ink container  30 . Further, since the ink container  30  is mounted into, or dismounted from, the mono-color holder  60 , through the rotational movement, it requires only a small space to do so; therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus size can be further reduced.  
         [0148]    In the embodiment described above, the ink container  30  is dismounted from the mono-color holder  60 , using the phenomenon that the latch lever  32   a  side of the ink container  30  is raised by the resiliency of the latch lever  32   a . In addition, to such usage of the latch lever  32   a  resiliency, a pop-up spring  68  as illustrated in FIG. 18 may be provided as pressing means for pressing the other side (latch lever  32   a  side) of the ink container  30  bottom wall, so that the lath lever  32   a  side of the ink container  30  may be raised by the force of the pop-up spring  68 . The pop-up spring  68  is a leaf spring fixed on the bottom wall of the internal space of the mono-color holder  60 . Its free end extending from the nozzle portion  50  of the mono-color holder  60  toward the latch lever guide groove  60   h , is slightly curved upward. With the presence of this pop-up spring  68 , the latch lever  32   a  side of the ink container  30  is lifted upward by the force of the pop-up spring  68  as soon as the latch claw  32   e  is disengaged from the latch claw engagement hole  60   j . In this case, the ink container  30  is projected higher than it would be projected by the resiliency of the latch lever  32   a  alone; therefore, it is easier to remove the ink container  30 .  
         [0149]    In FIGS. 16 and 17, the steps for mounting the ink container  30  on the recording head cartridge  1  which is on the carriage  2  (FIG. 2) are shown, but needless to say, the operation for mounting or dismounting the ink container  30  can be carried out even when the recording head cartridge  1  is on the carriage  2 .  
         [0150]    [0150]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the ink container  30 , the recording head cartridge  1 , and the carriage  2 , wherein the ink container  30  is in the recording head cartridge  1 , and the recording head cartridge  1  is on the carriage  2 . As is evident from FIG. 19, the latch lever  32   a , which is handled when the ink container  30  is mounted or dismounted, and the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c , which is handled when the recording head cartridge  1  is mounted or dismounted, are located on the same side, relative to the moving direction of the carriage  2 . Therefore, the operator can easily recognize the different portions to be manipulated; in other words, operational consistency is realized, improving thereby operational efficiency. In addition, a very compact and logically manipulatable portion can be provided in terms of design. Further, when mounting or dismounting the ink container  30  or recording head cartridge  1 , the ink container  30  or recording head cartridge  1  manipulating space for the operator is required only on the side where the latch lever  32   a  and head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  are located; therefore, the ink container  30  and/or recording head cartridge  1  can be mounted or dismounted at an optional carriage  2  location, as long as the location satisfies the aforementioned space requirement.  
         [0151]    The latch lever  32   a  and head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  are disposed adjacent to each other, but the operation for removing the ink container  30  is an operation to push the latch lever  32   a  in the inward direction, and the operation for removing the recording head cartridge  1  is an operation to pulling up the head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c ; therefore, an erroneous operation can be avoided because of the operational difference. Further, the latch lever  32   a  and head mounting-dismounting tab  60   c  are positioned at different levels; therefore, their functional difference can be easily recognized. In this case, comparing the mounting-demounting frequency of the ink container  30  with that of the recording head cartridge  1 , the mounting-demounting frequency of the ink container  30  is higher; therefore, the head portion (where the operator places a finger) of the latch lever  32   a  is positioned above the head mounting-demounting tab  60   c , in consideration of operational convenience.  
         [0152]    In the embodiment described above, a monocolor recording head cartridge is employed, but a color recording head cartridge may be employed. In another embodiment of the present invention, the latter is employed.  
         [0153]    [0153]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a color recording head cartridge to be mounted in the ink jet recording apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, and two ink containers to be mounted in this recording head. This color recording head cartridge  10  is structured to removably accommodate a black ink container  130  for storing black ink, and color ink container  140  for storing three color inks; yellow, magenta, and cyan inks, and ejects four inks of different colors. Therefore, the orifices of the nozzle portion  50  are also divided into four groups corresponding to the four inks of different color; black ink ejection orifice group  150 B, yellow ink ejection orifice group  150 Y, magnet ink ejection orifice group  150 M, and cyan ink ejection orifice group  150 C. Further, in order to partition the ink container  130  space from the ink container  140  space, a partitioning plate  165  is integrally formed on the bottom wall of the color holder  160 .  
         [0154]    As for the base plate  151  and head terminal  153 , components common to the monochrome recording head cartridge  1  (FIG. 5) and color recording head cartridge  101  are employed. The external configuration of the color holder  160  is substantially the same as the mono-color holder  60  (FIG. 5), through they differ in details. In particular, the configurations of the color recording head cartridge  10  portions which face the internal surface of the carriage  2  wall, and the position of a head mounting-dismounting tab  160   c , where a finger is placed when the recording head cartridge  101  is dismounted from the carriage  2 , are the same as those of the monochrome recording head cartridge  1 ; therefore, this recording head cartridge  101  can be mounted on the same carriage  2 , on which the monochrome recording head cartridge  1  is mounted. In other words, the user can optionally choose the monochrome recording head cartridge  1  or recording head cartridge  101  to use in the same ink jet recording apparatus.  
         [0155]    Below, this recording head cartridge  101 , and both of the ink containers  130  and  140 , will be described. However, the portions facing the internal surface of the carriage  2  wall will be omitted from the description since they are the same as those of the monochrome recording head cartridge  1 .  
         [0156]    [0156]FIG. 22 is a plan view of the recording head cartridge  101  illustrated in FIG. 20, in which two ink containers  130  and  140  are in the cartridge  101 . FIG. 23 is a section of FIG. 22, at a sectional line D-D, and FIG. 24 is a section of FIG. 22, at a sectional line E-E.  
         [0157]    Referring to FIG. 22, the black ink container  130  and color ink container  140  are mounted side by side on the color holder  160 . The configuration formed by the combination of the black ink container  130  and color ink container  140  is substantially the same as the configuration of the monochrome ink container  30  (FIG. 30) alone.  
         [0158]    Referring to FIG. 23, the black ink container  130  comprises a container  132  for storing the black ink, and a cover member  131  for covering and sealing the container  132 . The cover member  131  has an air vent.  
         [0159]    At the bottom portion of the container  132 , an ink delivery port  132   b  is formed, into which the black ink tapping tube  160   d  (FIG. 12) of the color holder  60  is inserted. Around the ink delivery port  132   b , a cylindrical supporting portion  132   c  is erected. Before the container  132  is mounted in the color holder  160 , the ink delivery port  132   b  remains sealed with a sealing member (unillustrated) to prevent ink leakage.  
         [0160]    Within the container  132 , an ink absorbing member  133  is stored, and the black ink is absorbed and retained by this ink absorbing member  133 . In the supporting portion  132   c , an ink delivery member  135  constituted of a bundle of unidirectional fiber, is inserted and supported, and the ink absorbing member  133  is airtightly placed in contact with the top end surface of the ink delivery member  135 . The ink, having been absorbed and retained in the ink absorbing member  133 , is led to the ink delivery port  132   b  by way of this ink delivery member  135 . As the black ink container  130  is mounted in the color holder  160 , the ink tapping tube  160   d  of the color holder  160  is inserted into the ink delivery port  132   b , forming an ink path, and then, the ink is supplied to the black ink ejection orifice group  150 B (FIG. 21) of the nozzle portion  150  through the ink passage constituted of the color holder  160  and a liquid passage cover  166  (FIG. 23 does not illustrate the path to the nozzle portion  150  because of the location of the sectional plane). At this time, the seal ring  161  fitted around the ink delivery port  132   b  is airtightly pressed on the peripheries of the ink delivery port  132   b , preventing ink leakage.  
         [0161]    In order to keep the ink delivery port  132   b  and the aforementioned air vent  131   b  connected with an air layer, ribs  134  are formed on the internal surfaces of the container  131  and cover member  131 , at predetermined locations (FIG. 23 illustrate only the ribs  134  of the cover member  131 ), so that a predetermined amount of space is formed between the ink absorbing member  133  and the container  130  walls, and between the ink absorbing member  133  and cover member  131 ; and also, a slit (unillustrated) for connecting the internal space of the container  132  to the outside is formed on the internal surface of the supporting member  132   c.    
         [0162]    On the other hand, as for the external ink container  130  structure for mounting the black ink container  130  into the color holder  160 , the container  132  integrally comprises a disengagement prevention claw  132   d , which is located on the container surface, which comes in contact with the internal surface of the color holder  160  wall on the base plate  51  side when the black ink container  130  is mounted in the color holder  160 . This disengagement prevention claw  132   d  engages with a cotainer disnegagement prevention hole  160   i  (FIG. 12) provided on the color holder  160 . It also serves as a guide when the black ink container  130  is mounted in the color holder  160 , and also plays a role for holding the black ink container  130  when the black ink container  130  is in the color holder  160 . Also on the container  132 , a latch lever  132   a  is integrally formed. It is located on the opposite surface of the surface with the disengagement prevention claw  132   d , and its bottom end portion is elastically supported.  
         [0163]    On the color holder  160 , a latch lever guide groove  167  for the black ink container  130  is integrally formed corresponding to the location of the latch lever  132   a . When the black ink container  130  is mounted in the color holder  160 , the latch lever  132   a  is inserted along this latch lever guide groove  167 . When the black ink container  130  is in the color holder  160 , the latch lever  132   a  is under the pressure from the latch lever guide groove  167  being bent inward, and the latch claw  132   e  formed on the latch lever  132   a  is in the latch claw engagement hole  167   a  formed in the latch lever guide groove  160   h.    
         [0164]    Further, a slanted surface  160   k  similar to the one formed on the mono-color holder (FIG. 12) is formed on this color holder  160 , in the area where the black ink container  130  is mounted, and a slanted surface  132   f  is also formed on the black ink container  130 , on the surface correspondent to the slanted surface  160   k.    
         [0165]    As for the structure of the cover member  131 , a stepped portion  131   a , which is one step lower than the top surface of the cover member  131 , is formed on the cover member  131  top surface, at the end portion of the disengagement prevention claw  131   a  side. Corresponding to this stepped portion  131   a , an extended portion  160   f  similar to the extended portion  60   f  (FIG. 11) of the mono-color holder  60  is formed on the color holder  160 .  
         [0166]    The black ink container  130  is mounted in, or dismounted from, the color holder  160  in the same manner as the mono-color ink container  30  is mounted or dismounted. That is, when the black ink container  130  is mounted in the color holder  160 , the black ink container  130  is to be diagonally inserted, placing this stepped portion  131   a  under the black ink container  130  side extended portions  160   f  (FIGS. 22) of the color holder  160 , into the location where the black ink container  130  is to be mounted, and the disengagement prevention claw  132   d  is hooked into the container disengagement prevention hole  160   i  of the color holder  160 . Then, the black ink container  130  is pushed down, being rotated about the disengagement prevention claw  132   d  side thereof, so that the latch claw  132   e  of the latch lever  132   a  is engaged with the latch claw engagement hole  167   a  of the latch lever guide groove  167 . When dismounting the black ink container  130 , all that is needed is to push in the latch lever  132   a  so that the latch claw  132   e  is disengaged from the latch claw engagement hole  167   a.    
         [0167]    The color ink container  140  has basically the same structure as the black ink container  130 . Referring to FIG. 24, it comprises a container  142  for storing three inks of different colors, and a cover member  141  for covering the container  142 . When the color ink container  140  is mounted into the color holder  160 , it is diagonally inserted so that a stepped portion  141   a  formed on the cover member  141 , at the location equivalent to the location at which the stepped portion of the black ink container  130  is formed on the cover member  131  of the black ink container  130 , is placed under the extended portion  160   f  (FIG. 22) on the color ink container  140  side.  
         [0168]    The internal space of the container  142  is partitioned into three spaces of a substantially equal volume, by two partitioning plates  142   f  placed in parallel to each other. These three spaces are aligned in the direction in which the color ink container  140  is inserted when the color ink container  140  is mounted in the color recording head cartridge  101 . Each of these three spaces contains an ink absorbing member  143 Y for absorbing and retaining yellow ink, an ink absorbing member  143 M for absorbing and retaining magenta ink, and an ink absorbing member  143 C for absorbing and retaining cyan ink, respectively. Referring to the bottom view given in FIG. 25, ink delivery ports  142   b Y,  142   b M and  142   b C are formed so as to open up in the corresponding spaces, and they are aligned substantially in parallel to the direction in which the color ink container  140  is inserted.  
         [0169]    The structure of each space is the same as the structure of the black ink container  130 ; therefore, its description will be omitted. Further, the structure of the cover member  141  is also the same as the structure of the cover member of the black ink container  130 , except that an air vent (unillustrated) is formed for each space, and the cover member  141  is structured to seal each space from the other spaces; therefore, its description will be omitted.  
         [0170]    On the color holder  160 , three ink tapping tubes  160   d′  (FIG. 24 does not illustrate the magenta ink tapping tube due to the location of the sectional plane) are provided corresponding to the locations of the ink delivery ports  142   b Y,  142   b M and  142 C. The ink tapping tubes  160   d′  are in connection to the corresponding ejection orifice groups  150 Y,  150 M and  150 C (FIG. 21), through the ink passages constituted of the color holder  160  and a liquid passage cover  166 . In FIG. 24, only the ink passage from the yellow ink space to the nozzle portion  150  is shown due to the location of the sectional plane. Also, a seal ring  161 ′ is provided for each ink tapping tube  160   d′ , but FIG. 24 does not show the ink tapping tube  160   d′  for the magenta ink space.  
         [0171]    On the other hand, as for the color ink container  140  structure pertaining to its installation into the color holder  160 , the color holder  160  also has a latch lever  142   a , a disengagement prevention claw  142   d  as well as the aforementioned stepped portion  141   a , as the black ink container  130  does, which is illustrated by the side view given in FIG. 26. Referring to FIG. 24, the latch lever  142   a  engages with the latch lever guide groove  167 ′ formed on the color holder  160 , and when the color ink container  140  is in the color holder  160 , the latch claw  142   e  formed on the latch lever  142   a  is engaged with a latch claw engagement hole  167   a′  formed on the latch lever guide groove  167 ′. Referring to FIG. 26, the is prevention claw  142   d  is located on the bottom end portion of the opposite surface of the surface with the latch lever  142   a , and corresponding to this location of the latch lever  142   a , an ink container disengagement prevention hole (unillustrated), which this disengagement prevention claw  142   d  engages, is formed on the color holder  160 .  
         [0172]    Also referring to FIG. 24, a slanted surface  160   k′ , like the slanted surface formed on the mono-color holder  60  (FIG. 12), is formed on the color holder  160 , in the area where the color ink container  140  is mounted, and a slanted surface  142   g , which corresponds to the slanted surface  160   k′  is formed on the color ink container  140 .  
         [0173]    The operation for mounting the color ink container  140  into the color holder  160 , or dismounting it, is similar to the mounting or dismounting operation for the black ink container  130 . That is, when mounting, the disengagement prevention claw  142   d  side of the color ink container  140  is inserted into the color holder  160 , and the color ink container  140  is rotated about the inserted portion, and when dismounting, the latch lever  142   a  is pushed in. In the case of the color ink container  140 , the ink delivery ports  142   b Y,  142   b M and  142   b C are aligned in parallel to the color ink container  140  inserting direction; therefore, when the color ink container  140  is mounted in the color holder  160 , they become engaged with the correspondent ink tapping tubes  160 ′, sequentially, starting from the one located nearest to the disengagement prevention claw  142   d . As a result, the color ink container  140  is smoothly and reliably mounted in the color recording head cartridge  101 .  
         [0174]    Further, a pop-up spring like the one illustrated in FIG. 18 may be placed in the color holder  160  so that it is easier to remove the ink containers  130  and  140 .  
         [0175]    [0175]FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the black ink container  130 , color ink container  140 , color recording head cartridge  101 , and the carriage  2 . In this drawing the ink containers  130  and  140  are in the color recording head cartridge  101 , and the cartridge  101  is on the carriage  2 . As is evident from FIG. 27, the ink containers  130  and  140  are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the carriage  2 ; therefore, the latch lever  132   a  which is manipulated during the operation for mounting or dismounting the black ink container  130 , the latch lever  142   a  which is manipulated during the operation for mounting or dismounting the color ink container  140 , and the head mounting-dismounting tab  160   c  which is manipulated during the operation for mounting or dismounting the color recording head cartridge  101 , are all on the same side, relative to the moving direction of the carriage  2 . This arrangement not only improves the efficiency of the operation for mounting or dismounting the ink containers  130  and  140 , and the color recording head cartridge  101 , but also allows the structure to be very compact and logical in terms of design, as it does for the mono-color recording head cartridge  1  (FIG. 9). In addition, the head portions of the latch levers  132   a  and  142   a  are aligned in a straight line; therefore, the available space is effectively used to reduce the size of the color recording head cartridge  101 . Further, as for the positional relationship between the latch levers  132   a  and  142   a , and the head mounting-dismounting tab  160   c , the levers  132   a  and  142   a  are positioned at a different level from the tab  160   c ; therefore, their functional difference can be easily recognized.  
         [0176]    When the angles and configurations of the slanted surfaces  132   g  and  142   g  of the black ink container  130  and color ink container  140 , respectively, are differentiated from each other, and the angles and configurations of the correspondent slanted surfaces  160   k  and  160   k′  of the color holder  160  are matched with those of the slanted surfaces  132   g  and  142   g  of the black ink container  130  and color ink container  140 , respectively, the black ink container  130  and color ink container  140  are prevented from being erroneously mounted in the wrong side.  
         [0177]    Next, referring to FIGS.  28 - 44 , various structures and their relationship, which have not been described with reference to FIG. 27 or prior drawings, will be described.  
         [0178]    In these drawings, the aforementioned ink absorbing members  35  and  165  are constituted of fibrous material which is bundled so as to deliver the ink unidirectionally. They are used as ink delivery members for unidirectionally delivering the ink. As is apparent from FIG. 30, they are placed in the recessed portions formed in the bottom surfaces of the ink containers  30 ,  130  and  140 , correspondingly, and their cross-sectional areas are different from each other. Referring to FIGS. 29 and 30, the leaf springs  68 ,  68 C and  68 B, which work on the corresponding ink containers during the mounting or dismounting operation, are fixed to thermally crimping members  202 ,  203  an  204  of the ink container holders  60  and  160 . These thermally crimping members  202 ,  203  an  204  project into the ink container mounting spaces; therefore, recesses  202   a ,  202   a ,  203   a ,  203   a  and  204   a  are formed on the bottom surfaces of the corresponding ink containers  30 ,  130  and  140 , in order to assure that the absorbing members of the ink containers are airtightly placed in contact with the filters BK, BK, Y, M and C of the corresponding ink containers holders.  
         [0179]    The leaf springs  68 ,  68 B and  68 C are deformed as the ink containers are positioned in the holders, and their elastic resiliency works to push up the ink containers. This upward pushing force makes the aforementioned latch claws and disengagement claws engage with the holders. The reaction force from this upward force further stabilizes the engagement between the ink delivery ports, and the filters which slightly project from the holder bottoms. At this time, referring to FIGS. 28 a  nd  37 , the visual characteristic of each ink container will be described. As may be suspected from the aforementioned structures, in which the carriage, ink container holder, and one or two ink containers are packed into a small space, it is probable that it becomes impossible to know which lever should be manipulated to carry out a desired operation. Therefore, in this embodiment, not only are the configurations of the levers are varied, but also, the colors of the levers are differentiated from each other, the colors of the levers being the same as the correspondent ink containers, so that operational efficiency is improved. More specifically, the common carriage is given a blackish color (preferably, the same color as the main assembly of the recording apparatus, since the carriage is never removed), and the ink containers  30 ,  130  and  140  are given greyish, transparent or reddish, and whitish colors, respectively. As for the holders BHD and BCHD integral with the head, they may be different in color, but in this embodiment, they are given a greenish color. With such a color arrangement, the components to be mounted or dismounted can be identified using color difference; in other words, the lever to be operated can be visually identified. Further, referring to FIG. 30, projections X 1 -X 5  are provided on the correspondent ink containers, and referring to FIG. 29, recesses Y 1 -Y 5  are provided on the ink container holders, at points correspondent to the projections X 1 -X 5 . The projections are provided on the ink containers because when the ink containers are mounted into the ink holders, with the ink delivery port opening facing downward, the presence of the projections prevents the ink delivery port openings from directly contacting the ink container holders. With the above structure, it is possible to prevent the ink container bottom, around the like delivery ports, from directly contacting the container mounting surfaces, as well as to prevent the ink from adhering thereto.  
         [0180]    As is evident from FIGS. 28 and 37, the carriage  2  is given a black triangular mark  206 , and a yellow triangular mark  207 , meaning “color”, on the ink container holder mounting side. The same marks are placed on the ink containers, on the spots correspondent to the these triangular marks  206  and  207 , respectively. The container  30  occupies the entire mounting space of the container holder  60 ; therefore, it is given both the black triangular mark  206   a  and yellow triangular mark  207   a , whereas the ink containers  130  and  140 , which are to be mounted in the color holder  160 , are given the black triangular mark  206   a  and yellow triangular mark  207   a , respectively, corresponding to the colors and mounting locations. The presence of the ink containers can be confirmed from these marks; in other words, the presence or absence, ink container type, and the like can be visually confirmed just by looking at the carriage. Referring to FIG. 29( b ), all of the filters seen at the ink delivery ports of the color ink container holder are displaced in the opposite direction of the rotational center. This is due to the following reason. That is, the amount of filter deformation which occurs when the ink container is mounted in the ink container holder can be reduced by displacing the filter in the opposite direction of the rotational center; therefore, the container can be more reliably mounted.  
         [0181]    [0181]FIG. 31 depicts a protective member for the ink container, and the structures related to the protective member. In this drawing, the protective member for the ink container  30  is not shown, but as long as its functions, configuration and the like are essentially the same as the color ink container, it is satisfactory. The protective members  200  and  201  are directly attached to the ink containers  130  and  140 , and ink delivery port covering members  200   e  and  201   e , as ink absorbing sheets or caps, make contact with the bottom surfaces of the ink containers  130  and  140 , respectively. This ink delivery port covering portion prevents unnecessary splashing of the ink; in particular, the covering portion for the color ink container  140  prevents mixing of the inks.  
         [0182]    In essence, the protective member in this embodiments is a protective member ( 200 ,  201 ) which is to be engaged with such an ink container ( 130 ,  140 ) that comprises: a delivery portion, which is located on the bottom wall, and delivers the recording ink stored in itself; a projection, which is located on one of the lateral walls, and is inserted into the recess of the holder in which the ink container is mounted; and an elastic latch lever, which has a latch claw, and is located on the opposite lateral wall of the one with the projection, and that is mounted into the holder, or dismounted from its, by means of engaging the latch claw into the engagement portion of the holder, or disengaging them. It is characterized by comprising: a protective portion ( 200   c    201   c ) which covers, in a non-contact manner, the peripheries of the manipulable elastic latch lever ( 132   a ,  142   a ) on which the aforementioned latch claw is located; a bottom surface portion with the absorbing member or cap ( 200   e ,  201   e ) for sealing the peripheries of the aforementioned ink delivery ports; a recessed portion ( 200   f ,  201   f ) for accommodating the aforementioned projection; and engagement portions ( 200   a  and  200   b ,  201   a  and  201   b ) which engage with the ink container, on the top corners (Ta, Tb) on the manipulable elastic latch lever side.  
         [0183]    [0183]FIG. 38 is a top view of the protective member  200  for the black ink container  130 , and FIG. 38 depicts the packaged protective member  200  containing the black ink container  130 . FIG. 39( a ) is a side view of FIG. 38 as seen from the direction of an arrow mark A, and FIG. 39( b ) is a side view of FIG. 39( a ) as seen from the direction of an arrow mark B. FIG. 40 is a top view of the protective member  201  for the color ink container  140 , and FIG. 41 depicts the packaged protective member  201  containing the color ink container  140 . FIGS.  41 ( a ) and  41 ( b ) are a top view and a side view, respectively.  
         [0184]    Referring to FIGS. 39 and 41, during shipment or the like, the ink containers  130  and  140  are protected by the protective members  200  and  201 , respectively, and in addition, they are packed and sealed in envelopes  390  and  410 .  
         [0185]    At this time, the protective portions  200   c  and  201   c  formed on the protective members  200  and  201 , respectively, will be described. As shown in the drawings, they are tapered so that the top portion of the latch levers ( 142   a  in FIG. 41; not shown in FIG. 39), which are to be protected by the protective members  200  and  201 , are allowed to project slightly.  
         [0186]    The reason for such an arrangement is that, when separating the protective member from the ink container, it is liable for the protective portions  200   d  and  201   c  to be grasped, whether the entire lever is tightly fitted in the protective portion, or loosely. If the protective portion is grasped when the entire latch is tightly fitted in the protective portion, the protective portion itself sometimes breaks, and if the protective portion is grasped when the entire latch lever is loosely fitted therein, the latch lever may be inadvertently hooked by a finger, and the latch lever itself may be broken. In either case, such undesirable accidents occurs when the protective member is hard to remove from the ink container.  
         [0187]    In this embodiment, the protective portion is tapered to allow the top portion of the latch lever to project slightly, so that it is impossible to grasp the protective portion alone; therefore, occurrences of such undesirable incidents as described above are prevented.  
         [0188]    [0188]FIG. 42 illustrates the protective member of the black ink container  30 , wherein (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view. FIG. 43 depicts the packaged protective member  400  containing the black ink container  30 , wherein (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view. FIG. 44 depicts in detail the ink delivery port of the protective member  400  depicted in FIGS. 42 and 43, wherein (a) is a partial section; (b), an enlarged section; and (c) is a partial section of the protective member  400  and ink container, depicting how two components are connected.  
         [0189]    Also on the protective member  400 , engagement portions  400   a  and  400   b , a protective portion  400   c , and a recessed portion  400   f  are formed, which are similar to those on the protective members  200  and  201 . The protective portion  400   c  is also similar to those of the protective members  200  and  201  in that it is also formed to allow the latch lever  32   a  to project slightly when the latch lever is fitted in the protective portion  400   c , and in that it is sealed in an enveloped when handled. The protective member  400  is different from the protective members  200  and  201  illustrated in FIG. 31, only in that an O-ring  401  is provided on the ink delivery port covering portion since the ink container, with which the protective member  400  is engaged, is the black ink container  30 , which has a large ink capacity.  
         [0190]    It was previously described that the ink delivery port covering members  200   e  and  201   e , as the ink absorbing sheets of caps, were formed on the protective members  200  and  201 , on the portions which come in contact with the ink container bottom, on the basis of the ink capacity of the ink container with which they are engaged (in this case, it is acceptable, needless to say, to paste the ink absorbing sheet onto the ink container itself, and place the ink delivery port covering member on the protective member). However, in the case of the ink container  30  which stores a large volume of the ink, the O-ring is used to seal more reliably.  
         [0191]    Next, referring to FIG. 44, the structure of the protective member  400  will be described.  
         [0192]    As illustrated in FIG. 44( a ), a projection is formed on the protective members  400 , at the location which corresponds to the ink delivery port area of the ink container  30 , and an O-ring  401  is fitted around this projection. On the top surface of the O-ring  401 , grooves  441  are provided to improve the sealing performance of the O-ring.  
         [0193]    [0193]FIG. 44( b ), which is an enlarged view of the edge portion  442 , shows how this O-ring  401  is attached to the protective member  400 ; after the O-ring  401  is fitted around the projection, the top of the projection is thermally deformed to retain the O-ring in a crimping manner.  
         [0194]    Referring to FIG. 44( c ), the diameter ø of the projection illustrated in FIG. 44( a ) is substantially the same as the diameter of the ink delivery port of the ink container  444  protected by the protective member. the height h of the projection is set to be such that, when the protective member is engaged with the ink container  444 , the projection comes as close as possible to a compressed member  443 , without touching it, which is placed within the ink container to absorb and retain the ink. More specifically, it is set to be no more than 0.2 mm. this is due to the following reason. That is, if the gap between the tip of the projection and the compressed member  442  is excessively large, the ink tends to accumulate in this gap when the ink container is dropped or when the like incident occurs, and the accumulated ink may lead to accidents; for example, the accumulated ink is liable to be splashed from the ink delivery port when the protective member is removed. This is particularly true with a large capacity ink container such as the ink container  30 , since the large capacity ink container has a large ink delivery port.  
         [0195]    In this embodiment, the height of the projection is set to be no more than 0.2 mm so that the ink is prevented from accumulating in the gap formed between the projection tip and compressed member  443 ; therefore, the aforementioned accident can be prevented.  
         [0196]    Next, referring to FIGS. 32, 33 and  34 , the characteristic pertaining to the ink container configurations will be described. Each ink container comprises a manipulable elastic latch lever, which is located on one of the lateral walls, and has a latch claw. As for the distance C, which the latch claw travels when it clicks (hereinafter, a clicking amount C), it is 0.9 mm in the case of the ink container  130  (FIG. 32( c ), and is 0.7 mm in the case of the ink container  140  (FIG. 34( c )). In either case, it is no more than 1 mm; the distance C for the ink container  130  (FIG. 33) is not shown. Though FIG. 32 does not illustrates how the latch claw engages with the ink container holder. FIG. 33( f ) and FIG. 34( f ) illustrate it; in either case, a separation distance TR, that is, the distance between the inward facing surface of the latch lever, and the container surface, on which the latch lever is located, is 2 mm for all containers.  
         [0197]    If this clicking amount C is increased, the overall size of the container, as well as the size of the carriage on which the container is mounted, must be increased; therefore, the value of the clicking amount C is preferred to be no more than 1 mm. As for the value of the separation distance TR, it is necessary for this distance to be proportional to the clicking amount C, and also to be optimized; otherwise, the clicking amount C cannot be cleared, and/or clicking itself cannot occur. In consideration of such a situation, this embodiment was designed so that the clicking amount C satisfies the following requirement: 3C≧TR(C=0.7); 2C≧TR(C=0.9). With such an arrangement, the latch lever reliably engages with a sound and feel of clicking, and also, the separation is simple and reliable. Further, it was discovered that the separating operation was reliable when the value of the TR is no less than 1.5 times the clicking amount C.  
         [0198]    To sum up, the ink container in accordance with this embodiment comprises an ink delivery port, formed on the bottom wall for delivering the recording ink stored therein, and mounted into an ink container holder, or dismounted therefrom, by means of engaging the latch claw with the engagement portion of the holder in which the ink container is mounted, wherein the clicking amount C, which the latch claw travels to engage with the engagement portion, is no more than 1 mm, and the separation distance TR between the inward facing side of the projection tip and the container surface satisfies: 1.5C≦TR≦3C. With the employment of this structure, the ink capacity of the ink container can be maximized in the available space without complicating the structures of the holder and carriage, and also, space necessary for manipulating the latch or latch lever can be minimized, while making the mounting or dismounting operation more reliable.  
         [0199]    A more preferable condition is for the separation distance TR to satisfy: 2C≦TR≦3C.  
         [0200]    Further, it was discovered that in the case of a single chamber ink container as illustrated in FIG. 32( b ), when the distance  211  between the outward facing surface of the manipulable elastic latch lever and the container lateral wall, on which the latch lever was anchored, was set to be no more than 10.0 mm (for example, 9.0 mm in FIG. 32( b ), and 8.8 mm in FIG. 34( b )), the latch lever engaged with a distinct sound and feel of clicking, improving mounting or dismounting efficiency.  
         [0201]    Further, referring to FIG. 32( c ), in order to minimize the container size, and improve operational efficiency, the manipulable tab  208  of the elastic latch lever is tapered. That is, the manipulable tab  208  surface (tapered surface  210 ) facing the lateral wall of the container is slanted in such a manner that the top portion of the manipulable tab  208  surface moves away from the lateral wall, at an angle which allows the tapered surface to be flatly placed in contact with the lateral wall of the container.  
         [0202]    When the manipulable latch lever is placed on the lateral wall of the ink container as it is in this embodiment, it is preferable that the lever is durable to withstand repeated manipulation. Such durability can be realized by constructing the latch lever as illustrated in FIG. 32( c ), that is, by means of bending the latch lever portion  209 , adjacent to the latch claw, toward the lateral wall of the container. Needless to say, this structure is applied to each container as shown in FIG. 33( c ) or FIG. 34( c ). When the angle between this bent portion and the lateral wall is no more than 20 deg. (15 deg. for each container in this embodiment), the structure is more practical and durable.  
         [0203]    When the manipulable elastic latch lever is formed of inexpensive material, the latch lever strength is reduced. As for the means for strengthening the structure of such a latch lever, it is preferable that the latch lever thickness at the longitudinal center line portion is increased in the direction of the bend.  
         [0204]    When attention was paid to the correlation between the size reduction of the ink container itself and the ink delivery performance, it was discovered that the dimension of the ink retaining surrounding area of the ink delivery port as shown in FIG. 36 affected, to a certain degree, the ink delivery performance in the gravity direction, This discovery was strictly limited to a flat ink container comprising an ink delivery port located on the bottom wall, and an ink delivery member which is constituted of a bundle of unidirectional fiber, and is placed within the ink delivery port.  
         [0205]    When the container height (thickness) SH from the surface F, which is the interface between the ink delivery member and ink absorbing member, was no more than 20 mm, the following characteristic manifested. Referring to FIG. 36,  11 - 14  represent maximum distances from the periphery of the interface F to the corners of the ink container containing the ink. As is evident from the drawing,  11 - 14  are not equal; therefore, there is a concern in that the ink may not be uniformly delivered.  
         [0206]    However, as long as the relationship between the distance  1 , from the interface to the corner, and the SH, satisfies the following formula, at least in two directions, the ink container size could be reduced in a space efficient manner while maintaining preferable ink deliver performance:  
         SH≦1≦2.5×SH  
         [0207]    Referring to FIG. 45, a reference numeral  1000  designates an ink absorbing member (sponge or the like). It practically fills the entire internal space of the flat ink container, including the surrounding area of the unidirectional ink delivery member  1002  of the ink delivery port region, and the space thereabove. Reference numerals  1001  and  1003  designate guiding members which allow the ink delivery member  1002  to move. The ink delivery performance of the flat ink container is preferable when the ratio of the height H of the ink absorbing member portion, occupying the space above the ink delivery member  1002 , to the h of the ink delivery member  1002 , is within a predetermined range. More specifically, when the maximum and minimum values of this height H satisfy the following formula, the container offers a preferable ink delivery characteristic:  
         h≦H≦4h  
         [0208]    When H is no more than h, the ink cannot be sufficiently collected toward the ink delivery port, and when H exceeds 4 h, the ink delivery performance itself does not deteriorate, but such a configuration cannot satisfy the requirement for a small and flat ink container.  
         [0209]    Parenthetically, each ink container, the measurement of which is given FIG. 32, 33 or  34 , satisfies:  
         h≦H≦2h (FIG.  32 )  
         1.45h=H (FIG.  33 )  
         3.5h=H (FIG.  34 )  
         [0210]    All of these ink containers satisfy: h≦H≦4 h; therefore, they can stably deliver the ink, and also, the unusable amount of the ink within the ink container can be reduced compared to the conventional ink container.  
         [0211]    [0211]FIG. 46 is a conceptual drawing describing the amount of the unidirectional ink delivery member movement, that is, the distance β which the bottom surface of the ink delivery member  1002  moves upward from its location prior to the ink container installation, by being pushed by the ink tapping tube when the ink container is mounted in the holder. The ink absorbing member  1000  is also affected by this movement; it is compressed by +β. When the amount of compression is too small, the ink absorbing member and unidirectional fiber bundle do not make satisfactory contact, but when excessively large, the capillarity of the. ink absorbing member becomes larger than that of unidirectional fiber bundle, failing to deliver a sufficient amount of the ink. In either case, the ink container cannot offer a satisfactory ink delivery performance.  
         [0212]    The ink container can offer a referable ink delivery performance when β satisfies the following requirement:  
         0.1mm≦β≦0.5mm  
         [0213]    For example, in the case of the ink container illustrated in FIG. 33, 34 or  35 , the distance β which the bottom surface of the ink delivery member  1002  moves when the ink container is mounted in the holder as illustrated in FIG. 28 is 0.3 mm for all three containers, which satisfies the aforementioned condition; therefore, local contact failure between the absorbing member  1000  and ink delivery member  1002  as illustrated in FIG. 45 can be reliably prevented, and the ink absorbing member is not compressed excessively. As a result, the ink distribution within the ink absorbing member is not affected unnecessarily.  
         [0214]    Referring to FIG. 47, a reference numeral  1004  designates the ink container surface on which a seal ring  61  is placed, and a Greek reference a designates the distance from the surface  1004  to the location of the bottom surface of the ink delivery member prior to the ink container installation. The distance a is preferred to satisfy the following predetermined condition:  
         0.3mm≦α≦0.8mm  
         [0215]    When this condition is satisfied, the leaked ink can be satisfactorily disposed with the absorbing member placed in the cap (protective member)  200 , even if an unexpected situation forces the ink to leak from the ink delivery port while the ink container is in storage. If the distance a is excessively small, the ink delivery member  1002  is liable to be excessively exposed to the outside, inviting the adhesion of foreign matter. In the case of the ink container in FIG. 33, 34 or  35 , the distance a is 0.5 mm, 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm, correspondingly.  
         [0216]    When the contact pressure N, with which the ink tapping tube  60   d  ( 160   d ) on the holder side is pressed onto the filter  62  placed at the end portion of the aforementioned unidirectional ink delivery member  1002 , satisfies the following predetermined condition, the ink container can offer a preferable ink delivery performance, and also, ink consumption can be improved:  
         40gf/mm 2 ≦N≦80gf/mm 2    
         [0217]    When the contact pressure N is too small, the flow of the ink from the ink container to the recording head is liable to be interrupted, whereas, when it is too much, the unidirectional ink delivery member excessively compresses the ink absorbing member, changing the capillary structure of the ink absorbing member into such a structure that interferes with the ink flow. When the ink containers illustrated in FIG. 32, 33 and  34  are mounted in the holder illustrated in FIG. 28, the contact pressures N maintained by the aforementioned latching structure are 56 gf/mm 2  , 69 gf/mm 2  and 66 gf/mm 2  for both containers, correspondingly, which can offer the above effects. Practically speaking, it is more preferable for the contact pressure N to be no less than 50 gf/mm 2  and no more than 56 gf/mm 2  as it is in this embodiment.  
         [0218]    [0218]FIG. 49 is an explanatory drawing for describing one of the conditions for maintaining a preferable ink delivery performance. In the drawing, alphabetic references LX and LO designate perpendiculars drawn from the centers O 4  of the ink delivery port of the ink container and the center O 3  of the area where the filter located at the ink tapping tube of the head makes contact, to the imaginary line connecting the centers O 1  and O 2  of the acting portions of the opposing walls of the ink container, and MX designates the maximum distance from the ink delivery portion to the imaginary line (in the case of the aforementioned ink container illustrated in FIG. 32( e ),  33 ( g ) or  34  ( c ), the imaginary line is equivalent to the line connecting the center of the latch portion and the center of the claw).  
         [0219]    It is preferable that a least one of the distances represented by the perpendiculars LX and LO, respectively, and the maximum distance MX, more preferably, all of these distances, are no more than 10 mm. When this condition is satisfied, the reaction from the force which works on the surface AF and BF during the installation of the ink container effectively works to press the ink delivery portion, and the ink tapping tube of the head side, against each other, assuring thereby satisfactory connection between the two components. When this condition is to satisfied, the reaction force sometimes fails to join satisfactorily the ink delivery port of the ink container, and the ink tapping tube of the head. In addition to this dimensional condition, the ink delivery port is preferred to be on the aforementioned imaginary line as depicted in FIG. 32 or  33 .  
         [0220]    More specifically, with the latching portion being in place for a recording operation, the distance from the center in FIG. 32 is 1 mm, the maximum being 6 mm, and the ink delivery port is on the imaginary line. Also in FIG. 33, the distance from the center is 1 mm, the maximum being 6 mm, and the ink delivery port is on the imaginary line. Further, in FIG. 34, the distances from the centers of the ink delivery ports Y, M and C are 2.5 mm, 7.0 mm, and 7.0 mm, the maximum being 4.5 mm, 9.0 mm and 9.0 mm, correspondingly. In the case of this second aspect of the present invention, the internal structure of the ink delivery port is optional, and the same effects can be obtained with the absorbing member alone. When these numerical conditions are synergistically satisfied, the ink is more preferably delivered.  
         [0221]    [0221]FIG. 50 and the rest of the drawings depict the modifications of the ink container holder and ink container, as well as the methods for mounting these modified ink containers in the modified ink container holders.  
         [0222]    In the case of the modification example illustrated in FIG. 50, the ink container in the holder does not have the latching member or the latching claw; the ink container is held in the ink holder, with the use of a cover member  1005 , the top wall of which is warped in the direction to press the ink container. The cover member has engagement portions  1005   b  and  1005   a , which engage with an overhang portion  60   f  and an engagement hole, respectively. When the ink container is mounted, these portions engage each other, and the warped portion presses the ink container.  
         [0223]    With the provision of the above structure, the ink container can be simply and reliably mounted without forming the claw portion and projection on the ink container itself.  
         [0224]    In the case of the modification example illustrated in FIG. 51, the cover member itself does not presses the ink container. Instead, the ink container is pressed by a spring  1007  placed between the cover member  1006  and ink container. Also in this example, the engagement portions  1006   a  and  1006   b  engage with the ink container holder, and the ink container is reliably held down by the spring  1007 .  
         [0225]    In the case of the modification illustrated in FIG. 52, only the claw portion is formed on the ink container, and the latching member is replaced with a pressing member  1008  which engages with the ink container holder. When the ink container is in the holder as illustrated in the drawing, the pressing member  1008  holds one end of the ink container, whereby the ink container is stabilized in the holder.  
         [0226]    In the case of the example illustrated in FIG. 53, the ink container is cut away by a small piece, at the top corner portion opposite to the claw side, and a stopper  1009  composed of elastic material is inserted into the cutaway portion, to stabilize the ink container.  
         [0227]    In the case of the example illustrated in FIG. 54, the ink container is held by a retainer  1010  like the protective member  400  illustrated in FIG. 42.  
         [0228]    In the case of the example illustrated in FIG. 55, neither the latching portion nor the claw portion is formed on the ink container, but instead, a recessed portion  1013  is formed on the lateral surfaces. When the ink container is in the holder, the ink container is stabilized by an elastic member  1011  pinched between the surfaces of the ink holder and recessed portion.  
         [0229]    In FIGS.  56 - 59 , further modifications of the ink container are illustrated. Their descriptions will be given below.  
         [0230]    The ink container illustrated in FIG. 56 is provided with a recess  1014 , which is located in the area toward which the latching portion is bent. This arrangement improves operational efficiency when mounting the ink container.  
         [0231]    The ink container illustrated in FIG. 57 has cutaway portions  1016  and  1017 , on the front surface, relative to the inserting direction, so that it is easier to insert the ink container. Though this structure reduces the ink capacity, it improves operational efficiency when mounting the ink container.  
         [0232]    In the case of the ink container illustrated in FIG. 58, projections  1018  and  1019  are provided, which engage with the overhang portion when the ink container is mounted in the ink container holder with the overhang portion. The projections  1018  and  1019  come in contact with the bottom surface of the overhang portion, by the top surface of the portion projecting in the inserting direction. The top surface has two upward projections, which serve as stoppers for positioning the ink container.  
         [0233]    [0233]FIG. 59 depicts an ink container  1020 , which has nothing but a claw portion like the one illustrated in FIG. 54.  
         [0234]    Below, more structures for mounting the ink container will be described.  
         [0235]    [0235]FIG. 60 depicts an ink container, to which a differently structured latch lever is applied. FIGS.  61  is a sectional view of the ink container illustrated in FIG. 60.  
         [0236]    This ink container  30  is a modification of the ink container depicted in FIG. 14. It integrally comprises a latch lever  32   a , the top end of which is elastically supported on a cover member  31 , at the top end portion opposite to a disengagement prevention claw  32   d . This latch lever  32   a  is slanted in the down and outward direction, and engages with the latch lever accommodating (guide) groove  60   h  of the mono-color holder  60 . When the ink container  30  is in the mono-color holder  60 , the latch lever  32   a  is under the pressure from the latch lever guide portion  60   m , that is, the top end portion of the latch lever accommodating groove  60   h , being bent in the direction indicated by an arrow mark C in FIG. 14, and a latch claw  32   e  formed at the bottom end portion of the latch lever  32   a  is engaged with the latch claw engagement hole  60   j  formed in the latch lever accommodating groove  60   h . Further, the latch lever  32   a  integrally comprises a latch lever knob  32   g , which is a projection to be used for manipulating the latch lever  32 . In this embodiment, the latch lever  32   a  is integrally formed on the cover member  31 .  
         [0237]    On the top surface of the cover member  31 , a stepped portion  31   a , which is one step lower than the top surface of the cover member  31 , is formed at the end portion on the disengagement prevention claw  32   d  side. When mounting the ink container  30  in the mono-color holder  60 , the ink container  30  is insert in such a manner as to place this stepped portion  31   a  under the overhang portions  60   f  of the mono-color holder  60  (FIGS. 11 and 12), so that the ink container position is fixed with substantial accuracy. Also, an ink container projection  32   b , which engages with the ink container projection guide portion  60   g  of the mono-color holder  60 , is formed on the ink container  60 .  
         [0238]    [0238]FIG. 62 is a sectional view of the monocolor holder  60 , and the ink container  30  in the holder  60 . In this drawing, the internal structure of the ink container  30  is omitted.  
         [0239]    When the ink container  30  is in the holder  60 , the disengagement prevention claw  32   d  and ink container disengagement prevention hole  60   i  are engaged, and also, the latch claw  32   e  and latch claw engagement hole  60   j  are engaged. Therefore, the ink container  30  is pressed down (in the direction of an arrow), compressing the seal ring  61  by the bottom surface. As a result, the filter  62  is pressed against the ink absorbing member  35 , and the ink container  30  is airtightly connected to the mono-color holder  60 , eliminating the concern for the air introduction through the joint. Therefore, a reliable recording performance can be assured. In addition, the ink leak and ink evaporation from the joint can be also prevented; therefore, it is possible to provide a highly reliable recording head cartridge.  
         [0240]    Next, referring to FIGS. 62 and 63, how the ink container  30  is removed from the mono-color holder  60  will be described.  
         [0241]    When removing the ink container  30  from the mono-color holder  60 , the latch lever  32   a  is pushed in by depressing the latch lever knob  32   g , so that the engagement between the latch claw  32   e  and latch claw engagement hole  60   j  is broken. The latch lever  32   a  is elastically supported by the top end portion, and also is slanted in the down and outward direction of the ink container  30 ; therefore, as the latch claw  32   e  is disengaged from the latch claw engagement hole  60   j , the latch claw  32   e  tries restore itself to the state illustrated in FIG. 61. Consequently, the latch claw  32   e  slides up along the latch lever guide portion  60   m , automatically raising the latch lever  32   a  side of the ink container  30 , and thereby, tilting the ink container  30 . In this state, the ink container  30  can be easily dismounted from the mono-color holder  60  just by grasping the raised portion.  
         [0242]    In this case, the amount of the ink container  30  projection from the mono-color holder is determined by the configuration of the latch lever  33   e . In this embodiment, after the latch claw  32   e  is disengaged from the latch claw engagement hole  60   j , the tip of the latch lever  32   a  and the latch lever guide portion  60  are in contact with each other as shown in FIG. 63; therefore, the amount of the projection is substantially equivalent to the distance L between the latch claw  32   e  and the tip of the latch lever  32   a . This distance L is 4 mm in this embodiment. However, according to the experiments by the inventors of the present invention, it was rather difficult to grasp the raised portion unless the distance L is no less than 3 mm. When the amount of the projection is large, the ink container  30  restores itself to the state illustrated in FIG. 63 if the engagement between the latch claw  32   e  and latch claw engagement hole  60   j  is incomplete when the ink container  30  is mounted in mono-color holder  60 ; therefore, it is possible to determine visually whether or not the ink container  30  is properly mounted, preventing a mounting error.  
         [0243]    [0243]FIGS. 64 and 65 show further embodiments of the recording head cartridge mountable on the carriage illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 64 is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 65 is a sectional view thereof.  
         [0244]    In this embodiment, the configurations of a latch lever  532   a  and latch lever guide portion  560   m  are different from those of the first embodiment. That is, the latch claw  532   e  of the latch lever  532   a  is formed to face inward, and engages with the latch claw engagement hole  560   j  in the inward direction. Further, the latch lever knob  532   g  extends upward. On the other hand, the tapered portion of the latch lever guide portion  560   m  is on the outward facing surface.  
         [0245]    In this embodiment, the steps for mounting the ink container  530  into the mono-color holder  560  are the same as those of the first embodiment; therefore, only the steps for dismounting the ink container  530  from the mono-color holder  560  will be described.  
         [0246]    In order to remove the ink container  530  from the mono-color holder  560 , first, the top end portion of the latch lever knob  532   g  is pushed in (in the direction of an arrow mark in the drawing). With this action, the latch claw  532   e  is bent outward due to the principle of leverage, and disengaged from the latch claw engagement hole  560   j . Then, the end portion of the latch claw  532   e  slides up along the tapered surface of the latch lever guide portion  560   m , causing the ink container  530  to project from the mono-color holder  60 . At this point, the ink container  530  can be easily dismounted from the mono-color holder  560  by grasping this projection portion as described in the first embodiment.  
         [0247]    In this embodiment, after the latch claw  32   e  is disengaged from the latch claw engagement hole  560   j , the tip of the latch lever  532   a  is in contact with the latch lever guide portion  560   m , though not illustrated. Therefore, the amount of the ink container  530  projection is determined by the distance L between the latch claw  532   e  and the tip of the latch lever  532   a.    
         [0248]    [0248]FIG. 66 illustrates the modified configuration of the ink container latch lever. The latch lever knob portion  632   g  of the latch lever  632   a  depicted in FIG. 66( a ) is constituted of two knobs, like a square piller, disposed with a predetermined distance. In the case of the latch lever knob portion  732   g  of the latch lever  752   a  illustrated in FIG. 66( b ), a through hole is cut at the base portion, in the middle. When the latch lever knob portions  632   g  and  732   g  are given such a configuration that has a gap at the base, between their piller-like portions, it is easy to simplify the structure of the mold to be used for forming the cover member integral with the latch lever  632   a  and  732   a.    
         [0249]    Since the present invention is structured as described above, it offers the following effects.  
         [0250]    When the ink container in accordance with the present invention is mounted, the slanted surface formed at the edge portion, where the bottom wall and one of the lateral walls join, is used to engage the claw-like projection, formed on the aforementioned lateral wall, into the disengagement prevention hole of the ink container holder, and also is used to engage the latch lever, supported elastically on another lateral wall opposite to the wall with the claw-like projection, with the engagement hole of the ink container holder; in other words, the ink container can be accurately positioned and held in the ink container holder, using the simple structure and through the simple operation. In addition, when mounting the ink container into the ink container holder or dismounting it, the ink container is rotated about the side with the projection; therefore, it can be mounted or dismounted using a smaller space.  
         [0251]    A stepped portion to be placed under the overhang portion of the ink container holder is formed on the top surface of the ink container; therefore, the claw-like projection can be easily aligned with the engagement prevention hole.  
         [0252]    The projection, which is to be engaged into the recessed portion of the ink container holder, is formed on the both lateral walls of the ink container, at the top end portion; therefore, the claw-like projection and disengagement prevention hole can be easily aligned, and also, the latch claw can be easily engaged with the engagement hole.  
         [0253]    The latch lever is supported at the bottom portion of the ink container, and slanted or bent in the up and outward direction; therefore, when the ink container is dismounted from the ink container holder, the latch lever side of the ink container rises following the inclined or curved surface of the latch lever, projecting from the ink container holder, making it easier to remove the ink container from the ink container holder.  
         [0254]    When the colors of the inks stored within the ink container are different from each other, the ink delivery ports correspondent to these inks are aligned in the direction from one ink container end to the other end; therefore, when the ink container is mounted in the ink container holder, the ink delivery ports and the correspondent ink tapping means of the ink container holder are sequentially joined as the ink container is rotated, reliably connecting the two components.  
         [0255]    When the ink container in accordance with the present invention is mounted in the ink container holder in accordance with the present invention, the ink container is inserted in such a manner as to placing the container under the overhang portion which partially covers the opening of the ink container holder, so that the claw-like projection of the ink container is engaged with the disengagement prevention hole formed in one of the lateral walls of the ink container holder, and the latch lever of the ink container is engaged with the engagement hole formed in the opposite lateral wall; therefore, the ink container can be accurately positioned and retained, using the simple structure, and through the simple operation. In addition, when the ink container is mounted or dismounted, the ink container is rotated about the ink container lateral wall with the claw-like projection; therefore, the ink container can be mounted or dismounted using a smaller space.  
         [0256]    A recessed portion, with which the projection formed on the ink container engages, is formed on both lateral walls of the ink container holder, at the top ends; therefore, when the ink container is mounted, it is regulated where in the ink container holder the ink container is to be mounted, making it easier to align the claw-like projection with the disengagement prevention hole.  
         [0257]    A latch lever guide groove, with which the latch lever engages, is formed, and an engagement hole is formed in this latch lever guide groove; therefore, when the ink container is mounted, the latch lever is pushed in along the latch lever guide groove, causing the latch claw to engage easily with the engagement hole. In addition, the latch lever is elastically supported at the bottom portion of the ink container, being slanted or bent in the up and outward direction; therefore when the ink container is removed, the latch lever side of the ink container rises along the slanted or curved surface of the latch lever, forcing the container to project from the ink container holder, and thereby, making it easier to remove the ink container.  
         [0258]    Pressing means for pressing the latch lever side of the ink container bottom toward the opening of the ink container holder is provided on the bottom wall of the opening; therefore, when the latch claw is disengaged from the engagement hole, the ink container is projected more, making the ink container. to be removed more easily.  
         [0259]    When the ink container contains a plurality of inks of different colors, and the ink container and ink container holder comprises the corresponding number of ink deliver ports and ink tapping means, respectively, the ink tapping means are arranged in the direction from one of the lateral walls of the ink container holder to the other; therefore, the joints between the ink delivery ports and ink tapping means are stabilized.  
         [0260]    Partitioning plates are placed in the ink container holder to divide the internal space of the ink container holder into a plurality of sub-spaces; therefore, a plurality of the ink containers can be mounted, allowing the inks to be efficiently used. In this case, matching slanted surfaces are formed on the ink containers and corresponding ink container holders, respectively; therefore, the ink containers are prevented from being mounted in the wrong space.  
         [0261]    The ink container holder is integrally formed with a recording head, realizing a recording head cartridge in which the ink container is removably mountable. When this recording head cartridge is rendered removably mountable on the carriage, it is applicable to ink jet recording apparatuses of the serial type.  
         [0262]    Not only positioning means for determining the positional relationship between the ink container holder and carriage is provided on the outward facing surface of one of the ink container lateral walls, and also, a recessed engagement portion, which engages with a guide member elastically supported on the carriage, is formed on the outward facing surface of the opposite lateral wall; therefore, the ink container holder can be mounted on the carriage through the same steps as those used for mounting the ink container in the ink container holder. That is, the ink container holder can be mounted on the carriage by means of pushing the opposite lateral wall side onto the carriage in such a manner as to rotate the ink container holder about the positioning means side; therefore, the ink container holder can be accurately positioned and retained on the carriage, using a smaller space.  
         [0263]    In this case, the reliable contact can be assured between the head terminal and carriage terminal by means of arranging the head terminal and the engagement portion in a straight line in parallel to the lateral wall of the ink container holder.  
         [0264]    A holder manipulating tab is provided on the outward facing surface of the exposed lateral wall of the holder; therefore, the ink container holder can be easily removed. Further, the latch claw engagement hole and the tab are staggered; therefore, it is possible to prevent the mixup between the operation for removing the ink container from the ink container holder and the operation for removing the ink container holder from the carriage.  
         [0265]    A manipulable tab for mounting the ink container holder on the carriage, or removing it, is formed on the ink container holder, in the recessed portion, that is, the recessed portion relative to the portion which is projected outward to form the latch lever accommodating portion; therefore, it is unnecessary to create specially a space, in which an operator places a finger when mounting the ink container holder onto the carriage, or removing it. Consequently, it is possible to simplify the structure of the portion to be manipulated when the holder is mounted on carriage or removed, as well as to reduce the ink container holder size. In particular, when this manipulable portion is formed at the. top portion of the recessed portion, the mounting or removing operation can be more easily carried out.  
         [0266]    Further, when this manipulable portion is formed on the surface provided with the fixing portion to be held by the carriage when the ink container holder is on the carriage, at the location farthest away from this fixing portion; therefore, the ink container holder can be securely held by the carriage, while allowing the ink container holder to be mounted on the carriage or removed, by a less force, making the mounting or removing operation easier.  
         [0267]    The manipulable knob portion for mounting or removing the ink container, and the manipulable tab portion for mounting the ink container holder on the carriage or removing it, are disposed on the same side, relative to the moving direction of the carriage, concentrating the manipulable portions; therefore, the mounting or removing operation is easier whether the ink container is involved or the ink container holder. In addition, as long as a space usable for the operator to manipulate the ink container or ink container holder is available on the side of the manipulable portions, the mounting or removing operation can be carried out wherever the carriage is located. In this case, when the manipulable portion for the mounting or removing operation of the ink container is disposed above the manipulable portion for mounting the ink container holder on the carriage or removing it, the ink container, which is more frequently mounted or removed, can be more easily mounted or removed. In particular, a plurality of ink containers can be mounted on the ink container holder, the manipulable portions of the ink containers are arranged in the same straight line; therefore, a compact and logical design can be realized, and also, the size can be reduced.  
         [0268]    The carriage in accordance with the present invention removably holds the ink container holder integral with a recording head, among the ink container holder in accordance with the present invention; therefore, the ink container holder can be simply mounted or removed, using a smaller space.  
         [0269]    As for the ink container holder removably mountable on such a carriage, any ink container holder is acceptable as long as it comprises positioning means, an electrical terminal portion, and a guide member, and their positional relationship is in accordance with the present invention. For example, the color recording head and monochrome recording head can be optionally used. In particular, when the ink container holder with the manipulable tab portion is mounted on the carriage, the manipulable portion of the ink container, that is, the latch lever, and the manipulable tab portion of the ink container holder, are disposed on the same side relative to the moving direction of the carriage; therefore, the relationship between the mounting and dismounting operations becomes coherent, improving operational efficiency, and also, such an arrangement is superior in terms of design.  
         [0270]    An overhang portion, which partially covers the top surface of the ink container holder when the ink container holder is on the carriage, is formed on the carriage, on the surface facing the outward facing surface of one of the lateral walls of the ink container holder, opposite to the manipulable portions; therefore, the ink container holder and carriage can be more easily aligned. In addition, with the presence of the overhang portion, it is difficult for the operator&#39;s finger or the like to contact the terminal portion or the like; in other words, the carriage terminal can be protected.  
         [0271]    Further, the ink jet recording apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises two bearing portions and two clasping portions, as the supporting means for supporting the carriage in the recording apparatus reciprocatively, wherein the gap between the two components constituting the clasping portion closer to the guide member is rendered larger than that of the other clasping portion; therefore, the carriage is prevented from being excessively deformed, when the ink container holder is mounted or dismounted, eliminating one of the operational problems.  
         [0272]    Since the ink jet recording apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises the carriage in accordance with the present invention, the space necessary for mounting the ink container holder on the carriage or removing it, or mounting the ink container into the ink container holder or removing it, can be smaller. Consequently, it is possible to realize a smaller ink jet recording apparatus. Further, the ink container is accurately positioned in the ink container holder, and the ink container holder is accurately positioned on the carriage; therefore, it is possible to provide a highly reliable ink jet recording apparatus capable of producing high quality images.  
         [0273]    While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.