Patent ID: 8152286

Claim:
An ink supply device comprising: an ink cartridge comprising: a casing; an ink chamber housed in the casing and configured to store ink therein; an ink valve mechanism comprising an ink valve configured, when opened, to supply ink from an interior of an ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber; and an air valve mechanism comprising an air valve, a particular elastic member configured to selectively close the air valve, and a cartridge-side projecting member projecting from the casing and configured to move relative to the casing, wherein the air valve is configured, when opened, to draw air from the exterior of the ink chamber into the interior of the ink chambers; a main body comprising a cartridge mount configured to removably receive the ink cartridge when the ink cartridge is inserted in an insertion direction, wherein the cartridge mount comprises: a first projecting member configured to open the ink valve when the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mount; and a second projecting member comprising an operating body and a further elastic member configured to be deformed such that the operating body retracts in the insertion direction, wherein when the ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mount and reaches a first position relative to the cartridge mount, the cartridge-side projecting member comes into contact with the operating body of the second projecting member, wherein when the ink cartridge is further inserted from the first position to a second position relative to the cartridge mount, the cartridge-side projecting member receives a force from the operating body of the second projecting member and moves relative to the casing of the ink cartridge in the direction opposite the insertion direction, wherein when the ink cartridge reaches the second position, the particular elastic member of the air valve mechanism is deformed and the air valve is opened as a result of the movement of the cartridge-side projecting member, and wherein when the ink cartridge is fully inserted to a third position from the second position relative to the cartridge mount, the air valve is kept open and the operating body retracts in the insertion direction by being pressed by the cartridge-side projecting member.