Ink cartridge and recording apparatus

• US 7,029,104 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Toba, Koichi, Shinada, Satoshi, Sakai, Yasuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T.N.
• Application Number:
  US10/290,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 347/19, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically

Abstract

An ink cartridge which supplies ink to a recording apparatus, comprises an ink cartridge body for storing ink therein, a supply system for supplying the ink stored in the ink cartridge body to the recording apparatus, and an identification system that is provided for the ink cartridge body and includes data regarding the supply system for supplying the ink to the recording apparatus.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge which supplies ink to a recording apparatus, comprising:

an ink cartridge body for storing said ink therein;

one of an ink holding system and a differental presssure system, which is disposed in the ink cartridge body; and

an IC chip mounted on the ink cartridge body, the IC chip storing data indicative of whether the ink holding system is disposed in the ink cartridge.

2. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the IC chip stores data which specifies ink supply performance of the ink cartridge.

3. The ink cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the data stored in the IC chip specifies at least one of a flow rate of ink per unit time from the ink cartridge, an ink flow resistance caused during ink flow and a threshold of negative pressure value by which ink begins to flow from the ink cartridge.

4. The ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the IC chip indicates one of numerical values respectively specifying the ink holding system and the differential pressure system.

5. An ink cartridge which supplies ink to a recording apparatus, comprising:

a container storing the ink therein, and having an ink supply port and an air vent port; and

an IC chip attached to the container, and storing data indicative of whether a differential pressure valve or a foam is disposed between the ink supply port and the air vent port.

6. An ink cartridge compatible with a first recording apparatus optimized for a foam type ink cartridge and a second recording apparatus optimized for a differential pressure valve type ink cartridge, comprising:

a container storing the ink therein; and

an IC chip attached to the container, and storing a first control parameter to be supplied to the first recording apparatus for controlling the first recording apparatus and a second control parameter to be supplied to the second recording apparatus for controlling the second recording apparatus.

7. An ink cartridge, which supplies ink to a recording apparatus, comprising:

a container storing the ink therein, and having an ink supply port;

an IC chip attached to the container, and storing data indicative of a characteristic of a condition where ink is discharged from the ink supply port,

wherein the data includes at least one of a flow rate of ink per unit time from the ink cartridge, an ink flow resistance caused during ink flow, and a threshold of negative pressure value by which ink begins to flow from the ink cartridge.

8. The ink cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the IC chip stores data which indicates one of numerical values respectively specifying an ink holding system, a differrential pressure system and an ink bag system to which a biasing force is applicable.