Ink-jet recording device and ink supply unit suitable for it
Ink maintained at a negative pressure state is supplied to an ink-jet recording head via an ink supply mechanism constructed as a differential pressure valve having a coil spring and a movable membrane normally contacted elastically with a valve seat by the coil spring.
1. An ink cartridge for use with an ink-jet recording apparatus, comprising:
an ink storage chamber storing ink therein;
an ink supply port communicating with the ink storage chamber, the ink supply port located and configured to supply ink from within the ink cartridge to the ink-jet recording apparatus, outside the cartridge;
a casing including:
a first side face having a first opening;
a second side face having a second opening, the second side face being opposite to the first side face;
an inner wall intersecting with the first side face and the second side face, the inner wall dividing an inner area of the ink cartridge into an upper area and a lower area;
an air port; and
an atmosphere communication recess defining an atmosphere communication path communicating the ink storage chamber with the air port; and
a first film and a second film respectively covering the first side face and the second side face, and respectively sealing the first opening and the second opening, so as to prevent ink from flowing out of the first or second opening, and so that the ink storage chamber is defined in part by the first film and the second film and so that the atmosphere communication path is defined in part by the at least one of the first film and the second film sealing the atmosphere communication recess in the upper area of at least one of the first side face and the second side face of the casing.
2. An ink cartridge as in claim 1 , wherein the frame also includes an atmosphere communication groove and the film seals at least a portion of the atmosphere communication groove to define an atmosphere communication passage.
3. An ink cartridge as in claim 2 , wherein the portion of the groove shaped to form a trap is located at a position lower than another portion of the groove.
4. An ink cartridge as in claim 1 , further comprising a film member that is both gas permeable and ink repellent, the film member being interposed between said atmosphere communication groove and said interior.