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US006948804B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,948,804 B2
Iida (45) Date of Patent: Sep. 27,2005
(54) INK CARTRIDGE FOR INK JET PRINTER
(75) Inventor: Yuji Iida, Nagano (JP)
(73) Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/383,328
(22) Filed: Mar. 7, 2003
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2003/0146959 Al Aug. 7, 2003
Related U.S. Application Data
(63) Continuation of application No. 10/273,663, filed on Oct. 17, 2002, which is a continuation of application No. 09/749, 325, filed on Dec. 27, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,550,901, which is a continuation of application No. 09/460,363, filed on Dec. 13, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,193,364, which is a continuation of application No. 08/548,574, filed on Oct. 26, 1995, now Pat. No. 6,000,788.
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Oct. 26, 1994 (JP) 6-287292
Sep. 11, 1995 (JP) 7-258101
(51) Int. C I. B41J 2/175
(52) U.S. C I 347/86
(58) Field of Search 347/85-87; 137/859,
137/845, 433; 251/354
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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3,176,712 A 4/1965 Ramsden
3,270,771 A 9/1966 Morgan et al.
3,354,902 A 11/1967 Obermaier
3,779,274 A 12/1973 Kelly
3,896,853 A 7/1975 Bernhard
3,941,149 A 3/1976 Mittleman
4,152,710 A 5/1979 Matsuba et al.
4,183,031 A 1/1980 Kyser et al.
An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer is provided with a container having at least a first wall. An ink supply port is formed through the first wall for supplying ink to the exterior of the container. An ink chamber and an ink supply chamber are formed by a membrane valve seat made of an elastic thin membrane and formed with a through hole therethrough. A valve body is positioned opposing the through hole formed in the membrane valve seat, the valve body and membrane valve seat adjacent said through hole formed therein being maintained selectively in contact by a pressure difference between said ink chamber and said ink supply chamber.
22 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
