Ink jet apparatus and ink jet cartridge therefor

Abstract

An ink cartridge detachably mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus, the ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head includes an ink container for containing the ink; and an adaptor having a receptor for detachably receiving the ink container and an information medium for storing information relating to the ink, the information being transmitted to the ink jet recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is mounted therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ink cartridge detachably mountable to an ink jet recording apparatus, said ink cartridge containing ink to be supplied to a recording head, comprising: an ink cassette for containing said ink, said ink cassette being provided with a portion for preventing erroneous mounting; and   an . .adaptor.!. .Iadd.adapter .Iaddend.having a receptor for detachably receiving said ink cassette and an information medium for storing information relating to said ink, said information being transmitted to said ink jet recording apparatus when said ink cartridge is mounted therein, said receptor having a portion corresponding to said portion for preventing erroneous mounting.   
     
     
       2. . .An apparatus.!. .Iadd.A cartridge .Iaddend.according to claim 1, wherein said ink cassette has an integral ink absorbing material for accommodating residual ink ejected to maintain and recover ink ejection from said recording head, said absorbing material being mounted to said adapter together with said ink cassette. 
     
     
       3. . .An apparatus.!. .Iadd.A cartridge .Iaddend.according to claim 2, wherein said adapter has a partition member between said ink cassette and a portion for accommodating said ink absorbing material. 
     
     
       4. . .An apparatus.!. .Iadd.A cartridge .Iaddend.according to claim 1, wherein a side wall of said cassette is provided with a grip projection for facilitating mounting and dismounting thereof relative to said ink cartridge, and wherein the projection also functions as a guiding rail for mounting of said ink cartridge. 
     
     
       5. . .An apparatus.!. .Iadd.A cartridge .Iaddend.according to claim 1, wherein the information medium bears information relating to a driving condition of said recording head. 
     
     
       6. An ink cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said adapter has a guiding portion at each side for guiding said ink cartridge when said cartridge is mounted to said ink jet apparatus. 
     
     
       7. An ink jet apparatus, comprising: an ink supply system for supplying ink from an ink cartridge containing said ink to be supplied to a recording head;   wherein said ink cartridge comprises an ink cassette for containing said ink, said ink cassette being provided with a portion for preventing erroneous mounting; and an adapter having a receptor for detachably receiving said ink cassette and an information medium for storing information relating to said ink, said information being transmitted to said ink jet recording apparatus when said ink cartridge is mounted therein, said receptor having a portion corresponding to said portion for preventing erroneous mounting;   a recovery system for maintaining and recovering ink ejection from said recording head;   a receptor to which said ink cartridge is detachably mountable;   wherein said receptor is provided with a contact for electrically contacting said information medium to read said information, wherein said ink cartridge is detachably mountable to said ink jet apparatus.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising drive control means for driving the recording head in accordance with the information read. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said ink cartridge receptor is provided with a guiding member contactable with a projection formed on a side wall of a cassette including the ink container and an ink absorbing material, the projection being effective to facilitate mounting and dismounting of the cassette relative to the ink cartridge and also effective to limit an insertion position relative to said ink jet recording apparatus. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the recording head is provided with an electrothermal transducer for producing thermal energy to produce a bubble to eject the ink. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said ink cassette has an integral ink absorbing material for accommodating residual ink ejected to maintain and recover ink ejection from said recording head, said absorbing material being mounted to said adapter together with said ink cassette. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said adapter has a partition member between said ink cassette and a portion for accommodating said ink absorbing material. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said ink cartridge is electrically connected with pins to permit information transmission.