(19)
(11) EP 1 466 740 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
02.02.2005 Bulletin 2005/05

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.10.2004 Bulletin 2004/42

(21) Application number: 04016566.4

(22) Date of filing: 27.09.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B41J 2/175
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR

(30) Priority: 28.03.2002 JP 2002090322
26.07.2002 JP 2002218192
01.08.2002 JP 2002225294
23.07.2002 JP 2002214079

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
02021659.4 / 1348558

(71) Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 467-8561 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Sasaki, Toyonori
    Mizuho-ku Nagoya-shi Aichi-ken 467-8561 (JP)
  • Iijima, Shota
    Mizuho-ku Nagoya-shi Aichi-ken 467-8561 (JP)

(74) Representative: Hofer, Dorothea, Dipl.-Phys. et al
Prüfer & Partner GbR Patentanwälte Harthauser Strasse 25 d
81545 München
81545 München (DE)

   


(54) Ink cartridge and recording device


(57) An ink cartridge (200) is used mounted in a recording device with a hollow needle (82), a lever, a protruding wall, and an optical sensor (170). The lever and the optical sensor are located on either side of the hollow needle, but closer to the opening through which the ink cartridge is mounted. The ink cartridge is formed with two grooves open (236,240) to the front and lower surfaces of the ink cartridge at positions that correspond to the protruding wall and the optical sensor. A light blocking member is disposed in the groove that corresponds to the optical sensor. When the ink cartridge is mounted into the recording device, one groove accommodates and is guided by the protruding wall. The other groove accommodates the sensor so that the light blocking member protrudes into the optical sensor. Also, the front surface of the ink cartridge abuts the lever, which uncovers the hollow needle so that ink supply hole in the front surface of the ink cartridge is inserted with the hollow needle.






Search report