The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 07, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 02, 2007
Atsushi Nishioka, Nagano, JP;
Yukihiro Hanaoka, Nagano, JP;
Manabu Yamada, Nagano, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An ink tank includes a detector element that optically detects a condition of ink. The ink tank includes a first ink chamber adapted to be opened to an external environment. A second ink chamber communicates with the first ink chamber and includes a bottom surface with protrusions. A third ink chamber is disposed below the second ink chamber relative to a direction of gravity. The ink tank also includes an ink passage by which the second ink chamber communicates with the third ink chamber. An ink outlet communicates with the third ink chamber. The detector element is arranged so as to face at least one of the ink passage and the third ink chamber.