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:
Jul. 06, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2007
Applicant:
Yuichiro Hamano, Chiba, JP;
Inventor:
Yuichiro Hamano, Chiba, JP;
Assignee:
Seiko I Infotech Inc., , JP;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B41J 2/175 (2006.01); B41J 2/195 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
An ink cartridge has a flexible ink bag accommodated in a casing. A plate fixed to the ink bag moves together with deflation of the ink bag as the ink is consumed. A pin attached to the plate slides in a groove formed in a lever pivotally connected to the casing. A reflecting plate inside the casing reflects detection light projected from the outside through an opening in the casing to indicate that ink remains in the ink bag. As the ink nears complete consumption, the lever pivots to a position blocking the detection light from the reflecting plate thereby indicating that the ink has been used up.