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:
Nov. 06, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 03, 2011
Tadashi Okano, Ibaraki, JP;
Tadashi Okano, Ibaraki, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
Disclosed is a liquid supplying apparatus including an ink cartridge, a sub-tank, nozzles, and an ink cartridge installation part. The ink cartridge has a first ink container and a second ink container. The first ink container has a holding member that has its position lowered. The second ink container has an operating member, a biasing unit, and a locking unit. The locking unit engages the operating member until the remaining amount of the ink is below a prescribed value and the holding member engages the locking unit. The locking unit releases engagement of the operating member when the remaining amount of ink is below the prescribed value and the holding member engages the locking unit. The operating member protrudes from the ink cartridge installation part and is opened to the position allowing the operation on the ink cartridge when the engagement with the locking unit is released.