초록 ▼

An ink cartridge includes an ink tank defining an ink chamber therein, in which the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, and an adapter configured to be coupled to the ink tank. The adapter and the ink tank are separate members, and the adapter includes a main body, and an operation porti

An ink cartridge includes an ink tank defining an ink chamber therein, in which the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein, and an adapter configured to be coupled to the ink tank. The adapter and the ink tank are separate members, and the adapter includes a main body, and an operation portion extending from the main body in a particular direction. When the adapter is coupled to the ink tank, the operation portion extends toward the ink tank and extends further in the particular direction than the ink tank.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ink cartridge assembly comprising: an ink cartridge with a front side, a rear side, and at least one other side defining an ink chamber therein, wherein the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein; andan adapter configured to be coupled to the front side of the ink cartridge and inserte

1. An ink cartridge assembly comprising: an ink cartridge with a front side, a rear side, and at least one other side defining an ink chamber therein, wherein the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein; andan adapter configured to be coupled to the front side of the ink cartridge and inserted into a case of a recording apparatus in an insertion direction, wherein the adapter and the ink cartridge are separate members, and the adapter comprises: a main body with a front face and at least one other face, wherein the front face of the main body corresponds to the front side of the ink cartridge when the front side of the ink cartridge is coupled to the adapter;an operation portion extending from the main body in a particular direction, opposite the insertion direction, such that, when the adapter is coupled to the ink cartridge, the operation portion extends from the front side of the ink cartridge to the rear side of the ink cartridge along the at least one other side of the ink cartridge and further in the particular direction than the rear side of the ink cartridge; anda plate shaped portion positioned at the front face of the main body, the plate shaped portion being configured to block light emitted from a light emitting portion in the case of the recording apparatus when the adapter is inserted into the case of the recording apparatus so as to provide an indication of at least one characteristic of the ink that the ink chamber is configured to store. 2. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body has a main body opening formed therein, and the main body opening is configured to receive at least a portion of the ink cartridge. 3. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one resilient member coupled to the adapter, wherein the at least one resilient member extends from the adapter in a further direction opposite the particular direction. 4. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the ink cartridge comprises an ink supply portion configured to dispense ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, and the adapter has an ink supply opening formed therethrough, wherein when the adapter is coupled to the ink cartridge, the ink supply opening is configured to receive the ink supply portion therethrough. 5. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 4, wherein the ink cartridge comprises an air intake portion configured to draw air from the exterior of the ink chamber to the interior of the ink chamber, and the adapter has an air intake opening formed therethrough, wherein when the adapter is coupled to the ink cartridge, the air intake opening is aligned with the air intake portion in the particular direction. 6. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least one of an amount of ink that the ink chamber is configured to store and a color of ink that is stored in the ink chamber. 7. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the operation portion comprises a grasp portion opposite the main body that extends from the operation portion in a further direction such that, when the adapter is coupled to the ink cartridge, the grasp portion extends away from the at least one other outer surface of the ink cartridge at a location further than the rear side of the ink cartridge. 8. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 7, wherein the grasp portion is configured to detachably engage a lock lever that encloses the ink cartridge in the recording apparatus by covering the rear side of the ink cartridge. 9. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 8, wherein the adapter is configured to be removed from the recording apparatus when the operation portion is pulled in the particular direction. 10. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein the operation portion is configured to extend further than the case of the recording apparatus when the adapter is disposed in the recording apparatus such that the operation portion can be grasped at an outside of the recording apparatus when the adapter is disposed therein. 11. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 10, wherein the ink cartridge is configured to be removed from the recording apparatus together with the adapter when the adapter is coupled to the ink cartridge and the operation portion is pulled in the particular direction. 12. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein: the plate shaped portion is configured to reflect light. 13. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein: the plate shaped portion is configured to prevent light from passing therethrough. 14. An ink cartridge assembly comprising: an ink cartridge with a front side, a rear side, and at least one other side defining an ink chamber therein, wherein the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein; andan adapter configured to be coupled to the front side of the ink cartridge and inserted into a case of a recording apparatus, wherein the adapter and the ink cartridge are separate members, and the adapter comprises: a main body with a front face and at least one other face, wherein the front face of the main body corresponds to the front side of the ink cartridge when the front side of the ink cartridge is coupled to the adapter;an operation portion extending front the main body in a particular direction such that, when the adapter is coupled to the ink cartridge, the operation portion extends from the front side of the ink cartridge to the rear side of the ink cartridge along the at least one other side of the ink cartridge and further in the particular direction than the rear side of the ink cartridge; anda plate shaped portion positioned at the front face of the main body, the plate shaped portion being configured to block light emitted from a light emitting portion in the case of the recording apparatus when the adapter is inserted into the case of the recording apparatus so as to provide an indication of at least one characteristic of the ink that the ink chamber is configured to store,wherein the operation portion is configured to receive the ink cartridge thereon. 15. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 14, wherein the operation portion is configured to support the ink cartridge thereon. 16. An ink cartridge assembly comprising: an ink cartridge with a front side, a rear side, and at least one other side defining an ink chamber therein, wherein the ink chamber is configured to store ink therein; andan adapter configured to be coupled to the front side of the ink cartridge and inserted into a case of a recording apparatus, wherein the adapter and the ink cartridge are separate members, and the adapter comprises: a main body with a front face and at least one other face, wherein the front face of the main body corresponds to the front side of the ink cartridge when the front side of the ink cartridge is coupled to the adapter;an operation portion extending front the main body in a particular direction such that, when the adapter is coupled to the ink cartridge, the operation portion extends from the front side of the ink cartridge to the rear side of the ink cartridge along the at least one other side of the ink cartridge and further in the particular direction than the rear side of the ink cartridge; anda plate shaped portion positioned at the front face of the main body, the plate shaped portion being configured to block light emitted from a light emitting portion in the case of the recording apparatus when the adapter is inserted into the case of the recording apparatus so as to provide an indication of at least one characteristic of the ink that the ink chamber is configured to store,wherein the plate shaped portion extends across an opening in the front face of the main body. 17. The ink cartridge assembly of claim 16, wherein: the plate shaped portion has a depth in the particular direction; andthe depth of the plate shaped portion is what provides an indication of the at least one characteristic of the ink that the ink chamber is configured to store.