| 摘要 |
An ink cartridge insertion mechanism for an ink jet printer is capable of absorbing ink that might leak from an ink supply needle (31) after an ink cartridge has been removed. The ink supply unit of the ink jet printer has an ink absorption and needle protection device (70) including an ink absorption material (74) for absorbing ink leaking from the ink supply needle (31) and/or from a waste ink needle (35) of the ink supply unit when no ink cartridge is installed. The ink absorption material (74) also protects the needles (31, 35). When an ink cartridge is inserted, a pivot plate (73) causes the entire ink absorption and needle protection device (70) to pivot away from the needles (31, 35) to a retracted position, thus exposing the needles and preventing any interference with ink cartridge loading. When the ink cartridge is subsequently removed, torsion springs (75, 76) urge the pivot plate (73) back to the original horizontal ink absorption position. <IMAGE> |
