Ink-jet cartridge for an ink jet printer having air ingestion control

摘要

An ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer has a housing for the installation of at least one replaceable ink supply tank. The cartridge has a printhead attached thereto which is in fluid communication with an ink pipe connector integrally formed on the floor of the housing through a passageway in the floor. The ink pipe connector protrudes from the housing floor and is adapted to enter an outlet port of the ink supply tank when the supply tank is installed in the housing. The ink pipe connector has a mesh filter recessed therein and a cover having holes therein positioned over the entrance of the ink pipe connector and spaced above the filter to form an internal chamber in the ink pipe connector. The holes in the cover are sufficiently small to cause the formation of an ink meniscus in each hole when the chamber is filled with ink and the meniscus in the holes prevent the ingestion of air.