Ink absorber, ink tank using the ink absorber, ink jet cartridge integrally incorporating ink jet recording head and the ink tank, process for producing the ink tank, fiber body used in the ink tank, and ink jet recording apparatus capable of mounting the ink jet cartridge

摘要

An ink absorber is housed inside a housing of an ink tank and is capable of retaining ink. The ink absorber has an outer surface equal to or corresponding to a shape of an internal surface of the housing and is made of a fiber material obtained by compressing a fiber body and thermally molding at least a surface thereof. An ink tank is comprised of the ink absorber and the housing. An ink jet cartridge is comprised of the ink tank and a print head. A process for producing the ink tank comprises a first molding step of molding a continuous fiber aggregate of a rod shape or a plate shape with elasticity, a step of cutting the fiber aggregate thus molded to form a fiber body, a second molding step of subjecting the fiber body to compression and thermal molding so as to provide the fiber body with an outer surface corresponding to a shape of the inside of the housing, thus forming an ink absorber and a step of inserting the ink absorber into the inside of the housing.