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INK CARTRIDGES AND METHODS OF FORMING GROOVE IN INK CARTRIDGE Claims

1. An ink cartridge comprising:a frame comprising at least a portion of a first chamber formed therein, wherein the first chamber is configured to store ink;a hollow portion positioned at a side wall of the frame, wherein the hollow portion comprises a second chamber formed therein, the second chamber is in fluid communication with the first chamber and extends from an inner surface of the side wall of the frame away from the first chamber; anda movable member positioned in the second chamber and configured to move in response to an amount of ink in the first chamber, wherein an inner surface of the hollow portion defining the second chamber has a groove formed therein and extending toward the first chamber.

2. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the movable member is configured to move between a first position at which the movable member contacts a portion of the inner surface of the hollow portion and a second position at which the movable member is separated from the portion of the inner surface of the hollow portion.

3. The ink cartridge of claim 2, wherein the movable member is positioned at the second position when an amount of ink in the first chamber is less than a predetermined amount, and is positioned at the first position when the amount of ink in the first chamber is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount.

4. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the groove is configured to draw ink adhering to the inner surface of the hollow portion toward the first chamber by a capillary action.

5. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the frame has a height in a height direction, a width in a width direction, and a depth in a depth direction, wherein the second chamber extends from the inner surface of the side wall of the frame in the depth direction, the movable member has a plate shape extending in the height direction, and a width of the second chamber is less than a width of the first chamber in the width direction.

6. The ink cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a pivotable member positioned in the first chamber, wherein the pivotable member comprises the movable member at a first end of the pivotable member and a float portion at a second end of the pivotable member, and the movable member is configured to move corresponding to a movement of the float portion in the first chamber.

7. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the frame has a height in a height direction, a width in a width direction, and a depth in a depth direction, wherein the second chamber extends from the inner surface of the side wall of the frame in the depth direction, and the groove extends in the depth direction.

8. The ink cartridge of claim 1, further comprising an ink supply opening configured to supply ink from the first chamber to an exterior of the frame, wherein the groove extends toward the first chamber and inclines toward the ink supply opening.

9. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein a width of the groove is greater than 0.1 .mu.m and less than 100 .mu.m.

10. The ink cartridge of claim 9, wherein the width of the groove is greater than or equal to 1 .mu.m and less than or equal to 50 .mu.m.

11. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the hollow portion comprises a translucent portion, and the movable member is configured to move in the translucent portion.

12. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the hollow portion is disposed within the side wall of the frame.

13. A method of forming a groove in an ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprises a frame comprising a hollow portion positioned at a side wall of the frame, wherein the hollow portion comprises a chamber formed therein, the chamber extends from an inner surface of the side wall of the frame, the method of forming the groove comprises the steps of:introducing molten resin in a gap formed between a first mold member and a second mold member, wherein the first mold member comprises a predetermined rough surface with projections and depressions and a shape corresponding to a shape of an inner surface of the hollow portion defining the chamber and the second mold member has a shape corresponding to an outer shape of the hollow portion;separating the first mold member from the resin after the resin is cured; andforming the groove by sliding the predetermined rough surface against the inner surface of the hollow portion during separation of the first mold member from the resin.

14. An inkjet printer, comprisingan ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising:a frame comprising at least a portion of a first chamber formed therein, wherein the first chamber is configured to store ink;a hollow portion positioned at a side wall of the frame, wherein the hollow portion comprises a second chamber formed therein, and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the first chamber and extends from an inner surface of the side wall of the frame away from the first chamber in a horizontal direction when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer; anda movable member positioned in the second chamber and configured to move in response to an amount of ink in the first chamber, wherein an inner surface of the hollow portion defining the second chamber has a groove formed therein and extending toward the first chamber.

15. The inkjet printer of claim 14, wherein the movable member is configured to move between a first position at which the movable member contacts a portion of the inner surface of the hollow portion and a second position at which the movable member is separated from the portion of the inner surface of the hollow portion, and when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer the second position is above the first position.

16. The inkjet printer of claim 14, wherein the movable member has a plate shape extending in a vertical direction when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer, and a width of the second chamber is less than a width of the first chamber in a horizontal direction when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer.

17. The inkjet printer of claim 14, wherein the groove extends downward and toward the first chamber when the ink cartridge is mounted to the inkjet printer.

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