Claims
- 1. An ink cartridge opener, comprising:
- a cartridge holder adapted to hold a first portion of an ink cartridge;
- opening means with the cartridge holder for applying force to a second portion of the ink cartridge;
- the cartridge holder being formed of first and second cartridge holder components joined by pins; and
- the opening means being a handle arm being captured at a pivot point by the first and second cartridge holder components.
- 2. The opener of claim 1, with the cartridge holder having cartridge support surfaces for supporting the ink cartridge, the cartridge support surfaces being parallel and adapted to hold the ink cartridge first portion along a face having its longest and widest dimensions.
- 3. The opener of claim 2 with the cartridge holder further having cartridge stabilizing surfaces for preventing movement of the ink cartridge first portion when force is applied to the second portion.
- 4. An ink cartridge opening system including:
- an ink cartridge having first and second connected cartridge portions which, when connected, define a cartridge for containing ink having at least two opposite facing cartridge sides; and
- an ink cartridge opener comprising:
- a cartridge holder member receiving the first portion of the ink cartridge and having a cartridge support surface which abuts the first cartridge portion along a first one of said two opposite facing cartridge sides, to hold the first cartridge portion, but not the second cartridge portion, against a lateral force directed from a second one of said two opposite facing cartridge sides;
- a pivot member pivotally coupled to the cartridge holder member, said pivot member being pivotal relative to the cartridge holder member between at least first and second pivot positions;
- said pivot member having a contact member;
- wherein the first cartridge portion is located intermediate the contact member and the cartridge support surface; and
- wherein said contact member contacts the second portion of the ink cartridge, along the cartridge side opposite to the cartridge side abutting the cartridge support surface of the cartridge holder member, when the pivot member is in said second pivot position; and
- said pivot member further having a handle surface for receiving an external force and for transferring the force to the contact member as a lateral force on the second portion of the ink cartridge, directed from the second side of the cartridge toward the first side of the cartridge, sufficient to disconnect the second portion from the first portion of the ink cartridge, upon the handle being in the second pivot position.
- 5. An ink cartridge as recited in claim 4, wherein said cartridge holder member further comprises a cartridge stabilizing surface abutting the first cartridge portion along the second side of the ink cartridge.
- 6. An ink cartridge as recited in claim 4, wherein said cartridge support surface defines an edge and wherein the second portion of the ink cartridge extends beyond said support surface edge.
- 7. An ink cartridge opener as recited in claim 4, wherein said contact member is located intermediate said handle surface and a pivot coupling point of the pivot member.
- 8. A method of opening an ink cartridge of the type having first and second connected cartridge portions which, when connected, define a cartridge for containing ink having at least two opposite facing cartridge sides, said method using a cartridge opener having a cartridge holding member and a pivot member pivotally coupled to the cartridge holding member, the cartridge holding member provided with a cartridge support surface for receiving an ink cartridge and positioned to abut the first cartridge portion, along a first one of said two opposite facing cartridge sides, to hold the first cartridge portion, but not the second cartridge portion against a lateral force directed from a second one of said two opposite facing cartridge sides, the method comprising:
- supporting the first portion of an ink cartridge along the first one of said two opposite facing cartridge sides, with said cartridge support surface;
- pivotally moving the pivot member relative to the cartridge holder member, to a position in contact with the second cartridge portion of the ink cartridge, along the second one of said two opposite facing cartridge sides; and
- applying a lateral force with the pivot member on the second portion of the ink cartridge, along the second cartridge side, in the direction toward the first cartridge side, sufficient to disconnect the second portion from the first portion of the ink cartridge.
- 9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said cartridge holder member further comprises a cartridge stabilizing surface and said method further comprises abutting the first cartridge portion along the second side of the ink cartridge with said cartridge stabilizing surface, upon receipt of a first portion of the ink cartridge by the cartridge holder member.
- 10. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said cartridge support surface defines an edge and wherein said step of supporting comprises extending the second portion of the ink cartridge beyond said support surface edge.
- 11. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said pivot member includes a handle surface and wherein said step of applying a lateral force comprises pressing the handle surface in the direction toward the support surface of the cartridge holding member.
- 12. A method of opening an ink cartridge of the type having first and second connected cartridge portions, using a cartridge opener having a cartridge holding member configured to receive and hold the first cartridge portion against a lateral force and a handle member pivotally coupled to the cartridge holding member, the method comprising:
- receiving said first cartridge portion of an ink cartridge in a cartridge holder member;
- pivotally moving the handle member relative to the cartridge holder member, to a position in contact with the second cartridge portion of the ink cartridge;
- applying a lateral force with the handle member on the second portion of the ink cartridge sufficient to disconnect the second portion from the first portion of the ink cartridge, while the first portion of the ink cartridge is received by the cartridge holder member.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/233,359, filed Apr. 26, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,830.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
233359 |
Apr 1994 |
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