Patent Grant
7114801
The present invention relates to ink supplies for an ink-jet printer and, more particularly to ink supplies that can be readily refilled or replenished. A typical ink-jet printer has a print head mounted to a carriage that is moved back and forth over print media such as paper. As the print head passes over appropriate locations on the printing surface, a control system activates ink jets on the print head to eject, or jet, ink drops onto the printing surface and form desired images and characters.
To work properly, such printers must have a reliable supply of ink for the print head. Many ink-jet printers use a disposable print cartridge that can be mounted to the carriage. Such a print cartridge typically includes, in addition to the print head, a reservoir containing a supply of ink. The print cartridge also typically includes pressure-regulating mechanisms to maintain the ink supply at an appropriate pressure for use by the print head. When the ink supply is exhausted, the print cartridge is disposed of and a new print cartridge is installed. This system provides an easy, user-friendly way of providing an ink supply for an ink-jet printer.
Other types of ink-jet printers use ink supplies that are separate from the print head and are not mounted to the carriage. Such ink supplies, because they are stationary within the printer, are not subject to all of the size limitations of an ink supply that is moved with the carriage. Some printers with stationary ink supplies have a refillable ink reservoir built into the printer. Ink is supplied from the reservoir to the print head through a tube that trails from the print head. Alternatively, the print head can include a small ink reservoir that is periodically replenished by moving the print head to a filling station at the stationary, built-in reservoir. In either alternative, ink may be supplied from the reservoir to the print head by either a pump within the printer or by gravity flow.
Once depleted, the reservoir is typically discarded and a new reservoir installed. However, the reservoir and any associated mechanisms are typically capable of further use if they could be replenished with a fresh supply of ink.
One aspect of the present invention is a replaceable ink supply for removable insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer. The docking bay includes a pump actuator and a fluid inlet coupled to a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head. The replaceable ink supply includes a reservoir for containing a quantity of ink. The reservoir defines a fill port into which ink may be introduced into the reservoir. Also included is a sealing member for the fill port. The sealing member is selectively removable by a user to add ink to the reservoir. A fluid outlet is included with the replaceable ink supply. The fluid outlet is configured to establish fluid communication with the fluid inlet when the ink supply is in the docked position. Also included is an ink pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and the fluid outlet. The ink pump actuable by the actuator when the ink supply is in the docked position to draw ink from the reservoir and supply the ink through the fluid outlet to the trailing tube.
Another aspect of the present invention is a replaceable pump module for use with an ink jet printer having a docking bay. The docking bay includes a pump actuator and a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to a moveable print head. The pump module includes a fluid inlet configured for connection to a fluid outlet associated with a supply of ink. A fluid outlet is included that is configured for connection to the fluid inlet associated the docking bay. Also included is a pump in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet associated with the replaceable pump module. The pump is actuateable by the pump actuator to draw ink from the supply of ink and provided a pressurized supply of ink to the fluid inlet associated with the docking bay.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a replaceable ink container for use with a pressurization module or pump module for providing ink to an ink jet printing system. The ink jet printing system has a docking bay that includes a fluid inlet and an actuator. The replaceable pump module is configured to interface with the fluid inlet and the actuator to provide ink to the docking bay. The replaceable pump module includes a fluid inlet configured for connection to a supply of ink. The replaceable ink container includes a fluid outlet configured for connection to the fluid inlet associated with the pump module. Also included is an ink reservoir for containing a quantity of ink. The ink reservoir is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. With the pump module properly installed in the docking bay and the replaceable ink container properly installed in the pump module a supply of ink is provided from the replaceable ink container to the docking bay of the ink jet printing system.
An ink supply in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
To use the ink supply 20, it is inserted into a docking bay 38 of an ink-jet printer, as illustrated in
Upon depletion of the ink from the reservoir 24, or for any other reason, the ink supply 20 can be easily removed from the docking bay 38. Upon removal, the fluid outlet 28 and the fluid inlet 42 are closed to help prevent any residual ink from leaking into the printer or onto the user. The ink supply may then be easily refilled, replenished or stored for reinstallation at a later time. In this manner, the present ink supply 20 provides a user of an ink-jet printer a simple, economical way to provide a reliable and easily replaceable supply of ink to an ink-jet printer.
As illustrated in
A refill port 51 is formed in the top of the frame 46. The refill port provides a fluid path through which ink can be introduced to fill or to refill the reservoir. A removable cap 53 closes the refill port. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap is threaded and is provided with an o-ring 55 to ensure a leak-proof seal. However, other types of caps could also be used so long as they allow refilling of the ink reservoir and limit the ingress of air and the egress of ink from the reservoir.
In the illustrated embodiment, the plastic sheets 50 are heat staked to the faces 48 of the frame in a manner well known to those in the art. The plastic sheets 50 are, in the illustrated embodiment, multi-ply sheets having a-an outer layer of low density polyethylene, a layer of adhesive, a layer of metallized polyethylene, a layer of adhesive, a second layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate, a layer of adhesive, and an inner layer of low density polyethylene. The layers of low density polyethylene are about 0.0005 inches thick and the metallized polyethylene is about 0.00048 inches thick. The low density polyethylene on the inner and outer sides of the plastic sheets can be easily heat staked to the frame while the double layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate provides a robust barrier against vapor loss and leakage. Of course, in other embodiments, different materials, alternative methods of attaching the plastic sheets to the frame, or other types of reservoirs might be used.
The body 44 of the chassis 22, as seen in
A pump 26 is also carried on the body 44 of the chassis 22. The pump 26 serves to pump ink from the reservoir and supply it to the printer via the fluid outlet 28. In the illustrated embodiment, seen in
A pump inlet 60 is formed at the top of the chamber 56 to allow fluid communication between the chamber 56 and the ink reservoir 24. A pump outlet 62 through which ink may be expelled from the chamber 56 is also provided. A valve 64 is positioned within the pump inlet 60. The valve 64 allows the flow of ink from the ink reservoir 24 into the chamber 56 but limits the flow of ink from the chamber 56 back into the ink reservoir 24. In this way, when the chamber is depressurized, ink may be drawn from the ink reservoir, through the pump inlet and into the chamber. When the chamber is pressurized, ink within the chamber may be expelled through the pump outlet.
In the illustrated embodiment, the valve 64 is a flapper valve positioned at the bottom of the pump inlet. The flapper valve 64 illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment the flapper valve 64 is made of a two ply material. The top ply is a layer of low density polyethylene 0.0015 inches thick. The bottom ply is a layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 0.0005 inches thick. A layer of adhesive connects the two together. The illustrated flapper valve 64 is approximately 5.5 millimeters wide and 8.7 millimeters long. Of course, in other embodiments, other materials or other types or sizes of valves may be used.
A flexible diaphragm 66 encloses the bottom of the chamber 56. The diaphragm 66 is slightly larger than the opening at the bottom of the chamber 56 and is sealed around the bottom edge of the wall 58. The excess material in the oversized diaphragm allows the diaphragm to flex up and down to vary the volume within the chamber. In the illustrated ink supply, displacement of the diaphragm allows the volume of the chamber 56 to be varied by about 0.7 cubic centimeters. The fully expanded volume of the illustrated chamber 56 is between about 2.2 and 2.5 cubic centimeters.
In the illustrated embodiment, the diaphragm 66 is made of the same multi-ply material as the plastic sheets 50. Of course, other suitable materials may also be used to form the diaphragm. The diaphragm in the illustrated embodiment is heat staked, using conventional methods, to the bottom edge of the skirt-like wall 58. During the heat staking process, the low density polyethylene in the diaphragm seals any folds or wrinkles in the diaphragm to create a leak proof connection.
A pressure plate 68 and a spring 70 are positioned within the chamber 56. The pressure plate 68, illustrated in detail in
The pressure plate 68 is positioned within the chamber 56 with the lower face 72 adjacent the flexible diaphragm 66. The upper end of the spring 70, which is stainless steel in the illustrated embodiment, is retained on a spike 82 formed in the chassis and the lower end of the spring 70 is retained on the spike 78 on the pressure plate 68. In this manner, the spring biases the pressure plate downward against the diaphragm to increase the volume of the chamber. The wall 74 and wings 80 serve to stabilize the orientation of the pressure plate while allowing for its free, piston-like movement within the chamber 56. The structure of the pressure plate, with the wings extending outward from the smaller face, provides clearance for the heat stake joint between the diaphragm and the wall and allows the diaphragm to flex without being pinched as the pressure plate moves up and down. The wings are also spaced to facilitate fluid flow within the pump.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, both the spring 100 and the ball 102 are stainless steel. The sealing ball 102 is sized such that it can move freely within the boss 99 and allow the flow of ink around the ball when it is not in the sealing position. The septum 104 is formed of polyisoprene rubber and has a concave bottom to receive a portion of the ball 102 to form a secure seal. The septum 104 is provided with a slit 110 so that it may be easily pierced without tearing or coring. However, the slit is normally closed such that the septum itself forms a second seal. The slit may, preferably, be slightly tapered with its narrower end adjacent the ball 102. The illustrated crimp cover 106 is formed of aluminum and has a thickness of about 0.020 inches. A hole 112 is provided so that the crimp cover 106 does not interfere with the piercing of the septum 104.
With the pump and fluid outlet in place, the ink reservoir 24 can be filled with ink. To fill the ink reservoir 24, ink can be injected through the fill port 52. As ink is being introduced into the reservoir, a needle (not shown) can be inserted through the slit 110 in the septum 104 to depress the sealing ball 102 and allow the escape of any air from within the reservoir. Alternatively, a partial vacuum can be applied through the needle. The partial vacuum at the fluid outlet causes ink from the reservoir 24 to fill the chamber 56, the conduit 84, and the cylindrical boss 99 such that little, if any, air remains in contact with the ink. The partial vacuum applied to the fluid outlet also speeds the filling process. Once the ink supply is filled, the plug 54 is press fit into the fill port to prevent the escape of ink or the entry of air.
Of course, there are a variety of other methods which might also be used to fill the present ink supply. For example, ink may could be introduced into the reservoir through the refill port. In some instances, it may be desirable to flush the entire ink supply with carbon dioxide prior to filling it with ink. In this way, any gas trapped within the ink supply during the filling process will be carbon dioxide, not air. This may be preferable because carbon dioxide may dissolve in some inks while air may not. In general, it is preferable to remove as much gas from the ink supply as possible so that bubbles and the like do not enter the print head or the trailing tube. To this end, it may also be preferable to use degassed ink to further avoid the creation or presence of bubbles in the ink supply.
Although the ink reservoir 24 provides an ideal way to contain ink, it may be easily punctured or ruptured and may allow some amount of water loss from the ink. Accordingly, to protect the reservoir 24 and to further limit water loss, the reservoir 24 is enclosed within a protective shell 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 30 is made of clarified polypropylene. A thickness of about one millimeter has been found to provide robust protection and to prevent unacceptable water loss from the ink. However, the material and thickness of the shell may vary in other embodiments.
As illustrated in
A protective cap 32 is fitted to the bottom of the shell 30 to maintain the chassis 22 in position. The cap 32 is provided with recesses 128 which receive the stops 120 on the chassis 22. In this manner, the stops are firmly secured between the cap and the shell to maintain the chassis in position. The cap is also provided with an aperture 34 to allow access to the pump 26 and with an aperture 36 to allow access to the fluid outlet 28. The cap 32 obscures the fill port to help prevent tampering with the ink supply.
The cap is provided with projecting keys 130 which can identify the type of printer for which the ink supply is intended and the type of ink contained within the ink supply. For example, if the ink supply is filled with black ink, a cap having keys that indicate black ink may be used. Similarly, if the ink supply is filled with a particular color of ink, a cap indicative of that color may be used. The color of the cap may also be used to indicate the color of ink contained within the ink supply.
As a result of this structure, the chassis and shell can be manufactured and assembled without regard to the particular type of ink they will contain. Then, after the ink reservoir is filled, a cap indicative of the particular ink used is attached to the shell. This allows for manufacturing economies because a supply of empty chassis and shells can be stored in inventory. Then, when there is a demand for a particular type of ink, that ink can be introduced into the ink supply and an appropriate cap fixed to the ink supply. Thus, this scheme reduces the need to maintain high inventories of ink supplies containing every type of ink.
In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom of the shell 30 is provided with two circumferential grooves 122 which engage two circumferential ribs 124 formed on the cap 32 to secure the cap to the shell. Sonic welding or some other mechanism may also be desirable to more securely fix the cap to the shell. In addition, a label (not shown) can be adhered to both the cap and the shell to more firmly secure them together. In the illustrated embodiment, pressure sensitive adhesive is used to adhere the label in a manner that prevents the label from being peeled off and inhibits tampering with the ink supply.
The attachment between the shell, the chassis and the cap should, preferably, be snug enough to prevent accidental separation of the cap from the shell and to resist the flow of ink from the shell should the ink reservoir develop a leak. However, it is also desirable that the attachment allow the slow ingress of air into the shell as ink is depleted from the reservoir to maintain the pressure inside the shell generally the same as the ambient pressure. Otherwise, a negative pressure may develop inside the shell and inhibit the flow of ink from the reservoir. The ingress of air should be limited, however, in order to maintain a high humidity within the shell and minimize water loss from the ink.
In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 30 and the flexible reservoir 24 which it contains have the capacity to hold approximately thirty cubic centimeters of ink. The shell is approximately 67 millimeters wide, 15 millimeters thick, and 60 millimeters high. Of course, other dimensions and shapes can also be used depending on the particular needs of a given printer.
The illustrated ink supply 20 is ideally suited for insertion into a docking station 132 like that illustrated in
Each docking bay 38 includes opposing walls 134 and 136 which define inwardly facing vertical channels 138 and 140. A leaf spring 142 having an engagement prong 144 is positioned within the lower portion of each channel 138 and 140. The engagement prong 144 of each leaf spring 142 extends into the channel toward the docking bay 38 and is biased inward by the leaf spring. The channels 138 and 140 are provided with mating keys 139 formed therein. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating keys in the channels on one wall are the same for each docking bay and identify the type of printer in which the docking station is used. The mating keys in the channels of the other wall are different for each docking bay and identify the color of ink for use in that docking bay. A base plate 146 defines the bottom of each docking bay 38. The base plate 146 includes an aperture 148 which receives the actuator 40 and carries a housing 150 for the fluid inlet 42.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As seen in
A sliding collar 170 surrounds the needle 162 and is biased upwardly by a spring 172. The sliding collar 170 has a compliant sealing portion 174 with an exposed upper surface 176 and an inner surface 178 in direct contact with the needle 162. In addition, the illustrated sliding collar includes a substantially rigid portion 180 extending downwardly to partially house the spring 172. An annular stop 182 extends outward from the lower edge of the substantially rigid portion 180. The annular stop 182 is positioned beneath the base plate 146 such that it abuts the base plate to limit upward travel of the sliding collar 170 and define an upper position of the sliding collar on the needle 162. In the upper position, the lateral hole 168 is surrounded by the sealing portion 174 of the collar to seal the lateral hole and the blunt end 164 of the needle is generally even with the upper surface 176 of the collar.
In the illustrated embodiment, the needle 162 is an eighteen gauge stainless steel needle with an inside diameter of about 1.04 millimeters, an outside diameter of about 1.2 millimeters, and a length of about 30 millimeters. The lateral hole is generally rectangular with dimensions of about 0.55 millimeters by 0.70 millimeters and is located about 1.2 millimeters from the upper end of the needle. The sealing portion 174 of the sliding collar is made of ethylene propylene dimer monomer and the generally rigid portion 176 is made of polypropylene or any other suitably rigid material. The sealing portion is molded with an aperture to snugly receive the needle and form a robust seal between the inner surface 178 and the needle 162. In other embodiments, alternative dimensions, materials or configurations might also be used.
To install an ink supply 20 within the docking bay 38, a user can simply place the lower end of the ink supply between the opposing walls 134 and 136 with one edge in one vertical channel 138 and the other edge in the other vertical channel 140, as shown in
Once in position, the engagement prongs 144 on each side of the docking station engage the detents 118 formed in the shell 30 to firmly hold the ink supply in place. The leaf springs 142, which allow the engagement prongs to move outward during insertion of the ink supply, bias the engagement prongs inward to positively hold the ink supply in the installed position. Throughout the installation process and in the installed position, the edges of the ink supply 20 are captured within the vertical channels 138 and 140 which provide lateral support and stability to the ink supply. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to form grooves in one or both of the channels 138 and 140 which receive the vertical rib 116 formed in the shell to provide additional stability to the ink supply.
To remove the ink supply 20, a user simply grasps the ink supply, using the contoured gripping surfaces 114, and pulls upward to overcome the force of the leaf springs 142. Upon removal, the fluid outlet 28 and fluid inlet 42 automatically disconnect and reseal leaving little, if any, residual ink and the pump 26 is depressurized to reduce the possibility of any leakage from the ink supply.
Operation of the fluid interconnect, that is the fluid outlet 28 and the fluid inlet 42, during insertion of the ink supply is illustrated in
In the illustrated configuration, the bottom of the fluid inlet and the top of the fluid outlet are similar in shape. Thus, very little air is trapped within the seal between the fluid outlet of the ink supply and the fluid inlet of the printer. This facilitates proper operation of the printer by reducing the possibility that air will enter the fluid outlet 28 or the fluid inlet 42 and reach the ink jets in the print head.
As the ink supply 20 is inserted further into the docking bay 38, the bottom of the fluid outlet 28 pushes the sliding collar 170 downward, as illustrated in
Upon removal of the ink supply 20, the needle 162 is withdrawn and the spring 100 presses the sealing ball 102 firmly against the septum to establish a robust seal. In addition, the slit 110 closes to establish a second seal, both of which serve to prevent ink from leaking through the fluid outlet 28. At the same time, the spring 172 pushes the sliding collar 170 back to its upper position in which the lateral hole 168 is encased within the sealing portion of the collar 174 to prevent the escape of ink from the fluid inlet 42. Finally, the seal between the crimp cover 106 and the upper surface 176 of the sliding collar is broken. With this fluid interconnect, little, if any, ink is exposed when the fluid outlet 28 is separated from the fluid inlet 42. This helps to keep both the user and the printer clean.
Although the illustrated fluid outlet 28 and fluid inlet 42 provide a secure seal with little entrapped air upon sealing and little excess ink upon unsealing, other fluid interconnections might also be used to connect the ink supply to the printer.
As illustrated in
As ink is depleted from the pump chamber 56, the compression spring 156 continues to press the actuator 40 upward against the diaphragm 66 to maintain pressure within the pump chamber 56. This causes the diaphragm to move upward to an intermediate position decreasing the volume of the chamber, as illustrated in
As still more ink is depleted from the pump chamber 56, the diaphragm 40 is pressed to its uppermost position, illustrated in
The printer control system (not shown) detects activation of the optical detector 186 and begins a refresh cycle. As illustrated in
With the actuator 40 no longer pressing against the diaphragm 66, the pump spring 70 biases the pressure plate 68 and diaphragm 66 outward, expanding the volume and decreasing the pressure within the chamber 56. The decreased pressure within the chamber 56 allows the valve 64 to open and draws ink from the reservoir 24 into the chamber 56 to refresh the pump 26, as illustrated in
After a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the refresh cycle is concluded by rotating the cam 158 back into its disengaged position and the ink supply typically returns to the configuration illustrated in
However, if the ink supply is out of ink, no ink can enter into the pump chamber 56 during a refresh cycle. In this case, the backpressure within the ink reservoir 24 will prevent the chamber 56 from expanding. As a result, when the cam 158 is rotated back into its disengaged position, the actuator 40 returns to its uppermost position, as illustrated in
In some embodiments in may be desirable to rotate the cam 158 to the disengaged position and remove pressure from the chamber 56 whenever the printer is not printing. It should also be appreciated that a mechanical switch, an electrical switch, or some other switch capable of detecting the position of the actuator could be used in place of the optical detector.
The configuration of the present ink supply is particularly advantageous because only the relatively small amount of ink within the chamber is pressurized. The large majority of the ink is maintained within the reservoir at approximately ambient pressure. Thus, it is less likely to leak and, in the event of a leak, can be more easily contained.
The illustrated diaphragm pump has proven to be very reliable and well suited for use in the ink supply. However, other types of pumps may also be used. For example, a piston pump, a bellows pump, or other types of fluid pressurization mechanisms that receive ink from a replaceable supply of ink and increases the fluid pressure of the ink provided to fluid inlet 42 might be adapted for use with the present invention.
As discussed above, the illustrated docking station 132 includes four side-by-side docking bays 38. This configuration allows the wall 134, the wall 136 and the base plate 146 for the four docking bays to be unitary. In the illustrated embodiment, the leaf springs for each side of the four docking bays can be formed as a single piece connected at the bottom. In addition, the cams 158 for each docking station are attached to a single shaft 160. Using a single shaft results in each of the four ink supplies being refreshed when the pump of any one of the four reaches its minimum operational volume. Alternatively, it may be desirable to configure the cams and shaft to provide a third position in which only the black ink supply is pressurized. This allows the colored ink supplies to remain at ambient pressure during a print job that requires only black ink.
The arrangement of four side-by-side docking bays is intended for use in a color printer. One of the docking bays is intended to receive an ink supply containing black ink, one an ink supply containing yellow ink, one an ink supply containing cyan ink, and one an ink supply containing magenta ink. The mating keys 139 for each of the four docking bays are different and correspond to the color of ink for that docking bay. The mating keys 139 are shaped to receive the corresponding keys 130 formed on a cap of an ink supply having the appropriate color. That is, the keys 130 and the mating keys 139 are shaped such that only an ink supply having the correct color of ink, as indicated by the keys on the cap, can be inserted into any particular docking bay. The mating keys 139 can also identify the type of ink supply that is to be installed in the docking bay. This system helps to prevent a user from inadvertently inserting an ink supply of one color into a docking bay for another color or from inserting an ink supply intended for one type of printer into the wrong type of printer.
In another embodiment of an ink supply in accordance with the present invention, illustrated in
In another embodiment of an ink supply in accordance with the present invention, illustrated in
If an alternative method of transferring ink to the print head is provided, the pump 26 may be unnecessary. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
The pump module 228 is shown in more detail in
A pump 26′ is included with the pump module 228. The pump 26′ ensures that the ink provided to the fluid inlet 42 of the docking station 132 is pressurized to allow greater ink flow rates and higher reliablity than if the system were non-pressurized. The pump 26′ is similar to the pump 26 associated with the ink supply 20, shown in
The pump 26′ associated with the pump module 228 preferably includes a chamber portion 56′, shown in cross section in
The pump 26′ includes a flexible diaghram 66′ and a spring 70′. The chamber 56′ is pressurized when the actuator 40 engages the flexible diagragm 66′ and compresses spring 70′ thereby reducing the volume of the chamber 56′. Upon removal of the actuator 40 the spring 70′ urges the flexible diagram 66′ outwardly to expand the volume of chamber 56′ thereby depressurizing the chamber 56′.
In the preferred embodiment of the pump module 228, the fluid inlet 42′ includes an upwardly extending needle 162′ having a closed, blunt upper end with a blind bore extending therethrough and having a lateral hole 168′. Ink provided by the ink container 230 flows through the lateral hole 168′ through the blind bore and into chamber 56′ when the valve 64′ allows ink flow into the chamber 56′.
The fluid outlet 28′ associated with the pump module 228 in the preferred embodiment is a septum and ball valve similar to fluid outlet 28 associated with the ink supply 20 shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the pump module 228 includes keying portions 232, shown in
Latching features or detents 118′ are included in the preferred embodiment of the pump module 228. These latching or detent features 118′ are similar to the latching and detent features 118 shown on ink supply 20 of
The pump module 228 includes another set of keying features for ensuring a proper ink container 230 is positioned to provide fluid to the proper fluid inlet 42′ of the pump module 228. It is important that only the proper ink container 230 having the corresponding ink color and ink family be connected such that the proper ink is provided to the proper trailing tube 169 associated with the printing system. Mixing ink color or ink families can produce reduced print quality or failure of the printing system. The pump module 228 includes key features 236 and 238 on the pump module 228. These key features are preferably a variety of slots or grooves in the pump module 228. These key features 236 and 238 cooperate with corresponding key features 240 and 242 associated with the ink container 230. The key features 240 and 242 are preferably outwardly extending tabs. These outwardly extending tabs 240 and 242 fit into corresponding key slots 236 and 238, respectively, when the proper ink container 230 is inserted into the proper position on the pump module 228. Ink containers 230 that do not have the proper ink color or ink family are excluded by the keying features 236 and 238 on the pump module 228 to prevent damage to the printer or reduced print quality.
The ink container 230 is shown in
The use of the pump module 228 allows relatively low cost ink containers 230 to be used for providing ink to a semi-permanent pump module 228. In contrast to the ink supply 20, as shown in
Although the pump module 228 shown in
This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/566,818, entitled “Ink Cartridge Adapters”, filed on Dec. 4, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,900,896 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/429,915 filed Apr. 27, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,387 issued Oct. 20, 1998, entitled “Ink Supply For An Ink-Jet Printer” filed Apr. 27, 1995, and also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/173,915, filed Oct. 16, 1998, abandoned entitled, “Ink Supply For An Ink-Jet Printer” the entire contents are incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040104984 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09173915 | Oct 1998 | US |
| Child | 10717230 | US | |
| Parent | 08566818 | Dec 1995 | US |
| Child | 09173915 | US | |
| Parent | 08429915 | Apr 1995 | US |
| Child | 08566818 | US |
