Claims
- 1. A printing-fluid container, comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold printing fluid, the reservoir defining a well in a gravitationally low portion of the reservoir; and a fluid interface configured to releasably receive a fluid connector to draw printing fluid from the well.
- 2. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the fluid interface includes a septum mounted on the reservoir to receive a horizontally-inserted fluid connector.
- 3. The printing-fluid container of claim 2, wherein the fluid interface further includes a spring member and a plug member, and wherein the spring member yieldably biases the plug member against the septum to create a fluid tight seal.
- 4. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a bottom surface configured to gravitationally direct printing fluid toward the well.
- 5. The printing-fluid container of claim 4, wherein the bottom surface includes a trough portion that protrudes downwardly from a remaining portion of the bottom surface, and wherein the well is at least partially defined by the trough portion.
- 6. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, further comprising an air interface located above the fluid interface.
- 7. The printing-fluid container of claim 6, wherein the fluid interface and the air interface are vertically aligned on a substantially planar face of the printing-fluid container.
- 8. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the reservoir in the well is less than a cross-sectional area of the reservoir above the well.
- 9. The printing-fluid container of claim 8, wherein the cross-sectional area of the reservoir in the well is at most half the cross-sectional area of the reservoir above the well.
- 10. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the fluid interface and the well are cooperatively configured to deliver printing fluid from the reservoir until such reservoir is at least 90% drained.
- 11. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the fluid interface and the well are cooperatively configured to leave a volume of stranded printing fluid which is no more than approximately 5% of a volume of the reservoir.
- 12. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the fluid interface and the well are cooperatively configured to provide for delivery of printing fluid from the reservoir until no more than approximately 2 cubic centimeters of printing fluid remains in the reservoir.
- 13. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the fluid interface and the well are cooperatively configured to provide for delivery of printing fluid from the reservoir until no more than approximately 1 cubic centimeter of printing fluid remains in the reservoir.
- 14. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, further comprising a free volume of ink held within the reservoir.
- 15. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, further comprising a free volume of preconditioner held within the reservoir.
- 16. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, further comprising a free volume of fixer held within the reservoir.
- 17. A printing-fluid container configured for lateral installation in a printing system, the printing-fluid container comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold a printing fluid, the reservoir defining a protruding well into which printing fluid is gravitationally pulled; and a fluid interface configured to access the reservoir from laterally adjacent the well when the printing-fluid container is installed.
- 18. The printing-fluid container of claim 17, wherein the fluid interface includes a septum configured to receive a horizontally inserted fluid connector.
- 19. The printing-fluid container of claim 18, wherein the fluid interface further includes a spring member and a plug member, and wherein the spring member biases the plug member against the septum to create a fluid tight seal when the printing-fluid container is installed.
- 20. The printing-fluid container of claim 17, further comprising an air-interface located above the fluid interface.
- 21. The printing-fluid container of claim 17, wherein a cross-sectional area of the reservoir in the well is less than a cross-sectional area of the reservoir immediately above the well.
- 22. The printing-fluid container of claim 17, further comprising a free volume of ink held within the reservoir.
- 23. The printing-fluid container of claim 17, further comprising a free volume of preconditioner held within the reservoir.
- 24. The printing-fluid container of claim 17, further comprising a free volume of fixer held within the reservoir.
- 25. A printing-fluid container, comprising:
a reservoir defining an inner cavity configured to hold a free volume of printing fluid, wherein the free volume of printing fluid has a fluid level that lowers as the printing-fluid container is emptied; and a fluid interface positioned on an upright face of the reservoir to accommodate draining of the free volume of ink until not more than 10% of the inner cavity contains the free volume of ink.
- 26. The printing-fluid container of claim 25, wherein the fluid interface is positioned to accommodate draining of the free volume of ink until the free volume of ink occupies not more than 5% of the inner cavity.
- 27. The printing-fluid container of claim 25, wherein the fluid interface is positioned to accommodate draining of the free volume of ink until the free volume of ink occupies not more than 2% of the inner cavity.
- 28. A printing-fluid container for installation in a printing system, the printing-fluid container comprising:
means for holding a volume of printing fluid, wherein the means for holding defines a bottom well of reduced cross-sectional area; means for gravitationally directing printing fluid into the well; and means for laterally receiving a fluid connector to draw printing fluid from the well.
- 29. The printing-fluid container of claim 28, wherein the bottom well is configured to contain a volume of printing fluid which is less than 10% of a volume of the means for holding.
- 30. A printing-fluid container, comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold a free volume of ink, the reservoir including an upright face with a downwardly-extending protrusion; and a fluid interface positioned on the downwardly-extending protrusion and configured to access the free volume of ink.
- 31. The printing-fluid container of claim 30, wherein the fluid interface includes a septum configured to receive a horizontally inserted fluid connector.
- 32. The printing-fluid container of claim 31, wherein the fluid interface further includes a spring member and a plug member, and wherein the spring member yeildably biases the plug member against the septum to create a fluid tight seal.
- 33. The printing-fluid container of claim 30, further comprising an air interface located above the fluid interface.
- 34. A printing-fluid container configured for lateral insertion in a container bay of a printing system, the printing-fluid container comprising:
a leading surface; a top surface; a bottom surface; an air interface positioned on the leading surface proximate the top surface; and a printing-fluid interface positioned on the leading surface proximate the bottom surface.
- 35. The printing-fluid container of claim 34, wherein the printing-fluid interface is positioned within 10 millimeters of the bottom surface.
- 36. The printing-fluid container of claim 35, wherein the air interface is positioned within 10 millimeters of the top surface.
- 37. The printing-fluid container of claim 34, wherein the printing-fluid interface is positioned within 5 millimeters of the bottom surface.
- 38. The printing-fluid container of claim 37, wherein the air interface is positioned within 5 millimeters of the top surface.
- 39. The printing-fluid container of claim 34, wherein the leading surface includes a downwardly-extending protrusion and the bottom surface defines a downwardly-extending well substantially aligned with the downwardly-extending protrusion, and wherein the printing-fluid interface is positioned on the downwardly-extending protrusion to access the downwardly-extending well.
- 40. The printing-fluid interface of claim 39, wherein the downwardly-extending protrusion is horizontally centered on the leading surface.
- 41. The printing-fluid container of claim 39, wherein the printing-fluid interface and the air interface are vertically aligned.
- 42. The printing-fluid container of claim 41, wherein the printing fluid interface and the air interface are horizontally centered on the leading surface.
- 43. The printing-fluid container of claim 39, wherein the printing-fluid interface is configured to releasably laterally receive a fluid connector into a position to draw printing fluid from the downwardly-extending well.
- 44. The printing-fluid container of claim 34, wherein the printing-fluid interface is horizontally centered in the container bay upon lateral insertion of the container in the container bay.
- 45. The printing-fluid container of claim 34, wherein the printing-fluid interface and the air interface are vertically aligned.
- 46. A printing-fluid container configured for lateral insertion in a container bay, the printing-fluid container comprising:
a reservoir defining an inner cavity configured to hold a volume of printing fluid, the reservoir having an upright leading surface with a downwardly-extending protrusion and a bottom surface defining a downwardly-extending well substantially aligned with the downwardly-extending protrusion; and a fluid interface positioned on the downwardly-extending protrusion and configured to releasably receive a fluid connector into a position to draw printing fluid from the downwardly-extending well, wherein the fluid interface is horizontally centered in the container bay upon insertion of the printing-fluid container in the container bay.
- 47. The printing-fluid interface of claim 46, wherein the downwardly-extending protrusion is horizontally centered on the leading surface.
- 48. The printing-fluid container of claim 47, wherein the fluid interface is positioned within 10 millimeters of the bottom surface.
- 49. The printing-fluid container of claim 46, wherein the fluid interface includes a horizontal passage through which the fluid connector may pass.
- 50. The printing-fluid container of claim 46, wherein the bottom surface includes a slanting portion configured to gravitationally direct printing fluid to the downwardly-extending well.
- 51. A method of delivering a printing fluid, comprising:
holding a free volume of printing fluid in a reservoir that includes a fluid interface and a well positioned at a bottom of the reservoir when the reservoir is in a seated orientation; and drawing printing fluid via the fluid interface from the well such that fluid may be drawn until the reservoir is more than 90% empty.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/060,821, filed Jan. 30, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10060821 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Child |
10632728 |
Jul 2003 |
US |