Printing fluid supply
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsFrancesc Ros Cerro, Marc Bautista Palacios, Macia Sole Pons, Emilio Jose Gongora Canada
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example of a printing fluid supply connector is described that has a first connector and a second connector, where each of the first and second connectors is to fluidly connect to a respective replaceable reservoir of printing fluid. The printing fluid supply connector also has an outlet to fluidly connect to a printer and a selector to selectively fluidly connect one of the first and second connectors to the outlet in response to an electrical control signal or to fluid pressure at the first and second connectors.
Claims13
A printing fluid supply connector comprising:
- a first connector and a second connector, wherein each of the first and second connectors is to fluidly connect to a respective replaceable reservoir of printing fluid, and wherein each of the first and second connectors comprises an interface to communicate with the respective replaceable reservoir;
- an outlet to fluidly connect to a printer;
- a selector to selectively fluidly connect one of the first and second connectors to the outlet in response to an electrical control signal or to fluid pressure at the first and second connectors;
- a signal path to provide communication between the interface of each interface and the printer.
A printer comprising:
- a printing fluid supply connector comprising a first inlet to receive printing fluid of a first type from a first reservoir of printing fluid and a second inlet to receive printing fluid of a first type from a second reservoir of printing fluid;
- and a valve arrangement to control supply of the printing fluid of the first type from the first reservoir or from the second reservoir in response to an electrical control signal;
- and
- a supply controller to generate said electrical control signal,
- wherein the first inlet is fluidly connected to a first connector, wherein the first connector is to connect to the first reservoir of printing fluid and comprises a first interface to communicate with the first reservoir of printing fluid,
- and wherein the second inlet is fluidly connected to a second connector, wherein the second connector to connect to the second reservoir of printing fluid and comprises a second interface to communicate with the second reservoir of printing fluid.
A method of controlling supply of printing fluid to a printer wherein:
- a first type of printing fluid is supplied to the printer from a first reservoir connected to a first connector of the printer until the amount of printing fluid in the first reservoir is below a threshold, the first connector comprising a first interface to communicate with the first reservoir of printing fluid;
- and subsequently
- the first type of printing fluid is supplied to the printer from a second reservoir connected to a second connector of the printer, the second connector comprising a second interface to communicate with the second reservoir of printing fluid;
- wherein the first reservoir or the second reservoir is selected in response to an electrical control signal or fluid pressure of the first and second reservoirs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.