Printing fluid container
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsBen Smith, Bryan Murphy, Christopher Wallace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing fluid container (100) for use in a printing system is described. An example container includes a base (110) and a light transmissive side wall (120). The side wall extends from the base to define a chamber (130) for receiving and storing printing fluid within the container. The side wall has an internal surface (122) facing the chamber, said internal surface comprising a channel (140). The channel comprises a portion (142) indicating a height from the base, the height representing a predetermined fill amount. The channel is configured such that when the chamber contains printing fluid, printing fluid resides within the channel (140) and indicates the predetermined fill amount.
Claims12
An ink container for a printing system comprising:
- a base;
- and
- a light transmissive side wall, the side wall extending from the base to define a chamber for receiving and storing ink within the ink container;
- wherein the side wall has an internal surface facing the chamber, a channel is formed in the internal surface of the side wall, and the channel includes a portion extending from the base and a portion indicating a height from the base, wherein the portion indicating the height from the base is arranged substantially parallel to the base and the portion extending from the base bisects the portion indicating the height from the base, the height representing a predetermined ink fill amount, and
- wherein, when the chamber contains ink, ink contacts and resides within the channel to indicate the predetermined ink fill amount.
A method of manufacturing an ink container for use in a printer, the method comprising:
- providing a base and a light transmissive side wall extending from the base to define a chamber for the ink container, the side wall having an internal surface facing the chamber;
- and
- forming a channel in the internal surface of the side wall, the channel including a portion extending from the base and a portion indicating a height from the base, the portion indicating the height from the base arranged substantially parallel to the base and the portion extending from the base bisecting the portion indicating the height from the base, the channel being such that when ink is introduced to the chamber of the ink container, ink contacts and resides within the channel to indicate a predetermined ink fill amount for the ink container.
A printer system comprising:
- a plurality of printing fluid containers,
- each printing fluid container being refillable and comprising:
- a base;
- a light transmissive side wall, the side wall extending from the base to define a chamber, the chamber containing a printing fluid having a colorant;
- wherein the side wall has an internal surface facing the chamber, a channel is formed in the internal surface of the side wall, and the channel includes a portion extending from the base and a portion indicating a height from the base, wherein the portion indicating the height from the base is arranged substantially parallel to the base and the portion extending from the base bisects the portion indicating the height from the base, the height representing a printing fluid fill amount,
- wherein, in use, the portion of the channel indicating the height from the base is to be contacted by and contain colorant, such that a user may visually discern the portion indicating the height when viewing a corresponding portion of an external surface of the side wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.