Apparatus and method for printing

A method of operating an apparatus for ink jet printing, the method comprising:

• connecting an ink cartridge with a cartridge connection of the apparatus;
• detecting an ink cartridge engaged with the cartridge connection;
• after the ink cartridge has been detected, causing an ink system to extract substantially the entire contents of the detected ink cartridge from the cartridge and into an ink storage tank within the apparatus;
• disconnecting the ink cartridge from the cartridge connection of the apparatus;
• connecting a solvent cartridge with the same cartridge connection of the apparatus previously connected to the ink cartridge;
• detecting a solvent cartridge engaged with the cartridge connection after an ink refill operation has been performed;
• and
• after the solvent cartridge has been detected, performing a cleaning operation.

An apparatus for continuous ink jet printing, comprising:

• an ink system comprising an ink storage tank operable to supply ink to a print head associated with the apparatus;
• a single cartridge connection for releasable engagement with one of an ink cartridge or a solvent cartridge, the single cartridge connection comprising:
• a fluid connector for engaging an outlet of the one of the ink cartridge or the solvent cartridge;
• and
• a conduit configured to allow ink or solvent to flow along a fluid pathway from the one of the ink cartridge or the solvent cartridge engaged with the single cartridge connection, via the fluid connector, to the ink storage tank;
• the apparatus having:
• a first configuration in which the one of the ink cartridge or the solvent cartridge is the solvent cartridge, and the solvent cartridge is engaged with the single cartridge connection and in which the apparatus is configured to receive solvent from the engaged solvent cartridge;
• and
• a second configuration in which the one of the ink cartridge or the solvent cartridge is the ink cartridge, and the ink cartridge is engaged with the single cartridge connection and in which the apparatus is configured to receive ink from the engaged ink cartridge,
• the apparatus further comprising a controller configured to control operations of the ink system and the print head, wherein the controller is configured to:
• determine that additional solvent is required and generate an indication that additional solvent is required;
• detect that the solvent cartridge is engaged with the single cartridge connection;
• and
• cause the ink system to extract solvent from the engaged solvent cartridge into the ink system.