Method and apparatus for keying ink supply containers

A container for a consumable substance, the container configured for replaceable attachment to a device utilizing the consumable substance, the container having means to indicate a characteristic of the substance, the feature comprising:

• a plurality of interconnecting elongated slot means operable to physically receive a mating component, the slot means oriented to form a distinctive pattern which serves to mechanically identify the container.

A container for a consumable substance, the container configured for replaceable attachment to a device utilizing the consumable substance, the container having a feature indicative of a characteristic of the substance, the feature comprising:

• a plurality of interconnecting elongated slots operable to physically receive a mating component, the slots oriented to form a distinctive pattern in the shape of a T;
• the angular orientation of the T serving to mechanically identify the container.

A supply station for receiving a container of a consumable substance, the supply station configured for the replaceable attachment of a container, the supply station having a substantially flat portion and a feature indicative of a characteristic of the substance, the feature comprising:

• a plurality of interconnecting protuberances extending normal to the substantially flat portion and operable to physically engage a mating component, the protuberances having flattened elongated cross sections and oriented such that the interconnecting cross sections of the protuberances form a distinctive pattern which serves to mechanically identify the container.

A supply station for receiving a container of a consumable substance, the supply station configured for the replaceable attachment of a container, the supply station having a substantially flat portion and a feature indicative of a characteristic of the substance, the supply station having means to indicate a characteristic of the substance, comprising:

• a plurality of interconnecting elongated protuberance means operable to physically receive a mating component, the protuberance means oriented to form a distinctive pattern which serves to mechanically identify the container.

A supply station for receiving a container of a consumable substance, the supply station configured for the replaceable attachment of a container, the supply station having a substantially flat portion and a feature indicative of a characteristic of the substance, the feature comprising:

• a plurality of interconnecting protuberances extending normal to the substantially flat portion and operable to physically engage a mating component, the protuberances having flattened elongated cross sections and oriented such that the interconnecting cross sections of the protuberances form a pattern in the shape of a T;
• the angular orientation of the T serving to mechanically identify

A system for keying a container for a consumable substance and a corresponding container receiving station, the container configured for replaceable attachment to the receiving station, the container and receiving stations each having substantially flat portions which are in close proximity when the container is installed in the receiving station, the system comprising:

• on one of the substantially flat portions, a plurality of interconnecting elongated slots operable to physically receive a mating component, the slots oriented to form a first distinctive pattern;
• on the other substantially flat portion, a plurality of interconnecting protuberances extending normal to the substantially flat portion and operable to physically engage a mating component, the protuberances having flattened elongated cross sections and oriented such that the interconnecting cross sections of the protuberances form a second distinctive pattern;
• the second distinctive pattern capable of being nested within the first distinctive pattern.

A method of manufacturing keyed ink containers, comprising:

• providing a mold for an ink container component having a rotatable element with keying features formed thereon;
• rotating the element to an angular position corresponding to the desired key;
• and forming ink container ink container components utilizing the mold.