Fluid interconnect port venting for capillary reservoir fluid containers, and methods

In a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer shell with an upper portion and a lower portion, the shell enclosing an interior containing a capillary material and having a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the rigid shell lower portion into the interior, a fluid port vent, comprising:

• a reservoir vent in the top portion providing air communication between the shell interior and ambient air;
• a venting mechanism in the reservoir interior providing air communication between the container vent to an area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port;
• and
• an air passageway providing restricted air communication between the area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port and the fluid interconnect port.

In a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer container with a top portion and a bottom portion, the container having an interior substantially filled with a capillary material, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior, a fluid port vent, comprising:

• external venting means for providing air communication between the container interior and external ambient air;
• interior reservoir venting means for providing air communication between the external venting means and an area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port;
• and
• restricted venting means providing limited air communication between the area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port and the fluid interconnect port.

A replaceable container for a consumable liquid, comprising:

• a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer container with a top portion and a bottom portion, the container having an interior substantially filled with a capillary material, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior;
• a container vent in the top portion providing air communication between the interior and ambient air;
• a venting mechanism in the reservoir interior providing air communication between the container vent to an area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port;
• and
• a passageway providing limited air communication between the area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port and the fluid interconnect port.

A replaceable ink container for an inkjet printer, comprising:

• a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer container with a top portion and a bottom portion, the container having an interior substantially filled with a capillary material, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior;
• external venting means for providing air communication between the container interior and ambient air;
• internal venting means for providing air communication between the external venting means and an area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port;
• and
• restricted venting means providing limited air communication between the area adjacent to the fluid interconnect port and the fluid interconnect port.

A replaceable ink container for an inkjet printer, comprising:

• a fluid reservoir having a substantially rigid outer container with a top portion and a bottom portion, the container having an interior substantially filled with a capillary material having a preferred capillary direction, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior;
• a container vent in the top portion providing air communication between the interior and ambient air;
• the substantially rigid outer container having at least one interior end wall, the capillary material in loose contact with the interior end wall, and with the capillary material preferred capillary direction oriented substantially perpendicular to the rigid container shell interior end wall, such that air may move along the container interior end wall;
• an air ring formed in the rigid container interior bottom portion, the air ring encircling the fluid interconnect port;
• a vent trough formed in the rigid container interior bottom portion providing air communication between the interior wall and the air ring;
• a wall formed in the container interior blocking air flow between the air ring and the fluid interconnect port;
• and
• small vent formed in the wall.

A method of venting the fluid interconnect port of a fluid container, the fluid container having a substantially rigid outer shell with a upper portion, an interior substantially filled with a capillary material, a lower portion, and a fluid interconnect port forming an opening through the outer container lower portion into the interior, the method comprising:

• venting the fluid container to ambient air with a vent located on the upper portion of the container;
• internally venting the container to channel air from the ambient air vent to an internal location adjacent to the fluid interconnect port;
• and
• restrictedly venting the fluid port from the adjacent location.