# US 2010/0165058 A1 · Ink Refill Unit Having Discretely Incrementable Variable Storage Volume

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- Number: US 2010/0165058 A1
- Document ID: US20100165058A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/720,342
- Filed: 2010-03-09
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2004-01-21
- Assignees: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
- Inventors: Kia Silverbrook; Akira Nakazawa; Christopher Hibbard; Paul Ian Mackey; Norman Michael Berry; Garry Raymond Jackson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100165058A1

## CPC

- B41J 25/34: Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
- B41J 2/04541: {Specific driving circuit}
- B41J 2/04543: {Block driving}
- B41J 2/0458: {controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles}
- B41J 2/04585: {controlling heads based on thermal bent actuators}
- B41J 2/04591: {Width of the driving signal being adjusted}
- B41J 2/135: Nozzles
- B41J 2/14016: {Structure of bubble jet print heads}
- B41J 2/14427: {Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators}
- B41J 2/155: for line printing
- B41J 2/1623: {bonding and adhesion}
- B41J 2/1628: {dry etching}
- B41J 2/1634: {laser machining}
- B41J 2/1637: {molding}
- B41J 2/1642: {thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]}
- B41J 2/1648: {Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators}
- B41J 2/16526: {by applying pressure only}
- B41J 2/16535: {using wiping constructions (B41J2/16552 takes precedence)}
- B41J 2/16585: {for paper-width or non-reciprocating print heads}
- B41J 2/1707: {Conditioning of the inside of ink supply circuits, e.g. flushing during start-up or shut-down}
- B41J 2/1714: {Conditioning of the outside of ink supply systems, e.g. inkjet collector cleaning, ink mist removal (B41J2/08, B41J2/16517, B41J2/18 take precedence)}
- B41J 2/175: Ink supply systems {; Circuit parts therefor}
- B41J 2/17503: {Ink cartridges}
- B41J 2/17506: {Refilling of the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer}
- B41J 2/17513: {Inner structure}
- B41J 2/1752: {Mounting within the printer}
- B41J 2/17536: {Protection of cartridges or parts thereof, e.g. tape}
- B41J 2/17553: {Outer structure}
- B41J 2/17556: {Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge}
- B41J 2/17566: {Ink level or ink residue control}
- B41J 2/19: for removing air bubbles
- B41J 2/515: line printer type
- B41J 29/02: Framework
- B41J 29/13: Cases or covers
- B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
- B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles
- B41J 2/1742: {Open waste ink collectors, e.g. ink receiving from a print head above the collector during borderless printing}
- B41J 2002/14362: {Assembling elements of heads}
- B41J 2002/14403: {including a filter}
- B41J 2002/14419: {Manifold}
- B41J 2002/14435: {Moving nozzle made of thermal bend detached actuator}
- B41J 2002/14459: {Matrix arrangement of the pressure chambers}
- B41J 2002/14475: {characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber}
- B41J 2002/14491: {Electrical connection}
- B41J 2002/17516: {comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag}
- B41J 2202/19: Assembling head units
- B41J 2202/20: Modules
- B41J 2202/21: Line printing
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

A printing fluid refill unit for a print engine includes a reservoir having a variable storage volume for holding an amount of printing fluid, the variable storage volume having a plurality of discrete volumetric increments, each of the discrete volumetric increments having equal volumes, the reservoir further having an actuator for reducing the variable storage volume by one or more of the discrete volumetric increments; a ratchet system forming part of the actuator, the ratchet system effecting variation of the storage volume by a minimum increment of one discrete volumetric increment; an information storage element for storing information on the amount of printing fluid contained in the refill unit and for connecting with an information reader incorporated in the print engine for reading the information stored by the storage element when the refill unit is mounted to the print engine; a selector for activating the actuator to dispense a volume of the printing fluid equal to a selected multiple of the discrete volumetric increments, wherein the information stored by the storage element enables the reader to control the selector so as to derive the selected multiple of the volumetric increments; and a sensor for sensing the position of the ratchet, whereby a remaining volume of ink in the variable storage volume is determined.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A printing fluid refill unit for a print engine, the refill unit comprising:
a reservoir having a variable storage volume for holding an amount of printing fluid, the variable storage volume having a plurality of discrete volumetric increments, each of the discrete volumetric increments having equal volumes, the reservoir further having an actuator for reducing the variable storage volume by one or more of the discrete volumetric increments;
a ratchet system forming part of the actuator, the ratchet system effecting variation of the storage volume by a minimum increment of one discrete volumetric increment;
an information storage element for storing information on the amount of printing fluid contained in the refill unit and for connecting with an information reader incorporated in the print engine for reading the information stored by the storage element when the refill unit is mounted to the print engine;
a selector for activating the actuator to dispense a volume of the printing fluid equal to a selected multiple of the discrete volumetric increments, wherein the information stored by the storage element enables the reader to control the selector so as to derive the selected multiple of the volumetric increments; and
a sensor for sensing the position of the ratchet, whereby a remaining volume of ink in the variable storage volume is determined.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A refill unit according to claim 1, wherein the information storage element is updateable, the information on the amount of printing fluid contained in the refill unit being updated during and after refilling has been performed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A refill unit according to claim 2, wherein the information storage element includes a connector, and the information storage element is positioned such that the information storage element is in contact with a corresponding connector of the print engine controller when the refill unit is mounted to the printer cartridge.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A refill unit according to claim 1, further comprising:
an outlet for engaging with a refill port of the print engine through which the printing fluid contained in the refill unit is dispensable; and
a further sensor for sensing the engagement of the outlet with the refill port.