Kit and method for opening, refilling and sealing a cartridge

A kit for opening and sealing a cartridge having an interior ink reservoir coupled to a sealable access port defined by a nominally cylindrical wall extending from a reference surface of said cartridge, said access port having a nominally circular cross-section with diameter D extending a distance d along a port axis substantially perpendicular to said reference surface comprising:

• A. a plunger having at least one shank, said one shank extending along a first plunger axis to a shoulder having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension greater than D, and having an elongated member extending a length L1 from said shoulder along said first plunger axis, said elongated member having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension less than or equal to D;
• B. a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and a thickness T.sub.1 in a first region and having a first channel extending through said first region along a first channel axis substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of said plate and having a transverse cross-section with a minimum dimension in at least one direction equal to D, said bottom surface of said plate permitting alignment with said reference surface of said cartridge in a first orientation, said first channel axis being oriented with respect to said bottom surface in said first orientation in the same manner that said port axis is oriented with respect to said reference surface;
• and
• C. at least one plug extending along a plug axis, said at least one plug having a circular cross-section at its widest point with a diameter greater than or equal to D, whereby said at least one plug is adapted for friction fit within said first channel of said plate,
• wherein L1 and T1 are selected so that when said plate is positioned adjacent to said reference surface with said port axes and said first channel axes being aligned, and with said elongated member and said plug driven through said first channel and into said access port with said shoulder adjacent to said plate, said plug is interferingly fit in said access port.

A kit for opening and sealing a cartridge having an interior ink reservoir coupled to a sealable access port defined by a nominally cylindrical wall extending from a reference surface of said cartridge, said access port having a nominally circular cross-section with diameter D extending a distance d along a port axis substantially perpendicular to said reference surface, comprising:

• A. a plunger having a shank extending between a first shoulder having a cross-section with a maximum dimension greater than D and a second shoulder having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension greater than D, and having a first elongated member extending a length L1 from said first shoulder along a first plunger axis and having a second elongated member extending a length L2 along a second plunger axis, said first and second elongated members each having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension less than or equal to D;
• B. a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and a thinkness T1 in a first region and having a first channel extending through said first region along a first channel axis substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of said plate and having a transverse cross-section having a minimum dimension in at least one direction equal to D, said bottom surface of said plate permitting alingment with said reference storage of said cartridge in a first orientation, said first channel axis being oriented with respect to said bottom surface in said first orientation in the same manner that said port axis is oriented with respect to said reference surface, and
• wherein said plate further includes a second region having thickness T2 and having a second channel extending through said second region along a second channel axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of said plate and having a transverse cross-section having a minimum dimension equal to D at said bottom surface, said botom surface of said plate permitting alignment with said reference surface of said cartridge in a second orientation, said second channel axis being oriented with respect to said bottom surface in said second orientation in the same manner that said port axis is oriented with respect to said reference surface;
• and
• C. at least one plug extending along a plug axis, said plug having at its widest point a circular transverse cross-section with a diameter greater than or equal to D,
• wherein T1-F<L1<T1+d-F and L2>T2+d-F, and wherein F is the distance from one end of said plug along its axis to its nearest transverse circular cross-section having diameter D.

A method for opening, refilling and sealing a cartridge having an interior ink reservoir coupled to a sealable access port defined by a nominally cylindrical wall extending from a reference surface of said cartridge, said access port having a nominally circular cross-section with diameter D extending a distance d along a port axis substantially perpendicular to said reference surface, comprising the steps of:

• A. providing a plunger having a shank, said shank extending along a plunger axis to a shoulder having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension greater than D, and having an elongated member extending a length L1 from said shoulder along said plunger axis, said elongated member having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension less than or equal to D;
• B. providing a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and a thickness T.sub.1 in a first region and having and a first channel extending through said first region along a first channel axis substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of said plate and having a transverse cross-section with a minimum dimension in at least one direction equal to D said bottom surface of said plate permitting alignment with said reference surface of said cartridge in a first orientation, said first channel axis being oriented with respect to said bottom surface in said first orientation in the same manner that said port axis is oriented with respect to said reference surface, and including a plug extending along a plug axis and having a circular transverse cross-section at its widest point having diameter D, said plug being nominally positioned within said first channel, wherein T.sub.1 -F<L1<T.sub.1 +d-F;
• and wherein F is the distance from one end of said plug along its axis to its nearest circular transverse cross-section having diameter D;
• C. opening said sealed access port;
• D. refilling said cartridge with a dispensable liquid substance through said access port;
• E. aligning said bottom surface of said plate with said reference surface of said cartridge, thereby aligning said first channel with said access port in said cartridge;
• and
• F. sealing said access port in said cartridge by inserting said elongated member into said first channel of said plate from said top surface until said shoulder meets said top surface, thereby pushing said plug into said access port, and then withdrawing said plunger and removing said plate from said cartridge.

A method for opening, refilling and sealing a cartridge having an interior ink reservoir coupled to a sealable access port defined by a nominally cylindrical wall extending from a reference surface of said cartridge, said access port having a nominally circular cross-section with diameter D extending a distance d along a port axis substantially perpendicular to reference surface, comprising the steps of:

• A. providing a plunger having a shank, said shank extending along a plunger axis to a shoulder having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension greater than D, and having an elongated member extending a length L1 from said shoulder along said plunger axis, said elongated member having a transverse cross-section with a maximum dimension less than or equal to D;
• B. providing a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface and having a thickness T.sub.1 in a first region and having a first channel extending through said first region along a first channel axis substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of said plate and having a transverse cross-section with a minimum dimension in at least one direction equal to said bottom surface of said plate permitting alignment with said reference surface of said cartridge in a first orientation, said first channel axis being oriented with respect to said bottom surface in said first orientation in the same manner that said port axis is oriented with respect to said reference surface and including plug having a cross-section of diameter D nominally positioned within said first channel, and further including a second region having thickness T.sub.2, where T.sub.2 <T.sub.1, and having a second channel extending through said second region along a second channel axis substantially perpendicular to the principal plane of said plate and having a transverse cross-section with a minimum dimension in at least one direction equal to D, said bottom surface of said plate permitting alignment with said reference surface of said cartridge in a second orientation, said second channel axis being oriented with respect to said bottom surface in said second orientation in the same manner that said port axis is oriented with respect to said reference surface, and including a plug having a cross-section of diameter D nominally positioned within said second channel,
• wherein L1>T.sub.2 +d-F and T.sub.1 -F<L1<T.sub.1 +d-F;
• and wherein F is the distance from one end of said plug at along its axis to its nearest transverse cross-section having diameter D,
• C. aligning said bottom surface of said plate with said reference surface of said cartridge in said second orientation, thereby aligning said second channel with said access port in said cartridge;
• D. opening said sealed access port by inserting said elongated member into said second channel of said plate from said top surface until said shoulder meets said top surface, thereby pushing said elongated member of said plunger through said second channel into said port to penetrate the seal therein, and then withdrawing said plunger from said access port and removing said plate from said cartridge;
• E. refilling said cartridge with a dispensable liquid substance through said access port;
• F. aligning said bottom surface of said plate with said reference surface of said cartridge in said first orientation, thereby aligning said first channel with said access port in said cartridge;
• and
• G. sealing said access port in said cartridge by inserting said elongated member into said first channel of said plate from said top surface until said shoulder meets said top surface, thereby pushing said plug into said access port, and then withdrawing said plunger and removing said plate from said cartridge.