US 5,631,681 A · Ink replenishing system and method for ink-jet printers

Abstract

A system and method is described for replenishing the ink in ink reservoirs of the printhead cartridges on ink-jet printers. The ink-jet printer includes a replenishing station to which the pen carriage can be moved whenever ink in one of the cartridge ink reservoirs becomes exhausted or nears exhaustion. At the replenishing station, a plurality of container holders serve to receive and hold one or more ink supply containers, which are sealed packages or cans containing an appropriate quantity of ink for refilling the ink reservoir without overfill. A container of the correct ink color is positioned in the appropriate holder where it rests on a hydraulic coupling device which is urged upwardly to a decoupled position by a spring. Downward pressure exerted on the container, preferably by the user closing the replenishing station cover, forces the container downwardly onto a cutting blade or other perforating device which breaks the seal on the container. Further downward pressure presses the coupling device onto the printhead cartridge completing a hydraulic connection from the interior of the container through the coupling to the cartridge. The downward pressure on the container causes ink to flow under pressure from the cartridge container through the coupling to the refill port and into the cartridge. The ink container is designed to crush almost to zero volume, so that all the ink flows into the cartridge. Once refilling is completed, the cover is raised, decoupling the hydraulic connection and allowing the user to remove the crushed container. The system eliminates the need to remove the cartridge from the printer for refilling and also eliminates all contact with the ink.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A system for replenishing ink in a printhead ink reservoir of an ink-jet printer, the printhead ink reservoir having a refill port, said system comprising:

an ink supply container containing ink used to replenish the ink in the printhead ink reservoir;
an ink supply container holder for holding said ink supply container;
a hydraulic coupler supported on said ink supply container holder for movement between a coupled position in which said coupler provides a hydraulic connection between said ink supply container and the printhead ink reservoir through the refill port, and a decoupled position in which said hydraulic connection is broken, resupply of ink being effected by selectively moving said coupler to said coupled position and transferring ink from said ink supply container to the printhead ink reservoir by way of said hydraulic connection;
and
a hinged cover on said ink supply container holder, said cover being movable in a first direction to overlie said ink supply container holder to operatively contact said ink supply container for exerting force against said ink supply container to move said ink supply container into operative contact with said coupler and for moving said coupler to said coupled position to establish said hydraulic connection between said ink supply container and said coupler when said coupler is in said coupled position, and movable in a second direction to permit insertion of said ink supply container in said ink supply container holder.

2 more elements

An improved ink-jet printer having a printhead cartridge, and a movable carriage for supporting and transporting the printhead cartridge to selected locations, the printhead cartridge including an ink reservoir for supplying ink to a printhead, the improvement comprising:

an ink resupply position to which the carriage and printhead cartridge thereon are selectively movable to said ink resupply when the ink reservoir requires replenishment;
an ink supply container holder located adjacent said ink resupply position for holding an ink supply container in which ink for replenishing the ink reservoir is contained;
a refill port on the printhead cartridge through which said ink is supplied to the ink reservoir;
a hydraulic coupler supported on the ink supply container holder for movement between a coupled position in which said coupler provides a hydraulic connection between an ink supply container in said holder and said refill port on said cartridge when said cartridge is in said resupply position, and a decoupled position in which said hydraulic connection is broken, resupply of ink being effected by selectively moving said coupler to said coupled position and transferring said ink from said ink supply container in said holder to said refill port through said coupler;
and
a hinged cover on said ink supply container holder, said cover being movable in a first direction to overlie said ink supply container holder to operatively contact said ink supply container for exerting force against said ink supply container to move said ink supply container into operative contact with said coupler and for moving said coupler to said coupled position to establish said hydraulic connection between said ink supply container and said coupler when said coupler is in said coupled position, and movable in a second direction to permit insertion of said ink supply container in said ink supply container holder.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ink replenishing system and method for ink-jet printers

Life of this patent

Ink replenishing system and method for ink-jet printers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9