Self-sealing fluid inerconnect with double sealing septum

A system for forming a fluid connection between a removable ink supply containing a quantity of ink and an ink-jet printer into which the ink supply can be inserted, the ink-jet printer having a trailing tube for supplying ink to an ink-jet print head, the system comprising:

• a fluid inlet mounted to the ink supply, the fluid inlet comprising:
• a hollow needle having a base and a top, the base of the needle being in fluid communication with the quantity of ink, the needle further defining a hole near the top;
• and
• a sliding collar encircling the needle, the sliding collar having a top surface and an inner surface in contact with the needle, the sliding collar being movable from a first position in which the inner surface seals the hole and the top surface is adjacent the top of the needle to a second position in which the hole is exposed;
• and
• a fluid outlet mounted to the printer for engaging the fluid inlet when the ink supply is inserted into the ink-jet printer, the fluid outlet comprising:
• a hollow housing having a first end in fluid communication with the trailing tube;
• a septum positioned to seal the second end of the housing;
• and
• a sealing member positioned within the housing, the sealing member being movable between a first position in which the sealing member seals against the septum and a second position in which ink can flow passed the sealing member to the septum,
• wherein as the ink supply is inserted into the ink-jet printer the housing moves the sealing collar from the first position to the second position to expose the hole and the needle pierces the septum to move the sealing member from the first position to the second position to allow the flow of ink from the hole into the housing.

A method of forming a fluid interconnect between a removable ink supply containing a quantity of ink and an ink-jet printer into which the ink supply can be inserted, the ink-jet printer having a trailing tube for supplying ink to an ink-jet print head, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid inlet mounted to the ink-jet printer, the fluid inlet comprising:
• a hollow needle having a base and a top, the base of the needle being in fluid communication with the trailing tube, the needle further defining a lateral hole adjacent the top;
• and
• a sliding collar encircling the needle, the sliding collar having a top surface and an inner surface in contact with the needle, the sliding collar being movable from a first position in which the inner surface seals the lateral hole and the top surface is adjacent the top of the needle to a second position in which the lateral hole is exposed;
• and
• providing a fluid outlet mounted to the ink supply for engaging the fluid inlet when the ink supply is inserted into the ink-jet printer, the fluid outlet comprising:
• a housing having a first end in fluid communication with said quantity of ink;
• a septum positioned to seal the second end of the housing;
• and
• a sealing member positioned within the housing, the sealing member being movable between a first position in which the sealing member seals against the septum and a second position in which ink can flow passed the sealing member to the septum;
• inserting the ink supply partially into the ink-jet printer such that the top surface of the sliding collar engages the sealing surface to form a seal between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the seal leaving no substantial space between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and
• further inserting the ink supply into the ink-jet printer such that the housing moves the sliding collar from the first position to the second position to expose the lateral hole and the needle pierces the septum to move the sealing member from the first position to the second position to allow the flow of ink from the housing and into the lateral hole.

A fluid outlet for an ink supply containing a quantity of ink that is removably insertible into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a fluid inlet for coupling with the fluid outlet to form a fluid connection between the removable ink supply and the ink-jet printer, the fluid outlet comprising:

• a hollow housing having a first end in fluid communication with said quantity of ink;
• a septum positioned to seal a second end of the housing;
• and
• a sealing member positioned within the housing, the sealing member being movable between a first position in which the sealing member seals against the septum and a second position in which ink can flow past the sealing member to the septum,
• the septum capable of being pierced by a portion of the fluid inlet, upon piercing the septum said portion of the fluid inlet moving the sealing member from the first position to the second position to allow ink flow between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet.