Method and apparatus for refilling an ink cartridge
AssigneeMitsubishi Pencil Corporation of America
InventorHisami Tamano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ink cartridge which is provided therein with a spring assembly for generating a negative pressure inside the cartridge being refilled with ink while applying a compression onto the spring assembly. The compression is removed so as to allow the spring assembly to expand and to generate the negative pressure. The application and removal of the compression is provided by a pressure tool that has an elastic metal strip bent so as to press the spring assembly; and the ink refilling is accomplished using an opening tool for making an access to the inside of the ink cartridge and an ink refilling adapter for introducing ink from an ink supply into the ink cartridge, which form an ink refilling kit along with the pressure tool.
Claims11
An apparatus used in refilling ink into an ink cartridge which contains therein a spring member for generating a negative pressure inside said ink cartridge, said apparatus comprising a flat, elongated main body and a pressing means provided on said main body for applying a pressing force on said spring member.
A kit for refilling ink into an ink cartridge which contains therein a spring member for generating a negative pressure inside said ink cartridge, comprising:
- an opening device for creating an access to an inside of said cartridge;
- a pressure device, a part thereof for being inserted into an interior of said ink cartridge through said access;
- an ink supply container;
- and
- an ink refilling device adapted to be placed on said ink cartridge for transferring ink from said ink supply container into said ink cartridge through an ink filling aperture of said ink cartridge, said ink refilling device having an ink conduit which is connected at one end thereof to said ink supply container and at another end thereof to said ink cartridge;
- and wherein
- said pressure device comprises a flat, elongated main body and a pressing means provided on said main body and shaped so as to generate a pressing force which compresses said spring member of said ink cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.