Print cartridge coupling and reservoir assembly for use in an inkjet printing system with an off-axis ink supply

A fluidic adapter for an inkjet printing system, comprising:

• an inkjet print cartridge having nozzles for ejecting ink in a droplet ejection direction and having an integral ink inlet port oriented to receive ink in a direction substantially opposite to the droplet ejection direction;
• a body having an inner surface, an outer surface and first and second end portions defining an internal chamber, said internal chamber providing an ink reservoir for the print cartridge;
• and
• a fluidic interconnect affixed to the first end of said body and in fluidic communication with said internal chamber, said fluidic interconnect releasably sealed to the inlet port of the print cartridge when the body is engaged with the print cartridge to allow fluid communication between the internal chamber and the inlet port of the print cartridge so as to allow ink to flow through the fluid interconnect and into the inlet port of the print cartridge in a direction substantially opposite to the ejection direction.

A printing system, comprising:

• a print cartridge having a printhead for ejecting ink in a first direction defined by a droplet ejection direction, the print cartridge having an integral ink inlet port oriented to receive ink in a second direction substantially opposite to the droplet ejection direction;
• a scanning carriage for supporting and moving the print cartridge across a print zone;
• a fluid interconnect fluidically coupled with the inlet port such that ink can flow from the fluid interconnect into the ink inlet port in the second direction that is substantially opposite to the droplet ejection direction, wherein fluidic coupling occurs simultaneously when the printhead is supported by the scanning carriage;
• and
• a fluid conduit that is in fluid communication with the fluid interconnect, the fluid conduit receives ink from an ink source.

A method of providing ink to an inkjet print cartridge, the method comprising:

• providing an inkjet print cartridge for ejecting ink in a droplet ejection direction, the print cartridge having an integral fluid inlet oriented so that ink enters the fluid inlet in a direction substantially opposite to the droplet ejection direction;
• inserting the print cartridge into a scanning carriage in a direction substantially parallel to the droplet ejection direction when the print cartridge is inserted in the scanning carriage, said print cartridge making simultaneous fluidic and electrical connection to the scanning carriage;
• connecting a fluid interconnect to the fluid inlet in a substantially linear motion that is substantially opposite to the droplet ejection direction, the fluid interconnect in fluid communication with a fluid conduit, wherein fluidic coupling occurs simultaneously when the printhead is inserted into the scanning carriage;
• and
• transporting ink through the fluid conduit and to the fluid interconnect and through the fluid interconnect into the print cartridge in a direction substantially opposite to the droplet ejection direction.