Ink container configured for use with compact supply station

An off-axis printing system having a plurality of printheads mounted in a movable scanning carriage, the off-axis printing system including a plurality of replaceable ink containers and a stationary supply station for receiving the plurality of replaceable ink containers, the stationary supply station being in fluid communication with the plurality of printheads mounted in the movable scanning carriage for providing ink from the plurality of replaceable ink containers to the plurality of printheads, the off-axis printing system comprising:

• a stationary supply station in fluid communication with the plurality of printheads, the supply station having a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of pairs of first and second guiding features disposed on opposite sides of the supply station;
• and
• a plurality of replaceable ink containers with each ink container including a fluid outlet configured for engaging a corresponding fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets on the supply station, and first and second guide features disposed on and projecting outwardly from opposite sides of each ink container, wherein a shape defining the first outwardly projecting guide feature is unlike a shape defining the second outwardly projecting guide feature, wherein the first and second outwardly projecting guide features of each ink container are configured to engage corresponding first and second guiding features of the plurality of pairs of first and second guiding features on the supply station to guide each ink container of the plurality of replaceable ink containers into the supply station upon non-rotatable insertional movement of each ink container into the supply station to fluidically couple the fluid outlets and the corresponding fluid inlets, and wherein the shapes of the first and second outwardly projecting guide features of each ink container being unlike defines each ink container as asymmetrical which prevents each ink container from being inserted into the supply station in more than one orientation relative to the supply station.

A method for inserting an ink container into an off-axis printer having a printhead mounted in a movable scanning cartridge, the off-axis printer including a stationary supply station in fluid communication with the printhead mounted in the movable scanning carriage for providing ink from the ink container to the printhead, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first ink container into the supply station so that first and second guide features disposed on and projecting outwardly from opposite sides of an outer surface of the first ink container engage first and second guiding features, respectively, disposed on opposite ends of the supply station, wherein a shape defining the first outwardly projecting guide feature is unlike a shape defining the second outwardly projecting guide feature;
• and
• inserting the first ink container into the supply station using non-rotatable movement of the first ink container such that the first and second guiding features on the supply station together with the first and second outwardly projecting guide features of the first ink container guide the first ink container into the supply station to position an ink outlet of the first ink container into engagement with an ink inlet of the supply station to fluidically couple the first ink container and the supply station, and wherein the shapes of the first and second outwardly projecting guide features being unlike defines the first ink container as asymmetrical which prevents the first ink container from being inserted into the supply station in more than one orientation relative to the supply station.

A method for inserting an ink container into an off-axis printer having a printhead mounted in a movable scanning cartridge, the off-axis printer including a stationary supply station in fluid communication with the printhead mounted in the movable scanning carriage for providing ink from the ink container to the printhead, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first ink container into the supply station so that first and second guide features disposed on and projecting outwardly from opposite sides of an outer surface of the first ink container engage first and second guiding features, respectively, disposed on opposite ends of the supply station, wherein a shape defining the first guide feature is unlike a shape defining the second guide feature;
• inserting the first ink container into the supply station using non-rotatable movement of the first ink container such that the first and second guiding features on the supply station together with the first and second guide features of the first ink container guide the first ink container into the supply station to position an ink outlet of the first ink container into engagement with an ink inlet of the supply station to fluidically couple the first ink container and the supply station, and wherein the shapes of the first and second outwardly projecting guide features being unlike defines the replaceable ink container as asymmetrical which prevents the replaceable ink container from being inserted into the supply station in more than one orientation relative to the supply station;
• providing ink from the first ink container to the printhead;
• and
• refilling the first ink container.