# US 7,607,768 B2 · Liquid supply means > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,768 B2 - Document ID: US7607768B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/386,166 - Filed: 2006-03-21 - Published: 2007-09-27 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-21 - Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Inventors: Steven N Miller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607768B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract In accordance with one embodiment, a method of establishing fluidic communication between a liquid supply and a vessel includes drawing a given volume of fluid from the vessel into a chamber, and establishing fluidic communication between the liquid supply and the vessel after drawing the given volume of fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid supply apparatus, comprising: a wall that substantially defines a reservoir; an expandable chamber formed between the wall and a movable piston, wherein the chamber is selectively communicated with the reservoir through an aperture in the wall; and a portal configured to enable fluidic communication of the chamber with a vessel, wherein fluidic communication between the reservoir and the vessel is established through the aperture and the chamber after the piston is moved a predetermined amount, and wherein the aperture is blocked by the piston until the chamber expands beyond a given volume and the piston is moved the predetermined amount. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the piston is movable relative to the wall; and the chamber is substantially defined by the piston and the wall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber is substantially in the form of a cylinder having slidably disposed therein the piston. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wall substantially defines at least a portion of the cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a substantially elongated probe having an end, wherein: the probe defines therein a duct; the probe defines an orifice proximate the end; the orifice is fluidically communicable with the duct; and the probe is configured to be sealingly inserted through the portal and into the chamber and to impinge upon, and thereby move, the piston to expand the chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 5, wherein the portal comprises a seal configured to sealingly engage the probe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 5, wherein the piston comprises a feature configured to engage the probe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 5, wherein the chamber is configured to limit fluid communication of the orifice to only the chamber until the chamber expands beyond the given volume. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 5, wherein the chamber is configured to establish fluidic communication between the reservoir and the orifice only after expansion of the chamber beyond the given volume. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The liquid supply apparatus of claim 5, further comprising the vessel, wherein: the vessel has a volume; the probe is fluidically communicable with the vessel; and the vessel further comprises a compensator configured to contract the vessel volume in response to expansion of the chamber. ### Claim 11 A method of establishing fluidic communication between a liquid supply and a vessel, the method comprising: drawing a given volume of fluid from the vessel into a chamber selectively communicated with the liquid supply through an aperture, including expanding the chamber to draw therein the given volume of fluid from the vessel, and blocking the aperture until the given volume of fluid is drawn from the vessel; establishing fluidic communication between the liquid supply and the vessel through the aperture and the chamber after drawing the given volume of fluid from the vessel; and contracting at least a portion of the vessel in response to drawing the given volume of fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising impinging at least a portion of the vessel against at least a portion of the chamber to expand the chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting at least a portion of the vessel inside the chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein establishing fluidic communication between the liquid supply and the vessel includes blocking the aperture until the given volume of fluid is drawn from the vessel. ### Claim 15 A method of establishing fluidic communication between a liquid supply and a vessel, the method comprising: drawing a given volume of fluid from the vessel into a chamber selectively communicated with the liquid supply through an aperture, including expanding the chamber to draw therein the given volume of fluid from the vessel, and blocking the aperture until the given volume of fluid is drawn from the vessel; establishing fluidic communication between the liquid supply and the vessel through the aperture and the chamber after drawing the given volume of fluid from the vessel; inserting at least a portion of the vessel inside the chamber; and after inserting the portion of the vessel, impinging the portion of the vessel against at least a portion of the chamber to expand the chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein drawing a given volume of fluid from the vessel includes opening a check valve of the vessel and drawing fluid from a standpipe of the vessel through the check valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein establishing fluidic communication between the liquid supply and the vessel includes allowing gas to flow from the chamber and the vessel into the reservoir, and allowing liquid to flow from the reservoir into the chamber and the vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein inserting at least a portion of the vessel inside the chamber includes inserting a probe of the vessel into the chamber, and wherein impinging the portion of the vessel against at least a portion of the chamber includes contacting a piston within the chamber with the probe.