Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Ejector mechanism
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-23
2001-07-10
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Ejector mechanism
C347S050000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257702
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of protecting the electronic contacts on an ink cartridge as used for example in an ink jet printer. The invention also relates to a protector strip for use in protecting the electronic contacts on an ink cartridge.
Ink cartridges for use in ink jet printers are designed to be used once and discarded when the ink is depleted and replaced by a new cartridge.
It is known to remove the ink cartridges from the printer and refill the cartridges with ink for reuse. However, upon removal from, and insertion to the printer, the electronic contacts on the ink cartridge are subject to wear and do not provide a proper electronic contact. Where a proper electronic contact is not made, the computer software operating the printer often displays an error message, incorrectly indicating that an incompatible cartridge has been inserted. In order then to operate the printer, a new ink cartridge must be purchased. These cartridges are quite expensive.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide a method and apparatus for protecting the electronic contacts on an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet printer or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed herein a method of protecting electronic contacts on an ink cartridge during removal of the cartridge from a cradle in a printer having corresponding electronic contacts, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a protective strip into the cradle such that at least a portion of the strip is between the electronic contacts of the cartridge and the printer, and
unloading the cartridge from the cradle.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of:
opening a latch on the ink cartridge prior to inserting the protective strip into the cradle.
There is further disclosed herein a method of protecting electronic contacts on an ink cartridge during insertion of the cartridge to a cradle in a printer, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a protective strip into the cradle such that at least a portion of the protective strip is positioned such that once the cartridge is inserted into the cradle, that portion will be between the electronic contacts on the cartridge and in the printer, and
inserting the cartridge into the cradle.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of:
removing the protective strip from the cradle.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of:
closing a cartridge latch upon the ink cartridge.
There is further disclosed herein a protective strip for use in protecting electronic contacts on an ink cartridge during removal from and insertion to a printer, the protective strip being formed of substantially smooth, self-supportive material having a length of at least about 12 cm and a width of about 2 cm. Alternatively, the width might be about 3 cm.
Preferably, the strip has a thickness in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 mm.
Preferably, the strip is non-metallic.
Preferably, the strip is formed of PVC or other plastic material.
There is further disclosed herein a package for an ink cartridge refilling kit, at least a portion of the package comprising substantially smooth, self-supportive material, which portion comprises an outline or line of weakness defining the shape of a protective strip to be removed from the portion for use in protecting electrical contacts of an ink cartridge during removal and/or reinsertion to a cradle in a printer.
Preferably, the line of weakness comprises perforations.
Alternatively, the line of weakness is of reduced thickness as compared to the thickness of the material in said portion.
Preferably, the shape of a protective strip defined by the outline or line of weakness is about 12 cm long and has a width of about 2 or 3 cm.
Preferably, the portion of the package comprising substantially smooth, self-supportive material has a thickness in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 mm.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5279410 (1994-01-01), Arashima et al.
patent: 5368903 (1994-11-01), Trier
patent: 5392063 (1995-02-01), Rhoads
patent: 5598194 (1997-01-01), Hall et al.
patent: 5701995 (1997-12-01), Higuma et al.
patent: 5864348 (1999-01-01), Fritsch et al.
Calidad Distributors PTY Ltd.
Ladas & Parry
Le N.
Vo Anh T. N.
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