Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2001-04-03
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Fluid or fluid source handling means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209996
ABSTRACT:
This application is related to commonly assigned co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08/869,038 filed herewith, entitled “Electrical Interconnect for Replaceable Ink Containers” incorporated herein by reference, and is related to commonly assigned co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08,871,566, filed herewith, entitled “Replaceable Ink Container Adapted to Form Reliable Fluid, Air and Electrical Connection to a Printing System ” incorporated herein by reference, and is related to commonly assigned co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08,869,240, filed herewith, entitled “Ink Container with an Inductive Ink Level Sense” incorporated herein by reference, and is related to commonly assigned co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08/869,122, filed herewith, entitled “Ink Level Estimation Using Drop Count and Ink Level Sense” incorporated herein by reference, and is related to commonly assigned co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08/868,773, filed herewith, entitled “Ink Container Providing Pressurized Ink with Ink Level Sensor” incorporated herein by reference and is related to commonly assigned co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08/868,927, filed herewith, entitled “An Ink Container Having a Multiple Functioned Chassis” incorporated herein by reference and is related to commonly assigned co-pending patent application, Ser. No. 08/869,023, filed herewith, entitled “High Performance Ink Container with Efficient Construction” incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ink-jet printing systems, and more particularly, ink-jet printing systems which make use of ink containers that are replaceable separate from a printhead.
Inkjet printers frequently make use of an ink-jet printhead mounted to a carriage which is moved back and fourth across a print media, such as paper. As the printhead is moved across the print media, a control system activates the printhead to eject or jet ink droplets onto the print media to form images and text.
Previously used printers have made use of an ink container that is separably replaceable from the printhead. When the ink cartridge is exhausted the ink cartridge is removed and replaced with a new ink container. The use of replaceable ink containers that are separate from the printhead allow users to replace the ink container without replacing the printhead. The printhead is then replaced at or near the end of printhead life and not when the ink container is exhausted.
One type of ink container spaced from the printhead is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,326 entitled “Purging System for Ink Jet Recording Apparatus” to Kimura et al. discloses the use of a replaceable ink cartridge having a hermetically sealed ink container bag disposed therein. Kimura makes use of the selective application of compressed air to the ink cartridge for pressurizing the ink container bag for forcing ink through a recording head thereby purging bubbles or solid matter from the ink flow path. Another type of ink cartridge is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,954 entitled “Ink Cartridge Manufacturing Method and Apparatus” to Rosback. The Rosback cartridge is a replaceable ink cartridge that is pressurizable.
There is an ever present need for ink containment systems that are capable of providing ink at high flow rates to a printhead thereby allowing high throughput printing. This ink supply system should be cost effective to allow relatively low cost per page printing. In addition, the ink supply should be capable of providing ink at high flow rates in a reliable manner to the printhead.
These ink supplies should be easily replaceable as well as form reliable fluid connection with the printing device while minimizing or eliminating ink spillage which can reduce the reliability of the printing device. The ink supply should be capable of forming additional interconnects such as electrical as well as pressurized gas interconnects between the printing device and the ink container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A replaceable ink container for providing ink to a printing device. The ink container has leading and trailing edges with respect to an insertion direction for the ink container into the printing device. The ink container includes a fluid outlet disposed on the leading edge and configured for connection to corresponding printing device fluid inlet. The ink container also includes an engagement feature disposed toward the trailing edge and extending outwardly from an ink container outer surface. The engagement feature is configured for insertion into a recessed engagement feature associated with the printing device. With the ink container properly positioned within the printing device and biased in a direction opposite the insertion direction, the engagement feature associated with the ink container engages the recessed engagement feature associated with the printing device. The engagement of the engagement features on each of the ink container and printer maintain the fluid outlet in engagement with corresponding printing device fluid inlet.
In one preferred embodiment the engagement feature associated with the ink container extends downwardly relative to a gravitational frame of reference. In this preferred embodiment the recessed engagement feature associated with the printing device defines a hook that is configured for engaging the engagement feature associated with the ink container. In this embodiment the ink container includes a pressurized gas inlet electrical contacts for connection with corresponding gas outlet and electrical contacts, respectively, associated with the printing device.
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Gasvoda Eric L.
Hmelar Susan M.
Lewis Richard H.
Hewlett--Packard Company
Le N.
Sullivan Kevin B.
Vo Anh T. N.
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