Ink container refurbishment system
First Claim
1. A method for refilling a printer ink container which has a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, and an air inlet in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, the method comprising:
- (a) fluidically coupling an ink fitting to the ink outlet, the ink fitting being in fluid communication with a source of ink;
(b) fluidically coupling an air fitting to the air inlet so that the air fitting is in fluid communication with the space in the housing;
(c) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the source of ink through the ink fitting and ink outlet; and
(d) establishing a release of air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir and through the air inlet and air fitting.
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Abstract
Alternative methods for refurbishing a single-use ink delivery container for a printing system are described. The refurbishing methods include electrical and mechanical reconfiguration or replacement of original elements on the ink delivery container. Each method utilizes an existing ink fluid outlet, electrical connector and an information storage device on the ink delivery container.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for refilling a printer ink container which has a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, and an air inlet in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, the method comprising:
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(a) fluidically coupling an ink fitting to the ink outlet, the ink fitting being in fluid communication with a source of ink;
(b) fluidically coupling an air fitting to the air inlet so that the air fitting is in fluid communication with the space in the housing;
(c) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the source of ink through the ink fitting and ink outlet; and
(d) establishing a release of air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir and through the air inlet and air fitting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for refilling a printer ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, an air inlet in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, the air inlet having a protruding stem with a septum, the method comprising:
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(a) engaging and sealing an ink fitting to the ink outlet, the ink fitting being in fluid communication with a pressurized source of ink;
(b) inserting a tubular member through the septum of the air inlet so that the tubular member is in fluid communication with the space in the housing;
(c) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the pressurized source of ink through the ink fitting and the ink outlet; and
(d) establishing a release of air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir through the air inlet and tubular member, the air being released to atmosphere as the ink reservoir is refilled with ink. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for refilling a printer ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing and having an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, an air inlet in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, each of the ink outlet and the air inlet having a protruding stem with a septum, the ink outlet further having a check valve, and the ink container having a memory device connected to electrical contact pads mounted on the housing for communicating information concerning characteristics of the ink in the ink container to the printer, the method comprising:
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(a) connecting an ink conduit to a source of ink and pushing the ink conduit through the septum of the ink outlet, thereby opening the check valve and placing the ink conduit in fluid communication with the source of ink;
(b) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the soruce of ink through the ink conduit and ink outlet; and
(c) refurbishing the memory device for providing enabling information to the printer to enable the printer to operate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. A method of refurbishing an ink container, the ink container having a fluid outlet including a septum, the ink container including a fluid reservoir, comprising:
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displacing a sealing ball from an inside surface of the septum;
connecting a source of ink to the fluid outlet; and
establishing a flow of ink from the source of ink, past the sealing ball, and to the fluid reservoir.
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20. A refurbished ink container adapted for installation into an inkjet printing system, the ink container comprising:
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a pressure vessel surrounding a supply of ink, the supply of ink including refill ink; and
a source of signals that enables printing when the refurbished ink container is releasably installed into the printing system. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A refurbished ink container adapted to be releasably installed into an inkjet printing system, comprising:
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a reservoir containing ink;
a fluid outlet including a septum having an inside surface and a sealing member biased against the inside surface, the reservoir has been refilled by displacing the sealing member away from the inside surface while connecting a source of refill ink to the fluid outlet that flows from the source of ink, past the sealing member, and to the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification