Ink container refurbishment system

• US 20030206220A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey L. Thielman, Michael L. Bullock, Norman E. Pawlowski Jr, Winthrop D. Childers
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey L. Thielman, Michael L. Bullock, Norman E. Pawlowski Jr, Winthrop D. Childers
• Inventors: Childers, Winthrop D., Thielman, Jeffrey L., Pawlowski, Norman E. Jr., Bullock, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,249,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2015/3895 using light
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1755 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17569 based on the amount printed or to be printed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17586 using ink bag deformation for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/149 Sorting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/00 Investigating or analysing materials by separation into components using adsorption, absorption or similar phenomena or using ion-exchange, e.g. chromatography or field flow fractionation G01N3/00, G01N5/00, G01N7/00, G01N9/00, G01N11/00, G01N13/00, G01N15/00, G01N17/00, G01N19/00, G01N21/00, G01N22/00, G01N23/00, G01N24/00, G01N25/00, G01N27/00, G01N29/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/02 Column chromatography

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises refilling the ink reservoir with a pressurized source of ink, and step (d) comprises releasing the air to atmosphere as the ink reservoir is refilled with ink.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises applying a vacuum to establish a flow of ink from the source of ink to the ink reservoir.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the ink outlet has a protruding stem with a septum, and wherein step (a) comprises connecting a hollow conduit to the source of ink and pushing the hollow conduit through the septum.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the protruding stem contains a sealing member that is biased against the septum, and wherein step (a) further comprises displacing the sealing member with the hollow conduit as the hollow conduit is pushed through the septum.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the air inlet has a protruding stem with a septum, and wherein step (b) further comprises inserting a tubular member through the septum.

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:

(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.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the ink outlet contains a check valve with a ball which is spring-biased, and wherein step (a) comprises providing a needle with the ink fitting and opening the check valve with the needle of the ink fitting.

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:

(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 source 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.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a release of air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein step (c) comprises:

disabling the memory device such that it may no longer provide information to he printing system; and

electrically connecting an electrical device to the ink container for providing enabling information to the printer.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises:

removing the memory device from the ink container by prying the memory device from the ink container; and

securing a second memory device to the ink container for providing enabling information to the printer.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein step (c) comprises severing the memory device from communication with the contact pads and connecting an electrical device to the contact pads of the memory device for providing enabling information to the printer.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein step (c) comprises providing a second memory device and a second set of contact pads on an insulating substrate and securing the substrate on top of the first-mentioned memory device and contact pads.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein step (c) comprises erasing all of the information in the memory device and reprogramming the memory device.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the memory device and the printer exchange data in serial fashion over a single data line relative to a reference-line, and wherein step (c) comprises:

disabling the memory device such that the memory device may no longer exchange data with the printer; and

electrically connecting an electrical device to the ink container which, when connected to the printer, provides data in a serial fashion on the single data line of the printer relative to the reference line.

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:

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.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the ink container includes a pressure chamber formed by an outer housing, the method further comprising establishing a flow of air between the pressure chamber and a region outside of the outer housing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the ink container includes an air inlet that communicates between the pressure chamber and a region outside of the outer housing, and the method including connecting a conduit to the air inlet and establishing an flow of air from the pressure chamber, through the air inlet, and to the conduit to enhance the flow of ink into the fluid reservoir.

20. A refurbished ink container adapted for installation into an inkjet printing system, the ink container comprising:

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.

21. The refurbished ink container of claim 20, wherein the supply of ink comprises a collapsible reservoir, the pressure vessel defines a pressure chamber surrounding at least a portion of the collapsible reservoir, the pressure chamber has been allowed to expel air displaced during a refill operation of the collapsible reservoir.

22. A refurbished ink container adapted to be releasably installed into an inkjet printing system, comprising:

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.

23. The refurbished ink container of claim 22, further comprising a source of signals that enables printing when the refurbished ink container is releasably installed into the printing system.