Refill kit and method for refilling an ink supply for an ink-jet printer

• US 5,721,576 A
• Filed: 12/04/1995
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Barinaga, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow, Jr., John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Judy
• Application Number:
  US08/566,641
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 347/84-87, 222/206, 222/215, 141/2, 141/18, 141/326, 141/329
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 Refilling of the cartridge

Abstract

A refill kit is provided with a variable volume refill reservoir for containing a quantity of ink and a hollow needle in fluid communication with the reservoir. To refill an ink supply, the hollow needle is inserted through a port in the ink supply and the variable volume refill reservoir is compressed to urge the ink within the refill kit into the ink supply. A septum within the port seals the port when the needle is withdrawn.

Claims

1. A refill kit used to refill an ink reservoir of an ink-jet printer, the ink reservoir having a port with an internal diameter sized to allow introduction of ink into the ink reservoir, the port having a plug initially present within the port internal diameter which seals the port, the refill kit comprising:

a variable volume refill reservoir containing a quantity of ink;

a hollow needle having a first end and an opposing second end which define a needle length therebetween, the first end being connected to the refill reservoir, the opposing second end of the needle being appropriately shaped for receipt within the port, the needle length being appropriately sized for dislodging the plug present in the port internal diameter to establish a fluid pathway from the refill reservoir, through the needle, and into the ink reservoir, whereby insertion of the hollow needle within the port dislodges the plug and compression of the refill reservoir upon receipt of the needle opposing second end within the port causes the quantity of ink to flow through the fluid pathway into the ink reservoir; and

a septum removably carried on an exterior surface between the first end and the second opposing end of hollow needle, the septum being of an appropriate diameter is received within the port as the hollow needle is inserted and is left within the port as the needle is withdrawn from the port.

2. A method of refilling an ink reservoir of an ink-jet printer, the ink reservoir having a port with an internal diameter sized to allow introduction of into the ink reservoir, the port having a plug initially present within the port internal diameter which forms a seal at the port, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a variable volume refill reservoir containing a quantity of ink;

providing a hollow needle having a first end and an opposing second end which define a needle length therebetween, the first end being connected to the refill reservoir, the opposing second end being appropriately shaped for receipt within the port;

inserting the needle into the port to push the plug into the ink reservoir and thus break the seal formed by the plug and create a fluid pathway from the refill reservoir to the ink reservoir;

compressing the refill reservoir to urge ink from the refill reservoir through the fluid pathway and into the ink reservoir;

providing a septum carried on the hollow needle between the first end and opposing second end thereof for resealing the port,

positioning the septum within the port during the inserting step; and

leaving the septum within the port as the needle is withdrawn from the port to thereby seal the port.