Ink cartridge adapters
First Claim
1. A refillable ink supply for removable insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a pump actuator and a fluid inlet coupled to a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
- a chassis;
a reservoir coupled to the chassis for containing a quantity of ink, the reservoir defining a refill port into which ink may be introduced into the reservoir;
a cap for the refill port, the cap being selectively removable by a user to add ink to the reservoir;
a fluid outlet carried on the chassis for engaging the fluid inlet when the ink supply is in the docked position; and
an ink pump integral with the chassis in fluid communication with the reservoir and the fluid outlet, the pump actuable by the actuator when the ink supply is in the docked position to draw ink from the reservoir and supply the ink through the fluid outlet to the trailing tube.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reservoir for an ink supply for an ink-jet printer is provided with a refill port through which it can be refilled. The reservoir may be coupled to a variable volume chamber via a check valve which allows the flow of ink from the reservoir to the chamber and limits the flow of ink from the chamber to the reservoir. The chamber is coupled to a fluid outlet which is normally closed to prevent the flow of ink. However, when the ink supply is installed in a printer, the fluid outlet establishes a fluid connection between the chamber and the printer. The chamber is part of a pump provided with the ink supply that can be actuated to supply ink from the reservoir to the printer. Alternatively, the reservoir may be coupled directly to the fluid outlet and an alternative method of transferring the ink to the printer provided.
80 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A refillable ink supply for removable insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a pump actuator and a fluid inlet coupled to a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
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a chassis; a reservoir coupled to the chassis for containing a quantity of ink, the reservoir defining a refill port into which ink may be introduced into the reservoir; a cap for the refill port, the cap being selectively removable by a user to add ink to the reservoir; a fluid outlet carried on the chassis for engaging the fluid inlet when the ink supply is in the docked position; and an ink pump integral with the chassis in fluid communication with the reservoir and the fluid outlet, the pump actuable by the actuator when the ink supply is in the docked position to draw ink from the reservoir and supply the ink through the fluid outlet to the trailing tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A replaceable ink supply for insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a pump actuator and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
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an adapter insertible into an inserted position in the docking bay of the ink-jet printer, the adapter having an integral ink pump for actuation by the pump actuator and a fluid outlet for coupling with the fluid inlet when in the inserted position, the adapter further carrying a fitment; an ink reservoir for containing a quantity of ink removably connected to the fitment whereby the adapter is located intermediate the docking bay and the ink reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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9. A replaceable ink supply for insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-let printer, the docking bay having a pump actuator and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
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an adapter insertible into an inserted position in the docking bay of the ink-jet printer, the adapter carrying a pump for actuation by the pump actuator and a fluid outlet for coupling with the fluid inlet when in the inserted position, the adapter further carrying a fitment; an ink reservoir for containing a quantity of ink removably connected to the fitment; and in which the fitment further comprises a threaded opening in fluid communication with the pump and the ink reservoir further comprises a threaded neck that can be removably threaded into the fitment to establish fluid communication between the reservoir and the pump.
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11. A replaceable ink supply for insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a pump actuator and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
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an adapter insertible into an inserted position in the docking bay of the ink-jet printer, the adapter carrying a fluid outlet for coupling with the fluid inlet when in the inserted position, the adapter further carrying a fitment; an ink reservoir for containing a quantity of ink removably connected to the fitment whereby the adapter is located intermediate the docking bay and the ink reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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12. A replaceable ink supply for insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a pump actuator and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
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an adapter insertible into an inserted position in the docking bay of the ink-jet printer, the adapter carrying a fluid outlet for coupling with the fluid inlet when in the inserted position, the adapter further carrying a fitment; an ink reservoir for containing a quantity of ink removably connected to the fitment; and in which the fitment further comprises a threaded opening in fluid communication with the fluid outlet and the ink reservoir further comprises a threaded neck that can be removably threaded into the fitment to establish fluid communication between the reservoir and the fluid outlet.
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15. A replaceable ink supply for insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
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an adapter insertible into an inserted position in the docking bay of the ink-jet printer, the adapter carrying a fluid outlet for coupling with the fluid inlet when in the inserted position, the adapter further carrying a fitment; an ink reservoir for containing a quantity of ink removably connected to the fitment. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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16. A replaceable ink supply for insertion into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a trailing tube for supplying ink to a movable print head, the ink supply comprising:
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an adapter insertible into an inserted position in the docking bay of the ink-jet printer, the adapter carrying a fluid outlet for coupling with the fluid inlet when in the inserted position, the adapter further carrying a fitment; an ink reservoir for containing a quantity of ink removably connected to the fitment; and in which the fitment further comprises a threaded opening in fluid communication with the pump and the ink reservoir further comprises a threaded neck that can be removably threaded into the fitment to establish fluid communication between the reservoir and the trailing tube.
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Specification