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Ink container having electronic and mechanical features enabling plug compatibility between multiple supply sizes

  • US 5,956,057 A
  • Filed: 06/04/1997
  • Issued: 09/21/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A replaceable ink container to be installed at a particular location in a receiving station of an ink jet printing system, said receiving station providing ink from said replaceable ink container to a printhead, said replaceable ink container comprising:

  • a housing having an axis of elongation perpendicular to a direction of insertion of said replaceable ink container into said receiving station;

    an ink supply within said housing, said ink supply containing a volume of ink;

    a fluid outlet on said housing along said axis of elongation, said fluid outlet being connected to said ink supply such that when said replaceable ink container is fully installed at said particular location in said receiving station, said fluid outlet engages a corresponding fluid inlet at said particular location in said receiving station to allow ink to flow from said ink supply of said replaceable ink container to said printhead;

    an information storage device on said housing, said information storage device storing information indicative of said volume of ink within said ink supply;

    a plurality of container electrical contacts on said housing along said axis of elongation, said plurality of container electrical contacts being connected to said information storage device such that when said replaceable ink container is fully installed at said particular location in said receiving station, said plurality of container electrical contacts engage corresponding receiving station electrical contacts to electrically couple said information storage device to said ink jet printing system, wherein said fluid outlet and said plurality of container electrical contacts are positioned on said axis of elongation to allow said replaceable ink container to be fully installed at said particular location in said receiving station.

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