Automatic ink interconnect between print cartridge and carriage

• US 5,971,529 A
• Filed: 08/30/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Marler, Jaren D., Childers, Winthrop D., Pawlowski, Norman E. Jr., Lee, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US08/708,143
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 347/49
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14145 Structure of the manifold
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• 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 2/17526 Electrical contacts to the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17533 Storage or packaging of ink cartridges
• 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 2002/14387 Front shooter
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/003 with a probe suspended by rotatable arms with floats G01F23/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/72 using magnetically actuated indicating means

Abstract

In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate ink supply located within the printer. A fluid interconnect on the print cartridge connects to a fluid interconnect on the carriage when the print cartridge is inserted into the carriage to complete the fluid connection between the external ink supply and the print cartridge. In one embodiment, the fluid interconnection is made between the print cartridge and the ink tube simply by placing the print cartridge into a stall in the scanning carriage. A pressure regulator, which may be internal or external to the print cartridge, regulates the flow of ink from the external ink supply to the print cartridge. The external ink supply may be pressurized or non-pressurized.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a printing system, said printing system including a printer having a scanning carriage, the scanning carriage including a second interconnect member, the second interconnect member being one of a hollow needle and a resilient septum, said apparatus comprising:

a print cartridge, said print cartridge comprising;

a body;

contact pads mounted on an outer surface of said body;

a printhead within said body for receiving energization signals from said contact pads and ejecting droplets of ink in a downward direction onto a medium when installed in said carriage during printing;

an ink reservoir within said body in fluid communication with said printhead; and

an ink entrance port for receiving ink from a source external to said print cartridge, said ink entrance port having a first interconnect member in fluid communication with said ink reservoir, said first interconnect member being the other of the hollow needle and the resilient septum for engaging and making an airtight fluid connection to said second interconnect member on said scanning carriage as said print cartridge is inserted into said carriage in a first direction, such that said fluid connection is made automatically when inserting said print cartridge into said carriage in said first direction, said first direction being said downward direction of said droplets of ink ejected by said printhead.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first interconnect member is the hollow needle, said needle extending from said print cartridge in said first direction, and wherein said second interconnect member is the resilient septum mounted on said scanning carriage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ink reservoir within said print cartridge has a negative internal pressure relative to ambient pressure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said print cartridge further comprises a pressure regulator internal to said print cartridge for controlling a flow of ink through said ink entrance port and into said ink reservoir.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first interconnect member is the resilient septum, and said second interconnect member comprises the hollow needle, said needle extending parallel to said first direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising said scanning carriage supporting said second interconnect member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:

an ink supply source external to said print cartridge and said carriage which contains a supply of ink for said print cartridge; and

a flexible tube connected between said ink supply source and said carriage for providing ink to said second interconnect member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ink supply source is at atmospheric pressure.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ink supply source is at a positive pressure relative to ambient pressure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carriage includes electrodes, and wherein said contact pads come in contact with said electrodes on said carriage as said print cartridge is inserted into said carriage in said first direction, such that said fluid connection and electrical connection between said electrodes and said contact pads are made simultaneously by action of inserting said print cartridge into said carriage.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said print cartridge further comprises a pressure regulator internal to said print cartridge, said pressure regulator comprising:

a valve for controlling an opening in an ink path between said ink reservoir and said ink entrance port;

a flexible member within said print cartridge maintained at an internal reference pressure, said flexible member expanding or contracting dependent upon the relative pressures internal and external to said flexible member; and

an actuator coupled to said valve and in contact with said flexible member for actuating said valve based on an expansion and contraction of said flexible member, said valve controlling a flow of ink into said ink reservoir such that ink is supplied to said printhead at a substantially constant pressure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said flexible member comprises two flexible bags maintained at said internal reference pressure and having a common direction of expansion and contraction, and wherein said actuator comprises a lever which directly bears against said bags and thereby actuates said valve, said lever having an axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to said direction of expansion and contraction of said bags so that said lever tracks any expansion and contraction of said bags.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said printhead comprises a substrate with electrical terminals, and wherein said contact pads are electrically connected to said terminals via conductors.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a medium handling system for positioning a medium for being printed upon by said printhead.

15. An apparatus for a printing system, said system having a print zone and a print cartridge, said print cartridge having a printhead for ejecting droplets of ink in a first direction when printing, said first direction being downward, said print cartridge having an ink reservoir in fluid communication with said printhead, said print cartridge having an ink entrance port including a second interconnect member, said second interconnect member being one of a hollow needle and a resilient septum, said apparatus comprising:

a scanning carriage for scanning across said print zone, said carriage having a first interconnect member for receiving ink from a source of ink, said first interconnect member being the other of the hollow needle and the resilient septum for engaging and making an airtight fluid connection to said second interconnect member on said print cartridge as said print cartridge is inserted into said carriage in said first direction, such that said fluid connection is made automatically when inserting said print cartridge into said carriage in said first direction, said carriage having an opening allowing said printhead to eject said droplets of ink onto a medium in said first direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first interconnect member comprises the resilient septum, and said second interconnect member comprises the hollow needle, said needle communicating with said ink reservoir, said hollow needle extending in said first direction.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

an ink conduit connected between said source of ink and said carriage for providing ink to said first interconnect member.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said source of ink is at atmospheric pressure.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said source of ink is at a positive pressure relative to ambient pressure.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said ink conduit comprises a flexible tube.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first interconnect member comprises:

the resilient septum having a central hole;

a rigid support member coupled to said septum, said support member having a support member ink entrance and a hollow central portion communicating between said support member ink entrance and said septum; and

a flexible fluid connector connected between said support member ink entrance and said ink conduit to allow said support member to have a degree of lateral movement as said second interconnect member is inserted into said hole in said septum.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said flexible fluid connector is a corrugated tube.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a medium handling system for positioning a medium for being printed upon by said printhead.

24. A method of using a printing system comprising the steps of:

providing a print cartridge having a body, contact pads formed on an outer surface of said body, a printhead for receiving energization signals from said contact pads and ejecting droplets of ink in a first direction when printing, said first direction being a downward direction, an ink reservoir in fluid communication with said printhead, and a first interconnect member in fluid communication with said ink reservoir, said first interconnect member being one of a hollow needle and a resilient septum;

providing a scanning carriage having a second interconnect member, in fluid communication with a supply of ink, and electrodes for carrying said energization signals, said second interconnect member being the other of the hollow needle and the resilient septum; and

inserting said print cartridge into said carriage in said first direction, wherein, during said step of inserting, said first interconnect member and said second interconnect member connect together to provide an airtight fluid communication path between said ink reservoir within said printhead and said supply of ink and said contact pads electrically connect to said electrodes, said step of inserting also causing said printhead to be exposed in an opening in a bottom of said carriage for printing on a medium in said downward direction.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said first interconnect member is the hollow needle, said needle extending from said print cartridge in said first direction, and wherein said second interconnect member is the resilient septum mounted on said scanning carriage.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said first interconnect member is the resilient septum, and said second interconnect member comprises the hollow needle, said needle extending parallel to said first direction.

27. An ink delivery system for a printer having a print zone and a print cartridge, said print cartridge having a printhead for ejecting droplets of ink in a first direction when printing, said first direction being downward, said print cartridge having an ink reservoir in fluid communication with said printhead, said print cartridge having an ink entrance port including a first fluid interconnect, said first fluid interconnect being one of a hollow needle and a resilient septum, said printer also having a scanning carriage for scanning across said print zone, said carriage having a second fluid interconnect for receiving ink from a source of ink, said second fluid interconnect being the other of the hollow needle and the resilient septum and making an airtight fluid connection to said first fluid interconnect on said print cartridge as said print cartridge is inserted into said carriage in said first direction, such that said fluid connection is made automatically when inserting said print cartridge into said carriage in said first direction, said carriage having an opening allowing said printhead to eject said droplets of ink onto a medium in said first direction, said printer also having a fixed ink supply station having an ink outlet connected to an ink conduit, said ink conduit being connected to said second fluid interconnect on said carriage, said system comprising:

an off-carriage ink supply including a first ink reservoir and a discharge port in fluid communication with said first ink reservoir, said ink supply being removably mountable on said fixed supply station; and

ink contained in said first ink reservoir for flowing out of said discharge port, through said conduit, and to said second fluid interconnect on said carriage when said ink supply is removably mounted in said fixed supply station so that the ink can pass through said hollow needle and said flexible septum to said first fluid interconnect and to said printhead when said printhead is releasably mounted in said carriage.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said discharge port comprises a septum.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said discharge port further comprises a spring-loaded sealing member.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein said discharge port comprises a spring-loaded sealing member.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein said first fluid interconnect comprises the resilient septum mounted on said carriage, and said second fluid interconnect comprises the hollow needle, said needle communicating with a reservoir inside said cartridge.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein said first ink reservoir is atmospheric pressure.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein said first ink reservoir is at a positive pressure relative to ambient pressure.