Ink container configured for use with compact supply station
First Claim
1. A replaceable ink container for use in a printing system, the printing system having a printhead mounted in a scanning carriage and a supply station for receiving the replaceable ink container, the supply station being in fluid communication with the printhead, the replaceable ink container comprising:
- a fluid outlet configured for engaging a corresponding fluid inlet portion on the supply station; and
first and second guide features disposed on opposite sides of an outer surface of the replaceable ink container with the first and second guide features disposed and arranged to engage corresponding first and second guiding features disposed on opposite ends of the supply station, the corresponding first and second guiding features guiding the replaceable ink container into the supply station upon non-rotatable insertional movement of the replaceable ink container into the supply station to fluidically couple the fluid outlet to the corresponding fluid inlet portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a replaceable ink container for use in a printing system. The printing system is of the type having a printhead mounted in a scanning carriage and a supply station for receiving the replaceable ink container. The supply station is in fluid communication with the printhead. The replaceable ink container includes a fluid outlet configured for engaging corresponding fluid inlet portions on the supply station. Also included is a first and second guide feature disposed on an outer surface of the replaceable ink container. The first and second guide features are disposed and arranged to engage corresponding first and second guiding features disposed on opposite ends of the supply station to guide the replaceable ink container into the supply station to fluidically couple the fluid outlet and corresponding fluid inlet.
62 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A replaceable ink container for use in a printing system, the printing system having a printhead mounted in a scanning carriage and a supply station for receiving the replaceable ink container, the supply station being in fluid communication with the printhead, the replaceable ink container comprising:
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a fluid outlet configured for engaging a corresponding fluid inlet portion on the supply station; and first and second guide features disposed on opposite sides of an outer surface of the replaceable ink container with the first and second guide features disposed and arranged to engage corresponding first and second guiding features disposed on opposite ends of the supply station, the corresponding first and second guiding features guiding the replaceable ink container into the supply station upon non-rotatable insertional movement of the replaceable ink container into the supply station to fluidically couple the fluid outlet to the corresponding fluid inlet portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A printing system having a printhead mounted in a scanning carriage, the printing system including a plurality of replaceable ink containers and a supply station for receiving the plurality of replaceable ink containers, the supply station being in fluid communication with the printhead, the printing system comprising:
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a supply station in fluid communication with the printhead, the supply station having a plurality of fluid inlets and a plurality of pairs of guiding features disposed on opposite sides of the supply station; and a plurality of replaceable ink containers with each ink container including a fluid outlet configured for engaging a corresponding fluid inlet of the plurality of fluid inlets on the supply station, and a pair of guide features disposed on opposite sides of each ink container, the pair of guide features of each ink container being configured to engage a corresponding pair of guiding features of the plurality of pairs of guiding features on the supply station to guide each ink container of the plurality of replaceable ink containers into the supply station upon non-rotatable insertional movement of each ink container into the supply station to fluidically couple the fluid outlets and the corresponding fluid inlets. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method for inserting an ink container into a printer having a printhead mounted in a scanning cartridge, the printer including a supply station in fluid communication with the printhead, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a first ink container into the supply station so that first and second guide features disposed on opposite sides of an outer surface of the first ink container engage first and second guiding features, respectively, disposed on opposite ends of the supply station; inserting the first ink container into the supply station using non-rotatable movement of the first ink container such that the first and second guiding features on the supply station together with the first and second guide features of the first ink container guide the first ink container into the supply station to position an ink outlet of the first ink container into engagement with an ink inlet of the supply station to fluidically couple the first ink container and the supply station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification