Electrical and fluidic interface for an ink supply

• US 6,203,147 B1
• Filed: 01/30/1997
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gast, Paul David, Clark, James E., Underwood, John A., Barinaga, John A., Battey, Robert L., Bullock, Michael L., Hmelar, Susan M., Merrill, David O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US08/791,290
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 347/50, 347/49, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• 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 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0855 the concentration being measured by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0863 provided with identifying means or means for storing process- or use parameters, e.g. an electronic memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0865 Arrangements for supplying new developer
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0875 cartridges having a box like shape
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/105 Detection or control means for the toner concentration
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/55 Self-diagnostics; Malfunction or lifetime display
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/553 Monitoring or warning means for exhaustion or lifetime end of consumables, e.g. indication of insufficient copy sheet quantity for a job
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1652 Electrical connection means
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1676 for the developer unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1882 details of the communication with memory, e.g. wireless communication, protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1889 for auto-setting of process parameters, lifetime, usage
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1639 for the fixing unit
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1663 having lifetime indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1823 : Cartridges having electronically readable memory
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2221/1838 : Autosetting of process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 : Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/02 : using printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 : Architecture adapted for a particular function

Abstract

The present invention is a replaceable ink container for use in an off-axis printing system. The printing system is responsive to electrical signals from the replaceable ink container for controlling printer parameters. The ink container has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to the direction of insertion into the printing system. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the leading edge toward a first side. The plurality of electrical contacts are configured for engaging corresponding electrical printer contacts associated with the printing system. Also included is a fluid outlet disposed on the leading edge toward a second side opposite the first side and spaced from the plurality of electrical contacts. The fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the replaceable ink container. The fluid outlet is configured for engaging a fluid inlet associated with the printing system.

Claims

1. A replaceable ink container for use in an off axis printing system, the printing system being responsive to electrical signals produced by the replaceable ink container for controlling printing system parameters, the replaceable ink container having a fluid reservoir containing an ink fluid and a leading edge defined as that edge of the replaceable ink container first received by the printing system, the leading edge having a width dimension and a length dimension wherein the length dimension is greater than the width dimension, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a plurality of electrical contacts on the leading edge at a first side of the leading edge, the plurality of electrical contacts configured for engaging a plurality of corresponding electrical printer contacts of the printing system; and

a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir of the replaceable ink container and configured for engaging a fluid inlet of the printing system, wherein the fluid outlet is positioned on the leading edge at a second side of the leading edge that is directly opposite to the first side such that the fluid outlet is separated from the plurality of electrical contacts by a separation dimension that is greater than the width dimension of the leading edge so as to prevent ink fluid at the fluid outlet from contaminating the plurality of electrical contacts.

2. The replaceable ink container of claim 1 wherein the length dimension of the leading edge defines a longitudinal axis of the leading edge, and wherein the first side and the second side are disposed on the longitudinal axis.

3. The replaceable ink container of claim 1 further including a latch feature, the replaceable ink container having an unlatched position and a latched position, in the latched position the latch feature is in engagement with corresponding engagement features of the printing system, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the replaceable ink container engage the plurality of corresponding electrical printer contacts, and wherein the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the printing system.

4. The replaceable ink container of claim 3 wherein the latch feature is a pair of latch features, and wherein one latch feature of the pair of latch features is on the replaceable ink container adjacent to the first side and another latch feature of the pair of latch features is on the replaceable ink container adjacent to the second side.

5. The replaceable ink container of claim 1 further including an information storage device electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts.

6. A replaceable ink container for use with a printing portion of an off axis printing system, the replaceable ink container having a docked position wherein the replaceable ink container is mounted to the printing portion, the replaceable ink container provides ink to the printing portion, and the printing portion is responsive to electrical signals produced by the replaceable ink container for controlling printing system parameters, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a fluid outlet portion for providing fluid to the printing portion, wherein the fluid outlet portion is mounted rigidly to the ink container and is configured for engaging corresponding guiding features of the printing portion that align the fluid outlet portion with corresponding fluid inlet portions of the printing portion; and

an electrical interface portion having a plurality of electrical contacts for transferring the electrical signals between the replaceable ink container and the printing portion, the electrical interface portion including an engagement portion separated from and positioned opposite to the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the electrical interface portion in the docked position engages guiding features of the printing portion to position electrical contact portions attached to a movable device of the printing portion between the engagement portion and the plurality of electrical contacts to electrically engage the replaceable ink container with the printing portion without applying a force to the replaceable ink container that would result in fluid leakage at the fluid outlet portion.

7. The replaceable ink container of claim 6 wherein the electrical interface portion is a cavity within an outer surface of the replaceable ink container, the cavity having a first inner surface defining the engagement portion and a second inner surface having the plurality of electrical contacts thereon.

8. The replaceable ink container of claim 6 wherein the fluid outlet portion is configured to receive fluid inlet portions of the printing portion along a fluid interconnect axis and wherein in the docked position, the electrical interface portion interengagement with the electrical contact portions of the printing portion is free from any forces acting on the replaceable ink container in a direction perpendicular to the fluid interconnect axis.

9. The replaceable ink container of claim 6 wherein the replaceable ink container has a leading edge defined as that edge of the replaceable ink container first received by the printing portion, and wherein the fluid outlet portion and the electrical interface portion are on the leading edge.

10. The replaceable ink container of claim 9 wherein the leading edge has a length and a width perpendicular to the length, wherein the length has a longitudinal axis and the width has a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the fluid outlet portion is at a first end of the longitudinal axis and the electrical interface portion is at a second end of the longitudinal axis opposite the first end.

11. The replaceable ink container of claim 6 wherein the electrical interface portion is fixed to the replaceable ink container and the electrical contact portions of the printing portion float on the printing portion.

12. The replaceable ink container of claim 6 further including a latch feature, wherein the replaceable ink container has an unlatched position and a latched position, in the latched position the latch feature is in engagement with corresponding engagement features of the printing system, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the electrical interface portion engage the electrical contact portions of the printing portion and wherein the fluid outlet portion is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet portions of the printing portion.

13. An off-axis ink-jet printing system having a printing portion for forming images on print media and a replaceable ink container for providing ink to the printing portion, the printing portion being responsive to electrical signals produced by the replaceable ink container for controlling printing portion parameters, the off-axis ink-jet printing system comprising:

a replaceable ink container having a reservoir for containing ink, the replaceable ink container being insertable into the printing system along an insertion axis and having a leading edge defined as that edge of the replaceable ink container first received by the printing system, the replaceable ink container including;

a plurality of electrical contacts on the leading edge at a first side of the leading edge; and

a fluid outlet on the leading edge at a second side of the leading edge that is directly opposite to the first side, such that the fluid outlet is separated from the plurality of electrical contacts; and

a printing portion, the printing portion including;

a fluid inlet configured for engaging the fluid outlet of the replaceable ink container; and

a plurality of electrical contacts supported by an electrical connector, the electrical connector having a limited amount of freedom of motion in a plane perpendicular to the insertion axis of the replaceable ink container, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are on the electrical connector to engage the plurality of electrical contacts of the replaceable ink container upon complete insertion of the replaceable ink container into the printing system.

14. A method for inserting a replaceable ink container into a printer, the method comprising steps of:

inserting the replaceable ink container into the printer so that an ink outlet and a plurality of electrical contacts of the replaceable ink container engage an ink inlet and a movable electrical connector, respectively, of the printer; and

further inserting the ink container so that the ink outlet is guided into the ink inlet to fluidicly connect the replaceable ink container with the printer and to move the movable electrical connector into alignment with the plurality of electrical contacts so that the plurality of electrical contacts engage a corresponding plurality of contacts of the movable electrical connector to electrically connect the replaceable ink container and the printer.

15. A replaceable ink container for use in an off axis printing system, the printing system being responsive to electrical signals produced by the replaceable ink container for controlling printing system parameters, the replaceable ink container having a leading edge defined as that edge of the replaceable ink container first received by the printing system, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a plurality of electrical contacts on the leading edge at a first side of the leading edge, the plurality of electrical contacts configured for engaging a plurality of corresponding electrical printer contacts of the printing system;

a fluid outlet on the leading edge at a second side of the leading edge that is directly opposite to the first side such that the fluid outlet is separated from the plurality of electrical contacts, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the replaceable ink container and configured for engaging a fluid inlet of the printing system; and

a latch feature, the replaceable ink container having an unlatched position and a latched position, in the latched position the latch feature is in engagement with corresponding engagement features of the printing system, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the replaceable ink container engage the plurality of corresponding electrical printer contacts, and wherein the fluid outlet is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the printing system.

16. A replaceable ink container for use with a printing portion of an off axis printing system, the replaceable ink container having a docked position wherein the replaceable ink container is mounted to the printing portion, the replaceable ink container provides ink to the printing portion, and the printing portion is responsive to electrical signals produced by the replaceable ink container for controlling printing system parameters, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a fluid outlet portion for providing fluid to the printing portion, wherein the fluid outlet portion is mounted rigidly to the ink container and is configured for engaging corresponding guiding features of the printing portion that align the fluid outlet portion with corresponding fluid inlet portions of the printing portion; and

an electrical interface portion having a plurality of electrical contacts for transferring the electrical signals between the replaceable ink container and the printing portion, the electrical interface portion including an engagement portion separated from and positioned opposite to the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the electrical interface portion in the docked position engages guiding features of the printing portion to position electrical contact portions attached to a movable device of the printing portion between the engagement portion and the plurality of electrical contacts to electrically engage the replaceable ink container with the printing portion without applying a force to the replaceable ink container that would result in fluid leakage at the fluid outlet portion, and wherein the electrical interface portion is a cavity within an outer surface of the replaceable ink container, the cavity having a first inner surface defining the engagement portion and a second inner surface having the plurality of electrical contacts thereon.

17. A replaceable ink container for use with a printing portion of an off axis printing system, the replaceable ink container having a docked position wherein the replaceable ink container is mounted to the printing portion, the replaceable ink container provides ink to the printing portion, and the printing portion is responsive to electrical signals produced by the replaceable ink container for controlling printing system parameters, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a fluid outlet portion for providing fluid to the printing portion, wherein the fluid outlet portion is mounted rigidly to the ink container and is configured for engaging corresponding guiding features of the printing portion that align the fluid outlet portion with corresponding fluid inlet portions of the printing portion;

an electrical interface portion having a plurality of electrical contacts for transferring the electrical signals between the replaceable ink container and the printing portion, the electrical interface portion including an engagement portion separated from and positioned opposite to the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the electrical interface portion in the docked position engages guiding features of the printing portion to position electrical contact portions attached to a movable device of the printing portion between the engagement portion and the plurality of electrical contacts to electrically engage the replaceable ink container with the printing portion without applying a force to the replaceable ink container that would result in fluid leakage at the fluid outlet portion; and

a latch feature, wherein the replaceable ink container has an unlatched position and a latched position, in the latched position the latch feature is in engagement with corresponding engagement features of the printing system, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts of the electrical interface portion engage the electrical contact portions of the printing portion, and wherein the fluid outlet portion is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet portions of the printing portion.