Method and apparatus for adapting an ink jet printing system for receiving an alternate supply of ink

• US 6,206,510 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dennis R., Casserino, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Judy
• Application Number:
  US09/298,509
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 347/84, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 347/49
• US Class Current: 347/84
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• 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

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is a method for adapting an ink jet printing system for receiving an alternate supply of ink. The ink jet printing system has an ink jet printhead responsive to control signals for selectively depositing ink on media. Also included in the printing system is a docking station configured for receiving a replaceable ink container. The replaceable ink container includes a fluid outlet that is arranged to establish fluid communication with a fluid inlet associated with the docking station upon insertion of the replaceable ink container into the docking station. The replaceable ink container provides a supply of ink from the replaceable ink container to the ink jet printhead. The method includes disconnecting. a fluid conduit extending between the fluid inlet and the ink jet printhead thereby interrupting the supply of ink from the replaceable ink container to the ink jet printhead. The method further includes connecting an alternate fluid conduit between the fluid inlet and the ink jet printhead. The alternate fluid conduit is in fluid communication with an alternate ink reservoir, wherein alternate ink is delivered from the alternate ink reservoir to the ink jet printhead.

Claims

1. A method for adapting an ink jet printing system for receiving ink from an alternative non-pressurized supply of ink, the ink jet printing system including a scanning carriage, an ink jet printhead responsive to control signals for selectively depositing ink on media and a pressurized ink delivery system including an ink supply responsive to actuation by an actuator for providing a pressurized supply of ink to a fluid interconnect of the scanning carriage, wherein the ink jet printhead is removably engaged with the scanning carriage such that a fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead is removably connected to the fluid interconnect, and wherein the fluid interconnect is removably mounted on the scanning carriage and configured to fluidically couple with the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead upon insertion of the printhead into the scanning carriage, the method comprising:

disconnecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect of the pressurized ink delivery system;

dismounting the fluid interconnect from the scanning carriage;

providing an alternative non-pressurized supply of ink that is not adapted for actuation by the actuator, the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink having a replacement fluid interconnect; and

mounting the replacement fluid interconnect onto the scanning carriage, the replacement fluid interconnect so disposed and arranged on the scanning carriage to fluidically couple with the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead upon insertion of the printhead into the scanning carriage; and

connecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead directly to the replacement fluid interconnect of the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink to provide alternative non-pressurized ink, different from the pressurized supply of ink, to the ink jet printhead.

2. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 1 wherein upon disconnecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect of the pressurized ink delivery system the fluid interconnect is occluded to prevent ink leakage therefrom.

3. The method for adapting an inkjet printing system of claim 1 wherein mounting the replacement fluid interconnect onto the scanning carriage includes:

mounting the replacement fluid interconnect onto the scanning carriage in a same location as the fluid interconnect dismounted from the scanning carriage.

4. A method for adapting an ink jet printing system for receiving an alternate supply of ink, the ink jet printing system having a scanning carriage, an ink jet printhead responsive to control signals for selectively depositing ink on media and a docking station configured for receiving a replaceable ink container, the replaceable ink container including a fluid outlet that is arranged to establish fluid communication with a fluid inlet associated with the docking station upon insertion of the replaceable ink container into the docking station for providing a supply of ink from the replaceable ink container to the ink jet printhead, the fluid inlet including a fluid conduit having a fluid interconnect removably mounted to the scanning carriage, wherein the ink jet printhead is removably engaged with the scanning carriage such that a fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead is removably connected to the fluid interconnect, the method comprising:

disconnecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect of the fluid conduit so as to interrupt the supply of ink from the replaceable ink container to the ink jet printhead;

dismounting the fluid interconnect from the scanning carriage;

providing an alternate ink reservoir having an alternate fluid conduit including a replacement fluid interconnect;

mounting the replacement fluid interconnect onto the scanning carriage; and

connecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead directly to the replacement fluid interconnect of the alternate fluid conduit such that alternate ink is delivered from the alternate ink reservoir to the ink jet printhead.

5. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 4 wherein upon disconnecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect of the fluid conduit the fluid interconnect is occluded to prevent ink leakage therefrom.

6. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 4 wherein disconnecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect of the fluid conduit includes:

disengaging the ink jet printhead from the scanning carriage so as to disconnect the fluid inlet portion from the fluid interconnect.

7. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 4 wherein connecting the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead to the replacement fluid interconnect of the alternate fluid conduit includes:

engaging the ink jet printhead with the scanning carriage, the replacement fluid interconnect so disposed and arranged on the scanning carriage to fluidically couple with the fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead upon insertion of the printhead into the scanning carriage.