Method and apparatus for refilling ink containers in a manner that preserves printhead life

• US 6,283,586 B1
• Filed: 04/16/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Childers, Winthrop D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US09/293,733
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/16538 with brushes or wiper blades perpendicular to the nozzle plate
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17506 Refilling of the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1755 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17569 based on the amount printed or to be printed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17573 using optical means for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17576 using a floater for ink level indication
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 25/34 Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for refilling an ink container for an ink jet printing system. The ink container includes a ink reservoir having a negative gauge pressure therein. The method includes preventing air from entering the ink reservoir. The method also includes filling the ink reservoir with refill ink while preventing air from entering the ink reservoir.

Claims

1. A method for refilling a previously used ink container having an ink reservoir exhibiting an at least partially depleted ink condition the ink container being releasably insertable into an ink jet printing system, the ink reservoir having a negative gauge pressure therein, the method comprising:

compressing the ink reservoir to reduce the negative gauge pressure within the ink reservoir;

creating an opening into the ink reservoir while preventing air from entering the ink reservoir through the opening;

filling the ink reservoir by way of the opening with refill ink while preventing air from entering the ink reservoir through the opening;

resealing the opening in the ink reservoir while preventing air from entering the ink reservoir through the opening; and

decompressing the ink reservoir.

2. The method for refilling a previously used ink container of claim 1 wherein the ink container includes a diaphragm that defines, at least partially, a variable volume chamber, wherein the variable volume chamber is fluidically coupled to the ink reservoir such that expansion of the variable volume chamber draws ink from the ink reservoir into the variable volume chamber wherein the variable volume chamber has a negative gauge pressure therein and wherein the step of compressing the ink reservoir comprises:

compressing the variable volume chamber to reduce the negative gauge pressure within the variable volume chamber and the negative gauge pressure in the ink reservoir.

3. The method for refilling a previously used ink container of claim 2 wherein the step of decompressing the ink reservoir includes:

decompressing the variable volume chamber and the ink reservoir.

4. The method for refilling a previously used ink container of claim 2 wherein the steps of preventing air from entering the ink reservoir includes:

maintaining the variable volume chamber in a compressed state to maintain the negative gauge pressures within the variable volume chamber and the ink reservoir in reduced states to prevent air from entering the ink reservoir through the opening.

5. The method for refilling a previously used ink container of claim 1 wherein the steps of preventing air from entering the ink reservoir include:

maintaining the ink reservoir in a compressed state to maintain the negative gauge pressure within the ink reservoir in a reduced state to prevent air from entering the ink reservoir through the opening.

6. The method for refilling a previously used ink container of claim 1 wherein the step of creating an opening into the ink reservoir includes:

removing a sealing ball from a fill port associated with the ink reservoir.

7. The method for refilling a previously used ink container of claim 1 wherein the step of resealing the opening in the ink reservoir includes:

inserting a sealing ball into a fill port associated with the ink reservoir to seal the ink reservoir.

8. The method for refilling a previously used ink container of claim 1 wherein the step of creating an opening in the ink reservoir includes removing a sealing ball from a fill port associated with the ink reservoirs and wherein the step of resealing the opening in the ink reservoir includes inserting a second sealing ball into a fill port associated with the ink reservoir to seal the ink reservoir.