Ink container having electronic and mechanical features enabling plug compatibility between multiple supply sizes

• US 6,305,795 B2
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bruce Cowger, David O. Merrill, James E. Clark, John A. Barinaga, John A. Underwood, Michael L. Bullock, Paul D. Gast, Susan M. Hmelar, Winthrop D. Childers
• Original Assignee: Bruce Cowger, David O. Merrill, James E. Clark, John A. Barinaga, John A. Underwood, Michael L. Bullock, Paul D. Gast, Susan M. Hmelar, Winthrop D. Childers
• Inventors: Childers, Winthrop D., Clark, James E., Underwood, John A., Gast, Paul D., Barinaga, John A., Bullock, Michael L., Cowger, Bruce, Hmelar, Susan M., Merrill, David O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US09/328,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 347/49, 347/50, 347/7
• US Class Current: 347/86
• 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 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1755 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control
• 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
• 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 15/5079 for maintenance
• 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 21/1676 : for the developer unit
• 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 an ink container for use in an ink jet printing system. The printing system has a printhead under control of printing system electronics and an ink container receiving station for providing ink to the printhead. The replaceable ink container includes a plurality of container interfacing features positioned on the ink container to engage corresponding ink container receiving station interfacing features. The ink container interfacing features are disposed and arranged to allow a plurality of different sizes of the ink container to be installed at a particular location of the receiving station. The ink container also includes an information storage device that provides information indicative of a volume of ink contained in said ink container.

Claims

1. A replaceable ink container to be installed at a particular location in a receiving station fluidically coupled to a printhead of an ink jet printing system for providing ink from the replaceable ink container to the printhead, the receiving station having first and second opposed side walls, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a housing including a first edge, an opposite second edge, and first and second opposite sides extending between the first and second edges, at least the first side of the first and second sides of the housing including aligning features for engaging corresponding guiding features on at least the first side wall of the first and second side walls of the receiving station upon initial insertion of the replaceable ink container into the particular location on the receiving station, at least the second side of the first and second sides of the housing including latching features for engaging corresponding latching features on at least the second side wall of the first and second side walls of the receiving station subsequent to the aligning features engaging the guiding features, interengagement of the latching features with the corresponding latching features fully installing the replaceable ink container in the particular location of the receiving station and securing the replaceable ink container to the receiving station against inadvertent removal from the particular location;

an ink supply within the housing, the ink supply containing a volume of ink;

a fluid outlet on the housing, the fluid outlet being connected to the ink supply such that when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the particular location of the receiving station, the fluid outlet engages a corresponding fluid inlet at the particular location in the receiving station to allow ink to flow from the ink supply of the replaceable ink container to the printhead;

an information storage device on the housing, the information storage device storing information indicative of the volume of ink within the ink supply; and

a plurality of container electrical contacts on the housing, the plurality of container electrical contacts being connected to the information storage device such that when the replaceable ink container is fully installed at the particular location in the receiving station, the plurality of container electrical contacts engage corresponding receiving station electrical contacts to electrically couple the information storage device to the ink jet printing system.

2. The replaceable ink container of claim 1 wherein interengagement of the aligning features with the guiding features and interengagement of the latching features with the corresponding latching features positions the replaceable ink container at the particular location in the receiving station to provide a reliable fluidic connection between said fluid outlet and the corresponding fluid inlet, and a reliable electrical connection between the plurality of container electrical contacts and said corresponding receiving station electrical contacts.

3. The replaceable ink container of claim 2, wherein when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the receiving station, the housing has an elongate cross section defining an axis of elongation forming a central plane that substantially bisects the replaceable ink container.

4. The replaceable ink container of claim 3 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the fluidic connection.

5. The replaceable ink container of claim 4 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the electrical connection.

6. The replaceable ink container of claim 3 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the electrical connection.

7. The replaceable ink container of claim 1, wherein when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the receiving station, the housing has an elongate cross section defining an axis of elongation forming a central plane that substantially bisects the replaceable ink container.

8. The replaceable ink container of claim 7 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the fluid outlet.

9. The replaceable ink container of claim 8 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the plurality of container electrical contacts.

10. The replaceable ink container of claim 7 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the plurality of container electrical contacts.

11. The replaceable ink container of claim 7 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the aligning features.

12. The replaceable ink container of claim 11 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the latching features.

13. The replaceable ink container of claim 7 wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation substantially bisects the latching features.

14. The replaceable ink container of claim 7, wherein the central plane defined by the axis of elongation passes through fluid outlet, and wherein an outer surface of the housing is substantially symmetrical with respect to the central plane.

15. The replaceable ink container of claim 1 wherein upon engagement of the aligning features with the guiding features the replaceable ink container is installable at the particular location of the receiving station in one motion.

16. The replaceable ink container of claim 15 wherein the motion is linear.

17. A replaceable ink container to be installed at a particular location in a receiving station fluidically coupled to a printhead of an ink jet printing system, the receiving station providing ink from the replaceable ink container to the printhead, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a housing having an elongate cross section defining an axis of elongation forming a central plane that substantially bisects the replaceable ink container;

latching features on the housing, wherein the latching features are bisected by the central plane, the latching features being engageable with corresponding latching features of the receiving station upon insertion of the replaceable ink container at the particular location of the receiving station for securing the replaceable ink container to the receiving station against unintentional extraction from the particular location;

an ink supply within the housing, the ink supply containing a volume of ink;

a fluid outlet on the housing along the central plane defined by the axis of elongation, the fluid outlet being connected to the ink supply such that when the replaceable ink container is fully installed at the particular location in the receiving station, the fluid outlet engages a corresponding fluid inlet at the particular location in the receiving station to allow ink to flow from the ink supply of the replaceable ink container to the printhead;

an information storage device on the housing, the information storage device storing information indicative of the volume of ink within the ink supply; and

a plurality of container electrical contacts on the housing along the central plane defined by the axis of elongation, the plurality of container electrical contacts being connected to the information storage device such that when the replaceable ink container is fully installed at the particular location in the receiving station, the plurality of container electrical contacts engage corresponding receiving station electrical contacts to electrically couple the information storage device to the ink jet printing system, wherein the fluid outlet and the plurality of container electrical contacts are bisected by the central plane defined by the axis of elongation to allow the replaceable ink container to be fully installed at the particular location in the receiving station.

18. The replaceable ink container of claim 17 wherein the housing includes aligning features bisected by the central plane, the aligning features engaging guiding features of the receiving station upon insertion of the replaceable ink container at the particular location of the receiving station.

19. A replaceable ink container to be installed into a receiving apparatus fluidically coupled to a printhead of an ink jet printing system, the receiving apparatus including opposing walls for receiving the replaceable ink container therebetween, the replaceable ink container comprising:

a housing having an axis of elongation perpendicular to the opposing walls when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the receiving apparatus;

a latch feature located on the housing on the axis of elongation, the latch feature being engageable with a corresponding latch feature of the receiving apparatus when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the receiving apparatus for securing the replaceable ink container to the receiving apparatus against unwanted extraction from the receiving apparatus;

an ink supply within the housing, the ink supply containing a volume of ink;

a fluid outlet on the housing and positioned on the axis of elongation, the fluid outlet being connected to the ink supply, the fluid outlet engaging a fluid inlet in the receiving apparatus when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the receiving apparatus;

an information storage device associated with the housing, the information storage device storing information indicative of the volume of ink; and

a plurality of container electrical contacts positioned proximate to the axis of elongation and connected to the information storage device, the plurality of container electrical contacts being connected to a plurality of corresponding electrical contacts associated with the receiving apparatus when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the receiving apparatus.

20. The replaceable ink container of claim 19 wherein the plurality of container electrical contacts define a plane that is perpendicular to two of the opposing walls of the receiving apparatus.

21. The replaceable ink container of claim 19 wherein the housing has first and second sides, and wherein at least one of the first and second sides includes the latch feature.

22. The replaceable ink container of claim 19 wherein the latch feature has an engagement force that is aligned with the axis of elongation.

23. The replaceable ink container of claim 19 wherein the replaceable ink container is installable in the receiving apparatus in a generally downward direction relative to a gravitational frame of reference.

24. The replaceable ink container of claim 19 wherein the replaceable ink container is installable in the receiving apparatus in one linear motion.

25. An ink supply for providing ink to a printhead of an ink jet printing system, the printing system including a receiving apparatus fluidically coupled to the printhead, the ink supply comprising:

a container housing portion having an axis of elongation that is perpendicular to a vertical direction when the housing portion is installed in the receiving apparatus, the container housing portion having opposing sides located on the axis of elongation;

a latch feature located on one of the opposing sides for engaging a corresponding latch feature of the receiving apparatus upon installation of the ink supply into the receiving apparatus for mounting the ink supply to the receiving apparatus against inadvertent removal from the receiving apparatus; and

a planar arrangement of electrical contacts located along the axis of elongation and parallel to the vertical direction.

26. The ink supply of claim 25 further comprising a fluid outlet located on the axis of elongation.

27. An ink supply for providing ink to a printhead of an ink jet printing system that can accept ink supplies carrying varying amounts of ink, the printing system including a receiving station fluidically coupled to the printhead, the receiving station including at least two inwardly facing opposing walls, the ink supply comprising:

an outer housing having an axis of elongation that is substantially perpendicular to and spanning at least part of the distance between the two opposing walls, the outer housing including a pair of opposing sides positioned on the axis of elongation, the outer housing having a connecting end located between the opposing sides;

a fluid reservoir;

a latch feature positioned on one of the opposing sides for engaging a corresponding latch feature of the receiving station upon insertion of the ink supply into the receiving station for securing the ink supply to the receiving station against unintentional extraction from the receiving station;

a fluid outlet coupled to the reservoir, the fluid outlet positioned on the connecting end of the ink container between the opposing ends and positioned on the axis of elongation;

a plurality of electrical contacts positioned along the axis of elongation; and

an information storage device coupled to the contacts and providing information indicative of an amount of ink stored in the fluid reservoir.

28. The ink supply of claim 27 wherein plurality of electrical contacts are accesible from the connecting end.