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

• US 6,679,592 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Dennis R., Casserino, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGHIEM, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US09/766,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 347/85, 347/86, 347/87, 347/49
• US Class Current: 347/85
• 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 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 via a flexible fluid conduit to the ink jet printhead, the method comprising:

disconnecting the flexible fluid conduit of the pressurized ink delivery system from the ink jet printhead;

providing an alternative non-pressurized supply of ink that is not adapted for actuation by the actuator; and

connecting an alternative fluid conduit of the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink directly to the ink jet printhead to provide alternative non-pressurized ink, to the ink jet printhead.

2. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 1 wherein the step of disconnecting the flexible fluid conduit of the pressurized ink delivery system from the ink jet printhead includes:

disconnecting the ink jet printhead from a fluid interconnect in fluid communication with the ink supply of the pressurized ink delivery system via the flexible fluid conduit.

3. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 1 wherein the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink includes a replacement fluid interconnect and wherein the step of connecting the alternative fluid conduit of the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink directly to the ink jet printhead includes:

connecting the ink jet printhead to the replacement fluid interconnect of the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink.

4. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 3 wherein the replacement fluid interconnect is different than the fluid interconnect.

5. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 4 wherein the replacement fluid interconnect includes a releasable fluid coupling for releasably connecting the alternative fluid conduit of the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink to the replacement fluid interconnect.

6. 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 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 the ink jet printhead, wherein the ink jet printing system further includes a scanning carriage having a fluid interconnect in fluid communication with the ink supply of the pressurized ink delivery system, the method comprising:

disconnecting the ink supply of the pressurized ink delivery system from the ink jet printhead, including disconnecting the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect of the scanning carriage;

providing an alternative non-pressurized supply of ink that is not adapted for actuation by the actuator; and

connecting the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink directly to the ink jet printhead to provide alternative non-pressurized ink, to the ink jet printhead.

7. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 6 wherein the fluid interconnect is removably mounted on the scanning carriage, and wherein disconnecting the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect further includes:

dismounting the fluid interconnect from the scanning carriage.

8. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 7 wherein the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink includes a replacement fluid interconnect, and wherein the step of connecting the alternative non-pressurized supply of ink to the ink jet printhead includes:

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.

9. The method for adapting an ink jet printing system of claim 8 wherein the step of 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.

10. 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 interconnect removably mounted to the scanning carriage, the method comprising:

disconnecting the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect 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 supply including a replacement fluid interconnect;

mounting the replacement fluid interconnect onto the scanning carriage; and

connecting the ink jet printhead directly to the replacement fluid interconnect such that alternate ink is delivered from the alternate ink supply to the ink jet printhead;

wherein the step of disconnecting the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect includes disengaging the ink jet printhead from the scanning carriage so as to disconnect a fluid inlet portion of the ink jet printhead from the fluid interconnect.