Ink cartridge refilling station
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ink cartridge refilling station comprising:
- a receptacle for receiving an ink cartridge;
a supply of ink;
a refilling mechanism for automatically adding ink to said ink cartridge from said supply of ink;
a cartridge diagnostic unit for evaluating said cartridge; and
a diagnostic printer for printing information from said diagnostic unit.
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Abstract
An ink cartridge refilling station incorporates a receptacle for receiving an ink cartridge, a supply of ink and a refilling mechanism for automatically adding ink to the ink cartridge from the supply of ink. An ink cartridge, for use with the cartridge refilling station, includes a reservoir for holding a supply of ink and an input port communicating with the reservoir, the port being configured to receive ink from the automated ink refilling station.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An ink cartridge refilling station comprising:
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a receptacle for receiving an ink cartridge;
a supply of ink;
a refilling mechanism for automatically adding ink to said ink cartridge from said supply of ink;
a cartridge diagnostic unit for evaluating said cartridge; and
a diagnostic printer for printing information from said diagnostic unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said method comprising:
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placing said ink cartridge in a ink cartridge refilling station;
adding ink to said ink cartridge with an automated refilling mechanism of said ink cartridge refilling station; and
generating a user profile and storing said profile on a network accessible to a plurality of ink cartridge refilling stations. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25)
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20. A method of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said method comprising:
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placing said ink cartridge in a ink cartridge refilling station;
adding ink to said ink cartridge with an automated refilling mechanism of said ink cartridge refilling station; and
receiving a payment for ink placed in said ink cartridge by said ink cartridge refilling station. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said method comprising:
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placing said ink cartridge in a ink cartridge refilling station;
adding ink to said ink cartridge with an automated refilling mechanism of said ink cartridge refilling station;
reading an identification label on said ink cartridge;
associating said identification label with a user profile; and
storing said user profile, an ink cartridge diagnostic, and payment information on a memory unit.
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24. A method of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said method comprising:
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placing said ink cartridge in a ink cartridge refilling station;
adding ink to said ink cartridge with an automated refilling mechanism of said ink cartridge refilling station;
evaluating said ink cartridge with an ink cartridge diagnostic unit of said ink cartridge refilling station;
adding ink of a specific quantity and type to said ink cartridge in accordance with output from said ink cartridge diagnostic unit, an identification label on said ink cartridge, and input from a user interface; and
printing said output from said ink cartridge diagnostic unit on a printer.
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26. A system of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said system comprising:
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means for receiving said ink cartridge refilling station;
means for adding ink to said ink cartridges; and
means for adding ink from a plurality of ink reservoirs in said refilling station to a respective plurality of reservoir within said ink cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system of adding ink to in ink cartridge, said system comprising:
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mean, for receiving said ink cartridge in an ink cartridge refilling station;
means for adding ink to said ink cartridge; and
means for receiving a payment for ink placed in said ink cartridge by said ink cartridge refilling station. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A system of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said system comprising:
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means for receiving said ink cartridge in an ink cartridge refilling station;
means for adding ink to said ink cartridge; and
means for storing a user profile, an ink cartridge evaluation, and payment information.
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37. A system of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said system comprising:
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means for receiving said ink cartridge in an ink cartridge refilling station;
means for adding ink to said ink cartridge;
means for evaluating the condition of said ink cartridge to provide an ink cartridge evaluation; and
means for producing a hard copy of said ink cartridge evaluation.
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38. A method of adding ink to an ink cartridge, said method comprising:
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placing said ink cartridge in a ink cartridge refilling station;
ascertaining information about said ink cartridge; and
if said information about said ink cartridge matches predetermined parameters, refusing to add ink to said cartridge with an automated refilling mechanism of said ink cartridge refilling station and recommending a different ink for use in said cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification