Ink container refurbishment system
First Claim
1. A method for refilling a printer ink container for providing ink to an ink jet printhead of an ink jet printing system, the ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet on the housing and in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, with the ink outlet being removably connectable to a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the ink jet printhead of the ink jet printing system upon insertion of the housing into the ink jet printing system, and an air inlet on the housing and in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, with the air inlet being removably connectable to an air outlet of the ink jet printing system upon insertion of the housing into the ink jet printing system, the method comprising:
- (a) fluidically coupling an ink fitting to the ink outlet, the ink fitting being in fluid communication with a source of ink;
(b) fluidically coupling an air fitting to the air inlet so that the air fitting is in fluid communication with the space in the housing;
(c) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the source of ink through the ink fitting and ink outlet; and
(d) establishing a release of air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir and through the air inlet and air fitting.
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Abstract
Alternative methods for refurbishing a single-use ink delivery container for a printing system are described. The refurbishing methods include electrical and mechanical reconfiguration or replacement of original elements on the ink delivery container. Each method utilizes an existing ink fluid outlet, electrical connector and an information storage device on the ink delivery container.
32 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for refilling a printer ink container for providing ink to an ink jet printhead of an ink jet printing system, the ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet on the housing and in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, with the ink outlet being removably connectable to a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the ink jet printhead of the ink jet printing system upon insertion of the housing into the ink jet printing system, and an air inlet on the housing and in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, with the air inlet being removably connectable to an air outlet of the ink jet printing system upon insertion of the housing into the ink jet printing system, the method comprising:
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(a) fluidically coupling an ink fitting to the ink outlet, the ink fitting being in fluid communication with a source of ink; (b) fluidically coupling an air fitting to the air inlet so that the air fitting is in fluid communication with the space in the housing; (c) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the source of ink through the ink fitting and ink outlet; and (d) establishing a release of air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir and through the air inlet and air fitting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for refilling a printer ink container for providing ink to an ink jet printhead of an ink jet printing system, the ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet on the housing and in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, with the ink outlet being removably connectable to a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the ink jet printhead of the ink jet printing system upon insertion of the housing into the ink jet printing system, an air inlet on the housing and in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, with the air inlet being removably connectable to an air outlet of the ink jet printing system upon insertion of the housing into the ink jet printing system, the air inlet having a protruding stem with a septum, the method comprising:
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(a) engaging and sealing an ink fitting to the ink outlet, the ink fitting being in fluid communication with a pressurized source of ink; (b) inserting a tubular member through the septum of the air inlet so that the tubular member is in fluid communication with the space in the housing; (c) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the pressurized source of ink through the ink fitting and the ink outlet; and (d) establishing a release of air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir through the air inlet and tubular member, the air being released to atmosphere as the ink reservoir is refilled with ink. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A refurbished ink container adapted to be releasably installed into an inkjet printing system having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with an ink jet printhead, the refurbished ink container comprising:
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a reservoir containing ink; a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir and being removably connectable to the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the ink jet printhead of the ink jet printing system, the fluid outlet including a septum having an inside surface and a sealing member biased against the inside surface, the reservoir having been refilled by displacing the sealing member away from the inside surface while connecting a source of refill ink to the fluid outlet that flows from the source of ink, past the sealing member, and to the reservoir; and a refurbished source of signals that enables printing when the refurbished ink container is releasably installed into the printing system.
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10. A refill adapter for refilling a printer ink container that is at least partially depleted of an initial ink, the printer ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, and an air inlet in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, wherein during normal printing operations ink flows out of the ink reservoir through the ink outlet, and air flows into the space between the housing and the ink reservoir through the air inlet, the refill adapter comprising:
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an ink fitting configured for releasable connection to the ink outlet; an air fitting configured for releasable connection to the air inlet to establish communication between the air fitting and the space between the housing and the ink reservoir; and wherein filling the ink reservoir with refill ink through the ink fitting so that air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir is released through the air fitting. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A refill adapter for refilling a printer ink container that is at least partially depleted of an initial ink, the refill adapter comprising:
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an ink fitting configured for releasable connection to an ink outlet on the printer ink container, the printer ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing, an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, and an air inlet in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, wherein during normal printing operations ink flows out of the ink reservoir through the ink outlet, and air flows into the space between the housing and the ink reservoir through the air inlet; an air fitting configured for releasable connection to the air inlet to establish communication between the air fitting and the space between the housing and the ink reservoir; and wherein filling the ink reservoir with refill ink through the ink fitting so that air from the space between the housing and the ink reservoir is released through the air fitting.
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- 19. A refill adapter for refilling an ink container with ink, the refill adaptor comprising an ink connector and a vent connector for releasable connection to the ink container, the ink connector comprising a first fluid conduit having an ink in-port and an ink out-port, and the vent connector comprising a second fluid conduit having an air inlet and an air outlet, the refill adapter being characterized by having the air outlet remain in fluid communication with the atmosphere outside of the ink container and the air inlet when the air inlet is connected to the ink container.
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30. A method of using an adapter comprising an ink connector and a vent connector to refill a first ink container comprising an ink outlet and an air inlet, with ink contained in a second ink container, wherein during normal printing operations ink flows out of the first ink container through the ink outlet, and air flows into the first ink container through the air inlet, comprising the steps of:
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(a) releasably coupling one end of the ink connector to the ink outlet of the first ink container; (b) releasably coupling the vent connector to the air inlet of the first container; (c) coupling another end of the ink connector of the adapter to the second ink container; and (d) causing the ink to flow from the second container through the adapter into the first container and causing a simultaneous flow of air out of the first container through the adapter. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification