Ink cartridge with collapsible ink containers for an inkjet printer

• US 7,384,134 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Memjet Technology Ltd. (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Meier; Stephen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, CARLOS A
• Application Number:
  US11/006,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 347/87, 347/86, 347/85, 347/49, 347/108, 347/105, 347/36, 222/105, 400/61, 400/625, 106/31.14
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/17516 comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32

Abstract

An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer is disclosed. The printer has a mounting arrangement for the ink cartridge. The mounting arrangement includes at least one ink supply connector. The ink cartridge includes a vented housing. At least one ink container is mounted in the housing. The ink containers are collapsible. A complementary ink supply connector is mounted on the, or each respective ink container and is connectable to the, or each respective ink supply connector when the ink cartridge is mounted on the inkjet printer.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer having a moulded mounting arrangement which include ink supply connectors for mounting the ink cartridge, the ink cartridge comprising

a vented housing defining at least one vent;

ink containers mounted in the housing, each ink container being collapsible; and

ink supply connectors mounted on respective ink containers and connectable through respective vents to respective ink supply connectors of the mounting arrangement;

the housing includes an elongate casing closed at one end and a base molding that closes an opposite end, each ink supply connector extending through respective vents defined by the base molding;

a pin extending through the casing proximate said closed one end, each ink container being supported on the pin.

2. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the ink containers contains ink that is invisible and is capable of being read by an optical reader once printed on a suitable medium.

3. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, which includes a fixative container in which fixative for ink is contained.

4. The ink cartridge as claimed in claim 1, in which a glue bladder is mounted in the housing.