EP0709205B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for refilling a print cartridge
Assignee: HP Inc
•
Filing: 1995-08-22
•
Granted: 2000-03-01
•
Expires: 2015-08-22
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Hunt
- 👤 Joseph E. Scheffelin
- 👤 Jon J. Fong
- 👤 Alfred U.N. Zepeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 06:19
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17506
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for refilling a print cartridge with ink, said
print cartridge having an ink reservoir at a pressure of less
than ambient pressure prior to refilling, comprising: a) a refill ink reservoir (26) containing ink for refilling,
said refill reservoir having a pressure therein
in excess of the pressure in the ink reservoir (19) of
the print cartridge (18); b) an ink conduit (28) connected to the refill ink reservoir
(26) and connectable to the ink reservoir in the
print cartridge (18); c) means, connected to the apparatus, for opening the ink
reservoir (19) of the print cartridge (18) and for establishing
fluid communication with said ink conduit (28)
between the refill ink reservoir (26) and the ink reservoir
of the print cartridge; d) means (54, 60), connected to the apparatus, for closing
the ink reservoir (19) of the print cartridge (18);
and e) means (51, 55, 56, 56') connected to the apparatus,
for sealing the refill ink reservoir (26), the ink conduit
(28), and the ink reservoir (19) of the print cartridge
(18) against ambient pressure so that a print cartridge
(18) is refillable by the excess pressure in the
refill ink reservoir (26).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that
said means for opening the ink reservoir comprises means
(60) for dislocating a first closure (20), and
a second closure (54) is provided for replacing said
first closure (20) for closing the ink reservoir (19).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 further including a locating fixture
for the print cartridge (18) so that during refilling
the refill ink reservoir (26) is located a predetermined
distance below the ink reservoir (19) in the print cartridge
(18) so that the print cartridge is refillable by the excess
pressure in the refill ink reservoir but to an operating pressure
of less than ambient pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the ink reservoir
(19) in the print cartridge (18) prior to refilling has a
pressure of between about -17,8 to -22,9 cm of water, the
pressure in the refill ink reservoir (26) is about ambient
pressure, and the ink reservoir (19) in the print cartridge
after refilling has a pressure of between about -5,1 to
-7,6 cm of water.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of one of the preceding claims, wherein said
means for closing the ink reservoir (19) of the print cartridge
(18) comprises: a reciprocally movable ram (60) for dislocating and reseating
closures (54) for the ink reservoir (19) in the
print cartridge (18) while sealed against ambient pressure; a magazine (53) for replacement closures (54); and a sealable loader (67, 70) connected to the ram (60) and
the magazine (53) for positioning said closures (54) before
the ram while sealed against ambient pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 5 further including a disposable,
fluid containing wiper (34) connected to the apparatus for
cleaning the print cartridge (18) during refilling.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process for refilling a print cartridge with ink, said
cartridge having an ink reservoir at a pressure of less than
ambient pressure prior to refilling, comprising the steps of: a) removing a closure (20) for the ink reservoir (19)
in the print cartridge for establishing fluid communication
between a refill ink reservoir (26) and
an ink reservoir (19) in a print cartridge (18) with
an ink conduit (28), while isolating the refill ink
reservoir (26), the reservoir (19) in the print
cartridge (18) and the ink conduit from ambient
pressure; b) transferring ink from the refill ink reservoir (26)
to the ink reservoir (19) in the print cartridge
(18) as a result of said refill ink reservoir having
a pressure in excess of the pressure in the ink
reservoir in the print cartridge; and c) reclosing the ink reservoir with a replacement
closure (54) for said ink reservoir while isolated
from ambient pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 7 further including the steps of:
a) generating said pressure by utilizing a vacuum in the
reservoir (19) in the print cartridge (18); and
b) reducing said pressure by vertically displacing the
print cartridge (18) above the refill ink reservoir (26)
for a predetermined distance so that the print cartridge
is refilled to an operating pressure of less than ambient
pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 7 or 8 wherein the ink reservoir (19)
in the print cartridge (18) prior to refilling has a pressure
of between about -17,8 to -22,9 cm of water, the pressure in
the refill ink reservoir (26) is about ambient pressure, and
the ink reservoir in the print cartridge after refilling has a
pressure between about -5,1 to -7,6 cm of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of one claims 7 to 9 including the steps of
creating and maintaining an ink transfer system sealed from
ambient pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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