EP0940260A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Ink delivery system adapter
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1999-03-02
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2019-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A variety of adaptive ink delivery systems for an existing ink-jet printing system 10 are usable in lieu of an original equipment ink cartridge 12. Each adaptive ink delivery system has an ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275 in communication with a fluid outlet 20, 133, 153, 203, 225, 245, 255, 265, 277 configured to couple with the fluid inlet 28 on the printing system 10. Each ink delivery system also has an electrical adapter connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 which mates with an electrical connector on the printing system. Each ink delivery system has an information storage device 26, 196 to exchange enabling information with a controller 18 of the printing system 10. The information storage device 26, 196 may be an emulation circuit 26, 196 that provides enabling information to the printing system 10 regardless of the actual condition of the ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275. The adaptive supplies allow the information storage device 26, 196 and/or the replacement ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275 to be located on or optionally remotely from the printing system 10.
Inventors
- 👤 Winthrop D. Childers
- 👤 Bruce Cowger
- 👤 Michael L. Bullock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:18
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17556; B41J2/17506; B41J2/17509; B41J2/17513; B41J2/1752; B41J2/17523; B41J2/17543; B41J2/17546; B41J2/1755; B41J2/17553; B41J2/17566; B41J2/17596; B41J25/00; B41J25/34; B41J2002/17569; B41J2002/17573; B41J2002/17576
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
302 words
An adaptive ink supply for use in lieu of a first ink cartridge 12 for an ink jet printing
system 10, the printing system 10 having a fluid inlet 28 with a hollow needle 106
surrounded by a sliding sealing collar 108, a controller 18 which exchanges
information with a first memory device 26 mounted to the first ink cartridge 12
concerning ink in the first ink cartridge 12, and an electrical connector electrically
connected to the controller 18 and having an upward-protruding post 70, the post 70
having a plurality of electrical contacts 30 which protrude laterally from a first side
of the post 70 for connection to contacts 24 associated with the first memory device
26, the adaptive ink supply comprising: an ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275 containing a replacement ink; a fluid outlet 20, 133, 153, 203, 225, 245, 255, 265, 277 in fluid communication
with the ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275 and having a distal end
member which is adapted to depress the sliding collar 108 and receive
the hollow needle 106 of the fluid inlet 28 for supplying the replacement
ink to the printing system 10; an adapter connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 having a plurality of electrical
contacts 24, 198 for engaging the electrical contacts 30 on the first side of
the post 70; a support surface 79 located on the adapter connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257,
269 for retaining the electrical contacts 24, 198 of the adapter connector
195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 in engagement with the electrical contacts
30 of the post 70; and a source of signals 26, 196 electrically connected to the contacts 24, 198 of the
adapter connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 for exchanging
information with the controller 18.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
The adaptive ink supply of claim 1 wherein the source of signals 26, 196 provides
information to the controller 18 regarding a volume of replacement ink in the ink
reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The adaptive ink supply of claim 1 wherein the ink reservoir 202 is remotely located
from the fluid outlet 203, 255 connected by a conduit 201, 253.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
299 words
An adaptive ink supply for use with a printer 10 in substitution of a first ink
cartridge 12, the first ink cartridge 12 having a pump 115 and a first memory device
26 containing data concerning ink in the first ink cartridge 12, the printer 10 having
a fluid inlet 28, an actuator 122 which is movable between first and second
positions and is urged toward the second position to apply pressure to the pump
115, a controller 18 which exchanges information with the first memory device 26,
and an electrical connector electrically connected to the controller 18 and having a
protruding post 70, the post 70 having a plurality of electrical contacts 30 which
protrude laterally from a first side of the post for connection to contacts 24
associated with the first memory device 26, the adaptive ink supply comprising: an ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275 for containing a replacement ink; a fluid outlet 20, 133, 153, 203, 225, 245, 255, 265, 277 in fluid
communication with the ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275
which is adapted to be coupled to the fluid inlet 28 for supplying the
replacement ink to the printer 10; an adapter connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 having a plurality of
electrical contacts 24, 198 for engaging the electrical contacts 30 on the
first side of the post 70; a retainer 145, 204, 235, 249, 259, 270 for contact with the actuator 122 for
preventing the actuator 122 from remaining in the second position when
replacement ink is being delivered to the fluid inlet 28; and a source of signals 26, 196 which is connected to the contacts of the adapter
connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 for providing electronic
enabling information to the controller 18.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The ink supply of claim 4, further comprising: a housing 72, 221, 241, 251, 261 having the fluid outlet 20, 225, 245, 255, 265
on a lower side which mates with the fluid inlet 28 on the printing system
10; wherein the retainer 145, 235, 249, 259, 270 is an actuator engagement portion 145, 235,
249, 259, 270 of the housing 72, 221, 241, 251, 261.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ink supply of claim 4 wherein the source of signals 196 is connected to the
adapter connector by a flexible cable 199, 209, 231 to provide the enabling
information while located remotely from the printing system 10.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ink supply of claim 4 wherein the ink reservoir 202 comprises is connected by a
conduit 201, 253 to the fluid outlet 203, 255 to enable the reservoir 202 to be
located remotely from the printing system 10.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
293 words
An adaptive ink supply for replacing a first ink container 12 in a printing system
10, the printing system 10 including a supply station 14 adapted to receive the
first ink container 12 in a first direction, the supply station having first 14a and
second 14b ends thereon, the supply station 14 including a fluid inlet 28 located
near the first end 14a for providing ink to a corresponding printhead 16, the
supply station 14 including a connector post 70 located near the second end 14b,
the connector post 70 having a degree of movement perpendicular to the first
direction, the connector post 70 having a plurality of post contacts 30, the
adaptive ink supply comprising: an ink reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275 for containing ink; a fluid outlet 20, 133, 153, 203, 225, 245, 255, 265, 277 in fluid
communication with the reservoir 22, 202, 223, 243, 263, 275 adapted
to be connected to the fluid inlet 28 located near the first end 14a of the
supply station 14; an electrical connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 associated with the
adaptive ink supply, the electrical connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257,
269 including a plurality of connector contacts 24, 198, the electrical
connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 adapted to receive the
connector post 70 near the second end 14b of the supply station 14, the
electrical connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 adapted to provide
alignment and sufficient contact force between the plurality of
connector contacts 24, 198 on the one hand and the plurality of post
contacts 30 on the other; and a source of signals 26, 196 electrically coupled to the plurality of connector
contacts 24, 198 for exchanging information with the controller 18.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The adaptive ink supply of claim 8, further comprising a support surface 79 in
facing relation with the connector contacts 24, 198, the support surface 79
provides an alignment force on the connector post 70 when the electrical
connector 195, 211, 233, 247, 257, 269 engages the connector post 70.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The adaptive ink supply of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector 195, 211,
233, 247, 257, 269 forms a cavity 80, the connector contacts 24, 198 are disposed
proximate to a leading end of the cavity 80 relative to the first direction, the
cavity 80 is adapted to receive the connector post 70 to allow the connector
contacts 24, 198 to electrically couple to the post contacts 30.
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