Ink supply line support system for a continuous ink refill system for disosable ink jet cartridges

Claim 2

An ink supply line support apparatus for a continuous ink refill system for a large format ink jet printer having a print bed that is greater than 61 cm (24 inches) wide and having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium and receives at least one disposable ink jet cartridges, the ink refill system including at least one disposable ink jet cartridge removably mountable in the print carriage, at least one ink reservoir external to the print carriage, and at least one flexible ink supply line that couples the at least one ink reservoir to the at least one ink jet cartridges so as to supply ink to the ink jet cartridge during operation of the ink jet printer, the ink supply line support apparatus comprising: an elongate guide structure having a length greater than 30.5 cm (12 inches) and having a first end operably connected to the ink jet printer at a fixed location and a second end operably connected to the print carriage, the second end being movable relative to the first end in a first orientation along a direction in which the print carriage traverses, but being substantially rigid relative to the first end in a second orientation that is transverse to the first orientation and the guide structure including means for supporting at least a portion of the at least one ink supply line on an exposed surface of the guide structure; and attachment means positioned along the exposed surface of the guide structure for detachably securing the portion of the at least one ink supply line to the guide structure.

Claim 3

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate guide structure is a chain-like structure having a plurality of guide link elements pivotally connected to one another.

Claim 4

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate guide structure is a unitary piece of rigid, flexible material selected from the group consisting of: a metal band, a metal channel, or a metal tube, or a plastic strip, a plastic channel, or a plastic tube that is relatively rigid in all but one orientation.

Claim 5

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongate guide structure forms a generally U-shaped structure having an outwardly facing exposed surface and an inwardly facing exposed surface and the attachment means is positioned along the outwardly facing exposed surface.

Claim 6

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate an end point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses and has a length that is at least as long as a width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 7

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate a mid-point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 8

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print carriage traverses along a guide rail positioned at a forward position in the ink jet printer relative to a path of travel of a print medium through the ink jet printer and wherein the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer at a position rearward of the guide rail such that the elongate guide structure is movable in a space within the ink jet printer behind and generally parallel to the guide rail as the print carriage traverses along the guide rail.

Claim 9

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of ink supply lines and wherein the attachment means in the elongate guide structure are arranged such that the portion of the plurality of ink supply lines carried by the elongate guide structure are vertically spaced apart from one another.

Claim 10

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a flexible, stiffening means longitudinally disposed alongside the elongate guide structure for increasing uniformity of movement of the elongate guide structure as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer.

Claim 11

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an outrigger structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the outrigger structure attached to the print carriage opposite a side of the print carriage at which the ink jet cartridges are mounted and extending in a direction opposite from a direction of the ink jet cartridges relative to a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 12

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an in-line attachment structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the in-line attachment structure secured to the print carriage approximately parallel with a longitudinal axis of a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 13

An ink supply line support apparatus for a continuous ink refill system for a large format ink jet printer having a print bed that is greater than 61 cm (24 inches) wide and having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium, the ink refill system including at least one flexible ink supply line that couples an ink reservoir on the print carriage to an ink supply container external to the print carriage so as to supply ink during operation of the ink jet printer to at least one print head on the print carriage that is in fluid connection with the ink reservoir, the ink supply line support apparatus comprising: an elongate guide structure having a length greater than 30.5 cm (12 inches) and having a first end operably connected to the ink jet printer at a fixed location, a second end operably connected to the print carriage, and an exposed surface on which at least a portion of the at least one ink supply line is supported while the second end is moved relative to the first end as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer; and a plurality of attachment mechanisms positioned along of the guide structure to detachably secure the portion of the at least one ink supply line to the exposed surface of the guide structure.

Claim 14

An ink supply line support apparatus for a continuous ink refill system for a large format ink jet printer having a print bed that is greater than 61 cm (24 inches) wide and having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium, the ink refill system including at least one flexible ink supply line that couples an ink reservoir on the print carriage to an ink supply container external to the print carriage so as to supply ink during operation of the ink jet printer to at least one print head on the print carriage that is in fluid connection with the ink reservoir, the ink supply line support apparatus comprising: an elongate guide structure having a length greater than 30.5 cm (12 inches) and having a first end operably connected to the ink jet printer at a fixed location, a second end operably connected to the print carriage, and an exposed surface on which at least a portion of the at least one ink supply line is supported while the second end is moved relative to the first end as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer; and a plurality of attachment mechanisms positioned along of the guide structure to detachably secure the portion of the at least one ink supply line to the exposed surface of the guide structure.

Claim 15

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the elongate guide structure is a chain-like structure having a plurality of guide link elements pivotally connected to one another.

Claim 16

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the elongate guide structure is relatively rigid in a first orientation of a plane through which the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer and is relatively flexible in a second orientation of the plane that is transverse to the first orientation.

Claim 17

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the elongate guide structure forms a generally U-shaped structure having an outwardly facing exposed surface and an inwardly facing exposed surface and the attachment mechanisms are positioned along the outwardly facing exposed surface.

Claim 18

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate an end point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses and has a length that is at least as long as a width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 19

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate a mid-point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 20

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the print carriage traverses along a guide rail positioned at a forward position in the ink jet printer relative to a path of travel of a print medium through the ink jet printer and wherein the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer at a position rearward of the guide rail such that the elongate guide structure is movable in a space within the ink jet printer behind and generally parallel to the guide rail as the print carriage traverses along the guide rail.

Claim 21

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of ink supply lines and wherein the plurality of attachment mechanisms are arranged such that the portion of the plurality of ink supply lines carried by the elongate guide structure are vertically spaced apart from one another.

Claim 22

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a flexible, stiffener longitudinally disposed alongside the elongate guide structure.

Claim 23

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: an outrigger structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the outrigger structure attached to the print carriage opposite a side of the print carriage at which the ink jet cartridges are mounted and extending in a direction opposite from a direction of the ink jet cartridges relative to a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 24

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: an in-line attachment structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the in-line attachment structure secured to the print carriage approximately parallel with a longitudinal axis of a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 25

A continuous ink refill system for a large format ink jet printer having a print bed that is greater than 61 cm (24 inches) wide and having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium and receives one or more disposable ink jet cartridges, the ink refill system comprising: a replaceable ink supply component including: at least one disposable ink jet cartridge removably mountable in the print carriage; at least one ink reservoir external to the print carriage; and at least one flexible ink supply line that couples the at least one ink reservoir to the at least one ink supply container so as to supply ink to the ink jet cartridge during operation of the ink jet printer; and an ink supply line support apparatus including: an elongate guide structure having a length greater than 30.5 cm (12 inches) and having a first end operably connected to the ink jet printer at a fixed location and a second end operably connected to the print carriage, the second end being movable relative to the first end as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer, the guide structure having an exposed surface on which at least a portion of the at least one flexible ink supply line is carried; and attachment means positioned along the guide structure for detachably securing the portion of the at least one ink supply line to the exposed surface of the guide structure.

Claim 26

A continuous ink refill system for a large format ink jet printer having a print bed that is greater than 61 cm (24 inches) wide and having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium and receives one or more disposable ink jet cartridges, the ink refill system comprising: a replaceable ink supply component including: at least one disposable ink jet cartridge removably mountable in the print carriage; at least one ink reservoir external to the print carriage; and at least one flexible ink supply line that couples the at least one ink reservoir to the at least one ink supply container so as to supply ink to the ink jet cartridge during operation of the ink jet printer; and an ink supply line support apparatus including: an elongate guide structure having a length greater than 30.5 cm (12 inches) and having a first end operably connected to the ink jet printer at a fixed location and a second end operably connected to the print carriage, the second end being movable relative to the first end as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer, the guide structure having an exposed surface on which at least a portion of the at least one flexible ink supply line is carried; and attachment means positioned along the guide structure for detachably securing the portion of the at least one ink supply line to the exposed surface of the guide structure.

Claim 27

The ink refill system of claim 23 wherein the elongate guide structure is a chain-like structure having a plurality of guide link elements pivotally connected to one another.

Claim 28

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 23 wherein the elongate guide structures is relatively rigid in a first orientation of a plane through which the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer and is relatively flexible in a second orientation of the plane transverse to the first orientation.

Claim 29

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 23 wherein the elongate guide structure forms a generally U-shaped structure having an outwardly facing exposed surface and an inwardly facing exposed surface and the attachment means is positioned along the outwardly facing exposed surface.

Claim 30

The ink refill system of claim 23 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate an end point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses and has a length that is at least as long as a width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 31

The ink refill system of claim 23 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate a mid-point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 32

The ink refill system of claim 23 wherein the print carriage traverses along a guide rail positioned at a forward position in the ink jet printer relative to a path of travel of a print medium through the ink jet printer and wherein the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer at a position rearward of the guide rail such that the elongate guide structure is movable in a space within the ink jet printer behind and generally parallel to the guide rail as the print carriage traverses along the guide rail.

Claim 33

The ink refill system of claim 23 wherein there are a plurality of ink supply lines and wherein the attachment means are arranged such that the portion of the plurality of ink supply lines carried by the elongate guide structure are vertically spaced apart from one another.

Claim 34

The ink refill system of claim 23 further comprising: a flexible, stiffening means longitudinally disposed alongside the elongate guide structure for dampening vibrations in the elongate guide structure means as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer.

Claim 35

The ink refill system of claim 23 further comprising: an outrigger structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the outrigger structure attached to the print carriage opposite a side of the print carriage at which the ink jet cartridges are mounted and extending in a direction opposite from a direction of the ink jet cartridges relative to a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 36

The ink refill system of claim 23 further comprising: an in-line attachment structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the in-line attachment structure secured to the print carriage approximately parallel with a longitudinal axis of a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 37

The ink refill system of claim 23 the replaceable ink supply component includes a plurality of replaceable subcomponents, each subcomponent including a disposable ink jet cartridge, an ink reservoir and a flexible ink supply line having a pair of ends one of which is inserted into the ink jet cartridge and the ink reservoir, respectively, and each of which is fixedly attached proximate to the end of the ink supply line to the ink jet cartridge and the ink reservoir, respectively.

Claim 38

The ink refill system of claim 34 wherein each subcomponent is a unitary replaceable member.

Claim 39

An ink supply line support apparatus for a continuous ink refill system for a large format ink jet printer the ink jet printer capable of producing high quality, full ink coverage prints on a print bed that is greater than 61 cm (24 inches) wide and having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium and receives at least one disposable ink jet cartridges, the ink refill system including at least one disposable ink jet cartridge removably mountable in the print carriage, at least one ink reservoir external to the print carriage, and at least one flexible ink supply line that couples the at least one ink reservoir to the at least one ink jet cartridges so as to supply ink to the ink jet cartridge during operation of the ink jet printer, the ink supply line support apparatus comprising: an elongate, chain-like guide structure having a length greater than 30.5 cm (12 inches) and having a plurality of guide link elements pivotally connected to one another and having a first end operably connected to the ink jet printer at a fixed location and a second end operably connected to the print carriage, the second end being movable relative to the first end in a first orientation along the direction in which the print carriage traverses, but being substantially rigid relative to the first end in a second orientation that is transverse to the first orientation; and means for supporting at least a portion of the at least one ink supply line such that the portion of the at least one ink supply line is carried by the guide structure while the second end of the guide structure is moved relative to the first end of the guide structure as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer.

Claim 40

An ink supply line support apparatus for a continuous ink refill system for a large format ink jet printer the ink jet printer capable of producing high quality, full ink coverage prints on a print bed that is greater than 61 cm (24 inches) wide and having a print carriage that traverses across a print medium and receives at least one disposable ink jet cartridges, the ink refill system including at least one disposable ink jet cartridge removably mountable in the print carriage, at least one ink reservoir external to the print carriage, and at least one flexible ink supply line that couples the at least one ink reservoir to the at least one ink jet cartridges so as to supply ink to the ink jet cartridge during operation of the ink jet printer, the ink supply line support apparatus comprising: an elongate, chain-like guide structure having a length greater than 30.5 cm (12 inches) and having a plurality of guide link elements pivotally connected to one another and having a first end operably connected to the ink jet printer at a fixed location and a second end operably connected to the print carriage, the second end being movable relative to the first end in a first orientation along the direction in which the print carriage traverses, but being substantially rigid relative to the first end in a second orientation that is transverse to the first orientation; and means for supporting at least a portion of the at least one ink supply line such that the portion of the at least one ink supply line is carried by the guide structure while the second end of the guide structure is moved relative to the first end of the guide structure as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer.

Claim 41

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 36 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate an end point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses and has a length that is at least as long as a width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 42

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 36 wherein the fixed location at which the first end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer is a longitudinal location that is proximate a mid-point of a transverse width of the ink jet printer over which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 43

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 36 wherein the print carriage traverses along a guide rail positioned at a forward position in the ink jet printer relative to a path of travel of a print medium through the ink jet printer and wherein the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached to the ink jet printer at a position rearward of the guide rail such that the elongate guide structure is movable in a space within the ink jet printer behind and generally parallel to the guide rail as the print carriage traverses along the guide rail.

Claim 44

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 36 wherein there are a plurality of ink supply lines and wherein the means for supporting is arranged such that the portion of the plurality of ink supply lines carried by the elongate guide structure means are vertically spaced apart from one another.

Claim 45

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 36 further comprising: a flexible, stiffening means longitudinally disposed alongside the elongate guide structure for increasing uniformity of movement of the elongate guide structure means as the print carriage traverses across the ink jet printer.

Claim 46

The ink supply line support apparatus of 36 further comprising: an outrigger structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the outrigger structure attached to the print carriage opposite a side of the print carriage at which the ink jet cartridges are mounted and extending in a direction opposite from a direction of the ink jet cartridges relative to a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 47

The ink supply line support apparatus of 36 further comprising: an outrigger structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the outrigger structure attached to the print carriage opposite a side of the print carriage at which the ink jet cartridges are mounted and extending in a direction opposite from a direction of the ink jet cartridges relative to a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses.

Claim 48

The ink supply line support apparatus of claim 36 further comprising: an in-line attachment structure to which the second end of the elongate guide structure is attached, the in-line attachment structure secured to the print carriage approximately parallel with a longitudinal axis of a guide rail on which the print carriage traverses such that vibrations in the elongate guide structure are generally not translated into a moment arm about the print carriage.