Abstract: An inkjet printing system having a replaceable set of ink-related components which are installed together and replaced together with a single ink delivery system for each different color of ink. The set includes an ink printhead with an inlet port, an ink supply module, and a printhead service module, each of which is manually mountable by a user onto an inkjet printer. The ink supply module contains enough ink to completely replenish an entire printhead reservoir several times before the expected useful life of the printhead has expired, at which time a user can replace the entire set of ink-related components for a particular color. Similarly, the printhead service module is designed for reliable performance for the expected useful life of the printhead. This system enables the entire ink delivery system to be replaced for different printing needs, such as replacing indoor dye-based inks with outdoor pigment based inks.

Abstract: A replaceable ink supply module which provides replenishment of an inkjet printhead includes a collapsible bag, an enclosure box, a connective tube, and an on/off valve. These four components are incorporated into a composite sealed system which remains intact during shipment, storage, installation and operation. The collapsible bag is placed inside of the protective enclosure box and has an end-connect outlet permanently attached to one end of the connective tube. The other end of the connective tube carries a permanently attached on/off valve designed for periodic engagement with an inlet valve of an inkjet printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system having a replaceable set of ink-related components which are installed together and replaced together as a single ink delivery system for each different color of ink. The set includes an ink printhead cartridge with an inlet port, an ink supply module, and a printhead service module, each of which is manually mountable by a user onto an inkjet printer. The ink supply module contains enough ink to completely replenish an entire printhead reservoir several times before the expected useful life of the printhead cartridge has expired, at which time a user can replace the entire set of ink-related components for a particular color. Similarly, the printhead service module is designed for reliable performance for the expected useful life of the printhead cartridge. This system enables the entire ink delivery system to be replaced for different printing needs, such as replacing indoor dye-based inks with outdoor pigment based inks.

Abstract: A printing system which provides active control of the vertical position of an off-carriage ink supply. The system includes an ink-jet print cartridge having an ink reservoir for holding a supply of liquid ink, and an ink replenishment port. A carriage holds the print cartridge, and a carriage scanning apparatus drives the carriage along a carriage scan axis. The system further includes an off-carriage ink supply which is connectable via a fluid path to the ink replenishment port of the cartridge. An elevator apparatus actively raises or lowers the off-carriage ink supply in response to drive commands to position the off-carriage ink supply at a plurality of different elevations relative to a vertical position of the print cartridge to supply ink to the ink replenishment port via the fluid path. The fluid path can be established intermittently, and disconnected during printing operations, or continuously established even during printing operations.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system provides an automated mechanism for the connection/disconnection of an ink supply valve to inkjet printheads without having to remove the printheads from a carriage. The automated mechanism includes a bracket for holding a plurality of ink supply valves in a passive first position displaced from a corresponding number of inlet ports on inkjet printheads mounted in the carriage which moves back and forth across a print zone. During normal printing operations there is no connection between the ink supply valves and the inkjet printheads. When it becomes necessary to replenish ink in the printheads from a supplemental ink container connected to the ink supply valve, the carriage comes to a rest position away from the print zone, and a motor causes the bracket to move toward the carriage so that an ink supply valve can directly engage an inlet port on the inkjet printhead. In an exemplary embodiment, an ink cartridge having a reservoir capacity of about 40 cc. can receive about 15 cc.

Abstract: A replaceable ink supply module which provides replenishment of an inkjet printhead includes a collapsible bag, an enclosure box, a connective tube, and an on/off valve. These four components are incorporated into a composite sealed system which remains intact during shipment, storage, installation and operation. The collapsible bag is placed inside of the protective enclosure box and has an end-connect outlet permanently attached to one end of the connective tube. The other end of the connective tube carries a permanently attached on/off valve designed for periodic engagement with an inlet valve of an inkjet printhead.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system with an automated ink replenishment station for replenishing printhead ink reservoirs mounted in a carriage from removable off-carriage ink supply containers. The system includes a printer frame and a scanning carriage mounted on the frame for traversing back and forth along a scan axis through a print zone. At least one printhead is mounted on the carriage, and has a sealed printhead ink reservoir and a normally closed inlet valve in fluid communication with the printhead ink reservoir for receiving ink. The ink replenishment station is located on the frame at one end of the scan axis, and includes an ink supply. A normally closed supply valve is provided at the ink replenishment station in communication with the ink supply capable of periodic connection to said inlet valve.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which incorporates an ink recharge port and recharge valve as part of the handle for the print cartridge. The handle is located to be easily accessible when the print cartridge is installed in a carriage within a printer. The handle provides protection for the recharge valve structure, and the valve structure does not interfere with the insertion of the print cartridge into existing carriages.

Abstract: A variable height reservoir system that allows for reliable ink replenishment to an on-carriage pen reservoir from an off-carriage ink reservoir on an as needed basis. The off-carriage reservoirs are mounted on a platform that is actively moved up and down in a vertical motion. A pen cartridge with an internal spring to provide vacuum pressure is intermittently connected to an off-carriage reservoir, by movement of the pen carriage to a refill station for ink replenishment. In the refill station, a valve is engaged into the pen, thus connecting the ink reservoir to the pen cartridge. Using only the vacuum pressure present in the pen cartridge, ink is pulled into the pen from the reservoir. The ink replenishment occurs in a first stage with the reservoir placed very close to the pen cartridge elevation, with only a small offset between the top of the ink reservoir and the pen nozzles.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which has a first fill port, for initially filling the print cartridge with ink, and a refill port for recharging the print cartridge. The refill port includes a slideable valve which is engageable with a valve on an external ink reservoir to create an airtight fluid communication path between the print cartridge reservoir and the external ink reservoir.

Abstract: A print cartridge is described which has an ink recharge port and valve structure to enable the print cartridge reservoir to be recharged with ink. A slideable, generally cylindrical ink valve extends through the print cartridge body and into the ink bag. The valve has a male connector portion at its end external to the print cartridge body. The valve is open when pushed into the print cartridge body and closed when pulled away from the print cartridge body. An ink refill system containing a supply of ink has a slideable valve with a female connector portion which is engageable with the male connector portion of the print cartridge valve. To recharge the print cartridge ink reservoir, the end of the print cartridge valve is inserted into the end of the ink refill system valve to create both a mechanical coupling and a fluid tight coupling between the two valves. A further force pushing the print cartridge against the ink refill system causes both valves to be pushed inside their respective ink reservoirs.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system provides an on/off valve adapted for periodic engagement with an inlet port on a print cartridge mounted in a carriage. The valve is connected to an ink supply which is located off the carriage. As the ink reservoir in the print cartridge is slowly depleted during operation of the printing system, a mechanism periodically moves the valve from a first passive position separated from the print cartridge to a second active position engaged with the inlet port of the print cartridge in order to allow replenishment of the ink reservoir in the print cartridge without removing the print cartridge from the carriage.

Abstract: An inkjet cartridge is adapted to receive ink from an external ink supply reservoir. The inkjet cartridge includes an internal reservoir, printhead, housing, and fluid interface. The housing includes a first cylindrical port, a first connector and a second connector. The fluid interface provides fluid communication between the port and reservoir. An adapter secures a tube/needle valve from the supply reservoir to the port. The adapter includes a first member, a first protrusion and a second protrusion integrally formed as one structure. The first member defines an opening within which the needle valve is positioned. The first protrusion and second protrusion extend from the first member adjacent to the opening. The first protrusion engages the housing's first connector and the second protrusion engages the housing's second connector to attach the adapter to the housing. The valve mates to the port and a valve needle mates to the fluid interface.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which allows recharging of the ink supply in the print cartridge without removing the print cartridge from the printer. In a preferred embodiment, the ink reservoir in the print cartridge consists of a spring-loaded collapsible ink bag, where the spring urges the sides of the ink bag apart and thus maintains a negative pressure within the ink bag relative to ambient pressure. The ink bag is initially filled through a first fill port in the print cartridge. The first fill port is then sealed with a stopper. The print cartridge is installed in a slideable carriage in an inkjet printer. As the ink is depleted during use of the print cartridge, the ink bag progressively collapses and overcomes the spring force. A slideable, generally cylindrical ink valve extends through the print cartridge body and into the ink bag. The valve is open when pushed into the print cartridge body and closed when pulled away from the print cartridge body.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which has a first fill port, for initially filling the print cartridge with ink, and a refill port for recharging the print cartridge. The refill port includes a slideable valve which is engageable with a valve on an external ink reservoir to create an airtight fluid communication path between the print cartridge reservoir and the external ink reservoir.

Abstract: An ink refill system is described for engaging a print cartridge's refill valve and transferring ink to the ink reservoir. The ink refill system has a slideable valve with a female connector portion which is engageable with a male connector portion of a print cartridge valve. To recharge the print cartridge ink reservoir, the end of the print cartridge valve is inserted into the end of the ink refill system valve to create both a mechanical coupling and a fluid tight coupling between the two valves. A further force pushing the print cartridge against the ink refill system causes both valves to be pushed inside their respective ink reservoirs. This further insertion causes both valves to become open, thus creating an airtight fluid path between the ink refill system reservoir and the depleted print cartridge reservoir. The negative pressure within the print cartridge ink bag draws the ink from the ink refill system reservoir into the ink bag until the ink bag is substantially full.

Abstract: A print cartridge is described which has an ink recharge port and valve structure to enable the print cartridge reservoir to be recharged with ink. A slideable, generally cylindrical ink valve extends through the print cartridge body and into the ink bag. The valve has a male connector portion at its end external to the print cartridge body. The valve is open when pushed into the print cartridge body and closed when pulled away from the print cartridge body. An ink refill system containing a supply of ink has a slideable valve with a female connector portion which is engageable with the male connector portion of the print cartridge valve. To recharge the print cartridge ink reservoir, the end of the print cartridge valve is inserted into the end of the ink refill system valve to create both a mechanical coupling and a fluid tight coupling between the two valves. A further force pushing the print cartridge against the ink refill system causes both valves to be pushed inside their respective ink reservoirs.

Abstract: A closed ink replenishment system for replenishing the supply of ink in negative pressure spring-bag reservoirs in a printer/plotter. A tube runs between each cartridge reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir mounted to the printer/plotter frame to form the closed ink system. As ink is depleted from the spring-bag reservoir during printing operation, the negative pressure in the cartridge increases, drawing ink through the tube from the auxiliary reservoir into the cartridge until the negative pressure decreases to an equilibrium point. As a result, the volume of ink within the spring-bag reservoir remains substantially constant so long as there is ink remaining within the auxiliary reservoir. This maintains the print quality. The auxiliary reservoir is a flat bag mounted on a spring-biased platform, which acts as a height regulating system. As ink is depleted from the auxiliary bag, the height of the platform and bag increases to maintain a constant pressure and elevation head at the spring-bag reservoir.

Abstract: An inkjet print cartridge is described which incorporates an ink recharge port and recharge valve as part of the handle for the print cartridge. The handle is located to be easily accessible when the print cartridge is installed in a carriage within a printer. The handle provides protection for the recharge valve structure, and the valve structure does not interfere with the insertion of the print cartridge into existing carriages.