Abstract: An ink container shell for an ink jet cartridge has spaced apart side walls, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom wall, and is provided with a partition structure which divides the interior thereof into three ink chambers, at least one of which has a non-rectangular profile in cross-section transverse to said side, front and rear walls. The partition structures enable varying the volumes of the ink chambers with respect to a given shell exterior profile and enable isolating two the chambers from one another by interposing the third chamber therebetween.

Abstract: An ink container opener has first and second portions approximately perpendicular to each other to form an L-shaped opener. The first portion has an opening having a plurality of ridges extending along opposite sides of the opening. An ink container is received within the opening and force is applied to the ink container to remove a cap from a body of the ink container.

Abstract: An interlock arrangement for selectively removably mounting an ink cassette in the chute of a printer carriage comprises an ink cassette including a notch or recess and an interlock clip selectively connectable to a side of a printer carriage chute and cooperates with the notch member to provide an interlock which allows insertion of the ink cassette into the chute and prevents insertion of an ink cassette that does not have a notch or recess.

Abstract: An ink tank cartridge includes a housing having a chamber in which ink is stored. A screen is secured to a surface of the housing through which an outlet passage communicates with the chamber. The screen is fused to the first surface by melting a continuous portion or bead around the outlet passage with a heated ram, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, etc. A vacuum can be applied through the outlet port to assist in locating and removing wrinkles from the screen. A recess can also be provided in the first surface of the housing to locate the screen and allow the ink absorbing member, filled with ink, to form a liquid-tight seal with the remainder of the first surface about the recess.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge has a take-up spool (130) with an opening having a plurality of drive surfaces (200) and slip surfaces (202). The take up spool is preferably of a one-piece construction. A first spindle with a cantilever member (196) and a tab (198) extending therefrom is mounted on the take-up spool. When the drive surface engages a tab of the spindle, rotation of the spindle rotates the take-up spool. When one of the slip surfaces engages the tab of the spindle, the spindle rotates relative to the take-up spool.

Abstract: An ink tank cartridge includes a housing having a chamber defined by a set of side walls, a lid, and a first surface. An outlet port is formed in the first surface for communicating ink from the chamber. An ink receiving member for holding the ink is received in the chamber and is held in compression between the side walls. A substantial portion of the surface of the ink receiving member is compressed, preferably more than ?of the total surface. The ink receiving member is held uncompressed between the lid and the first surface. A method of assembling an ink cartridge includes providing a housing and a porous ink storage element. The ink storage element is compressed by a set of side walls defining a chamber formed in the housing. The ink storage element is compressed within a range of about 0.5%-50%.

Abstract: A method of filling ink into a dual chamber ink-jet cartridge for use with an ink-jet printer includes applying a vacuum to the cartridge through a fill hole of the cartridge to substantially eliminate air within an ink absorbing member of the cartridge. The fill hole is sealed and then ink is pressure filled into the cartridge through the fill hole. A vacuum is again applied to the cartridge to substantially eliminate any residual air in the cartridge due to the pressure filling of the ink. The fill hole may be positioned over a free ink chamber or over the ink absorbing member of the cartridge. The vacuum includes applying a negative pressure of about 27.5 in/Hg. The negative pressure is applied at a cycle rate of 5-30 seconds.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink-jet ink composition suitable for use in secondary transfer processes wherein the ink-jet ink composition contains a pre-dispersion containing at least a sublimation colorant combined with an ink-jet ink containing at least a non-sublimable colorant. Upon printing, a monochrome intermediate transfer substrate is created. From this monochrome substrate, a multi-color image can be transferred to a permanent substrate with the application of heat and pressure. The monochrome intermediate transfer image is created by the non-sublimable colorant upon printing. The multi-color permanent image is generated as elevated temperatures and pressure of the transfer process cause the sublimation colorant to sublime and bond to the permanent substrate.

Abstract: An aperture provided in a bottom wall of an ink cartridge is designed to break the surface tension of the ink as the ink proceeds toward an outlet port. For example, serrated edges, tapering conformations, cruciform dividing walls, different diameter regions in the outlet passage, etc. are all designed to prevent the formation of large bubbles or preclude the migration of air bubbles to the region of the outlet passage where the print needle of an associated printer extends.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aqueous ink-jet ink composition for MICR applications is provided comprising preparing a metal oxide pre-dispersion combined with an aqueous ink-jet ink composition, wherein the metal oxide pre-dispersion contains metal oxide pigment or particles of a very small particle size, about 0.5&mgr; or less, and exhibiting high remanence of at least 20 emu/g. The metal oxide particles may be coated with a hydrophilic coating, and the pre-dispersion may contain at least one surfactant to aid in the dispersion of the metal oxide particles. Special processing involving the use of conventional and non-conventional grinding techniques and various filtration techniques enhance the compatibility of the MICR ink-jet ink with the ink-jet equipment, resulting in superior ink life and print quality.

Abstract: A toner cartridge has a base and a slide slidably received in a slot of the base with at least one opening therein. A rotatable knob is inserted into the slide opening, wherein knob rotation results in a portion of the knob contacting a slide opening, thus moving the slide with respect to the base to one of a fully opened and fully closed position. The knob can include an eccentric cam which engages the slide opening to cause slide movement. The knob can have an axle which engages an opening in the base. The knob also can have a plurality of teeth on an outer edge thereof. The slide opening can have teeth which engage the teeth of the knob to move the slide with respect to the base.

Abstract: An ink cartridge having a one-piece housing including a plurality of walls to form a chamber for receiving ink. The housing is formed of a blow-molded plastic material. An outlet passage extends from a bottom wall communicating with the chamber. A seal and cap assembly are secured to the outlet passage. A vent opening is provided in a top wall. The vent includes a porous member and a cap to secure the porous member within the vent. The housing is fully filled with ink. The housing allows for the use of pigmented ink since no reservoir is provided.

Abstract: An aqueous ink-jet ink composition for MICR applications is provided comprising a metal oxide pre-dispersion combined with an aqueous ink-jet ink composition, wherein the metal oxide pre-dispersion contains metal oxide pigment or particles of a very small particle size, at least one surfactant to aid in the aid in the dispersion of the metal oxide particles. Particularly, the surfactant component is a combination of an anionic surfactant and an anionic-nonionic surfactant, or may be a combination of other types of surfactants.

Abstract: An ink tank cartridge for an ink-jet type recording apparatus includes a housing with a plurality of walls forming a cavity and a bottom wall. A removable divider wall or spacer is inserted into the cavity which divides the cavity into first and second chambers. The spacer includes a wall section and a pair of legs extending from the wall which are spaced apart and are parallel to each other. The spacer is substantially U-shaped where the U-shape is formed by the legs and the wall section. A porous member is inserted into one of the chambers and resiliently abuts an opening of the supply port. The other chamber is at least partially filled with ink. The spacer has an opening to allow the ink to pass from the ink chamber to the foam chamber. The spacer is inserted into the chamber so that the opening is adjacent the bottom wall of the housing.

Abstract: An aqueous ink-jet ink composition for MICR applications is provided comprising a metal oxide pre-dispersion combined with an aqueous ink-jet ink composition, wherein the metal oxide pre-dispersion contains metal oxide pigment or particles of a very small particle size, about 0.5&mgr; or less, and exhibiting high remanence of at least 20 emu/g. The metal oxide particles may be coated with a hydrophilic coating, and the pre-dispersion may contain at least one surfactant to aid in the dispersion of the metal oxide particles. Also provided are various processing techniques to enhance the MICR ink performance, including conventional and non-conventional grinding techniques and various filtration techniques.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a housing, an ink ribbon (120), spools (50, 60) for holding the ribbon, and spindles (70, 72, 90, 92) received within openings of the spools. The housing has semi-cylindrical sections (10, 12) which receive the spools. The housing further includes c-shaped sideplates (24, 26, 34, 36) with openings for each spindle. The c-shaped sideplates selectively expand to receive the spindles and retain the spindles in position.

Abstract: An air-impermeable, nonporous seal member is disposed in the outlet passage of an ink cartridge. A housing in the cartridge has a chamber that stores ink therein and communicates with the outlet passage. The seal member is preferably formed of one of a rubber, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic rubber, or silicone rubber. The seal member frictionally engages an inner wall of the outlet passage and has a thin membrane that is selectively pierced by an associated needle of the printer.

Abstract: An aqueous ink-jet ink composition for MICR applications is provided comprising a metal oxide pre-dispersion combined with an aqueous ink-jet ink composition, wherein the metal oxide pre-dispersion contains metal oxide pigment or particles of a very small particle size, about 0.5&mgr; or less, and exhibiting high remanence of at least 20 emu/g. The metal oxide particles may be coated with a hydrophilic coating, and the pre-dispersion may contain at least one surfactant to aid in the dispersion of the metal oxide particles.