Abstract: Embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with gripping features are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fluid reservoir includes a first surface and a fluid-containing body located beneath the first surface. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first surface includes a protruding grip, and the fluid-containing body has a lever extending therefrom. According to an embodiment of the present invention, both the protruding grip and the lever are configured to receive a pinching force that compresses the lever towards the fluid-containing body, facilitates carrying of the fluid reservoir, and facilitates installing and/or releasing the fluid reservoir into/from a chassis of the printing device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pedestal that protrudes from a fluid reservoir device that retains fluid for a fluid-ejection printing device. A data storage device may be mounted on the pedestal such that when the fluid reservoir device is inserted into a supporting structure, the pedestal and data storage device mounted thereon protrude into or through an opening in a surface of the supporting structure. Consequently, a disconnectable connection to the data storage device may be made at a location other than the inside of the supporting structure. Accordingly, connection to the data storage device is simplified and the risk of damage or a reduction in performance to the data storage device or its electrical contacts from fluid leaks from the fluid reservoir device is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with gripping features are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fluid reservoir includes a first surface and a fluid-containing body located beneath the first surface. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first surface includes a protruding grip, and the fluid-containing body has a lever extending therefrom. According to an embodiment of the present invention, both the protruding grip and the lever are configured to receive a pinching force that compresses the lever towards the fluid-containing body, facilitates carrying of the fluid reservoir, and facilitates installing and/or releasing the fluid reservoir into/from a chassis of the printing device.

Abstract: An ink cartridge disclosed herein includes a reservoir configured to retain ink, a body retaining the reservoir, a port in the body, and a wick located in the port. The port is configured to release the ink from the reservoir. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the body includes a first opening, and the wick includes a second opening, such that the first opening and the second opening are communicatively connected to form a vent path or a portion of a vent path. Such a vent path mitigates the transient reduction in pressure caused by a removal of a shipping cap, thereby reducing the likelihood that ink spillage will occur during such removal.

Abstract: A sealing device is disclosed that includes a latching feature configured to facilitate latching of the sealing device to a fluid reservoir; a first region configured to seal or substantially seal a fluid-discharge port on the fluid reservoir from fluid loss when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir; and a second region configured to protect a circuit device on the fluid reservoir when the sealing device is latched to the fluid reservoir. Accordingly, the presently disclosed sealing device provides an effective solution to not only sealing the fluid-discharge ports on the fluid reservoir, but also protecting the circuit device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with alignment features and various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir chassis with alignment features are disclosed. According to some aspects of these embodiments, the alignment features are grouped together near an ultimate connection point between a fluid reservoir and a chassis to increase design freedom on other regions of the fluid reservoir/chassis. Other aspects of these embodiments include specially designed and located alignment features of a fluid reservoir that engage specially designed and located alignment features of a chassis in sequence throughout the process of inserting the fluid reservoir into the chassis in order to facilitate simple and effective engagement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pedestal that protrudes from a fluid reservoir device that retains fluid for a fluid-ejection printing device. A data storage device may be mounted on the pedestal such that when the fluid reservoir device is inserted into a supporting structure, the pedestal and data storage device mounted thereon protrude into or through an opening in a surface of the supporting structure. Consequently, a disconnectable connection to the data storage device may be made at a location other than the inside of the supporting structure. Accordingly, connection to the data storage device is simplified and the risk of damage or a reduction in performance to the data storage device or its electrical contacts from fluid leaks from the fluid reservoir device is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with gripping features are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fluid reservoir includes a first surface and a fluid-containing body located beneath the first surface. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first surface includes a protruding grip, and the fluid-containing body has a lever extending therefrom. According to an embodiment of the present invention, both the protruding grip and the lever are configured to receive a pinching force that compresses the lever towards the fluid-containing body, facilitates carrying of the fluid reservoir, and facilitates installing and/or releasing the fluid reservoir into/from a chassis of the printing device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with alignment features and various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir chassis with alignment features are disclosed. According to some aspects of these embodiments, the alignment features are grouped together near an ultimate connection point between a fluid reservoir and a chassis to increase design freedom on other regions of the fluid reservoir/chassis. Other aspects of these embodiments include specially designed and located alignment features of a fluid reservoir that engage specially designed and located alignment features of a chassis in sequence throughout the process of inserting the fluid reservoir into the chassis in order to facilitate simple and effective engagement.

Abstract: A method of filling an ink supply bag with a liquid ink comprises flowing the liquid ink from an orifice in a nozzle extending deep into the bag and at an initial delivery velocity that is low enough to substantially prevent bubbles from forming in the delivered liquid in the bag in order to prevent the liquid ink from foaming, and after the liquid level in the bag rises to immerse at least the orifice increasing the delivery velocity to speed up the fill rate for the bag.

Abstract: A cartridge comprises a pair of housing portions having an opening at a seam formed between the housing portions, a memory chip accessible via the opening to permit electrical contact to be made with the memory chip, and a protuberance projecting from one of the housing portions and welded to the other housing portion within a cavity of the other housing portion. Since a flash which is formed at the weld can spread towards the seam including in the vicinity of the opening, the protuberance and the cavity are mutually dimensioned to restrict the flash substantially to within the cavity. This prevents the flash from spreading into the seam and bulging outward at least in the vicinity of the opening, which could interfere with formation of the seam and making electrical contact with the memory chip.

Abstract: A method of filling an ink supply bag with a liquid ink, includes positioning the bag bottom end down and a top end up; flowing the liquid ink into the bag through an upper portion of the bag to fill the bag to a liquid level below the upper portion; squeezing the bag to raise the liquid level in the bag partway into the upper portion, and shaking the bag to cause any bubbles in the liquid ink in the bag to rise at least substantially to the liquid surface in the upper portion; and sealing the upper portion above and below the liquid level in the upper portion to trap a small quantity of liquid ink that includes the bubbles and a small quantity of air between the respective seals.

Abstract: An alternative ink/cleaner cartridge includes an egress snout from which an ink supply or a cleaner supply is discharged from the cartridge. The snout and a collar that mates with the snout are mutually configured to permit the collar to mate with the snout only when the collar is in any one of a number of allowable orientations, to provide an identification of an ink supply to be discharged from the cartridge. Alternatively, the snout mates with a cap in place of the collar to prevent a cleaner supply from being discharged from the cartridge.

Abstract: A method for filling and degassing a pouch contained in a cartridge. A fluid injection unit introduces fluid into a rotatable pouch. The pouch contained in the cartridge is permitted to rotate from a vertical position for degassing and weighing to a horizontal position for fluid introduction. After several rotational cycles, accurate pouch weighing and complete evacuation of the pouch results in a precise fluid loaded pouch.

Abstract: An apparatus precisely delivers a prescribed amount of fluid into a degassed pouch contained in a cartridge. The apparatus has a rotating cartridge holding member that alternately positions the cartridge in either a horizontal position for filling or a vertical position for degassing. A digital weighing element associated with the fixture enables the cartridge to be weighed during the filling process to ensure the delivery of a predetermined amount of fluid.

Abstract: A fitting is attached to a disposable ink supply bag and has an ink egress snout for discharging an ink supply from the bag. The fitting is configured to engage with a housing for the bag to permit the bag to be connected to the housing when the ink supply is to be discharged from the snout and to disengage from the housing to permit the bag to be disconnected from the housing in order to dispose of the bag when emptied.

Abstract: A method of filling an ink supply bag with a liquid ink, comprises: positioning the bag bottom end down and a top end up; flowing the liquid ink into the bag through an upper portion of the bag to fill the bag to a liquid level below the upper portion; squeezing the bag to raise the liquid level in the bag partway into the upper portion, and shaking the bag to cause any bubbles in the liquid ink in the bag to rise at least substantially to the liquid surface in the upper portion; and sealing the upper portion above and below the liquid level in the upper portion to trap a small quantity of liquid ink that includes the bubbles and a small quantity of air between the respective seals.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a housing with an integral pocket, an ink supply bag contained in the housing, and a memory chip supported in a wall opening of the pocket. The housing has an ink blocking shield arranged at a location between the bag and the memory chip to prevent any ink that might leak from the bag from entering the wall opening and contaminating the memory chip.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes an ink supply bag, a fitting attached to the bag and including an integral ink egress snout, and a pair of housing halves that contain the bag and at respective wall portions have opening halves that form a bottom opening for the snout when the housing halves are connected together. The fitting and only one of the wall portions each have mutually engageable members that engage to connect the fitting and the one wall portion to secure the bag within the housing half that includes the one wall portion. The housing half that includes another of the wall portions has stakes that are adhered to the engageable members of the fitting and/or the engageable members of the housing half that includes the one wall portion.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a flexible bag filled with a liquid ink, and a cartridge housing that holds the bag. The bag is filled to a predetermined percentage of its full volume to fill the bag to less than its capacity in order to prevent the bag from rupturing, but is filled sufficiently to substantially occupy the housing when folded. Preferably, the bag has a width that is greater than a width of the housing and has a length that is less than a length of the housing so that the bag need only be folded widthwise to fit in the housing.