Abstract: A large variety of ink delivery systems for an existing ink-jet printing system are provided. The ink delivery systems include ink reservoirs of varying configuration and size which are capable of accommodating a variety of ink use rates. Each ink delivery system also has an electrical connector and an information storage device which are suitable for the various ink use rates. The information storage device may be a memory device circuit that provides enabling information to the printing system.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate to a print cartridge that can be configured to receive ink from one of at least two possible ink paths depending upon a desired printer configuration. In one exemplary embodiment, the print cartridge has a body configurable to receive ink from at least two different ink supply configurations, and a fluid interface that when coupled with the body effectively selects one of the ink supply configurations.

Abstract: The present invention is a replaceable ink container for providing ink to an off-axis printing system. The printing system responsive to electrical signals from the replaceable ink container for controlling printer parameters. The ink container has a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a direction of insertion of the ink container into the printing system. The replaceable ink container includes a fluid outlet disposed toward the leading edge. The fluid outlet is configured for fluid connection to a hollow needle associated with the printing system. The hollow needle extends in a direction opposite the insertion direction. Included in the ink container is a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the ink container. The plurality of electrical contacts are configured for engagement with complementary electrical contacts associated with the printing system. Also included in the ink container is a guide member extending from the ink container along the insertion direction.

Abstract: An ink container for an off-carriage printing system including an ink supply station. The ink container contains a collapsible reservoir filled with ink that is in fluidically connectable to a conduit that leads to a pressure regulator. The outlet of the regulator delivers ink to a printhead. A pressure vessel surrounds the reservoir. The system pressurizes the pressure vessel, which results in pressurized ink being delivered to the regulator. The ink container has a sensor that infers the actual volume of ink in the reservoir by sensing the relative position of the reservoir walls. This sensor is mounted between the pressure vessel and the collapsible reservoir. The sensor is electrically connected to pads that are accessible from the outside of the ink container. Leads route from the pads, through a seal zone, and to the sensor. The seal is provided by a compressed o-ring.

Abstract: Techniques for air management in an inkjet printing systems. A method includes providing an ink supply for holding a supply of liquid ink, the ink supply including high barriers to air diffusion, filling the ink supply with a quantity of liquid unsaturated ink, storing the filled ink supply for a storage time interval or until needed, installing the ink supply in an inkjet printing system including an inkjet printhead, supplying unsaturated ink from the ink supply to the inkjet printhead for printing, and allowing the unsaturated ink to absorb air introduced into the printing system, and ejecting droplets of the liquid ink from the printing system during the printing.

Abstract: An ink supply for an inkjet printing system, the ink supply having one or more areas of relatively high air diffusion through one or more structures comprising the ink supply. One or more air diffusion barrier structures shield the one or more areas of relatively high air diffusion from air diffusion, and a quantity of liquid unsaturated ink is disposed in the ink supply.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate ink supply located within the printer. A fluid interconnect on one side of the print cartridge connects to a fluid interconnect on the carriage when the print cartridge is inserted into the carriage to complete the fluid connection between the external ink supply and the print cartridge. In one embodiment, the fluid interconnection is made between the print cartridge and the ink tube simply by placing the print cartridge into a stall in the scanning carriage. The print cartridge has contact pads on another side. The contact pads electrically contact electrodes on the carriage when the print cartridge is placed in the stall.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate ink supply located within the printer. A fluid interconnect on one side of the print cartridge connects to a fluid interconnect on the carriage when the print cartridge is inserted into the carriage to complete the fluid connection between the external ink supply and the print cartridge. In one embodiment, the fluid interconnection is made between the print cartridge and the ink tube simply by placing the print cartridge into a stall in the scanning carriage. The print cartridge has contact pads on another side. The contact pads electrically contact electrodes on the carriage when the print cartridge is placed in the stall.

Abstract: An ink container for holding a supply of liquid ink for use in an inkjet printing system. The container includes a collapsible ink reservoir for holding a supply of liquid ink, and a multiple functioned chassis. The chassis rigidly supports an air inlet for receiving pressurized air from the printing system and an ink outlet for delivering pressurized ink to the system. The chassis supports a collapsible ink container by providing an attach surface over which the collapsible container is attached. The attach surface allows a relatively simple pleated bag construction to be used by providing a surface whose normal is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The chassis is adapted to engage with a pressure vessel opening, providing a seal that separates the pressure vessel from an outside atmosphere.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system includes a semipermanent printhead having a fluid input for receiving ink and an ejection portion for depositing ink in response to control signals. The printing system also includes a replaceable ink supply configured for providing ink to the printhead that stores an ink volume. The printhead is capable of lasting throughout the life of a plurality of the ink volumes. The printing system includes a fluid accumulator portion in fluid communication with the printhead and the replaceable ink supply. The fluid accumulator is adapted to accommodate the air introduced into the printhead during the usage of the ink supplies without purging air from the printhead. An ink delivery apparatus is described that fluidically couples to the fluid input and provides ink to the printhead. This ink delivery apparatus is adapted to control air introduction to the printhead such that the accumulator portion can accommodate all air introduced during the life the printhead.

Abstract: A replaceable reservoir cartridge is provided for use in an inkjet apparatus, wherein a reservoir cartridge with a first ink has been installed and which is to be replaced by a reservoir cartridge including a second ink. The replaceable reservoir cartridge includes a supply of fluid for flushing the first ink from the pathways in the inkjet apparatus. A memory is carried by the replaceable reservoir cartridge and couples to a processor within the inkjet apparatus when the replaceable reservoir cartridge is installed. The memory includes parameters, which, upon being accessed and utilized by a procedure stored in the processor, causes a printing of a plurality of disposable media sheets to enable a flushing of the first ink from pathways in the inkjet apparatus. The replaceable reservoir cartridge may be incorporated into a kit which further includes a storage media (i.e., a diskette) with a procedure for controlling the inkjet apparatus to enable operation of the flushing action.

Abstract: A unitary latching device moves between an open position allowing individual inkjet print cartridges to be installed or replaced and a closed position securely positioning a plurality of print cartridges in a carriage during printing, replenishing and servicing modes.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ink supply container for containing ink. The ink supply container is configured for providing ink to an ink jet printing system. The ink container includes a first feature indicative of an ink family of a plurality of ink families associated with ink contained in the container. Also included is a second feature spaced from the first feature. The second feature is indicative of an ink color of a plurality of ink colors associated with ink in the container.

Abstract: A large variety of ink delivery systems for an existing inkjet printing system are provided. The ink delivery systems include ink reservoirs of varying configuration and size which are capable of accommodating a variety of ink use rates. Each ink delivery system also has an electrical connector and an information storage device which are suitable for the various ink use rates. The information storage device may be a memory device circuit that provides enabling information to the printing system.

Abstract: Alternative methods for refurbishing a single-use ink delivery container for a printing system are described. The refurbishing methods include electrical and mechanical reconfiguration or replacement of original elements on the ink delivery container. Each method utilizes an existing ink fluid outlet, electrical connector and an information storage device on the ink delivery container.

Abstract: An ink container for holding a supply of liquid ink for use in an inkjet printing system. The container includes a collapsible ink reservoir for holding a supply of liquid ink, and a multiple functioned chassis. The chassis rigidly supports an air inlet for receiving pressurized air from the printing system and an ink outlet for delivering pressurized ink to the system. The chassis supports a collapsible ink container by providing an attach surface over which the collapsible container is attached. The attach surface allows a relatively simple pleated bag construction to be used by providing a surface whose normal is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The chassis is adapted to engage with a pressure vessel opening, providing a seal that separates the pressure vessel from an outside atmosphere.

Abstract: A large variety of ink delivery systems for an existing ink-Jet printing system are provided. The ink delivery systems include ink reservoirs of varying configuration and size which are capable of accommodating a variety of ink use rates. Each ink delivery system also has an electrical connector and an information storage device which are suitable for the various ink use rates. The information storage device may be a memory device circuit that provides enabling information to the printing system.

Abstract: Alternative methods for refurbishing a single-use ink delivery container for a printing system are described. The refurbishing methods include electrical and mechanical reconfiguration or replacement of original elements on the ink delivery container. Each method utilizes an existing ink fluid outlet, electrical connector and an information storage device on the ink delivery container.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a replaceable ink supply cartridge for providing a pressurized supply of ink to an ink-jet printhead of an ink-jet printer. The replaceable ink supply cartridge includes an activation portion for receiving a linear actuator associated with the ink-jet printer. The linear actuator has an activated state and an inactivated state. In the activated state the linear actuator is biased toward an extended position into engagement with the activation portion. In the inactivated state the linear actuator is in a retracted position. The ink supply cartridge portion provides a source of pressurized ink in response to the activated state of the linear actuator. Wherein in response to the inactivated state of the linear actuator the source of pressurized ink is non-pressurized.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an inkjet printer includes a replaceable print cartridge which is inserted into a scanning carriage. The print cartridge contains a regulator valve. An ink tube extends from the scanning carriage to a separate, disposable ink supply cartridge located within the printer. A second valve connected between the ink tube and the ink supply cartridge is automatically actuated when it is determined that the printer is not being used. The valve seal is more reliable than the inexpensive one-way valve seal in the disposable ink supply cartridge. The reliable valve seal prevents any air bubbles in the tube from expanding toward the ink supply cartridge, enabling the use of more flexible tubes which have less stringent air diffusion characteristics. In another embodiment, instead of a valve, a pressure source is connected to the ink tube to maintain the partial air pressure within the tube at approximately ambient pressure.