Abstract: A method and apparatus for priming a thermal ink jet pen is disclosed. Using an ink reservoir fabricated of a foam material, forced air pressure applied to the foam causes ink therein to flow through the foam and into the printhead. A holder for a rubber air bladder operates in conjunction with a pen cartridge holder whereby an air hole in the reservoir container is aligned with the bladder. Manually pushing the cartridge against a spring results in a squeezing of the bladder, causing air to exert a compression-like pressure directly on the foam reservior.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for interconnecting a flexible (flex) circuit, printed circuit or the like to an ink jet printhead or other similar electronic device. This approach includes providing a flexible lead frame member between the flex circuit and printhead, with the lead frame member having a plurality of conductive leads or fingers extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the final plane of interconnection. During the interconnection process, these leads or fingers are spring biased through this predetermined angle to provide good compressive electrical contact between the two members interconnected by the lead frame in a single plane of interconnection.