Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-packard Company

David C Johnson

Scott D Sturgeon

Charles R Steinmetz

Jeffrey T Hendricks

Lisa M Hanson

Jeffrey K Pew

Curt G Gonzales

Daniel W Petersen

Dale A King

Dion C Davidson

Susan T Schnapp

Katherine Ann Dunphy

A separable key element operably secured to a printer component base for receiving a key from a printer component to be received therein. The key indicates a required characteristic of the printer component thereby allowing only compatible printer components to be installed onto the printer component base. The key element can matingly engage the printer component base in a unique configuration such that only compatible key elements can be secured to the printer component base. Moreover, the key element can include a display surface for visually identifying the required characteristic of the printer component. In a preferred embodiment, the printer component is a detachable ink reservoir and the printer component base is secured to the carriage of an inkjet printer, thereby providing an on-axis ink reservoir.

Separable key for establishing detachable printer component compatibility with a printer

An on-axis ink reservoir that is pivotally secured to the carriage of an inkjet printer thereby defining an engaged position, in which the ink reservoir is in fluid communication with a printhead secured to the carriage, and an open position, in which the ink reservoir pivots away from the printhead to allow easy access to the printhead without the need to remove the ink reservoir from the carriage. Preferably, the ink reservoir is detachably secured to an ink-reservoir mounting portion, the printhead is detachably secured to a printhead mounting-portion, and these two mounting portions are pivotally secured together. More preferably, the ink-reservoir mounting portion includes a plurality of ink reservoirs, and the printhead mounting-portion includes a plurality of printheads. A latching mechanism is provided to operably secure the two mounting portions together in the engaged position.

Pivoting on-axis ink reservoir for inkjet printer

The present invention disclosure relates to a replaceable ink container for providing ink to an inkjet printing system. The inkjet printing system has a receiving station mounted to a scanning carriage. The receiving station has a fluid inlet and a pair of guide rails extending along either side of the fluid inlet. The replaceable ink container includes a fluid outlet configured for connection to the fluid inlet associated with the receiving station. Also included is a pair of outwardly extending guide rail engagement features. Each of the pair of guide rail engagement features are so disposed and arranged on the replaceable ink container for engagement with each of the pair of guide rails to guide the replaceable ink container in both horizontal and vertical directions into the receiving station. The pair of outwardly extending guide rail engagement features and the pair of guide rails cooperate to align the fluid outlet with the fluid inlet to establish fluid communication between the ink container and the receiving station.

Replaceable ink container for an inkjet printing system

A partial mounting portion cover that extends above and partially over the front portion of a chamber for operably receiving a detachable printer component therein. The cover includes a substantially planar top surface positioned over the toe-end of the detachable printer component when the printer component is fully installed on the mounting portion, such that the cover extends over the printer component only by an amount that precludes the cover from interfering with a toe-heel installation process. Accordingly, so long as the installer mounts the toe-end of the detachable printer component first, the mounting portion cover does not interfere with the installation. However, if an installer attempts to install the printer component in another manner, the cover blocks the toe-end of the printer component from entering the chamber, thereby alerting the installer of the improper installation method. In a preferred embodiment, the cover is pivotally secured to the mounting portion, biased to a neutral position, and has a visually distinguishable color from the mounting portion.

Device for ensuring proper toe-heel installation of a detachable printer component

The present disclosure relates to a replaceable ink container for providing ink to an inkjet printing system. The inkjet printing system has a receiving station for receiving the replaceable ink container. The replaceable ink container includes a handle extending from a trailing end of the ink container for grasping the ink container for insertion into the receiving station. Also included is a latch for securing the replaceable ink container to the receiving station. The latch has an extended position for engaging the receiving station for securing the ink container to the receiving station and a retracted position. The latch is so disposed and arranged on the ink container to be urged from the extended position to the retracted position as the handle is grasped.

Latch and handle arrangement for a replaceable ink container

An electrical connector is positioned in a biased manner relative to a receptacle upon mating. The mated electrical connector is positioned along a first positioning axis of the receptacle in predetermined electrical contact with a target circuit. The connector includes a housing that mates with the receptacle along a mating axis and is placed at a predetermined position along an orthogonal first positioning axis. The housing also defines a first-positioning-axis datum which engages the receptacle. Furthermore, the connector includes an electrically conductive contact structure mounted on the housing, and a biasing mechanism operatively coupled with the housing. The biasing mechanism acts to maintain the first-positioning-axis datum in abutment with the receptacle upon mating of the housing with the receptacle.

Electrical connector with baised positioning

An electrical connector configured for minimized contact with a non-target structure of a target circuit, and a printing mechanism that uses the electrical connector for conductive connection between circuit portions of the printing mechanism. The connector includes a housing for positioning the connector in conductive contact with the target circuit. An electrically conductive contact filament is mounted on the housing and includes a proximal portion extending from the housing and a contact portion for electrically contacting the target circuit. An intermediate portion is formed to circumnavigate the non-target structure and joins the proximal and distal portions.

Electrical connector with minimized non-target contact

A replaceable ink container for providing ink to an inkjet printing system. The inkjet printing system has a receiving station that is mounted to a scanning carriage. The receiving station has a keyed portion being indicative of a replaceable ink container parameter of a plurality of replaceable ink container parameters. The replaceable ink container includes a reservoir portion having a leading end and a trailing end relative to an insertion direction into the receiving station. Also included is a keying portion disposed on the trailing end and configured to be complementary to the keyed portion thereby allowing the replaceable ink container to be fully inserted into the receiving station.

A replaceable ink container for providing ink to an inkjet printing system. The replaceable ink container includes engagement features disposed on a leading edge and configured for engagement with corresponding engagement features associated with the inkjet printing system. The engagement features define a pivot axis about which the replaceable ink container pivots during an insertion into the inkjet printing system. Also included with the replaceable ink container is a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the leading edge relative to an insertion direction. The plurality of electrical contacts are disposed on the replaceable ink container below the pivot axis so that pivoting the replaceable ink container about the pivot axis during the insertion causes the plurality of electrical contacts on the ink container to move toward corresponding electrical contacts associated with the printing system to establish an electrical interconnection therebetween.

Ink container configured to establish reliable electrical connection with a receiving station

An ink-jet writing system having a pen and a detachable ink reservoir. The pen includes a dual capillarity ink accumulator wherein a balance is provided such that the pen nozzles will neither drool ink nor suck up air when the pen is decoupled from the reservoir. A high capillarity member and a low capillarity member of the accumulator respond to changes in volume of a gas bubble within the pen to absorb or expel ink when operational and ambient atmospheric pressure changes occur.

Dual capillarity ink accumulator for ink-jet

An ink jet printer with a body defining a paper path and a carriage operable to reciprocate across the paper path. An ink supply receptacle on the body is spaced apart from the carriage, and an ink conduit extends between the ink supply receptacle and the carriage. A suction apparatus on the carriage has an expandable chamber with an inlet connected to the conduit, and moves between a collapsed position and an expanded position, such that ink may be drawn from an ink supply connected to the receptacle to displace at least some of the air from the tube. The chamber may be spring biased to the expanded position, and constrained to the collapsed position during shipping, so that removal of the constraint after installation of ink supplies will draw ink into the conduit to displace air. The suction apparatus may also be installed in a position on the carriage later to be occupied by the print head.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

David C Johnson