Hewlett-packard Company

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-packard Development, L.p.

Eric L Gasvoda

Susan M Hmelar

Norman E Pawlowski

Richard H Lewis

Rhonda Lynn Wilson

David O Merrill

Thomas J Krall

David C Kamp

Dennis W Houpt

Winthrop D Childers

Michael L Bullock

John A Barinaga

Jeffrey G Bingham

William E Fillmore

Xavier Gasso Puchal

Jared E Neff

Ovidiu Talpos

Carl D Beckett

Brian D Hemmerlin

Maaike Louise Evers

Peter G Hwang

Steven B Elgee

Bruce Cowger

Daniel R Dwyer

James E Clark

Howard G Wong

Antonio Monclus

Michael K Bowen

Michael J Allison

Donald R McClelland

Michael M Leon

Melissa S Gedraitis

James M Cameron

Mark R Hock

Mark D Zinser

James Kenneth Wallace

Antoni Monclus

Juan-Antonio Sabate Saumell

Norman E Pawlowski, Jr

Curtis N Torgerson

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.

Ink delivery system adapter

In a printer having an input tray, a media loader insert is provided, the media loader insert including an insert body which defines a reduced-size media receptacle, the insert body being sized to securely fit within the input tray; and a width adjuster adjacent the reduced-size media receptacle, the width adjuster being positioned centrally along a side edge of the reduced-size media receptacle to centrally engage a side edge of media within the reduced-size media receptacle, thereby reducing media skew.

Print media loader

An air pressurization system is incorporated as part of a replaceable auxiliary ink supply for an inkjet printer. The auxiliary ink-supply cartridge includes a pressurized container having air, ink and electrical-signal connections. The air pressure applied to the auxiliary ink supply is monitored to maintain it in a predetermined range in accordance with a start-up sequence, and operational sequence, a waiting time, and a close-down sequence.

Monitoring and controlling ink pressurization in a modular ink delivery system for an inkjet printer

A printer is provided with a media loader insert for removable insertion into an input tray of the printer. The media loader insert includes an insert body which defines a reduced-size media receptacle configured to receive small-size media for insertion into the printer input port. The insert body has a width corresponding to the width of letter-size paper, and thus is sized to fit securely within a conventional input tray. A width adjuster is provided adjacent the reduced-size media receptacle, the width adjuster being positioned centrally along a side edge of the reduced-size media receptacle to centrally engage a side edge of media within the reduced-size media receptacle, thereby reducing media skew.

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. The guide member is configured for engaging a tapered guide member receiving slot associated with the printing system. This engaging repositions the complementary electrical contacts relative to the hollow needle to ensure proper alignment of complementary electrical contacts with the plurality of electrical contacts during insertion of the ink container into the printing system.

Replaceable ink container adapted to form reliable fluid, air and electrical connection to a printing system

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.

Ink container providing pressurized ink with ink level sensor

Inkjet printer with fixed sheet feeder

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. The chassis provides a surface for outside electrical contacts along with locating means for a mating electrical connector, and provides pathways for them to be routed into the pressure vessel region. An efficient method of assembly of an ink container is described.

Ink container having a multiple function chassis

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.

The present disclosure relates to a sealing member for sealing an opening in a fluid container. The sealing member receives a hollow tubular member to establish communication between the hollow tubular member and the fluid container. The sealing member includes a resilient sealing portion configured to receive the hollow tubular member. With the hollow tubular member inserted through the resilient sealing portion a compressive seal is formed with an outer surface of the hollow tubular member to limit passage of fluid between the resilient sealing portion and the hollow tubular member. Also included is a lead-in portion on the resilient sealing portion. The lead-in portion guides the hollow tubular member through the resilient sealing portion to establish communication between the hollow tubular member and the fluid container.

Sealing member for a fluid container

An air pressurization system is incorporated as part of a replaceable auxiliary ink supply for an ink jet printer. The auxiliary ink supply cartridge includes a pressurized container having air, ink and electrical signal connections. The air pressure applied to the auxiliary ink supply is monitored to be maintained in a predetermined range in accordance with a start-up sequence, an operational sequence, a waiting time, and a close-down sequence.

A modular ink delivery system is incorporated in an inkjet printer to facilitate replacement of individual ink supply modules. A rigid interface component on the printer carries an electrical connector, an ink connector, and an air connector which match corresponding connectors on the ink supply module. A separate interface component for each ink supply module is spring-loaded on a printer frame in order to rest in either a forward parking position against a backplate or a rearward floating position that allows the interface component to move and rotate some distance in all directions to achieve proper alignment position when engaged by the ink supply module.

Ink supply station with floating interface components for independent coupling with manually replaceable ink modules

Fluid container

A replaceable ink container for providing ink to a printing device. The ink container having leading and trailing edges with respect to an insertion direction for the ink container into the printing device. The ink container includes a fluid outlet disposed on the leading edge and configured for connection to corresponding printing device fluid inlet. The ink container also includes an engagement feature disposed toward the trailing edge and extending outwardly from an ink container outer surface. The engagement feature is configured for insertion into a recessed engagement feature associated with the printing device. With the ink container properly positioned within the printing device and biased in a direction opposite the insertion direction, the engagement feature associated with the ink container engages the recessed engagement feature associated with the printing device. The engagement of the engagement features on each of the ink container and printer maintains the fluid outlet in engagement with the corresponding printing device fluid inlet.

Method and apparatus for securing an ink container

Growing community of inventors

Salem, OR, United States of America

Eric L Gasvoda