Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Jeffrey W Jolie

Donald E Barker

Damian Bianchi

Jeffrey G Cartin

David M Wheeler

An intelligent fluid delivery system and method for controlling fluid delivery and monitoring parameters of fluid usage in a fluid jet printing system. The intelligent fluid delivery system (IFDS) includes the controls and electronic of the base station and fluid bottle. The replaceable base station, or nest, includes a micro-controller, independent of the main controller of the main printing system, for controlling fluid delivery and fluid management. The intelligent fluid delivery system provides a detection mechanism so that it can be ascertained with near certainty that an inserted fluid bottle is an appropriate fluid bottle having a fluid media that is compatible with the fluid jet printing system (e.g., within the specifications of the printing system and suitable for use with the other components of the ink jet printing system). The micro-controller of the intelligent fluid delivery system may be programmed to record and store information relating to the fluid bottle and the fluid media that may be useful when servicing the printing system. The intelligent fluid delivery system also improves the reliability of fluid delivery and fluid management, and hence, the overall performance of the fluid jet printing system by preventing/reducing the use of unknown or non-compatible fluid media. The intelligent fluid delivery system provides an improved fluid delivery system with controlled metering of fluid media, recording capability for the fluid delivery function(s), wireless communication of information between the base station and the fluid bottle, and can also provide communication of status and other information between the base station micro-controller and the main printing system (e.g., OEM provided) controller.

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Deep River, CT, United States of America

Jeffrey W Jolie