Ink replenishing system and method for ink-jet printers

Abstract

A system and method is described for replenishing the ink in ink reservoirs of the printhead cartridges on ink-jet printers. The ink-jet printer includes a replenishing station to which the pen carriage can be moved whenever ink in one of the cartridge ink reservoirs becomes exhausted or nears exhaustion. At the replenishing station, a plurality of container holders serve to receive and hold one or more ink supply containers, which are sealed packages or cans containing an appropriate quantity of ink for refilling the ink reservoir without overfill. A container of the correct ink color is positioned in the appropriate holder where it rests on a hydraulic coupling device which is urged upwardly to a decoupled position by a spring. Downward pressure exerted on the container, preferably by the user closing the replenishing station cover, forces the container downwardly onto a cutting blade or other perforating device which breaks the seal on the container. Further downward pressure presses the coupling device onto the printhead cartridge completing a hydraulic connection from the interior of the container through the coupling to the cartridge. The downward pressure on the container causes ink to flow under pressure from the cartridge container through the coupling to the refill port and into the cartridge. The ink container is designed to crush almost to zero volume, so that all the ink flows into the cartridge. Once refilling is completed, the cover is raised, decoupling the hydraulic connection and allowing the user to remove the crushed container. The system eliminates the need to remove the cartridge from the printer for refilling and also eliminates all contact with the ink.