Device for storing and simultaneously refilling with different color inks a cartridge of a color printhead

Abstract

A container in which is arranged a housing borne by an upper wall of the container suitable for storing a color cartridge to be refilled. The container has at least three tanks containing the different color inks. The three tanks are substantially shaped as concentrical cylinders. More particularly, the outer tank completely encompasses the intermediate tank and both are arranged concentrically around the central tank. In the operating position, i.e. with the container in the vertical position, the ink is contained in the bottom part of each of the tanks in corresponding feeding compartments. Each of the tanks extends upwardly, i.e. in the direction of the upper wall, forming corresponding back-flow compartments concentrical and disposed ring-like about the housing, each of which communicates freely with the corresponding feeding compartment below. The cartridge is fed by three capillary elements of a spongy material inserted in corresponding cylindrical pipes arranged vertically inside the container and attached at the top to the bottom wall of the housing. By inclining the container laterally, or turning it upside down, the inks flow into the back-flow compartments and no longer wet the capillary elements so that the transfer of ink through these stops.