The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 23, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 04, 2010
Tong-nam-samuel Low, Singapore, SG;
Yu Zhao, Singapore, SG;
Poovendhran S/o Kannayah, Singapore, SG;
Ling Hwee Vincent Ong, Singapore, SG;
Tong-Nam-Samuel Low, Singapore, SG;
Yu Zhao, Singapore, SG;
Poovendhran S/O Kannayah, Singapore, SG;
Ling Hwee Vincent Ong, Singapore, SG;
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A vending machine capable of refilling used ink cartridges as well as dispensing filled ink cartridges is closed. The vending machine includes at least one cartridge receptacle for receiving an ink cartridge, a user interface, a display unit, a nozzle health check module, a printhead servicing module, an ink reservoir, an ink refilling unit, a compartment containing new ink cartridges, a compartment containing filled, second-hand ink cartridges, and a recycle compartment for receiving discarded ink cartridges. The user is presented by the display unit with the option of (a) refilling a used cartridge, (b) purchasing a filled cartridge, or (c) returning a used cartridge in exchange for a purchase rebate or a discount voucher. When the user selects the option of refilling, the vending machine executes a refilling subroutine which includes checking the nozzle health.