Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
209~tl~4
A method and a holder for refilling ink cartridges to be used in
ink jet devices and the like.
A method for refilling an ink cartridge to be used in ink jet
devices and the like, said ink cartridge near one end being provided with
one or more outlet openings for delivering ink during use of the ink
cartridge, and near an opposite end being provided with an opening for
introducing ink into the ink cartridge.
Such cartridges are used in large numbers in for example printing
devices of the so-called ink jet type, which are for example marketed by
Hewlett Packard under the type designation HP 51626A en HP 51608A. The ink
cartridge is thereby provided with one or more outlet openings near one
end, through which one or more ink jets are delivered during use. The users
of such ink cartridges aim at making it possible to refill the cartridge
with ink with a view to saving costs and reducing environmental pollution
(after all fewer empty ink cartridges are disposed of), so that several ink
loads can be processed with one and the same ink cartridge. It is desirable
thereby that such an ink cartridge can be stored for a shorter or longer
period before and after being refilled~ and that the ink cartridge may be
despatched in the holder~ which functions as a package, and that it is not
necessary to refill the empty cartridge directly and/or to use the
cartridge immediately after refilling. This is especially of importance to
large-scale users~ who generally aim at receiving the empty cartridges at a
central location, refilling the cartridges and returning the refilled
cartridges to the users~
In order to realise this a possibility must be created to seal
2 n ~
the aforesaid ink outlet opening(s) again, among other things in order to
prevent the ink in said openings from drying up and thus blocking up the
openings.
The object of the invention is to obtain a method wherein such
refilling can be realized in an effective manner.
According to the invention this can be achieved in that the ink
cartridge is placed on a bottom of a holder provided with a resilient
material with its end provided with outlet opening(s), thereby securing
said ink cartridge in the holder in such a manner, that the outlet
opening(s) is (are) sealed by said resilient material, after which ink can
be introduced into the holder through the filling hole.
When using the method according to the invention sealing of the
outlet opening(s) provided in the ink cartridge can be effected in a simple
manner. This makes it possible to store an empty ink cartridge in the
holder without any risk of undesirable blocking up of the outlet openings.
Furthermore the ink cartridge can be stored in the holder for a prolonged
period, and possibly be despatched therein without any problem, before
putting the ink cartridge into use again in a printing device or the like.
When using the method according to the invention it is also
readily possible to seal a vent hole which may be located near the outlet
opening(s)~ such as for example used in the Hewlett Packard ink cartridge
type HP 51626A, before refilling takes place, so as to prevent ink from
flowing out of said vent hole during refilling.
A particularly suitable holder for carrying out the method
according to the invention is according to a further aspect obtained when
the holder is provided with upright walls and with a bottom provided with a
resilient material, as well as with means for securing an ink cartridge in
the holder.
In this way an inexpensively produced holder can be realized.
which can be used several times for accommodating ink cartridges to be
refilled. and which may also function as a suitable storage means for
refilled ink cartridges.
The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with
reference the accompanying Figures.
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an ink cartridge
known per se.
209~
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a holder intended
for accommodating an ink cartridge.
Figure 3 diagrammatically shows a combination of a holder and an
ink cartridge fitted therein.
The ink cartridge 1 illustrated in Figure 1~ which is known per
se, comprises a housing 2 of at least substantially rectangular section,
which is near its bottom end provided with a protruding part 3 having a
smaller, but likewise at least substantially rectangular section. A nozzle
plate 4 having one or more outlet openings is provided in the bottom of
said part 3.
With some embodiments of such ink cartridges a vent hole 5 is
furthermore provided in the bottom part lying higher than the nozzle 4.
At its upper side the ink cartridge 1 is closed by a cover 6, in
whose upper wall an opening 7 is provided for refilling the cartridge, as
well as a vent hole 8 in some cases.
According to the invention a holder 9 as shown in Figure 2 is
used for refilling such a cartridge, said holder having an at least
substantially rectangular section, the dimensions being such that the ink
cartridge 1 can be fitted therein in the manner shown in Figure 3.
The bottom 10 of the holder is stepped in a similar manner as the
bottom end of the ink cartridge 2, and it is covered with a layer 11 of a
resilient material, for example synthetic foam. In order to be able to
place the holder in a stable position one end of the bottom 10, which is
located opposite the part of the holder intended for receiving the
protruding part 3 of the bottom end of the ink cartridge 2, is provided
with a projecting base portion 12, whose bottom end lies in the same plane
as the bottom part 10, which is located near the part of the holder 9
receiving the protruding part 3 of the ink cartridge 2.
As will furthermore be apparent from Figure 2, guide ribs 14 are
fitted to the bottom ends of the side walls 13, which extend upwards from
the bottom 10, forming the holder 9, said guide ribs ensuring that the
bottom end of the ink cartridge 1 is correctly located and secured in the
holder 9.
As is furthermore illustrated in Figure 2 holes 15 are provided
in two opposite side walls of the holder 9, near the upper end of the
holder 9.
2~94~
--4--
When the ink cartridge 1 is placed in the holder for refilling,
the bottom end of the ink cartridge 1 can be pressed against the layer 11
of a resilient material with some force, into a position in which a pin 16
can be passed through the holes 15, which pin will abut against an upper
surface of the ink cartridge 1, as shown in Figure 3, so that the ink
cartridge 1 will be secured in the holder 9, whilst the bottom surface of
the cartridge is pressed against the layer 11 of a resilient material with
some force. Thus the opening(s) forming part of the nozzle 4, and also the
vent hole 5 which is possibly provided, are sealed by means of said
resilient material. Following this ink may be supplied to the cartridge 1
through the filling hole 7 again.
If it is desired to use the cartridge immediately after refilling
again, the cartridge can be taken out of the holder 9 after removal of the
pin 16.
When it is desired, however, to store the cartridge thus filled
for some time, the holder 9 may be covered at its upper side by means of a
cover 17 to be placed on the holder 9, which may be detachably secured to
the upper edge of the holder 9, for example by means of a usual snap lock.
Possibly the cover 17 is also provided with a layer of a resilient material
at its inner side, near the holes 8 and 7, so as to seal the openings 7 and
8 in an effective manner.
From the foregoing it will be apparent that by using the
above-described holder according to the invention used ink cartridges can
be refilled in a quick and simple manner, without any risk of ink flowing
_5 out of the holder and/or of the ink drying up near the outlet opening(s) or
the like in case of prolonged storage. Furthermore the holders 9, with the
ink cartridges provided therein, can readily be placed in a stable
position, so that the holders are particularly suited for storing the
filled ink cartridges.
