EP1899165A1

EP1899165A1 - An ink cartridge and a memory device

Info

Publication number: EP1899165A1
Application number: EP06744304A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John William Studholme; Nigel John Counihan; William John Studholme; Kevin Vickers
Original assignee: Dynamic Cassette International Ltd
Current assignee: Dynamic Cassette International Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2008-03-19
Also published as: WO2007003908A1; GB0613058D0; GB2427853A

Abstract

An ink cartridge (10) for a printer comprises an ink container (12) having an ink supply opening (16) for supply of ink to an ink withdrawal needle of a printer (264). The cartridge further comprises a memory device (20) and a substrate bearing a group of contacts (22) for the memory device (20). One contact (142a) extends beneath at least two other contacts (142c, 142e) in the direction of insertion of the cartridge (10) into the printer (264).

Description

An Ink Cartridge and a Memory Device

The invention relates to an ink cartridge and a memory device.

GB 2395684 discloses an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer. The cartridge comprises a generally flat container with an ink supply port tube depending from the bottom wall leading to an ink supply opening into the container. An annular elastic seal member is provided inside the ink supply port tube. Ih use, the cartridge is pushed into a printer so that an ink supply needle of the printer is received in the ink supply port tube to draw ink from the container. The ink supply needle pushes through the annular elastic seal member which seals around it. The ink supply port tube is disposed offset from the centre of the bottom wall of the cartridge towards one narrow side. On the narrow side which is closest to the ink supply port tube, a lever is provided. The lever is connected to the container about halfway up the narrow side wall and extends upwardly and away from the side wall so that its free end is adjacent the top of the narrow side wall. Half way along its length the lever has an outwards projection which is arranged to engage with part of the printer. Thus, when the ink cartridge is pushed into the printer, the lever is resiliently pushed inwards the narrow side wall and the projection on the lever engages under a stop on the printer to hold the cartridge in position in the printer.

On the opposite narrow side wall of the cartridge container adjacent the bottom wall a box projects outwardly and mounts on its outer face a memory device in the form of a chip, the board of the chip mounting a plurality of electrode contacts to contact corresponding contacts of the printer. The electrode contacts on the board are formed in a regular array in two staggered horizontal rows with three electrodes in the upper row and four electrodes in the lower row. The electrode contacts are identical small rectangles each in an upright orientation.

In order to remove the cartridge from the printer, the lever must be moved back towards the narrow side wall of the cartridge container to disengage the projection from the stop of the printer so that the cartridge can be pulled upwards off the vertical supply needle and out of the printer. Another known cartridge is disclosed in WO 2005/053960 of the present applicant.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising an ink container having an ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the cartridge further comprising a memory device and a substrate bearing a group of contacts for the memory device, the contacts having outwardly facing contact surfaces, the contact surfaces being in a common plane, the plane containing a line parallel to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer, two contacts at one side of the group with respect to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into a printer being arranged such that the contact surface of one contact is completely overlapped by and extends beyond the contact surface of the other contact in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising an ink container having an ink supply opening, and a tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the tube defining an axis, the cartridge further comprising a memory device and a substrate bearing a group of contacts for the memory device, the contacts having outwardly facing contact surfaces, the contact surfaces being in a common plane, the plane containing a line parallel to the axis of the tube, two contacts at one side of the group with respect to the axis of the tube being arranged such that the contact surface of one contact is completely overlapped by and extends beyond the contact surface of the other contact in relation to the axis of the tube in the direction in which the tube receives the ink withdrawal needle.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a substrate and a group of contacts thereon, the substrate being elongate, one contact extending beneath at least two other contacts in the direction of elongation of the substrate.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, one contact extending beneath at least two other contacts in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into a printer.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container having an ink supply opening, and a tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the tube defining an axis, the cartridge further including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, one contact extending beneath at least two other contacts with respect to the axis of the tube in the direction of entry of the ink withdrawal needle of the printer into the tube.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for mounting on a recording apparatus having a pressing member and a receiving part, said ink cartridge comprising: an ink container having an upper wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall intersecting the bottom wall and a second side wall intersecting the bottom wall and facing the first side wall; an ink supply port disposed on the bottom wall in an offset position closer to the first side wall than to the second side wall; a retaining member disposed on the first side wall engageable with the receiving part of the recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the second side wall and electrically connected to a memory unit disposed on the ink container; part of the upper wall forming a press portion for being pressed downwardly by the pressing member of the recording apparatus.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container, a memory device and at least one contact for connecting the memory device to external means, the or each contact being on the side wall of the container, the top surface of the container descending to the top of the side wall bearing the or each contact. The top surface of the container may descend in one or more steps, but preferably, at least part of the top surface of the container slopes downwards. In a preferred embodiment, only part of the top surface of the container slopes downwards. At least half of the top surface of the container may slope downwards. The sloping part of the top surface preferably intersects the top of the wall bearing the or each contact.

An ink supply opening may be defined in the container for withdrawal of ink from the cartridge. The ink supply opening may be in the bottom wall of the container. The cartridge may include a tube extending downwardly from the container, the tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer. The axis of the tube may be perpendicular to the wall of the container from which the tube extends. Preferably, the axis of the tube is at an acute angle to the part of the top surface which slopes downwardly.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container and a handle extending from the container to be grasped by a user to aid removal of the cartridge.

Preferably, the handle extends from the top wall of the container. The handle preferably extends upwardly from the container. The handle may be flexible but preferably the handle is at least partly rigid. In a preferred embodiment, the handle is rigid and may be integral with the container.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container with an ink supply opening in the bottom wall, and a retaining member which is resiliently moveable towards one side wall of the container, the retaining member having an outwardly protruding engagement part and acting to retain the cartridge in the printer, the cartridge further comprising a top member extending from the top wall of the container, such that an user can place a finger and thumb of one hand on opposite sides of the retaining member and top member in order to draw the retaining member towards the top member to release engagement of the outwardly protruding engagement part with the printer so that the cartridge can be removed from the printer.

By means of the invention, it is easier to release and remove the cartridge from the printer.

The retaining member may be attached at one end to said one side wall of the container and may extend therefrom outwardly from the container and upwardly. The retaining member may be a lever. The retaining member may include a contact portion to be contacted and moved by the finger or thumb of the user, the portion being adjacent the top of the side wall. The contact portion preferably includes an upper part which extends in the direction away from the said one side wall.

The top member preferably includes a contact portion to be contacted by the finger or thumb of the user, the contact portion including an upper part which extends in the direction away from the said one wall. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the contact portion of the top member is concave. The top member may be in the form of a upright plate. The top member may include a transverse part. The transverse part may extend from a higher part of the top wall of the container over a lower part of the top wall of the container.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container moulded from plastics material, the container comprising a main body and a main lid, a recess being formed into the main body in a narrow side wall of the container, the container including a lid to cover the recess, the recess communicating with the ink chamber of the container through at least one aperture.

Preferably, a further recess is formed in the narrow side wall to receive a memory device. In this way, the two recesses can be formed at the same time and in the same direction in the moulding process. The main lid may form all or part of any suitable wall of the container, such as the top wall, but preferably forms at least part of a wide side wall of the container.

The recess may communicate with the ink chamber of the cartridge through any desired number of apertures. There may for example be only one aperture which may be the full width and height of the recess, but in a preferred embodiment there are at least two apertures which may include at least an upper and a lower aperture.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a board and a group of contacts thereon, the board being elongate and at least one contact being elongate in a direction at an acute angle to the direction of elongation of the board.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, at least one contact being elongate in a direction at an acute angle to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into a printer.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container having an ink supply opening, and a tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the tube defining an axis, the cartridge further including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, at least one contact being elongate in a direction at an acute angle to the axis of the tube.

The contacts may be on a board and preferably the plane of the board is parallel to the axis of the tube.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a memory device mounted thereon and a group of contacts for the memory device, at least one contact being longer in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer than at least one other contact. The ink cartridge may have an ink supply opening in the bottom wall of the container and the direction of insertion of the cartridge may thus be downwardly.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a board and a group of contacts thereon, the board being elongate and at least one contact being longer in the direction of elongation of the board than at least one other contact.

The or each long contact may be at the side of the group. Preferably there are at least two long contacts. There may be a long contact at each side of the group and preferably there are only two long contacts.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a board and a plurality of contacts thereon, the contacts being in an asymmetrical arrangement.

Preferably, no more than two of the contacts are of the same shape and preferably no more than two of the contacts are of the same size.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a memory device for an ink cartridge comprising a board and at least three contacts thereon, no more than two of the contacts being of the same shape and/or size.

In a preferred embodiment, all of the contacts are of different shapes and all of the contacts may be of different sizes. Preferably, the gaps between adjacent contacts are of constant width.

The contacts may form a group and the sides of the groups may be straight and preferably are parallel. The sides of the group may be parallel to the sides of the board, which may be rectangular. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a board mounted thereon and a plurality of contacts on the board for connecting to external means, a lower protrusion being provided just below the board to protect the contacts, the outer surface of the contacts on the board being flush with or proud of the parts of the cartridge to the sides thereof.

An upper protrusion may be provided just above the board to protect the contacts.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a board mounted thereon and a plurality of contacts on the board for connecting to external means, an upper protrusion being provided just above the board to protect the contacts, the outer surface of the contacts on the board being flush with or proud of the parts of the cartridge to the sides thereof.

The or each protrusion may be a rib. The or each protrusion preferably extends over the full width of the board.

A known ink cartridge is disclosed in GB 2353763A in the name of the present applicant. This cartridge comprises a container defining an ink chamber which has four openings thereinto. The four openings are an ink outlet opening in the floor of the container and three apertures in the top lid of the container. One of these apertures in the lid is an air vent to allow air into the ink chamber to replace the ink which is withdrawn through the ink outlet opening. The air vent and the ink outlet opening are both open in use unlike the other two apertures which are each blocked by a ball bearing. These two apertures are used in filling the cartridge container with ink. An ink injection needle is inserted through one of these apertures and a vacuum is applied at the other aperture. The ink outlet opening and air vent are both blocked off during the evacuating and filling operations. The vacuum is then applied to the interior of the cartridge container and ink is subsequently injected into the container to fill the porous member inside the container with ink. Once the container is full of ink, ball bearings are forced into those two openings to fill them and the cartridge is ready to be packed and shipped for sale. The use of ball bearings is undesirable as it means the cartridge is more difficult to recycle, the ball bearings being made of a different material, metal, from the remainder of the cartridge, which is made of plasties material.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an ink cartridge comprising a container defining an ink reservoir chamber, there being no more than three apertures through the container into the ink chamber.

By using a coaxial tool comprising an ink injection needle coaxial with a surrounding larger pipe for applying a vacuum, it is possible to evacuate and fill the cartridge through a common aperture. In this way, at least one of the ball bearings of the known cartridge can be dispensed with. Preferably, there are only two apertures into the cartridge, namely an ink outlet opening and an air vent. By evacuating and filling the cartridge through the air vent (or ink outlet opening), both ball bearings can be dispensed with and the ability to recycle the cartridge is much improved.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cartridge of the first embodiment of the invention from one end and one side;

Figure 2 is a side elevation from one side of the cartridge of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge of Figure 1 from one side and the other end; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cartridge of Figure 1 from one end and the other side with the chip omitted;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cartridge of Figure 1 from above and the other side and with the chip omitted;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the cartridge of Figure 1 from the other side with the lid removed;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view from below, one side and the other end of the cartridge of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a cartridge in a second embodiment with the lid removed; Figure 9 is a side elevation of a cartridge in a third embodiment with the lid removed; Figure 10 is a detail elevation of the chip of the cartridge of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a detail elevation of a chip in a further embodiment; Figure 12 is a side elevation of an evacuation and filling tool. Figure 13 is a detail elevation of a chip in another embodiment; Figure 14 is a fragmentary perpective view of printer contactors; and Figure 15 is a side elevation in cross-section of part of a printer with the cartridge of the embodiment mounted thereon.

The cartridge 10 of the first embodiment of the invention comprises a container 12 with a lever 14, an outlet port tube 16 and top element 18. A memory device in the form of a chip 20 with contact pads 22 is mounted to the container 12.

The container 12 is generally in the form of a narrow rectangular box with one top corner cut away so that the top surface of the container 12 comprises a horizontal part 24 which is parallel with the bottom face 26 and a flat part 28 which slopes downwards at a shallow angle from the horizontal part 24.

The horizontal part 24 of the top surface intercepts the top of one narrow side wall 30 of the container 12 which carries the lever 14. The cartridge 10 is moulded from plastics material such that the outlet port 16, lever 14 and top element 18 are integral with the main body 32 of the container 12. The lever 14 is generally in the form of a strip which is connected to the container 12 about half way up the narrow side 30 and extends outwardly and upwardly from there so that the top edge 32 of the lever 14 is at substantially the same height as the horizontal top surface 24. The upper part 34 of the lever 14 is turned outwardly away from the narrow side wall 30. About two thirds of the way along the lever 14 from where it is connected to the narrow side wall 30, there is provided an outwardly protruding engagement part 36 in the form of a triangular cross section transverse rib. The outlet port tube 16 is offset towards the narrow side wall 30 that carries the lever 14. As shown in Figure 7, the tube 16 extends perpendicularly away from the bottom wall 26. An elastomeric seal member (not shown) is provided in the outlet port tube 16 and has a bore along the axis of the tube 16 to receive and seal against the ink withdrawal needle of the printer.

The narrow side wall 38 opposite the narrow side wall 30 carrying the lever 14 mounts the chip 20. The chip 20 is mounted at the lower end of the narrow side wall 38 next to where it intercepts the bottom wall 26. As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7 there is a recess 40 into the container 12 in which the chip 20 is mounted. The recess 40 is blind and of rectangular cross section. Two pins 42 protrude into the recess 40 and the chip 20 includes corresponding apertures 44 to receive the pins 42 to mount the chip 20.

At the top of the cartridge 10, the top element 18 comprises a plate 46 upstanding from the sloping part 28 of the top surface. The plate 46 lies in a plane parallel with the wide, major sides 32 of the container 12. The side edges 48, 50 of the plate 46 are concave. The plate 46 is nearer to the narrow side wall 38 mounting the chip 20 than to the horizontal part 24 of the top surface but is spaced away from the junction between the sloping part 28 and the narrow side wall 38. The top element 18 also comprises a strip 52 which is formed as a continuation of the horizontal part 24 of the top surface so

that it extends from the horizontal part 24 in a smooth curve downwardly and upwardly again to the same height as the horizontal part 24 where it meets the top of the upstanding part 46 and extends horizontally terminating just beyond the top of the upstanding part 46 to create an overhang 53.

Figure 6 shows the interior of the cartridge 10. The lid 54 which covers most of one major side of the container 12 is removed in this view.

As shown in Figure 2, a rib 56 is provided on the narrow side wall 38 just below the recess 40 to receive the chip 20 and extends the full width of the recess 40. A parallel horizontal rib 58 is provided just above the recess 40 to receive the chip 20 and also extends the full width of the recess 40. The surface of the chip 20 and in particular the surface of the contacts 22 lie flush with the parts of the side wall 38 to each side of the chip 20 while the ribs 56, 58 stand proud of the remainder of the surface of the narrow side wall 38 and the chip 20 and the contacts 22 thereon.

The remainder of the narrow side wall 38 above the chip 20 and horizontal rib 58 defines another recess 60 as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The recess 60 is a long rectangular recess which is closed off by a cover 62. The cover 62 has inwardly directed legs 64 at each corner to be received in the recess 60. The recess 60 is countersunk so that the outer surface of the lid 62 lies flush with the surface of the narrow side wall 38. At the inner face 66 of the recess 60 there are two letter box shaped apertures 68 and 70, one at the top and one at the bottom of the face 66, the apertures 68, 70 leading into the ink chamber and the remainder of the container 12.

The main body 32 of the container 12 is generally tray shaped. The lid 54 of the container 12 is generally flat and carries three pegs (not shown) to be received in circular recesses 72 in the main body 32.

The container 12 has a number of internal walls. The first internal wall 74 depends from the top of the container 12 to a level about three quarters of the way down into the container 12. A second wall 76 extends upwardly from directly under the end of the first wall 74 and turns through a right angle to run parallel to the floor 26 over a short distance then turning through a further right angle to run upwardly parallel to the first wall 74 to adjacent the top of the container 12 before turning to run parallel to the sloping surface 28 to meet the rear wall 66 of the recess just at the lower edge of the upper aperture 68 so that the second wall 76 defines a channel 78 which is of constant cross section until it reaches the upper aperture 68 leading into the recess 60. A short wall 78 extends perpendicularly from the rear wall 66 of the recess 60 above the lower aperture 70 and extends inwardly for a short distance and then downwardly to define a short channel 82 of the same cross section as the channel 78. The chamber 81 in the ink container 12 defined between the wall 76, the rear wall 66 of the recess 60 and the short wall 80 is divided by a partition wall 82 which extends downwardly from the sloping part of the wall 76 to close to the floor 26 of the ink container 12 so that there is a communicating gap 86 between the bottom edge of the wall 84 and the floor 26.

To the other side of the wall 74 an ink receiving chamber 88 is defined in which two porous members 90, 92 are provided. The lower porous member 90 is generally rectangular and covers the opening 94 into the channel 78 between the end of the first wall 74 and the second wall 76 and also covers the gap 96 between the bottom end of the second wall 76 and the floor 26. Attached to the underside of the lower porous member 90 is a filter 98 which may be made of a flexible woven plastics material. The filter 98 and lower porous member 90 sit on top of and cover the ink outlet opening leading into the ink outlet tube 16. The lower porous member 90 may be made of a fibrous material.

The upper porous member 92 is positioned above the lower porous member 90 and has larger pores and may be for example made of urethane foam. The upper porous member 92 is rectangular but includes a short extension 100 to fill a gap alongside the lower porous member 90 and also includes a notch 102 at its upper corner adjacent the corner of the ink container 12 where the narrow side wall 30 meets the horizontal top part 24 to create an air gap 102 communicating with an air vent 104 in the horizontal part 24 of the top surface. As seen in particular in Figure 5, the air vent 104 is the only hole in through the top of the cartridge. Indeed, the ink outlet opening inside the port tube 16 is the only other hole into the container 12. Thus the chamber 89 to the right of the wall 74 constituted by the chamber 81, the channel 78 and the recess 60, is sealed apart from the opening 94 and gap 96, both of which open into the ink receiving chamber 88.

The chip 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 10, comprises a rectangular board 120 mounting six contact pads 22. The contact pads 22 are all of different size and shape and they fit together in a group 122 on the board 120 such that the gap between any one contact pad 22 and each of its neighbours is always of constant width "W" as shown in detail in Figure 10. The board 120 is elongate in the direction of the height of the container 12. The group 122 has a straight, horizontal lower boundary 124. The group 22 has a straight vertical boundary 126, 128 at each side, in each case defined by a single contact pad 22a, 22b. The group 122 has an upper boundary 130 which is horizontal and straight except for projections 22a' and 22b' of the side contact pads 22a, 22b. On the left hand side looking at the chip 20 in Figure 10, there is a broadly triangular contact pad 22c, one side 22c' of which forms part of the horizontal upper boundary 130. Below the contact pad 22c is a contact 22d with four straight sides. Next to the contact pads 22c and 22d is a contact pad 22e which is elongate so that one corner 22e' meets and forms part of the upper horizontal boundary 130 and a lower side 22e" forms part of the lower horizontal boundary 124 of the group 122. The contact pad 22e is elongate in a direction at an acute angle to the direction of elongation of the board 120. As can be seen from Figure 1 the direction of elongation of the contact pad 22e is also at an acute angle to the axis of the outlet tube 16. This large contact pad 22e is intended to contact two contacts on the printer. A generally triangular contact pad 22f is between the large contact pad 22e and the right hand end contact pad 22b. The upper edge 22g' of the triangular contact pad 22f forms part of the upper boundary 130.

The board 120 has a round hole 44a near its top edge 134 and a round ended cut out 44b formed in the bottom edge 136 into the board 120 to receive the pins 42. The group 122 of contact pads 22 lies between the round hole 44a and cut out 44b.

Tracks 109,111 extend upwardly from the two generally triangular contact pads 22c and 22f to terminals 112, 113 just below the height of the round hole 44a. Tracks 114, 115 and 116 extend downwardly from the side contact pads 22a, 22b and the four sided contact pad 22d to terminals 117, 118, 119.

hi use, the user will take a full new cartridge 10 and push it into the printer so that the ink withdrawal needle of the printer is received in the ink supply port tube 16. The movement of the cartridge 10 into the printer (not shown) will push the lever 14 inwards towards the narrow side wall 30 so that the engagement portion 36 rides over and then engages under a stop on the printer as the lever 46 moves outwards under its own resilience. When it is desired to remove the cartridge from the printer, the user will place their thumb (or a finger) on the lever 14 between the engagement part 36 and the top part 34 so that this region of the lever 14 forms a contact portion 106. The user will place their finger (or thumb) of the same hand on the side of the top element 18 which is furthest from lever 14, in other words the concave edge 48 and/or the end 110 of the strip 18 which form a contact portion 108. The user will then, using a pincer action, move their finger and thumb towards each other thereby drawing the top of the lever 14 towards the top element 18 to disengage the engagement part 36 from the stop of the printer and enable the cartridge 10 to be pulled upwards off the ink withdrawal needle and out of the printer. The fact that the top part 34 of the lever 14 is turned outwards prevents the user's thumb from sliding off the lever 14 when pulling the cartridge 10 upwards. Equally, the concave shape of the edge 48 of the plate 46, together with the overhang 53 at the end portion 110 of the strip 52 of the top element 18 prevent the user's finger from sliding off the top element 18 and provide useful purchase in pulling the cartridge 10 upwards.

Cross reference is made to the present applicant's International Patent Application No. WO 2005/053960. As ink is drawn out of the chamber 88 of the container 12 through the ink outlet, air enters through the air vent 104 and will eventually bubble into the chamber 78. As more air enters the container 12, the air pocket at the top of the chamber 78 will extend down so that air enters the recess 60 through the upper aperture 68. As air continues to enter the channel 78, air will pass through the lower opening 70 into the channel 82 and will start to bubble into the chamber 81 behind the partition 84 so that in this way the ink is emptied from the cartridge.

As the recesses 40 and 60 face in the same direction they can readily be made in the same operation by the mould tool.

As the contact pads 22 on the chip 20 are so large and the gaps between them are small, there is a greater chance of correct contact being made should the cartridge be misaligned. The long side contacts are particularly useful in ensuring contact there. The large diagonal pad at the centre of the group allows two contacts on the printer to be grounded or shorted. An evacuating and filling tool 200 is shown in Figure 12. The tool 200 comprises a block 202 with three inputs 204, 206, 208 in the top surface and one output 210 in the bottom surface. The first input 208 is directly above the output 210 and is connected to an ink reservoir (not shown). The input 208 passes straight through the block emerging in the form of a needle 212. Mounted coaxially with the needle 212 and around the needle 212 is a vacuum nozzle 214 so that the needle 212 extends through the middle of the vacuum nozzle 214. The vacuum nozzle 214 has a tapered end 216 so that the needle 212 can pass into the air vent 104 and the tapered end 216 of the vacuum nozzle 214 can engage in and seal with the air vent 104. The vacuum nozzle 214 is connected through a lateral passageway in the body 202 with the other two inputs 204, 206 which connect to a vacuum pump and a gas release valve respectively (both not shown).

In use therefore, the needle 212 is inserted into the container 12 through the air vent 104 into the upper porous member 92 and down until the tapered end 216 of the vacuum nozzle 214 abuts the circular edge of the air vent 104 and seals against it. The ink outlet port 16 opening is sealed and the container 12 is evacuated using the vacuum pump to draw a vacuum on the container 12 through the vacuum nozzle 214. Once the cartridge has been evacuated, the vacuum is turned off and ink is injected through the needle 212 into the container 12. Finally, the gas release valve is opened and the tool 200 is removed and the air vent 104 is sealed for example by a peelable adhesive tape or by a removable plastic plug which may be of the type described in GB 2353763 A so that the user can open the air vent 104 when the cartridge 10 is to be used.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment. The second embodiment is similar to the first and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described. The same reference numerals will be used for equivalent features, hi the second embodiment, the plate 46 does not have concave edges and instead has straight edges. The plate 46 is at a slight outwards angle so as to assist pulling upwards of the cartridge 10. The strip 52 of the top element 18 is straight over its full length, rather than having a curved portion. A third embodiment is shown in Figure 9 which does not have the top element 18, but otherwise is the same as the first embodiment.

Figure 11 shows another embodiment of chip 140 in which none of the contact pads 142 are the same size or shape. As in the first embodiment of chip, the contact pads 142 are arranged on the same upright rectangular board 120 with the same round hole 44a and round ended cut out 44b. There axe six contact pads 142 arranged in a group 144. The group 144 comes right to the lower edge 136 of the board 120 and right to the side edges 146 of the board 120 but stops at a horizontal upper boundary 148 just below the round hole 44a in the board 120. The gap "W" between any one contact pad 142 and the next is always constant width. The lower left contact pad 142a extends from the lower left corner across and upwards over the top of the round ended cut out 44b. The lower right contact pad 142b is upwardly elongate and extends from the lower right corner across to the round ended cut out 44b. The top left contact pad 142c is elongate downwards from the top left corner of the group 144 and its lower end lies adjacent the lower left contact 142a. The gap 150 between the top left contact pad 142c and the lower left contact pad 142a is horizontal. The top right contact pad 142d extends downwards to the lower right contact pad 142b. The gap 152 between the top right contact pad 142d and the lower left contact pad 142b is at an angle from bottom left to top right. A central contact pad 142e is provided which is of a generally triangular overall shape with a thin downwards extension 154. The triangular part 156 of the central contact pad 142e has a substantially horizontal lower boundary so that the gap 158 between the central contact pad 142e and the top of the lower left contact pad 142a is substantially horizontal. The extension 154 of the central contact pad 142e extends downwards from the lower right corner of the triangular part 156 of the central contact pad 142e to the top of the round ended cut out 44b on the right. The extension 154 thus separates the lower left and lower right contact pads 142a, 142b with substantially vertical gaps 160, 162 to each side of the extension 154. The sixth contact pad 142f is between the top left contact pad 142c and the top right contact pad 142d and has one edge defining a large part of the horizontal upper boundary 148 of the group 144. The apex of the central contact pad 142e protrudes into the top middle contact pad I42f. The top middle contact pad 142f defines a bulge on its left hand side into the top left contact pad 142e and lies adjacent the whole of the left hand side of the triangular part 156 of the central contact pad 142e. The top middle contact pad 142f terminates downwardly in a point at the boundary between the top left contact pad 142c and the lower left contact pad 142a. A terminal 164 is defined in each contact pad 142.

Figure 13 shows another embodiment of chip 250 in which none of the contact pads 252 are the same size or shape. As in the first and second embodiments of chip, the contact pads 252 are arranged on the same upright rectangular board 120 with the same round hole 44a and round ended cut out 44b. There are six contact pads 252 arranged in a group 254. The gap "w" between any one contact pad 252 and the next is always constant width. The contact pads 252 are arranged in the group in series across the width of the board 120. Apart from an extension 256 at the bottom of the far right hand contact 252a, all of the contacts 252 are of the same height. With the exception of the extension 256, the group has a rectangular boundary, the side edges of the group 254 being parallel with the side edges of the board 120. The extension 256 of the right hand end contact 252a extends beneath the adjacent contact 252b so that the contact 252b is completely overlapped by the extension 256 in the direction of elongation of the board 252, which corresponds to the direction of insertion of the cartridge and also to the direction parallel to the direction of the axis of the ink supply port tube 16. The extension 256 also extends further so as to extend beneath the next contact 252c in the series.

Figure 14 shows the arrangement of contactors 260, 262 of the printer 264. As shown in Figure 14, each contactor, 260, 262 is in the form of a metal strip, the upper end of which is bowed outwardly in a convex manner. These bowed parts 266 are arranged to contact the contact pads 22, 142, 252 on the chip at the most lateral extent of the bowed parts 266. The contactors 260, 262 are inherently resilient. The contactors 260, 262 are arranged so that their bowed parts 266 are in two rows, a lower row of four contactors 260 and an upper row of three contactors 262. Each upper contactor 262 is arranged between two lower contactors 260 so that the bowed parts 266 of the contactors 260, 262 are staggered. Figure 15 shows the cartridge 10 in the printer 264. The printer 264 defines a cavity 268 to receive the cartridge 10, the cavity 268 being covered by a lid 270 which is hinged at 272 to one wall 274 of the cavity 268. The cavity 268 has a recess 276 in the floor 278 thereof to receive the ink outlet port tube 16 of the cartridge 10. Upstanding in the recess 276 is the ink withdrawal needle 280 of the printer. At the top of the wall 282 of the cavity 268 opposite the hinge 272 is provided a ledge 284 projecting horizontally into the cavity 268. The lid 270 has an upwardly extending part 286 from the hinge 272, a top part 288 and an opposite downwardly extending part 290 which meets the top of the wall 282. At the end of the downwardly extending part 290 there is an inwardly turned detent 292 which resiliently latches under an outwardly turned flange 294 at the top of the wall 282 to hold the lid 270 in place. Part way up the part 286 from the hinge 272 is an inwards step 296 which defines a downwardly facing pressing part 298.

At the bottom of the wall 272 of the cavity 268 the printer contactors 260, 262 are mounted by their lower ends so that the bowed parts 266 protrude into the cavity 268 in their two rows.

In use, the lid 270 is opened and the cartridge 10 is pushed down into the cavity 268. The ink withdrawal needle 280 is received in the ink supply port tube 16. The lever 14 is pushed inwards by engagement with the ledge 284 until the outwardly protruding engagement part 36 passes below the ledge 284 at which point, under the inherent resilience of the lever 14, the lever 14 springs outwards and the outwardly protruding engagement part 36 locks under the ledge 284 to hold the cartridge 10 in place. When the lid 270 is closed, the pressing part 298 presses down on the lower end of the sloping part 28 of the top surface of the container 12 of the cartridge 10 to locate the cartridge securely. The inwardly turned part 292 locks under the flange 294 to lock the lid closed.

As the cartridge 10 is pushed down into the cavity 268, the printer contactors 260, 262 will ride over the side wall 38 of the cartridge 10 until they meet the lower rib 56. First the upper printer contactors 262, and then the lower printer contactors 260 will ride over the lower rib 56 flexing resiliently to do so. Thus, the upper printer contactors 262 will be the first to come into contact with the chip 20. As the gaps between the chip contact pads 22 are narrow and at an angle to the direction of insertion of the cartridge, the upper printer contactors 262 will ride over the contact pads 22a, 22d, 22e and 22b to come to rest on the contact pads 22c and 22f and at the upper part of the angled, elongate contact pad 22e. The lower printer contactors 260 will follow to finish located upon the lower part of contact pad 22a, contact pad 22d, the lower part of angled elongate contact pad 22e and the lower part of contact pad 22b.

If the chip of Figure 11 is used in place of the chip of Figure 10, then the upper printer contactors 262 come to rest on the top middle contact pad 142f, the central contact pad 142e and the top right contact pad 142d while the lower printer contactors come to rest on the lower part of the top left contact pad 142c, the two middle lower printer contactors 260 come to rest on the upper part of the lower left contact pad 142a and the last printer contactor 260 is located on the lower right contact pad 142b. It is seen that the upper printer contactors 262 which will eventually be located on the central contact pad 142e and the upper middle contact pad 142f will necessarily ride over the lower left contact pad 142a to arrive at their final destinations.

Looking now at the chip of Figure 13, it is seen that the upper printer contactor 262 which is to be located on the wide top part of the contact pad 252b adjacent the right hand end contact pad 252a must pass over the extension 256 in order to arrive there.

Claims

1. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising an ink container having an ink supply opening for supply of ink from an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the cartridge further comprising a memory device and a substrate bearing a group of contacts for the memory device, the contacts having outwardly facing contact surfaces, the contact surfaces being in a common plane, the plane containing a line parallel to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer, two contacts at one side of the group with respect to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into a printer being arranged such that the contact surface of one contact is completely overlapped by and extends beyond the contact surface of the other contact in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer.

2. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising an ink container having an ink supply opening, and a tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the tube defining an axis, the cartridge further comprising a memory device and a substrate bearing a group of contacts for the memory device, the contacts having outwardly facing contact surfaces, the contact surfaces being in a common plane, the plane containing a line parallel to the axis of the tube, two contacts at one side of the group with respect to the axis of the tube being arranged such that the contact surface of one contact is completely overlapped by and extends beyond the contact surface of the other contact in relation to the axis of the tube in the direction in which the tube receives the ink withdrawal needle.

3. A memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a substrate and a group of contacts thereon, the substrate being elongate, one contact extending beneath at least two other contacts in the direction of elongation of the substrate.

4. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, one contact extending beneath at least two other contacts in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into a printer.

5. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container having an ink supply opening, and a tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the tube defining an axis, the cartridge further including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, one contact extending beneath at least two other contacts with respect to the axis of the tube in the direction of entry of the ink withdrawal needle of the printer into the tube.

6. An ink cartridge comprising a container defining an ink reservoir chamber, there being no more than three apertures through the container from atmosphere into the ink chamber.

7. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 6, wherein there are only two apertures into the ink chamber of the cartridge, namely an ink outlet opening and an air vent.

8. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 6 or claim 1, wherein one aperture constituting the air vent of the chamber is blocked by a manually removable blocking means.

9. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the manually removable blocking means is adhesive film.

10. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 8, wherein the manually removable blocking means comprises a removable clip.

11. A memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a substrate and a plurality of contacts thereon, the contacts being in an asymmetrical arrangement.

12. A memory device as claimed in claim 11, wherein no more than two of the contacts are of the same shape.

13. A memory device as claimed in claim 11, wherein no more than two of the contacts are of the same size.

14. A memory device for an ink cartridge comprising a substrate and at least three contacts thereon, no more than two of the contacts being of the same shape and/or size.

15. A memory device as claimed in any of claims 11 to 14, wherein all of the contacts are of different shapes.

16. A memory device as claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, wherein all of the contacts are of different sizes.

17. A memory device as claimed in any of claims 11 to 16, wherein the gaps between adjacent contacts are of constant width.

18. A memory device as claimed in any of claims 11 to 17, wherein the contacts form a group and the sides of the group are straight.

19. A memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a substrate and a plurality of contacts thereon, the contacts being arranged on the substrate in a group, the sides of the group being straight.

20. A memory device as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the sides of the group are parallel.

21. A memory device as claimed in claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein the sides of the group are parallel to the sides of the substrate.

22. A memory device as claimed in any of claims 11 to 21, wherein the substrate is rectangular.

23. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container, a memory device and at least one contact for connecting the memory device to external means, the or each contact being on the side wall of the container, the top surface of the container descending to the top of the side wall bearing the or each contact.

24. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 23, wherein at least part of the top surface of the container slopes downwards.

25. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 24, wherein only part of the top surface of the container slopes downwards.

26. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 24, wherein at least half of the top surface of the container slopes downwards.

27. An ink cartridge as claimed in any of claims 24 to 26, wherein the sloping part intersects the top of the wall bearing the or each contact.

28. An ink cartridge as claimed in any of claims 23 to 27, wherein an ink supply opening is defined in the container for withdrawal of ink from the cartridge.

29. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 28, wherein the ink supply opening is in the bottom wall of the container.

30. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 29, wherein the cartridge includes a tube extending downwardly from the container , the tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer.

31. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 30, wherein the axis of the tube is perpendicular to the wall of the container from which the tube extends.

32. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 30 or claim 31, wherein the axis of the tube is at an acute angle to the part of the top surface which slopes downwardly.

33. An ink cartridge as claimed in any of claims 23 to 33, wherein the cartridge further includes a handle extending upwards from the top surface of the container.

34. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container and a handle extending from the container to be grasped by a user to aid removal of the cartridge.

35. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 34, wherein the handle extends from the top wall of the container.

36. A cartridge as claimed in claim 34 or claim 35, wherein the handle extends upwardly from the container.

37. A cartridge as claimed in any of claims 33 to 36, wherein the handle extends no higher than the highest point of the top surface of the container.

38. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container moulded from plastics material, the container comprising a main body and a main lid, a recess being formed into the main body in a narrow side wall of the container, the container including a lid to cover the recess, the recess communicating with the ink chamber of the container through at least one aperture.

39. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 38, wherein a further recess is formed in the narrow side wall to receive a memory device.

40. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 38 or 39, wherein the main lid forms at least part of a wide side wall of the container.

41. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 38, 39 or 40, wherein the recess communicates with the ink chamber of the cartridge through at least two apertures.

42. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 41, wherein the apertures include at least an upper and a lower aperture.

43. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a memory device mounted thereon and a group of contacts for the memory device, at least one contact being longer in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer than at least one other contact.

44. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 43, wherein the ink cartridge has an ink supply opening in the bottom wall of the container and the direction of insertion of the cartridge is downwardly.

45. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 43, 44 or 45, wherein one contact is longer in the direction of insertion of the cartridge into the printer than any other contact.

46. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container having an ink supply opening, and a tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the tube defining an axis, the cartridge further including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, at least one contact being longer in the direction of the axis of the tube than at least one other contact.

47. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 46, wherein one contact is longer in the direction of the axis of the tube than any other contact.

48. An ink cartridge as claimed in any of claims 43 to 47, wherein the or each long contact is at the side of the group.

49. A memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a board and a group of contacts thereon, the board being elongate and at least one contact being longer in the direction of elongation of the board than at least one other contact.

50. A memory device as claimed in claim 49, wherein the or each long contact is at the side of the group.

51. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a substrate mounted thereon and a plurality of contacts on the substrate for connecting to external means, a lower protrusion being provided just below the substrate and protruding further than the contacts to protect the contacts, the outer surface of the contacts on the substrate being flush with or proud of the parts of the cartridge to the sides thereof.

52. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 51, wherein an upper protrusion is provided just above the substrate and protruding further than the contacts to protect the contacts.

53. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a substrate mounted thereon and a plurality of contacts on the substrate for connecting to external means, an upper protrusion being provided just above the substrate and protruding further than the contacts to protect the contacts, the outer surface of the contacts on the substrate being flush with or proud of the parts of the cartridge to the sides thereof.

54. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 51, 52 or 53, wherein the or each protrusion is a rib.

55. An ink cartridge as claimed in any of claims 51 to 54, wherein the or each protrusion extends over the full width of the board.

56. A memory device for an ink cartridge for a printer, the memory device comprising a substrate and a group of contacts thereon, the substrate being elongate and at least one contact being elongate in a direction at an acute angle to the direction of elongation of the substrate.

57. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, at least one contact being elongate in a direction at an acute angle to the direction of insertion of the cartridge into a printer.

58. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container having an ink supply opening, and a tube leading to the ink supply opening to receive an ink withdrawal needle of a printer, the tube defining an axis, the cartridge further including a memory device and a group of contacts for the memory device, at least one contact being elongate in a direction at an acute angle to the axis of the tube.

59. An ink cartridge as claimed in claim 58, wherein the contacts are on a board and the plane of the board is parallel to the axis of the tube.

60. An ink cartridge for a printer, the cartridge comprising a container with an ink supply opening in the bottom wall, and a retaining member which is resiliently moveable towards one side wall of the container, the retaining member having an outwardly protruding engagement part and acting to retain the cartridge in the printer, the cartridge further comprising a top member extending from the top wall of the container, such that an user can place a finger and thumb of one hand on opposite sides of the retaining member and top member in order to draw the retaining member towards the top member to release engagement of the outwardly protruding engagement part with the printer so that the cartridge can be removed from the printer.

61. An ink cartridge for mounting on a recording apparatus having a pressing member and a receiving part, said ink cartridge comprising: an ink container having an upper wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall intersecting the bottom wall and a second side wall intersecting the bottom wall and facing the first side wall; an ink supply port disposed on the bottom wall in an offset position closer to the first side wall than to the second side wall; a retaining member disposed on the first side wall engageable with the receiving part of the recording apparatus when the ink cartridge is mounted on the recording apparatus; and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the second side wall and electrically connected to a memory unit disposed on the ink container; part of the upper wall forming a press portion for being pressed downwardly by the pressing member of the recording apparatus.