EP2022637A2 - Device for refilling a colour cartridge for an ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has a print head comprising a nozzle or ink outlet opening coupled to an ink supply of an inkjet head. The nozzle of the print head is in fluid connection directly with an ink storage element arranged in an interior of an ink cartridge. A ventilation opening (7) formed in an ink container (11) is openable during docking of the ink cartridge. The ink container comprises an ink outlet for a capillary element (4), where an outlet is openable during docking of the ink cartridge. An exhaust channel (20) is arranged at the capillary element.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for refilling an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the present case, it is about the refilling of an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer with ink. It is to distinguish between cartridges with integrated printheads on the one hand and cartridges with a dockable to the ink supply port of an ink jet head Tintenauslaßöffnung. The aforementioned printheads include a plurality of very fine jet nozzles through which the ink is transferred to a print carrier. In multi-color ink cartridges, a predetermined number of jet nozzles are assigned to a predetermined color, respectively. In the case of cartridges having an ink outlet opening which can be coupled to the ink supply of an inkjet head, a wick is usually arranged therein, which is in fluid connection with an ink storage element arranged inside the ink cartridge and consisting of absorbent material.

In cartridges with integrated printheads, the aforesaid nozzles are directly in fluid communication with the ink storage element disposed within the cartridge. The ink storage element is made of either fibrous material or foam. Since this is a known measure in this respect, a more detailed description of the same is unnecessary here. In the meantime, there are other "negative pressure generating mechanisms" which ensure a metered supply of ink to the nozzles or to the ink outlet opening. Because also these mechanisms memory function In the following, they should also fall under the term "ink storage element".

Cartridges with integrated printheads need to be broken up and resealed very carefully to refill with ink. The effort is correspondingly large and not profitable for cartridges with small quantities.

Furthermore, so-called syringe refill systems are known for cartridges of the aforementioned type, by means of which an original cartridge can be refilled. The respective sets include a drill, a hot glue gun, at least four syringes with cannula, ink, conventional rubber band, and closure means. The aforementioned systems are commercially available. However, they are characterized by unwieldiness and disproportionate effort in terms of material and tools.

Alternatively, so-called "compatible cartridges" are offered, which do not include electronics. The electronics must then be remounted from the empty original cartridge. Again, this requires skill and tools as well as glue.

Cartridges with integrated printhead are very expensive to buy in the so-called recycling market. They are then mechanically opened, cleaned and replaced with a new ink storage element, e.g. Sponge or the like provided. Subsequently, replacement ink is filled and the cartridge closed again All this work can actually be done only at a special refill company, not by the user.

The prior art should be further pointed to the DE 197 37 177 A1 such as WO 2004/091919 A1 , These documents can be a device for refilling an ink cartridge with an attachable to the ink supply of an ink jet head Tintenauslaßöffnung according to the preamble of claim 1 are taken.

In this prior art, however, no measures are taken to avoid accidental leakage from the ink container, whether it be through the vent or through the capillary. Accordingly, the present invention has for its object to provide a device for refilling an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer, which is not only easy to manufacture and in particular easy to handle, so that they are also available to the end user can be controlled without further notice, but also characterized by the fact that an accidental leakage is avoided from the ink tank. It should be noted that the device should be equally effective for cartridges with integrated printheads and cartridges with a dockable to the ink supply of an ink jet head Tintenauslaßöffnung.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1, wherein advantageous developments and design details are described in the dependent claims. In this regard, reference is also made in particular to the measures according to claims 8, 11, 17 and 18, for which protection is also claimed independently of the measures according to claim 1 f, which serve to prevent inadvertent escape of ink from the ink container of the device ,

The at least one venting groove according to claim 8 ensures that the capillary element is not hindered by trapped air when refilling an ink cartridge. Without such a vent groove, it may happen that the capillary element receives residual ink from the ink cartridge to be filled from above and thus prevents the air in the capillary element can escape, with the result that no further ink from below from the ink tank is sucked.

The measures according to claim 11 relate to a special positioning and clamping technique for the ink cartridge to the refilling device, in adaptation to the shape of the ink cartridge, wherein the positioning and clamping takes place so that a capillary connection between the capillary and within the cartridge arranged ink storage element is ensured.

Claims 17 and 18 relate to measures for adapting to multi-color ink cartridges, i. Ink cartridges with at least two ink chambers for holding different color ink. These measures are not necessarily dependent on the measures against leakage according to claims 1 f

Finally, it should be mentioned that even for the measures according to claim 10 regardless of the measures according to claim 1 f protection is claimed. Claim 10 is directed to the fact that the capillary is capillary decoupled from the this limiting ink cartridge positioning surface, in particular in the form of a circumferential recess. Specifically, the capillary element is delimited by a rib extending at a small distance, which forms an annular gap facing the capillary element on the one hand and on the other hand, a circumferential groove facing away from the capillary in the positioning surface. In the above-mentioned annular gap, excess ink can accumulate, in particular in the region between the rib and the pressure element with jet nozzles associated therewith, which is located on the underside of the ink cartridge or on one of the ink cartridges. However, the capillary connection between the aforementioned area and the remainder of the positioning surface of the ink tank of the refilling apparatus is interrupted by the outer circumferential groove defining the rib. Thus, no ink reaches the associated area of the ink cartridge or the print head. Contamination of the cartridge used in the area outside of the aforementioned rib is certainly avoided.

The device according to the invention thus includes a so-called "capillary refill system". For filling, the capillary suction force of the ink cartridge to be filled or of the ink storage element arranged inside it is utilized. The system has a generally flat shaped ink container of sufficiently high stability having a capillary element, in particular in the form of a wick, which is fluidly connectable to the ink to be replenished. This capillary or wick exits at the top of the container and is positioned so that with the attached ink cartridge, i. either a capillary connection is produced with the nozzles of the integrated print head or with the ink outlet opening which can be coupled to the ink supply of an inkjet head. The container has a ventilation or pressure equalization opening, which is opened only when docking the ink cartridge. This ensures that ink can be absorbed capillary by the attached ink cartridge unhindered. This ventilation opening can also serve to fill the ink tank.

Thus, according to the invention, the ink storage element of the ink cartridge can be easily refilled with a portion of ink, without the use of tools and within a few minutes. There is also no danger that the user will be contaminated with ink. In particular serve the characterizing measures of claim 1.

With the device according to the invention ink portions can be provided with different coloration by the trade. It is a disposable item. OEM cartridges can be filled several times by means of the device according to the invention. The filling can also be done via the nozzles of integrated printheads.

No additional pressure is required to fill the ink cartridge. The ink storage element in the cartridge, e.g. Sponge or fiber material or the like, sucks in ink until saturation occurs. Therefore, overfilling of the cartridge is not possible. As already mentioned, the device according to the invention is also designed so that a contact with open ink eliminates, so that a corresponding risk of contamination of the user or the environment is avoided. The risk of injury, such as the syringe refill system does not exist. Also, with the device according to the invention, an ink cartridge can be refilled much faster than e.g. with a syringe in which the cartridge must be drilled first before it can be refilled After refilling the corresponding hole must be closed again. All this work takes longer and requires a not inconsiderable skill. In addition, separate tools are required. All these disadvantages are avoided with the device according to the invention. The ink portions are sized so that no residual ink remains in the ink container according to the invention.

Experiments have shown that the ink storage element of the ink cartridge is completely filled after about 30 to a maximum of 60 minutes of suction time. That is, after this period, the ink storage element is saturated.

The aeration or pressure compensation opening mentioned above is preferably dimensioned so that the external barrier pressure is always greater than the discharge pressure, so that no ink should leak from the container through the mentioned opening. However, if the ink tank is moved a bit awkwardly, there is still the risk of leakage. To avoid this danger, the vent is associated with a valve which is openable only when docking an ink cartridge.

Also, the capillary element associated with the ink outlet according to the invention a valve associated with which only releases the fluid connection between the refill ink in the container of the device and the capillary when an ink cartridge is docked.

The capillary element, which is preferably designed as a rod-like wick or as a cuboid cushion, is dimensioned and arranged so that it can be brought into contact either with the nozzles formed in the print head of the ink cartridge or with a wick disposed in the ink outlet opening of the ink cartridge wherein, in the latter case, the wick of the ink container is made of softer material than the wick of the ink cartridge, so that the wick of the ink cartridge is not deformed by the contact with the wick of the ink container. This is important to ensure the fluid connection between the ink cartridge and the ink supply of an ink jet head, even after refilling the cartridge.

Fig 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Wiederbefüllungs-Voirichtung in perspektivischer Ansicht von schräg oben;

Fig. 2

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig.. 1 im Querschnitt;

Fig. 3

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig.. 1 im Längsschnitt;

Fig.. 4

die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 im Längsschnitt unter Darstellung des Andockens einer Tintenpatrone mit integriertem Druckkopf;

Fig. 5

die Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 4 mit angedockter Tintenpatrone;

Fig. 6

die Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 4 oder 5 unter Darstellung der Entfernung einer wiederbefüllten Tintenpatrone;

Fig. 7

eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 5 für eine mit einem Eckvorsprung versehene Tintenpatrone, an die die Wiederbefüllungs-Vorrichtung zum Zwecke der Andockung der Tintenpatrone entsprechend angepaßt ist.

Hereinafter, further advantages and design details of the refilling device according to the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a refilling Voirichtung invention in a perspective view obliquely from above;

Fig. 2

the device according to Fig. 1 in cross-section;

Fig. 3

the device according to Fig. 1 in longitudinal section;

Fig. 4

the device according to Fig. 1 in longitudinal section, showing the docking of an ink cartridge with integrated printhead;

Fig. 5

the presentation accordingly Fig. 4 with docked ink cartridge;

Fig. 6

the presentation accordingly Fig. 4 or 5 showing the removal of a refilled ink cartridge;

Fig. 7

a representation accordingly Fig. 5 for a corner projection ink cartridge, to which the refilling device is adapted for the purpose of docking the ink cartridge.

In the FIGS. 1 to 6 is a first embodiment of an apparatus 10 for refilling an ink cartridge 1 for an ink jet printer with a printhead 16 comprising nozzles (see FIG 4 to 6 ) are shown in various views and sections, wherein the nozzles of the print head 16 in the illustrated embodiment, directly in fluid communication with an arranged inside the ink cartridge ink storage element of absorbent material This ink storage element is in the FIGS. 4 to 6 not shown concretely, since it is known per se
Action is. The same applies to the integrated printhead with nozzles. The apparatus 10 comprises one with ink 19 (see FIG Fig. 4 ) filled container 11 with a pressure equalization or ventilation opening 7 on the one hand and a further opening 18 through which a fluid zugeverbind with the ink 19 capillary element in the form of a cuboid Wicktkissens 4 extends, to which the ink cartridge 1 and its ink storage element fluidly, ie dockable to produce a capillary fluid connection.

The formed in the ink tank 11 vent 7 is designed so that they only when docking the ink cartridge 1 according to the FIGS. 4 and 5 opens. For this purpose, the ventilation opening 7 is associated with a valve 8, which is only moved when docking the ink cartridge through this in the open position accordingly Fig. 5 ,

The ink tank 11 further has a separate ink outlet 17, which is formed in the bottom 6 of the container 11 and opens into a bottom-side connecting channel 5 to the capillary element 4. This ink outlet 17 is preferably also apparent only when docking the ink cartridge 1. For this purpose, the ink outlet 17 is associated with a valve 9.

In the illustrated embodiment, the vent 7 and the ink outlet 17 associated valve 8 and 9, a common valve tappet 12 with one of the ventilation opening 7 on the one hand and the ink outlet 17 on the other associated valve body 13 and 14, so that by actuation of the valve lifter 12th when docking the ink cartridge 1 both valve body 13 and 14 either simultaneously or successively the vent 7, this preferably first, and the ink outlet 17 release or open, or vice versa upon removal of the ink cartridge 1 from the capillary 4. This construction is particularly simple because it contains two valves within a common component. This component or the valve tappet 12 is advantageously against the action of an elastic element, here against the action of a helical compression spring 3 from the Ventilschließ- in the valve opening position movable This ensures that with the removal of the ink cartridge 1, both the ventilation opening 7 and the ink outlet 17 be closed automatically. Ink 19 still present in the container 11 can then no longer escape from the container 11 even if the device is handled improperly.

Of particular interest is still that the ink outlet 17 associated valve body 14 is formed as a valve plate made of flexible material The peripheral edge of the flexurally elastic valve disk 14 is associated with a circumferential rib 15 within the Tintenauslasses 17, wherein prior to first use of the device or prior to actuation of the ink outlet 17 associated valve 9, the peripheral edge of the valve disk 14 at the ink cartridge docking side of the container 11 facing or upper side the circumferential rib 15 (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 ), and after use or after removal of a refilled cartridge 1 on the opposite or lower side of the circumferential rib 15 sealingly abuts (see Fig. 6 ), in the illustrated embodiment in each case with slight curvature of the valve disk 14 in the limited by the circumferential rib 15 Tintenauslaßöffnung 17 into it. The valve disk 14 is thus concave deformed in the delivery state and after reclosing the Tintenauslasses 17 convex. This has the advantage that very little force is required to actuate the valve stem 12 and closes the concave sealing disc correspondingly better with increased internal pressure.

In the open position of the ink outlet 17 associated valve 9, the valve plate 14 extends accordingly Fig. 5 approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plunger 12, that is approximately flat. In this position, the ink outlet 17 is opened to the maximum and a fluid connection between the capillary element 4 and the ink 19 within the container 11 via the bottom-side connecting channel 5 is made. Of course, this also means that the capillary element is not in contact with ink prior to first use of the described refilling device. The capillary element is brought into contact with the ink 19 in the container 11 only when a cartridge 1 to be refilled is docked.

As already stated in the introduction, the capillary element 4 is assigned at least one, in the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of venting grooves 20 which extend between the capillary element and the container opening 18 comprising this. These ensure that the capillary is not obstructed when filling an ink cartridge by trapped air. Without these ventilation grooves there is a risk that the capillary element receives residual ink from the cartridge 1 to be refilled from above and then prevents the air in the capillary element from escaping. The trapped in the capillary then air prevents sucking ink from the container 11. The aforementioned vent grooves, which preferably extend over almost the entire height of the capillary 4 (see Fig. 2 ) thus allow lateral escape of air enclosed within the hapillaxelements 4 to the outside. Thus, the operability of the capillary element 4 is ensured in each phase of the refilling of the ink cartridge 1.

Preferably, a plurality of evenly distributed over the circumference of the capillary 4 around arranged vent grooves 20 are formed, as in Fig. 1 is indicated.

Fig. 1 further reveals that the capillary element 4 is capillary decoupled from the this limiting ink cartridge positioning surface 21, in the form of a circumferential rib 22 between a circumferential recess or groove 23 on the one hand and a circumferential gap 24 to the capillary towards. The function of this capillary decoupling has already been explained in the introduction. The rib together with outer circumferential groove-like depression prevents ink from spreading capillary on the underside 2 of the docked ink cartridge, in particular on the underside of an integrated printhead of an ink cartridge. Thus, unwanted and in particular uncontrolled contamination of the ink cartridge during refilling can be avoided.

It should be noted that the bottom 6 of the container 11 is formed as a gravitational bottom, in particular to the ink outlet 17 drops out. For a complete emptying of the ink container 11 is ensured in the refilling of an ink cartridge 1

Furthermore, it should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, the capillary element 4 extends through the bottom 25 of a trough-like depression 26 at the top of the ink container 11, into the trough-like depression 26, as for example Fig. 2 , but also Fig. 1 very good. The upper side of the bottom 25 of the trough-like depression 26 defines the already mentioned positioning surface 21 for the ink cartridge or an integrated print head 16 thereof. The valve tappet 12 already mentioned above also extends upward through the trough bottom 25 and limits the ventilation opening associated with this valve tappet 12 7 (see Fig. 1 ).

The trough-like depression is also designed so that within the same, the ink cartridge or a print head of the same can be accurately positioned and held. The outline of the trough-like depression 26 corresponds to e.g. the outline of an associated printhead 16th

The container 11 of the device containing the ink to be replenished 19 may be at least partially made of transparent material, preferably plastic, in order to be able to recognize both the fill level and the color of the ink.

In particular, the container, if it is designed for multiple filling, may be provided with bar marks to determine how many ink portions are still in the container. It is also any other type of level indicator conceivable, for example in the form of a float with a at the top of the container through this outwardly extending float needle with the level indicating markings Preferably then the float needle is encapsulated in relation to the external environment, so that in this respect no Leakage problems occur

In the illustrated embodiment, the container 11 is formed in two parts. It consists of an upper part on the one hand and bottom part on the other. In the bottom part of the already mentioned connecting channel 5 is integrated, while the upper part comprises the trough-like depression 26 together with associated openings for valve tappet 12 and capillary element 4.

Based on Fig. 7 a refill device adapted to a specific ink cartridge will be described, with parts already described with reference to FIGS FIGS. 1 to 6 have been described, each used the same reference numerals. Accordingly, the device 10 according to Fig. 7 to a device for refilling an ink cartridge 1 with a locking projection 27 at a front corner, namely at the corner between the integrated print head 16 and the immediately adjacent end face 28 of the ink cartridge 1. For this purpose, the ink tank 11 at its docking side, namely Top of the cartridge projection 27 complementary recess 29 into which the cartridge-side corner projection 27 when docking plugged or clickable or latched and when removing the cartridge 1 from the ink tank 11 is correspondingly solvable. When inserting or clicking or latching into the recess 29, the ink cartridge 1 relative to the capillary 4 can be precisely positioned and hold. The corresponding recess 29 is formed in the front corner region of the trough-like recess 26, as in Fig. 7 is recognizable.

The container-side recess 29 is in the illustrated embodiment, also a stop rib 30 associated with in the recess 29 obliquely extending clamping surface 31 so that the ink cartridge 1 essentially only by the jamming of its corner projection 27 within the associated recess 29 on the ink tank 11th is positioned and held (see Fig. 7 ).

The stop rib 30 cooperates both with the end face 28 and with the top of the corner projection 27 of the ink cartridge 1.

Preferably, the container comprises two stop ribs 30 on both sides of the trough-like recess 26 accordingly Fig. 1 , In between, a further central support rib 32 may be provided, which acts against the end face 28 of the ink cartridge and this urges against the capillary 4, in the direction of the arrow 33 in Fig. 7 ,

As already mentioned in the introduction, the ink container 11 may comprise two or more chambers for receiving ink of different color and / or consistency and capillary elements associated with these chambers, these capillary elements being arranged side by side so as to be in contact only with the respective ink nozzles of a printhead or Farbauslaßöffnungen a wiederzubefüllenden ink cartridge can be brought.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable that a set of at least two ink tanks (11) with capillary element (4) is provided for a multi-color ink cartridge with printhead and nozzles, the nozzles being associated with particular colors, or with multiple outlets for each color wherein the capillary elements are arranged at respectively different positions corresponding to the color-associated nozzles or Tintenauslaßöffnungen the ink cartridge.

All disclosed in the application documents features are claimed as essential to the invention, as far as they are new individually or in combination over the prior art.

Reference numerals:

1

ink cartridge

2

Bottom of the ink cartridge or bottom of the integrated printhead

3

compression spring

4

Capillary element (wick or wick)

5

connecting channel

6

ground

7

ventilation opening

8th

(Ventilation) valve

9

(Ink outlet) valve

10

Device for refilling

11

ink tank

12

tappet

13

valve body

14

Valve body or valve disk

15

circumferential rib

16

printhead

17

ink outlet

18

Receiving opening for capillary element

19

ink

20

vent grooves

21

positioning

22

circumferential rib

23

circumferential groove

24

circumferential gap

25

ground

26

trough-like depression

27

locking projection

28

Face of the ink cartridge

29

deepening

30

stop rib

31

clamping surface

32

supporting rib

Claims (18)

Apparatus (10) for refilling an ink cartridge (1) for an ink jet printer, comprising a printhead (16) comprising nozzles, or having an ink outlet port coupled to the ink supply of an ink jet head, wherein either the nozzles of the printhead (16) are direct or ink supply an ink-jet head which can be coupled to an ink-jet head, in particular via a wick and / or a valve or a direct fluid connection, are in fluid connection with an ink storage element arranged inside the ink cartridge and comprise, for example, an absorbent material or a negative pressure generating mechanism, with an ink-filled ink storage element Container (11) having a ventilation opening (7) on the one hand and a further opening (18) on the other hand, through which extends a capillary element (4) which can be fluid-connected with the ink (19) and to which the ink cartridge (1) or its ink storage element under He setting of a capillary fluid connection can be docked,
characterized in that - The formed in the ink tank (11) ventilation opening (7) only when docking the ink cartridge (1) is apparent, and that - The ink container (11) has a, in particular also only when docking the ink cartridge (1) openable ink outlet (17) to the capillary element (4). Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
both the ventilation opening (7) and the ink outlet (17) is assigned in each case a valve (8 or 9) which can be actuated by the docking of the ink cartridge (1). Device according to claim 2,
characterized in that
the vent (7) and the ink outlet (17) associated with valve (8 or 9) have a common valve stem (12) with one of the ventilation opening (7) on the one hand and the ink outlet (17) on the other hand associated valve body (13 or 14) so that by actuation of the valve stem (12) when docking the ink cartridge (1), the two valve bodies (13, 14) either simultaneously or successively release or open the ventilation opening (7) and the ink outlet (17), or vice versa upon removal the ink cartridge (1) from the capillary element (4) Device according to claim 3,
characterized in that
the valve stem (12) against the action of an elastic element, in particular a helical compression spring (3) from the valve closing in the valve opening position is movable. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that
the valve body associated with the ink outlet (17) is a valve plate (14) of flexurally elastic material. Device according to claim 5,
characterized in that
the circumferential edge of the flexurally elastic valve plate (14) is associated with a peripheral rib (15) within the Tintenauslasses (17), wherein prior to first use of the device or prior to actuation of the Tintenauslaß (17) associated valve (9), the peripheral edge of the valve disc (14 ) on the ink cartridge docking side of the ink tank (11) facing upper side of the circumferential rib (15), and sealingly after use or after removal of a refilled ink cartridge (1) on the opposite or lower side of the circumferential rib (15), especially in each case under slight curvature of the valve disk (14) into the ink outlet opening (17) delimited by the peripheral rib (15). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that
the ink outlet (17) is arranged on the underside or in the bottom (6) of the ink container (11) and can be fluid-connected to the capillary element (4) via a bottom-side channel (5). Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, in particular according to the preamble of claim 1,
characterized in that
the capillary element (4) is associated with at least one vent groove (20). Device according to claim 8,
characterized in that
a plurality of approximately evenly over the circumference of the capillary (4) arranged around arranged vent grooves (20) within the receiving opening (18) for the capillary (4) are formed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, in particular according to the preamble of claim 1,
characterized in that
the capillary element (4) is capillaryly decoupled from the limiting this ink cartridge positioning surface (21), in particular in the form of a circumferential rib (22) between a circumferential, in particular groove-like depression (23) on the one hand and around the capillary element (4) around Gap (24) on the other Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, in particular according to the preamble of claim 1, for the refilling of an ink cartridge (1) with a locking projection (27) at an end corner, in particular at the corner between an integrated printhead (16) and the immediately adjacent end face (28) of the ink cartridge (1),
characterized in that
the ink container (11) on its docking side, namely top side of the cartridge side corner projection (27) complementary recess (29), in which the Cartridge-side corner projection (27) when docking, in particular with locking as snapping or clicking, hineinsteckbar and removal of the cartridge (1) from the ink tank (11) or its capillary element (4) is detachable from this Device according to claim 11,
characterized in that
the container-side depression (29) is associated with at least one stop rib (30) with clamping surface (31) extending obliquely into the depression (29), so that the ink cartridge (1) essentially only by the jamming of its corner projection (27) within the associated recess (29) in the ink container (11) is positioned and held Device according to one of claims 1 to 12,
characterized in that
the bottom (6) of the container (11) is designed as a gravitational bottom, in particular drops towards the ink outlet (17). Device according to one of claims 1 to 13,
characterized in that
the capillary element is designed in the manner of a wick or wick pad (4). Device according to one of claims 1 to 14,
characterized in that
the capillary member (4) extends through the bottom (25) of a trough-like depression (26) at the top of the ink container (11) Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that
the valve tappet (12) associated with the ventilation opening (7) and / or the ink outlet (17) extends through the ink cartridge positioning surface (21), in particular through the bottom (25) of a trough-like depression (26) on the upper side of the ink tank (11) extended so that it is movable when the ink cartridge (1) to the capillary element (4) in the valve opening position, or vice versa upon removal of the ink cartridge (1) from the capillary (4) Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, in particular according to the preamble of claim 1,
characterized in that
the ink container (11) has at least two chambers for receiving ink of different colors and capillary elements associated with these chambers, these capillary elements being arranged side by side so that they are only in contact with the respective ink nozzles of a print head or with the respective color ink outlet openings of an ink cartridge to be refilled ( 1) can be brought. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, in particular according to the preamble of claim 1,
characterized in that
for a multi-color ink cartridge with integrated printhead and nozzles, each nozzle being associated with particular colors, or having a plurality of ink outlet ports for each color, a set of at least two ink tanks (11) with capillary element (4), the capillary elements ( 4) are arranged at respectively different positions corresponding to the color associated nozzles or Tintenauslaßöffnungen the ink cartridge (1).

Images