GB2460862A

GB2460862A - Ink cartidges

Info

Publication number: GB2460862A
Application number: GB0810799A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Mccue; Steven Peach
Original assignee: McCue PLC
Current assignee: McCue PLC
Priority date: 2008-06-12
Filing date: 2008-06-12
Publication date: 2009-12-16
Also published as: GB0810799D0

Abstract

An ink cartridge filling apparatus 1 for filling a printer ink cartridge (22,30)with ink from an ink cassette, including fluid transfer means 16 arranged to receive a said ink cassette and to place the ink cassette in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge to be filled via the fluid transfer means, and control means arranged to read a machine-readable control instruction and to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge according to the control instruction.

Description

Ink Cartridges The present invention relates to the replenishment filling or refilling of printer cartridges such as ink jet printer cartridges, and to methods and apparatus for filling such cartridges, and to cartridges for such filling.

Printers, such as ink jet printers, employ an ink container, known as a cartridge, for supplying ink to a print head for use by the printer in printing documents and the like. Many ink jet printers employ replaceable printer cartridges to enable new supplies of ink to be provided to the printer when a current cartridge has been exhausted of ink. In many cases, a replaceable cartridge such as this comprises a simple ink container vessel incorporating a print head in fluid communication with ink within the vessel. In such cases, an ink jet printer employing such a cartridge will employ the ink head of the cartridge when printing using ink therefrom.

It is very common for replaceable inkjet cartridges to be sold as a one-use product to be discarded once exhausted of ink, and replaced with a new cartridge. This is not only wasteful of resources (e.g. an otherwise functional, though empty, cartridge), but is also expensive since each such cartridge comprises a print head including a valuable component.

A method for refilling ink cartridges (of any type), and apparatus for this purpose is desirable. Existing such refilling methods and apparatus include simple nozzle-/ and-pipe refilling arrangements in which a nozzle or needle is inserted into an empty inkjet cartridge vessel and supplied with ink from a desired ink source via a pipe connecting the former to the latter. This simple methodology takes no account of the state of the inkjet cartridge or the needle or pipe or refilling arrangement, any of which may contain undesirable articles such as old (e.g. prior) ink, gas bubbles, dirt or other contaminants or obstructions.

The present invention aims to provide apparatus and methods which may be used to address these limitations.

In a first of its aspects, the invention may provide an ink cartridge filling or replenishing apparatus for filling or replenishing a printer ink cartridge with ink from an ink cassette, including fluid transfer means arranged to receive a said ink cassette and to place the ink cassette in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge to be filled or replenished via the fluid transfer means, and control means arranged to read a machine-readable control instruction (e.g. external to the control means) and to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge according to the control instruction.

The apparatus may include an ink cassette for containing ink and bearing a data carrier containing a said machine-readable control instruction to which the control means is adapted to be responsive.

The control means may be arranged to control the fluid transfer means to transfer from a said ink cassette to a said ink cartridge a volume of ink specified by the control instruction.

The fluid transfer means may include a waste fluid means for receiving waste fluid from an ink cartridge received by the fluid transfer means. The control means may be arranged to control the fluid transfer means to transfer to the waste fluid means waste fluid from a received ink cartridge according to the control instruction.

The fluid transfer means may include a vacuum pump arranged to reduce pressure within the fluid transfer means to urge the transfer of fluid therein. The control means may be arranged to control the operation of the vacuum pump according to the control instruction.

The fluid transfer means may be arranged to receive an ink cartridge comprising a print head at a print head receiving means thereof to place the ink cassette in fluid communication with the print head via a fluid transfer means. The control means may be arranged to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the print head receiving means according to the control instruction.

In another of its aspects, the invention may provide an ink cassette arranged for containing ink and bearing a data carrier containing a machine-readable instruction adapted for use in an ink cartridge filling or replenishment apparatus according to the invention in the first, or any other aspect of the invention. V 4

It will be appreciated that the invention described above realises a method of filling or replenishing an ink cartridge for a printer, with ink. Such a method is encompassed by the invention in a further aspect.

In a second of its aspects, the invention may provide a method of filling or replenishing a printer ink cartridge with ink including, providing an ink cassette containing ink and bearing a data carrier containing a machine-readable control instruction, providing fluid transfer means for transferring fluid, providing control means adapted to control the fluid transfer means according to a control instruction, causing the control means to read the control instruction contained in said data carrier, placing the ink cassette in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge to be filled or replenished via the fluid transfer means, and via the control means controlling the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge according to the control instruction.

The method may include controlling the fluid transfer means to transfer from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge a volume of ink specified by the control instruction.

The method may include causing the control means to operate according to the instruction to transfer waste fluid from a received ink cartridge.

The method may include providing a vacuum pump arranged to reduce pressure within the fluid transfer means to urge the transfer of fluid therein. The method may further include causing the control means to operate according to the control instruction to control the operation of the vacuum pump.

The method may include placing the ink cassette in fluid communication with a print head of the ink cartridge via the fluid transfer means, and causing the control means to operate according to the control instruction to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the print head.

In a second of its aspects, the invention may provide a method of replenishing a printer ink cartridge with ink, including providing an ink cassette containing ink and bearing a machine-readable information item containing an instruction, placing the ink cassette in fluid communication with an ink cartridge via a fluid transfer means, providing control means to read the machine-readable information item and to control the fluid transfer means to transfer from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge a volume of ink specified by the instruction.

The method may include operating the control means according to the instruction to transfer waste fluid from a received ink cartridge.

The method may include providing a vacuum pump arranged to reduce pressure within the fluid transfer means to urge the transfer of fluid therein and operating the control means according to the instruction to control the operation of the vacuum pump.

The ink cassette may be placed, according to the method, in fluid communication with a print head of the ink cartridge via the fluid transfer means, and operating the control means according to the instruction to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the print head.

In a third of its aspects, the invention may provide an ink cartridge filling apparatus for filling an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer with ink from a source of ink including; ink cartridge receiving means operable to form a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from a said source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber, wherein the fluid inlet means is arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink inlet of an ink cartridge and concurrently the fluid outlet means is arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a print head of the ink cartridge when received within said vacuum chamber, pressure control means operable to control fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.

The fluid inlet means may comprise a nozzle arranged to be inserted into a said ink cartridge when received within the vacuum chamber.

The fluid outlet means may be arranged to fluidically communicate with a said ink cartridge only via a print head thereof when the ink cartridge is received within the vacuum chamber.

The ink cartridge receiving means may include a first adaptor part including the fluid inlet means and a second adaptor part including the fluid outlet means arranged to separably cooperate with the first adaptor part to form the vacuum chamber.

The first adaptor part may comprise first positioning means arranged to receive a part of a said ink cartridge including said ink inlet thereby to position the ink inlet in register with the fluid inlet means.

The second adaptor part may include second positioning means arranged to receive a part of a said ink cartridge including said print head thereby to position the print head in register with the fluid outlet means.

The first adaptor part may be arranged to cooperate with the second adaptor part to provide a sealing interface therebetween to form said vacuum chamber.

It will be appreciated that the invention in its third aspect realises a corresponding method of filling an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, and such a method is encompassed within the invention in a further aspect.

In a fourth aspect, the invention may provide a method of filling an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer with ink from a source of ink including; receiving an ink cartridge within a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from a said source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber, placing the fluid inlet means in fluid communication with an ink inlet of the ink cartridge and concurrently placing the fluid outlet means in fluid communication with a print head of the ink cartridge within said vacuum chamber, controlling fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.

The method may include providing the fluid inlet means with a nozzle and inserting the nozzle into a said ink cartridge received within the vacuum chamber.

The method may include placing the fluid outlet means in fluid communication with the ink cartridge only via the print head thereof.

The method may include forming said vacuum chamber using a first adaptor part including the fluid inlet means and a second adaptor part including the fluid outlet means arranged to separably cooperate with the first adaptor part to form the vacuum chamber.

The method may include using a shaping of the first adaptor part to position the ink inlet of the received ink cartridge in register with the fluid inlet means.

A shaping of the second adaptor part may be used to position the print head of the received ink cartridge in register with the fluid outlet means.

The method may comprise forming said vacuum chamber by placing the first adaptor part in cooperation with the second adaptor part to provide a sealing interface therebetween.

In a fifth of its aspects, the invention may provide an ink cartridge filling apparatus for filling an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink, including fluid conduit means arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a said source of ink and a said ink cartridge concurrently, a fluid transfer means comprising a vacuum pump means arranged to be placed in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means to vary fluid pressure therein to urge fluid along the fluid conduit means, the fluid transfer means also comprising a rotary fluid pump means operable to transfer along the fluid conduit means a volume of said urged fluid substantially proportional to the number of pump cycles performed by the rotary fluid pump means.

The apparatus may include ink cartridge receiving means arranged for receiving an ink cartridge in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the rotary pump means and the vacuum pump means thereby to permit fluid to be urged from the rotary fluid pump means via an ink cartridge when received in the ink cartridge receiving means.

An ink source receiving means may be included in the apparatus, being arranged to receive a source of ink in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, wherein the rotary fluid pump means is arranged in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the ink source receiving means thereby to permit fluid to be urged from the ink source receiving means via the rotary fluid pump means.

The fluid conduit means may be operable to place the ink source receiving means in fluid communication concurrently with the fluid pump means and the vacuum pump means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the rotary fluid pump means to permit fluid to be urged from the ink source receiving means via other than the rotary fluid pump means.

The ink cartridge receiving means may be operable to form a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from a said source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber. The fluid inlet means may be arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink inlet of an ink cartridge and concurrently the fluid outlet means may be arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink outlet of the ink cartridge when received within said vacuum chamber.

The fluid transfer means may include pressure control means operable to control fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.

It will be appreciated that the invention in its fifth aspect realises a corresponding method of filling an ink cartridge, and the invention encompasses such a method in an additional aspect.

The invention, in a sixth of its aspects, may provide a method for filling an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink, including; placing an ink cartridge in fluid communication with a source of ink via fluid conduit means, providing a vacuum pump means in fluid corrirriunication with the fluid conduit means and varying fluid pressure therein to urge fluid along the fluid conduit means, providing a rotary fluid pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means and therewith transferring along the fluid conduit means a volume of said urged fluid substantially proportional to the number of pump cycles performed by the rotary fluid pump means.

The method may include placing an ink cartridge in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the rotary fluid pump means and the vacuum pump means, and operating the vacuum pump means to urge fluid from the rotary fluid pump means via the ink cartridge so received.

The method may include receiving a source of ink in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, providing the rotary fluid pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the ink source receiving means. The vacuum pump means may be operated to urge fluid from the ink source receiving means via the rotary fluid pump means.

The method may include placing the source of ink in fluid communication concurrently with the rotary fluid pump means and the vacuum pump means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the rotary fluid pump means. The method may include operating the vacuum pump means to urge fluid from the ink source receiving means via other than the rotary fluid pump means.

The method may include receiving an ink cartridge within a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from the source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber, and placing the fluid inlet means in fluid communication with an ink inlet of the ink cartridge and concurrently the fluid outlet means in fluid communication with an ink outlet of the ink cartridge received within said vacuum chamber.

Fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber may be controlled according to the method to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.

At its most general, in one of its aspects, the invention proposed is to prepare an empty or depleted or exhausted ink printer cartridge (e.g. inkjet) for filling or replenishment with ink or replacement ink by flushing-out the remnant ink therefrom using replacement ink. It has been found that one of the most suitable solvents for ink is ink itself. Thus, remnant ink in an exhausted inkjet cartridge, which may have partly dried or solidified/crystallised within the vessel and/or print head of the ink cartridge, may be dissolved by the new ink inserted into the cartridge and then removed. This provides an effective and efficient way to clean an exhausted inkjet cartridge of old ink, and blockages caused thereby, prior to replenishment replacement ink.

Any replacement ink remaining within the cartridge after it has been flushed out will itself not constitute a contaminant or obstacle since it is the same as the replacement, and fluid, ink which will replenish the cartridge post-flush.

Thus, in a seventh of its aspects, the invention may provide a method of replenishing an ink printer (e.g. inkjet) ink cartridge by inserting replacement ink into the ink cartridge, draining the ink cartridge of replacement ink to flush out from the ink cartridge existing ink therein using the replacement ink, and inserting replacement ink into the ink cartridge to replenish the ink cartridge.

The initial step of inserting replacement ink into the ink cartridge preferably includes inserting no more than an amount insufficient to fully replenish the ink cartridge. For example, a volume of replacement ink of between 2% and 30% of the ink-holding capacity of ink cartridge may be so inserted. More preferably between 2% and 10% volume may be so inserted for the purposes of flushing-out existing ink.

The method may include initially removing from the ink cartridge existing ink (if any) within the ink cartridge.

For example, existing fluid or freely moveably existing ink may be removed initially (e.g. pumped, sucked, drained from the cartridge) . The method may include the step of draining the ink cartridge of existing ink therein prior to inserting replacement ink therein.

The step of draining the ink cartridge of replacement ink may include draining such replacement ink via a print head of the ink cartridge, or via any other ink outlet of the ink cartridge (e.g. an outlet via which the ink cartridge is arranged to output ink in use). In this way, existing ink may be flushed-out from the ink outlet (e.g. print head) of the ink cartridge using the replacement ink.

A reference herein to "fluid communication" between parts includes a reference, for example, to an arrangement whereby fluid is communicable from one part to another directly or via intervening such parts.

Inserting of replacement ink into the ink cartridge may be performed via an ink inlet of the ink cartridge. This may be a pre-existing ink inlet of the ink cartridge (e.g. an inlet via which the ink cartridge is arranged to receive ink), or may be an ink inlet formed in the ink cartridge according to the invention, in this aspect, for such purpose. Thus, the method may include forming in the body of the ink cartridge an ink inlet via which replacement ink is insertable into the ink cartridge for use. In an alternative, inserting of replacement ink into the ink cartridge may be done via an ink outlet of the ink cartridge, such as the print head, or other ink outlet if available.

Insertion of replacement ink into the ink cartridge may be performed by placing an ink chamber of the ink cartridge (e.g. a chamber constructed and arranged to hold ink) in fluid communication with a source of replacement ink via an ink inlet of the ink cartridge (or ink outlet, in another example), and by reducing the pressure (e.g. air and/or fluid pressure) in the ink chamber (e.g. relative to pressure in the source of replacement ink) to thereby urge replacement ink to be drawn (or forced) into the ink cartridge (e.g. into the ink chamber) from the source of replacement ink. The reduction of pressure in the ink chamber may be performed via an ink outlet (e.g. a print head) of the ink cartridge. For example, the ink chamber may be placed in fluid communication with a vessel or fluid conduit of reduced or reducible fluid pressure (e.g. placed within the vessel or conduit), such as a vessel or conduit in communication with a vacuum pump. The ink outlet (e.g. print head) of the ink cartridge may be also placed in fluid communication with the vessel or conduit of reduced/reducible fluid pressure (e.g. concurrently with the ink chamber), and the ink chamber may so communicate with the vessel or conduit in question via the ink outlet of the ink cartridge. In this way, by reducing pressure * 16 in the ink chamber via the ink outlet of the cartridge, replacement ink may be drawn/urged towards (or into) the ink outlet of the ink cartridge.

The method may include containing the ink cartridge within a pressure-controlled and/or isolated and/or sealed and/or pressure-controllable and/or airtight vessel (e.g. so as to be isolated or sealed from the ambient atmosphere), such as a vacuum chamber, comprising an air outlet. The inner space or volume of the vessel may be placed or arranged in fluid communication with a source of replacement ink via (e.g. only via) an ink chamber of the ink cartridge. The air pressure in the inner volume of the vessel may then be reduced, (e.g. by pumping air therefrom), via the air outlet (e.g. using a vacuum pump) so as to reduce air pressure in the ink chamber to urge replacement ink into the ink cartridge.

The pressure in the vessel and the ink chamber may be reduced (e.g. by pumping air therefrom) via an ink outlet (e.g. a print head) of the ink cartridge placed in communication (e.g. sealing contact or interface) with an air outlet of the pressure-controllable vessel.

For example, the pressure-controllable vessel may have a first air outlet indirectly in fluid communication with the ink chamber of the ink cartridge (e.g. not in contact or direct communication with the ink cartridge) and a second air outlet in direct fluid communication with the ink chamber of the ink cartridge via an ink outlet of the ink cartridge (e.g. a print head) and may be in sealing interface therewith.

In this way, the second air outlet may be placed in fluid communication with the inner volume of the pressure-controllable vessel only via the ink outlet and ink chamber of the ink cartridge. Thus, air may be removed (e.g. pumped) from the pressure-controllable vessel directly via an ink outlet (e.g. print head) of the ink cartridge (and the ink chamber), and/or directly via an air outlet of the pressure-controllable vessel separated from the ink cartridge. Drawing air from the first air outlet of the pressure-controllable vessel enables urging of replacement ink into the ink chamber of the ink cartridge, while drawing air from the second air outlet produces the same effect while also urging replacement ink into an ink outlet (e.g. print head) of the ink cartridge. In addition, this arrangement and method enables control of pressure in the pressure-controllable vessel to prime an ink outlet (e.g. print head) of the ink cartridge with replacement ink as is described below in a second aspect of the invention. This second aspect is combinable with the foregoing aspects of the invention.

The step of inserting replacement ink into the ink cartridge may include inserting an end (e.g. a nozzle) of an ink conduit (e.g. a tube or pipe) into the ink cartridge (e.g. into an ink chamber thereof) and inserting said replacement ink into the ink cartridge via the inserted end of the ink conduit. The ink cartridge may then be in fluid communication with the source of replacement ink via the inserted conduit end (e.g. only via the inserted ink conduit end) / In an eighth of its aspects, the invention may provide an apparatus for replenishing an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink including ink cartridge receiving means for receiving an ink cartridge, fluid input means arranged to insert replacement ink into an ink inlet of a received ink cartridge, fluid output means arranged to subsequently drain the received ink cartridge of replacement ink to flush-out from the ink cartridge existing ink therein using the replacement ink, the fluid input means being arranged to subsequently insert replacement ink into the received ink cartridge to replenish the ink cartridge.

The fluid output means may be arranged to drain a received cartridge of replacement ink via an ink outlet of the received ink cartridge thereby to flush-out from the ink outlet of the received ink cartridge existing ink therein using the replacement ink.

The ink outlet may be a print head of the received ink cartridge.

The apparatus may include ink inlet forming means operable to form in the body of an ink cartridge an ink inlet via which replacement ink is insertable into the ink cartridge.

The apparatus may include fluid conduit means arranged to be placed in fluid communication concurrently with a said source of ink and said fluid input means, fluid transfer means arranged to transfer replacement ink to the fluid input means and to reduce fluid pressure in a received ink cartridge via an ink outlet thereof to urge replacement ink to be drawn into the ink cartridge from the source of replacement ink via the fluid conduit means.

The ink cartridge receiving means may comprise a pressure-controllable vessel (e.g. a vacuum chamber) for receiving an ink cartridge therein such that the inner volume of the vessel is placeable in fluid communication with a said source of replacement ink via the received ink cartridge. The apparatus is preferably operable to reduce fluid pressure in the vessel by extracting air therefrom thereby to reduce fluid pressure in the received ink cartridge to urge replacement ink to be drawn into the ink cartridge.

The apparatus may include valve means operable to seal-off the fluid input means from fluid communication with a source of replacement ink, the apparatus being operable to subsequently reduce fluid pressure in the fluid output means thereby to urge replacement ink to be drawn into an ink outlet of a ink cartridge received in fluid communication with the fluid output means.

The ink cartridge receiving means may include a pressure-controllable vessel comprising said fluid input means and said fluid output means, the fluid output means being operable to receive an ink outlet of a received ink cartridge and to pump fluid out of the pressure-controllable vessel via the ink outlet thereby to remove ink from the ink cartridge.

It will be understood that the invention in its eighth aspect realises a corresponding method of replenishing an ink cartridge, and such a method is encompassed within the invention in yet a further of its aspects.

In a ninth of its aspects, the invention may provide apparatus for filling and priming with ink from a source of ink an inkjet printer ink cartridge comprising an ink chamber and a print head for receiving ink from the ink chamber, the apparatus including: fluid conduit means arranged to place the ink chamber of a said ink cartridge in fluid communication with a said source of ink via other than the print head; ink transfer means arranged to transfer ink into the ink chamber from the source of ink via the fluid conduit means; and pressure-control means operable to subsequently increase fluid pressure in the ink chamber via other than the print head thereby to urge ink from the ink chamber into the print head.

The fluid conduit means may include a fluid output means arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink inlet if a said ink cartridge via other than the print head, and fluid transfer means operable to transfer fluid to the fluid output means via the fluid conduit means for input to said ink inlet.

The pressure-control means is arranged to reduce via the print head fluid pressure in the ink chamber relative to the pressure of ink in said source of ink thereby to urge ink into the ink cartridge from the source of ink.

The apparatus may include ink-draining means arranged to * 21 drain the ink cartridge of ink present therein.

The pressure-control means may include a vacuum pump means and an ink cartridge receiving means operable to form a vacuum chamber arranged to receive therein a said ink cartridge in fluid communication with said fluid conduit means via the ink chamber thereof, and preferably in fluid communication with the vacuum pump means to permit the vacuum pump means to urge ink into the ink chamber via the vacuum chamber.

The ink cartridge receiving means may be operable to receive a said ink cartridge within the vacuum chamber with the vacuum pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means via a print head and the ink chamber of the ink cartridge to permit the vacuum pump means via the print head to urge ink into the ink chamber.

It will be understood that the invention in its eighth aspect realises a corresponding method of replenishing and priming an ink cartridge, and such a method is encompassed within the invention in yet an additional of its aspects.

In a tenth of its aspects, the invention may provide a method of replenishing and priming an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer, the ink cartridge comprising an ink chamber for containing ink and a print head for receiving ink from the ink chamber, the method including placing the ink chamber in fluid communication with source of ink via other than the print head, drawing ink into the ink cartridge from the source of ink, and subsequently increasing pressure in the ink chamber via other than the print head thereby to urge ink from the ink chamber into the print head.

The method may include reducing via the print head the pressure in the ink chamber relative to the pressure of ink in said source of ink thereby to urge said drawing of ink into the ink cartridge from the source of ink.

The method preferably includes the step of draining the ink cartridge of existing ink present therein before any said step of inserting replacement ink therein.

In an eleventh of its aspects, the invention may provide an ink cartridge filling or replenishing apparatus for filling or replenishing an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink, including: fluid conduit means comprising a fluid input opening arranged to receive ink into the fluid conduit means from a said source of ink, and a fluid output opening in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge; a vessel connected to the fluid conduit means for containing liquid other than ink and arranged to be reversibly placed in fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening and the fluid outlet opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.

The apparatus may include pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means operable to pump liquid from the vessel to the fluid input opening * 23 and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.

The pump means is preferably operable to pump ink between the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening thereby to permit ink or liquid for cleaning ink to be pumped therebetween via the fluid conduit means.

The pump means may be operable to pump fluid from the fluid input opening thereby to permit ink to be pumped from a said source of ink into the fluid conduit means when in fluid communication therewith.

The pump means may be further arranged to pump fluid from the fluid input opening and from the fluid output opening concurrently into the fluid conduit means.

The pump means may include a rotary fluid pump, and/or may include a vacuum pump.

The vacuum pump may be arranged to reduce pressure within the fluid input opening, the fluid output opening and the fluid conduit means separately or concurrently.

The apparatus may include an ink cartridge receiving means for receiving an ink cartridge in fluid communication with the pump means via the fluid input opening and the fluid conduit means.

The ink cartridge receiving means may be operable to form an vacuum chamber for receiving a said ink cartridge in fluid communication with a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is preferably arranged to reduce fluid pressure in the vacuum chamber.

The fluid conduit means may comprise a waste output opening operable to be placed in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means.

The apparatus may include valve means operable to reversibly isolate said vessel from fluid communication with the fluid input opening and/or the fluid output opening, and/or to reversibly isolate the fluid input opening and/or the fluid output opening from fluid communication with the vacuum pump, and/or to reversibly isolate the cartridge receiving means from fluid communication with the vacuum pump via said fluid conduit means, and/or to reversibly isolate the waste output opening from fluid communication with the fluid input opening and/or the fluid output opening.

The apparatus may include control means arranged to control the apparatus to: (a) pump fluid from the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means to remove existing ink therein; (b) place the vessel in fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening and the fluid outlet opening; (C) transfer ink-cleaning liquid to the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening concurrently to clean the apparatus; (d) isolate the vessel from fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening and the fluid outlet opening; (e) pump fluid from the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means to remove existing ink and/or ink-cleaning liquid therein.

The control means is arranged to control the apparatus according to step (e2), in place of step (e), to: (e2) pump fluid from the fluid output opening to the fluid input opening via the fluid conduit means to remove existing ink and/or ink-cleaning liquid therein via the fluid input opening.

The control means may be arranged to control the apparatus, at step (a), to operate a fluid rotary pump and a vacuum pump, each in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, to pump said fluid.

The control means may be arranged to control the apparatus, at step (b), to isolate from fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening a vacuum pump previously in fluid communication therewith at step (a) The control means may be arranged to control the apparatus, at step (c), to operate a fluid rotary pump in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, to transfer said ink-cleaning liquid.

The control means may be arranged to control the apparatus, at step (e), to operate a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, to pump said ink and/or ink-cleaning liquid. * 26

It will be understood that the invention in its eleventh aspect realises a corresponding method of cleaning, and such a method is encompassed within the invention in yet an additional of its aspects.

In a twelfth of its aspects, the invention may provide a method for cleaning an apparatus for filling or replenishing with ink an ink cartridge for a printer, including: providing a said apparatus comprising a fluid conduit means having a fluid input opening arranged to receive ink into the fluid conduit means, and a fluid output opening in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge communicating a liquid other than ink to the fluid inlet opening and/or to the fluid outlet opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.

The method may include providing a vessel connected to the fluid conduit means containing said liquid other than ink, and communicating said liquid to the fluid inlet opening and/or to the fluid outlet opening therefrom.

The method may include pumping said liquid from the vessel to the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.

The method may include pumping ink and/or said liquid between the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means to transfer fluid therebetween.

The method may include placing a source of ink in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and pumping ink from a said source of ink into the fluid conduit means.

The method may include pumping fluid from the fluid input opening and from the fluid output opening concurrently into the fluid conduit means thereby to collectively draw fluid in communication therewith into the fluid conduit means.

The method may include providing a rotary fluid pump and performing said pumping using the rotary fluid pump.

The method may include providing a vacuum pump and performing said pumping using the vacuum pump.

The method may include operating the vacuum pump to reduce pressure within the fluid input opening, the fluid output opening and the fluid conduit means separately or concurrently.

The method may include providing an ink cartridge receiving means, and receiving an ink cartridge therein in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid conduit means.

The method may include forming a vacuum chamber with the ink cartridge receiving means and receiving a said ink cartridge therein in fluid communication with a vacuum pump, and reducing fluid pressure in the vacuum chamber using the vacuum pump to draw fluid into the ink cartridge via the fluid conduit means.

In additional aspects, the present invention may provide apparatus according to the invention in any one or more of its first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth or eleventh aspects further including the features of the invention in any other one or more of the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth or eleventh aspects. In additional aspects, the present invention may provide a method according to the invention in any one or more of its second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth or twelfth aspects further including the features of the invention in any other one or more of its second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth or twelfth aspects.

The invention, in any one or more of its aspects, may provide a compact self contained system for filling or refilling ink jet cartridges which have the print head attached (most HP, Lexmark, Dell, and some Canon cartridges) . The system may be easy to use due to the unique features of disposable ink cassettes containing the ink and serving as sources of ink for (re)filling, barcodes (or other data carriers) upon cassettes which contain instruction telling the system how to operate to (re)fill a specific ink cartridge, and upper cavity parts of ink cartridge receiving chambers which provide cartridge adapters which are adapted and used to hold specifically-shaped inkjet cartridges in a vacuum chamber defined by the cartridge receiving chamber. The system may employ a deep vacuum to draw the ink into a cartridge to be (re)filled. The system may automatically empty the ink cartridge of all old ink, may refill and may prime the ink cartridge with new ink. The ink cartridge may then removed and the system may then self-clean and flushes the pipes, pumps, valves, cartridge adapter/receiving-chamber/vacuum-chamber and needles or nozzles etc prior to the next cartridge fill.

The term "inkjet cartridge" may include a reference to the ink-containing part that fits into an inkjet printer.

It contains the ink and a print head. The inkjet printing process employs a process of ejecting/firing ink from a series of fine nozzles fed with ink. Heaters behind a nozzle plate put effect to this. The heaters may be stimulated by an electronic signal from a printer to create a bubble of steam that fires a jet of ink from a print head nozzle.

As the ink is fired out air has to enter the cartridge to replace the used ink via vent holes in the top of the cartridge otherwise a vacuum would be established and prevent further ink from being fired out of the cartridge.

Cartridges with print heads may have a three part structure:- (1) The print head with a nozzle plate and heaters connected to a contact plate on the side of the cartridge.

(2) A small chamber behind the nozzle plate which contains ink to be heated and fired through the nozzles.

This small chamber may be separated from the main tank by a small filter.

(3) A main chamber or tank of ink containing the rest of the ink for printing.

Such a cartridge may contain foam specially engineered to hold ink within the cartridge to prevent it dripping from the cartridge without preventing the jetting/fired of ink out from the nozzles.

The term "ink cassette" may include a reference to a small simple container supplied to fit the refilling machine which contains the appropriate type and quantity of ink to fill a specific ink cartridge. A unique code may be attached to an ink cassette which may instruct the system about the ink cartridge to be filled.

The system may include a cartridge adapter, this being a device unique to a specific ink cartridge shape (or cartridge family) which is structured and shaped to receive and holds (e.g. on a recess or socket) the ink cartridge. The adapter may be structured to inserts into a received cartridge a fluid/ink transfer/input nozzle(s) or needle(s) into a received ink cartridge and may act as the lid to a vacuum chamber designed to receive the cartridge and to enable the pressure in the chamber to be varied controllably, such as to form e.g. at least a partial vacuum to be formed within the chamber.

Ink may be provided in disposable ink cassettes. The ink cassettes may be either for black (one cavity) or colour (three cavities) cartridges. The ink cassettes may contain the correct/desired type of ink and the correct/desired quantity of ink for the ink cartridge to be filled. One ink cassette (e.g. only one) may be required for every cartridge to be filled. The cassettes may be used once then either disposed of or recycled.

The system may read the data storage means (e.g. barcode) carried by a cassette prior to filling a cartridge to instruct the system about the cartridge and the filling of it, including one or more of the following instruction items: 1. The cartridge manufacturer; 2. The cartridge type; 3. The cartridge adapter to use; 4. Whether the cartridge is for black or coloured ink; 5. The capacity of the cartridge, e.g. low, standard or high; 6. The cartridge head size/volume; 7. The cartridge empty duration (the duration during which the cartridge is emptied of old ink prior to filling) ; 8. How many cubic centimetres of ink is to be pumped into the cartridge; 9. Whether a filling cycle is to use a vacuum process or not; 10. At which point, if any, the cartridge is to be primed and for how many seconds; 11. Whether or not a secondary fill is to be employed and whether or not a vacuum process is to be used; The use of a data carrier (e.g. barcode) on a cassette provides a degree of future-proofing capability in that if a new cartridge comes onto the market, then a new barcode/cassette and adapter combination can be quickly produced for that cartridge type without the need to update the system software or hardware.

A barcode scanner (or other suitable interface to read-off data from the data carrier on the cassette) may be built into the system. It may illuminate, or become active, only when a barcode (or other relevant data carrier) is to be read and may switch off automatically after the barcode (or other relevant data carrier) has been successfully read.

A range of different cartridge adapters may be provided which are unique to each of a differently family of differently shaped cartridges. The cartridge adapter may have the following functions: 1. To hold a specific ink cartridge at exactly the correct position onto the emptying slot, or fluid outlet opening, at the bottom of the vacuum chamber; 2. To accurately locate fluid/ink input or transfer needles, nozzles, etc into the cartridge at the correct position and depth; 3. To act as a lid to the vacuum chamber; 4. To provide a seal to the vacuum chamber; 5. To provide the mechanical parts to enable the locking of the cartridge adapter firmly onto the vacuum chamber to maintain the seal tightly; 6. To provide quick release connectors for the ink output/transfer pipes of the system which are arranged to feed ink to the cartridge from the cassette etc. After the cartridge has been filled and removed, the system may be arranged to enter a self-cleaning cycle.

This may aim to remove ink from the pipes, connectors, needles, pumps, and/or valves and so on to prevent cross contamination with the next fill and to prevent clogging as old ink can dry out, crystallise or become gelatinous if left in the pipes, needles, etc. The vacuum chamber may be a small container that, when the cartridge adapter is fitted and locked in place, may provides sufficient sealing that a deep vacuum can be provided around the inkjet cartridge and under the Â�nkjet cartridge's head. The bottom of the vacuum chamber may contain a slotted silicon pad surrounding a fluid outlet opening in e.g. the base of the chamber (or elsewhere) which the cartridge adapter may be dimensioned to cause the inkjet cartridge's head to be pushed into when the cartridge adapter is locked down. A vacuum may be applied under the head to extract ink from the cartridge either for emptying the inkjet cartridge of old ink, or priming the inkjet cartridge during a filling process.

The system may include a user interface comprising e.g. a simple 20x4 LCD text display, two buttons (e.g. Go and Stop) and a beeper. The LCD display may be arranged, driven by a central control means (e.g. a CPU or the like) to give progress information and may issue a prompt to the user for actions when required. The beeper may be controlled by the central control means to sound to alert the user that the process has ended or of problems. The Stop/Go buttons may be back-illuminated as and when necessary to signal that the user input is required.

A cassette may bear a data carrier (e.g. barcode) which preferably contains a unique serial number which is part of the multiple digits (e.g. 14) contained in the data carrier. The system may be arranged to store the data from every data carrier that it reads, storing the information in a non-volatile memory optionally along with other information such as date and time used, and/or also any relevant events that occurred in use of the machine according to instructions contained in the given barcode. This data may be extracted and used for statistical, financial and/or maintenance purposes.

The system, may be arranged to implement steps in a process summarised as follows: 1. Identify the inkjet cartridge as being one that can be filled by the system; 2. Ascertain the condition of the inkjet cartridge (simple dab test with a piece of tissue on the print head is usually sufficient -there should be a uniform pattern of ink even if the cartridge is empty); 3. Clean the cartridge head if required; 4. Locate the appropriate ink cassette for that cartridge; 5. If required, make holes in the cartridge top with an appropriate e.g. jig tool to provide an ink inlet opening into the ink cartridge; Steps 1 to 5 may be performed by an individual, prior to operation of the filling machine. Some or all of the following steps may subsequently be taken: 6. Press the "Go" button so that the system reads the barcode and then follow the on-screen instructions; 7. Insert the inkjet cartridge into the appropriate cartridge adapter; 8. Attach the ink output pipe of the fluid conduit means of the system to the cartridge adapter, and couple the cartridge adapter to the lower cavity part of the ink cartridge receiving chamber to define the vacuum chamber collectively. Lock the locking arms of the vacuum chamber to seal the vacuum chamber from the ambient atmosphere; 9. Insert an ink cassette into the ink cassette receiving chamber.

The filling machine may then perform the following functions automatically. The machine may: * apply a deep vacuum to the inkjet cartridge head to extract old ink therefrom.

* Prime the fluid transfer pipes, pumps and second fluid input nozzles of the machine with new ink from the ink cassette.

* A deep vacuum may be re-applied to the inkjet cartridge head to extract the remaining ink from the inkjet cartridge.

* An initial fill procedure may be conducted in which the ink cartridge is held under vacuum in the vacuum chamber and new ink is delivered into it.

* The cartridge may be primed by extracting through the cartridge's print head some of the new ink previously delivered to it.

* After this, the secondary fill process may begin (the initial fill process may only partially fill the ink cartridge) thereby to complete the filling of the ink cartridge with ink.

10. The filling machine may then request the user to remove the filled cartridge. The machine may then initiate the following self-cleaning cycle: * A rotary fluid pumps may be reversed in pumping direction to cause an emptying of any ink in the pipes, nozzles/needles, valves and ink cassette, etc into a waste fluid chamber.

* Clean, distilled or de-ionised water may be pumped through the pipes, pumps and needles/nozzles.

* The rotary fluid pump may again be reversed in pumping direction to empty inky water from the pipes, needles/nozzles, valves, ink cassette, etc into the waste fluid chamber.

* Any residual ink or inky water in the bottom of the vacuum chamber or cassettes or pipes may be sucked therefrom, using a vacuum pump, into the waste fluid chamber.

11. The cartridge adapter may be removed if no longer needed.

There now follow non-limiting examples of embodiments of the invention described with reference to the drawings of which: * 37 Figure 1 illustrates a view of an inkjet cartridge filling or replenishing apparatus adapted to refill or replenish an inkjet cartridge with black ink or ink of any desired colour; Figure 2 illustrates an ink cassette for containing ink of a single colour or tone (e.g. black), and bearing a data carrier in the form of a machine-readable barcode containing a control instruction to which the apparatus of Figure 1 is responsive; Figure 3 illustrates an ink cassette for containing ink of three different colours or tones (e.g. red, blue, green) in separate dedicated compartments and bearing a data carrier in the form of a machine-readable barcode containing a control instruction to which the apparatus of Figure 1 is responsive; Figure 4 schematically illustrates elements of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 5A and Figure 5B separately illustrate perspective views of elements of an ink cartridge receiving means of the apparatus of Figures 1 or 4; Figure 6 schematically illustrates a fluid conduit/transfer means of the apparatus of Figures 1 or 4; Figures 7A, 7B and 7C separately schematically illustrate stages in the operation of the fluid conduit/transfer means of the apparatus of Figures 1 or 4 at different stages of an ink-cleaning cycle; Figures BA, SB, 8C, 8D and 8E separately schematically illustrate stages in the operation of the fluid conduit/transfer means of the apparatus of Figures 1 or 4 at different stages of an ink replenishing cycle.

In the drawings, like items are assigned like reference symbols.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates an ink cartridge filling apparatus 1 for filling, refilling or replenishing with ink, ink cartridges for an inkjet printer.

The filling machine includes a case 2 housing a first ink cassette receiving port (3,4) adapted to receive an ink cassette (e.g. ink cassette 22 of Figure 2), a first ink cartridge receiving chamber (14,15) adapted to receive an ink cartridge, and fluid conduit apparatus (e.g. item 16, and also item 46 of Figure 4) controllable to place a received ink cassette in fluid communication with a received ink cartridge to transfer ink contained in the former to an ink-receiving ink chamber of the latter.

The filling machine also includes a second ink cassette receiving port (6,7) adapted to receive a three-chambered ink cassette (e.g. ink cassette 30 of Figure 3), a second ink cartridge receiving chamber (18,19) adapted to receive an ink cartridge, and fluid conduit apparatus (e.g. item 20, and item 46 of Figure 4) controllable to simultaneously place each chamber of the three-chambered ink cassette received thereby in fluid communication with a received ink cartridge to transfer ink contained in any or each chamber of the former to an ink-receiving ink chamber of the latter.

Consequently, the machine is operable to transfer a quantity of a single colour/type of ink from the first ink cassette receiving means to a received ink cartridge via the fluid conduit apparatus and is operable to transfer quantities of each of three different colours/types of ink (e.g. red, green, blue) to a received ink cartridge via the fluid conduit apparatus to fill, replenish or refill the ink cartridge with ink of a colour determined by the relative quantities of the three different ink colours/types so transferred.

The first and second ink cassette receiving ports each comprise an opening (3 and 6, respectively) shaped and adapted to receive an ink cassette (22 and 30, respectively), and a sliding door (4 and 7, respectively) operable to slidingly open and close the opening to enclose or reveal a received ink cassette. A handle (5 and 8, respectively) is provided upon the outwardly presented surface of each sliding door (4,7) for the purposes of permitting manual sliding thereof.

The first and second ink cartridge receiving chambers each comprise a lower cavity part (14,18) and a removable upper cavity part (15,19) structured to cooperate with the lower cavity part to form an airtight seal when brought together to define a respective pressure/controllable (e.g. vacuum) chamber housing a received ink cartridge. Each of the first and second ink cartridge receiving chambers has a locking/release lever (17,21) pivotably connected to the respective lower cavity part and dimentioned to be pivoted to engage locking lugs (59, Figures 4, 5A) protruding from sides of the respective upper cavity part thereby to hold the upper cavity part urged against a lower cavity part when the two cavity parts cooperate to form a pressure-controllabe chamber.

Each of the two ink cartridge receiving chambers is in fluid communication with a respective fluid output pipe (16,20) of the fluid conduit apparatus via a suitable fluid passageway formed through an upper cavity part of the respective chamber to which the fluid output pipe is operably connected and releasably connectable. The upper cavity part of the first ink cartridge receiving chamber (14,15) is so releasably connected to one fluid output pipe 16 of the fluid conduit apparatus, while the upper cavity part of the second cartridge receiving chamber (18,19) is so releasably connected to three separate fluid output pipes 20 of the fluid conduit apparatus to permit quantities of inks of three different colours (e.g. red, green, blue) to be input simultaneously to an ink cartridge received within the second ink cartridge receiving chamber.

A barcode reading device is provided in the casing 2 of the ink filling machine and includes an optical scanner unit 9 outwardly presented from a face of the casing so as to permit the optical scanner to scan a barcode (e.g. barcodes 29 or 41 of Figure 2 or Figure 3) presented to it. The optical barcode scanner comprises laser scanning apparatus of the type employed in existing barcode scanners and the apparatus is controlled by suitably programmed computer control means or other suitable control means, to control the optical scanner to scan a barcode presented to it, to read the barcode data contained within the presented barcode, and to output the result to a control apparatus of the filling apparatus (48, Figure 4) . It is to be understood that the purpose of the barcode reading device is to read a machine-readable information item presented to it to enable the filling machine to respond to that information as necessary. A barcode reader may be replaced by a magnetic strip reader arranged to read a data-bearing magnetic strip storage mean, or a data-chip reading device for reading data from a data chip of the type such as found on credit cards or the like. Of course, other data carrier means may be employed for this purpose such as would be readily apparent to the skilled person, and corresponding separate data readers may be employed for transferring data stored on the data carrier to the cartridge filling machine.

Two display screens (10,11) are provided and are arranged to present user-readable information, such as instructions or data, determined by the control apparatus of the filling machine. One display screen (10) is dedicated to the operations of the first ink cassette receiving port and first ink cartridge receiving chamber, while the other display screen (11) is dedicated to the operations of the second ink cassette receiving port and second ink cartridge receiving chamber. A third display screen 12 is provided for displaying additional information as required.

Figure 2 illustrates an ink cassette (22) for containing a single colour/type of ink. The cassette comprises a bowl portion (23) defining an internal recess or cavity topped by an integrally formed cover portion (24) collectively defining an internal chamber within the ink cassette accessible externally via an opening (25) formed through the cover portion to permit ink to be passed into or extracted from the internal chamber. A removable plug (26) comprises a lug portion (27) projecting from a platform portion (26). The lug portion is dimensioned to be removably insertable into the opening (25) of ink cassette to form a sealing interface with the inner periphery of the opening via an interference fit which closes the opening and seals it to prevent escape of ink from within the chamber of the ink cassette. The platform portion of the plug has a dimension lateral to the longitudinal axis of the lug portion which exceeds the lateral dimensions of the opening (25) such that, when the plug is applied to the opening, the platform portion extends over, around and beyond the periphery of the opening at the outwardly presented surface of the ink cassette adjacent the opening. This prevents the plug from being pushed directly into the internal chamber of the cassette, and also provides a flange, edge or region which protrudes from the outwardly presented surface of the cassette in use, which is accessible to e.g. the fingers of an individual to enable the individual to extract the plug manually. The plug is preferably formed of a resilient material such as an elastomer or silicone, a rubber material, or a suitable plastics material. The plug is reusable.

The ink cassette bears a strip, sticker, or patch (28) outwardly presented from an outer surface of the cassette. The strip bears a barcode (29) containing coded information comprising an instruction to which the machine (1) of Figure 1 is responsive. The barcode (29) is structured to be readable by the barcode reading device of the machine (1) of Figure 1 via the optical scanner (9) thereof.

The ink cartridge (22) is dimensioned to be extractably receivable within the first ink cassette receiving port (3, 4) of the filling machine (1) with the internal chamber of the ink cassette placed in fluid communication with an ink cartridge received in the first ink cartridge receiving chamber (14, 15) via the fluid conduit apparatus (16) Figure 3 illustrates an ink cassette structured and arranged to contain, in mutual isolation, inks of three different colours or types (such as red, green and blue ink) which may be mixed in desired proportions to produce a single ink of a desired colour.

The three-colour ink cartridge (30) comprises a first ink chamber (31), the second ink chamber (32) isolated from the first ink chamber, and a third ink chamber (33) isolated from the first and second ink chambers. Each of the first, second and third ink chambers defines a separate recess or cavity covered by a cover portion (36) therewith to collectively define a respective chamber for receiving ink. A fist partition wall (34) is provided within the three-colour ink cassette to isolate the first ink chamber from other parts of the three-colour cassette. A second partition wall (35) is provided within the cassette to isolate the third ink chamber from other parts of the ink cassette. The first and second partition walls (34, 35 respectively) collectively isolate the second ink chamber from other parts of the ink cassette. The cover portion (36) of the three-colour ink cassette possesses three openings (39), one dedicated exclusively to each of the first, second and third ink chamber, and via which each respective ink chamber is accessible for the purposes of inserting and removing ink therein.

A collective strip plug (37) includes three separate plug portions each protruding in a common direction from a common surface of a platform portion provided by an elongate strip. The three separate protruding lug portions are relatively spaced along the common surface of the platform portion from which they protrude in an array which mirrors the relative spacing and array of the three openings (39) formed in the three-colour cassette such that all of the three openings may be concurrently plugged (or unplugged) by respective lug portions (38) of the plug (37) . Each of the lug portions (38) is dimensioned to intimately correspond with the dimensions of the periphery of the opening (39) with which it is to interact to form an interference fit sealingly closing (reversibly) the respective opening. The plug (37) is reuseable. An advantage of the integral formation through separate lug portions (for three separate openings) on a single plug is the ease with which the openings of the three-co1our cassette may be opened and * 45 closed with one pulling (to open) or pushing (to close) action of the plug.

The three-colour cassette bears, on an outwardly presented surface, a strip, sticker or patch (40) bearing a barcode (41) encoding information comprising an instruction readable by the barcode reading device of the filling machine (1) the filling machine being responsive to the instruction.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates elements of the filling machine (1) which enable the transfer of ink from an ink cassette (22, 30) to an ink cartridge (67) The elements illustrated in Figure 4 include the first ink cassette receiving port (3, 4) and the first ink cartridge receiving chamber (14, 15) . However, it is to be understood that the following description, and Figure 4 itself, apply equally to the second ink cassette receiving port (6, 7) and the second ink cartridge receiving chamber (18, 19) The first ink cassette receiving port (3, 4) comprises a recessed platform (440) arranged to support a received ink cassette and a back-stop member (441) positioned relative to the platform member (440) such that an ink cassette of predetermined dimensions (such as illustrated in Figure 2) may engage both the platform member (440) and the back-stop member (441) concurrently to position an ink outlet opening (25) of a received ink cassette (22) in register with a moveable nozzle, needle or cannula (43) of the fluid transfer apparatus of the filling machine. The moveable nozzle (43) is connected to the sliding door (4) of the ink cassette receiving port via a connecting member (44) from which the input nozzle downwardly extends in use. The sliding door (4) is slidable in a direction parallel to the long axis of the moveable nozzle (43) relative to the platform member (440), the back-stop member (441), and any ink cassette received in the receiving port. A downward sliding movement of the sliding door to enclose a received ink cassette (22) within the receiving port results in a corresponding and parallel movement or translation (442) of the moveable nozzle towards the in-register ink outlet opening (25) of a received ink cassette. The length of the moveable nozzle (43) is arranged to permit the end of the nozzle to extend fully into the ink chamber of the received ink cassette, through the ink outlet opening (25), to be immediately adjacent the floor of that chamber and to be in fluid communication with ink (42) contained therein. This dimensioning of the moveable nozzle (43) enables that most or substantially all ink (42) contained within a received ink cassette to be removed therefrom into the fluid transfer means (46) via the ink moveable nozzle when fully inserted into the ink cassette.

An upward sliding motion of the sliding door (4) of the ink cassette receiving port results in the corresponding upward motion of the moveable nozzle (43) sufficient to extract the nozzle from a received ink cassette, and to permit the ink cassette to be removed from the cassette receiving port via the opening revealed by the displaced sliding door. The fluid transfer means of the ink filling apparatus (discussed in detail below) includes an ink output pipe (16, 20) and three fluid outlet pipes (51, 53, 54) each connected to, and connected to a lower cavity part (14, 18) and in fluid communication with an upper cavity part (15, 19) and a lower cavity part (14, 18), respectively, of an assembled ink cartridge receiving chamber. The fluid conduit means also includes a fluid transfer pipe (45) which places the moveable nozzle (43) in fluid communication with the ink output pipe (16, 20) of the fluid conduit means.

The cartridge receiving means comprises a lower cavity part (14, 18) possessing a base platform from the periphery of which extend sidewalls collectively defining a lower recess region. The base platform of the lower cavity part possesses a first fluid outlet opening (65) in fluid communication with a first fluid outlet pipe (54) of the fluid conduit means. A seal part (61) comprises an annulus of a rubber, silicone, elastomeric or other resiliently deformable material which is bonded to the surface of the base platform presented inwardly to the lower recess region. The annulus possesses a through-opening (66) in register with the first fluid outlet opening (65) . The sidewalls of the lower cavity part possess a second fluid outlet opening (62) arranged in fluid communication with a second fluid outlet pipe (53) of the fluid conduit means and arranged at the junction between the base platform and a sidewall of the lower cavity part to enable drainage of fluid from within the lower recess region defined by the lower cavity part.

A third fluid outlet opening (63) is formed in a wall of the lower cavity part separate from the second fluid outlet opening, and in fluid communication with a third fluid outlet pipe (51) of the fluid conduit means.

The upper cavity part (19, 15) of the ink cartridge receiving chamber comprises a top portion (70) from which extend walls (56) which collectively define an upper recess region (57) structured and arranged to closely and intimately receive an ink cassette (67) for an inkjet printer. A fluid input nozzle, needle or cannula (55) extends from a surface of the top portion (70) of the upper cavity part presented inwardly to the upper cavity region extending into the upper recess region defined by the walls (56) of the upper cavity part. The input nozzle (55) is aligned in register with, and in direct fluid communication with a fluid input opening (64) formed through the top portion (70) of the upper cavity part and is connected to the ink output pipe (16, 20) of the fluid conduit means, in fluid communication therewith. The shape and dimensions of the upper cavity part and the lower cavity part are such that the lower recess region formed in the lower cavity part reciprocally corresponds with the outwardly presented shape and dimensions of the walls of the upper cavity part (56) which define the upper recess region. As a result the former intimately receives the latter fully when the upper cavity part is brought into unison with the lower cavity part in a plug-and--socket fashion to define an ink cartridge receiving chamber.

A ring of resiliently deformable material (such as a rubber, silicone or elastomeric material) (6) circumscribes the upper cavity part at the junction between the top portion (70) and the outwardly presented * 49 surface of the walls of the upper cavity part (56) which collectively define the upper recess region. The ring (60) serves as a sealing ring which is dimensioned and shaped to match the dimension and shape of the uppermost terminal surface (600) of the walls of the lower cavity part defining the lower recess region therein.

Accdrdingly, when the upper cavity part is mated with the lower cavity part, in use, the sealing ring (60) is sandwiched between the upper portion (70) of the upper cavity part and the uppermost parts (600) of the recess-defining walls of the lower cavity part to form a sealing interface therebetween which is airtight.

The shaping and dimensions of the upper and lower recess regions (57, 58) formed by the upper cavity part and the lower cavity part, are such as to receive an ink cartridge of specified shape in a closely-fitting fashion such that the ink cartridge (67) is receivable in the upper recess region formed in the upper cavity part, with an ink inlet opening (68) of the ink cartridge in register with the second fluid input nozzle (55) extending from the top portion (70) of the upper cavity part. Similarly, the lower recess region formed by the lower cavity part, for receiving the upper cavity part, is correspondingly dimensioned to place the first fluid outlet opening, and the through-opening (61) of the sealing part (61) in register with the printhead (69) of the received cartridge. In this position, the sealing part (61) is pressed against the periphery of the printhead (69) of the received ink cartridge to form a sealing interface therewith such that the first fluid outlet opening is in fluid communication with the ink cartridge receiving chamber only via the ink chamber of the received ink cartridge (67) Thus, once the ink cartridge receiving chamber (14, 15 or 18, 19) is formed in this way, the inner cavity of the chamber, and any received ink cartridge therein, is in fluid communication only with the fluid conduit means via the first, second and third outlet openings and the second fluid nozzle, and is in airtight isolation from any other region.

The filling machine also includes a control system (47) comprising a control unit (48) operatively coupled to the optical scanner unit (9) and responsive to barcode data signals (49) from the latter produced by presenting the optical scanner with a barcode (29, 41) as discussed above.

The control unit (48) includes computing apparatus (e.g. a computer, a Cpu or other suitable computing means) arranged to receive barcode data signals (49) and obtain from them a control instruction with which to generate controls signals (50) to output to the fluid conduit means (46) to control the operation of the fluid conduit means as discussed below.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a perspective view of the upper cavity part (15) and the lower cavity part (14) respectively of the ink cartridge receiving chamber (14, 15 and 18, 19) . A received ink cartridge (67) is illustrated.

A pair of locking lugs (59) are positioned symmetrically on opposite outwardly-facing sides of the top portion (70) of the upper cavity part. The locking/release leaver (17, 21) is illustrated in Figure 5B in the "release" state and comprises a pair of locking arms (71, 72) each one of which is pivotably connected to an outwardly presented surface of a respective one of two opposite walls of the lower cavity part at a respective pivot (73, 74) to enable each arm to be pivoted about a common axis parallel to the line joining the locking lugs (59) of the upper cavity part when the two cavity parts are joined in unison to define an aforesaid ink cartridge receiving chamber. A cross-bar (75) joins the distal ends of the two locking/release leavers to enable the two leavers to be moved from a locking position to a release position (as shown) -reversibly -in unison. An end of each of the locking/release leavers nearmost the respective pivot points thereof (73, 74) presents a projecting hook portion defining a recessed region (590) which presents itself to a respective locking lug (59) of the upper cavity part when in unison with the lower cavity part, and with the locking/release leavers collectively in the "release" position illustrated in Figure 5B. The projecting hook portion of each locking leaver is structured and dimensioned such that an inner surface of the recess (590) presented to an adjacent locking lug (59) is brought into contact with surface parts of an adjacent locking lug as the locking/release leaver is swung upwardly into the "locking" position such that the respective locking lug is placed in between portions of the projecting hook region and the pivot part (73, 74) about which the respective locking leaver pivots to this position. Continued motion of the locking leavers (71, 72) to the upright position, as illustrated in Figure 1, causes the surface of the recessed portion (590) of a respective locking leaver to increasingly urge against the locking lug across which it is caused to slide by the upward motion of the locking leaver. The projecting hook portion, defining the recessed region (590), is suitably tapered such that the separation between the pivot part (73, 74) of a given locking/release leaver, and the surface of the recessed region (590) in contact with a respective locking lug, progressively decreases as the locking leaver in question is swung further to the vertical "locking" position. By action of this increased urging, or pushing force, exerted upon a locking lug by a hook portion of a locking/release leaver, the sealing ring (60) of the upper cavity part is urged into an increasingly tight/sealing interference fit with the upwardly presented and opposing parts (600) of the lower cavity part thereby to form a continuous and closed airtight seal along the entirety of the interface therebetween.

Figure 6 schematically illustrates elements of the filling machine (1) and, in particular, elements of the fluid conduit means (46) thereof.

The fluid conduit means includes a fluid transfer pipe (45) terminated by the moveable nozzle (43) at one end for being placed in fluid communication with an ink cassette (22) and with a second terminal end connected in fluid communication with a fluid port of a rotary peristaltic fluid pump (80) . The fluid conduit means also includes a fluid (e.g. ink) output pipe (16, 20) having a first end connected in fluid communication with a second fluid port of the third rotary pump (89??) and another end connected in fluid communication to the second fluid nozzle means (55) . The first rotary pump (80) is operable and arranged to pump fluid between the moveable nozzle (43) and the second fluid nozzle (55), in either direction therebetween. The first rotary pump (80) is also operably arranged to pump fluid from the second fluid nozzle, via the ink output pipe (16, 20) to a fluid input port (97) of a first valve (83) connected in fluid communication with the fluid transfer pipe (45) in between the first rotary pump and the moveable nozzle (43) The fluid conduit means also includes the second fluid outlet pipe (53) a first end of which is connected in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet opening (62) of the assembled ink cassette receiving chamber (14, 15), and has a terminal end connected in fluid communication with a fluid input port of a second valve (81) . The first fluid outlet pipe (54) of the fluid conduit means comprises a first end connected in fluid communication with the first fluid outlet opening of the assembled ink cartridge receiving chamber, and a second end connected in fluid communication with a fluid input port of an third valve (82) . The fluid conduit means further includes the third fluid outlet pipe (51) an end of which is connected in fluid communication with the third fluid outlet opening of the ink cassette receiving cartridge, and has a second end connected in fluid communication with a fluid input port of a fifth valve (88) . Each of the first, second and third valves (83, 81, 82) possesses a fluid output port connected in fluid communication to a respective one of three waste-fluid pipes (98, 99, 100) of the fluid conduit means which each terminate at a common waste-pipe end (101) located within a waste-fluid chamber (90) of the fluid conduit means.

A vacuum pump (89) possesses an air inlet (102) placed in fluid communication with the inner volume (103) of the waste fluid chamber (90) and is structured and arranged to controllably withdraw air of the waste fluid chamber (90) and is structured and arranged to controllably withdraw air from within the inner volume (103) of the waste fluid chamber via the air inlet opening (102) thereof so as to controllably reduce the pressure within the waste fluid chamber (90) Each of the first, second and third valves (83, 81, 82) is controllable to reversibly place the fluid inlet port thereof in fluid communication with the fluid output port thereof. Accordingly, the first valve (83) is operable to reversibly place the fluid transfer pipe (45), the first fluid pump (80) , the ink output pipe (16, 20) and the second fluid nozzle (55) in fluid communication with the waste fluid chamber (90) in a reversible fashion.

The second valve (81) is operable to reversibly place the second fluid outlet opening (62) in fluid communication with the waste fluid chamber (90), and the third valve (82) is operable to reversibly place the first fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the waste fluid chamber (90) The fifth valve (88) possesses a fluid outlet port (91) in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere, and the fifth valve is controllable to reversibly place the third fluid outlet opening (63) in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere.

The fluid conduit means further comprises a cleaning-fluid chamber (86) containing a quantity of cleaning fluid (87), such as distilled water.

The inner volume of the cleaning-fluid chamber (86), and cleaning fluid within it (87), is placed in fluid communication with a fluid input port (92) of a second rotary fluid pump (85), which may be a peristaltic pump, the second fluid pump having a fluid output port (93) connected in fluid communication with a fluid input port of a fourth fluid valve (84) . The fourth fluid valve has a fluid output port (94) connected in fluid communication with the fluid transfer pipe (45) in between the first fluid pump (80) and the moveable nozzle (43) . The second rotary fluid pump (85) is operable and arranged to pump cleaning fluid (87) from within the cleaning-fluid chamber (86) to the fluid input port of the fourth fluid valve (84) . The fourth fluid valve is operable and arranged to reversibly place the fluid output port (93) of the second rotary fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid output port (94) thereof, and thereby in fluid communication with the fluid transfer pipe (45).

The fluid conduit means also includes control signal transmission lines (104) which place the first to fifth fluid valves (81, 82, 83, 84 and 88) , the first and second rotary fluid pumps (80, 85), and the vacuum pump (89) of the fluid conduit means in operable communication with the control unit (48) of the control system (47) of the filling machine. Each of the signal control transmission lines (104) with which an aforementioned element of the fluid conduit means is operably connected to the control system (47) is arranged to receive control signals (50) issued from the control unit (48) containing a control instruction directed to a specified valve, rotary fluid pump or vacuum pump of the fluid conduit means, to which the specified element is arranged to be responsive to act according to the received instruction.

In this way, the control unit (48) is operable and arranged to obtain via the optical scanner unit (9) control instructions coded within a barcode (29, 41) attached to a give ink cassette, and to issue one or more control signals (50) to control the fluid conduit means (46) to put effect to the received control instruction.

The control unit (48) is operable to control when and which of the first to fifth fluid valves is open or closed, when and which of the first and second rotary fluid pumps is caused to pump fluid, in which direction such fluid pumping should occur, the rate of fluid pumping (i.e. fluid transfer rate), and the number of rotations of the given pump (i.e. the amount of fluid transferred thereby) . The control unit (48) is also operable to control when the vacuum pump (89) is operated, the rate of pumping thereof, and to control the pressure within the waste fluid chamber (90) as a result.

Figures 7A to 70 illustrate a sequence of controls of elements of the fluid transfer means for the purposes of cleaning pipes and other elements of the fluid transfer means.

Referring to Figure 7A, prior to or after the transferring of ink from an ink cassette to an ink cartridge, the control unit (47) is operable to issue control instructions (50) to cause the fluid transfer apparatus (46) to implement a self-cleaning cycle. The cleaning cycle is initiated by placing an empty ink cassette (22) in fluid communication with the moveable nozzle (43) of the fluid conduit means. The upper and lower cavity parts of the ink cartridge receiving chamber in sealed unison to collectively define a vacuum chamber.

Preferably, the ink cartridge (67) is not present in the vacuum chamber defined by the (empty) ink cartridge receiving chamber. The following cleaning cycle acts to clean, amongst other things, the inner volume of the vacuum chamber.

With the empty ink cassette (22) in place, the control unit (47) is arranged to issue a cleaning cycle control signal (50) along the control transmission line (104) to the fourth fluid valve (84) to close the valve thereby to isolate the secondary rotary fluid pump (85), and to close the fifth fluid valve (88) thereby to seal the third fluid outlet pipe of the vacuum chamber (63) Concurrently, control signals are issued to the first fluid valve (83), the second fluid valve (81) and the third fluid valve (82) to open those valves thereby, respectively, to place the fluid transfer pipe (45), the second fluid outlet opening (62) and the first fluid outlet opening (65) in fluid communication with the inner volume of the waste fluid chamber (90) . A subsequent control instruction is issued to the first rotary fluid pump (80) to pump fluid in a direction from the second fluid nozzle to the fluid input port of the first fluid valve (83) . Simultaneously, a control signal is issued to the vacuum pump (89) to remove air from within the inner volume (103) of the waste fluid chamber (90) thereby to reduce the pressure therein and cause a pressure differential between the waste fluid chamber (90) and the pipes of the fluid conduit means in fluid communication therewith. This pressure differential urges fluid, such as old or remnant ink within the moveable nozzle (43), the fluid transfer pipe (45), the first rotary fluid pump (80), the ink output pipe (16, 20) or the second fluid nozzle, toward the first valve (83) and therefrom to the waste fluid chamber (90), the rotary pumping action of the rotary fluid pump (80) assists in this regard. Simultaneously, remnant, or old, ink or other fluids present in the vacuum chamber of the ink cartridge receiving chamber is drawn therefrom through the first and second fluid outlet openings, along the first and second fluid outlet pipes to the waste fluid chamber (90) via the second and third fluid valves (81, 82) In this way, existing remnant or redundant ink, or other fluids, present in the fluid transfer apparatus, and which are still in a fluid state, are drawn from the fluid conduit pipes thereof into the fluid chamber. This may be particularly useful in preparing fluid transfer apparatus prior to the transfer of ink from an ink cassette into an ink cartridge to be filled or replenished. An ink cartridge (67) optionally may be placed within the vacuum chamber of the ink cartridge receiving chamber and may, at this stage, optionally be filled or replenished with ink as desired. This may be achieved by selecting an ink cassette (22 or 30) containing ink with which it is desired to fill or replenish the ink cartridge, presenting the barcode (29, 41) thereon to the optical scanner unit (9) of the control unit (47) therewith to program the control unit with control instructions appropriate to the refilling of the ink cartridge (67) contained within the vacuum chamber. The selected ink cassette (22, 30) is then placed in communication with the fluid transfer apparatus (46) by inserting the moveable nozzle (43) thereof into an ink outlet opening (25, 39) of the cassette and to immerse the tip of the nozzle into the ink within it.

Transfer of ink according to the ink transfer control instruction (as encoded in the barcode upon the ink cassette) may then ensue as is exemplified with reference to Figures 8A to SE.

As an alternative, an additional cleaning sequence may be conducted prior to such ink transfer, as follows with reference to Figure 7B.

The control unit (47) issues control signals to the first fluid valve (83), to the second fluid valve (81) and to the third fluid valve (82) to close those valves thereby to isolate the fluid transfer pipe (45) and the vacuum chamber defined by the ink cartridge receiving chamber, from fluid communication with the waste-fluid chamber (90) and the vacuum pump (89).

For the avoidance of doubt, in Figures 7A, 76, the closure of a fluid valve to place a fluid pipe of the fluid conduit means in isolation from other parts thereof, is indicated diagrammatically by a cross appearing over the pipe in question. The absence of such a cross over a given pipe indicates that the fluid valve associated with the pipe in question is in the open state.

The opening of the fourth fluid valve (84) places the second rotary fluid pump (85) and the cleaning-fluid chamber (86) in fluid communication with the fluid transfer pipe, the first rotary pump (8) and the vacuum chamber defined by the ink cartridge receiving chamber.

A subsequent control instruction is issued by the control unit (47) to the second rotary pump (85) to cause the pump to pump cleaning fluid (87) from the cleaning fluid chamber (86) through the open fourth fluid valve (84) and into the fluid transfer pipe (45) A concurrent control instruction (104) is issued to the first rotary fluid pump (80) to cause that pump to pump fluid in a direction towards the second fluid nozzle (55). In this way, cleaning fluid is transferred from the cleaning fluid chamber (86) along the fluid transfer pipe (45) to both the moveable nozzle (43) and the second fluid nozzle (55). The second rotary fluid pump (85) may be controlled to pump a volume of cleaning fluid (87) sufficient to fill or at least partly fill the inner volume of the vacuum chamber defined by the ink cartridge receiving chamber, as schematically illustrated in Figure 7C.

Figure 7C schematically illustrates the relevant parts of the filling machine subsequent to the transfer of distilled water (87) through the fluid transfer pipe (45) . Quantities of distilled water (870) which have been flushed through the fluid transfer pipe are collected in an ink cassette (22) dedicated for that purpose and, in the inner volume of the vacuum chamber defined by the ink cartridge chamber with no ink cartridge present.

The control unit (47) is operable to issue a subsequent control signal (104) to stop operation of the first and second rotary fluid pumps (85, 80) and to close the fourth fluid valve (84) to isolate the second rotary pump and the cleaning-fluid chamber (86) from the fluid transfer pipe (45), as indicated by a cross placed over the fluid outlet port (94) of the fourth fluid valve (84) in Figure 70. Subsequently, a control signal (104) is issued to the first rotary fluid pump (80) and the first fluid valve (83) to open the first fluid valve and to cause the first rotary fluid pump to pump fluid in a direction from the second fluid nozzle (55) to the first fluid valve (83) . Simultaneously, a control signal is issued to the vacuum pump (89) to operate to withdraw air from the inner volume (103) of the waste fluid chamber (90) thereby to reduce the pressure therein and urge fluid in the fluid transfer pipe into the waste-fluid chamber. This process continues until waste fluid (870), comprising distilled water and remnant, or old ink, is substantially wholly transferred into the waste-fluid chamber from other parts of the fluid conduit means (46) This completes the cleaning cycle.

The transfer of a desired type of ink from an ink cassette (22) to an ink cartridge (67) may then take place as discussed below with reference to Figure 8A.

With an ink cassette (22) containing a desired ink (42) placed in fluid communication with the fluid transfer pipe (45) via the moveable (43), and an ink control instruction input to the control unit (47) from the barcode (29, 41) attached to the outer surface of the ink cassette, the control unit is operable to control elements of the fluid conduit means (46) according to the control instruction to transfer a desired quantity of ink (42) from the ink cassette to an ink cartridge (67) contained within the ink cartridge receiving chamber (14, or 18, 19) collectively defining a vacuum chamber.

According to the bar-code encoded control instruction, the control unit (47) is arranged to issue a control signal (104) to the first fluid valve (83) to close the valve and thereby isolate the fluid transfer pipe (45) from direct fluid communication with the waste-fluid chamber (90) . This closure is indicated diagrammatically in Figure 8A by a cross placed over the fluid input port (97) of the first fluid valve. A control signal (104) is also issued to the second and third fluid valves (81, 82) to open each of those valves thereby to place the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet of the vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the waste-fluid chamber (90) . Control signals (104) are also issued to the fourth and fifth fluid valves (84, 88) to close those valves and thereby isolate the second rotary fluid pump and cleaning-fluid chamber (86) from the fluid transfer pipe, and to isolate the third fluid outlet opening (63), and the vacuum chamber, from the ambient atmosphere.

Pump control signals (104) are issued to the first rotary fluid pump (80) to operate to pump ink (42) from the ink cassette (22) to the second fluid input nozzle (35) in sufficient quantity to fully prime the fluid transfer pipe and second fluid nozzle (i.e. completely fill) without injecting ink into the ink chamber of the ink cartridge (67) into which the second fluid nozzle is inserted within the vacuum chamber. A concurrent pumping of air from the inner volume (103) of the waste-fluid chamber (90), via action of the vacuum pump, is also initiated by the control unit (47) such that air is drawn from the vacuum chamber defined by the ink cartridge receiving chamber in fluid communication with the vacuum pump, to induce a pressure differential within the vacuum chamber and within the inner chamber of the ink cartridge (67) received therein. In this way, the first rotary fluid pump (80) is controlled to pump a quantity of ink in direct proportion to the number of pump rotations performed thereby and controlled by the control unit (47). The presence of the pressure differential induced by action of the vacuum pump, to urge ink towards the vacuum pump, along the fluid transfer pipe (45) enables that the first rotary fluid pump (80) is not required to urge fluid and may simply act as the primary ink delivery means from the ink cassette (22) to the second fluid nozzle and any ink cartridge into which that nozzle is inserted.

The required number of rotations of the first rotary fluid pump (80) necessary to fully prime the fluid transfer pipe, is known to the control unit (47), which controls the first rotary fluid pump to execute that number of rotations when priming the fluid transfer pipe as discussed above. Figure 8A shows the fluid transfer pipe in a primed state.

Subsequently, the control unit issues a control signal (104) to the third fluid valve (82) to close that valve and isolate the first fluid outlet opening (65) from fliiid communication with the waste-fluid vacuum chamber (90) and the vacuum pump (89) . A subsequent control signal (104) is issued to the vacuum pump (89) and the first rotary fluid pump (80) to operate. The vacuum pump (89) generates a pressure differential as discussed above with which to urge ink (42) from into the inner ink chamber of the received ink cartridge (67) . It is to be noted that the ink inlet opening (68) formed in the ink cartridge (67) through which the second fluid nozzle (55) extends into the ink cartridge, is of sufficient dimensions to place the inner ink chamber of the ink cartridge in fluid communication with the vacuum chamber of the ink cartridge receiving chamber, directly.

Accordingly, the pressure differential generated by the action of the vacuum pump (89) is transferred to the inner chamber of the received ink cartridge via the vacuum chamber and the open third fluid valve (81) . The control signal (104) causes the first rotary fluid pump (80) to execute a predetermined number of pump rotations sufficient to transfer a predetermined volume of ink (42) from the primed fluid transfer pipe into the inner volume of the received ink cartridge. This quantity is less than the quantity sufficient to fill the received ink cartridge. The purpose of injecting this limited quantity of ink into the received ink cartridge is to permit the injected ink to act as an ink solvent to dissolve remnant or existing ink present within the inner parts of the received ink cartridge, such as the print head (69) thereof. Once the predetermined number of pump rotations have been executed, the control unit issues control signals to cease operation of the first rotary fluid pump and to cease operation of the vacuum pump.

The control unit may optionally then allow the fluid conduit means to dwell, or lay dormant, for a brief predetermined period sufficient to permit a significant degree of dilution or solvent action to occur between the injected quantity of ink (42) and any remnant ink present in the received ink cartridge (67) Subsequently, the control unit (47) is arranged to issue a subsequent control signal (104) to close the second fluid valve (81) and to open the third fluid valve (82) thereby to isolate the second fluid outlet opening (62) from fluid communication with the waste-fluid chamber (90) and the vacuum pump (89) -as indicated diagrammatically in Figure 80 by a cross placed over the second fluid outlet pipe (53) . With the first fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the waste-fluid chamber (90), and the vacuum pump (89) via the open third fluid valve (82) the control unit is arranged to issue a control signal (104) to operate the vacuum pump (89) to suck into the waste-fluid chamber (90) the limited quantity of solvent ink (42) previously injected into the received ink cartridge (67), together with any dissolved remnant or old ink therein. In this way, the inner parts of the received ink cartridge, such as the print head, may be cleaned using the very same ink with which it is subsequently intended to fill or refill the received cartridge.

Subsequent to removal of the solvent ink (42) from the received cartridge, the control unit (47) is arranged to issue control signals determined by the contents of the control instruction encoded in the barcode attached to the ink cassette (42) containing the ink (42) to be transferred. A first control signal (104) is issued to the second fluid valve (81) to open that valve thereby to place the second fluid outlet opening (62) in fluid communication with the waste-fluid chamber (90) and the vacuum pump (89) . A control signal is issued to the vacuum pump to cause the pump to operate, and a concurrent signal is issued to the first rotary fluid pump (80) to cause the pump to perform a predetermined number of pump rotations, the number being predetermined according to the control instruction encoded within the aforementioned barcode. With the vacuum pump operating to produce a predetermined preferential differential within the pipes of the fluid conduit apparatus with which it is in fluid communication, the quantity of ink required to transferred to the received ink cartridge may be precisely calibrated according to a predetermined number of rotary pump rotations. This correlation between ink volume transfer and the number of rotary pump rotations is pre-stored within the control unit such that any desired quantity of ink may be precisely transferred through the first rotary fluid pump (80), when the vacuum pump is operating to produce a predetermined pressure differential, in direct proportion to the number of pump rotations in this way. While the first rotary fluid pump is in operation, and transferring ink (42) into the received ink cartridge (67), the vacuum pump operates simply to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber defined by the ink cartridge receiving chamber, by withdrawing air therefrom into the waste-fluid chamber and by sucking ink from the second fluid nozzle towards the print head (69) of the received ink cartridge via the first fluid outlet opening (65) of the vacuum chamber.

After a predetermined number of rotations of the first rotary fluid pump (80) have been executed, the control unit is arranged to issue a control signal (104) to cease operation of the first rotary fluid pump, and to close the second fluid valve (81) to isolate the second fluid outlet opening of the vacuum chamber from the waste-fluid chamber (90) and the vacuum pump. A subsequent control signal is issued from the control unit to the fifth fluid valve (88) to open that valve and place the third fluid outlet opening of the vacuum chamber in fluid communication with the ambient atmosphere. As a result, air from the atmosphere is caused to rush into the vacuum chamber via the open fifth fluid valve and the third fluid outlet opening and to cause a rapid increase in the pressure within the vacuum chamber. This rapid increase, or pulse, of pressure communicates itself to the inner volume of the received ink cartridge via the ink input opening therein through which the second fluid nozzle extends. This pulse of pressure, once communicated to ink newly injected into the inner volume of the received ink cartridge in this way, urges the newly injected ink into the print head (69) of the received cartridge to prime the received ink cartridge with the newly injected ink. It is to be noted that the first fluid outlet opening (65) is maintained in fluid communication with the waste-fluid chamber (90) and the operating vacuum pump (89) during this period. This state of affairs is maintained for a period of time determined according to the control instruction encoded within the barcode contained on the surface of the received ink cassette (22) . The necessary dwell time, sufficient for proper priming of a print head, may vary as between different ink cartridges, and information encoded within the bar code of an ink cassette (22) is dedicated to specific ink cartridges for this reason, amongst other reasons.

Once the predetermined dwell period has elapsed, and the print head of the received ink cartridge is deemed to be sufficiently primed, a subsequent control signal (104) is issued by the control unit (47) to cause the first rotary fluid pump (80) to inject an additional quantity of ink (42) into the received ink cartridge to completely fill the received cartridge.

This top-up cycle, which completely fills the received cartridge, is conducted with no vacuum applied to the ink cartridge receiving chamber. Accordingly, the fifth valve (88) is maintained in an open state while the second valve (81) and the third valve (82) are each closed such that the ink cartridge receiving chamber is isolated from the vacuum pump (89). The first and fourth fluid valves (83, 84) are also maintained in a closed state. This step of topping-up ink within the received ink cartridge, following the vacuum processes, is important to ensure that any air drawn into the inner chamber of the received ink cartridge (eg typically containing a foam material) would be caused to expand were a vacuum re-applied at the top-up phase resulting in the trapped air generating a considerable inky foam which may well escape from the openings of the ink cartridge.

This is, of course, undesirable, and is the motivation behind topping-up the ink cartridge under ambient pressure and with no vacuum applied, to transfer sufficient ink to the received ink cartridge to completely fill it. The desired quantity of top-up ink is known to the control unit according to the known volume of the ink cartridge, and the known volume of ink injected into it prior to the top-up phase, and according to the control instructions contained within the barcode carried by the ink cassette from which the ink in question is transferred.

To summarise, a main ink-refilling phase is conducted with a vacuum applied under the print-head of the received cartridge, and around the received cartridge, whilst ink is pumped and drawn into the cartridge from a peristaltic fluid pump. A priming cycle may be implemented as a short evacuation of some ink from the ink cartridge through the print-head thereof. The peristaltic fluid pump may be switched off at this stage, and a vacuum quickly or suddenly released from the vacuum chamber containing the cartridge such that atmospheric pressure rushes into the vacuum chamber (around the cartridge) whilst the vacuum is maintained at the print-head for a number of seconds. The result is preferably to draw ink out of the cartridge via its print-head. The vacuum may then be released at the print-head of the cartridge such that the cartridge is then maintained at atmospheric pressure all around such that ink no longer flows out of the head. A top-up stage may be conducted where the cartridge is maintained at atmospheric pressure all around (and at the print-head) whilst a small amount of ink is pumped into the cartridge via a peristaltic fluid pump. Valves are opened at this stage, as at the end of the priming cycle, to enable atmospheric air pressure to flow into and out of the chamber containing the cartridge, during this cycle, so that the pumping of ink into the cartridge does not introduce a positive air pressure within the chamber containing it.

In alternative arrangements, the apparatus may fill a cartridge completely under vacuum with or without a priming of the cartridge, or may pre-fill to 90% under vacuum, prime for a dwell period of between 1 and 6 seconds and then top-up the cartridge without applied vacuum to completely fill the cartridge. Alternatively, a pre-fill to 70% of the capacity of the cartridge may be conducted under vacuum, a priming cycle with a dwell time of between 1 and 6 seconds may be performed subsequently, and a top-up fill (with no vacuum) may completely fill the cartridge thereafter. As mentioned above, dwell times for use in the priming cycle maybe between 1 and 7 seconds in duration, or some other time such as is deemed suitable for a particular ink and cartridge combination.

Once the received ink cartridge is completely full in this way, the first cavity part of the ink cartridge receiving chamber may be separated from the second cavity part, to enable the filled, refilled or replenished ink cartridge (67) to be extracted from the upper cavity part (see Figure 5A and 5B) for use.

The above description provides non-limiting examples of the invention, and modifications or variants of the examples, such as would be readily apparent to the skilled person, are encompassed within the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An ink cartridge filling apparatus for filling a printer ink cartridge with ink from an ink cassette, including fluid transfer means arranged to receive a said ink cassette and to place the ink cassette in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge to be filled via the fluid transfer means, and control means arranged to read a machine-readable control instruction and to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge according to the control instruction.
2. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any preceding claim including a said ink cassette for containing ink and bearing a data carrier containing a said machine-readable control instruction to which the control means is adapted to be responsive.
3. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the control means is arranged to control the fluid transfer means to transfer from a said ink cassette to a said ink cartridge a volume of ink specified by the control instruction.
4. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the fluid transfer means includes a waste fluid means for receiving waste fluid from an ink cartridge received by the fluid transfer means wherein the control means is arranged to control the fluid transfer means to transfer to * 73 the waste fluid means waste fluid from a received ink cartridge according to the control instruction.
5. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the fluid transfer means includes a vacuum pump arranged to reduce pressure within the fluid transfer means to urge the transfer of fluid therein wherein the control means is arranged to control the operation of the vacuum pump according to the control instruction.
6. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the fluid transfer means is arranged to receive an ink cartridge comprising a print head at a print head receiving means thereof to place the ink cassette in fluid communication with the print head via a fluid transfer means, wherein the control means is arranged to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the print head receiving means according to the control instruction.
7. An ink cassette arranged for containing ink and bearing a data carrier containing a machine-readable instruction adapted for use in an ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any preceding claim.
8. A method of filling a printer ink cartridge with ink including, providing an ink cassette containing ink and bearing a data carrier containing a machine-readable control instruction, providing fluid transfer means for transferring fluid, providing control means adapted to control the fluid transfer means according to a control instruction, causing the control means to read the control instruction contained in said data carrier, placing the ink cassette in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge to be filled via the fluid transfer means, and via the control means controlling the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge according to the control instruction.
9. A method according to claim 8 including controlling the fluid transfer means to transfer from the ink cassette to the ink cartridge a volume of ink specified by the control instruction.
10. A method according to claim 8 or 9 including operating the control means according to the control instruction to transfer waste fluid from a received ink cartridge.
11. A method according to any of claims 8 to 10 including providing a vacuum pump arranged to reduce pressure within the fluid transfer means to urge the transfer of fluid therein and operating the control means according to the control instruction to control the operation of the vacuum pump.
12. A method according to any of claim 8 to 11 including placing the ink cassette in fluid communication with a print head of the ink cartridge via the fluid transfer means, and operating the control means according to the control instruction to control the fluid transfer means to transfer ink from the ink cassette to the print head.
13. An ink cartridge filling apparatus for filling an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer with ink from a source of ink including; ink cartridge receiving means operable to form a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from a said source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber, wherein the fluid inlet means is arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink inlet of an ink cartridge and concurrently the fluid outlet means is arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a print head of the ink cartridge when received within said vacuum chamber, pressure control means operable to control fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.
14. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 13 in which the fluid inlet means comprises a nozzle arranged to be inserted into a said ink cartridge when received within the vacuum chamber.
15. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 13 or 14 in which the fluid outlet means is arranged to fluidically communicate with a said ink cartridge only via a print head thereof when the ink cartridge is received within the vacuum chamber.
16. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 15 in which the ink cartridge receiving means includes a first adaptor part including the fluid inlet means and a second adaptor part including the fluid outlet means arranged to separably cooperate with the first adaptor part to form the vacuum chamber.
17. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 16 in which the first adaptor part comprises first positioning means arranged to receive a part of a said ink cartridge including said ink inlet thereby to position the ink inlet in register with the fluid inlet means.
18. An ink cartridge filing apparatus according to claim 16 or 17 in which the second adaptor part includes second positioning means arranged to receive a part of a said ink cartridge including said print head thereby to position the print head in register with the fluid outlet means.
19. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 158 in which the first adaptor part is arranged to cooperate with the second adaptor part to provide a sealing interface therebetween to form said vacuum chamber.
20. A method of filling an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer with ink from a source of ink including; receiving an ink cartridge within a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from a said source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber, placing the fluid inlet means in fluid communication with an ink inlet of the ink cartridge and concurrently placing the fluid outlet means in fluid communication with a print head of the ink cartridge within said vacuum chamber, controlling fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.
21. A method according to claim 20 including providing the fluid inlet means with a nozzle and inserting the nozzle into a said ink cartridge received within the vacuum chamber.
22. A method according to claim 20 or 21 including placing the fluid outlet means in fluid communication with the ink cartridge only via the print head thereof.
23. A method according to any of claims 20 to 22 including forming said vacuum chamber using a first adaptor part including the fluid inlet means and a second adaptor part including the fluid outlet means arranged to separably cooperate with the first adaptor part to form the vacuum chamber.
24. A method according to claim 23 including using a shaping of the first adaptor part to position the ink inlet of the received ink cartridge in register with the fluid inlet means.
25. A method according to claim 23 or 24 including using a shaping of the second adaptor part to position the print head of the received ink cartridge in register with the fluid outlet means.
26. A method according to any of claims 23 to 25 including forming said vacuum chamber by placing the first adaptor part in cooperation with the second adaptor part to provide a sealing interface therebetween.
27. An ink cartridge filling apparatus for filling an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink, including fluid conduit means arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a said source of ink and a said ink cartridge concurrently, a fluid transfer means comprising a vacuum pump means arranged to be placed in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means to vary fluid pressure therein to urge fluid along the fluid conduit means, the fluid transfer means also comprising a rotary fluid pump means operable to transfer along the fluid conduit means a volume of said urged fluid substantially proportional to the number of pump cycles performed by the rotary fluid pump means.
28. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 27 including ink cartridge receiving means arranged for receiving an ink cartridge in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the rotary pump means and the vacuum pump means thereby to permit fluid to be urged from the rotary fluid pump means via an ink cartridge when received in the ink cartridge receiving means.
29. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 27 or 28 including an ink source receiving means arranged to receive a source of ink in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, wherein the rotary fluid pump means is arranged in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the ink source receiving means thereby to permit fluid to be urged from the ink source receiving means via the rotary fluid pump means.
30. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the fluid conduit means is operable to place the ink source receiving means in fluid communication concurrently with the fluid pump means and the vacuum pump means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the rotary fluid pump means to permit fluid to be urged from the ink source receiving means via other than the rotary fluid pump means.
31. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of claims 27 to 30 when dependant upon claim 25 in which the ink cartridge receiving means is operable to form a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from a said source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber, wherein the fluid inlet means is arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink inlet of an ink cartridge and concurrently the fluid outlet means is arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink outlet of the ink cartridge when received within said vacuum chamber.
32. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 31 in which the fluid transfer means includes pressure control means operable to control fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.
33. A method for filling an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink, including; placing an ink cartridge in fluid communication with a source of ink via fluid conduit means, providing a vacuum pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means and varying fluid pressure therein to urge fluid along the fluid conduit means, providing a rotary fluid pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means and therewith transferring along the fluid conduit means a volume of said urged fluid substantially proportional to the number of pump cycles performed by the rotary fluid pump means.
34. A method according to claim 33 including placing an ink cartridge in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the rotary fluid pump means and the vacuum pump means, and operating the vacuum pump means to urge fluid from the rotary fluid pump means via the ink cartridge so received.
35. A method according to claim 33 or 34 including receiving a source of ink in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, providing the rotary fluid pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the ink source receiving means, and operating the vacuum pump means to urge fluid from the ink source receiving means via the rotary fluid pump means.
36. A method according to claim 35 including placing the source of ink in fluid communication concurrently with the rotary fluid pump means and the vacuum pump means fluidically between the vacuum pump means and the rotary fluid pump means and operating the vacuum pump means to urge fluid from the ink source receiving means via other than the rotary fluid pump means.
37. A method according to any of claims 33 to 36 when dependant upon claim 34 including receiving an ink * 82 cartridge within a vacuum chamber comprising fluid inlet means arranged for receiving ink into the vacuum chamber from the source of ink and fluid outlet means arranged for receiving ink from within the vacuum chamber, and placing the fluid inlet means in fluid communication with an ink inlet of the ink cartridge and concurrently the fluid outlet means in fluid communication with an ink outlet of the ink cartridge received within said vacuum chamber.
38. A method according to claim 37 including controlling fluid pressure within the vacuum chamber to control the movement of ink via said fluid inlet means and/or said fluid outlet means.
39. An apparatus for replenishing an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink including ink cartridge receiving means for receiving an ink cartridge, fluid input means arranged to insert replacement ink into an ink inlet of a received ink cartridge, fluid output means arranged to subsequently drain the received ink cartridge of replacement ink to flush-out from the ink cartridge existing ink therein using the replacement ink, the fluid input means being arranged to subsequently insert replacement ink into the received ink cartridge to replenish the ink cartridge.
40. An apparatus according to Claim 39 in which the fluid output means is arranged to drain a received cartridge of replacement ink via an ink outlet of the received ink cartridge thereby to flush-out from the ink outlet of the received ink cartridge existing ink therein using the replacement ink.
41. An apparatus according to Claim 40 in which the ink outlet is a print head of the received ink cartridge.
42. An apparatus according to any of preceding claims 39 to 41 including ink inlet forming means operable to form in the body of an ink cartridge an ink inlet via which replacement ink is insertable into the ink cartridge.
43. Apparatus according to any of claims 39 to 42 including fluid conduit means arranged to be placed in fluid communication concurrently with a said source of ink and said fluid input means, fluid transfer means arranged to transfer replacement ink to the fluid input means and to reduce fluid pressure in a received ink cartridge via an ink outlet thereof to urge replacement ink to be drawn into the ink cartridge from the source of replacement ink via the fluid conduit means.
44. Apparatus according to any of claims 39to 43 wherein the ink cartridge receiving means comprises a pressure-controllable vessel for receiving an ink cartridge therein such that the inner volume of the vessel is placeable in fluid communication with a said source of replacement ink via the received ink cartridge, wherein the apparatus is operable to reduce fluid pressure in the vessel by extracting air therefrom thereby to reduce fluid pressure in the received ink cartridge to urge replacement ink to be drawn into the ink cartridge.
45. An apparatus according to any of claims 39 to 44 including valve means operable to seal-off the fluid input means from fluid communication with a source of replacement ink, the apparatus being operable to subsequently reduce fluid pressure in the fluid output means thereby to urge replacement ink to be drawn into an ink outlet of a ink cartridge received in fluid communication with the fluid output means.
46. An apparatus according to any of claims 39 to 45 in which the ink cartridge receiving means includes a pressure-controllable vessel comprising said fluid input means and said fluid output means, the fluid output means being operable to receive an ink outlet of a received ink cartridge and to pump fluid out of the pressure-controllable vessel via the ink outlet thereby to remove ink from the ink cartridge.
47. A method of replenishing an ink cartridge for a printer including inserting replacement ink into the ink cartridge, draining the ink cartridge of replacement ink to flush-out from the ink cartridge existing ink therein using the replacement ink, and inserting replacement ink into the ink cartridge to replenish the ink cartridge. * 85
48. A method according to Claim 47 including draining the ink cartridge of replacement ink via an ink outlet of the ink cartridge thereby to flush-out from the ink outlet of the ink cartridge existing ink therein using the replacement ink.
49. A method according to Claim 48 in which the ink outlet is a print head of the ink cartridge.
50. A method according to any of claims 47 to 49 including inserting said replacement ink into the ink cartridge via an ink inlet of the ink cartridge.
51. A method according to any of claims 47 to 50 including forming in the body of the ink cartridge an ink inlet via which replacement ink is insertable into the ink cartridge.
52. A method according to any of claims 47 to 51 including inserting replacement ink into the ink cartridge by placing an ink chamber of the ink cartridge in fluid communication with a source of replacement ink via an ink inlet of the ink cartridge, and reducing the pressure in the ink chamber via an ink outlet of the ink cartridge to urge replacement ink to be drawn into the ink cartridge from the source of replacement ink.
53. A method according to any of claims 47 to 52 including containing the ink cartridge within a pressure-controllable vessel the inner volume of which, via an ink chamber of the ink cartridge, is in fluid communication with a source of replacement ink, and which has an air outlet, and reducing the pressure in the inner volume of the vessel by removing air therefrom via the air outlet thereby to reduce the pressure in the ink chamber to urge replacement ink to be drawn into the ink cartridge.
54. A method according to any of claims 47 to 53 including sealing-off the source of ink from fluid communication with the ink cartridge, and reducing fluid pressure at an ink outlet of the ink cartridge thereby to urge replacement ink to be drawn into the ink outlet of the ink cartridge.
55. A method according to any of claims 47 to 54 including containing the ink cartridge in a pressure-controllable vessel comprising a fluid outlet in fluid communication with an ink outlet of the ink cartridge, and pumping ink out of the pressure-controllable vessel via the ink outlet of the ink cartridge thereby to remove ink from the ink cartridge.
56. Apparatus for priming with ink from a source of ink an inkjet printer ink cartridge comprising an ink chamber and a print head for receiving ink from the ink chamber, the apparatus including: fluid conduit means arranged to place the ink chamber of a said ink cartridge in fluid communication with a said source of ink via other than the print head; ink transfer means arranged to transfer ink into the ink chamber from the source of ink via the fluid conduit means; and pressure-control means operable to subsequently increase fluid pressure in the ink chamber via other than the print head thereby to urge ink from the ink chamber into the print head.
57. Apparatus according to claim 56 in which the fluid conduit means includes a fluid output means arranged to be placed in fluid communication with an ink inlet if a said ink cartridge via other than the print head, and fluid transfer means operable to transfer fluid to the fluid output means via the fluid conduit means for input to said ink inlet.
58. Apparatus according to claim 57 in which the pressure-control means is arranged to reduce via the print head fluid pressure in the ink chamber relative to the pressure of ink in said source of ink thereby to urge ink into the ink cartridge from the source of ink.
59. Apparatus according to any of claims 56 to 58 including ink-draining means arranged to drain the ink cartridge of ink present therein.
60. Apparatus according to any of claims 56 to 59 in which the pressure-control means includes a vacuum pump means and an ink cartridge receiving means operable to form a vacuum chamber arranged to receive therein a said ink cartridge in fluid communication with said fluid conduit means via the ink chamber thereof, and in fluid communication with the vacuum pump means to permit the vacuum pump * 88 means to urge ink into the ink chamber via the vacuum chamber.
61. Apparatus according to claim 60 in which the ink cartridge receiving means is operable to receive a said ink cartridge within the vacuum chamber with the vacuum pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means via a print head and the ink chamber of the ink cartridge to permit the vacuum pump means via the print head to urge ink into the ink chamber.
62. A method of priming an ink cartridge for an ink jet printer, the ink cartridge comprising an ink chamber for containing ink and a print head for receiving ink from the ink chamber, the method including placing the ink chamber in fluid communication with source of ink via other than the print head, drawing ink into the ink cartridge from the source of ink, and subsequently increasing pressure in the ink chamber via other than the print head thereby to urge ink from the ink chamber into the print head.
63. A method according to claim 62 including reducing via the print head the pressure in the ink chamber relative to the pressure of ink in said source of ink thereby to urge said drawing of ink into the ink cartridge from the source of ink.
64. A method according to any of claims 62 and 63 including the step of draining the ink cartridge of existing ink present therein before any said step of inserting replacement ink therein.
65. An ink cartridge filling apparatus for filling an ink cartridge for a printer with ink from a source of ink, including: fluid conduit means comprising a fluid input opening arranged to receive ink into the fluid conduit means from a said source of ink, and a fluid output opening in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge; a vessel connected to the fluid conduit means for containing liquid other than ink and arranged to be reversibly placed in fluid communication with the fluid inlet opening and the fluid outlet opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.
66. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to Claim 65 including pump means in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means operable to pump liquid from the vessel to the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.
67. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to Claim 66 in which the pump means is operable to pump ink between the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening thereby to permit ink or liquid for cleaning ink to be pumped therebetween via the fluid conduit means.
68. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to Claim 66 or Claim 67 in which the pump means is operable to pump fluid from the fluid input opening thereby to permit ink to be pumped from a said source of ink into the fluid conduit means when in fluid communication therewith.
69. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to Claim 68 in which the pump means is further arranged to pump fluid from the fluid input opening and from the fluid output opening concurrently into the fluid conduit means.
70. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of preceding Claims 65 to 69 in which the pump means includes a rotary fluid pump.
71. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of preceding Claims 65 to 70 in which the pump means includes a vacuum pump.
72. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to Claim 71 in which the vacuum pump is arranged to reduce pressure within the fluid input opening, the fluid output opening and the fluid conduit means separately or concurrently.
73. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of preceding Claims 65 to 72 including an ink cartridge receiving means for receiving an ink cartridge in fluid communication with the pump means via the fluid input opening and the fluid conduit means.
74. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to Claim 73 in which the ink cartridge receiving means is operable to form an vacuum chamber for receiving a said ink cartridge in fluid communication with a vacuum pump, wherein the vacuum pump is arranged to reduce fluid pressure in the vacuum chamber.
75. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of claims 65 to 74 in which the fluid conduit means comprises a waste output opening operable to be placed in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means.
76. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of preceding Claims 65 to 75 including valve means operable to reversibly isolate said vessel from fluid communication with the fluid input opening and/or the fluid output opening, and/or to reversibly isolate the fluid input opening and/or the fluid output opening from fluid communication with the vacuum pump, and/or to reversibly isolate the cartridge receiving means from fluid communication with the vacuum pump *via said fluid conduit means, and/or to reversibly isolate the waste output opening from fluid communication with the fluid input opening and/or the fluid output opening.
77. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of preceding claims 65 to 76 including control means arranged to control the apparatus to: (a) pump fluid from the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means to remove existing ink therein; (b) place the vessel in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening; (c) transfer ink-cleaning liquid to the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening concurrently to clean the apparatus; (d) isolate the vessel from fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening; (e) pump fluid from the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means to remove existing ink and/or ink-cleaning liquid therein.
78. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 77 in which the control means is arranged to control the apparatus according to step (e2), in place of step (e), to: (e2) pump fluid from the fluid output opening to the fluid input opening via the fluid conduit means to remove existing ink and/or ink-cleaning liquid therein via the fluid input opening.
79. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to claim 77 or claim 78 in which the control means is arranged to control the apparatus, at step (a), to operate a fluid rotary pump and a vacuum pump, each in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, to pump said fluid.
80. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of claims 77 to 79 in which the control means is arranged to control the apparatus, at step (b), to isolate from fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening a vacuum pump previously in fluid communication therewith at step (a)
81. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of claims 77 to 81 in which the control means is arranged to control the apparatus, at step (C), to operate a fluid rotary pump in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, to transfer said ink-cleaning liquid.
82. An ink cartridge filling apparatus according to any of claims 77 to 82 in which the control means is arranged to control the apparatus, at step (e), to operate a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the fluid conduit means, to pump said ink and/or ink-cleaning liquid.
83. A method for cleaning an apparatus for filling with ink an ink cartridge for a printer, including: providing a said apparatus comprising a fluid conduit means having a fluid input opening arranged to receive ink into the fluid conduit means, and a fluid output opening in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and arranged to be placed in fluid communication with a said ink cartridge communicating a liquid other than ink to the fluid inlet opening and/or to the fluid outlet opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.
84. A method according to claim 83 including providing a vessel connected to the fluid conduit means containing said liquid other than ink, and communicating said liquid to the fluid inlet opening and/or to the fluid outlet opening therefrom.
85. A method according to Claim 83 or 84 pumping said liquid from the vessel to the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means for the cleaning of ink with said liquid.
86. A method according to Claim 85 including pumping ink and/or said liquid between the fluid input opening and the fluid output opening via the fluid conduit means to transfer fluid therebetween.
87. A method according to Claim 85 or 86 including placing a source of ink in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and pumping ink from a said source of ink into the fluid conduit means.
88. A method according to Claim 87 including pumping fluid from the fluid input opening and from the fluid output opening concurrently into the fluid conduit means thereby to collectively draw fluid in communication therewith into the fluid conduit means.
89. A method according to any of preceding Claims 83 to 88 including providing a rotary fluid pump and performing said pumping using the rotary fluid pump.
90. A method according to any of preceding Claims 83 to 89 including providing a vacuum pump and performing said pumping using the vacuum pump.
91. A method according to Claim 90 including operating the vacuum pump to reduce pressure within the fluid input opening, the fluid output opening and the fluid conduit means separately or concurrently.
92. A method according to any of preceding Claims 83 to 91 including providing an ink cartridge receiving means, and receiving an ink cartridge therein in fluid communication with the fluid input opening and the fluid conduit means.
93. A method according to Claim 92 including forming a vacuum chamber with the ink cartridge receiving means and receiving a said ink cartridge therein in fluid communication with a vacuum pump, and reducing fluid pressure in the vacuum chamber using the vacuum pump to draw fluid into the ink cartridge via the fluid conduit means.
94. An ink cartridge filling apparatus substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
95. An ink cassette substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
96. An ink cartridge replenishing apparatus substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
97. Apparatus for priming an ink cartridge substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
98. A method for filling an ink cartridge substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
99. A method for replenishing an ink cartridge substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
100. A method for priming an ink cartridge substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
101. A method for cleaning an apparatus substantially as described in any one embodiment herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, or as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.