Patent ID: 6550899
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A replaceable ink supply for providing ink to an ink jet printing system, the ink jet printing system including a printhead and a supply station, the supply station having a fluid inlet fluidically coupled to the printhead and a pump actuator, the replaceable ink supply comprising:a housing insertable to and removable from the supply station of the ink jet printing system; an ink reservoir within the housing, the ink reservoir containing a quantity of ink; a fluid outlet on the housing, wherein the fluid outlet is adapted for fluidic coupling with the fluid inlet of the supply station upon insertion of the housing into the supply station to provide fluid communication between the ink reservoir of the ink supply and the printhead of the ink jet printing system; a valve mechanism within the housing, the valve mechanism having an opened state and a closed state; and a pump portion on the housing that is movable relative to the housing, the movable pump portion being engageable with the pump actuator of the supply station upon insertion of the housing into the supply station, the movable pump portion being fluidically coupled to the ink reservoir by way of the valve mechanism so as to receive a supply of ink from the quantity of ink in the open state of the valve mechanism, and the movable pump portion being fluidically coupled to the fluid outlet such that when the pump portion is engaged with the pump actuator and the valve mechanism is in the closed state, actuation of the pump actuator causes movement of the pump portion which pressurizes only the supply of ink in the pump portion and not the quantity of ink within the ink reservoir, for selectively providing a pressurized supply of ink to the fluid outlet.