Patent ID: 6079823
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An ink jet printing apparatus having an ink reservoir for receiving ink from a replaceable ink container, the latter having a supply of ink within said container, said ink reservoir having a reservoir housing and a ink well for containing a supply of ink, said reservoir supplying to an ink jet printer, wherein the improvement comprises:a puncturable diaphragm carried on said container and closing said container;a single hollow puncturing member carried by said ink reservoir housing engageable with said diaphragm upon said container being installed on said reservoir housing for piercing an opening through said diaphragm and for substantially sealingly engaging said puncturing member so as to substantially prevent the ink within said container from leaking past the exterior of said puncturing member, said puncturing member opening communication between said container and said ink reservoir thereby by permitting the ink to flow from said container into said ink reservoir,said diaphragm opening substantially closing upon said container being removed from said reservoir housing and upon said puncturing member being withdrawn from said diaphragm opening thereby to substantially re-close said diaphragm opening; andan air path through a wall of said reservoir in communication with the atmosphere and said reservoir, said air path having an opening into said reservoir spaced vertically above a bottom of said single puncturing member, so that with said container installed on said reservoir housing, the ink from within said container and atmospheric air from within said reservoir are exchanged via said puncturing member thereby to permit the ink to flow from said container into said reservoir and to permit air to enter said container so as to replace the ink flowing from said container.