Patent ID: 6032010
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B41J,G03G,Y10S

Abstract:
An ink supply apparatus for a wet electrophotographic color printer, comprising:a housing having an installation portion;a plurality of ink cartridges installed in the housing, for supplying ink having a predetermined color to corresponding developing units;a plurality of detachable refill cartridges installed in the installation portion, for supplying ink having a predetermined color to a corresponding one of the ink cartridges; anda color identifying/installing mechanism for allowing ink having a predetermined color to be supplied to the corresponding ink cartridge from a corresponding one of the refill cartridges, wherein the color identifying/installing mechanism comprises:a protrusion formed at different positions for each refill cartridge by color;a plurality of grooves formed in the installation portion to be coupled with a corresponding protrusion;a discharge hole formed in different positions for each refill cartridge by color;a first valve element installed at each discharge hole; anda plurality of second valve elements installed in the installation portion to be connected with an ink intake hole of a corresponding one of the ink cartridges, each of which is coupled with a corresponding first valve element by color when the refill cartridges are installed in the installation portion.