Patent ID: 6318850
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method for refilling a printer ink container for providing ink to an ink jet printhead of an ink jet printer, the ink container having a sealed housing, a flexible ink reservoir located within the housing and having an ink outlet in fluid communication with the ink reservoir, with the ink outlet being removably connectable to a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the ink jet printhead of the ink jet printer, an air inlet in fluid communication with a space between the housing and the ink reservoir, each of the ink outlet and the air inlet having a protruding stem with a septum, the ink outlet further having a check valve, and the ink container having a memory device connected to electrical contact pads mounted on the housing for communicating information concerning characteristics of the ink in the ink container to the printer, the method comprising:(a) connecting an ink conduit to a source of ink and pushing the ink conduit through the septum of the ink outlet, thereby opening the check valve and placing the ink conduit in fluid communication with the ink reservoir;(b) refilling the ink reservoir with ink from the source of ink through the ink conduit and ink outlet; and(c) refurbishing the memory device for providing enabling information to the printer to enable the printer to operate.