Patent ID: 6305795
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: B41J,G03G,G06K

Abstract:
A replaceable ink container to be installed at a particular location in a receiving station fluidically coupled to a printhead of an ink jet printing system for providing ink from the replaceable ink container to the printhead, the receiving station having first and second opposed side walls, the replaceable ink container comprising:a housing including a first edge, an opposite second edge, and first and second opposite sides extending between the first and second edges, at least the first side of the first and second sides of the housing including aligning features for engaging corresponding guiding features on at least the first side wall of the first and second side walls of the receiving station upon initial insertion of the replaceable ink container into the particular location on the receiving station, at least the second side of the first and second sides of the housing including latching features for engaging corresponding latching features on at least the second side wall of the first and second side walls of the receiving station subsequent to the aligning features engaging the guiding features, interengagement of the latching features with the corresponding latching features fully installing the replaceable ink container in the particular location of the receiving station and securing the replaceable ink container to the receiving station against inadvertent removal from the particular location;an ink supply within the housing, the ink supply containing a volume of ink;a fluid outlet on the housing, the fluid outlet being connected to the ink supply such that when the replaceable ink container is fully installed in the particular location of the receiving station, the fluid outlet engages a corresponding fluid inlet at the particular location in the receiving station to allow ink to flow from the ink supply of the replaceable ink container to the printhead;an information storage device on the housing, the information storage device storing information indicative of the volume of ink within the ink supply; anda plurality of container electrical contacts on the housing, the plurality of container electrical contacts being connected to the information storage device such that when the replaceable ink container is fully installed at the particular location in the receiving station, the plurality of container electrical contacts engage corresponding receiving station electrical contacts to electrically couple the information storage device to the ink jet printing system.