Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a replaceable ink reservoir for installation into a printing system that has a moveable carriage for repositioning a printing portion relative to print media. The replaceable ink reservoir includes an ink reservoir that does not have an integral printing portion. Also included is an electrical storage device for storing information. The installation of the ink reservoir into the moveable carriage establishes both fluid communication between the ink reservoir and the moveable carriage and establishes electrical continuity between the electrical storage device and the moveable carriage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to ink containers for providing ink to inkjet printers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ink container that is configured for insertion into a receiving station within an inkjet printing system to establish fluid and electrical connection therewith. 
     Inkjet printers frequently make use of an inkjet printhead mounted within a carriage that is moved relative to a print media, such as paper. As the printhead is moved relative to the print media, a control system activates the printhead to deposit or eject ink droplets onto the print media to form images and text. Ink is provided to the printhead by a supply of ink that is either integral with the printhead, as in the case of a disposable print cartridge, or by a supply of ink that is replaceable separate from the printhead. 
     One type of previously used printing system makes use of the ink supply that is carried with the carriage. This ink supply has been formed integral with the printhead, whereupon the entire printhead and ink supply are replaced when ink is exhausted. Alternatively, the ink supply can be carried with the carriage and be separately replaceable from the printhead. For the case where the ink supply is separately replaceable, the ink supply is replaced when exhausted. The printhead is then replaced at the end of printhead life. Regardless of where the ink supply is located within the printing system, it is critical that the ink supply provides a reliable supply of ink to the inkjet printhead. 
     There is an ever present need for inkjet printing systems that make use of replaceable ink containers that are easy to install and remove. The installation of the ink container should produce reliable fluidic and electrical connection to the printer. These ink containers should be relatively easy to manufacture, thereby tending to reduce the ink supply cost. Reduction of the ink supply cost tends to reduce the per page printing costs of the printing system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is a replaceable ink container for providing ink to an inkjet printing system. The inkjet printing system has a receiving station mounted to a scanning carriage. The receiving station has a fluid inlet and a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to a printing system control portion. The replaceable ink container includes a fluid outlet configured for connection to the fluid inlet on the receiving station. Also included is a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to an electrical storage device. Upon insertion of the replaceable ink container into the receiving station each of the plurality of electrical contacts are so disposed and arranged on the replaceable ink container to engage each of the plurality of electrical contacts on the receiving station to operably couple the electrical storage device with the printing system control portion. Additionally, insertion of the replaceable ink container into the receiving station allows the fluid outlet disposed and arranged on the replaceable ink container to operatively couple with the fluid inlet to establish fluid communication between the replaceable ink container and the receiving station. 
     Another aspect of the present invention includes a capillary storage material disposed within the replaceable ink container. The fluid inlet is a hollow member that extends upwardly from a bottom surface of the receiving station so that with the replaceable ink container installed in the receiving station the hollow member compresses the capillary storage material to provide a region of increased capillarity in the capillary storage material adjacent the hollow member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is one exemplary embodiment of an ink jet printing system of the present invention shown with a cover opened to show a plurality of replaceable ink containers of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the inkjet printing system shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of a portion of a scanning carriage showing the replaceable ink containers of the present invention positioned in a receiving station that provides fluid communication between the replaceable ink containers and one or more printhead. 
     FIG. 4 is a side plan view of a portion of the scanning carriage showing guiding and latching features associated with each of the replaceable ink container and the receiving station for securing the replaceable ink container, thereby allowing fluid communication with the printhead. 
     FIG. 5 is a receiving station shown in isolation for receiving one or more replaceable ink containers of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b ,  6   c , and  6   d  are isometric views of a three-color replaceable ink container of the present invention shown in isolation. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a single color replaceable ink container of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of an electrical storage device that is electrically connected to a plurality of electrical contacts. 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  depict the method of the present invention for inserting the replaceable ink container into the supply station. 
     FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged view shown in breakaway of the method and apparatus of the present invention for achieving fluid connection between the ink container and the supply station. 
     FIG. 11 is a top plan representation of the ink container installed in the supply station to establish electrical connection between the ink container and the supply station. 
     FIGS. 12 a  and  12   b  depict the passage of the replaceable ink container over an upstanding fluid inlet on the receiving station viewed from a side view and an end view, respectively. 
     FIGS. 13 a ,  13   b  and  13   c  depict a method of the present invention for removing the replaceable ink container from the receiving station. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a printing system  10  shown with its cover open, that includes at least one replaceable ink container  12  that is installed in a receiving station  14 . With the replaceable ink container  12  properly installed into the receiving portion  14 , ink is provided from the replaceable ink container  12  to at least one inkjet printhead  16 . The inkjet printhead  16  is responsive to activation signals from a printer portion  18  to deposit ink on print media. As ink is ejected from the printhead  16 , the printhead  16  is replenished with ink from the ink container  12 . In one preferred embodiment the replaceable ink container  12 , receiving station  14 , and inkjet printhead  16  are each part of a scanning carriage that is moved relative to a print media  22  to accomplish printing. The printer portion  18  includes a media tray  24  for receiving the print media  22 . As the print media  22  is stepped through a print zone, the scanning carriage  20  moves the printhead  16  relative to the print media  22 . The printer portion  18  selectively activates the printhead  16  to deposit ink on print media  22  to thereby accomplish printing. 
     The scanning carriage  20  is moved through the print zone on a scanning mechanism which includes a slide rod  26  on which the scanning carriage  20  slides as the scanning carriage  20  moves through a scan axis. A positioning means (not shown) is used for precisely positioning the scanning carriage  20 . In addition, a paper advance mechanism (not shown) is used to step the print media  22  through the print zone as the scanning carriage  20  is moved along the scan axis. Electrical signals are provided to the scanning carriage  20  for selectively activating the printhead  16  by means of an electrical link such as a ribbon cable  28 . 
     An important aspect of the present invention is the method and apparatus for inserting the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14  such that the ink container  12  forms proper fluidic and electrical interconnect with the printer portion  18 . It is essential that both proper fluidic and electrical connection be established between the ink container  12  and the printer portion  18 . The fluidic interconnection allows a supply of ink within the replaceable ink container  12  to be fluidically coupled to the printhead  16  for providing a source of ink to the printhead  16 . The electrical interconnection allows information to be passed between the replaceable ink container  12  and the printer portion  18 . Information passed between the replaceable ink container  12  and the printer portion  18  can include information related to the compatibility of replaceable ink container  12  with printer portion  18  and operation status information such as the ink level information, to name some examples. 
     The method and apparatus of the present invention, as will be discussed with respect to FIGS. 2 through 13, depict those features which allow the replaceable ink container  12  to be inserted into the receiving station  14  in such a manner that reliable electrical and fluidic connection is established between the replaceable ink container  12  and the receiving station  14 . In addition, the method and apparatus of the present invention allows for the insertion and removal of the replaceable printing component  12  from the printer portion  18  in a reliable fashion while allowing the overall height of the printer portion  18 , represented by dimension designated as “h” in FIG. 1 to be a relatively small dimension, thereby providing a relatively low profile printing system  10 . It is important that the printing system  10  have a low profile to provide a more compact printing system as well as to allow the printer portion to be used in a variety of printing applications. 
     FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of the inkjet printing system  10  of the present invention shown in FIG.  1 . FIG. 2 is simplified to illustrate a single printhead  16  connected to a single ink container  12 . 
     The inkjet printing system  10  of the present invention includes the printer portion  18  and the ink container  12 , which is configured to be received by the printer portion  18 . The printer portion  18  includes the inkjet printhead  16  and a controller  29 . With the ink container  12  properly inserted into the printer portion  18 , an electrical and fluidic coupling is established between the ink container  12  and the printer portion  18 . The fluidic coupling allows ink stored within the ink container  12  to be provided to the printhead  16 . The electrical coupling allows information to be passed between an electrical storage device  80  disposed on the ink container  12  and the printer portion  18 . The exchange of information between the ink container  12  and the printer portion  18  is to ensure the operation of the printer portion  18  is compatible with the ink contained within the replaceable ink container  12  thereby achieving high print quality and reliable operation of the printing system  10 . 
     The controller  29 , among other things, controls the transfer of information between the printer portion  18  and the replaceable ink container  12 . In addition, the controller  29  controls the transfer of information between the printhead  16  and the controller  29  for activating the printhead to selectively deposit ink on print media. In addition, the controller  29  controls the relative movement of the printhead  16  and print media. The controller  29  performs additional functions such as controlling the transfer of information between the printing system  10  and a host device such as a host computer (not shown). 
     In order to ensure the printing system  10  provides high quality images on print media, it is necessary that the operation of the controller  29  account for the particular replaceable ink container  12  installed within the printer portion  18 . The controller  29  utilizes the parameters that are provided by the electrical storage device  80  to account for the particular replaceable ink container  12  installed in the printer portion  18  to ensure reliable operation and ensure high quality print images. 
     Among the parameters, for example, that can be stored in the electrical storage device  80  associated with the replaceable ink container  12  can include the following: a date code associated with the replaceable ink container  12 , a date code of initial insertion of the ink container  12 , system coefficients, ink type and ink color, ink container size, printer model number or identification number and cartridge usage information, just to name a few. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the scanning carriage  20  showing a pair of replaceable ink containers  12  properly installed in the receiving station  14 . An inkjet printhead  16  is in fluid communication with the receiving station  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the inkjet printing system  10  shown in FIG. 1 includes a tri-color ink container containing three separate ink colors and a second ink container containing a single ink color. In this preferred embodiment, the tri-color ink container contains cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, and the single color ink container contains black ink for accomplishing four-color printing. The replaceable ink containers  12  can be partitioned differently to contain fewer than three ink colors or more than three ink colors if more are required. For example, in the case of high fidelity printing, frequently six or more colors are used to accomplish printing. 
     The scanning carriage portion  20  shown in FIG. 3 is shown fluidically coupled to a single printhead  16  for simplicity. In the preferred embodiment, four inkjet printheads  16  are each fluidically coupled to the receiving station  14 . In this preferred embodiment, each of the four printheads are fluidically coupled to each of the four colored inks contained in the replaceable ink containers. Thus, the cyan, magenta, yellow and black printheads  16  are each coupled to their corresponding cyan, magenta, yellow and black ink supplies, respectively. Other configurations which make use of fewer printheads than four are also possible. For example, the printhead  16  can be configured to print more than one ink color by properly partitioning the printhead  16  to allow a first ink color to be provided to a first group of ink nozzles and a second ink color to be provided to a second group of ink nozzles, with the second group of ink nozzles different from the first group. In this manner, a single printhead  16  can be used to print more than one ink color allowing fewer than four printheads  16  to accomplish four-color printing. The fluidic path between each of the replaceable ink containers  12  and the printhead  16  will be discussed in more detail with respect to FIG.  4 . 
     Each of the replaceable ink containers  12  include a latch  30  for securing the replaceable ink container  12  to the receiving station  14 . The receiving station  14  in the preferred embodiment includes a set of keys  32  that interact with corresponding keying features (not shown) on the replaceable ink container  12 . The keying features on the replaceable ink container  12  interact with the keys  32  on the receiving station  14  to ensure that the replaceable ink container  12  is compatible with the receiving station  14 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the scanning carriage portion  20  shown in FIG.  2 . The scanning carriage portion  20  includes the ink container  12  shown properly installed into the receiving station  14 , thereby establishing fluid communication between the replaceable ink container  12  and the printhead  16 . 
     The replaceable ink container  12  includes a reservoir portion  34  for containing one or more quantities of ink. In the preferred embodiment, the tri-color replaceable ink container  12  has three separate ink containment reservoirs, each containing ink of a different color. In this preferred embodiment, the monochrome replaceable ink container  12  is a single ink reservoir  34  for containing ink of a single color. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the reservoir  34  has a capillary storage member (not shown) disposed therein. The capillary storage member is a porous member having sufficient capillarity to retain ink to prevent ink leakage from the reservoir  34  during insertion and removal of the ink container  12  from the printing system  10 . This capillary force must be sufficiently great to prevent ink leakage from the ink reservoir  34  over a wide variety of environmental conditions such as temperature and pressure changes. In addition, the capillarity of the capillary member is sufficient to retain ink within the ink reservoir  34  for all orientations of the ink reservoir as well as a reasonable amount of shock and vibration the ink container may experience during normal handling. The preferred capillary storage member is a network of heat bonded polymer fibers described in U.S. Patent Application entitled “Ink Reservoir for an Inkjet Printer” filed on Oct. 29, 1999, Ser. No. 09/430,400, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. 
     Once the ink container  12  is properly installed into the receiving station  14 , the ink container  12  is fluidically coupled to the printhead  16  by way of fluid interconnect  36 . Upon activation of the printhead  16 , ink is ejected from the ejection portion  38  producing a negative gauge pressure, sometimes referred to as backpressure, within the printhead  16 . This negative gauge pressure within the printhead  16  is sufficient to overcome the capillary force resulting from the capillary member disposed within the ink reservoir  34 . Ink is drawn by this backpressure from the replaceable ink container  12  to the printhead  16 . In this manner, the printhead  16  is replenished with ink provided by the replaceable ink container  12 . 
     The fluid interconnect  36  is preferably an upstanding ink pipe that extends upwardly into the ink container  12  and downwardly to the inkjet printhead  16 . The fluid interconnect  36  is shown greatly simplified in FIG.  4 . In the preferred embodiment, the fluid interconnect  36  is a manifold that allows for offset in the positioning of the printheads  16  along the scan axis, thereby allowing the printhead  16  to be placed offset from the corresponding replaceable ink container  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the fluid interconnect  36  extends into the reservoir  34  to compress the capillary member, thereby forming a region of increased capillarity adjacent the fluid interconnect  36 . This region of increased capillarity tends to draw ink toward the fluid interconnect  36 , thereby allowing ink to flow through the fluid interconnect  36  to the printhead  16 . As will be discussed, it is crucial that the ink container  12  be properly positioned within the receiving station  14  such that proper compression of the capillary member is accomplished when the ink container  12  is inserted into the receiving station. Proper compression of the capillary member is necessary to establish a reliable flow of ink from the ink container  12  to the printhead  16 . 
     The replaceable ink container  12  further includes a guide feature  40 , an engagement feature  42 , a handle  44  and a latch feature  30  that allow the ink container  12  to be inserted into the receiving station  14  to achieve reliable fluid interconnection with the printhead  16  as well as form reliable electrical interconnection between the replaceable ink container  12  and the scanning carriage  20  as will be discussed with respect to FIGS. 9 a - 9   c  and  10   a - 10   b.    
     The receiving station  14  includes a guide rail  46 , an engagement feature  48  and a latch engagement feature  50 . The guide rail  46  cooperates with the guide rail engagement feature  40  and the replaceable ink container  12  to guide the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14 . Once the replaceable ink container  12  is fully inserted into the receiving station  14 , the engagement feature  42  associated with the replaceable ink container engages the engagement feature  48  associated with the receiving station  14 , securing a front end or a leading end of the replaceable ink container  12  to the receiving station  14 . The ink container  12  is then pressed downward to compress a spring biasing member  52  associated with the receiving station  14  until a latch engagement feature  50  associated with the receiving station  14  engages a hook feature  54  associated with the latch member  30  to secure a back end or trailing end of the ink container  12  to the receiving station  14 . It is the cooperation of the features on the ink container  12  with the features associated with the receiving station  14  that allow proper insertion and functional interfacing between the replaceable ink container  12  and the receiving station  14 . The receiving station  14  will now be discussed in more detail with respect to FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the ink receiving station  14  shown in isolation. The receiving station  14  shown in FIG. 5 includes a monochrome bay  56  for receiving an ink container  12  containing a single ink color and a tri-color bay  58  for receiving an ink container having three separate ink colors contained therein. In this preferred embodiment, the monochrome bay  56  receives a replaceable ink container  12  containing black ink, and the tri-color bay receives a replaceable ink container containing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks, each partitioned into a separate reservoir within the ink container  12 . The receiving station  14  as well as the replaceable ink container  12  can have other arrangements of bays  56  and  58  for receiving ink containers containing different numbers of distinct inks contained therein. In addition, the number of receiving bays  56  and  58  for the receiving station  14  can be fewer or greater than two. For example, a receiving station  14  can have four separate bays for receiving four separate monochrome ink containers  12  with each ink container containing a separate ink color to accomplish four-color printing. 
     Each bay  56  and  58  of the receiving station  14  includes an aperture  60  for receiving each of the upright fluid interconnects  36  that extends therethrough. The fluid interconnect  36  is a fluid inlet for ink to exit a corresponding fluid outlet associated with the ink container  12 . An electrical interconnect  62  is also included in each receiving bay  56  and  58 . The electrical interconnect  62  includes a plurality of electrical contacts  64 . In the preferred embodiment, the electrical contacts  64  are an arrangement of four spring-loaded electrical contacts with proper installation of the replaceable ink container  12  into the corresponding bay of the receiving station  14 . Proper engagement with each of the electrical interconnects  62  and fluid interconnects  36  must be established in a reliable manner. 
     The guide rails  46  disposed on either side of the fluid interconnects within each bay  56  and  58  engage the corresponding guide feature  40  on either side of the ink container  12  to guide the ink container into the receiving station. When the ink container  12  is fully inserted into the receiving station  14 , the engagement features  48  disposed on a back wall  66  of the receiving station  14  engage the corresponding engagement features  42  shown in FIG. 3 on the ink container  12 . The engagement features  48  are disposed on either side of the electrical interconnect  62 . A biasing means  52  such as a leaf spring is disposed within the receiving station  14 . The leaf spring  52  provides a biasing force that tends to urge the ink container  12  upward from a bottom surface  68  of the receiving station  14 . The leaf spring aids in the latching of the ink container  12  to the receiving station  14  as well as aiding the removal of the ink container  12  from the receiving station as will be discussed with respect to FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b ,  6   c , and  6   d  show front plan, side plan, back plan, and bottom plan views, respectively, of the replaceable ink container  12  of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6 a , the replaceable ink container  12  includes a pair of outwardly projecting guide rail engagement features  40 . In the preferred embodiment, each of these guide rail engagement features  40  extend outwardly in a direction orthogonal to upright side  70  of the replaceable ink container  12 . The engagement features  42  extend outwardly from a front surface or leading edge  72  of the ink container  12 . The engagement features  42  are disposed on either side of an electrical interface  74  and are disposed toward a bottom surface  76  of the replaceable ink container  12 . The electrical interface  74  includes a plurality of electrical contacts  78 , with each of the electrical contacts  78  electrically connected to an electrical storage device  80 . 
     Opposite the leading end  72  is a trailing end  82  shown in FIG. 6 c . The trailing end  82  of the replaceable ink container  12  includes the latch feature  30  having an engagement hook  54 . The latch feature  30  is formed of a resilient material which allows the latch feature to extend outwardly from the trailing end thereby extending the engagement feature outwardly toward the corresponding engagement feature associated with the receiving station  14 . As the latch member  30  is compressed inwardly toward the trailing end  82 , the latch member exerts a biasing force outwardly in order to ensure the engagement feature  54  remains in engagement with the corresponding engagement feature  50  associated with the receiving station  14  to secure the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14 . 
     The replaceable ink container  12  also includes keys  84  disposed on the trailing end of the replaceable ink container  12 . The keys are preferably disposed on either side of the latch  30  toward the bottom surface  76  of the replaceable ink container  12 . The keys  84 , together with keying features  32  on the receiving station  14 , interact to ensure the ink container  12  is inserted in the correct bay  56  and  58  in the receiving station  14 . In addition, the keys  84  and the keying features  32  ensure that the replaceable ink container  12  contains ink that is compatible both in color and in chemistry or compatibility with the corresponding receiving bay  56  and  58  within the receiving station  14 . 
     The handle portion  44  is disposed on a top surface  86  at the trailing edge  82  of the replaceable ink container  12 . The handle portion  44  allows the ink container  12  to be grasped at the trailing edge  82  while inserted into the appropriate bay of the receiving station  14 . Positioning the handle portion above apertures  88  tends to reduce the opportunity for the customer to get ink on their hands while inserting the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14 . In addition, the handle portion  44  is disposed on the reservoir  34  opposite the electrical contacts  78  to reduce or eliminate handling of the electrical contacts  78  during insertion of the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14 . This handling by a human hand can contaminate the electrical contacts. Contamination of the electrical contact with salts and oils frequently found in human skin can result in an unreliable or high resistance electrical connection between the ink container  12  and the printer portion  18 . 
     The ink container  12  includes apertures  88  disposed on the bottom surface  76  of the replaceable ink container  12 . The apertures  88  allow the fluid interconnect  36  to extend through the reservoir  34  to engage the capillary member disposed therein. In the case of the tri-color replaceable ink container  12 , there are three fluid outlets  88 , with each fluid outlet corresponding to a different ink color. In the case of the tri-color chamber, each of three fluid interconnects  36  extend into each of the fluid outlets  88  to provide fluid communication between each ink chamber and the corresponding print head for that ink color. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a monochrome ink container positioned for insertion into the monochrome bay  56  in the receiving station  14  shown in FIG.  5 . The monochrome ink container shown in FIG. 7 is similar to the tri-color ink container shown in FIGS. 6 a  through  6   d  except that only a single fluid outlet  88  is provided in the bottom surface  76 . The monochrome replaceable ink container  12  contains a single ink color and therefore receives only a single corresponding fluid interconnect  36  for providing ink from the ink container  12  to the corresponding printhead. 
     FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged view of the electrical storage device  80  and electrical contacts  78 . In one preferred embodiment, the electrical storage device  80  and the electrical contacts are mounted on a substrate  85 . Each of the electrical contacts  78  is electrically connected to the electrical storage device  80 . Each of the electrical contacts  78  is electrically isolated from each other by the substrate  85 . In one preferred embodiment, the electrical storage device  80  is a semiconductor memory that is mounted to the substrate  85 . In the preferred embodiment, the substrate  85  is adhesively bonded to the ink container  12 . 
     In one preferred embodiment, there are four electrical contacts  78  representing contacts for power and ground connections as well as clock and data connections. Insertion of the replaceable ink container  12  into the printing portion  18  establishes electrical connection between the electrical contact  64  on the receiving station  14  and the electrical contacts  78  on the replaceable ink container  12 . With power and ground applied to the electrical storage device  80 , data is transferred between the printing portion  18  and the replaceable ink container  12  at a rate established by the clock signal. It is critical that electrical connection between the printer portion  18  and the replaceable ink container  12  formed by electrical contacts  64  and  78 , respectively, be low resistance connections to ensure reliable data transfer. If the electrical contacts  64  and  78  fail to provide a low resistance connection, then data may not be properly transferred, or the data may be corrupted or inaccurate. Therefore, it is critical that a reliable, low resistance connection is made between the ink container  12  and the printing portion  18  to ensure proper operation of the printing system  10 . 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  is a sequence of figures to illustrate the technique of the present invention for inserting the replaceable ink container  12  into the receiving station  14  to form reliable electrical and fluidic connections with the receiving station  14 . 
     FIG. 9 a  shows the ink container  12  partially inserted into the receiving station  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the ink container  12  is inserted into the receiving station  14  by grasping the handle portion  44  and inserting the ink container into the receiving station with the leading edge or leading face  72  first. As the leading edge  72  enters the receiving station  14  the outwardly extending guide members  40  on the ink container engage each of the pair of guide rails  46 . The guide rails  46  guide the ink container  12  in a horizontal or linear motion toward the back wall  66  of the receiving station  14 . The guide rails  46  then guide the replaceable ink container in both a horizontal direction toward the back wall  66  and a vertical direction toward the bottom surface of the receiving station  14  such that the engagement feature  42  on the ink container  12  is received by a corresponding engagement feature  48  on the back wall  66  of the receiving station  14  as shown in FIG. 9 b . The insertion of the ink container  12  requires only an insertion force to urge the ink container linearly along the guide rail  46 . The gravitational force acting on the ink container  12  tends to cause the ink container to follow the guide rails  46  as the guide rails extend in a downward direction to allow engagement of engagement features  42  and  48 . The guide rail engagement features  40  are preferably gently rounded surfaces to slide freely along the guide rails  46 . 
     FIG. 9 b  shows the ink container  12  inserted into the receiving station  14  such that the engagement feature  42  is in engagement with the engagement feature  48  associated with the receiving station  14 . A downward force is applied to the ink container  12  as represented by arrows  90  to compress the leaf spring  52  and to urge the trailing end  82  of the ink container  12  downwardly toward the bottom surface  68  of the receiving station  14 . The keys  84  must properly correspond to the keying feature  32  on the receiving station  14 . If the keys  84  on the ink container  12  do not correspond to the keying features  32 , the keying system will prevent further insertion of the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14 . This keying system made up of keys  84  and the keying features  32  prevent ink containers that are not compatible with the receiving station  14  from further insertion into the receiving station  14 . Further insertion of the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14  could result in contact of the fluid interconnect  36  with the capillary member within the ink container  12 , thereby contaminating the fluid interconnect  36  with incompatible ink. Incompatible ink mixing in the fluid interconnect  36  can result in precipitation which can damage the printhead  16 . In addition to inks of incompatible chemistries, the ink container can have an incompatible color which can result in color mixing, thereby reducing the output print quality. 
     The keys  84  on the ink container  12  and the keying features  32  on the receiving station  14  allow for the complete insertion of the proper ink container  12  into the proper receiving station  14 . The downward force applied to the trailing end  82  of the ink container  12  causes the ink container  12  to pivot about a pivot axis compressing the leaf spring  52 , thereby moving the trailing edge  82  of the ink container  12  toward the bottom surface  68  of the receiving station  14 . As the ink container  12  is urged downward into the receiving station  14 , the resilient latch  30  is compressed slightly inward toward the trailing edge  82  of the ink container  12 . Once the ink container  12  is urged downward sufficiently far, the engagement feature  54  on the latch  30  engages with a corresponding engagement feature  50  on the receiving station  14  to secure the ink container  12  to the receiving station  14  as shown in FIG. 9 c.    
     With the ink container  12  properly secured in the receiving station  14  as shown in FIG. 9 c  the fluid interconnect  36  extends into the reservoir  34  to compress the capillary member, thereby forming a region of increased capillarity adjacent the fluid interconnect  36 . This region of increased capillarity tends to draw ink toward the fluid interconnect  36 , thereby allowing ink to flow through the fluid interconnect  36  to the printhead  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the ink container  12  when inserted into the receiving station  14  is oriented in a gravitational frame of reference so that a gravitational force acts on ink within the ink container  12  tending to draw ink toward the bottom surface  76  of the ink container  12 . Thus ink within the ink container  12  is drawn to the bottom surface  76  where this ink is drawn toward the fluid interconnect  36  by capillary attraction thereby tending to reduce or minimize stranding of ink within the ink container  12 . 
     FIG. 10 is a simplified representation shown greatly enlarged and broken away of the ink container  12  properly positioned in the receiving station  14 . The ink container  12  is shown with a capillary storage member  86  disposed therein. The ink container  12  is configured so that when inserted into the receiving station  14 , the fluid interconnect  36  is received through the fluid outlet  88  to compress the capillary storage member  86  in a region adjacent the fluid interconnect  36 . In the preferred embodiment, the fluid interconnect  36  is a hollow cylindrical ink pipe that allows ink within the capillary storage member  86  to pass from the ink container  12  to the printhead  16  through the hollow ink pipe  36 . 
     FIG. 11 is a simplified top plan view of the ink container  12  installed within the receiving station  14 . FIG. 11 is intended to illustrate how electrical interconnection between the ink container  12  and receiving station  14  is achieved and is not drawn to scale. In the preferred embodiment, the receiving station  14  includes the electrical interconnect  62  having a plurality of spring-loaded electrical contacts  64 . 
     The ink container  12  includes a plurality of electrical contacts  78  disposed thereon. The ink container  12  is configured such that when inserted into the receiving station  14 , each of the plurality of electrical contacts  78  engages each of the plurality of spring-biased electrical contacts  64  on the receiving station  14 . The electrical contacts  64  are slightly compressed so that each of the electrical contacts are biased against each of the electrical contacts  78  associated with the ink container such that a reliable electrical interconnection is established between the ink container  12  and the receiving station  14 . This electrical interconnection between the ink container  12  and the receiving station  14  allows information to be transferred between the electrical storage device  80  disposed on the ink container  12  and the controller  29  disposed in the printer portion  18  shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIGS. 12 a  and  12   b  illustrate a position in the insertion process described with respect to FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b  and  9   c  wherein the leading edge  72  of the ink container  12  is positioned over the fluid interconnect  36 . FIG. 12 a  depicts a side view with FIG. 12 b  showing an end view. It can be seen from FIGS. 12 a  and  12   b  that the guide feature  40  must be positioned on the ink container  12  low enough toward the bottom surface  76  of the ink container  12  such that the leading edge  72  of the ink container does not collide the fluid interconnect  36  during insertion. Another constraint on the positioning of the guide member  40  is that the guide member  40  must be positioned sufficiently close to the top surface  86  of the ink container  12  to insure that the engagement feature  42  properly engages with the corresponding engagement feature  42  on the receiving station  14 . 
     In addition, the outwardly extending guide members  40  on the ink container must extend outward sufficiently far to engage the guide rails  46 . However, the outwardly extending guide members  40  should not extend too far outward such that the guide members  40  engage the upright sides in the receiving station  14 , producing interference which produces friction and binding which resists insertion of the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14 . 
     FIGS. 13 a ,  13   b , and  13   c  illustrate the technique for removing the ink container  12  from the receiving station  14 . The technique for removing the ink container  12  of the present invention begins with the release of the engagement feature from the corresponding engagement feature  50  on the receiving station  14  by urging the latch  30  toward the trailing surface  82 . Once the trailing edge of the ink container  12  is released, the spring  52  urges the trailing edge of the ink container upward as shown in FIG. 13 b . The ink container  12  can be grasped by handle  44  to retrieve the ink container  12  in a direction opposite the insertion direction. As the ink container  12  is withdrawn from the receiving station  14 , the guide member  40  follows the guide rails  46  to lift the ink container, thereby preventing interference between the fluid interconnect  36  and the fluid outlet on the bottom surface of the ink container  12 . 
     The ink container  12  of the present invention is configured to engage and interact with the receiving station  14  to guide the ink container  12  into the receiving station and for forming a reliable fluid and electrical connection with the receiving station  14 . The technique of the present invention allows this insertion process to be relatively simple and easy to prevent improper insertion of the ink container  12 . The customer grasps the ink container  12  by the handle portion  44  and slides the ink container  12  horizontally into the receiving station  14 . The guide rails  46  and guide features  40  cooperate to properly guide the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14 . The ink container  12  is pressed downwardly to latch the ink container  12  and achieve operational interconnection both electrically and fluidically between the ink container  12  and the receiving station  14 .