Abstract:
Removable fluid port seals for fluid containers that are configured for insertion into a receiving station within a fluid utilizing system are disclosed. An exemplary use of the fluid port seal is to seal replaceable ink containers for use in ink jet printers, although the present invention is not limited to a specific field of application. The fluid port seal has a tab portion which extends beyond the container and interferes with installation of the container into the receiving station if an installer attempts to install the fluid container in the utilizing system without first removing the seal.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to removable seals for fluid containers. More specifically, exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to removable fluid port seals for ink containers for an inkjet printing system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Inkjet printers typically use a printhead mounted on 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. With separately replaceable ink supplies, the ink supply is replaced when exhausted, and the printhead is then replaced at the end of the printhead useful life. 
     When the ink supply is replaceable separate from the printhead, the supply may be either located on the carriage with the printhead or located remotely from the printhead (“off axis”). Locating the supply on the carriage with the printhead is generally a less expensive approach, although the quantity of ink provided with each replaceable supply is limited by the considerations of the total mass that must be moved on the carriage, and the spatial volume swept by the carriage. 
     Regardless of where the ink supply is located within the printing system, it is critical that the ink supply provide a reliable supply of ink to the inkjet printhead. In printer systems having separate ink supplies and printheads, the printheads are typically intended to have a much longer useful life than the ink supplies. A common cause of printhead failure is the operation of the printhead without a continuous supply of ink. Replacement of printheads damaged through lack of a reliable ink supply can be costly to the end user. 
     The fluid ports on replacement ink containers are typically sealed to prevent leakage and spillage. One potential cause of an interrupted ink flow is the installation of a new ink container into the printer system without first removing the fluid port seal. There is thus a need for devices and methods which prevent an end user from installing a replacement ink container into a printer system without first removing the fluid port seal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention comprise removable fluid port seals for fluid containers that are configured for insertion into a receiving station within a fluid utilizing system. An exemplary use of the fluid port seal is to seal replaceable ink containers for use in ink jet printers, although the present invention is not limited to a specific field of application. The fluid port seal has a tab portion which extends beyond the container and interferes with installation of the container into the receiving station if an installer attempts to install the fluid container in the utilizing system without first removing the seal. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is one exemplary embodiment of an ink jet printing system, depicted with a cover opened to show a plurality of replaceable ink containers with which the fluid interconnect seal with lock-out tab of the present invention may be utilized. 
     FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of the exemplary 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 positioned in a receiving station that provides fluid communication between the replaceable ink containers and one or more printheads. 
     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 perspective view of an exemplary replaceable ink container with the fluid interconnect seal with lock-out tab of the present invention attached. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of an exemplary ink container illustrating how the fluid interconnect seal with lock-out tab of the present invention seals the fluid ports of the ink container. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the fluid interconnect seal with lock-out tab of the present invention, showing in exaggerated form the layers comprising the seal. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fluid interconnect seal with lock-out tab of the present invention, illustration how regions of the seal are covered with a deadening film to prevent adhesion. 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  are cross sectional schematic views illustrating how an exemplary ink container without the fluid interconnect seal of the present invention is installed into the receiving station of an exemplary printer system. 
     FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b , and  10   c  are cross sectional schematic views illustrating how an exemplary ink container with the fluid interconnect seal of the present invention is prevented from being installed into the receiving station of an exemplary printer system. 
    
    
     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  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  also includes a media tray for receiving the print media  22 . As the print media  22  is stepped through a printing 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 . 
     It is essential for the proper operation of the printing system that, when an ink container  12  is replaced, 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, by way of example, information related to the compatibility of replaceable ink container  12  with printer portion  18  and operation status information such as the ink level information. 
     New ink containers  12  are provided to the printer user with the fluid port sealed to prevent ink spillage during shipping and storage. It is critical that the fluid port be unsealed prior to installing a new ink container in the printer, since operating the printer without a reliable supply of ink can cause permanent damage of the printheads. The fluid interconnect label lock-out tab of the present invention, as will be discussed with respect to FIGS. 5 through  10 , ensures that a new ink container  12  is not installed into the receiving portion  14  with the fluid interconnect seal in place. 
     FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic representation of the exemplary inkjet printing system  10  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 . Upon installation of the ink container, a fluid interconnect  36  engages the fluid port  37  of the ink container, establishing fluid flow. The fluid interconnect  36  may comprise a separate manifold component on the scanning carriage  20 , as discussed below. 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 functions, 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, and 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 computer (not shown). 
     In order to ensure the printing system  10  provides high quality images on print media, the controller  29  may utilize parameters that are provided by the electrical storage device  80  to optimize the printer operation. Among the parameters, for example, that can be stored in the electrical storage device  80  associated with the replaceable ink container  12  are 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 container 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 (cyan, magenta, and yellow) and a second ink container containing black ink. 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. 
     The scanning carriage portion  20  shown in FIG. 3 is shown fluidically coupled to a single printhead  16  for simplicity. In the exemplary embodiment, four inkjet printheads  16  are each fluidically coupled to the receiving station  14 . In this embodiment, each of the four printheads are fluidically coupled to each of the four colored inks contained in the replaceable ink containers  12 . 
     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 exemplary embodiment, the tri-color replaceable ink container  12  has three separate ink containment reservoirs, each containing ink of a different color. The black replaceable ink container  12  is a single ink reservoir  34  for containing black ink. In the exemplary 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. 
     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  of the exemplary embodiment 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 exemplary 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 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a replacement ink container including the fluid interconnect seal with lock-out tab  100  of the present invention, as the ink container would appear to the printer user prior to removal of the interconnect seal. The fluid interconnect seal  100  includes a back portion  110  which covers the one or more fluid ports on the ink container, and a tab portion  120  which extends out from the ink container. When installed on the ink container, the tab portion  120  of the seal extends forward of the latch member  30 , including hook feature  54 , which prevents successful installation of the ink container into the receiving station, as discussed below. The fluid interconnect seal  100  thus prevents a situation where the container is installed in the chute and latched, but no ink is flowing from it to the pens. The fluid interconnect seal  100  preferably includes printed graphics and information on its surface to identify the ink container, provide the printer user with installation instructions, and to warn the user that the seal must be removed before installation of the ink container into the printer. A handle  44  is disposed on a top surface of the replaceable ink container  12 . The handle portion  44  allows the ink container  12  to be grasped while inserted into the appropriate bay of the receiving station  14 . 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of an exemplary replacement ink container  12  with the fluid interconnect seal  100  of the present invention. As indicated in FIG. 6, the back portion  110  of the interconnect seal is configured to cover the fluid ports  37  (shown in phantom) of the ink container. The ink container is shown with three fluid ports, as would typically exist on a three-color container; a black container would typically have a single fluid port. The interconnect seal is sized such that small misalignments of the seal to the ink container during manufacture do not result in a fluid port being left uncovered. The interconnect seal may alternately also extend to cover other ink container features in addition to the fluid ports, such as the electrical interconnects for the electrical storage device  80  discussed above, as indicated by dashed line  180 . 
     FIG.  7 . illustrates a cross-section of an exemplary implementation of the fluid interconnect seal of the present invention (for clarity, the thickness is greatly exaggerated). The adhesive side of the seal (which, when the seal is installed, contacts the ink container) is shown at the bottom in FIG.  7 . The exemplary implementation of the interconnect seal  100  comprises a multi-layer substrate that has a removable pressure-sensitive adhesive on one surface. The seal is applied to the container over the fluid interconnect holes using standard labeling equipment and is pressed down with a pressurized roller. The multiple layers of the exemplary embodiment comprise a removable adhesive  132 , a primary substrate  134 , a foil layer  136 , a laminating material  138 , and a deadening film  140 . 
     The adhesive  132  of the exemplary embodiment is a silicone polymer, removable system. This material provides a highly reliable seal of the fluid interconnect holes over time yet allows for clean, low-force removal at the time of use. The adhesive comprises a peroxide-catalyzed silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) and fumed silica filler material. The adhesive layer is permanently bonded to the substrate layer, while removably adhering to the surface of the fluid container surrounding the fluid port. 
     The primary substrate  134  of the exemplary embodiment is PET polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) film with a thickness of approximately 0.002″ (2 mils). The primary function of this layer is to provide a higher surface energy polymer surface for coating of the silicone adhesive. The higher energy surface allows for better anchorage of the adhesive to the film, essential for clean, residue-free removal of the label. The primary substrate may also be formed of other materials having suitable characteristics for bonding to the removable adhesive, and may have other thicknesses. 
     The foil layer  136  of the exemplary embodiment is aluminum of approximately 0.00035″ (0.35 mil) thick. The primary function of this layer is to provide adequate water vapor barrier properties for the seal. A secondary function of the layer is to provide form memory to allow for the tab to be bent around the end of the supply at the latch end and remain in this angled shape. This allows for easier handling on the production line and in packaging. The foil is attached to the PET by a heat/pressure lamination process using a thin thermoset polyester layer  138 . 
     The deadening film  140  of the exemplary embodiment is used to cover the adhesive in areas where adhesion is not necessary or desirable. The film is PET polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) of thickness 0.001″ (1 mil). In the exemplary embodiment this film is applied at the tab end  120  of the label and mid-label. The application of the deadening film at mid-label reduces the risk of ink “fling” as the label is removed from the ink container and allows for easier removal by the end user. 
     FIG. 8 further illustrates the side of the fluid interconnect seal which contacts the ink container. The “tab” end of the seal  120  has a layer of deadening material  140 ; a second area  115  of deadening material is located between the tab and the main portion of the seal which covers the fluid ports. 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  are a sequence of figures which illustrate the normal insertion of a replaceable ink container  12  (after the fluid interconnect seal has been removed) into the receiving station  14  to form reliable 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  14  with the leading edge or leading face  72  first. Guide rails (not shown) in the receiving station and mating guide features (not shown) on the ink container facilitate installation of the container. 
     FIG. 9 b  shows the ink container  12  further 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 urge the trailing end  82  of the ink container  12  downwardly into the receiving station  14 . One or more springs (not shown) within the receiving station provide a force resisting installation of the ink container, and also cause the container to partially eject from the receiving station when the latch members  50  and  54  are not engaged. 
     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 . When properly installed, the one or more fluid interconnects  36  engage the fluid ports of the ink container. 
     FIGS. 10 a ,  10   b , and  10   c  illustrate a similar installation sequence to FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c , except that the fluid interconnect seal has inadvertently been left on the ink container by the installer. In FIG. 10 a , the initial insertion of the ink container  12  into the receiving station is substantially the same as in FIG. 9 a . As the installation continues, however, the tab portion  120  of the fluid interconnect seal begins to interfere with the installation of the container, as depicted at  10   b . The tab physically interferes with the resilient latch  30  and the engagement feature  50  on the receiving station  14 . The fluid interconnect seal is designed to be stiff and somewhat resilient, such that as the user attempts to further insert the container  12  into the receiving station  14  the tab portion  120  deforms around the resilient latch  30 . The deformation of the tab provides both visual and tactile feedback the printer user to alert the user of the error condition. As depicted in FIG. 10 c , a further attempt to force the ink container  12  into the receiving station  14  results in the tab  120  physically blocking the engagement feature  54  on the latch  30  from engaging the corresponding engagement feature  50  on the receiving station. When the user ceases to attempt to force the container  12  into the receiving station  14 , the resilience of the tab portion  120 , together with spring members in the receiving station (not shown), cause the container to rebound slightly out of the receiving station, again alerting the user of the error condition. 
     While described with respect to an exemplary ink jet container and printer system, the present invention is not limited to ink jet applications, and may be effectively utilized in other applications where it is important to prevent installation of a replaceable fluid container into the receiving station with the fluid port sealed. The seal of the present invention may also be adapted to provide physical interference with other interconnection features of the fluid container and receiving station, such as preventing connection of electrical contacts on the fluid container with electrical contacts on the receiving station, or the engagement of physical keying features. 
     The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention. It is recognized that departures from the disclosed embodiments may be within the scope of this invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. It is the intent of the applicant that the invention include alternative implementations known in the art that perform the same functions as those disclosed. This specification should not be construed to unduly narrow the full scope of protection to which the invention is entitled.