Abstract:
This disclosure provides a device and method for refilling ink cartridges. In some embodiments the device and related method are partially automated. In some embodiments the method involves very few manual steps, the use of the device results in very little ink loss, and the device is easy to maintain.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    The present disclosure provides a device for refilling ink cartridges and a related method of refilling ink cartridges. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Ink cartridges have been traditionally single use devices meaning that once they are emptied they are discarded and replaced with a new cartridge. More recently, methods and devices have been developed to refill ink cartridges. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,610 titled Method and Apparatus for Refilling an Ink Cartridge; U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,740 titled Ink Cartridge Refill System and Method of Use; U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,267 titled Actuator for Automatic Ink Refill System; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,909 titled Automatic Ink Refill System and Methods. Such methods of refilling and reusing ink cartridges can provide cost savings and minimize the environmental impact associated with creating new ink cartridges. Improved methods and devices for refilling ink cartridges are desirable. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]    This disclosure provides a device and method for refilling ink cartridges. In some embodiments the device and related method are partially automated. In some embodiments the method involves very few manual steps, the use of the device results in little ink loss, and the device is easy to maintain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cartridge refill station according to the principles of the present disclosure in a cartridge loading position; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cartridge refill station of  FIG. 1  in position wherein the ink cartridge refilling has been initiated; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cartridge refill station of  FIG. 1  in a position wherein the ink cartridge refilling is almost complete; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge refilling station in the position shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge refilling station in the position shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge refilling station in the position shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5A  is an exploded assembly view of the cartridge refilling station of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5B  is an enlarged exploded assembly view of a portion of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6A-B  are cross-sectional views showing positions of the ink needles relative to the ink cartridge; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a portion of the ink needle sealing assembly of the cartridge refill station of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective exploded view of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the ink container of the ink refilling station of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8A  along lines  8 B- 8 B; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the ink cartridge drawer of the ink refilling station of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9B  is a top view of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9C  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9B  along lines  9 C- 9 C; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10A  is a side view of an ink needle of the ink refilling station of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10A  along lines  10 B- 10 B; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10C  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10A  along lines  10 C- 10 C; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11A  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the timing arrangement of the ink refilling station of  FIG. 1  in a first position; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11B  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the timing arrangement of the ink refilling station of  FIG. 1  in a second position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    The present disclosure provides an ink refill station for refilling ink cartridges. The refill station stores ink in one or more ink chambers. Fill needles extending from the ink chambers are introduced into an ink cartridge for filling. After the ink cartridge is filled with ink, the ink needles are disengaged from the ink cartridge. 
         [0026]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-6B , an embodiment of an ink cartridge refill station  20  in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure is shown. The ink cartridge refill station  20  is adapted to refill ink cartridge  110 . The ink refill station  20  includes a station housing  22  including a base  24 , a movable enclosure  26  mounted on top of the base  24 , and an ink container  28  defining a plurality of ink reservoirs  126 ,  128 ,  130  ( FIG. 8B ) for storing ink of different colors. The ink refill station  20  also includes a plurality of ink fill needles  30  (see  FIGS. 4A-6B  and  10 A-C). The ink fill needles  30  are each in fluid communication with a respective one of the reservoirs  126 ,  128 ,  130  ( FIG. 8B ) of the ink container  28 , and extend downwardly from the ink container toward the base  24 . The base  24  is configured to hold the ink cartridge  110  in alignment directly beneath the needles  30 . In the depicted embodiment, the ink container  28  is moveable relative to the movable enclosure  26  and also relative to the cartridge  110  ( FIGS. 4A-C ) secured in a drawer  44  in the base  24 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cartridge refill station  20  with the ink container  28  in a cartridge loading position, otherwise referred to herein as the stored position ( FIG. 4A  is a corresponding cross-sectional view of the refill station in the loading position). The loading or stored position reflects a configuration in which ink cartridges  110  can be loaded and unloaded from the refill station  20  (i.e., typically before filling and after filling). In the depicted embodiment both the enclosure  26  and the ink container  28  are in their up most positions when the refill station is in the stored position (loading position). In this configuration the ink does not flow into the ink cartridge  110  as the lower ends of the ink needles  30  are disengaged from the ink cartridge  110  ( FIGS. 4A and 6B ) and are positioned within a needle sealing assembly  75  ( FIGS. 4A and 6B ). 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cartridge refill station  20  in position wherein the ink cartridge refilling has been initiated ( FIG. 4B  is a corresponding cross sectional view of the refill station  20  in the same position). In particular, the movable enclosure  26  and ink container  28  of the refill station are depressed relative to their respective positions in the loading position as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the refilling is initiated, both the ink container  28  and the enclosure  26  are fully depressed. Ink from the ink container  28  flows into the ink cartridge  110  via the ink needles  30  (see  FIGS. 4B and 6B ). In the depicted embodiment a latching arrangement  36  is provide that includes first latches  60  fixed relative to the base  24  that engage second latches  62  carried with the ink container  28  to hold the ink container  28  in the refilling position. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cartridge refill station  20  in a position wherein the ink cartridge refilling is almost complete ( FIG. 4C  is a corresponding cross-sectional view of the refill station  20  in the same position). In this position the ink container  28  is in the same position it was in  FIG. 2  (i.e., fully depressed) and ink continues to flow from the ink container  28  into the ink cartridge  110  via the ink needles  30  (see  FIGS. 4C and 6B ). The movable enclosure  26  is in an intermediate position between where it is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the depicted embodiment the movable enclosure  26  is part of an ink fill timing system, and gradually moves upward as the ink fills. Once the movable enclosure  26  reaches a certain position, it triggers the disengagement of the ink needles  30  from the ink cartridge  110 . In the depicted embodiment a trigger  108  carried with the movable enclosure  26  causing the latches  62  to pivot out of engagement with latches  60 , allowing a main return spring  32  to return the ink container  28  back to the stored position. 
         [0030]    Referring primarily to  FIGS. 4A-11B , the components of the refill station  20  are described in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment, one or more springs bias the ink container  28  toward the stored position (loading position). In the depicted embodiment the main return spring  32  is located generally in the center of the refill station  20  is configured and arranged to provide the primary force for moving the ink container towards the stored position. As discussed above, the ink refill station  20  includes a latching arrangement  36  (see the engagement between latches  60  and  62  shown in  FIG. 4B ) that retains the ink container  28  in the ink refill position while an ink cartridge  110  is being refilled, and a latch release arrangement  38  (see  FIG. 4C  showing the trigger  108  disengaging the latches  60  and  62 ) that disengages the latching arrangement  36  after a predetermined amount of time, thereby allowing the spring  32  to return the ink container  28  from the ink refill position of  FIGS. 2 and 3  to the storage position (loading position) of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0031]    In use of the ink refill station  20 , an ink cartridge  110  that needs to be refilled is inserted into the drawer  44  in the base  24 , and refill ports  112  ( FIG. 1 ) of the ink cartridge are aligned below the ink fill needles  30 . Once the ink cartridge  110  is in alignment with the ink needles  30 , the ink container  28  is manually pressed from the stored position to the ink refill position (from the position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 A to the position shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 B). In the depicted embodiment, manually pressing on the enclosure  26  depresses the ink container  28 . 
         [0032]    When the ink container  28  moves in the depressed position, ink fill needles  30  which are connected to the ink container  28  also move downwardly (see  FIGS. 4B and 6B ). As the needles  30  move downwardly, lower tips of the needles extend out of the needle sealing assembly  75  and are received within the refill ports  112  of the ink cartridge  110 . The latching arrangement  36  automatically holds the ink container  28  in the refill position. With the ink container  28  in the refill position, the lower tips of the needles  30  are in fluid communication with the inside of the ink cartridge such that ink is free to flow from the ink container  28  through the ink fill needles  30  into the interior of the ink cartridge. Once the ink level in the ink cartridge  110  reaches the lower end of the vent tube  156  ( FIGS. 6A-B ,  10 A) of the needle  30 , the flow through the drain tube  158  automatically stops. 
         [0033]    After a predetermined amount of time sufficient to allow for all the ink reservoirs  126 ,  128 ,  130  ( FIG. 8B ) of ink cartridge  28  to be completely refilled, the latch release arrangement  38  disengages the latching arrangement  36  and the spring  32  returns the ink container  28  to the stored position. As the ink container  28  moves from the ink refill position to the stored position, the ink fill needles  30  are automatically withdrawn from the ink cartridge  110  and retracted into the ink needle sealing assembly  75 . The filled ink cartridge can then be removed from the base  24  via opening the drawer  44 . 
         [0034]    In the depicted embodiment, the movable enclosure  26  moves upward gradually for a period of time that, as discussed above, is calibrated to correspond to be the time it takes to fill the ink cartridge  1   10 . Once the period of time is passed, the movable enclosure  26  causes the ink container  28  to move from the depressed position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  to the stored position (loading position) shown in  FIG. 1 . In the depicted embodiment the movable enclosure  26  is part of the latch release arrangement  38 . In particular, the upward travel of the movable enclosure  26  cause the latching arrangement  36  to release, unlock, or otherwise disengage. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A-C  and  6 A-B, the ink fill needles  30  of the depicted embodiment have upper ends that are mechanically secured to the ink container  28  such that the ink container  28  and the ink fill needles  30  move together in unison as a unit when the ink container  28  is moved between the stored position and the ink refill position. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A-C  and  5 A-B, the base  24  of the ink refill station  20  is described in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment the base  24  is generally rectangular and defines an interior compartment  40  positioned beneath the ink fill needles  30 . The interior compartment  40  has an open side  42  facing laterally outwardly from one end of the base  24 . The interior compartment  40  is sized to slideably receive a drawer  44  sized for receiving an ink cartridge  110  in need of refilling. In use of the ink refill station  20 , the drawer  44  is pulled to an open position in which the drawer  44  projects outwardly from the interior compartment  40  (FIGS.  1  and  5 A-B). Once the drawer  44  is pulled out, the ink cartridge  110  can be inserted into the drawer  44 , and the drawer  44  can be pushed back inside the interior compartment  40 . When the drawer  44  is positioned within the interior compartment  40 , the refill ports  112  of the ink cartridge  110  preferably align with respective ones of the ink fill needles  30 . After the ink cartridge has been refilled, the drawer  44  can be pulled back out from the interior compartment  40 , and the filled ink cartridge can be removed from the drawer  44 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A-7B , the ink refill station  20  further includes a first platform  50  mounted to a top side of the base  24  (e.g., by a snap-fit connection), and a second platform  56  on which the ink container  28  is mounted. The first platform  50  includes a spring seat  54  that receives a lower end of the spring  32 , and the second platform  56  defines a spring seat that receives an upper end of the spring  32 . The first platform  50  is fixed relative to the base  24 . The second platform  56 , the ink container  28 , and the ink fill needles  30 , together form an ink refill assembly that can move together as a unit upwardly and downwardly relative to the first platform  50 , the base  24 , and the movable enclosure  26 . The second platform  56  fits inside the interior of the housing  22  and supports the base  52  of the ink container  28 . 
         [0038]    When the ink container is in the stored position, the ink container  28  abuts the enclosure  26 . The spring  32  biases the ink refill assembly toward the stored position ( FIG. 1 ). When the ink refill assembly is moved downwardly, the spring  32  compresses between the first and second platforms  50 ,  56 . After an ink cartridge has been refilled and the latch arrangement  36  released, the compressed spring  32  forces the ink refill assembly back to the stored position. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A-5B , the latching arrangements  36  and  38  of the ink fill station  20  are shown. In the depicted embodiment the latching arrangement  36  includes first latches  60  connected to the first platform  50  (e.g., integrally connected with the first platform  50  with one on each side of the platform), and second latches  62  pivotally connected to the second platform  56 , which are configured to engage the latches  60  on the first platform  50 . The latches  62  include angled cam surfaces  170  and catch surfaces  172  ( FIG. 5B ). Similarly, the first latches  60  include angled cam surfaces  174  and catch surfaces  176 . When the ink container  28  is moved down toward the ink refill position ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 B,  4 C), the cam surfaces  170  of the second latches  62  engage the fixed latch  60 , causing the second latches  62  to pivot laterally away from the first latches  60  to allow the catch surfaces of the second latches  62  to move below the catch surfaces  176  of the first latches  60 . Once the catch surfaces  172  of the pivoting latches  62  move beneath the catch surfaces  176  of the fixed latches, the second latches  62  pivot back towards the first latches  60  such that the catch surfaces  170  of the second latches  62  are located directly beneath the catch surfaces  176  of the fixed latches, and thereby causing the latches  62 ,  60  to be interlocked. 
         [0040]    Specifically, interference between the catch surfaces prevents the ink refill assembly from moving upwardly relative to the first platform  50 . The second latches  62  can include an elongate cantilever arm  178  ( FIG. 5B ) that extends outwardly from the pivot axes of the pivoting latches and biases the pivoting latches toward the latched orientation via gravity (i.e., the weights of the elongate cantilever arms  178  generate a moment about the pivot axes that biases the pivoting latches  62  toward the latched orientation). It will be appreciated that springs can also be used to bias the pivoting latches toward the latched position. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A-7B , the needle sealing arrangement  75  of the ink refill station  20  is shown in greater detail. The first platform  50  includes a central sleeve  70  defining a vertical through-passage. In the depicted embodiment the sealing housing  74  is movable relative to the first platform  50  so that a sealing arrangement  75  abuts the ink cartridge  110 , thereby preventing ink leakage when the ink needles  30  are being inserted or withdrawn from the ink cartridge  110 . The needle sealing housing  74  is mounted within the through-passage  72  and is slideable within the vertical through-passage  72  between a raised orientation ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 A, and  6 A) and a lowered orientation ( FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 B,  4 C, and  6 B). The depicted sealing housing  74  and through-passage  72  include alignment features that allow for sliding, while keeping the needles  30  that extend from the ink container  28  vertically aligned with the ports  112  of the ink cartridge  110 . In the depicted embodiment the sealing housing includes vertical channels  81  that receive guide rails  85  extending from the central sleeve  70  that orientate and align the housing  74  with the through-passage  72  of the central sleeve  70 . The outer walls of the housing  74  and inner walls of the sleeve  70  also provide alignment. 
         [0042]    The needle sealing housing  74  defines a plurality of needle passages  76  that each respectively receives one of the ink fill needles  30 . First and second vertically spaced apart seals  116 ,  118  that are mounted between a fine alignment sleeve  119  within each of the needle passages chamber  76 . When the ink refill assembly is in the stored position, the tips of the ink fill needles  30  are positioned between the vertically spaced apart seals  116 ,  118  such that the seals prevent ink from exiting the needles and leaving the needle sealing housing  74 . In the depicted embodiment the lower seals  118  are configured to prevent ink flow therethrough when the needles  30  are retracted past the seal  118 . The upper seals  116  are configured to seal against the sleeves  160  of the needles  30 . A fine alignment sleeve  119  is positioned within each needle passage chamber  76 . The sleeves  119  have lower flanges that precisely fit within the passage chamber  76 . The sleeves  119  assist in aligning the needles  30  relative to the sealing housing  74  and, more specifically, relative to the needle passage chambers  76  of the sealing housing. 
         [0043]    An upper cap  77  of the needle sealing housing  74  also defines a centrally located vertical guide channel  80  that slideably receives a guide rod  82  having an upper end that is connected to the second platform  56  ( FIG. 5B ). An upper portion of the guide channel  80  is defined by an attachment hub that projects upwardly from the upper cap  77  of the needle sealing housing  74 . In the depicted embodiment, the lower end of the guide rod  82  interlocks with the hub to prevent the lower end of the guide shaft from being vertically withdrawn from the guide channel  80 . A spring  33  is mounted around the guide shaft and the hub. The spring  33  has a lower end that fits within a seat defined by the top surface of the needle sealing housing  74 , and an upper end that fits within a seat defined by the second platform  56 . The needle sealing arrangement  75  is configured and arranged so that the spring  33  biases the sealing housing  74  against the ink cartridge  110  when the ink needles are inserted and removed from the ink cartridge  110  (see  FIGS. 4B-C ). 
         [0044]    The operation of the ink sealing assembly  75  is described in greater detail below. In the depicted embodiment, the needle sealing housing  74  also includes a plurality of lower projections defining ports  114  adapted to align with corresponding ports  112  of the ink cartridge in need of being refilled. The lower seals of the needle sealing housing  74  are preferably located at bottom ends of the projections. When the ink delivery assembly is moved downwardly from the stored position, the needle sealing housing  74  and the needles  30  initially move downwardly together as a unit. Movement of the needle sealing housing  74  with the ink refill assembly is caused by the inner spring that conveys a downward force from the second platform  52  to the top side of the needle sealing housing  74 . Downward movement of the ink refill assembly and the needle sealing housing  74  continues, with the needle sealing housing  74  sliding within the central sleeve  70 , until the ink delivery projections provided on the bottom side of the needle sealing housing  74  engage the top side of the ink cartridge intended to be refilled. The relationship between the housing  74  and sleeve  70  facilitates alignment. Contact between the ink refill projections and the top side of the ink cartridge prevents further downward movement of the needle sealing housing  74 . At this point, downward movement of the needles  30  and the remainder of the ink refill assembly continues such that the needles  30  slide downwardly within the needle passages  76  of the needle sealing housing  74 , through the seals  118  located at the bottom ends of the rear ink delivery projections  114 , and into the ports of the ink cartridge. Downward movement of the needles through the needle sealing housing  74  is guided by the guide shaft within the second platform  56  within the guide passage of the needle sealing housing  74 . Downward movement of the needles  30  relative to the ink sealing housing  74  continues until the tips of the needles are fully within the ink cartridge and the latching arrangement  36  moves to the latched position. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 C,  5 A-B, and  11 A-B, the latch release arrangement  38  of the ink refill station  20  is shown. The latch release arrangement  38  includes a piston shaft  100  having an upper end connected to trigger member  108  and a lower end forming a piston head  104 . The lower end of the piston shaft  100  is slideably mounted within a piston cylinder  106 . The piston head  104  includes a radial seal around its circumference that forms a seal between the piston head  104  and the inner diameter of the piston cylinder  106 . The upper end of the shaft  100  is operably connected to the movable enclosure  26 . The latch release arrangement  38  also includes release trigger members  108  connected to the piston shaft  100  adjacent the upper end of the piston shaft, and a return spring  34  having an upper end that seats against an underside of the release trigger member and a lower end that seats against a cylinder cap  120  mounted to the base  24  adjacent a top end of the piston cylinder  106 . A bottom end of the piston cylinder  106  is closed and includes a bleed valve  122  ( FIGS. 11A-B ) that allows air to rapidly exit the piston cylinder, but only allows air to slowly enter the cylinder  106  when vacuum is applied to the cylinder  106  via a retraction of the piston head  104 . The cylinder  106  is configured such that the piston head  104  retains a tight seal with the piston until a certain height H upon which the seal between the piston head  104  and piston cylinder  106  is broken. In the depicted embodiment, an air groove  124  is provided above the height H in the cylinder  106  for breaking the seal. 
         [0046]    In the depicted embodiment the spring  34  and bleed valve  122  are selected or adjusted so that the piston  100  moves from the bottom of the cylinder to the height H in a generally constant amount of time which is correlated to the time it takes to fill an ink cartridge (e.g., 3 minutes). In some embodiments the time that the piston travels from the bottom of the cylinder to the height H is set by selecting a particular spring based on a particular bleed valve and target time. In other embodiments the time that the piston travels is set by changing the height H, the bleed valve  122 , and/or characteristics regarding the piston head  104 . 
         [0047]    The above timing system does not rely on electrical power, however it should be appreciated that electrical components may be employed in timing systems of alternative embodiments of the ink refilling system. In addition to should be appreciated that other non electrical timing system can also be used (e.g., gear driven timer). It should be appreciated that the depicted embodiment provides a timing system that not only indicates to the user when refill is complete, but it also automatically moves the ink needles  30  out of the ink cartridge  110 . In alternative embodiments that include timing system, the timing system can be alternatively configured to alert the user that the ink cartridge has been filled (e.g., with a light or a sound), without automatically retracting the needles  30  from the cartridge  110 . 
         [0048]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1-5B , the function and structure of the cap assembly of the ink refill station is shown. In the depicted embodiment the enclosure  26  mounts over a top side of the ink container  28 , and includes a top pushing surface positioned over the ink container  28  and side surfaces that at least partially surround sides of the ink container  28 . To move the ink container from the stored position ( FIG. 1 ) to the ink refill position ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ), the pushing surface of the cap  102  is pushed downwardly causing the ink refill assembly, the cap  102 , the piston shaft  100 , and the release trigger member  108  to move downwardly. As the piston shaft  100  moves downwardly within the piston cylinder  106 , air is pushed from the cylinder through the bleed valve  122  at the bottom of the cylinder. Upon latching of the latch arrangement  36  (engagement between latches  60  and  62 ), the latch arrangement  36  holds the ink refill assembly in the ink delivery position. 
         [0049]    When the return spring  34  pushes the piston shaft  100  upwards, the attached cap  102  and the release trigger  108  move together as a unit, upwardly relative to the ink container  28 . As discussed above, in the depicted embodiment the upward movement is caused by the spring  34  overcoming the resistant of the air pressure within the cylinder  106 . Specifically, because the bleed valve  122  only allows air to enter the piston cylinder at a slow rate via vacuum caused by the upward movement of the piston head within the cylinder, the bleed valve  122  prevents the piston head from moving upwardly at a rapid rate. Instead, the return spring causes the piston shaft to move upwardly at a slow rate. This slow upward movement of the piston shaft continues until the piston head reaches a relieve air groove  124  that allows air to rapidly enter the piston chamber  106 . Once this occurs, the return spring  34  causes the shaft to move rapidly upwardly. When the piston shaft moves rapidly upwardly, the release trigger  108  engages the cantilever arms of the latch release arrangement  38 , causing the latches  62  to pivot from the latched position to a released orientation. Once the pivotal latches move to the released orientation, the main return spring  32  forces the ink refill assembly back to the stored position. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the ink container  28  is shown in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment the ink container  28  includes three compartments  126 ,  128 ,  130  of generally the same volume which are separated by vertical dividers  132 ,  134 . In the depicted embodiment the ink container  28  includes three ports that connect to three different ink needles  30 . The dividers  132  are arranged with a plurality of bends to allow for the ports  136 ,  138 ,  140  to be in vertical alignment with the ports  114  of the needle sealing housing  74  and the ports  112  of the ink cartridge  110  ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 A,  5 A-B, and  6 A-B). In the depicted embodiment the widths W 1 , W 2 , W 3  of the compartments along a front side are generally equal, and the lengths L 1  of the compartments are also generally equal. Since the ports are centrally located, the chambers on either side include jogs that extend laterally to enable fluid communication between each of the ports and their respective ink compartment. In the depicted embodiment the ports are located within the middle third of the ink container  28  (within width W 2 ). 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A-C , the drawer  44  of the ink refill station  20  is shown in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment, the drawer includes an outer surface with alignment features that align the drawer  44  with the base  24 . The features include a pair of side rails  142 ,  144  that engage channels in the base  24 , a bottom ridge  146  that engages a groove in the base  24 , and arms  148 ,  150  that are received in apertures in the base  24 . In the depicted embodiment the bottom ridge  146  snaps into the groove in the base upon insertion of the drawer into the base. A grab tab  152  is included for disengaging the bottom ridge  146  from the groove in the base  24  for easy removal. In particular, squeezing the grab tab against the pull tab  159  raises the bottom ridge  146  out of the groove in the base  24 . The drawer  44  includes inner surface features that align the ink cartridge  110  with the drawer and secures it therein. In the depicted embodiment, the drawer includes a bottom area for receiving an ink head interfacing member  180  (e.g., absorption pad) that prevents ink from leaking out the ink head of the cartridge  110 . The drawer  44  also includes side alignment ridges  142 ,  144  that engage the sides of the ink cartridge  110 . In the depicted embodiment, the lower surface of the first platform  50  include vertical flanges  51  that are configured to press down on the top surface cartridge  110  as the drawer  44  is slid in the base  24 , if the user fails to press the cartridge  110  into the drawer. In the depicted embodiment the vertical flanges  51  are ramped shaped so that they gradually press the cartridge  110  downward as the drawer  44  is slid further into the base. The drawer  44  and features of the base  24  (e.g., vertical flanges  51 ) work together to properly align the cartridge  110  with the ink needles  30 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 10A-C , the ink needles  30  are shown in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment the ink needle  30  includes a vent tube  156  and an ink deliver tube (drain tube)  158 . The ink delivery tube  158  and the vent tube  156  are configured to extend from the bottom of the ink container  28  into the ink cartridge  110  ( FIGS. 6A-B ). In the depicted embodiment portions of the ink deliver tube  158  and the vent tube  156  are held within a sleeve  160 . The sleeve  160  has generally a circular cross-section, and the drain tube  158  and vent tube  156  have generally circular cross-sections ( FIG. 10B ). 
         [0053]    In the depicted embodiment the cross-sectional area of at least some portion of the vent tube is not equal to the cross-sectional area of the drain tube  158 . This configuration can prevent the undesirable stoppage of ink flow that can result from ink flowing into the vent tube. The difference in cross-sectional area facilitates the free flow of ink even if some ink enters the vent tube  156 . In the depicted embodiment the cross-sectional area of the vent tube is not constant along its length. In particular, the cross-sectional area of the vent tube  156  is greater at its top end than at its bottom end. In the depicted embodiment, a bottom portion  182  of the vent tube  156  is metal and a top portion  184  of the vent tube  156  is plastic. The top portion is configured be connected to the bottom portion by sliding a lower end of the top portion  184  over the upper end of the bottom portion  182 . It should be appreciated that the arrangement and cross-sectional shapes of the vent tube, drain tubes, and sleeve can be different in different embodiments of the needles  30 . 
         [0054]    In the depicted embodiment, the ink container  28  and the enclosure  26  include an ink pump system that further facilitates ink flow from the ink container  28  to the ink cartridge  110  through the ink needles  30 . In the depicted embodiment a diaphragm pump  172  is provided on the upper surface of each of the compartments  126 ,  128 ,  130  of the ink container  28 . Actuators  170  for the pumps extend from the under surface of the enclosure  26 . In the depicted embodiment the actuators  170  are configured and arranged to depress the diaphragm pumps  172  when the user presses downward on the enclosure  26 , and the actuators  170  are configured to automatically retract from the diaphragm pumps  172  when the enclosure moves upwards away from the ink cartridge  28 . The pumps  172  are made of elastic material that is compressed to a lower volume configuration when engaged by the actuators  170  and automatically elastically expand to a higher volume configuration when disengaged from the actuators  170  thereby causing air from the ink compartments  126 ,  128 ,  130  to be drawn into the volume. When the actuators  170  are retracted from the pumps  172 , the pumps  172  create a suction force in the ink compartments  126 ,  128 ,  130 . The suction force (otherwise referred to as a pressure differential or vacuum force) facilitates air flow from the ink cartridge  110  to the ink container  28  through the vent tubes  156  of the ink needles  30 , thereby facilitating ink flow through the drain tubes  158  of the ink needles  30 . In the depicted embodiment the diaphragm pumps  172  include a rubber diaphragm that is secured to the ink cartridge  28  via gaskets and seals that snap into place on the ink cartridge. 
         [0055]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.