Abstract:
A universal inkjet cartridge usable in an inkjet printer the inkjet cartridge having an inkjet tank, the inkjet tank storing ink and having an upper surface and a lower surface is disclosed. Mounted on the lower surface are configurable color identification tabs and mounted on the upper surface are printer identification fins, the configurable color identification tabs are configured to allow the universal inkjet cartridge to be used in multiple inkjet cartridge locations within the inkjet printer identified by the printer identification fins.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to remanufacturing and modifying imaging process cartridges, such as printer cartridges, and more particularly to an inkjet printer cartridge configurable to operate in multiple printer types or color types. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Printer cartridges are typically designed to provide the consumer a certain number of print copies before the toner or ink is exhausted. The total number of prints varies depending on the type, quality and density of the print provided by the printer. After all of the toner or ink is spent, the cartridges are either thrown away or recycled. 
     Within an inkjet printer, there may be four or more inkjet cartridges. Each of the inkjet cartridges may contain a specific color of ink. There may be up to seven color inkjet cartridges for each color inkjet printer, including black, magenta, yellow and cyan color cartridges. In some inkjet printers, the basic shape of the various inkjet cartridges may be very similar with only slight differences. For instance, all the cartridges may use the same print head or nozzle. The shape of the ink tanks may also be very similar. However, the printer manufacturers have developed a keying system to prevent the wrong inkjet cartridge from being installed into the incorrect cartridge location within the printer. Typically these keys may be a protrusion on the outside of the inkjet cartridge which may match up with a recess or set of recesses in the inkjet cartridge compartment. If a black inkjet cartridge is attempted to be inserted into a cyan location, the cyan keys prevent the black inkjet cartridge from being inserted. 
     Additionally, the inkjet cartridges may be designed to fit into one type of printer or family of printers. For instance, the various Hewlett Packard (HP) 83 inkjet cartridges (black, magenta, cyan, light cyan, light magenta, and yellow) may not be compatible for use in with other HP printer types such as the HP Edgeline family of printers, even though the cartridges may look very similar. The printer manufacturers may alter one or more physical characteristics of the inkjet cartridges. In some cases the differences may be an entirely new shape or the printer manufacturer may only change a minor detail such as an indentation or a protrusion in addition to the color keying for the individual color inkjet cartridge. 
     Commonly on some inkjet cartridges, there may be color indication tabs indicating the particular color of ink contained within the inkjet cartridge. In addition, there may also be printer identification fins which differentiate which printer or printer family the inkjet cartridge is compatible with. Because the color identification tabs line up with certain recesses within the printer as well as printer identification protrusions that line up with printer identification keys, the printer manufacturer may have to produce a different inkjet cartridge for each color for all of the various printers or printer families. This may be an inefficient way of offering inkjet cartridges when the inkjet cartridges may be very similar. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention recognizes the need for a universal inkjet cartridge that may be configured for use in any of the inkjet cartridge locations within a plurality of printers. The present invention may allow an inkjet cartridge manufacturer or remanufacturer the ability to produce one universal inkjet cartridge that may be configured for use in multiple locations with the same printer or possibly multiple locations with multiple printers. 
     A universal inkjet cartridge usable in an inkjet printer the inkjet cartridge having an inkjet tank, the inkjet tank storing ink and having an upper surface and a lower surface is disclosed. Mounted on the lower surface are configurable color identification tabs and mounted on the upper surface are printer identification fins, the configurable color identification tabs are configured to allow the universal inkjet cartridge to be used in multiple inkjet cartridge locations within the inkjet printer identified by the printer identification fins. 
     A universal inkjet cartridge usable in an inkjet printer the inkjet cartridge having an inkjet tank, the inkjet tank storing ink and having an upper surface and a lower surface is disclosed. Mounted on the lower surface are color identification tabs and mounted on the upper surface are configurable printer identification fins, the configurable printer identification fins are configured to allow the universal inkjet cartridge to be used in the same inkjet cartridge location in multiple inkjet printers identified by the configurable printer identification fins. 
     A universal inkjet cartridge usable in an inkjet printer the inkjet cartridge having an inkjet tank, the inkjet tank storing ink and having an upper surface and a lower surface is disclosed. Mounted on the lower surface are configurable color identification tabs and mounted on the upper surface are configurable printer identification fins, the configurable color identification tabs are configured to allow the universal inkjet cartridge to be used in multiple inkjet cartridge locations within the inkjet printer and the configurable printer identification fins are configured such that the universal inkjet cartridge is compatible in multiple inkjet printers. 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of a prior art black inkjet cartridge compatible in the HP Edgeline printer family. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of a prior art HP83 black inkjet cartridge. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of a universal black inkjet cartridge interchangeable with the HP 83 black inkjet cartridge in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side perspective view of the universal black inkjet cartridge of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a bottom perspective view of the universal black inkjet cartridge of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a universal black inkjet cartridge interchangeable with the HP 83 black inkjet cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a universal cyan inkjet cartridge interchangeable with an HP 83 cyan inkjet cartridge in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a universal black inkjet cartridge interchangeable with an HP 83 inkjet cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows a bottom perspective view of the universal black inkjet cartridge of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a universal cyan inkjet cartridge interchangeable with an HP 83 cyan inkjet cartridge in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a universal black inkjet cartridge interchangeable with the HP83 black inkjet cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows a cut away view of a universal inkjet cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of preferred embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. In the discussion that follows, specific systems and techniques for repairing, manufacturing or remanufacturing an imaging cartridge, such as a toner cartridge are used as examples. Other embodiments having different structures and operations for the repair, remanufacture and operation of other types of replaceable imaging components and for various types of imaging devices, such as laser printers, inkjet printers, copiers, facsimile machines and the like, do not depart from the scope of the present invention. 
     Within the printer industry, printer manufacturers have employed various techniques to differentiate between inkjet cartridges used in different inkjet printers. These techniques range from the obvious altering of the physical dimensions and shape of the inkjet cartridge to very subtle indentations or protrusions positioned at certain locations on the inkjet cartridge. For example, some inkjet printer manufacturers have installed recesses that extend in from the printer&#39;s cartridge compartment and are positioned to fit with a protrusion on the inkjet cartridge when the inkjet cartridge is installed inside the printer. In other inkjet printers this arrangement may be reversed. The recess may exist on the inkjet cartridge, and the protrusion may exist inside the inkjet cartridge compartment inside the printer. 
     As new inkjet printer models are developed, “new” toner cartridges may also be introduced. In some cases, the new inkjet cartridge may contain exactly the same ink and printer head as those of the previous printer model. However, the new inkjet cartridge may have slightly different physical packaging. In some cases, the printer manufacturer may install different keys, or keys in different locations. Changing the size, shape, orientation or location of the keys allows the printer manufacturer to differentiate between previously introduced inkjet cartridges and those of newer models. This may allow the printer manufacturer to increase his margins by charging the consumer a premium for the new inkjet cartridges. 
     The differences between inkjet printer cartridges may be very minor. As is explained in greater detail in subsequent sections, some differences between the color inkjet cartridges for the same printer may be the location and size of a tab or set of tabs. In addition, the differences between inkjet cartridges for various printer families may also be minor. For example, the black HP83 inkjet cartridge may be very similar to the black inkjet cartridge used in the HP Edgeline family of printer with only slight physical differences. 
     The inventive concepts are discussed with reference to the HP83 inkjet cartridges as an illustrative example. However, since the HP83 cartridges and the inkjet cartridges for the HP Edgeline printer families are physically similar, it is intended that these inventive concepts may be applied to these cartridges as well as many other types and styles of inkjet cartridges. 
       FIG. 1  displays a top view of a prior art inkjet cartridge  100  for use in the black inkjet cartridge compartment of the HP Edgeline family of printers. Located on the cartridge  100  is an ink tank  130  for holding the ink as well as a left set  110  and a right set  111  of printer designation fins  113  which are positioned on an upper portion  105 . The printer designation fins  113  align with a printer designation recess (not shown for ease of illustration) located in the black inkjet compartment within the HP Edgeline family of printers. The inkjet cartridge  100  also has a color designation tab  120  positioned on a lower portion  115 . The color of ink stored within the ink tank  130  corresponds to the position of the color designation tab  120 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the position and size of the color designation tab  120  indicates that the cartridge  100  is a black inkjet cartridge. 
       FIG. 2  displays a top view of a prior art HP83 black inkjet cartridge  200 . Similar to the cartridge  100  of  FIG. 1 , the cartridge  200  has an ink tank  230  for holding ink. The cartridge  200  also has a color designation tab  220  positioned on a lower portion  215 . The color of ink stored within the ink tank  230  corresponds to the position of the color designation tab  220 . The cartridge  200  has a left set  210  and a right set  211  of printer designation fins  213  as can be seen when comparing the cartridge  100  and cartridge  200 , the printer designation fins  113  and  213  respectively are oriented differently. More specifically, the left set  110  is slightly wider than the left set  210 . Recesses within the inkjet cartridge compartment on the HP Edgeline family of printers align with the printer designation fins  113  and may be slightly different than the recesses within printers using the HP 83 inkjet cartridge. As displayed in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ink tank  130  of the cartridge  100  may be the same size and shape of the ink tank  230  of cartridge  200 . However, due to the spacing and orientation of the printer designation fins  113  and  213 , the inkjet cartridges ( 100  and  200 ) may not be interchangeable. 
     The printer cartridges  100  and  200  are typically constructed from molded plastic. As part of the manufacturing process, the printer designation fins ( 113  and  213 ) and the color designation tabs ( 120  and  220 ) are part of the molded single piece of plastic. Because the printer designation fins ( 113  and  213 ) and the color designation tabs ( 120  and  220 ) are molded, they are not easily altered. Thus each cartridge ( 100  and  200 ) may be operable for a specific color with a specific printer. 
       FIG. 3  displays a universal inkjet cartridge  300  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet cartridge  300  has an ink tank  320  which stores the ink. Positioned on an upper portion  305  are printer designation fins  313  which consist of a left set  310  and a right set  311 . Also positioned on a lower portion  315  are configurable color designation tabs  320 . A better view of the printer designation fins  313  is shown in  FIG. 4  which displays a perspective view of the universal inkjet cartridge  300 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the configurable printer designation fins  313  may be configured by sliding any the configurable printer designation fins  313  from side to side. Thus, if the universal inkjet cartridge  300  was to be installed as a black HP83 inkjet cartridge, printer designation fins  313  would be positioned as shown in  FIG. 4 . If the inkjet cartridge  300  was to be installed in the HP Edgeline family of printers, the left set  310  would be spaced apart to the positions as shown in the prior art cartridge  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The configurable color designation tabs  320  may be comprised of several smaller tabs. A bottom perspective view of the universal inkjet cartridge  300  is shown in  FIG. 5 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the configurable color designation tabs  320  are positioned by swiveling the configurable color designation tabs  320  up from a recess  325  on the lower portion  315 . The configurable color designation tabs  320  are configured to reflect the color of the ink stored in the ink tank  330 . In an alternative embodiment, the configurable color designation tabs  320  may be individually inserted into the recess  325  and attached into place. In this embodiment, the configurable color designation tabs  320  may be snapped into place or attached using an adhesive means such as epoxy, glue or the like. The configurable color designation tabs  320  are positioned as required in order to configure the inkjet cartridge  300  for the color ink dispensed by the universal inkjet cartridge  300 . As displayed in  FIGS. 3-5 , the universal inkjet cartridge  300  is configured to be interchangeable with an HP 83 black inkjet cartridge. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the configurable color designation tabs  320  and/or the configurable printer designation fins  310  of the inkjet cartridge  300  may molded into the upper portion  305  and lower portion  315  respectively. In this arrangement, there may be multiple configurable printer designation fins  313  (more than the  4  shown in  FIG. 3 ) or configurable color designation tabs  320  which may be removed using a wire cutter or other type of cutting tool. This allows an inkjet cartridge remanufacturer to manufacture the universal inkjet cartridge  300  with all the possible combinations of configurable printer designation fins  313  and configurable color designation tabs  320 . When a specific inkjet cartridge configuration is required, the inkjet cartridge manufacturer removes the appropriate configurable printer designation fins  313  or configurable color designation tabs  320 . 
       FIG. 6  displays yet another universal inkjet cartridge  400  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The universal inkjet cartridge  400  has an ink tank  430  which stores the ink Positioned on an upper portion  405  are configurable printer designation fins  413 . Also positioned on a lower portion  415  are configurable color designation tabs  420 . The universal inkjet cartridge  400  has configurable printer designation fins  413  which are comprised of a left set  410  and a right set  411 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the configurable printer designation fins  413  may be removed and inserted into printer designation fin slots  445  located on the upper portion  405 . The universal inkjet cartridge  400  is configured by inserting the configurable printer designation fins  413  into the appropriate printer designation fin slot  445 . Thus if the universal inkjet cartridge  400  was to be interchangeable with the HP 83 black inkjet cartridge, the configurable printer designation fins  413  would be positioned as shown in  FIG. 6 . If the inkjet cartridge  400  was to be installed in the HP Edgeline family of printers, the left set  410  of the cartridge  400  would be positioned to mirror the printer designation fin positions as shown in the prior art cartridge  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Positioned on the lower portion  415  of the inkjet cartridge  400  may be configurable color designation tabs  420 . Even though only one configurable color designation tab  420  is shown in  FIG. 6 , the configurable color designation tab  420  may be of various widths. With the configurable color designation tab  420  installed in the location as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the universal inkjet cartridge  400  is configured to be interchangeable with the HP83 black inkjet cartridge. 
       FIG. 7  displays another universal inkjet cartridge  500  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The universal inkjet cartridge  500  has an ink tank  530  which stores the ink Positioned on an upper portion  505  are configurable printer designation fins  513  which have a left set  510  and a right set  511 . Also positioned on a lower portion  515  are configurable color designation tabs  521  and  522 . Similar to the universal inkjet cartridge  400  of  FIG. 6 , the configurable printer designation fins  513  may be removed and inserted into printer designation fin slots  545  located on the upper portion  505 . The universal inkjet cartridge  500  is configured by inserting the configurable printer designation fins  513  into the appropriate printer designation fin slot  545 . 
     The configurable printer designation fins  513  of the universal inkjet cartridge  500  are similar to the configurable printer designation fins  413  of the universal inkjet cartridge  400  ( FIG. 6 ). As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , one difference between the universal inkjet cartridge  500  and the universal inkjet cartridge  400  is that the universal inkjet cartridge  500  has two color designation tabs  521  and  522 . In addition, the color designation tab  522  is slightly smaller than the color designation tab  420  ( FIG. 6 ). With the configurable printer designation fins  513  and the configurable color designation tabs  521  and  522  positioned as shown in  FIG. 7 , the universal inkjet cartridge  500  may interchangeable with an HP83 cyan inkjet cartridge. 
       FIG. 8  displays yet another universal inkjet cartridge  800  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The universal inkjet cartridge  800  has an ink tank  830  which stores the ink Positioned on an upper portion  805  are configurable printer designation fins  813  which are comprised of a left set  810  and a right set  811 . Also positioned on a lower portion  815  are configurable color designation tabs  820 . As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , the configurable printer designation fins  813  may be repositioned by sliding the configurable printer designation fins  810  along a configurable printer designation fin track  840 . The configurable printer designation fin track  840  runs from one side of the upper portion  805  to the other. In one embodiment, the configurable printer designation fins  813  may be individually positioned within the configurable printer designation fin track  840 . In an alternative embodiment the left set  810  and right set  811  may be affixed together in pairs and may be repositioned as a pair. 
     Positioned on the lower portion  815  of the inkjet cartridge  800  are configurable color designation tabs  820 . Even though only one configurable color designation tab  820  is shown in  FIG. 8 , the universal inkjet cartridge  800  may have multiple color designation tabs  820 . The configurable color designation tab  820  may be installed within a configurable color designation tab track  845  which may run from one side of the universal inkjet cartridge  800  to the other side. With the configurable printer designation fins  813  and the configurable color designation tabs  820  positioned as shown in  FIG. 8 , the universal inkjet cartridge  800  may be interchangeable with a black HP 83 inkjet cartridge. 
       FIG. 9  displays a bottom perspective view of the inkjet cartridge  800 . The configurable color designation tabs  820  may have a slight protrusion (not shown for ease of illustration) that extends into the configurable color designation tab track  845 . Within the configurable color designation tab track  845  may be depressions  825  positioned at predetermined locations. The predetermined locations may align with potential positions of the configurable color designation tab  820 . Using the depressions  825  allows the configurable color designation tabs  820  to be installed at predetermined positions that may correspond to specific colors. The same type of protrusion/depression design may also be applied to the configurable printer designation fins  813  and the configurable printer designation fin track  840  respectively. 
       FIG. 10  displays a universal inkjet cartridge  900  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet cartridge  900  has configurable printer designation fins  913  further comprising a left set  910  and a right set  911 . The configurable printer designation fins  913  may be positioned within a configurable printer designation fin track  940 . The configurable printer designation fins  913  and the configurable printer designation fin track  940  are located on an upper portion  905  of the inkjet cartridge  900 . Located on a lower portion  915  are configurable color designation tabs  920  which are installed within a configurable color designation tab track  945  which may run from one side of the universal inkjet cartridge  900  to the other side. With the configurable printer designation fins  913  and the configurable color designation tabs  920  positioned as shown in  FIG. 8 , the universal inkjet cartridge  800  may be interchangeable with a cyan HP 83 inkjet cartridge. 
       FIG. 11  displays another universal inkjet cartridge  1100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet cartridge  1100  has configurable printer designation fins  1113  further comprising a left set  1110  and a right set  1111  positioned on an upper portion  1105 . The configurable printer designation fins  1113  may be positioned into predetermined configurable printer designation fin slots  1114 . In this embodiment, the predetermined configurable printer designation fin slots  1114  may extend partially into but not completely through the upper portion  1105 . The configurable printer designation fins  1113  may be inserted into the predetermined configurable printer designation fin slots  1114  and affixed into place by pressure or by the use of an affixing means such as glue, epoxy or the like. 
     Located on a lower portion  1115  of the universal inkjet cartridge  1100  are configurable color designation tabs  1120  which may be installed within predetermined configurable color designation tab slots, similar to the predetermined configurable printer designation fin slots  1114 . With the configurable printer designation fins  1113  and the configurable color designation tabs  1120  positioned as shown in  FIG. 11 , the universal inkjet cartridge  1100  may be interchangeable with a black inkjet cartridge used in the HP Edgeline family of printers. 
       FIG. 12  displays a cutaway view of yet another universal inkjet cartridge  1200  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet cartridge  1200  has configurable printer designation fins  1213  further comprising a left set  1210  and a right set  1211  positioned on an upper portion  1205 . The configurable printer designation fins  1213  may be positioned into predetermined configurable printer designation fin slots  1214 . In this embodiment, the predetermined configurable printer designation fin slots  1214  may extend completely through the upper portion  1205 . In this embodiment, the configurable printer designation fins  1213  may be inserted through and extend out of the upper portion  1205 . In one embodiment, the predetermined configurable printer designation fin slots  1214  may be holes. In this embodiment, the holes may have removable grommets (not shown for ease of illustration) which seal the hole and prevent dust or other contaminants from entering the universal inkjet cartridge  1200 . Alternatively, the holes maybe covered with tape or other covering means. The grommets may be removed and configurable printer designation fins  1213  may be inserted through the holes. The configurable printer designation fins  1213  may affixed into place by pressure or by the use of an affixing means such as glue, epoxy or the like. In this embodiment the configurable printer designation fins  1213  and the grommets may be composed of a soft plastic or rubber. 
     In addition to the physical differences, the imaging process cartridge manufacturers may use electronic means to differentiate between imaging process cartridge types. The printer may communicate with an electronic chip which may be installed on the inkjet cartridge. When configuring the various embodiments of the universal inkjet cartridge that utilize an electronic chip, the electronic chip corresponding to the configuration of the universal inkjet cartridge should be installed. For example if a universal inkjet cartridge is configured for a black inkjet cartridge, a black inkjet cartridge chip may need to be installed if the universal inkjet cartridge is inserted in an inkjet printer that communicates with the electronic chip. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the invention has other applications in other environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.