Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a compact and easy-to-use ink refill device that is configured to refill empty ink cartridges. The device includes an ink reservoir that stores ink, a cartridge holder that secures the cartridge during refilling, and an ink delivery system that allows ink to flow from the ink reservoir to the spent cartridge. The ink delivery system is configured to avoid ink from leaking from the reservoir before, during, and after refilling. The ink delivery system of the present disclosure is also configured to avoid overfilling or under filling.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a device for refilling ink cartridges and related methods of ink cartridge refilling. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Ink cartridges are commonly discarded and replaced when empty. More recently, devices and methods have been developed to refill spent ink cartridges. Such devices and methods are desirable as they are environmentally friendly and save cost. Improved refilling devices and methods are desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a compact and easy-to-use ink refill device that is configured to refill empty ink cartridges. The device includes an ink reservoir that stores ink, a cartridge holder that secures the cartridge during refilling, and an ink delivery system that allows ink to flow from the ink reservoir to the spent cartridge. The ink delivery system is configured to avoid ink from leaking from the reservoir before, during, and after refilling. The ink delivery system of the present disclosure is also configured to avoid overfilling or under filling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the ink refill device according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded assembly view of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1  along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1  along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of an ink cartridge holder of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of an ink cartridge holder of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a support member of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the support member of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of a bottom wall of an ink reservoir of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bottom wall of the reservoir of the ink refill device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the ink reservoir of the ink refilling device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a guard of the ink refilling device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the guard of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-13  an embodiment of the ink refill device according to the principles of the present disclosure is described. The ink refill device  10  includes an ink reservoir  12  for storing the ink, an ink cartridge holder  14  for supporting a cartridge during the refilling process, and an ink delivery assembly  16  for delivering the ink from the ink reservoir  12  to the cartridge. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the ink refill device  10  is configured so that the ink cartridge holder  14  is separable from the other portions of the ink refill device  10  for convenient loading and unloading of ink cartridges. Once an empty ink cartridge is loaded into the cartridge holder  14 , the cartridge holder and ink delivery assembly  16  are manually moved into engagement with each other. The action of moving the ink delivery assembly  16  towards the cartridge holder  14  forces ink needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  of the ink delivery assembly  16  into both the ink cartridge (not shown) and the ink reservoir  12 . After the ink cartridge is filled, the ink reservoir  12  is moved away from the cartridge holder  14 , thereby separating cartridge holder  14  from the other portions of the ink refilling device  10 . The action of moving the ink reservoir  12  away from the ink cartridge holder  14  disengages the ink needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  from both the ink reservoir  12  and the ink cartridge. It should be appreciated that many alternative embodiments exist. For example, the ink cartridge holder  14  in an alternative embodiment may not be separable from the other portions of the ink refilling device. 
     In the depicted embodiment the ink reservoir  12  is located at the upper end of the ink refill device  10 . The ink reservoir  12  includes multiple ink compartments  18 ,  20 ,  22 , also referred to herein interchangeably as ink chambers. In the depicted embodiment, each of the ink compartments  18 ,  20 ,  22  are for housing different color inks, and include similar features which are described below with reference to ink compartment  20 . It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the ink reservoir  12  can be configured differently. For example, a refilling device configured to refill black ink cartridges may include a single ink chamber rather than multiple ink chambers. 
     In the depicted embodiment, ink compartment  20  includes a top wall  24 , a bottom wall  26 , and a side wall  28 . Ink compartment  20  also includes a vent tube  30  that extends from a bottom wall  26  of the ink compartment  20  to an inner upper portion of the ink chamber. The vent tube  30  facilities ink flow by allowing air to flow into the ink compartment  20  as the ink within the ink compartment flows from the ink compartment into the ink cartridge. In the depicted embodiment the top wall  24 , bottom wall  26 , and portions of the side wall  28  of each ink compartment  18 ,  20 ,  22  are of a continuous piece of plastic material. In the depicted embodiment the bottom wall  26  is formed integral with vent tube  30  and ink needle receiving apertures  31 ,  33 ,  35 . It should be appreciated that many alternative configurations are also possible. 
     In the depicted embodiment, ink compartment  20  also includes a pump arrangement that includes a diaphragm pump  32  located over an aperture  34  in the top wall  24  of the compartment. The diaphragm pump  32  is configured such that manually depressing the diaphragm pump  32  facilitates ink flow by changing the pressure in the compartment, thereby overcoming the surface tension of the ink in the ink compartment  20 . 
     In the depicted embodiment the bottom wall  26  of the ink compartment  20  includes an aperture  36  that receives a sealing member  38  (e.g., rubber plug). The sealing member  38  is configured to receive an ink delivery needle  40  from the ink delivery assembly  16 , thereby enabling ink flow from the ink compartment  20  through the ink delivery needle  40  into the ink cartridge. The sealing member  38  is configured to limit the ink flow out of the ink compartment  20 , when the ink delivery needle  40  is retracted out of the ink compartment  20 . The sealing member  38  prevents ink leakage before, during, and after refilling. 
     In the depicted embodiment the bottom wall  26  of the ink compartment includes an aperture  80  that is in fluid communication with the vent tube  30 . The aperture  80  is configured to receive a sealing member  82  that seals the aperture  80  to prevent ink from flowing out of the ink compartment  20  through the vent tube  30 . In the depicted embodiment, the sealing member  82  is configured to receive a vent post  84  that extends through the sealing member  82  into the vent tube  30  during the ink refilling process. The vent post  84  allows air to flow into the ink compartment  20  as the ink drains from the compartment during the refilling of an ink cartridge. It should be appreciated that many alternative embodiments are possible. For example, in some alternative embodiments of the ink refill device, the vent tubes  30  are configured such that the sealing member  82  and vent post  84  are eliminated. 
     In the depicted embodiment the ink delivery assembly  16  interfaces between the ink reservoir  12  and the cartridge holder  14 . The ink delivery assembly  16  includes a housing  42  with an upper end connected to the bottom wall  26  of the ink reservoir  12 , and a lower end that is open and configured to slidably receive the ink cartridge holder  14 . In the depicted embodiment, the ink delivery assembly includes a support member  44  within the housing  42 . The support member  44  supports a number of ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  and vent posts  84 ,  86 ,  88  and is configured to slide towards and away from the ink reservoir  12 . In the depicted embodiment, the support member includes apertures  50 ,  52  that receive posts  90 ,  92  that extend from the top surface  102  of the housing  42 . Springs  54 ,  56  are located around the posts so that the support member  44  is normally biased away from the ink reservoir  12 . It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
     When the support member  44  is moved to a first position near the ink reservoir  12  (raised position), the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  are in fluid communication with the inner cavity of the ink compartments  18 ,  20 ,  22 . In the raised position, vent posts  84 ,  86 ,  88  are also moved into the vent tubes. When the support member  44  is moved to a second position farther from the ink reservoir  12  (lower position), the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  pulled out from the inner cavity of the ink compartments  18 ,  20 ,  22 . In the lower position, the vent posts  84 ,  86 ,  88  are retracted out from the vent tubes. In the depicted embodiment, the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  enter the ink reservoir  12  at a different location than the vent posts  84 ,  86 ,  88 . It should be appreciated that other configurations are also possible. 
     In the depicted embodiment a post  104  extends from the bottom surface of the support member  44  and is configured to engage the top surface of an ink cartridge as the ink reservoir  12  moves towards the ink cartridge holder  14 , thereby pushing the support member from the second position into the first position. If the ink reservoir  12  is moved toward the ink cartridge holder  14  when no ink cartridge is in the cartridge holder  14 , the support member  44  does not move into a raised position, which avoids unintentional draining of the ink reservoir  12 . 
     In the depicted embodiment, the ink delivery assembly  16  includes a guard  58  located within the housing  42  between the support member  44  and the cartridge holder  14 . The guard  58  is configured to slide upwardly and downwardly relative to the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48 . In the downward most position the guard  58  extends pass and covers the lower ends of the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48 , thereby preventing a user from inadvertently contacting the ink needles  40 ,  46 ,  48 . In the depicted embodiment the guard  58  presses up against the support member  44  when the ink cartridge holder  14  is pushed into the housing  42  of the ink delivery assembly  16  (see  FIG. 4 ). This action causes the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  to enter into the ink compartments  18 ,  20 ,  22 . When the ink cartridge holder  14  is pulled away from the ink reservoir  12 , the guard  58  moves downwardly with the ink cartridge holder  14 , and causes the support member  44  to move downward, which retracts the ink needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  from the ink reservoir. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the guard plate  58  is configured to move downward with the cartridge holder  14 . In particular, the guard plate  58  includes a pair of pivot latches  60 ,  62  that grab onto catches  64 ,  66  on the cartridge holder  14  when the holder is in the housing  42 . In the depicted embodiment, the pivot latches  60 ,  62  engage the inside side surface of the housing  42  such that the pivot latches  60 ,  62  remain engaged with the cartridge holder  14  when the cartridge holder  14  is within the housing  42 . When the cartridge holder  14  is pulled away, the pivot latches disengage with the inside side surface of the housing and release the catches  64 ,  66  automatically. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the guard  58  includes openings  68 ,  70  that receive pivot levers  72 ,  74  that are connected to the support member  44 . In the depicted embodiment, when the support member  44  is in the lower position (i.e., when the ink needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  and vent post  84 ,  86 ,  88  are disengaged from the ink reservoir  12 ), the pivot levers  72 ,  74  are generally vertical. When the pivot levers  72 ,  74  are in the vertical position, the needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  are prevented from entering into the ink reservoir as the upward movement of the support member  44  is limited by the pivot levers  72 ,  74 . The pivot levers  72 ,  74  are configured and arranged to avoid the needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  from inadvertently entering the ink reservoir  12 . In normal use the pivot levers  72 ,  74  slide into the openings  68 ,  70  as the guard  58  is raised. As the guard  58  moves towards the ink reservoir  12 , the pivot levers  72 ,  74  are pivoted off in one direction, thereby allowing the support member  44  to move upwards, which results in the needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  entering the ink reservoir  12 . Conversely, as the guard  58  moves downwardly, the guard  58  pulls the pivot levers  72 ,  74  into a generally vertical orientation. The pivot levers  72 ,  74  can also assist the spring  54 ,  56  in biasing the support member  44  away from the ink reservoir  12 . It should be appreciated that many alternative embodiments are also possible. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the cartridge holder  14  includes a body portion having a cavity  76  for supporting an ink cartridge. The catches  64 ,  66  extend upward from the sides of the body portion. The sides of the body portion have outside surfaces that are shaped to slide within the housing  42  to align the cartridge with the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48 . The cartridge holder  14  includes a side aperture  94 ,  96  that engage arm members  98 ,  100  of the housing  42  when the cartridge holder  14  is fully inserted into the housing  42 . In the depicted embodiment the arms  98 ,  100  deflect and snap into engagement with the side apertures  94 ,  96 . It should be appreciated that many alternative configurations are possible. 
     In the depicted embodiment, a method of refilling an ink cartridge is disclosed that involves pushing ink reservoir  12  towards a cartridge holder  14 , thereby moving ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  of an ink delivery assembly  16  into the ink reservoir  12 . In the depicted embodiment, moving the cartridge holder towards the ink reservoir  12  first pushes the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  into the spent ink cartridge and then pushes the ink delivery needles  40 ,  46 ,  48  into the ink reservoir  12 . In the depicted embodiment, the step of pulling the ink reservoir  12  away from the cartridge holder  14  moves the ink delivery needles from the ink reservoir  12  and then separating the now refilled spent ink cartridge from the ink delivery needles. In the depicted embodiment a guard plate  58  automatically engages and disengages from the ink cartridge holder  14  depending on the position of the ink cartridge holder  14  relative to the ink reservoir  12 . The guard plate  58  is configured to push the support member  44  toward the ink reservoir and pull the support member away from the ink reservoir  12  depending on the position and movement of the cartridge holder  14 . 
     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.