Abstract:
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for protecting electronic contacts on printer ink cartridges during insertion to and removal from a printer. The method includes inserting a protective strip ( 10 ) into the cradle ( 18 ) of the printer such that at least a portion of the strip resides between the electronic contacts during removal or insertion of the cartridge ( 15 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a method of protecting the electronic contacts on an ink cartridge as used for example in an ink jet printer. The invention also relates to a protector strip for use in protecting the electronic contacts on an ink cartridge. 
     Ink cartridges for use in ink jet printers are designed to be used once and discarded when the ink is depleted and replaced by a new cartridge. 
     It is known to remove the ink cartridges from the printer and refill the cartridges with ink for reuse. However, upon removal from, and insertion to the printer, the electronic contacts on the ink cartridge are subject to wear and do not provide a proper electronic contact. Where a proper electronic contact is not made, the computer software operating the printer often displays an error message, incorrectly indicating that an incompatible cartridge has been inserted. In order then to operate the printer, a new ink cartridge must be purchased. These cartridges are quite expensive. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide a method and apparatus for protecting the electronic contacts on an ink cartridge for use in an ink jet printer or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     There is disclosed herein a method of protecting electronic contacts on an ink cartridge during removal of the cartridge from a cradle in a printer having corresponding electronic contacts, the method comprising the steps of: 
     inserting a protective strip into the cradle such that at least a portion of the strip is between the electronic contacts of the cartridge and the printer, and 
     unloading the cartridge from the cradle. 
     Preferably, the method further comprises the step of: 
     opening a latch on the ink cartridge prior to inserting the protective strip into the cradle. 
     There is further disclosed herein a method of protecting electronic contacts on an ink cartridge during insertion of the cartridge to a cradle in a printer, the method comprising the steps of: 
     inserting a protective strip into the cradle such that at least a portion of the protective strip is positioned such that once the cartridge is inserted into the cradle, that portion will be between the electronic contacts on the cartridge and in the printer, and 
     inserting the cartridge into the cradle. 
     Preferably, the method further comprises the step of: 
     removing the protective strip from the cradle. 
     Preferably, the method further comprises the step of: 
     closing a cartridge latch upon the ink cartridge. 
     There is further disclosed herein a protective strip for use in protecting electronic contacts on an ink cartridge during removal from and insertion to a printer, the protective strip being formed of substantially smooth, self-supportive material having a length of at least about 12 cm and a width of about 2 cm. Alternatively, the width might be about 3 cm. 
     Preferably, the strip has a thickness in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 mm. 
     Preferably, the strip is non-metallic. 
     Preferably, the strip is formed of PVC or other plastic material. 
     There is further disclosed herein a package for an ink cartridge refilling kit, at least a portion of the package comprising substantially smooth, self-supportive material, which portion comprises an outline or line of weakness defining the shape of a protective strip to be removed from the portion for use in protecting electrical contacts of an ink cartridge during removal and/or reinsertion to a cradle in a printer. 
     Preferably, the line of weakness comprises perforations. 
     Alternatively, the line of weakness is of reduced thickness as compared to the thickness of the material in said portion. 
     Preferably, the shape of a protective strip defined by the outline or line of weakness is about 12 cm long and has a width of about 2 or 3 cm. 
     Preferably, the portion of the package comprising substantially smooth, self-supportive material has a thickness in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 mm. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a strip about to be cut from a package of an ink cartridge re-filling kit, 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing a protective strip being inserted into the cradle of a printer alongside electronic contacts of an ink cartridge, 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing reinsertion of an ink cartridge into the printer cradle with the protective strip in place, 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a protective strip, and 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of another protective strip. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an ink cartridge re-filling kit package  11  comprising a plastic portion  12  having a line of weakness  13  delimiting that portion  12  from a protective strip  10  which can be cut along the line of weakness  13 . The line of weakness  13  might comprise perforations or a line of reduced thickness. As an alternative, a printed line might simply be provided as a guide for cutting by scissors  14 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the protective strip  10  comprises an upper grasping portion  20  having a curved upper edge. The shape of this upper edge is not critical. The opposite end  21  of strip  10  comprises a straight bottom edge. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 5, a protective strip  10 ′ can comprise two ends  20  and  21 , each having a curved edge. 
     In FIG. 2 there is schematically depicted a pair of ink cartridges  15  and  15 ′ located within a cradle  18  of a printer  19 . One, two or more cartridges  15  can be provided, depending on whether the printer prints in black or multiple colours. Typically, in a black ink printer, one cartridge is provided, whereas in a color printer, two, three or more cartridges are provided. Cartridge  15  comprises a plurality of electronic contacts  16  which engage with corresponding contacts in the printer  19 . Ordinarily, during removal and reinsertion of the cartridge  15 , the cartridge contacts are easily eroded by interaction with the printer contacts. 
     To avoid this erosion, the protective strip  10  is inserted into the cradle  18  in a downward direction as indicated by arrow A until the lower extremity of the protective strip  10  abuts against the bottom of the cradle  18 . Prior to insertion of the protective strip  10 , the cartridge handle  17  is lifted. 
     Once the protective strip  10  is in place, the cartridge  15  is unloaded. 
     Once the cartridge has been re-filled with ink of an appropriate color, it is then reinserted into the cradle  18  with the protective strip  10  in place as shown in FIG.  3 . The protective strip  10  can be cleaned to remove any ink spillages therefrom prior to reinsertion to the position shown in FIG.  3  and reinsertion of the cartridge  15 . 
     Once the steps are completed, the protective strip  10  can be withdrawn to allow electronic contact to re-establish between the contacts  16  and the corresponding contacts in the printer  19 . 
     As an alternative to removing the protective strip  10  from portion  12  of package  11 , a separate protective strip can be packaged with the re-inking kit. The strip  10 , whether formed as part of the portion  12  or formed separately, would typically be of a minimum length of 12 cm and a typical width of about 2 cm or 3 cm depending on the make and model of the ink cartridge. 
     The thickness of the protective strip  10  is typically about 0.2 to 0.3 mm. The protective strip  10  might be formed of PVC plastic material, Teflon, nylon, cardboard or other self-supportive, smooth, preferably non-metallic material which is substantially non-abrasive to the electronic contacts  16 . 
     It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, and for use with a color printer comprising three separate cartridges, a triple-strip  10  might be provided comprising a plurality of fingers extending from a common base portion, each finger being dimensioned equivalently to strip  10  disclosed above. Also, it should be appreciated that the length of strip  10 , being 12 cm at least, might be varied, depending on the dimension of the ink cartridge  16 . As exemplified, 12 cm leaves an exposed area sufficient to be grasped by a user as shown in FIG.  2 . Furthermore, the width of each strip  10  should be broad enough to cover the electronic contacts, but not so broad as to not fit within the cradle. Also, the thickness of the strip  10  should be sufficient to be self-supportive, though not so thick as to fail with the electronic contacts during insertion of the strip into cradle  18 . Furthermore, the strip  10  could be formed of cardboard or any other non-metallic material having a degree of rigidity sufficient for the task.