Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a black and color inkjet cartridge testing and refilling device and method of use thereof. The device includes a testing station and a refilling station to be used in conjunction with a user-friendly interface able to guide a user through the steps associated with refilling an inkjet cartridge. The device is able to store waste ink, contain an significant supply of refill ink, and even house stickers and clips to be placed on refilled cartridges to prevent drying. The device is able to guide a user through an initial determination of the capacity to refill the type of cartridge desired. The automated control system also helps users through easy cleaning procedures, test printing procedures, and purge operations.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/673,513, filed on Apr. 21, 2005, and entitled INKJET CARTRIDGE TESTER, which prior application is hereby incorporated by reference, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/711,058, filed on Aug. 24, 2005, and also claims the benefits, where applicable, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/373,026, filed on Mar. 10, 2005, and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A PRINTER CARTRIDGE TESTER, with the same effect as though the prior application were fully and completely set forth herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0002]     The present disclosure generally relates to a device and method for refilling inkjet cartridges, and more particularly, to an improved diagnostic, maintenance, testing, and refilling device and method of use thereof.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Ink jet printers use inkjet cartridges to place ink on paper scrolling under a movable printing head. Ink jet cartridges contain a fixed quantity of ink and are generally discarded once the ink supply has run out. Ink jet cartridges are equipped with a head with nozzles that contact with the printing head on the printer to release ink at appropriate locations in sufficient quantities. If a large quantity of ink is placed in the reservoir of the cartridge, the head member on the printer becomes difficult to move due to weight. Ink jet printers are often compact and need a rapidly moving printing head to print pages rapidly. As a result of this fundamental limitation, the ink reservoir must be minimal in size and is therefore depleted long before any significant damage or wear to a cartridge shell is encountered. A cartridge depleted of ink may often be made whole if the ink supply is replenished. Constant refilling of the same cartridge ultimately damages the cartridge shell and its ink releasing nozzles.  
         [0004]     Financial and environmental constraints often motivate users of ink jet printers to refill depleted yet fully operational cartridges if this operation is not too troublesome. Certain type of cartridges may prove to be more costly to replace than buying bulk volumes of refill ink, and due to a wide variety of inkjet cartridges on the market, the management of stock based on the availability from a local supplier may be troublesome.  
         [0005]     One of the disadvantage of prior art inkjet refilling machines is their complexity of operation and the incapacity to service and refill many different types and sizes of cartridges while retaining simplicity of operation. As a result of procedural steps these machines require, users may end up in physical contact with ink. In addition, prior art devices are unable to offer a flexible and user-friendly multistep diagnostic method able to guide a user through a plurality of maintenance steps including cleaning, nozzle test and diagnostic, printing tests, drainage, and purges of residual ink able to not only refill a cartridge a first time but to ensure that the cartridge shell and nozzles are still adequately operational after multiple refills.  
         [0006]     Manual refill kits for printer cartridges are available in the market. However, these manual refill kits come with too many parts and require lengthy procedures to be followed by users in order to effect the refill. In addition, the risk of physical contact with the ink is substantial. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a device that is capable of refilling a wide variety of printer cartridges while maintaining a high level of control over cartridge shell integrity. The device must also include a user-friendly interface and manage supplies such as waste ink, refill ink, clips, and new labels while being equipped with state of the art diagnostic and maintenance set of procedures to reuse as many cartridges as possible.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The present disclosure relates to a black and color inkjet cartridge testing and refilling device and method of use thereof. The device includes a testing station and a refill station to be used in conjunction with a user-friendly interface able to guide a user during the steps associated with refilling an inkjet cartridge. The device is able to store waste ink, contain an substantial supply of refill ink, and even house stickers and clips to be placed on refilled cartridges to prevent drying. The device is also designed to guide a user through an initial determination of the capacity to refill the type of cartridge desired. The automated control system also helps users through easy cleaning procedures, test printing procedures, and purge operations.  
         [0008]     The invention disclosed in a first embodiment is a refilling station equipped with a lower and an upper cabinet. A user is instructed to insert a cartridge on the appropriate testing station and refilling station using either a touch-screen display or light-emitting diodes. The automated control system determines what modules must be used and evaluates the integrity of the cartridge at each step of the step-by-step user guiding process. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective 3D view of an inkjet cartridge maintenance and refill device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the device of  FIG. 1  illustrating the components on the upper and lower cabinets.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective 3D view of the lower cabinet of the device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a storage cabinet of the device of  FIG. 1  without the front doors.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the method for testing and refilling an inkjet cartridge using the device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating additional steps of a second embodiment of the method for testing and refilling an inkjet cartridge using the device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating the method for testing and refilling a color inkjet cartridge using the device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating additional steps of a second embodiment of the method for testing and refilling a color inkjet cartridge using the device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the ink storage drawer.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a series of three 3D views of a sample type and size inkjet cartridge to be used in conjunction with the device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of the automated computer system of the device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an inkjet cartridge maintenance and refill device  50  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure is shown.  FIG. 1  shows device  50  including a housing  51  made of an upper cabinet  52  and a lower cabinet  54 . The upper cabinet  52  may house electronic and mechanical components necessary for operation of the device  50 , while the lower cabinet  54  supports the upper cabinet  52  and may also provide storage for accessories, storage ink, and parts that may be needed prior to and after maintenance and refilling of inkjet cartridges. In addition, the lower cabinet  54  may house ink supply containers  55  as described in further detail below.  
         [0021]     The upper cabinet  52  includes a testing station  56  located on the upper portion thereof and a filling station  58  located on the lower front portion thereof. Between the testing station  56  and the filling station  58 , the upper cabinet  52  includes a touch-screen monitor used as an interface  59  to provide interactive operation of the device  50  by a user. Additionally, the upper cabinet  52  includes the plurality of color fill needles  60 , the functions of which are described below.  
         [0022]     The lower cabinet  54  includes an equipment storage cabinet  62 , a portion of which may be hinged on one side so as to open and close to allow an operator access to the contents thereof. The lower cabinet  54  also includes a drawer  64  that can be pulled out by a user to access the contents thereof. The drawer  64  is configured to hold the ink supply containers  55  as shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 , and  9 . The ink supply containers  55  in a preferred embodiment may have two containers of black ink, one container having waste ink, and three more containers having color ink in the colors cyan, yellow, and magenta. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while one combination of ink colors is disclosed, a multitude of possible arrangements is conceivable based on actual client demand, the volume of waste ink, the size of the cartridges to be filled, and the like. Because the ink supply containers  55  may be heavy, a user can simply pull out the drawer  64 , lift the ink supply containers  55  out of the drawer, or place ink supply containers  55  in the drawer  64  when necessary. The drawer  64  may be supported by a pair of opposing telescopic drawer slides  65  that allow the drawer  64  to be pulled out fully from the cabinet  54  so that the user can simply have access to each of the ink supply containers  55  or containers stored in the drawer  64  without having to reach inside the drawer  64 .  
         [0023]     It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while a lower cabinet  54  with one drawer  64  and one equipment storage cabinet  62  is shown, a plurality of possible storage configurations including a lower cabinet with four different drawers and a pull shelf or any other possible configuration where ink supply containers  55  may be stored is contemplated. The lower cabinet  54  may also be equipped with one or a plurality of locking mechanisms  53  to limit access to the interiors of the compartments of the lower cabinet  54  and help with the opening of the lower cabinet  54 .  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a typical inkjet cartridge  70  is shown. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that inkjet cartridges may differ significantly in configuration and operation depending on the manufacturer of the inkjet cartridge. However, inkjet cartridges typically include certain essential components described herein. The inkjet cartridge  70  includes a plurality of electrical contacts  72  that can be used to control the nozzles  74  of the cartridge  70 . On top of the inkjet cartridge  70 , a plurality of vent holes  76  equalize the pressure inside the inkjet cartridge  70  with the outside pressure when ink is being dispensed from the nozzles  74 . The essential components of a color cartridge are the same as the components of a black inkjet cartridge.  
         [0025]     The inkjet cartridge testing and refilling device as shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a housing  51  a cartridge testing station  56 , a refilling station  58 , an ink supply  55 , an automated control system shown as  FIG. 11 , and a display interface  59  made of a touch-screen monitor. In one embodiment, the cartridge testing station  56 , the cartridge refilling station  58  and the display interface  59  are mounted in the housing  51 , the ink supply  55  is connected to the cartridge refilling station  58  by an ink pumping and transporting means  170 ,  172  as shown on  FIG. 11 , and the automated control system of  FIG. 11  is located inside of the housing  51  and is connected via a series of electronic controls to the refilling station  58 , the testing station, the ink pumping and transporting means, and the display interface  59 .  
         [0026]     The operation of the device  50 , and the use of the testing station  56  and the refilling station  58  is described below in detail as to how they relate to the graphical display interface  59  provided by the touch-screen monitor to provide step-by-step operation of the device  50 . Each display screen of the display interface  59  may include navigation buttons that enable the user to, for example, go back a step, go forward a step, abort, or request more information as the user progresses through the cycle of steps for using the device  50 . A user can touch the display interface  59  at any location to activate the monitor.  
         [0027]     In one preferred embodiment, with steps shown in  FIG. 5 , the user first obtains an inkjet cartridge  70  to be refilled  100 . The display interface  59  displays a list of various manufacturers of inkjet cartridges from which the user can, in a first step, select the manufacturer of the particular inkjet cartridge  70  for which refilling or maintenance is needed. After selecting  101  the manufacturer of the inkjet cartridge  70 , the various models of the inkjet cartridges manufactured by that manufacturer are displayed. The user is then instructed once a specific model of inkjet cartridge is selected to manually clean the nozzles  74  of the inkjet cartridge  70 . In one preferred embodiment, the user is directed to use a cleaning pad located conveniently either on or inside of the housing  51 .  
         [0028]     The user is next instructed by a signal associated with one of the test modules  80  of the testing station  56  to insert the inkjet cartridge  70  in the selected print/test module  80  by the automated control system as shown on  FIG. 11  using the display interface  59 . The testing station  56  includes a plurality of print/test modules  80 , each of which is configured for a particular type of inkjet cartridge  70 . In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , each print/test module  80  is designated with a particular number and a display such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED)  82 , shown below the corresponding print/test module  80 . When the user is instructed to insert  103  the inkjet cartridge  70  in the print/test module  80  as shown on  FIG. 5 , the user is also informed which print/test module  80  to use either by an illustration on the graphical display interface  59 , a number, or a lit LED  82 . For example, the display on the monitor  59  may instruct a user to place the inkjet cartridge  70  in the print/test module number  3  as shown on  FIG. 1 . The LED  82  below the print/test module  80  that is to be used may illuminate to guide the user to the correct print/test module  80  to use for the particular inkjet cartridge  70  that is to be maintained and refilled by the user.  
         [0029]     Each print/test module  80  includes a plurality of electrical contacts  84  that are configured to correspond with the electrical contacts  72  associated with a particular inkjet cartridge  70 . Therefore, when an inkjet cartridge  70  is inserted in the proper print/test module  80 , the contacts  84  of the module and the contacts  72  of the inkjet cartridge  70  connect  104   a . Upon connection of the contacts  72  and  84 , the device  50  performs a cartridge electrical test to determine the electrical integrity  104   b  of the circuitry that operates the nozzles  74  of the inkjet cartridge  70 . Each nozzle  74  may include one or more transistors (not shown) that, if the transistor fails to open and close, may cause malfunction in the nozzle  74 . Therefore, during the electrical test in the print/test module  80 , the device  50  may test each transistor for electrical integrity.  
         [0030]     The display interface  59  may provide the user with the number of open transistors and the number of closed transistors in the cartridge  70  upon the completion of the electrical tests  104   c . If the number of short transistors exceeds a certain predetermined number  104   e , the electrical test may fail and the user is instructed to take the cartridge  70  out of the print/test module  80 , clean the contact area  102  again, and conduct the electrical test again  104  to  104   e . Similarly, during the electrical test of the cartridge  70 , the number of shorts that may be discovered may be above a predetermined  104   e  acceptable number by the automated control system as shown as  FIG. 11 . If so, the electrical test may fail and the user is instructed on the screen to repeat the process after recleaning the contact area  102  and performing the electrical test again. Should the inkjet cartridge  70  fail the electrical test repeatedly, the user is given a message on the display interface  59  that the inkjet cartridge  70  failed the electrical test and may not be maintainable or refillable.  
         [0031]     If the inkjet cartridge  70  passes the electrical test  105 , or if it is determined, for example, that a sufficient quantity of nozzles are functioning properly  104 , a message indicating such a result is provided to the user on the touch-screen and the user is prompted to continue to the next step in the process of maintenance and refilling of the cartridge  70 . The user is then instructed via the display interface  59  to remove the cartridge  106  from the print/test module  80  and insert it  107  in a proper refilling module  90  of the filling station  58 . Each refilling module  90  includes a number to guide the user regarding the correct refilling module  90  in which to insert the inkjet cartridge  70 . Additionally, each refilling module  90  is associated with an LED  92  disposed next to the refilling module  90 , which is activated after the electrical test so that the user knows the correct refilling module  90  in which to insert the cartridge  70  to continue the maintenance and refill operation.  
         [0032]     When the user inserts the inkjet cartridge  70  in the corresponding refilling module  90 , depending on whether the inkjet cartridge  70  is a black inkjet cartridge  70  or a color cartridge  70 , the procedure for maintaining and refilling the cartridge  70  may be different. The procedure for refilling a black inkjet cartridge  70  is described first. The procedure for refilling a color cartridge  70  is described second. The steps relating to refilling a black inkjet cartridges are shown on  FIG. 6  and the steps relating to refilling the color inkjet cartridge are shown on  FIG. 8 .  
         [0033]     The bottom of each refilling module  90  includes a black ink refilling interface  94  as shown on  FIG. 2  and a seal  96  disposed on top thereof. When the inkjet cartridge  70  is inserted in the corresponding refilling module  90 , the bottom of the cartridge where the nozzles  74  as shown on  FIG. 10  are disposed presses on the seal  96  located over the black ink refilling interface  94 . Accordingly, the black ink refilling interface  94  and the nozzles  74  of the inkjet cartridge  70  can be fluidically coupled so that black ink can be transferred from the black ink refilling interface  74  to the black inkjet cartridge  70  through the nozzles without any black ink leaking at the seal  96 . If the black inkjet cartridge  70  is improperly seated in the refilling module  90 , the display interface  59  instructs the user to remove the inkjet cartridge  70  and replace the inkjet cartridge  70  in the corresponding refilling module  90  to continue the process. Once the black inkjet cartridge  70  is properly placed in the corresponding refilling module  90 , the device  50  can evacuate all of the black ink that may be in the black inkjet cartridge prior to refilling the black inkjet cartridge with fresh black ink.  
         [0034]     The device  50  then proceeds, based on instructions from the automated control system shown as  FIG. 11 , to evacuate residual ink from the inkjet cartridge  70 . A display may be shown on the interface display  59  to the user that illustrates the progress of the evacuation of the residual ink from the inkjet cartridge  70 . In a preferred embodiment, the display interface  59  includes a vacuum meter that shows the vacuum level in terms of inches of mercury (in Hg) and an ink pressure meter that shows ink pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). The display interface  59  may also show the level of ink in the cartridge  70  so that a user can see the progress of the current operation.  
         [0035]     After the residual ink is evacuated from the inkjet cartridge  70 , the automated control system shown as  FIG. 11  fills the cartridge with fresh ink. In a preferred embodiment, the display interface  59  displays the progress of the filling operation of the cartridge  70  with the help of a vacuum meter or a pressure meter. Once refilling is finished  108 , the device  50  instructs the user to remove the inkjet cartridge  70  from the filling module  90  and use a cleaning pad to wipe the ink off the nozzle  74 .  
         [0036]     The user is then instructed to place  109  the inkjet cartridge  70  in the print/test module  80 . The testing station  56  includes a printing module  85  with a spindle for mounting a roll  87  of paper tape and a plurality of guides  89  to guide paper from the roll  87  toward the print/test modules  80  as shown on  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the printing module  85  includes a motor (not shown) that operates a roller to push the paper under the testing station  56  so that an inkjet cartridge  70  placed in a print/test module  80  can print on the paper when the paper traverses under the inkjet cartridge  70 . It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while a spindle printing module  85  is shown, any other type of paper-based printing module may be used.  
         [0037]     In a preferred embodiment, the user initiates the printing test  110  by touching the display interface  59 . Paper from the roll  87  unwinds and traverses under the testing station  56  just below each of the print/test modules  80 . Because the inkjet cartridge  70  is placed in a corresponding print/test module  80 , the contacts  72  of the inkjet cartridge are electrically connected to the contacts  84  of the corresponding print/test module  80 . Accordingly, the device  50  can instruct the inkjet cartridge to spray ink from the nozzles  74  on the paper. The paper will exit from the opposite end of the testing station  56  so that the user of the device  50  can tear off the paper and view the results of the printing test as performed by the cartridge  70 .  
         [0038]     In one preferred embodiment, the screen of the display interface  59  displays two print/test evaluation patterns to provide information to the user as to what constitutes an acceptable printout by the inkjet cartridge  70 . The user is then able to validate independently the proper function of the print cartridge. Because each inkjet cartridge  70  may have different nozzle patterns, the device  50  displays on the display interface  59  a print/test evaluation that corresponds with the selected type and size of inkjet cartridge  70  being tested by the device  50 . The print/test evaluation shows an unacceptable print pattern where a number of nozzles  74  are inoperative  111 . For example, a unacceptable print pattern may show that more than six of the nozzles  74  do not spray ink onto the paper and several adjacent nozzles  74  may be inoperative. During the printing test, each nozzle  74  is used to print a line for a particular length on the paper. The display interface shows appropriately if one or more nozzles are inoperative.  
         [0039]     One of ordinary skill in the art appreciates, however, that depending on the nozzle configuration and the numbers thereof, the number of inoperative nozzles from the inkjet cartridge  70  that may makes a print pattern acceptable or unacceptable may differ greatly depending on the configuration and the manufacturer of the inkjet cartridge  70 .  
         [0040]     In a preferred embodiment, if a printing test is determined to be unsuccessful by the user once the results of the test are compared  120  with the minimum acceptable standard  111 , the user activates a button on the interface display  59 . The user is then invited to either to wipe the nozzles  74  with a damp cloth and conduct a new printing test, to blot the inkjet cartridge on dry cloth to wick out ink, or to run the inkjet cartridge  70  through a special remedy cycle.  
         [0041]     When the third option is selected by the user, the inkjet cartridge  70  must be replaced  115  in the corresponding filling module  90  so that a special remedy cycle  116  may be performed. In a preferred embodiment, the user is guided through the remedy cycle with the help of information displayed on the display interface  59 . A vacuum meter, an pressure meter, or other such device can display information during the drainage of the ink  117  from the cartridge. Once the remedy cycle has ended  118 , the user is instructed to perform a new printing test  109  as described herein. The remedy cycle  116  may be repeated if the electrical and/or printing test fails. If the inkjet cartridge passes the printing test at the conclusion of the remedy cycle once, the user is instructed to place a particular clip  120  and a sticker label  122  on the cartridge. Details regarding the clips  120  used for each cartridge and how a user can access the clips  120  and the sticker labels  122  and the functions of each of the noted components are described in detail below.  
         [0042]     The steps of maintaining and refilling a color inkjet cartridge shown on  FIG. 7  as  200  to  214  are similar in all respects to the steps of maintaining and refilling the black inkjet cartridge  70  except for the steps of evacuating, refilling, and conducting a printing test of the color inkjet cartridge  70 . After electrically testing a color inkjet cartridge  70 , the color inkjet cartridge  70  is placed in the corresponding refilling module  90 . Color inkjet cartridges can be filled through vent holes disposed on top of the color inkjet cartridge  70 . The device  50  includes a plurality of color filling needles  60  that are centrally located on the upper cabinet  52 . In a preferred embodiment, the device  50  is shown to include three needles  60  with different colors, namely, yellow, magenta and cyan, intended to be inserted by perforating holes  212  in the color inkjet cartridge via the vent holes. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that any possible arrangement of ink color can be used according to market demand.  
         [0043]     To fill or evacuate a color inkjet cartridge  70 , each needle can be pulled out of a holder  130  and inserted  213  into a corresponding vent hole of the color inkjet cartridge  70  associated with the color to be used. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art of cartridge refill that vent holes may be partly hidden by stickers or other physical objects to protect against the unwanted passage of air through the vent hole. A needle  60  punctures through any barrier and is inserted into the vent hole  212 . The holder  130  includes a sensor (not shown) that detects whether the corresponding color fill needle  60  is inserted in its designated holder  130  or is missing. In a preferred embodiment, a safety measure is designed into the automated control system to alert the user if no needle is inserted into a cartridge and the filling or evacuation steps are requested. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous safety measures can be added at each step of the refilling process to guide the user. It is also understood that such safety measures are a tradeoff with the overall ease of use of the device  50  and that while some preferred steps and measures are disclosed, the automated control system may be optimized and customized based on observation of user manipulation of the device  50 .  
         [0044]     Using needles  60  inserted into the vent holes  76 , the evacuating and refilling process as described herewith in relation to the black inkjet cartridge may be initiated. In one preferred embodiment, the display interface  59  shows color-coded displays of information during the refilling and evacuating operations. Once the color inkjet cartridge  70  is filled  214 , the user is instructed to remove the color fill needles  60  from the color inkjet cartridge  70  and place each color fill needle  60  back in the correct holder  76 . Again, because each holder  130  has a sensor to determine the presence of a color fill needle  60 , the display interface  59  may alert the user to remove all color fill needles  60  from the color inkjet cartridge  70  should the user fail to remove the appropriate color fill needle  60 .  
         [0045]     The printing test of a color cartridge as shown on  FIG. 8  is very similar to the printing test for a black inkjet cartridge except that the nozzles  74  for each color, i.e., yellow, magenta and cyan, may be alternatively or sequentially used to print a pattern on the paper. The method also includes the steps of inserting a color needle during the remedy cycle  223  and returning the color needle once the drainage has ended  226 . It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art of cartridge testing that a determination of the location of nonfunctioning nozzles in association with the resulting printout produced by the cartridge  70  is used to determine what constitutes an acceptable minimum number and location of functioning nozzles for each different type and size of color inkjet cartridge  70 .  
         [0046]     In one embodiment to place, if the color inkjet cartridge  70  passes the printing test, the user is instructed to remove the color inkjet cartridge  70  and place a clip  120  on the inkjet cartridge  70 , or in another preferred embodiment, to attach a sticker  122  on the appropriate location on the inkjet cartridge  70  to cover vent holes  76  punctured by the fill needles  60  during the refilling operation. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that when a inkjet cartridge  70  is filled using needles  60 , the puncture holes on the cartridge  70  should be recovered to equalize the pressure in the color inkjet cartridge  70  with the outside pressure. The size of the vent holes  76  and how air is vented into the color inkjet cartridge  70  may be critical in producing acceptable printing results. For example, certain inkjet cartridges have various channels (not shown) on top thereof that are connected to the vent holes  76 . These channels may extend beyond the sticker so that air can enter through these channels and reach the vent holes  76 . Therefore, placing the sticker  122  on the inkjet cartridge  70  after refilling the inkjet cartridge  70  may be necessary. Furthermore, the nozzles  74  of the cartridge should remain moist or unexposed to air so that any ink that may be resting at the nozzles  74  does not coagulate and clog the nozzles  74 . Therefore, the device  50  provides the number of clips  120 , with each clip  120  configured for a particular color inkjet cartridge  70  from a particular manufacturer. When the clip  120  is placed on the color inkjet cartridge, it covers the nozzles  74  so as to not expose the nozzles  74  to air.  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , clips  120  may be stored in the equipment storage cabinet  62  of the lower cabinet  54 . Each clip  120  may be in a particular bin that is labeled for easy retrieval and indexing. In one preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4 , the equipment storage cabinet  62  includes a plurality of bins  140  that are labeled with letters. It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the display interface  59  may be used to guide the user in the selection and placement of the appropriate sticker  122  and clip  120  from the appropriate bin  140 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of the automated control system of the device  50 . The upper cabinet  52  and the lower cabinet  54  may also contain control electronics associated with the various electronic and mechanical components that provide the above-described operations of the device  50 . The device  50  operates by an automated control system and is understood by one of ordinary skill in the design of automated control system to include a controller module  150 , at least a processor  152 , a memory  154 , and a communication port or bus  182 ,  184 , or  186 . The automated control system is connected functionally to subcomponent of the device  50 , such as the print/test modules  80 , the refilling modules  90 , the print/test module controllers  158 , a printing module  110 , a display interface  59 , pumps  170  and  172 , and other mechanical and electronic components  180 . Each of the print/test module controllers  158  of the print/test modules  80  includes at least a processor  160 , memory  162 , and a communication port or bus  164  for communication with the main controller module  150 . It is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that while two pumps  170  and  172  are shown in  FIG. 11 , illustrating the refilling and the drainage functions, the use of ink pumping and transporting means may comprise peristaltic pumps, gravitational pumps, centrifugal pumps, air pressure vessels, hydraulic forces, or any other ink transportation means used in the field. It is also understood that while additional display information, such as the use of LEDs  82  and  92  associated with each print/test module  80  and refilling module  90 , is not shown in  FIG. 11 , a plurality of additional user guidance methods can be implemented to facilitate the use of the device  50 .  
         [0049]     Each of the print/test module controllers  158  can control the operation of the corresponding printing/test module  80 . In a contemplated embodiment, each print/test controller  158  may also include specific information about the inkjet cartridge  70  with which the print/test module  80  is compatible. For example, the memory  162  of each print/test module controller  158  may include information on how to operate, i.e., print, with a particular inkjet cartridge  70  from a particular manufacturer. The commands to actually print or test the particular cartridge  70 , however, may be issued by the main controller  150 . Subsequently, after receiving the commands from the main controller  150 , each print/test module  158  may independently operate to print and test a corresponding inkjet cartridge  70 .  
         [0050]     The main controller  150  may also control the operations of the display interface  59 . When a user touches a display interface  59  such as a touch-screen display to enter a command, that command is sent to the main controller  150 , after which the processor  152  processes the information sent by the display and sends reply information, which may be a particular display screen, to the display interface  59 . The device  50  may include one or more pumps that provide pumping of ink from the ink supply containers  55  to an inkjet cartridge  70 . In the disclosed examples, the device  50  includes a pair of multichannel peristaltic pumps  170  and  172 , which can provide simultaneous pumping of all colors into an inkjet cartridge  70 . The peristaltic pumps  170  and  172  also provide precise metering of the correct amount of ink for each color of a color inkjet cartridge  70 , or for the black ink refilling of a black inkjet cartridge  70 . The device  50  may include other mechanical and electronic components  180  that are operatively coupled to the main controller  150 .  
         [0051]     The device  50  also may include a USB (Universal Serial Bus) communication port  182  that allows an operator of the device  50  to upgrade or maintain the software that is stored on the memory  154  of the main controller  150  or the memory  164  of each of the print/test module controllers  158 , as necessary. Additionally, through the USB communication port  182 , an operator can collect data from the device  50  that may be stored in the memory  152  regarding the operation of the device  50  over a certain period of time. Accordingly, the USB communication port  182  provides for maintenance, upgradeability, and modifications of any software that may be stored on memory  154  of the main controller  150 , or on the individual memories  164  of each print/test module controller  158 .  
         [0052]     The device  50  may also include a serial port  184  from which the device  50  can operate a printer, another display, or other electronic accessories. For example, a printer can be connected to the serial port  184  so that after a user refills a cartridge, the printer that is connected to the serial port  184  can print a barcode label containing pricing information. Accordingly, the user can use the printed barcode label or pricing information to pay for the refilling of the inkjet cartridge  70  at a cashier station in the store in which the device  50  is installed.  
         [0053]     The device  50  can also include the wireless communication port  186  that can provide wireless communication of the device  50  with other devices. For example, an operator of the device  50  or the manufacturer of the device  50  can remotely communicate with the device  50  through the wireless port  186  for diagnosing the various functions of the device  50 , upgrading the software on the device  50 , or simply maintaining the various functions of the device  50 . The wireless communication port  186  may enable the manufacturer of the device  50  to remotely communicate with the device  50  from a different geographic location to continuously upgrade the device  50  and/or to collect data from the device  50 . Furthermore, if more than one device  50  is installed in a location, two devices  50  can communicate with each other to exchange data. For example, if one device  50  is malfunctioning or has depleted one of its ink supplies, it can check with the other device  50  and provide a message on the display  59  to the user to use the other device  50  to perform the cartridge maintenance and refill operation. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates the numerous operational configurations that can be provided with the wireless communication capability through the wireless port  186  of the device  50 .  
         [0054]     One of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that the diagram shown in  FIG. 11  is only an example of how the various internal components of the device  50  operate and can communicate with each other to provide the functionality that is described in detail in the foregoing. Other configurations of the internal components of the device  50  are possible. For example, the main controller  150  may simply be a personal computer motherboard that includes various processors, memories, graphics cards, communication ports, etc. The display interface  59  could be a typical LCD display that is used in small, portable computers, car navigation displays, or the like. Furthermore, each of the print/test module controllers  158  can be a motherboard of a personal computer that may be modified for use in the device  50 . Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that any electronic or mechanical component can be used in the device  50  to provide the functionality of the device  50  as described in detail in the foregoing.