Patent ID: 7192108

Claim:
A print station with a controlled fluid system comprising: a. a printhead; b. a reservoir for containing a useable fluid and that is in communication with the printhead to supply the useable fluid to the printhead; c. a replaceable fluid container containing a replacement fluid; d. a fluid supply line connected between the replaceable fluid container and the reservoir; g. a fluid return line from the printhead to the reservoir; h. a controllable valve disposed in the fluid supply line for controlling fluid flow through the fluid supply line from the replaceable fluid container and the reservoir; i. a controller communicating with the controllable valve to provide a controlled fluid release from the replaceable fluid container to the reservoir, and indicating that filling of the reservoir is occurring with a non-approved fluid; l. a smart card for storing information concerning the replaceable fluid container, including information concerning an approved fluid that is used in the print station; and m. a reader/writer that reads from and writes to the smart card, and that communicates with the controller to provide information on the smart card to the controller for the controller to communicate with the controllable valve and for the controller to indicate filling of the reservoir is occurring with a non-approved fluid.