Patent ID: 8567929

Claim:
A wide format printer ink cartridge refill station, the station comprising: a controller comprising a computer, a user interface, and ink fill operation software; at least one ink reservoir, said at least one ink reservoir containing ink; at least one ink fill needle, said at least one ink fill needle comprising a tubular fill conduit having a source end and a distal end, a fill coupler provided at said source end, a blunt tip formed at said distal end of said fill conduit, and at least one discharge aperture located through a sidewall of said fill conduit and proximate said blunt tip; at least one ink fill station, said at least one ink fill station comprises a flexible tube having a needle coupler disposed at a distal end for removable connection of said ink fill needle; and at least one ink pump, said at least one ink pump provides ink transfer from said respective ink reservoir to a respective ink fill station by way of an ink source conduit providing fluid communication between said respective ink reservoir and said respective ink fill pump and an ink station source conduit providing fluid communication between said ink fill pump and said respective ink fill station, an extraction pump in fluid communication with an extraction needle by way of a ink station extraction conduit, said extraction needle having a tubular extraction conduit having a source end and a distal end, a coupler provided at said vacuum end, a blunt tip formed at said distal end of said extraction conduit, and at least one aperture located through a sidewall of said extraction conduit and proximate said blunt tip; a flow direction control valve, said flow direction control valve being integrated in fluid communication between said ink pump and said respective extraction pump and said ink fill station for selectively providing fluid communication between one of said ink pump and said extraction pump and said ink fill station; wherein, in use, said at least one ink fill needle is attached in fluid communication with a respective ink fill station by coupling said ink fill needle with said respective needle coupler.