Patent ID: 8162458

Claim:
An ink jet printing system comprising: an ink cartridge comprising an ink jet print head and a cartridge body having two flat side walls and a front side comprising a nozzle plate of the ink jet print head, a back side orthogonal to said nozzle plate, said ink jet print head comprising an edge disposed between said nozzle plate and said back side and having a neck that transitions into a convex underside of the ink jet print head, said backside transitioning through a transition region to a topside of said cartridge body, a locking nose located in said transition region, said topside transitioning, through a further transition region, into a front side of said cartridge body, a gripping element located at said further transition, said front side transitioning through a convexity into a convex side, a parallel interface disposed at said edge, said interface comprising an electrically contacting unit for controlling operation of said ink jet print head, and a chip mount located above said contacting unit and containing an integrated circuit chip therein, and a guide pin fastened between said convexity and a head of the cartridge body, and a guide pin connection between said convexity and said head of said ink cartridge, said guide pin terminating at one flat sidewall of said ink cartridge, and projecting beyond said flat sidewall at an opposite side; a printing arrangement that generates a relative movement between said ink jet print head and a print item; said printing arrangement comprising a cartridge receptacle, in which said ink cartridge is received, said cartridge receptacle comprising a shaft-shaped cavity with a carrier and external walls; and at least one of said walls of said cartridge receptacle, which borders said shaft-shaped cavity having a guide link and a stop configured to receive said guide pin therein said guide link being configured to force said guide pin therein to follow a predetermined path upon removal of said ink cartridge from said cavity, and this also causing said convexity of said ink cartridge to follow said predetermined path during said removal.