Patent ID: 6971740

Claim:
An ink cartridge refill system for refilling an ink cartridge, the system comprising: a guide structure that mounts to the ink cartridge, the guide structure defining a guide opening that aligns with an ink refill passage of the cartridge, the guide structure including a first side that faces toward the cartridge and a second side that faces away from the cartridge, wherein the guide opening has a first diameter at the first side and a second diameter at the second side, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter; an ink refill device including: at least one ink tank; at least one ink-dispensing tube for delivering ink from the tank to the cartridge; and a cartridge guide connected to the ink tank for receiving the ink cartridge with the guide structure mounted thereon, wherein when the cartridge is received within the cartridge guide, the guide opening of the guide structure aligns generally with the ink-dispensing tube so as to guide the ink-dispensing tube into the ink refill passage.