Inkjet printer cartridge refill dispenser with security lock for spent refill
View Patent ↗A printing fluid dispenser including a deformable container for printing fluid; a housing locating the deformable container between a base slidingly engaging a plunger; and an outlet coupled to the deformable container and arranged to convey the printing fluid to a point external to the housing; wherein the base and plunger engage each other by means of one or more complementary protrusions and indentations formed into opposing walls of the base and plunger and positioned to prevent disengagement of the plunger from the base subsequent to operation of the dispenser.
1. A printing fluid dispenser including:
a depressible housing comprising first and second portions movable relative to each other through depression of the first portion so as to deform the housing between depressed an non-depressed states, the housing being larger in said non-depressed state;
a deformable reservoir for storing printing fluid having an outlet arranged to dispense the stored printing fluid to a point external to the housing being deformed to said depressed state; and
a spring connecting the first portion with the reservoir, the spring being configured to apply a constrained force on the reservoir in response to said relative movement of the first and second portions so as to cause said dispensing in a controlled manner.
2. A printing fluid dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a deformable container located within the housing and wherein bringing the first and second portions towards each other causes compression of said container via action of said spring.
3. A printing fluid dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions comprise a base and plunger.
4. A printing fluid dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second portions include locking features arranged to prevent disengagement of said portions relative to each other subsequent to said dispensing, the locking features being configured to engage with one another upon said relative movement to dispense the printing fluid and to allow disengagement only upon cooperation with an unlocking tool; and
the locking features comprise one or more complementary protrusions and indentations formed into opposing walls of the first and second portions.
5. A printing fluid dispenser including:
a deformable container storing printing fluid;
a housing locating the deformable container between a base slidingly engaging a plunger, the housing being deformed between deformed and non-deformed states by relative sliding of the base and plunger, the housing being larger in said non-deformed state; and
an outlet coupled to the deformable container and arranged to dispense the stored printing fluid to a point external to the housing in response to the housing being deformed to said deformed state; and
a spring connecting the plunger with the deformable container, the spring being configured to apply a constrained force on the deformable container in response to said relative sliding of the plunger and base so as to cause said dispensing in a controlled manner.
6. A printing fluid dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the base and plunger engage each other by means of one or more complementary protrusions and indentations formed into opposing walls of the base and plunger and positioned to prevent disengagement of the plunger from the base subsequent to said dispensing, the complementary protrusions and indentations being configured to engage with one another upon said relative sliding to dispense the printing fluid and to allow disengagement only upon cooperation with an unlocking tool.