Compressible ink refill cartridge
View Patent ↗An ink refill cartridge is provided for refilling an ink ejection printhead cartridge. The refill cartridge includes a receptacle configured to receive a collapsible ink container storing ink. The receptacle is further configured to engage with an ink refill port of the printhead cartridge. A handle assembly can be slidably mounted relative to the receptacle so that, when the handle assembly and receptacle are compressed between the printhead cartridge and a hand, the handle assembly can slide along the receptacle and collapse the ink container to cause the stored ink to be supplied through the ink refill port. In one embodiment, the receptacle defines one or more protrusions configured to engage with complementary recesses of the handle assembly so that the handle assembly will not slide along the receptacle until a threshold compression force has been applied by the hand.
1. An ink refill cartridge for refilling an ink ejection printhead cartridge, the refill cartridge comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive a collapsible ink container storing ink and engage with an ink refill port of the printhead cartridge; and
a handle assembly which can be slidably mounted relative to the receptacle, the handle assembly and the receptacle being configured so that, when the handle assembly and receptacle are compressed between the printhead cartridge and a hand, the handle assembly can slide along the receptacle and collapse the ink container to cause the stored ink to be supplied through the ink refill port.
2. A refill cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is sized to be received within the handle assembly when the handle assembly slides along the receptacle.
3. A refill cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly includes:
a hollow handle; and
a biasing means configured to be received within the hollow handle and bias the ink container to collapse.
4. A refill cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receptacle defines an arched lug to facilitate mating of the receptacle and the printhead cartridge.
5. A refill cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receptacle defines a collar in which an outlet pipe of the ink container can be received.
6. A refill cartridge as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the collar is fitted with a seal, prior to refilling.
7. A refill cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receptacle further defines a flange to which a quality assurance (QA) integrated circuit can be mounted for validation of the refill cartridge.
8. A refill cartridge as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the receptacle defines one or more protrusions configured to engage with complementary recesses of the handle assembly so that the handle assembly will not slide along the receptacle until a threshold compression force has been applied by the hand.