초록 ▼

An ink jet printer (30) includes a print head reservoir container (14) having a colorant refill needle (26) extending from the exterior to the interior thereof and a vacuum port (24) therein, and a service station (50) having a valve (52) that controllably connects the refill needle (26) to a colora

An ink jet printer (30) includes a print head reservoir container (14) having a colorant refill needle (26) extending from the exterior to the interior thereof and a vacuum port (24) therein, and a service station (50) having a valve (52) that controllably connects the refill needle (26) to a colorant supply (56) and controllably connects the vacuum port (24) to a vacuum manifold (60). Colorant is added to the reservoir container (14) by first drawing a vacuum on the interior of the reservoir container (14) with the vacuum manifold (60) connected to the vacuum port (24) and with the refill needle (26) sealed, and then sealing the vacuum port (24), placing the refill needle (26) in communication with the exterior colorant supply (56), and permitting the partial vacuum in the interior of the reservoir container (14) to draw colorant from the colorant supply (56) into the interior of the reservoir container (14).

대표청구항 ▼

An ink jet printer, comprising: print head means for ejecting droplets of a colorant, including a reservoir container that holds a volume of the colorant, a colorant ejector in communication with the reservoir container that receives a flow of colorant from the reservoir container and ejects droplet

An ink jet printer, comprising: print head means for ejecting droplets of a colorant, including a reservoir container that holds a volume of the colorant, a colorant ejector in communication with the reservoir container that receives a flow of colorant from the reservoir container and ejects droplets of colorant therefrom under command, a vacuum port in the wall of the reservoir container, and refill tube means for refilling the reservoir, the refill tube means communicating from the exterior of the reservoir container into the interior of the reservoir container; and a service station for adding colorant to the reservoir container, including a colorant supply, a vacuum manifold, valve means for controllably placing the vacuum manifold in communication with the vacuum port and sealing the colorant supply from the refill tube means in a first refilling position, and for controllably sealing the vacuum manifold from communication with the vacuum port and placing the colorant supply in communication with the refill tube means in a second refilling position, and support means for holding the reservoir container in contact with the valve means, for preventing ejection of colorant, and for preventing introduction of air into the print head.