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A fluid interconnect for coupling an ink supply to an ink-jet printer includes a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet. The fluid outlet has a housing with one end in fluid communication with the ink supply and the other end sealed by a septum. A sealing member is positioned within the housing and is biase

A fluid interconnect for coupling an ink supply to an ink-jet printer includes a fluid outlet and a fluid inlet. The fluid outlet has a housing with one end in fluid communication with the ink supply and the other end sealed by a septum. A sealing member is positioned within the housing and is biased against the septum by a spring to form a second seal. The fluid inlet includes a hollow needle having one end in fluid communication with the print head and the other end defining a hole. A sliding collar surrounds the needle and is biased into a sealing position in which it seals the hole. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet can be coupled by pressing them together. During the coupling process, the needle pierces the septum to enter the housing and press the sealing member away from the septum. This allows fluid to flow from the ink supply, into the housing, passed the sealing member, into the hole in the needle and to the print head. Upon decoupling, the needle is withdrawn to seal the septum. In addition, the sealing member is biased back into place against the septum to reform the second seal and the sliding collar is again biased into its sealing position.

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[ What is claimed is:] [11.] A fluid outlet for an ink supply containing a quantity of ink that is removably insertible into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a fluid inlet for coupling with the fluid outlet to form a fluid connection between the re

[ What is claimed is:] [11.] A fluid outlet for an ink supply containing a quantity of ink that is removably insertible into a docked position within a docking bay of an ink-jet printer, the docking bay having a fluid inlet for coupling with the fluid outlet to form a fluid connection between the removable ink supply and the ink-jet printer, the fluid outlet comprising:a hollow housing having a first end in fluid communication with said quantity of ink;a septum positioned to seal a second end of the housing; anda sealing member positioned within the housing, the sealing member being movable between a first position in which the sealing member seals against the septum and a second position in which ink can flow past the sealing member to the septum,the septum capable of being pierced by a portion of the fluid inlet, upon piercing the septum said portion of the fluid inlet moving the sealing member from the first position to the second position to allow ink flow between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet.