INK REFILL UNIT FOR DOCKING WITH AN INK CARTRIDGE

摘要

INK REFILL UNIT FOR DOCKING WITH AN INK CARTRIDGE An ink refill unit 155 is adapted for use with an ink cartridge that has a negatively pressurized ink storage compartment 46 that supplies ink to a printhead assembly 22, and an interface for receiving the refill unit 155. The refill unit has a body 157 containing a quantity of ink and a docking portion with an ink outlet. During use, the docking portion establishes fluid communication between the body and the ink storage compartment through the ink outlet upon releasable engagement with the interface, such that ink is drawn from the body into the cartridge because of the negative pressure in the ink storage compartment. Automatically establishing a fluid connection upon engagement with the cartridge makes the use of the refill unit very simple and intuitive. Using the negative pressure in the cartridge to draw the ink out of the refill speeds the refilling process.