Ink jet printer cartridge refilling method and apparatus.

摘要

An ink jet printer (10) having a travelling ink jet pen (12) with a foam-filled ink chamber (40). A separate source reservoir includes an ink outlet nozzle (30) connectable to the pen chamber for refilling. A probe (28) on the reservoir partially compresses the foam 64 to decrease its ink capacity during filling. An electrical contact (52) on the reservoir or pen detects over-filling and over-saturation of the foam to stop the filling process. As the foam is decompressed, its increased absorptive capacity accommodates any excess overflow.