BACKGROUND

[0001] Printing devices may use printing substances that are stored in a reservoir. These printing substances may be consumed during the printing process. The reservoir may be refilled to allow the printing device to continue operating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example reservoir and an example printing substance resuppiier.

[0003] FIG. 2 shows a partial perspective view of an example reservoir refill interface.

[0004] FIG. 3 shows another partial perspective view of an example reservoir refill interface.

[0005] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the reservoir refill interface of FIG. 2.

[0006] FIG. 5 shows a magnified portion of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4.

[0007] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the reservoir refill interface of FIG. 2 connected to a printing substance resupplier.

[0008] FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the reservoir refill interface of FIG. 2 in the process of being disconnected from a printing substance resupplier. [0009] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method that may be used to refill a reservoir of a printing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Printing devices may be used to print in two or three dimensions. For example, in the case of text or images a liquid ink may be used as the printing substance. In the case of three-dimensional printed objects, binders or other liquids may be among the printing substances used.

[001 1] These printing substances may be stored in a reservoir of the printing device to be used during the printing process. As the printing substance is consumed during the printing process, the reservoir may be refilled to replenish the printing substance. To refill the reservoir, a printing substance resuppiier containing a supply of the printing substance may be connected to the reservoir to transfer the printing substance from the resuppiier to the reservoir to fill or refill the reservoir.

[0012] When the transfer of the printing substance from the resuppiier to the reservoir is completed and the resuppiier is disconnected from the reservoir, a residue of the printing substance from the resuppiier may leak and/or contaminate the printing device, the resuppiier, or the environment or the operator of the printing device or the resuppiier.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an example reservoir 105 having a reservoir refill interface (henceforth“refill interface”) 1 10. Refill interface 1 10 may comprise an inlet portion 1 15 to reversibly connect to an outlet portion 135 of a printing substance resuppiier (henceforth“resuppiier”) 130. Outlet portion 135 of resuppiier 130 may have a mating member 140 for reversibly mating with or connecting to inlet portion 1 15.

[0014] inlet portion 1 15 may comprise an opening 120 in inlet portion 1 15. Opening 120 may be to receive the printing substance dispensed through outlet portion 135 to fill or refill reservoir 105. Inlet portion 1 15 may also have a printing substance residue remover (henceforth“residue remover”) 125 disposed adjacent opening 120. Residue remover 125 may be to remove a printing substance residue from outlet portion 135. Residue remover 125 may remove the residue from outlet portion 135 as outlet portion 135 is removed from inlet portion 1 15. As used herein, removal of the printing substance residue refers to removal in whole or in part of the residue. In one example, residue remover 125 may absorb liquids from outlet portion 135, but some dried or drying liquid residue may nevertheless remain.

[0015] By allowing for the removal of the printing substance residue from outlet portion 135 during the process of disconnecting resupplier 130 from reservoir 105, refill interface 1 10 and its inlet portion 1 15 may reduce the risk of leaks and/or contamination by the printing substance residue after the disconnection.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one of the inlet portions 1 15 shown in FIG. 1. Inlet portion 1 15 comprises a planar portion 205, and opening 120 in the planar portion 205. A sealing member 210 is disposed around the periphery of opening 120, and sealing member 210 is to form a liquid seal between opening 120 and outlet portion 135 (shown in FIG. 1 ). Sealing member 210 may comprise a gasket, an o-ring, a washer, and the like. Sealing member 210 may comprise a resilient or reversibly-compressibie material such as a polymer, a silicone compound, a rubber, and the like.

[0017] Inlet portion 1 15 also comprises a further opening 215 in planar portion 205, and opening 215 may be in fluid communication with reservoir 105 (shown in FIG. 1 ). Similar to opening 120, opening 215 may have a sealing member 220 disposed around the periphery of opening 215. Sealing member 220 may be similar to sealing member 210 in structure and materials. In some examples (not shown), opening 215 need not be surrounded by a sealing member. Moreover, in some examples, opening 215 may be used to vent air from the reservoir as the printing substance is transferred into the reservoir through opening 120 Furthermore, in some examples (not shown) inlet portion 1 15 need not comprise opening 215, and venting or other functions of opening 215 may be performed by other components of inlet portion 1 15

[0018] Inlet portion 1 15 also comprises residue remover 125 disposed on a plane parallel to planar portion 205 and adjacent opening 120. The top surface or portion of residue remover 125, which is designed to come into contact with and remove printing substance residues, may be on the same plane as planar portion 205, or on a plane parallel or about parallel to the planar portion 205.

For example, FIG. 2 shows the top surface of residue remover 125 as being raised relative to planar portion 205 and on a plane parallel to planar portion 205.

[0019] Residue remover 125 may be disposed adjacent opening 120. in some examples such as FIGs. 1 and 2, residue remover 125 may be adjacent and spaced from opening 120. in other examples, not shown, the residue remover may be abutting the opening or the sealing member surrounding the opening. Furthermore, while FIGs. 1 and 2 show residue remover 125 as being rectangular in shape, it is contemplated that the residue remover may have a shape different than a rectangle.

[0020] in some examples, the residue remover may be sized to span the diameter of opening 120 or the diameter of an outlet opening 605 of outlet portion 135 (see FIG. 6). Moreover, in some examples (not shown) the residue remover may be sized to be larger than the diameter of opening 120 or the diameter of outlet opening 605 of outlet portion 135 Sizing residue remover 125 to be as long or longer than the diameter of outlet portion 135 may allow residues from outlet portion 135 to come info contact with and potentially be removed by residue remover 125.

[0021] In addition, in some examples (not shown) the residue remover may have a curved shaped. In some examples, the residue remover may have a curved shape and may be disposed along all or a portion of the periphery of opening 120. Moreover, in some examples (not shown), the residue remover may be shaped as a semicircular band disposed adjacent or along the periphery of opening 120.

[0022] Residue remover 125 may comprise a liquid absorbent material to absorb the residue of the printing substance. In some examples, the liquid absorbent material may comprise porous materials, fibrous materials, and the like. In some examples, residue remover 125 may comprise an absorbent pad of a fibrous or porous material in other examples, not shown, the residue remover may comprise a wiper to remove the residue from outlet portion 135 using forces such as mechanical pushing or displacement, surface tension, and the like.

[0023] inlet portion 1 15 also comprises a first side wail 225 extending from planar portion 205 on a first side of opening 120 and terminating in an overhang 230. Overhang 230 may extend towards opening 120, and may also comprise a sloped portion 245. Inlet portion 1 15 further comprises a second side wail 235 extending from planar portion 205 on a second side of opening 120 opposite the first side and facing side wall 225. Side wall 235 terminates in an overhang 240, which may extend towards opening 120 and may also comprise a sloped portion (not labeled) similar to portion 245.

[0024] Overhang 230, side wall 225, planar portion 205, side wall 235, and overhang 240 may cooperate to define a channel 250 to removably and reversibly receive mating member 140 of outlet portion 135 of resuppiier 130. The shape and orientation of channel 250 is to guide the receiving and removal of outlet portion 135 to be along, or substantially along, a plane parallel to planar portion 205.

[0025] Moreover, inlet portion 1 15 may also comprise a back wall disposed on a side of opening 120 opposite residue remover 125. The back wail may also terminate in an overhang extending towards opening 120, similar to side walls 225 and 235. The back wall and its overhang may also cooperate with the two side walls, their overhangs, and planar portion 205 to further define or delimit channel 250 [0028] While FIG. 2 shows side walls and overhangs used to define channel 250 to removably receive outlet portion 135, it is contemplated that other examples (not shown) may use other structures or mechanisms for reversibly connecting or securing the outlet portion to the inlet portion of the refill Interface.

[0027] inlet portion 1 15 may also comprise electrical connectors 255 for electrically connecting to the inlet portion or the reservoir. Such electrical connection may be used to connect to sensors in inlet portion 1 15 or the reservoir to monitor or control the status or operation of inlet portion 1 15 or the reservoir. While FIG. 2 shows inlet portion 1 15 to have electrical connectors 255, it is contemplated that in other examples (not shown) the electrical connectors may be shaped, sized, or arranged differently, may be positioned in a different part of the inlet potion, or may be absent from the inlet portion.

[0028] in addition, in some examples (not shown) the surface of portion of inlet portion 1 15 containing opening 120 and residue remover 125 need not be planar, and may be about planar or substantially planar. In other examples (not shown), this surface or portion of inlet portion 1 15 may be curved, stepped, or the like.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows refill interface 1 10 having four side-by-side inlet portions 1 15. The dashed lines 305 are intended to assist in visualizing the overhangs of the side walls and the back wall of the inlet portions. While FIG. 3 shows refill interface 1 10 having four inlet portions 1 15, it is contemplated that the refill interface may have one, two, three, or a different number or arrangement of inlet portions.

[0030] Moreover, reservoir 105 (shown in FIG. 1 ) to which the inlet portions are connected, may have one or multiple compartments in some examples, a compartment may have one corresponding inlet portion. Moreover, in some examples one compartment may have multiple inlet portions.

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the reservoir refill interface of FIG. 2. For simplicity and ease of illustration, opening 215 while present, has been omitted from FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows back wall 415 and its overhang 420, which cooperate with side wall 225, its overhang 230, and the other side wail and its overhang (not shown in FIG. 4) to define channel 250. Sloped portion 245, and its counterpart sloped portion on the opposing side wail (not shown) may provide an enlarged opening into channel 250, and may receive and guide mating member 140 of resuppiier 130 into channel 250.

[0032] FIG. 4 also shows opening 120 in planar portion 205 of inlet portion 1 15. Planar portion 205 comprises a recess 405 around the periphery of opening 120 to receive sealing member 210. Recess 405 may act to receive sealing member 210 and to secure it to planar portion 205. in addition, placing sealing member 210 in recess 405 may reduce the height of sealing member 210 above planar portion 205. This in turn, may reduce the likelihood of sealing member 210 acting as an obstacle to mating member 140 (shown in FIG. 1 ) being received in channel 250.

[0033] Moreover, FIG. 4 shows sealing member 210 as having a cross- section shaped as a four-cornered star it is contemplated that in other examples, sealing member 210 may have a different cross-sectional shape such as circular, rounded, polygonal, and the like.

[0034] in addition, FIG. 4 shows a further recess 410 adjacent opening 120, and also shows residue remover 125 received in recess 410. For example, recess 410 may be a recess in planar portion 205. While FIG. 4 shows recess 410 as having a rectangular cross-section, it is contemplated that in other examples recess 410 may have a different shape to accommodate a residue remover that may have a cross-sectional shape other than a rectangle.

[0035] Placing residue remover 125 in recess 410 may help secure residue remover 125 to inlet portion 1 15. In some examples, a further securing mechanism may be used to secure residue remover 125 to recess 410. Such securing mechanism may include an adhesive, a hook and loop fastener, and the like. [0038] In addition, placing residue remover 125 inside recess 410 may allow inlet portion 1 15 to have a residue remover with a larger volume without the residue remover extending so far from planar portion 205 into channel 250 that the residue remover would hinder mating member 140 being received in channel 250 or hinder outlet portion 135 forming a liquid seal with opening 120 Such a larger residue remover may be accommodated by receiving some or most of the volume or height of residue remover 125 in recess 410 on a side of planar portion 205 away from channel 250. Having a residue remover 125 with a larger volume may in turn allow residue remover 125 to absorb and remove a larger volume of printing substance residue before the residue remover is cleaned or replaced.

[0037] In addition, while FIG. 4 shows recess 410 substantially covering three sides of residue remover 125 in cross-section, it is contemplated that in some examples the recess may have a different structure and may cover one or two sides of the residue remover in cross-section. Moreover, in some examples recess 410 may comprise an opening (not shown) to allow passage or draining of liquid from recess 410 back into reservoir 105. Such a drain opening may allow the printing substance residue collected by residue remover 125 to be returned into reservoir 105 and to be potentially reused.

[0038] While FIG. 4 shows residue remover 125 received within recess 410, it is contemplated that in some examples (not shown), the inlet portion need not comprise a recess to receive the residue remover and the residue remover may be secured to planar portion 205.

[0039] The dashed rectangle 425 shows a portion of FIG. 4 that is shown in higher magnification in FIG. 5. FIG. 5, in turn, shows a first height 505 of sealing member 210 relative to planar portion 205 and a second height 510 of residue remover 125 also relative to planar portion 205. in some examples, second height 510 may be equal to or smaller than first height 505. in such a

configuration the height of residue remover 125 is kept no higher than the height of sealing member 210 relative to planar portion 205 so that the residue remover would not keep outlet portion 135 away from opening 120 and potentially prevent a liquid seal between outlet portion 135 and opening 120 via sealing member 210.

[0040] In some examples, height 510 may be larger than height 505 provided residue remover is sufficiently compressible to allow outlet portion 135 to contact and form a liquid seal with input opening 120 via sealing member 210

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the reservoir refill interface of FIG. 2 connected to printing substance resupplier 130. FIG. 6 shows inlet portion 1 15 of the refill interface connected to outlet portion 135 of resuppiier 130 such that mating member 140 of outlet portion 135 is received within channel 250 of inlet portion 1 15. in this connected configuration, an outlet opening 605 of outlet portion 135 may be aligned with and in liquid

communication with opening 120. Sealing member 210 may help to form a liquid seal between outlet opening 605 and opening 120. Moreover, in this connected configuration printing substance may be transferred from resupplier 130, via outlet opening 605, through opening 120, and into reservoir 105 to fill or refill reservoir 105.

[0042] FIG. 7 in turn shows a partial cross-sectional view of the reservoir refill interface of FIG. 2 in the process of being disconnected from printing substance resupplier 130. Outlet portion 135 may be disconnected and removed from inlet portion 1 15 by sliding outlet portion 135 along removal direction 705. As mating member 140 is received within channel 250 in the connected configuration, channel 250 restricts and guides the movement of mating member 140 and outlet portion 135 as outlet portion 135 is removed from inlet portion 1 15.

[0043] As outlet opening 605 is displaced and disconnected from opening 120, channel 250 guides outlet portion such that edges 710 of outlet opening 605 move, slide, or brush past residue remover 125. This movement, in turn, allows residue remover 125 to come into contact with and remove printing substance residue from outlet portion 135 at or around edges 710. [0044] To be able to remove printing substance residue as outlet portion 135 is being removed, residue remover 125 may be positioned relative to opening 120 such that as outlet portion 135 is disconnected from opening 120 and removed from inlet portion 1 15 along channel 250, outlet portion 135 passes, moves, slides, or brushes across residue remover 125 in other words, residue remover 125 may be disposed between opening 120 and the outlet of channel 250.

[0045] In FIG. 7, the reversible mating connection between mating member 140 and channel 250 guides the movement of outlet portion 135 along a plane parallel to or about parallel to planar portion 205, thereby guiding edges 710 of outlet portion 135 past residue remover 125 to allow for removal of printing substance residue in other examples, not shown, a different structure or mechanism may be used to reversibly mate the outlet portion with the inlet portion so long as that other structure or mechanism guides edges 710 to move or brush past residue remover 125 as the outlet portion is disconnected and removed from the inlet portion.

[0046] Such a built-in residue removal process, performed when the outlet portion is removed from the inlet portion, may reduce the risk of printing substance residue from the outlet portion contaminating the resupplier, the printing device, or the environment or operators of the printing device or the resupplier.

[0047] While the above discussion has described the inlet portion in the context of printing devices and printing substances residues, it is contemplated that the refill interfaces and inlet portions described herein need not be limited to printing devices and may be used in the context of other liquid reservoirs being filled or refilled by a resupplier.

[0048] Moreover, while FIGs. 1-7 show inlet portion 1 15, it is contemplated that in other examples (not shown) the inlet portion need not comprise the side and back wails and their respective overhangs, nor opening 215 (as labeled in FIG. 2). [0049] Turning now to FIG. 8, a flowchart is depicted showing an example method 800 that may be used to refill a reservoir of a printing device. At box 805, an outlet portion of a printing substance resuppiier may be connected to an inlet portion of a reservoir. At box 810, in turn, a printing substance may be transferred through the outlet portion of the printing substance resupplier to the reservoir through an opening in the inlet portion.

[0050] Moreover, at box 815, after the transferring, a printing substance residue from the outlet portion may be removed by passing the outlet portion across a printing substance residue remover disposed adjacent the opening as the outlet portion is removed from the inlet portion.

[0051] in some examples, the residue remover may comprise an absorbent pad. Moreover, in some examples the inlet portion may further comprise a recess adjacent the opening and the printing substance residue remover may be received in the recess. Furthermore, in some examples, the inlet portion may comprise a planar portion with the opening being in the planar portion, and the residue remover may be disposed on a plane parallel to the planar portion in addition, in some examples the outlet portion may be removed from the inlet portion along a respective plane parallel to the planar portion.

[0052] While method 800 and the other methods described herein refer to a reservoir for a printing device and to transferring a printing substance, it is contemplated that method 800 and the other methods described herein may be applied to liquid reservoirs and to transferring liquid substances other than those in the printing context.

[0053] The components and functions described in relation to method 800 and the other methods described herein may be similar to the components and operations described in relation to the refill interfaces described herein.

Moreover, method 800 and the other methods described herein may be performed using the refill interfaces and the other components described herein. Method 800 and the other methods described herein may also be performed using refill interfaces or other components different that those described herein. [0054] In addition, the refill interfaces described herein may be used to perform method 800 and the other methods described herein, as well as preforming methods and functions other than those described herein.

[0055] it should be recognized that features and aspects of the various examples provided above may be combined into further examples that also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.