Expandable waste ink receptacle for micro-fluid supply item

Abstract

A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of fresh fluid for use in an imaging device. A housing defines an interior having an expandable fluid receptacle to receive waste fluid from the imaging device. As the fresh fluid depletes in the interior over time, the fluid receptacle expands as it accommodates waste fluid. In this way, a single container can both 1) supply fresh fluid and 2) retrieve waste fluid. When full of fresh fluid initially, the fluid receptacle is empty in a compressed state. Upon fresh fluid leaving the container for the imaging device, waste fluid can begin filling the receptacle. Upon depletion of fresh fluid, the container is full of waste fluid. The container is ready for disposal or recycling.

1 . A container to hold an initial or refillable volume of fresh fluid, comprising:
 a housing defining an interior to retain the volume of fresh fluid, and   an expandable fluid receptacle inside the interior to receive waste fluid from outside the housing, wherein the expandable fluid receptacle has a hydrophobic membrane permeable to air to equalize pressure inside the expandable fluid receptacle as the fluid receptacle fills with the waste fluid.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a fresh fluid exit port, the interior being oriented during use to deplete the volume of fresh fluid toward the fresh fluid exit port. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes an air vent port to vent the interior with air from outside the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a waste fluid inlet port. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes three ports to communicate the interior of the housing to outside of the housing, a first port being a fresh fluid exit port to supply the volume of fresh fluid. to an imaging device, a second port being an air vent port to vent the interior with air from outside the housing, and a third port being a waste fluid inlet port to receive said waste fluid from the imaging device. 
     
     
         7 . A container to hold an initial or refillable volume of fresh fluid, comprising:
 a housing defining an interior to retain the volume of fresh fluid; and   an expandable fluid receptacle inside the interior to receive waste fluid from outside the housing and. keep separate the waste fluid from the fresh fluid as the fluid receptacle fills with the waste fluid and expands in size as the volume of fresh fluid depletes in the interior over time,. wherein the expandable fluid receptacle includes a hydrophobic membrane permeable to air to equalize pressure inside the expandable fluid receptacle as the fluid receptacle fills with the waste fluid.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the expandable fluid receptacle is a polymer film impermeable to fluid that is initially configured in the interior in a collapsed state. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the collapsed state includes a plastic film having been folded. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the collapsed state includes an elastomer in a deflated or crumpled state. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer film includes polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the hydrophobic membrane is polytetrafluoroethylene or a breather vent.