US Patent 7165833 Ink container installation and alignment feature

An ink container for an ink delivery system in an inkjet printer, the ink container including a bottle for holding a supply of ink, a cap attached to the bottle to form a hermetic seal therebetween, the cap including an air inlet channel and an ink exit channel, and a color indicator ring having a key projecting therefrom. The color indicator ring resides between the ink bottle and the cap and is capable of being fixed in a plurality of predetermined orientations, with each orientation corresponding to a predetermined angle between the key and a line defined by the air inlet channel and the ink exit channel. The inkjet printer includes a plurality of receptacles, each adapted to receive a corresponding ink container containing an ink of a different or predetermined color. Each receptacle has an ink reservoir attached at the base thereof and includes a vertically oriented groove located at a predetermined position on the sidewall of the base. Installation of the correct ink container into the correct receptacle is ensured by matching the key to the groove, and by mating the air inlet channel and the ink exit channels to the corresponding fluid connection features on the ink reservoir.