How do inkjet cartridges work?

Refilling inkjet cartridges

• I've had pretty good luck refilling inkjet cartridges, but when they sit around a while they seem to go bad/dry up? Is there a routine or procedure for cycling and maintaining cartridges so I don't waste time refilling them only to find out, after multiple alignments, calibrations, cleanings, etc., they don't work?

• Answer:

  Hi geezer1x, Thank you for a very interesting question. Personally, I also refill my printer cartridges! Computer Buyer's Glossary : ink jet printer http://mindprod.com/bgloss/inkjet.html "If you were to open up an inkjet cartridge, inside you would find a sponge holding the ink. This explains some of the mysterious warnings, instructions and problems. When you install the cartridge, you rip off a tab to open a vent to let air in to let the ink escape. The trouble is, this also dries out the ink on the sponge. You can't use an ink-jet printer only once a month and expect the cartridge to last the normal length of time. The ink will dry out. Further, if you try to refill the non-working cartridge with one of those incredibly messy ink refill kits, you won't get satisfactory results because the sponge may be too dried out, and won't hold the new ink. This is why they tell you to wait five minutes and try refilling again if you can't get all the ink in the first time. It gives the sponge time to moisten and absorb the ink. That is also why they tell you to let the cartridge sit for 15 minutes after filling -- to give the ink time to distribute itself over the entire sponge, rather than running out the bottom as a liquid. There are warnings on cartridges not not to rip off labels. This is because there are filling vents under them used at the factory. If you leave these exposed to the air, the sponge will try out very quickly. The tops of the ink cartridges are sometimes covered in mysterious swirling patterns, reminiscent of electronic circuits. These are just for show to make you think there is something complicated inside to justify the outrageous price. On the other hand, you must not cover up all the vents on the top either. There must be one tiny unclogged vent. Don't use the head cleaning feature of the printer unless you need it, because it consumes a considerable amount of ink. Put your ink cartridges in plastic bags if you don't plan to use your printer for a while. This will stop the ink from drying out." ================================================= Print cartridge maintenance and handling http://www.hp.com/oeminkjet/solutions/addressing/products.html (All the information can be viewed on video at:) http://www.hp.com/oeminkjet/reports/CartridgeHighStreaming.wmv "Purging the Nozzles: If the print cartridge sits inactive for a period of time, ink may dry in the nozzles. Dried ink clogging a nozzle is called an ink plug. As a result of the ink plug, white streaks will be visible in the printed text or graphic. Printing alone may not remove ink plugs from the nozzles. To obtain better print quality, purge the ink plug. This is accomplished by wiping the nozzle plate until ink is drawn out and absorbed into the cloth. Then print a few lines of text or graphics at high resolution. Procedure: This purging operation as well as wiping the print cartridge with a wet cloth should be done after every extended period of down time in order to prevent unacceptable levels of print quality. Wipe the print cartridge with a moist cloth (see wiping procedure). Print a few lines of text in a higher resolution (for example 600x600 dpi). The higher resolutions (for example 600 dpi) exercise more nozzles and push more ink out. Storage Short-term Storage (Less than 2 days) Simply leave the print cartridge in the machine, capped or uncapped. The next time that the printer is used, the print cartridge may have to be wiped and purged. Long-term Storage (Greater than 3 days) If the printing system has a capping station, just leave the print cartridge capped. If the printing system does not have a capping station do the following: Keep the print cartridge in an area that is relatively dust-free and that is not too dry, or Place the print cartridge in a Tupperware container with a damp sponge to prevent drying out. When the print cartridge is ready to be used again the print cartridge may need to be cleaned as instructed earlier." =============================================== Ink Refill Tips http://www.myinks.com/ink_refill.asp "How many times can I refill a cartridge? The number of times you can refill a cartridge varies depending on the cartridge. In many cases, you can refill your ink cartridge about 8 to 10 times. Depending on the cost, this could save you between $300 and $400. When is the best time to refill an inkjet cartridge? It is imperative to refill an inkjet cartridge before it runs dry. Once a cartridge has dried out, it is often too late to refill it. Many inkjet cartridges have soft materials such as internal sponges that can harden without the moisture provided by the presence of ink. How will I know that it is time to use a refill with my inkjet cartridge? Streaking can often indicate that your printer ink is running out. Printing a test page can further tell you which colors are running low and need to be refilled. If the ink cartridge does run dry - refill it immediately. Otherwise, the inkjet cartridge may dry out and block the print head." [edit] "What is the proper way to handle an inkjet cartridge? Always handle cartridges with care. Do not touch the nozzles on the print head with your hands. If you must remove an ink cartridge from a printer for a period of time, carefully seal it in an air tight container to avoid having printer ink dry in the nozzles. It is best to refill it promptly, follow the instructions exactly, and place it back in the inkjet printer." [edit] "Tips for Successful Ink Cartridge Refilling: Problem: The cartridge leaked from the bottom after I refilled it. Solution: Ink may leak from a cartridge if it has been overfilled or refilled too quickly. In these cases, the internal sponge was not able to properly absorb the ink. To correct this, please insert the syringe tool, as directed in the instructions, and withdraw about 1ml. You should then allow the ink to settle and stop leaking by placing the printer ink cartridge on a paper towel for about an hour. When it stops leaking, dry the external areas of the inkjet cartridge and reinstall it in your printer. Run your head cleaning utility, always following the instructions in your inkjet printer manual. Problem: There's little or nothing coming out of my cartridge after an ink refill. Solution: This can happen if the ink cartridge was allowed to dry out before refilling. There are some things you can try. Place the cartridge print head in a shallow dish of warm water or on a warm, wet paper towel. Allow the cartridge to sit for as long as necessary. You will begin to see flowing or seeping out once the dried ink starts to disappear. You can also try using a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean this area. Then, dry the external areas of the cartridge and reinstall it in your printer. Run your head cleaning utility, always following the instructions in your printer manual." ================================================= Squeaky-clean cartridges http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/8917-0-0-225-121.aspx "Also, be careful not to leave the cartridges lying out for more than 30 minutes, or the heads will dry up and the cartridges will be unusable." ================================================= Dried Out Cartridges http://www.proprint.co.uk/refiller.htm "How many times can I fill my cartridge? It depends on the cartridge. Many cartridges are simply reservoirs and can be refilled many times as there are no parts that wear. Cartridges with built-in printheads typically can be refilled 3 - 6 times without affecting the print quality. It also depends on a number of other factors. Crucial among these is (1) keeping the ink flowing i.e. not allowing the ink to dry out in the print head. On the majority of non piezo printers (HP Lex Canon) when the ink runs out and the user continues to try printing, continued use results in permanent & irreversable printhead damage. (2) Less serious but nonetheless important is not to leave the printhead exposed to air. If an empty cartridge is removed from a printer the print head should ideally be protected from air by covering it with a tape to prevent drying out. A cartridge well looked after can be successfully refilled many times - contrary to what some makers say. The key is to keep the ink flowing by "topping up" and not to allow it to "run out". Many cartridges are simply reservoirs and can be refilled many times as there are no parts that wear. Cartridges with built-in printheads typically can be refilled 3 - 6 times without affecting the print quality. Cartridges with a built-in printhead will wear for a number of reasons but the life of these cartridges can be prolonged by frequently topping up rather than allow the cartridge to run completely out of ink." [edit] "Cartridges should not be allowed to dry out as this may cause a blockage due to dried ink in the printhead resulting in streaky printing. Cartridges should always be topped up and if stored out of printer, the printhead (where it is part of the cartridge) should be kept moist such as occurs when stored in the manufacturers storage box. If you do not have one of these you can keep the printhead moist by placing insulation tape over the printhead ink outlet." ================================================= Question: Does the process of refilling inkjet cartridges really work? http://www.misterinkjet.com/refilling.htm "Answer: Yes! Ink jet cartridges can definitely be refilled successfully. So why are some people successful when they refill and others are not?" [edit] "Successful refillers do... refill their cartridge when it starts getting low or when skipping or fading occurs Unsuccessful refillers tend to... ...dig the cartridge out of their desk drawer or grab one off a shelf that has been there from a week to three years. Ink is a liquid substance which, after a surprisingly small amount of time, will dry up and cause problems when you try to refill." ================================================= Another question I answered regarding Storing color (and black), computer printer cartridges: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=118841 ================================================= keyword search: inkjet refilled cartridge maintenance and storage refilled cartridges dry up inkjet refilling cartridge problems storage refilled inkjet cartridge long term short term plus: personal experience Best regards, tlspiegel