All about inkjet cartridges

The main functional element of an inkjet printer, which is now popular among users, is a cartridge. It is refilled with ink and has complex mechanisms responsible for transferring ink to sheets.

An inkjet cartridge includes several items.

1. Ink reservoir (ink tanks). Budget inkjet cartridges for black and white prints have one reservoir of ink, and for color - three: yellow, magenta and cyan. The cartridges of expensive models of inkjet printers that perform the function of printing photographs are made with 4-8 similar reservoirs with a variety of color combinations. In addition, material is placed in the capacity of the inkjet cartridge to absorb and evenly distribute the ink. The choice of this material is an absorbent sponge or an automatic valve with air bags on springs.
2. Cartridge cover. The lid of the inkjet cartridge is preferably made of plastic, coated with the color of the ink used. Also, the lid device includes numerous holes, the functions of which are the possibility of refueling, air circulation and self-regulation of the internal pressure of the cartridge.
3. Printheads... Print quality is ensured by the main mechanism of the printer - the print head. There are two options for the device of inkjet printers, based on the location of the head:
   • head outside the cartridge: refilling the printer head with ink takes place through three holes in the device;
   • the print head is a metal plate with a large number of holes, under which are located nozzles that connect the head to the ink reservoir.
4. Nozzles (nozzles). The quality of the image depends on the diameter of the print head nozzles: the smaller the diameter, the smaller the ink droplets, but the higher the likelihood of the device drying out. The nozzle sizes are different for cartridges with different functional accessories. So, the diameter of the nozzle of the Micro Piezo cartridge is several times larger than the size of a similar parameter in thermojet devices. The layouts and sizes of nozzles for printers from different manufacturers will vary. Sometimes small and large nozzles alternate in a checkerboard pattern.
5. Chip... Chips for inkjet cartridges work to protect the main equipment and store system data: this is information about the type of cartridge, manufacturer, date of activation and manufacture, the amount of ink used to print and the effective period of operation.

Three main factors affect the total volume or page yield of printed pages:

• fullness of pages (density of text);
• the complexity of the printed objects (figures, tables or text);
• image quality.

The standard resource value indicated on the package is the number of sheets filled by 5% of A4 size, which is about 120 sheets. Real values ​​are 200-350 pages, depending on the filling density.

The choice of inkjet cartridges should begin with determining the type of cartridge required.

• Original... It is offered by the manufacturer and guaranteed to be compatible with the printer, but at the same time it is expensive.
• Compatible... Similar to the original, produced by outside organizations, cheap.
• Refurbished... These are cartridges of the previous types, refilled and refurbished. The cost will be average.
• Refillable... A reusable cartridge most often used by large budget-conscious companies.

To keep the ink cartridge from drying out, follow these guidelines:

• regular and moderate printing will preserve print quality and increase the duration of the work;
• the correctness of turning off the printer (using the power button) is another important aspect;
• it is advisable to avoid unnecessary expenditure of color ink when printing text;
• you need to be smart about printing, printing only important files;
• environment parameters useful for work are moderate dryness of the room and coolness;
• when inactive for a long time, it is better to store the cartridge on its side with the nozzles pointing down: this will help prevent ink leaks.

Based on these guidelines, you can save resources and costs for the printer as a whole, and keep the cartridge from drying out.

The reasons for cleaning inkjet cartridges are:

• blurring or extra lines on the printouts;
• the appearance of blots and ink stains;
• the disappearance of a number of shades of color printing;
• the appearance of transverse stripes.

One of the easiest ways to clean the cartridge is by cold rinsing or soaking. Required materials:

• medical gloves;
• pipette;
• napkin;
• syringe;
• alcohol liquid for cleaning windows.

The flushing procedure includes:

• placing the cartridge on the paper with the nozzles up;
• applying a cleaning solution with a syringe for 10 minutes;
• removing the remaining liquid from the surface of the nozzles with a napkin;
• return the cartridge to the nozzle down position.

To restore a dried cartridge, one or more of the following operations must be done.

• Software cleaning. Cleaning method approved by the manufacturer. Launched in the printer properties via the taskbar. This option allows you to revive ink that has dried, but part of it is sucked off by the pump during the cleaning process.
• Steaming... The high temperature steaming method allows the printer to be reanimated if the ink has dried. The requirement in this case is the presence of a gas station. It is produced by steam from a freshly boiled kettle and placing ink for 30 seconds down the nozzles. Next, you need to wipe the nozzles with a napkin. The procedure can be repeated several times. A radical method of resuscitation is to immerse the device in boiling water with the nozzles down for 30 seconds.
• Falling jet method. The roughest method used as a last resort. Includes refurbishment, which is done by placing the ink under a stream of hot water as far as possible.
• Shaking off... Light contamination can be removed by shaking off, which allows the device to be purged and cleaned of contamination. The method is performed in the bathroom: with a sharp movement, it is necessary to shake the device several times with the nozzles down.

For information on how to rinse out a dried inkjet cartridge, see the following video.