 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Refilling inkjet cartridges Bob Burt bobburt@melbpc.org.au |
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This is not a new topic. Indeed, the challenge of refilling empty cartridges with suitable ink was raised and largely solved very early in the life of the inkjet printer and there have been at least three earlier articles in the pages of PC Update on the subject of reinking. I am still using my early model HP DeskJet, which, despite its slower speed, still produces a very satisfactory quality of output. I have practised reinking for at least six years now, first, with the original foam-centred version. In more recent years I've used the newer style cartridge which uses a pair of inflated airbags and some clever engineering to double its capacity, maintain much better leakage control and greatly reduce the risk of clogging. Incidentally, this last factor ensures that spent cartridges can be successfully returned for service many more times than is possible with the original type.
I have been test driving one of the Inkjet Refill Kits on offer from OfficeNET Computer Supplies, a local (Melbourne) supplier.
The kit
The contents of the package could hardly be simpler. It contains a sealed plastic bottle of black ink, sufficient for three refills, a 25 ml syringe body and plunger and a leaflet with instructions. There is no needle for the syringe, but it includes a small piece of plastic tubing which fits as a collar over the syringe outlet.
The package which I received was, of course, for use specifically with the HP high-capacity black cartridge, but other kits are available to suit Epson, Canon and IBM cartridges. Tricolour kits are also available for all makes.
The refilling procedure
First, you need to have access to a stainless steel sink and draining board (suitably cleared for action) and then ensure that you have a box of paper towels handy. Cotton buds are also useful to clean up the cartridge both before and after refilling.
Next, you take the small piece of tubing off the syringe and draw 20 ml of ink into it. As the opening on the ink bottle is not quite large enough to receive the syringe nozzle without a needle attached, you must either pour some of the ink into a more open container before accessing it with the syringe, or, as I did, bring a suitable needle into service to avoid that step.
Then you remove the needle (if you used one) and replace the tubular collar.
Keeping the cartridge upside down and over the sink, you then position the syringe so that the tubing is pressed firmly above the opening into the coiled channel, which is clearly seen with the cartridge in this position.
You then inject the ink into the cartridge slowly, keeping a firm pressure between the tubing and the coiled channel opening. Air comes out of the print head as filling proceeds. You will need to refill the syringe once more and repeat the process to completely refill the cartridge. When refilling is almost completed, you will find that a mixture of air bubbles and ink comes out of the print head.
You clean up your refreshed cartridge with tissue or cotton bud at this stage and examine the coiled channel closely. If it is not completely free of ink, then you have one more step to complete, namely, inflation of the two air bags to re-establish reduced air pressure within the cartridge. You do this by pulling back the plunger on the syringe (to draw in air) and positioning the tubular collar over the very small opening in the centre core at the top of the cartridge. Holding firmly in place, you invert the syringe and cartridge and use the plunger to force air into the air bags. This does two things - air and possibly a little ink will issue from the print head and ink will be cleared from the coiled channel.
The last step is a very important one, as, unless the cartridge is under reduced pressure, it will certainly leak. If replaced in that condition you risk damaging the printer and invalidating your warranty. So don't be too impatient. Check to ensure that there is no leakage and you will have little risk of any problems.
General comments
For this exercise, I brought back into service a high capacity cartridge which had been lying empty for at least 18 months and in which the air bags were completely flattened. Refilling proceeded without a problem, but of course the air bags had to be recharged to avoid leaking. My own method for doing this differs slightly from the technique suggested by OfficeNET. Quite some time ago, I prepared a special syringe, cut off a small calibre needle so that only 3mm remained and prepared a small rubber washer to provide an effective seal. With this device I can insert the needle into the small opening in the centre core without damaging its valve assembly and have a more rigid interface than that provided by the tubular collar. However, the collar does work well enough.
It is, of course, essential that the ink used for refilling be good quality ink. Years ago I checked out a number of popular ink sources, including those mentioned in various articles on the subject and found most of them to be unsuitable. The best (of the suitable ones!) was a well known ink manufactured in the USA, but stocked in Australia only by major office supplies outlets.
The ink provided in this kit is at least equal in quality to that to which I am accustomed. It provides suitable density and is fast drying. However, like all such inks, including the "new" formulation provided by HP in its cartridges, it is not smudge-proof when dampened, but that is one of the restrictions you must be prepared to wear when you purchase an inkjet printer.
My test cartridge worked perfectly when put into service.
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Prices The refill kit for the high capacity HP cartridge costs $45 and provides sufficient ink for three refills. Ink refills range from $20 for 60 ml through $30 for 125 ml to $120 for 1 litre. |
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Acknowledgment The HP DeskJet high capacity refill kit was kindly provided by: OfficeNET Computer Supplies 20 Briggs Street Caulfield South VIC 3162 Ph: (03) 9532 9070 Fax: (03) 9532 7470 |
Reprinted from the June 1996 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
