In electronics, a cartridge may refer to a method of adding diverse content or functionality such as video game cartridges. It may also mean a method in which consumables can be refilled or restocked such as an ink cartridge. A good definition could be something that can be removable sub-unit with its own container.
Ink cartridges are used in inkjet printers (ink cartridges) or laser printers (toner) to hold the ink.
Most common inkjet printers such as Lexmark, Canon and XP use a thermal inkjet where inside each of the partition in the reservoir has a heating element with a resistor or a tiny metal plate. Small amounts of current are passed through the plate or resistor too warm it up whenever it receives signal from the printer. It then vaporise the ink into tiny air bubbles inside the nozzle.
Normally, a cartridge that contains a black ink and another cartridge that will contain the 3 primary colours are inserted to the printer. There are special cartridges that are dedicated only for printing photographs. Printer manufacturers have their own printing cartridges as different printers require different cartridges which are most of the time very costly. Other manufacturers produced compatible cartridges to minimize the cost of buying an ink or toner cartridge but produce the same quality of images and text. Another common practice is refilling the cartridges which are now widely accepted around the world.
Facts about Ink Refilling Kit:
Ink refilling kit is a tool together with certain amount of ink is used in refilling cartridges. The refilling kit contains a cartridge holder, needle and bottles of ink but other tools that come with the kit can vary depending on the manufacturer and the kit was designed for. The bottles of ink is composed of a bottle of black ink which is used for refilling black ink cartridges and a bottle each for cyan, magenta and yellow for coloured ink cartridges. You can also get a combination of all colours for some refilling kits.
The process of refilling involves these three simple steps.
Ink Injection – This is where you will inject the ink into the cartridge. Injection can be done using directly from the bottle with a needle tip or with a needle filled with ink. Careful refilling is required to avoid overflowing to other colour cartridges and do not cause any damage.
Running/Installing – Once the cartridges are refilled, it will have to be reinstalled to the printer. It is advisable to run printer cleaning utilities to remove excess inks from the refilling process. You can wipe out all excess ink flowing from the cartridge print head.
Print head cleaning – If the ink flow in the cartridge print head is blocked by dried ink, you can use an isopropyl alcohol which is about 50% or higher placed on a folded paper towel or a swab and wipe it on the print head gently.