Remanufactured Inkjet Cartridges

Ever wanted to know how the big boys makebe a measurable balance between ink flow,
remanufactured inkjet cartridges? Read on and I'llvacuum and pressure. Very expensive refilling
give you a quick outline of what you actually getmachines are needed to accomplish this task
when you buy a remanufactured inkjet cartridge.properly. The machine will have the capacity to
The first thing to realize is that refillers, orrefill many cartridges at the same time. The
Remanufacturers only remanufacture inkjetcartridges get snapped in place and when all the
cartridges that contain a print head. Those includegizmos are set properly they all get filled at the
Hewlett Packard and Lexmark. All the others aresame time.
variations of the aforementioned cartridges. ThisStep 4. Resealing.
is because the generic or compatible cartridgesAfter the cartridges are filled with ink, certain
for the others, Canon, Epson etc., are very cheapones must be resealed. Clever techniques are
and they could not make a profit byused here so you can't tell that is was refilled. I
remanufacturing them.can show you but then I'd have to..... well you get
Step 1. The Empties Search.the picture.
In order to remanufacture an inkjet cartridge youStep 5. Testing.
must first have the empty one to refill. When aThis stage requires several tests and refillers will
new printer using a new cartridge is introduced itnot always take them in the same order so I'll
may take several months if not years for thejust tell you the ones I know about. Print tests
empty cartridges to become available in thearedone by either using a regular inkjet printer
quantity that warrants the refiller to make thedesigned to use that cartridge. A test pattern of
investment to tool up for remanufacture. As ofsome sort will gauge the quality of the printout.
this date a very popular HP cartridge that was onOther refillers use a fancy machine that prints out
the market for over a year is still very scarce asa test strip that checks to make sure all the
remanufactured. A very popular Lexmarknozzles are firing properly.
cartridge, the 12A1970 cartridge is almostSome remanufactures use equipment that test
impossible to locate because Lexmark is buyingfor altitude pressure. If the pressure in a cartridge
them back, but these are articles untogets too high during shipment the cartridge will
themselves.leak.
The inkjet cartridge remanufacturer carefullyStep 6. Packaging.
inspects the cartridges forblemishes and forThe cartridges are physically inspected once more.
evidence that is has been previously refilled. TheyThe print heads areprofessionally taped using a
must be "virgin" cartridges (never refilled) or theymachine that applies tape to the heads with the
won't get refilled. (By most scrupulousexact pressure necessary. This is not guess work.
remanufactures)Print head sealing tape applied the wrong way
Next the cartridges are electrically tested usingmay damage the cartridge.
sophisticated electronicequipment that tests theThe cartridges are then sealed in bags, some
print heads and related electronics. This will be aremanufactures vacuum seal the bags, others do
100% pass/fail test. No in betweens here.not. Actually I have not seen any difference in
Anything under 100% gets tossed.performance using either method.
Step 2. Cleaning.Lastly they are put in pretty boxes and stored in
Each cartridge is cleaned ultrasonically inside andan upright position withthe print heads pointing
out. All remaining ink is thoroughly flushed fromdown. This is important because if the cartridges
the cartridge and they are bathed in a cleaningare laid on their sides it's possible that they can
solvent.loose their prime. This is why so many inkjet
Step 3. Refilling.cartridges with print heads don't work when they
Here is where to pros are separated from theare shipped through the mail.
hobbyist. To properly refill a cartridge there must