| No single person can be credited with the | | | | that the flow of ink from the print head to the |
| invention of the first inkjet printer. However, we | | | | page needed to be controlled. This required cutting |
| can safely say that it was invented in 1976 but | | | | edge technological research not only in terms of |
| did not enter the popular consciousness until 1988 | | | | the printers but also the printer cartridges. Initially |
| when Hewlett Packard released the DeskJet | | | | the dried ink, clogged the printer head, and even |
| Printer and marketed it like a home consumer | | | | the IBM strategy to use electrically charged |
| item. It must be said, however, that buying this | | | | droplets for coating the pages with ink was not |
| printer and the printer cartridges was not | | | | successful and lacked consumer appeal. This |
| everybody’s cup of tea as it was priced at | | | | challenge was tackled by two companies namely |
| around $1000. A steep price indeed! | | | | Hewlett-Packard and Canon. They introduced the |
| The Inkjet Revolution | | | | inkjet printer in the market that used liquid ink, |
| If you compare the inkjet printer in use today to | | | | held in cartridges. These became vastly popular |
| those that were launched some twenty years | | | | and this technology is still in use today. |
| ago, you will find that they have indeed come a | | | | The Inkjet Cartridges |
| long way since then. Though they arrived in the | | | | An article on these printers won’t be |
| stores in the 1980s; it was way back in the | | | | complete without mentioning the role of printer |
| 1970s, that printer companies recognized the fact | | | | ink cartridges in the scheme of things. It is the ink |
| that the ink based printers were the way forward | | | | cartridges that played a stellar role in the |
| and this technology would be revolutionary in | | | | increasing popularity of these printers. Printer |
| nature. They began the process of developing | | | | cartridges are the core element of each and very |
| printers and printer cartridges. The initial challenge | | | | printer and they have also gone through a long |
| for the company was not only to concentrate on | | | | and evolved process of development, side by side |
| quality but also on affordability. Siemens invented | | | | with the printers. Without the development of |
| a popular inkjet printer model in 1977 and it | | | | printer ink cartridges there would be no inkjet |
| became quite popular amongst businesses and | | | | printers. It’s as simple as that. |
| organizations. The biggest benefits of this printer | | | | As can be seen, the whole process of developing |
| were that it sprayed ink only when necessary and | | | | a printer is long and goes through a long period of |
| were not very expensive. | | | | trial and error. This is one of prime reasons why |
| A Few Challenges | | | | so many companies have contributed to the |
| A major challenge faced by printer developers | | | | development of printing technology. |
| with regards to this type of printers was the fact | | | | |