| Hewlett Packard's tryst with ink took off | | | | 1. OEMs |
| when it acquired a company named F.L Mosley | | | | |
| based in California in 1958. Mosley was | | | | OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) |
| manufacturing recorders and plotters for | | | | cartridges are the same ones that come with |
| industrial applications such as continuous | | | | your printer. The company that makes the |
| process monitoring systems, data loggers and | | | | printer generally manufactures them. For |
| the like in the 1950's. | | | | example, HP laser printers come with HP toner |
| | | | cartridges. OEM laser printer toner |
| Hewlett Packard was the pioneer in imaging | | | | cartridges are the most expensive type. You |
| and printing technologies. It was the first | | | | can save money by choosing remanufactured |
| in the market during the 1980's to come up | | | | cartridges, compatible cartridges or refill |
| with inkjet and laser technology used in | | | | kits. |
| printers until date. Its first printer was | | | | |
| the "ThinkJet" in 1984 based on the inkjet | | | | Benefits of OEM Cartridges |
| technology and later the "DeskJet" printer | | | | |
| also based on inkjet technology and the | | | | Many manufacturers recommend only using OEM |
| "Laser" printer as the name suggests based on | | | | cartridges with their printers to achieve the |
| laser technology. | | | | best results. However, they are also trying |
| | | | to get you to buy their product. Again, if |
| The Ink | | | | you require optimum quality then it is best |
| | | | to use OEM cartridges. They also prove to be |
| Today inks are not just gooey fluids filled | | | | economical in the long run because |
| in cartridges to give you images on your | | | | remanufactured or refilled cartridges may |
| print media. Specially engineered ink gives | | | | fail 70 to 80 percent of the time in their |
| high quality prints-it has specially designed | | | | first attempt or they usually don't give as |
| active agents and colorants that give rich | | | | many prints as the original or as promised by |
| color and fade resistance. | | | | the remanufacturing company. |
| | | | |
| There is a difference between printer ink and | | | | 2. Remanufactured |
| toner - printer ink is a liquid that is | | | | |
| applied to paper by pressure. Toner is a fine | | | | A remanufactured cartridge is one that has |
| powder that is burned onto the paper through | | | | been disassembled and its worn parts |
| heat and laser guidance. | | | | replaced. A new print head is then fitted |
| | | | onto the cartridge, is refilled with ink, and |
| There are two types if ink - dye based and | | | | is tested in the factory to guarantee print |
| pigment based. The rest are a variation of | | | | quality. Remanufacturing is considered more |
| these two basic types. | | | | comprehensive than refilling. |
| | | | |
| The Ink Cartridge | | | | Your printer's print head cleaning utility |
| | | | (described in your printer's operating |
| The printer cartridge nowadays is not only an | | | | manual) should always be run 1-2 times after |
| object that holds ink but also a highly | | | | inserting a remanufactured cartridge. They |
| technical one that has an integrated circuit | | | | are thoroughly tested to ensure quality, and |
| to control the quality of printouts. The | | | | their performance is generally equal to new |
| printer ink cartridge is by far the most | | | | cartridges. |
| important consumable as far as its cost, type | | | | |
| and replacement is concerned. Every printer | | | | Just because a cartridge ran out of ink, does |
| model has its own specific ink cartridge. | | | | not mean the print head and electronics are |
| | | | not still in perfectly working order. |
| Inkjet | | | | |
| | | | To view a wide range of HP ink cartridges |
| The inkjet cartridge is a combination of | | | | visit |
| speed and precision. Each ink nozzle in the | | | | |
| cartridge fires up to 36,000 drops of ink per | | | | 3. Refilled |
| second to deliver crisp text and sharp | | | | |
| images. The Inkjet and DeskJet printers use | | | | Refilling your cartridge means cleaning the |
| this cartridge. They are ideal for home and | | | | cartridge and refilling it with new ink. Now, |
| personal use. | | | | either this can be done at home using a |
| | | | refilling kit or you can ship your cartridge |
| LaserJet | | | | to a refilling company in your area. |
| | | | |
| The Laser Jet cartridge comprises up to 70% | | | | Some refilling companies claim that Refilled |
| of the total imaging system and therefore | | | | Cartridges are environmentally friendly and |
| plays a key role in delivering quality | | | | provide a high quality output, which meets or |
| prints. It uses a precision laser to draw the | | | | exceeds consumer expectations and that they |
| image giving clear sharp and precise prints. | | | | are |
| These are ideal for home as well as small to | | | | |
| large businesses and workgroups. | | | | · Ultrasonically bathed to ensure a clean |
| | | | print head |
| Design Jet | | | | |
| | | | · Filled with top quality inks using state |
| These cartridges give uniform fills, sharply | | | | of the art equipment |
| defined lines and crisp clear text across a | | | | |
| wide range of durable printing applications. | | | | · Tested to ensure high quality printing |
| These cartridges are used for large format | | | | |
| printing media such as trade show and event | | | | · Sealed and packaged in vapor resistant |
| displays, posters and presentations, photo | | | | material |
| enlargements, architecture and engineering | | | | |
| applications such as CAD/CAM. | | | | It is best to refill your Cartridge within 15 |
| | | | days of the cartridge becoming empty. |
| Color Layering Technology | | | | |
| | | | Empty cartridges have a certain life span and |
| In color layering, a number of microscopic | | | | this can range from between one refill to |
| droplets of colors ranging from three to | | | | five refills on average. However, cartridge |
| eight colors are combined and managed through | | | | circuits have been known to fail on the 1st |
| hundreds of small nozzles in the cartridge. | | | | attempt of refilling / remanufacture and in |
| The result is a print of high quality with | | | | contrast, cartridge circuits have been known |
| vibrant and realistic true to life images. | | | | to last up to 10 refills, the latter being |
| This technology gives a wide range of colors | | | | exceptional durability. |
| up to millions. | | | | |
| | | | Once a cartridge circuit has failed, the ink |
| Available Cartridge Options | | | | cartridge is unusable and a new or |
| | | | serviceable cartridge has to be purchased. |