ARM Club 3/TheARMClub_PDCD3.iso/hensa/documentation/documents/refill

Internet Message Format | 1999-04-27 | 7KB

From: [e-mail] (George Foot)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn
Subject: Refilling colour inkjet cartridges
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 1994 23:25:05 +0000

The Canon BJC-600 colour inkjet printer is an excellent printer especially
when used in conjunction with Computer Concepts Turbodriver.

The ink employed in this printer is supplied in four independent cartridges,
one for each on the colours used in printing.

The makers recommend that the cartridges should not be refilled and that is
good advice which is only ignored at one's own risk.

There are difficulties in refilling these particular cartridges which I have
found requires a modification to the cartridges for good results.

In case anyone else is intrepid enough to make the experiment, I am posting
a description of the method I have employed:

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The Canon Ink-Jet Colour Printer BJC-600 is highly regarded as a suitable
colour printer for Acorn 32-bit (Archimedes) computers: It produces prints
with 360 dpi (dots per inch) resolution and  near-photographic quality
with colour of an excellence previously obtainable only with much more
expensive printers.

The ink-jet method of printing is to eject coloured inks in very small
droplets from separate reservoirs of ink  of four colours (yellow, cyan,
magenta and black) through holes of microscopic size in a print-head which
is  traversed laterally to print in successive strips as the paper is
advanced beneath it.

In the Canon BJC-600 the print-head is retained in the machine and only
requires renewal at long intervals.   The four inks are contained in liquid
form in separate plastic cartridges which are conveniently transparent to
show  the quantity of ink remaining.

The four cartridges plug-in to the print head and can be removed and
replaced  individually.  Each cartridge is sealed except for one hole which
feeds ink to the print head as required and which  we may designate as the
ink exit hole.   A spongy material which is located within the cartridge
absorbs some of  the ink and prevents it flowing too freely from the
cartridge.

The cost of replacement cartridges for ink-jet printers is not
inconsiderable.  In consequence, ink and refill  kits have become available
and are advertised by several suppliers: But, as far as I know, refilling is
a process  which is not recommended by any of the printer manufacturers and
can only be undertaken at the risk of the owner  of the printer.

It is particularly important, naturally, if refilling is contemplated that
only inks of the special types  used in ink-jet printers should be employed.

In the case of BJC-600 cartridges the only aperture is the ink exit hole.
In my experience it is not  satisfactory to attempt to inject new ink
through that hole:  Filling in that fashion can only be done slowly as air
must exit at the same time by the same hole -- furthermore there is a risk
of disturbing the spongy material within  the cartridge at the critical
position in the vicinity of the hole.

My solution has been to drill another hole in the cartridge for filling with
ink:  Although this and the  subsequent operations which I shall describe
are simple in nature, they require some dexterity and are unsuitable  for
persons without  manipulative skills:  Unless you are in this category DO
NOT READ ANY FURTHER.  It  must also be emphasised that the inking operator
must assume all responsibility for damage to cartridges and/or  printer.

(1) My experience is limited to ink obtained from System Insight of Welwyn
Garden City which has supplied  ink which I have found to be satisfactory.
The ink is supplied in plastic squeeze bottles which are very convenient --
specify that ink is required for the BJC-600 and the bottles will be fitted
with long straight hollow needles (or probes)  somewhat like a hypodermic
syringe.  Ink of all four colours will be required.

(2) I have not used the method suggested by System Insight for refilling
cartridges:  You have to decide  whether you also wish to depart from their
instructions.  If you do, proceed as follows:-

(3) Peel back the coloured adhesive label from the top of an empty cartridge
to expose the top of the cartridge.   About the centre of the top is a small
round depression in the moulding.  Drill a small hole in the centre of this
depression with a diameter just sufficiently large to allow the probe of a
squeeze bottle to enter without restricting the  simultaneous outflow of
air:  Call this the filling hole.

(4) Take a piece of adhesive tape of about 3/4 inch square -- the common
brown adhesive packaging tape is  ideal as it adheres strongly to the
material of the cartridge.  Place this tape to cover the filling hole which
you have  drilled and bend the tape to extend it over the side of the
cartridge.   This extension will facilitate its removal later.

(5)  Smooth back the  coloured label to its normal position at the top of
the cartridge.


This completes the modification to the cartridge.  Now follows the
instructions for refilling a cartridge.

(a) Place a small piece of the brown adhesive tape to seal off temporarily
the normal ink exit hole in the  cartridge.  This requires care as the exit
hole is near a corner of the cartridge:  A clamp against a soft rubber
washer as  a seal is a better solution.

(b) Peel back the coloured label at the top of the cartridge to expose the
brown tape and remove this brown tape  to expose the filling hole.

(c) Insert the probe of a squeeze bottle with ink of the correct colour
(check the colour of the cartridge label  carefully) and fill the cartridge
with ink.  Do not overfill but move the cartridge as necessary to ensure
that air is not  trapped.

(d) Seal the filling hole again with a fresh piece of brown adhesive tape.
Smooth back the coloured label over  the top of the cartridge.

(e) Remove the tape (or other seal) which was placed temporarily over the
ink exit hole.

(f) Fill any other cartridges which require ink.

(g) Place the cartridges vertically on a flat surface (in the stance they
would normally occupy when in the  printer) and leave them overnight to
stabilize.  There should be no leakage.

(h) Place the newly filled cartridges in the printer and perform the
four-colour cleaning operation which would  normally be carried out with new
cartridges.

You should note that you will be unlikely to complete these filling
operations without spilling some ink  especially until experience is gained.

So take care to undertake filling where spilled ink is of no consequence.
Toilet  tissue is the best material for mopping up surplus ink.

A small quantity of ink on the hands is of little consequence as  it soon
disappears with normal washing.

The skill required is readily acquired and the amount of money to be saved
is worth the effort if the printer is  used extensively.  On the other hand,
if the usage of the printer is small it may be preferable to employ only new

cartridges as supplied by Canon. In any cse remember that refilling is
entirely at your own risk.

But, if you should experiment with refilling ink-jet cartridges in the above
manner or in any other fashion, I should  be glad to hear of your
experiences.

George Foot

[e-mail]