Remanufactured Inkjet And Toner Cartridges Explained

There are all kinds of definitions out there flying around for after market inkjet cartridges. Its easy to be confused about what “type” of cartridges work in your printer, let alone what “kind” of cartridge. We hope to explain the basics of after market, 3rd party, and generic cartridges so you know what you are getting when you place an order.

There are really only 2 main terms you need to know:

1.) Remanufactured:

A remanufactured inkjet or laser toner cartridge is one that has been dissembled and rebuilt with new replacement parts, thus making the output producing part of the cartridge like new. This is NOT simply refilling a cartridge. Much care is taken to insure a quality remanufactured cartridge print. Will be listed on the site as remanufactured. Mainly HP, Dell, and Lexmark. Some Canon.

2.) Compatible:

In most cases, it is manufactured as new and is an exact or similar copy of the original. All new parts, and manufactured in certified plants. Most of these type cartridges will appear on the site listed as compatible and are most likely from overseas manufacturers. Usually Epson, and Canon here. Some HP.

A Note On “Drill And Fill”:

Some companies can also sell what are called “drill and fill” cartridges where no parts are replaced, rather more toner or ink is added to an empty (or near empty) cartridge. You might be able to notice this on your own replacement toner cartridge in the form of a large hole with a plug on the side. Most OEM cartridges can go longer than stated total prints, but replacement parts make the cartridge more reliable and capable of producing high quality output.

We do not sell cartridges that are merely filled with toner, nor do we encourage the use of the “drill and fill” products as it ruins a perfectly good possible refurbished toner cartridge.

Remanufactured cartridges work the best, and this is what we currently recommend.

Epson Stylus CX5000 Pictures Posted

Epson Stylus CX5000 Ink Cartridge Setup,
originally uploaded by 4inkdaddy.

Posted several pictures of the Epson Stylus CX5000 inkjet printer. Can use for reference if you own one, or look at what you are getting if you intend to purchase. Has a build in scanner, but no fax. 4 Color ink printing with each color represented by an individual cartridge.

This particular image shows all four cartridges installed (black, cyan, magenta, yellow)

Canon iP1800 Pictures Posted

pixma-1800-carts-installed,
originally uploaded by 4inkdaddy.

New set of photos on flickr of the Canon iP1800 inkjet printer. If you currently own one and need to look at something for reference, or if you are thinking of purchasing, check out these photos to see what you will be getting into.

On this particular image, check out the black and color inkjet cartridge installed on this printer. Notice how the color sticks out more than the black

Review: Canon Pixma iP1800

Canon Pixma iP1800, not much good about this apparently low cost printer.

Quick and dirty review of the Canon Pixma iP1800.

This printer uses Canon’s new “dual cartridge” consumables strategy with one cartridge for the black ink, and one divided cartridge for all three colors (cyan, magenta, yellow). So with a total of two cartridges you would lthink ink prices would be cheap, however they are not. In addition to high inkjet cartridge prices, Canon also plays the ink volume game with the consumer as well. There are two cartridge lines that will work with this printer. The CL-31, PG-30Bk balack and color contain about 9-11ml of ink and retail for around $18.99 and $24.99 respectively. This yeilds a cost per page of .10 per black and white page, and .25 per color page.

Larger ink volume cartridges available:

Budget consumers can also choose from the CL-41/PG-40BK which have about 16/22ml of ink respectively. This yields a much better cost per page over the life of the printer and keeps consumables costs reasonable. Remanufactured cartridges are available for about 30% less than that of the OEM Canon original cartridge. The higher ink yield along with the savings from using remanufactured inkjet cartridges makes purchasing these high capacity inkjet cartridges your best option.

Printhead On Cartridge:

Now offering cartridges that are similar to HP inkjet cartridges, (print head is on the actual cartridge, and NOT inside the printer. This means every time you replace an inkjet cartridge, you are also simultaneously replacing the print head as well. This means more expensive cartridges as there are complicated electronics on the individual cartridges.

Overall impression:

This printer takes a unusually long time to warm up, and it is very noisy. One pthe printer starts printing the sound is above average but tolerable. You can definitely tell it’s in the room. Everyday printouts are very nice quality, really top notch. Would go great in a professional sales report or maybe a student information package. Printing photos is a snap, and you can do borderless photos of several sizes from 4×6 to 8×10. Photos have a snap to them, however your mileage will vary depending on what premium paper choice you make. Perfect for printing photos for distribution throughout the family and friends networks. Cheap enough to print several.

Report Card:

Ink expense: $$$$

Printer Expense: $ - Budget

Ink Cartridges Supported:

CL-31 has 9ml of ink (this is the smaller ink volume

PG-30

These cartridges are no bigger in size than those listed above, however these listed below have more ink inside the cartridge:

CL-41 - Color (one cartridge, 3 chambers for Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow ink)

PG-40 - Larger capacity black 16m

Overall not a terrible printer, and for only $39.99 in some cases, it may seem like a good deal, however when you have to purchase both a black and a color cartridge for well over $34.00 this can get old quickly.

No price drops on ink from Canon anytime soon…

Canon is building a new factory here in the USA? I know we have a weak dollar, but that seems crazy. Don’t expect the inkjet cartridge to become any cheaper from Canon.

“Canon announced plans to construct a new 700,000-square-foot facility in Virginia that will use the company’s high-speed, automated technology to manufacture laser cartridges.”

“Canon also plans to create a Virginia center for the research and development of automated and robotic manufacturing technologies to expand its recycling and reclaiming efforts of toner cartridges. These expansions are expected to invest more than $600 million and create more than 1,000 new jobs.”

Aftermarketers Cut Time to Market

Over the last several years aftermarket companies have dramatically reduced the time required to introduce compatible or remanufactured cartridges. For example, the HP Color LaserJet CP4005 printer was introduced in November 2006 and it took only six months for the first set of aftermarket cartridges for this device to appear on the market.

Aftermarket cartridges are available for nearly all brands of color laser machines. It appears that toner technology (mechanical or chemical) does not have a substantial impact on the length of time it takes for an aftermarket cartridge to appear on the market.

Epson, Customs Busy Enforcing Patents

Epson America Inc. announced that vigorous enforcement of its ink cartridge patents continues on many fronts following the Final Determination and Exclusion Orders by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”). The decision made in October 2007 bars imports of infringing ink cartridges for Epson printers.

You can read the entire article here:

http://www.rechargermag.com/articles/62440/

Epson T068120, T069120 identical?

Epson has made available 2 different cartridge choices for owners of the Stylus CX5000, CX6000, CX7000, CX8400, CX9400 and maybe others in the future. You can purchase a black “high capacity” or high yield cartridge which is part number T068120 and costs $19.99 from the Epson store. Most likely you will first be stuck with the T069120 (which contains less ink) with your new printer purchase. Picture shown here reveals the inks that were included.

The actual cartridge itself is the same size, however Epson puts more ink in the T068120 cartridge, thus making it more expensive. $20.00 for just a black cartridge is highway robbery.

Make sure to check Amazon for best prices, however buyer beware on the “non-amazon” choices.

Epson Inkjet Cartridges Banned

The Epson Compatible Cartridge:
Banned in the USA.

Having a hard time finding compatible Epson
cartridges for your printer?  Noticing that prices are increasing?

Well if you have not noticed yet, get ready for higher prices and little to no availability in the very near future.  Epson won a big court case in October of last year preventing the import of compatible Epson inkjet printer cartridges, and that
decision was just upheld with the expiration of the 60-Day Presidential review period.

Epson has successfully blocked the importation of “patent infringing” cartridges from over 24 companies, and they have recently indicated their willingness to go after resellers as well.

A Simple Timeline:
2006	Feb 2006: Epson Alleges Ink Infringement http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,1930528,00.asp
2007	April 2007: Epson case against ink vendors moves forward http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/04/05/HNepsoninkcase_1.html May 2007: Ninestar Challenges ITC Determination http://www.rechargermag.com/articles/47835/ Oct 2007: ITC extends date in Epson case http://www.therecycler.com/viewarticle.asp?article=1428 Oct 2007: Going after retailers http://www.rechargermag.com/articles/51904/ Epson Launches Web Page: http://itc.epson.com/
2008	Jan 2008: Exclusion order upheld http://www.rechargermag.com/articles/57412/

What does this mean for the industry of
3rd party cartridge solutions for Epson printers?

Well, we think it means several things.

• Current term (1-2 months) not sure how “remanufactured”
  cartridges will be made available.

• Near term (3-6 months) There will
  be no cartridges for the foreseeable future for *new* Epson printers. If we can’t import
  the chips that go on the end of the cartridges, we can’t make new cartridges.  Got to have that chip. Suggest you stock up as “compatibles” will start to disappear.

• Short term (6-12 months) issue of learning the most efficient and effective way to source, remanufacture and distribute significantly cheaper alternatives to Epson brand ink.

• Know as fact: Prices will be significantly higher
  costing you more cash for consumables.

We are starting to get remanufactured cartridges for the older printers, however the newer models of printers like the CX9450, CX7450 series cartridges are not currently available.

Details of the general exclusion order issued
by the ITC (International Trade Commission):

Number 1:
Refilling an infringing cartridge, like an infringing aftermarket cartridge, still results in another infringing cartridge.

Number 2:
Refilled cartridges that were Epson branded cartridges must have been first
sold by Epson to consumers in the United States. A first sale exception to
patent law allows the resale of refilled patented devices that were first sold
in the United States by the patent holder. Cartridges that were first sold by
Epson to consumers outside the United States and refilled by a third party still
infringe Epson’s patents. Epson officials have observed that some suppliers
commingle cartridges first sold by Epson in the United States with cartridges
first sold to consumers outside the United States in identical packaging, so
resellers cannot reliably avoid liability for patent infringement.

Number 3:
The refilling process must be limited to legally permissible repair to
restore the cartridge to usable condition, but the cartridges cannot be
completely reconstructed. Legally permissible repair includes refilling the ink,
resetting the IC chip, removing or covering Epson labels, and repackaging.

Number 4:

Refilled cartridges must be prominently described at point of sale and on
packaging as “refilled” or “remanufactured”. Any Epson trademarks must be
removed so consumers cannot be misled into believing that the cartridges were
refilled or approved by Epson.

Inkdaddy Blog Now Official

Our mission on the inkdaddy.com blog is to provide information to our customers and others about the inkjet printer market, laser printer market, and other imaging technology news.  Our focus will be on the end user to small home office user, and our goal is to try and inform our readers so they can make educated decisions when buying an inkjet or laser printer.  We hope to take out some of the marketing hype and provide detailed and relevant information.

Please feel free to comment on our stories, and post any additional information you have.

Cheers,

Inkdaddy