17/09/2012
1. Why should we recycle?
2. Maintenance tips for toner cartridges.
3. Toner cartridge FAQ’s.
4. Maintenance tips for ink cartridges.
5. Ink cartridge FAQ’s.
6. Quick Fix List for Ink jet Cartridge Print Problems.
7. Print head cleaning tips for ink cartridges.
Why should we recycle? \\
(1) Cost Savings: The cost of a professionally rebuilt cartridge is around 50% of the original.
(2) Jobs: The remanufacturing industry is providing thousands of jobs and that grows proportionally as more companies use remanufactured cartridges.
(3) Our Economy: Money spent on remanufactured cartridges stays in our economy, not sent overseas.
(4) Our Environment:
We are not just dumping millions into cartridges- we are dumping millions of cartridges into our landfills.
It's estimated that 100,000,000 laser printer cartridges are produced each year. Recycling these cartridges will save an estimated 4,000,000 cubic feet of landfill space. The average remanufacturer restores 338 cartridges per month, and is therefore saving 999 liters of oil and 383 kilograms of hazardous waste from landfills each month. Stacked one on top of the other, a tower of cartridges produced annually by an average remanufacturer would exceed the height of the Empire State Building. By the end of each year more than 465 million inkjet cartridges will have been sold. That translates into 25,000,000 pounds of plastic waste each year. Due to the lack of information the numbers of discarded DMP ribbon cartridge wastes are unknown.
For every toner cartridge that is remanufactured, approximately 1kg of plastic is withheld from the waste stream.
The plastic used in a typical cartridge is industrial grade and takes approximately 1000 years to decompose.
The manufacturing process involved in making a new cartridge requires the burning of fossil fuel, specifically oil or natural gas. On average, 2.8 liters of oil are burned to make each new cartridge. Due to the lack of valid and reliable data, the effects of plastic decomposition on groundwater are largely unknown.
Every remanufactured cartridge you buy keeps almost 3.5 lbs of non-degradable waste out of the landfill.
This does not include the pounds of used boxes, Styrofoam and Mylar packing materials which accompany these discarded cartridges. Refilled cartridges provide both economic and environmental benefits to the consumer. The refilling industry has evolved from the primitive "drill and fill" techniques of the 80's, to state-of-the-art manufacturing processes incorporating top quality components. After-market components allow remanufacturers to produce replacement cartridges capable of meeting, and in some cases even exceeding, the original manufacturer's specifications.
Our new technology preserves the environment, thus allowing us to contribute in whatever way to safe guard the environment from its downfall. We as a socially responsible organization would always try to produce environment friendly products to preserve the greenery.
Maintenance Tips for toner cartridges\\
·
Never hold the cartridge in vertical position.
Never try to rotate the drum in wrong direction, to avoid spilling of Toner Powder.
Should you need to shake the cartridge, always do it in the Horizontal Position? Never shake it In Vertical Position.
Always shake the cartridge gently.
While pulling the seal, never press the shutter of the drum with hand, to prevent the drum from getting damaged.
Never expose or keep the cartridge or the drum directly to sunlight.
Always ensure that the specific grade of Toner Powder has been filled into your Cartridge (in case of Refilled Toner Cartridges).
Toner Cartridge FAQ’s\\
Q Are recycled cartridges inferior to new ones?
A. No. There should be no difference in the print quality or page yield of a recycled cartridge. We use only graphics-quality toner & replacement parts that meet or exceed the Original Equipment Manufactures (OEM) standard.
Q. Can I really save money by using recycling cartridges?
A. Absolutely- as much as 30 to 50 %. Depending on the number of cartridges your company uses, your savings can amount to lakhs each year. In fact Print Care will provide you with a saving Analysis based on your purchase to show your company's savings. Drop us a line-we'll give you a call.
Q. Is there a downside to recycling cartridges?
A. No. Using recycling cartridges saves money, helps preserve the environment, provide a high-quality product, and helps support local small businesses. Most federal & state Governments now require the use of recycling cartridges when available.
Q. Will I get the same number of printed pages from a recycled toner cartridge that I do from a new cartridge?
A. You'll get at least the same number, in most cases; you'll print even more copies from the recycled cartridge. Our filling equipment allows us to determine the amount of toner that's put in the hopper. We always put in more toner than is found in an OEM cartridge.
Q. I tried recycled cartridges in the past and they were terrible. I don't want to get burned again.
A. Back when the recycling of toner cartridges began, there was little or no technical training available. Recyclers made a poor quality product that caused lots of problems. Add to that the fact that canon owned the patent on the technology and the cartridge components as well. This means if recyclers needed to replace parts, they were hard to find and usually of poor quality. But over the years, patent and contracts have expired, and some of the companies that were previously restricted from selling important after-market parts now produce them, and they do a great job. In fact, many of those companies have made after-markets parts that are better than the OEM. In addition, recyclers have developed new techniques for making cartridges better. The industry has developed a level of expertise that can produce a cartridge of exceptional quality. The cartridges today are "remanufactured," giving you "like-new" quality and performance. What does this mean for you? We now have more ways to bring you a better quality cartridge than ever before. If you haven't tried recycled cartridges lately, try Print Care's first-class recycled r cartridges.
Q. I've heard that recycled or re-manufactured cartridges are not as good as Original Equipment?
A. Naturally, when ever recycling is involved, there is always a possibility that problems can arise. In the re-manufacturing phase, we rely heavily on our after market suppliers and the quality of their products. There are occasions that a specific part, or parts, can cause problems if our after market suppliers don't diligently perform proper quality control. Many of these parts may not be detectable by the recycler. Some flaws can be quite obvious. Examples would be poorly coated drums or blade edges that are not as sharp as they should be. In our years of operation, we have seen original equipment cartridges failures, even with new parts.
As a customer, there is one interesting point to consider. If an original equipment new cartridge fails at startup, you contact your supplier and he will give you a replacement cartridge. If a re-manufactured cartridge fails, a call to your local recycler would be in order and if he is concerned about you as a customer, he will take every step to correct the problem without additional cost. On the other hand, if an original equipment cartridge fails after the cartridge has been used, there is very little likelihood that you’re suppler will give you a new cartridge. However, most recyclers would take every step to make sure that the cartridge performs from beginning to end. In our case you don’t have to worry, because all our cartridges are backed by three strong warrantees.
Q. My printer is printing pages with light streaks down the middle. With each page the streaks gets wide. What's the problem?
A. Your toner cartridge is running out of toner. If you remove the cartridge and gently rock it back and forth, making sure to keep it level, you will redistribute the little bit of toner that remains. You should be able to then print a few more pages before installing a fresh cartridge.
Maintenance Tips for Inkjet Cartridges\\
Always take at least one print out daily form your Inkjet Printer, to prevent the ink from getting dried.
Never print with an empty cartridge in the printer or even when one of the colors has been used up. The ink helps cool the "heat sinks" that produce the bubbles, without ink they overheat and burn out.
Try to refill your cartridges as soon as they are empty and even better yet before they are completely empty (best recommended).
· It is preferable to refill an empty cartridge immediately in order to keep the sponge in the cartridge from drying out. Or "top it off" before it goes empty.
Never try to refill a cartridge while it is still in the printer.
The used cartridge to be given for refilling should be handed over to your vendor, ideally within 03 to 04 hrs of removing it from the printer.
Never touch the heads on cartridges that have them.
Always replace the blue tape over the head of the cartridge after use to prevent the head from damaging.
Always keep the used cartridge back into its box and cover for the safety against damages.
Refill cartridges right away before they have a chance to dry out or tape the heads with blue tape & openings with scotch tape and seal them in an airtight environment like a baggie.
Always store your empty and refilled cartridges in an airtight container to prevent from drying out. Put tape over vent holes while storing and use clips to cover exit ports. Place a damp paper towel in container to maintain humidity.
Always ensure that the specific ink is filled into the cartridge (in case of refilled cartridges).
Never shake filled cartridge before installing into the printer or at any stage, whatsoever.
Never put the cartridge back in the printer if it is leaking or dripping ink.
Make sure your cartridge is NOT leaking when you re-install it in your printer. If the cartridge is leaking leave it sitting on a paper towel or newspaper for a time until it stops leaking. Usually cartridges will leak if they have been overfilled.
Always run the printers head cleaning routine a few times after installing your newly refilled cartridge.
If your cartridge has the print head attached or has an assembly that holds the ink tanks, keep the electronic circuitry free from dirt and contamination by gently cleaning with lint less cloth and distilled water, isopropyl alcohol. If you get an error message that printer does not recognize the installed cartridge, it is most likely due to "dirty" electronic circuitry where the cartridge (assembly) interfaces with the printer.
Quick Fix List for Ink jet Cartridge Print Problems \\
Below are some common fixes that can often resolve ink jet cartridge print problems:
When You experience the print quality is not perfect due to clogs in your cartridge, you can select the best resolution quality in your printer software under printing preferences and do the work.
Run a little warm tap water over the print head. This can dissolve any ink, which may have dried in the cartridge. This is especially helpful if the cartridge has been removed and exposed to air for any length of time.
Cartridges dry out almost immediately if left exposed to the air. To unclog a dried out cartridge you can try soaking the print head in warm water (distilled water recommended) for a few minutes. In extreme conditions a 50% x 50% solution of 98% isopropyl alcohol and water brought JUST to the boiling point for about 5 minutes may do the trick.
The heaters can sometimes become plugged. This can often be cured by cleaning the contacts on the cartridge and in the printer carriage with water or alcohol. After cleaning, snap the cartridge in and out a few times to be sure you have a good connection between contacts in the cartridge and the printer.
Smeared print can be caused by a buildup of ink on the wiper blade found in most HP (Hewlett-Packard) DeskJet models. If you are experiencing trouble with smeared ink, clean the wiper blade according to the printer manual instructions.
Some Epson cartridges will develop a "v***r lock" after refilling. You can try to defeat the v***r lock by grasping the cartridge with the opening facing away from you and quickly snapping your arm towards the floor like you were trying to throw it through the floor. Don't let go of the cartridge though and make VERY sure you have something down. It WILL discharge ink when this is done. Do it outside if you can.
PRINT HEAD CLEANING TIPS \\. . . for cartridges with the print head attached or assemblies that hold the ink tanks:
1. DRIED INK ... Remove the cartridge with print head or the print head assembly from printer. The print head is where the ink is jetted onto your paper. Gently blot the print head with a lintless cloth or towel and warm, distilled water. This will remove any ink dried on the surface. If this doesn't solve the streaky print problem, then set the cartridge in a shallow saucer of hot, distilled water (careful not to submerge any printed circuitry). Let set for 5-10 minutes, dry off and reinstall in printer.
2. DRIED INK ... If steps in 1. do not solve problem then set cartridge in a shallow saucer with 50% solution of household ammonia and hot water. Let set for 15 minutes, dry off and reinstall in printer. Run the printer head cleaning operation as prescribed in manual and then try to print. If print is still not correct, alternate the head cleaning and printing several more times or until the print is normal. If the cartridge still does not print properly, there is damage to the print head and it needs to be replaced.
3. Put pressure on the cartridge to expel ink through the print head and clear out possible clogs or dried ink. One way to do this is to blow through the vent hole with your mouth ... BE SURE YOU HAVE APPROPRIATE MATERIAL TO CATCH THE EXPELLED INK.
How much money can I save by refilling my own printer cartridges? \\
Depending on which cartridge you are refilling the savings can be substantial. You can expect to save approximately 1/5 of the cost of a new cartridge. If you buy larger quantities the savings are even better.
Are All Inks The Same? \\
No, different printers require different formulations. There is no such thing as a generic ink that will work well in all printers. That is why we have all these different inks available. Some inks will not perform well if used in the wrong printer.
How Good Is The Ink? \\
It is important for you to know that the ink is specially formulated for each printer, even for each model. We are supplying the highest quality inks available. Some users will find our inks superior to those in the OEM cartridge. You will find no loss of quality with our inks, which are formulated with the same technology as the OEM ink. We also have the photo inks available and can also supply you with various specialty inks like "water proof", photo colors.
Is your ink as good as the original cartridges? \\
Our inks are formulated to exacting standards. They are as close to the original ink as you can get without violating the patents. Many of our inks are actually better than the OEM because we improved the formulation where it was needed. We have different formulations for each type of ink. We don't use a one size fits all ink like some nationally advertised company.
Can the wrong ink damage my printer? \\
Yes, it can. If you use a cheap ink not properly formulated for the exact printer that you are using it in it can cause clogs in the print heads. When I say cheap, I don't necessarily mean inexpensive.
Should I Print With My Old Cartridge Until It Is Completely Dry? \\
No! An inkjet printer works by heating a very small amount of ink, which is then jetted onto the paper. The ink cools the resistors used to heat the ink. If there is no ink, the resistors overheat and burn out. This shortens the life of the print head. So, when the low ink warning light glows, it is time to refill or change your cartridge. Keep a spare cartridge ready to go, and you won't have to stop printing, except to change cartridges. Then, you can refill when it is convenient for you. Try not to let the cartridge dry out before refilling; a tightly sealed plastic bag will slow down the drying process. (Of course, you have noted that all the new cartridges that you have bought come in hermetically sealed packaging).
Should Old Cartridges Be Discarded? \\
No, even old, dried out cartridges can be refurbished, but it takes a facility like ours to do a good job. We buy empty cartridges, preferably those used only once and they must be the type that has the print head attached.
How many times can I refill a cartridge? \\
Each one seems to have its own personality; however, the norm is 8 to 10 times. You can definitely refill your cartridge MORE times if you do it right away before it dries out. Refilling a dried out cartridge is left to the professionals. You will NOT have much luck refilling a dried out cartridge. If you can't get to it right away, seal the print head or the holes with scotch tape and store the cartridge in a zip lock plastic baggie and try to remove all the air before sealing the bag.
Can I still print with my cartridge having clogs? \\
Sometimes yes, when the print quality is not perfect you can select the best resolution quality in your printer software under printing preferences and do the work.
How Many Times Can I Refill My Cartridge Before It Wears Out? \\
Realistically, we don't know, only time will tell; maybe, under ideal conditions, 10 times or more? There will come a time, however, when you notice that your print quality is deteriorating. This is usually evidenced by the printer streaking or incomplete ink coverage even after you have done the head cleaning instructions. Another indicator is printing colors which do not correspond with your screen ... e.g. - Blues look purple, Reds look dirty. This is caused by the print head "wearing out" and NOT by our ink! Those of you with cartridges separate from the print head may find it is the print head that needs replacement while the cartridges are still working fine.
Then, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have completely exhausted the usefulness of your cartridge, and can trash it without any qualms. That will be the time to buy another cartridge, new or remanufactured.
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