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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 "vapor lock" after
refilling. You can try to defeat the vapor 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.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners
and are not affiliated with Print
Care.
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