Ink cartridge

[1] It consists of one or more ink reservoirs and can include electronic contacts and a chip to exchange information with the printer.

Inside each partition of the ink reservoir is a heating element with a tiny metal plate or resistor.

When the ink first begins to run low, the cartridge should be refilled or replaced, to avoid overheating damage to the print head.

To save money, many people use compatible ink cartridges from a vendor other than the printer manufacturer[citation needed].

[17] The print cartridge industry failed to earn $3 billion in 2009 due to this, according to an International Data Corporation estimate.

[citation needed] Some manufacturers, including Canon and Epson, have introduced new models featuring in-built continuous ink systems.

overrode such an interlocked system and found that in one case he could print up to 38% more good quality pages after the chip stated that the cartridge was empty.

[21] In 2010, HP lost three class action lawsuits: In 2017, Halte à L’Obsolescence Programmée (HOP) — End Planned Obsolescence — filed a lawsuit and won against Brother, Canon, Epson, HP and other companies for intentionally shortening product life spans - inkjet printers and ink cartridges included.

[22] Since printer cartridges from the original manufacturer are often expensive, demand exists for cheaper third party options.

Cartridge refill kits can contain both ink syringes/droppers, sealing tape, rubber plugs, a drill tool and a screw driver.

Today's CIS systems are mass-produced in China, often incorporating all ink bottles into one partitioned container.

The legality of this industry was brought to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in the case of Lexmark Int'l v. Static Control Components.

The Court ruled that reverse-engineering the handshaking procedure to enable compatibility did not violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

[citation needed] Many programs have been implemented in the United States and Europe[31] to encourage the recycling of ink cartridges.

[32] In California the Public Contract Code (PCC) section 12156[33] encourages businesses to purchase recycled ink and toner cartridges.

Two cartridges; one with black ink (a third-party HP 15 compatible cartridge), one with colored inks (an original type HP 17 tri-color cartridge) currently installed in an HP inkjet printer .
HP Inkjet color cartridge.
Infusing an inkjet printer
Resetting an Epson ink cartridge using a resetter tool