Continuous Ink Systems And How They Can Damage A Printer

2010-06-07

The cost of a printer ink cartridge can be half as much as a printer itself. For this reason, many companies have come to the conclusion that the area of document printing is one in which they stand to save a great deal of money. While this can be the case, care must be taken whenever cost-cutting measures are implemented to ensure that the new, lower-cost idea does not end up costing the company money because of an unexpected result. When it comes to printers, there can be two very unfortunate and unexpected results if a system is used that is not approved by the manufacturer to either refill or use ink cartridges. The first is that the ink itself will somehow be defective, and either print onto the page poorly or not at all. The second is that the printer will somehow be damaged, causing not only the ink to be useless, but the company to shell out extra money for a new printer. Sadly, in any case where an after-market product is used, the printer's warranty will be null and void.

One way in which printers themselves can be damaged is by the use of a continuous ink system. In this system, the need for continually filling ink cartridges is eliminated, and the cartridges are directly hooked up to a large ink reservoir and then attached to the printer. This reservoir can hold fifty to one hundred times as much ink as a cartridge, and eliminates the need for buying a new printer ink cartridge as it will almost never run out, and also the need for any ink refilling as the cartridge constantly full. This system appeals to many companies because involves the use of a bulk product, which is far cheaper than a brand name version, and also involves a lack of service, which inevitably becomes costly.

The difficulty with continuous ink systems is threefold. First, if the ink flow is not properly adjusted, it can overrun the printer and cause it to become filled with ink. Once this happens, it is essentially a paperweight. Second, a printer cartridge was not made for continuous, permanent use. Eventually the print head will degrade, causing the ink to stop flowing or flow far too quickly. Third, the quality of the ink in the reservoir will not stay consistent. Over time, it will thicken and congeal, and will ultimately fail in the printer.

While the cost of replacing or refilling ink cartridges can add up, the cost of replacing an entire office worth of printers is substantially more. With regular maintenance and pragmatic use, refilled or refurbished ink cartridges can be a cheaper and safer solution than continuous ink systems.