Refill Inkjet Cartridges with Plug Valves

Promax Imaging Ltd

14-16 Uttoxeter Rd
UPPER TEAN
Staffs
ST10 4LG UK

Tel:
+44 (0) 1538
722121

Fax:
+44 (0) 1538
724327

GROUP 23 DATA TABLE

Cartridge number

Colour

OEM full weight

Empty weight from printer

True empty weight

OEM Fill

Ink delivered

OCP Ink ref

T0801

Black

27.15g

tba

T0802

Cyan

27.65g

tba

T0803

Magenta

27.40g

tba

T0804

Yellow

27.20g

tba

T0805

Light Cyan

27.45g

tba

T0806

Lt Magenta

27.30g

tba

So just as you thought it was safe to go back in the water, along comes another shark. This time our shark arrives in the guise of the Epson MkIII cartridge.

Unlike the MkII and MkIIa, this cartridge does not have an air valve which is operated by the printer. This puppy has a plain vent valve, not unlike the HP29/29 cartridge in operation. Utilising a low resistance membrane, the valve passes air into the cartridge as the internal pressure drops.

As shown here, the vent valve bears a striking resemblance to the fill hole used in the previous two types of cartridge. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you drill this. We have to make our own fill hole to take the plug valve in this series of cartridge.

The position to drill the cartridge is indicated by the crosshairs on the picture. Be very careful to get this right as there is not much margin for error. The drill needs to enter to a depth of 12mm.


	The internal imitation of Hampton Court maze has predictably been further complicated, but as the Epson boffins cannot change the laws of gravity, or make air heavier than ink, the cartridge still has to deliver the ink to the printer in a similar way as the previous cartridge types.

This is a picture of an unused OEM cartridge stripped to show the inside.

Note the amount of air in the cartridge.

You can also see the yellow remove tape.

This serves only to seal the vent valve.

Here is the refilled cartridge.

You can see that there is less air in it, but in a different place. This has no effect on the operation of the cartridge.

There is about 2g more ink in the cartridge.

One important consideration is that unlike the MkII & MkIIa cartridges, this cartridge is best filled under vacuum.

The method is the same whether filling under vacuum or not. The syringe should be filled with 20 ml of ink. After slowly injecting 2ml into the cartridge let it rest for about 10 seconds. Then inject another 5ml of ink and let it rest again for about 10 seconds, then inject the rest of the ink slowly.

Letting the cartridge rest in this way allows the ink levels inside the cartridge to level out, and the air to rise to the top of the chambers.


	16th March 2007


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