An inkjet cartridge is a replaceable component part of an inkjet printer that contains the ink that’s spread on paper during printing and sometimes the print-head itself. Each inkjet cartridge contains one or more partitioned off ink tanks (reservoirs), electronic contacts and a chip that communicates with the printer.
Inside each partition of the inkjet cartridge tank (reservoir), is a tiny metal plate. The ink immediately surrounding the heated plate is vaporised. As a consequence, the total volume of the ink exceeds that of the inkjet cartridge. An ink droplet goes on of the cartridge onto the paper. Usually, two separate inkjet cartridges are inserted into an inkjet printer: one containing black ink and one with each of the three primary colors (cyan, magenta and yellow).
Alternatively, each primary color may have a dedicated inkjet cartridge. Some inkjet cartridges are specifically designed for printing photographs. All printer suppliers produce their own type of inkjet cartridges. Inkjet cartridges for different printers perhaps incompatible – either physically or electrically. Since replacement inkjet cartridges from the original manufacturer of the printer are often very expensive, another manufacturers produce “compatible” inkjet cartridges as cheaper alternatives.
Some inkjet cartridges have incorporated the printer head (most Hewlett Packard inkjet printers use this system). Usually, they’re more expensive, but the printers are cheaper. Others don’t include the print head, but they’re more economic and the inkjet printers are more expensive (for instance, most Epson inkjet printers).
Typically, inkjet cartridges are very expensive compared to the printer itself. Some people choose to use inexpensive ink, knowing that, in the long term, it may damage the printer. However, the cost savings of 4 or 5 refilled inkjet cartridges may well be sufficient to pay for a new inkjet printer. Consumers are often surprised at the price of replacing their inkjet cartridges, especially when compared therewith of purchasing a bran-new inkjet printer. The major printer manufacturers, Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Dell, Canon, Epson and Brother, often break even or lose money selling printers and expect to recoup their losses by selling inkjet cartridges over the lifetime of the printer.
Since much of the printer manufacturers’ profits are assembled of inkjet cartridges and toner sales, these companies have taken various actions to limit the options of consumers in using aftermarket inkjet cartridges.
However, many consumers have purchased remanufactured cartridges from alternative companies to save money over buying new inkjet cartridges. Remanufacturing of inkjet cartridges and other printer supplies also reduces the amount of plastic that comes in the landfill and keeps the Earth a cleaner place.
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