Continuous feed systems

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The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.

If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
work over a distance of 2-3 feet?

If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
to the average motivated tinkerer. A few feet of tubing, a bit of
planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
to put together a system with a few extra bucks.
 
The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.
Click to expand...
My guess is that it is just a siphon---the tubing is not all that
small.
If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
work over a distance of 2-3 feet?
Click to expand...
Tubing diameter probably dictated by the flexing required---the siphon
does no care what the diameter is.
If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
to the average motivated tinkerer.
Click to expand...
How so?---a siphon is also affordable........;)
A few feet of tubing, a bit of
planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
to put together a system with a few extra bucks.
Click to expand...

At least at MIS (inksupply.com), you can buy all the pieces.

Camel (weink.com) is pretty cheap.

**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".
 
The pictures for these continuous feeds systems are rarely big or clear
enough to see all the detail, but it sure seems like ink is being
transferred from reservoirs to cartridges by capillary action.

If this be the case, what ID tubing works best? Will 1/8 or 1/16" tubing
work over a distance of 2-3 feet?

If it is capillary action which transfers ink, this makes cfs affordable
to the average motivated tinkerer. A few feet of tubing, a bit of
planning and imagination and not all that much time and one might be able
to put together a system with a few extra bucks.
Click to expand...

PS: I am currently re-filling cartridges. The only thing that
stopped me from getting a CFS is that it ties you into one kind of ink
more
**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".
 
My guess is that it is just a siphon---the tubing is not all that
small.
Tubing diameter probably dictated by the flexing required---the siphon
does no care what the diameter is.
How so?---a siphon is also affordable........;)

At least at MIS (inksupply.com), you can buy all the pieces.

Camel (weink.com) is pretty cheap.

**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".
Click to expand...


I'm not convinced ink is being siphoned. Ink reservoirs seem to be below
printheads or cartridges. Capillary action is when a liquid will travel
through a narrow space, the length of which is dependent on the liquid,
its surface tension properties and the dimensions of the space.

Siphons are too easy to "break". With the correct size tubing, capillary
action seems more predictable and reliable.
 
Camel (weink, i9100) uses 1/16 inch tubing in a 6-wide ribbon like
ribbon cable. This is necessary to get it to keep out of the way of
the moving print head like the electrical ribbon cable.

It works by suction. As ink moves out of the cart, it creates a vacuum
that pulls in more ink. The ink bottles must be lower than the print
head to prevent accidental siphoning. (Printer must be elevated about
2 inches. I have mine sitting on a ream of 11x17 card stock.)

The carts are the aftermarket BC-6 type with the resealing caps. I
think you can get a set from AtlanticInkJet. The ink is weink, costs
about $30 per 16 oz -- which is about $5 more than others. On the
other hand, it hasn't ever clogged -- but it gets used about twice a
week for small stuff and about once a month for a production run
(which is why I got the CRS.)

The problem is the 1/16-inch plastic "through hull fittings" and the
1/16-inch plastic "no-Leak" connectors. I can't find anything that
small in the standard industrial chemical handling parts book. I can't
find the ribbon tubing either.

If anybody reading this has a source, please post it here.

Thanks.

Jim
 
The problem is the 1/16-inch plastic "through hull fittings" and the
1/16-inch plastic "no-Leak" connectors. I can't find anything that
small in the standard industrial chemical handling parts book. I can't
find the ribbon tubing either.

If anybody reading this has a source, please post it here.
Click to expand...


I found 4-tube ribbons in the McMaster-Carr
[http://www.mcmaster.com/] catalog as well as some small fittings.
Another source would be Grainger [www.grainger.com] or hunting down a
supplier of scientific equipment and lab supplies. A good medical
products store should also have something useable.

There is also teflon tubing available in various sizes including sizes
smaller than 1/16". I'm guessing that this size tubing is being used
because it is the size available in ribbon form. There'd probably be some
give in tubing diameter since flowrate does not necessarily have to be
gushing.

Instead of using fittings, I believe it would be possible to drill a hole
in the top of a cartridge, insert the tube and then seal it. The effect
should be the same without the added trouble of hunting down connectors or
fittings.

How does one create the vacuum?
 
Camel (weink, i9100) uses 1/16 inch tubing in a 6-wide ribbon like
ribbon cable. This is necessary to get it to keep out of the way of
the moving print head like the electrical ribbon cable.

It works by suction. As ink moves out of the cart, it creates a vacuum
that pulls in more ink. The ink bottles must be lower than the print
head to prevent accidental siphoning. (Printer must be elevated about
2 inches. I have mine sitting on a ream of 11x17 card stock.)
Click to expand...

OK--I buy suction (but not capillary)

This means they are sealing the vent holes in the carts
**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".
 
OK--I buy suction (but not capillary)

This means they are sealing the vent holes in the carts
**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".
Click to expand...


I can see suction working. It's too bad these cartridged don't have
septums similar to what's on bottles of sterilized water: Insert needle
and the "wound" self-seals upon exit.

This would make filling cartridges easier and less messy.
 
The initial filling process is as follows:

1. attach tubing to empty cartridge with cartridge cap in place.

2. Attach syringe with one way valve to "no leak" connector.

3. Suck out air with syringe.

4. Fill ink bottles.

5. Connect vacuumed carts to fill bottles with "no leak" connector.

I've gone through about 4 ounces of black and slightly less colors so
far with no problems.

According to instructions, you may have to disconnect tubing and
re-prime if you lose suction.

You can download the instruction manual at the weink site.

http://www.weink.com

Jim


The problem is the 1/16-inch plastic "through hull fittings" and the
1/16-inch plastic "no-Leak" connectors. I can't find anything that
small in the standard industrial chemical handling parts book. I can't
find the ribbon tubing either.

If anybody reading this has a source, please post it here.
Click to expand...


I found 4-tube ribbons in the McMaster-Carr
[http://www.mcmaster.com/] catalog as well as some small fittings.
Another source would be Grainger [www.grainger.com] or hunting down a
supplier of scientific equipment and lab supplies. A good medical
products store should also have something useable.

There is also teflon tubing available in various sizes including sizes
smaller than 1/16". I'm guessing that this size tubing is being used
because it is the size available in ribbon form. There'd probably be some
give in tubing diameter since flowrate does not necessarily have to be
gushing.

Instead of using fittings, I believe it would be possible to drill a hole
in the top of a cartridge, insert the tube and then seal it. The effect
should be the same without the added trouble of hunting down connectors or
fittings.

How does one create the vacuum?
Click to expand...
 
The initial filling process is as follows:

1. attach tubing to empty cartridge with cartridge cap in place.

2. Attach syringe with one way valve to "no leak" connector.

3. Suck out air with syringe.

4. Fill ink bottles.

5. Connect vacuumed carts to fill bottles with "no leak" connector.

I've gone through about 4 ounces of black and slightly less colors so
far with no problems.

According to instructions, you may have to disconnect tubing and
re-prime if you lose suction.

You can download the instruction manual at the weink site.

http://www.weink.com

Jim
Click to expand...



Thanks!
 
I still have my Weink CFS for my old Epson 750 with varying quantities of
inks left if anyone is interested. I put it on eBay when I got my Canon
i960 but there were no bids.
 
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