what is cartridge 'charging'?

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J

jw

I can't find any explanation of what is actually going on when a
printer (my HP AIO for example) is doing what it calls 'charging a new
cartridge'. Anyone tell me?

Thank you

Duke
 
This term "charging" can relate to the printhead, or the cartridge and
print head combination. It typically means the printer is wasting some
ink on your behalf ;-(

Most inkjet printers go through a cycle to remove old ink and air from
the heads to help prevent gaps from being created when the printing is
occurring. An air bubble mixed into the ink, or within the head can lead
to a ruined print, as can a clogged ink nozzle.

With some HP printers, there is some liquid in the head unit to protect
it and keep air out, that needs to be mixed into the higher density
colored ink in the cartridge. This is usually on the very first
installation of the heads and first set of inks which come with the printer.

The term was also used in laser printers and photocopiers. Originally,
it means that the developer and toner were being mixed together in the
correct ratio at start up or if the toner powder concentration was
running low in the developer powder. Today few laser printers still use
developer powder, but the term is sometimes still used to indicate the
toner is being stirred, or otherwise evenly distributed in a newly
installed cartridge.


Art


If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/
 
I can't find any explanation of what is actually going on when a
printer (my HP AIO for example) is doing what it calls 'charging a new
cartridge'. Anyone tell me?
Click to expand...

"Charging" or "Changing"?

Charging - I have never heard of

Changing - I guess it's telling you that the INK is getting LOW and it's
about time to *change* (not charge) a newer ink cartridge.
 
"Charging" or "Changing"?

Charging - I have never heard of
Click to expand...

Charging is the normal word used by several printer manufacturers
to indicate the activation of a new ink cartridge. (See documentation
of Brother, Epson etc.)
 
Of course, Bob is correct here, and I should have elaborated more about
the HP ink mixing system of newer HP printers. As Bob states, in that
case, with those newer HP models, and when air extraction is done, the
ink is recirculated and not lost as waste. It is one reason why some HP
printers provide much better output yields even when the cartridge ink
volume is smaller, due to less ink lost as waste.

Art



If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/
 
Don Phillipson said:
Charging is the normal word used by several printer manufacturers
to indicate the activation of a new ink cartridge. (See documentation
of Brother, Epson etc.)
Click to expand...

You are right! I just happened to change the cartridges and seeing the
word "Cartridge Charging" popped up.

So I guess it's just part of the cartridge changing (cleaning and sending
the ink to the tube etc.). And the reason I never paid attention to it
because to me it ain't important.
 
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