Digital BW, The Print

Mike,

>If you have not already done so, could you explain the vacuum loading
technique.

>I got tired of going to work with ink under my finger nails, so I bought
latex gloves, >but loading carts with a syringe is still a pain and a messy
proposition.

Yes, you can do this procedure without having ink under your fingernails,
and 90% of the time the first nozzle check is perfect.

The key to the system is a "T" junction that has a soft plug in it that a
sharp syringe will go through.  One short tube from this junction is shoved
into the hole in the cart.  Another short tube from this junction goes to
the vacuum pump (like the CIS unit).  You pull a vacuum, crimp the tube to
the pump, stick the sharp needle of the syringe full ink through the soft
plug, and the ink gets pulled out of the syringe into the cart.

I've re-used these "T" junctions 10 times now, and there is no sign of
leakage yet.  They will eventually need replacement.  So far, we don't know
how long they'll go.

This method not only keeps the fingers clean and gives perfect nozzle checks
(usually), but it also preserves the 1 micron screens at the bottom of the
cartridges.  This should help our printers keep working well longer.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com