On Nov 22, 2014, at 1:56 PM, amog19@gmx.net [QuadtoneRIP] <QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Hi Everybody,
I have problems to charge my R3000 bubble-free / air-free with ink. This is not related to QTR, but I assume that the community here has intimate experience with handling printers and how to "fuel" them with ink, therefore I also place my question here hoping for your helpful response.
While working on my R3000 to convert it from K3 to K4 and after replacing the pre-filled one-way cartridges with refillable cartridges it repeatedly happens that the LK and LLK channels (that I work on) do not deliver ink at all - most probably because of air cought in the ink pathway.
Does anyone have a reliable approach to charge the printer with ink, and that does not introduce air to the system?
Here is what I have been doing:
I use a syringe with a flexible tub e attach ed to charge my R3000 with bulk ink. The tube (inner diameter 3mm, about 1/8 inch) fits tightly to the ink-receptor pin at the cartridge holder base.
I load the syringe and the tube with ink in a way that the tube is completely filled with ink.
But - in the attempt to fit the ink filled tube to the ink-receptor pin a drop or more of ink is usually lost, and consequently air is introduced to the tube. When I apply pressure to press ink into the system that air is of course also pushed towards the print head. I believe this approach with a syringe/tube inevitably behaves that way since the rather large inner diameter of the tube does not hold the ink and it drops out when the tube tip touches the ink-receptor pin.
I now consicer the following approach: press ink into the system via the attached cartridge with a syringe, no tube in between. When the cartridge is propperly attached and filled with ink there should be a closed stra nd of in k between the cartridge ink reservoir and the printhead nozzles. When I need to charge that channel with ink (e.g. to flush it, to unclog the nozzles etc.) I would seal the cartridge's vent hole, insert the syringe tip, now without that flexible tube and no needle attached, directly into the cartridge's load hole (where you usually insert the needle). This way I create an air-tight system between the ink-loaded syringe, via the cartridge all the way to the print head - and can press ink from the syringe into the cartridge, the added pressure translating to ink being pressed towards the print head.
This is my theory. I am not sure if the cartridge's ink outlet (attached to the ink-receptor pin) is tight enough to hold that kind of pressure and to not leak. I obviously wouldn't be able to see that leak and the resulting mess before it is too late. Does anyone have experience with that approach? Or do you have a d ifferent reliable approach to charge the printer with ink that does not introduce air to the system?
Thanks and Regards,
Amin
Message
Re: [QuadtoneRIP] charge printer with ink - and with no air
2014-11-22 by Myron Gochnauer
I have used two type of 220 ml refillable cartridges for the 4880. One is the older style opaque white cartridge that contains a Mylar (?) bag for the ink. This is refilled by using a 60 ml syringe (from an animal feed and supplies store), injecting
the ink through the port that connects to the printer. (Obviously, the cartridge must be removed from the printer to be refilled.) In place of a needle I use the little plastic injector ends from MIS. I don’t know if any air gets into the cartridge bag, but
I have never had the problems you describe.
The other type of cartridge is the translucent type that fills with a funnel. These have not given me air problems, either.
Whenever I have a cartridge out, just before I reinstall it in the printer I put a drop of clear ink base or base + water in the opening surrounding the cartridge’s connection to the printer. That’s just a precaution to keep air out of the way
when the cartridge and printer “copulate”.
Myron