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Basic Ink Flow |
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Ink flow is primarily due to gravity flow. The ValueJet 64s and 100s, have a sub-tank system at the level of the head, but the cartridges are located above the head. Valves control flow into the subtanks, allowing for ink cartridge changes without interrupting printing. A pump actually pulls ink through the head during filling and cleaning cycles by creating a vacuum between the bottom of the head and the capping station seal. Failure to keep the bottom of the head clean and the seal clean and in good condition will limit the ability to pull ink through the head. This may result in nozzles NOT being cleaned properly and will affect the volume of ink values being writting to the smart cards on carded cartridges. The smart cart counts the number of pump cycles (and number of nozzle firings) to estimate the amount of ink used. It write this information to the smart cart to record the amount of ink remaining in the cartridge.
Thanks to Allan at:
The cleaning schedule and procedures for ValueJets are avalable as printable stickers here: The Ink Status is most often assumed to be the amount of ink in the cartridge but in one case it is not correct.
The main issue is with the first cartridge when an INK FILL is performed.
You are correct in that ink volume is subtracted for every cleaning function or printing operation. The exception is that the INK FILL process uses 50% of the cartridge (on a 220ml) just to fill the sub tank. Yet if you immediately read the INK STATUS menu it will still show 87% (48), 82% (64) and 77% (100). For the remainder of the original cartridge (after any INK FILL) the customer must subtract 50% to know how much ink is in the cartridge. Once the original is changed out then the new cartridge will read 100% and again start counting accurately or at least to the degree that the seal is working properly. With a second ink cartridge the INK STATUS will correctly display how much ink is in the cartridge.
The subtanks in the VJ16xx and VJ26xx series allow for cartidge changes without interrupting printing, the 1204 and 1304 series will stop printing when a cartridge is removed or when the 'empty' tab protrudes enough to activate the empty sensor. There are reports from customers: "I heard the beeping but I was told to keep printing until the printer stops printing and then replace the cartridge." Of course, this is poor advice and not the way the printer is designed. What can be confusing is the 'beeping' - it really means FEED ME NOW, not wait until I stop printing.
KEY POINT: The INK LOW tab comes out when ink is flowing from the cartridge into the sub tank. Ink flows into the sub tank when the solenoid valve is open. The valve opens when the 'low ink sensor' in the sub tank opens. So the low subtank wants to FILL and it sends the signal to open the solenoid. Once the solenoid opens, ink flows by gravity into the sub tank until the sub tank HIGH sensor closes. However, if the INK LOW tab of the cartridge pops out during the gravity feeding then the printer begins 'beeping' and should close the valve. When the low amount of ink in the sub tank is consumed then the printer will stop printing with an 'Ink End' message.
We also discussed that if the counter drops to a low point the printer will display 'ink near end x' and may start beeping as well. This would occur when the pump/cap are not pulling the full amount of liquid during the 'cleaning' cycles.
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