If It Prints, I'll Let You Know

From Typewriter Tech to Printer Cartridges

underwood5small Ink delivery systems and printers have changed a great deal over the years. The earliest printers utilized ribbons; keys struck the inked ribbon to imprint onto the paper much like typewriter technology. Today ink printer cartridges dominate technology and the market. Not only are ink cartridges much more reliable than ribbons, they are also much cleaner. The development of ink cartridge technology is attributable to several different companies. Ink printer cartridges were first introduced in 1984 and were widely accepted by 1990. Ink cartridges enable printing of much more detailed images than ribbon-printing systems.

Printer cartridge systems allow for printing on several different mediums that ribbon systems did not, such as fabric.

Many innovations have made printer cartridges more convenient than the first cartridges. Separating black and color ink into individual cartridges makes it easy to change only the empty cartridge when the ink runs out. A large array of cartridge choices now awaits the consumer. Along with the ink cartridges that are produced by the manufacturer there are also refilled, re-manufactured, and compatible ink cartridges.

Refill kits allow for used ink cartridges to be refilled for further use. It is important to not to damage the printer head in the process of refilling a cartridge since doing so can greatly reduce the printing quality of the printer. Re-manufactured cartridges are refilled with ink and tested to ensure that they work to standard. They usually have a warranty and cost less than new manufacturers’ cartridges. Finally, compatible cartridges are built to specifications of the original manufacturers’ cartridge, but are produced by a different company.

We’ve come a long ways from the days of ribbons and hammer keys. Printer cartridges for inkjet laser printers revolutionized the whole printer industry.