F.A.Q.
1. What does it mean to refill ink jet cartridges?
Refilling means recycling your ink jet cartridge, making
it possible for this ‘disposable’ product to be
used more than once. Carefully cleaning and refilling
the cartridge is crucial to preserve the print head, and Cartridge
Depot has revolutionized this process. Refilling is good for
the environment and can be relatively inexpensive because
of the relatively low cost of the consumables involved in
refilling a cartridge.
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2. How many times can an inkjet cartridge be refilled?
There is no fixed answer to this question because it varies
from cartridge to cartridge. In our experience, most
cartridges can be refilled 8 to 10 times.
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3. When should a cartridge be refilled?
The delicate print head of an inkjet cartridge consists of
thin nozzles sometimes less than one millimeter in length,
backed by a thermal resistor that boils and cools the ink.
Cartridge Depot recommends refilling cartridges at the
first sign of ink level warning messages or output degradation
such as streaking or fading ink. Inkjet cartridges must
be refilled before they run completely dry. Dried ink
from a cartridge used until totally empty will often block
the print head causing the cartridge to fail. The comprehensive
Cartridge Depot franchise plan utilizes marketing and public
relations to educate the consumer about timely inkjet refills.
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4. What is the proper way to handle a
cartridge?
Our cartridge handling procedures and the refill technology
powering the Ink 3000 system are designed to maximize the
success ratio of refills and maximize the life of a cartridge.
We also educate the public through awareness campaigns and
media outreach about the basics of cartridge handling and
storage. Preserving the print head of a cartridge is as simple
as not touching it, properly sealing the print head when it’s
outside of a printer, and storing that cartridge in static
proof bags and boxes.
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5. How important is the ink quality?
High quality ink makes a big difference. Cartridge
Depot has invested considerable time and resources into matching
and testing the blending qualities and compatibility of our
inks. Our system makes this process simple. Bad
ink will cause the print head on your cartridge may get clogged
or destroyed by the ink that cannot match the OEM's specifications
governing drying rate, ink density, boiling points, viscosity,
surface tension, color and PH values.
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6. What defines the domestic inkjet
refill market?
Industry projections call for worldwide sales of inkjet printers
to exceed 64 million units in 2005-with hundreds of millions
of printers currently in use. It’s difficult to think
of a group or institution that doesn’t utilize inkjet
printers; banks, insurance related businesses, stock brokerage
firms and financial related institutions, hospitals, government
agencies, schools, small, medium and large manufacturing and
other businesses. Simply put, any company that generates a
lot of paper will also generates a lot of empty cartridges
that can be refilled and reused.
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7. How important is the cleaning
process?
Successfully cleaning the cartridges and unclogging the nozzles
is one of the keys to a profitable recycling operation. In
combination with the Ink3000 and our cleaning process will
make the difference, yielding a 50% increase in overall success
rates over other refill systems.
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8. What are the steps in the cartridge
refill process?
Our three to five minute refill process varies slightly by
cartridge type. Here are the basics:
Step 1.) test the electrical circuit in the cartridge 2.)
clean its nozzles 3.) refill the ink bladder 4.) print a test
page 5.) seal the print head f.) package the cartridge in
an antistatic bag and cardboard box - and deliver it
to the customer.
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9. How does the Cartridge Depot
process work with so many different inkjet manufacturers?
Adaptability is the watchword of our technical engineers,
and the result is the Ink3000, a machine that successfully
combines a myriad array of functions and delivery options
compatible with all inkjet cartridges. Ongoing research and
development provide a bridge to future cartridge refill innovations
from the industry standard. Our initial training program
provides the foundation, while manuals, interactive media
and ongoing training and support will keep you abreast of
evolving industry standards.
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10. How are franchises granted?
Exclusive domestic territories are now being offered, with
the incumbent exclusivity of the Ink3000 machine. Cartridge
Depot franchises are offered by prospectus only; for more
information, click here.
11. What
is your return policy?
