27. November 2009

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Comparative Test Eleven multifunction printers: The ink tanks

The ink tanks´ yields are information given by the manufacturers. Our laboratory examines yields using real life conditions, results can be found on the next page.

Brother DCP-165C and MFC-790CW

No chip: Filling level is determined by a sensor.

All printers from Brother have four separate ink tanks. Brother´s DCP-165C uses tanks called LC980. Their MFC-790CW has tanks named LC1100, almost identical in construction. All ink tanks come without chip, unique in this test. To check the filling level they have an optical control (see picture right side)

Contrary to most other printing systems, Brother´s ink tanks are not sitting on the print head. They are positioned on the front right side and are connected to the print head via small flexible tubes.

The tubes have to be filled with ink on first use, a lot of ink is needed for that. To compensate for this loss Brother delivers the printers with ink tanks containing more ink than the ones for sale. Yield of the first set, and of tanks for sale are listed in the tables below.

LC980-tanks: Are used with Brother DCP-165C and have low yield.

LC1100-tanks: For MFC-790CW, somewhat higher yield.

Ink tank bay: Four single tanks...

...fit into each printer´s front right side.

Outsmarted

Comparison in size: The small ink tanks (left side) have a notch and contain less ink.

If you have Brother´s DCP-165C, you can only use LC980-tanks with low yield. Taking a closer look at both tanks (LC980 and LC1100) you detect they are almost identical. Just a small plastic jut (see picture below) on the LC1100-tanks prevents their use in the smaller printer. Cropping this with end-cutting pliers or a knife makes the high yield tanks fit for use in the smaller printer. Attention: Risk of injury, wear protective gloves.

The picture on the right side shows the front of both ink tanks, LC980 (left) and LC1100 (right). To decrease its filling capacity the LC 980 has indentations on both sides.

Increase yield: If you crop the small notch (see arrow) you can use the high yield tank in the small printer.

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Canon Pixma MP490

Canon Pixma MP490: Exchange of ink tanks is easy.

Canon has provided the small AIO MP490 with ink tanks and integrated one-way-printheads. This means, the printer gets a new print head with each new ink tank. Advantage: The nozzles need less cleaning cycles, ink consumption decreases. Disadvantage: There are three colors in each cartridge, which are not consumed equally. If one color is used up, ink in not emptied tanks is being disposed of.

The cartridges come with two different capacities. The AIO is shipped with low yield tanks, CL-511 and PG-510. Higher yield is achieved with CL-513 and PG-512 cartridges.

Canon Pixma MP490: Ink cartridges with disposable print head. One cartridge contains the elementary colors Cyan, Magenta and Yellow.

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Canon Pixma MP560 and MP640

Canon Pixma MP560 and MP640: Ink tanks in easy reach.

Both big Canon-AIOs use the same ink cartridges. To achieve a higher print speed in color print the MP640 features more nozzles. The number of nozzles for black is the same. The print head remains in the printers for their lifetimes.

There are five separate ink cartridges in each printer: One with black pigmented ink for text, and four color ink tanks with dye ink (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Photoblack). The tanks are available in one size only, and the same are in scope of supply.

Five single ink tanks: Both printers have...

...five ink tanks, all are secured by chips.

Canon-Single-Ink CLI-521 and PGI-520: Their predecessors were transparent. The new ones have only a small inspection window for filling level control.

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Epson Stylus SX510W and Office BX610FW

Ink tanks: Room for four cartridges.

Epson´s printers have a permanent print head, and four single ink tanks are sitting on it. Both printers use the same type high yield ink cartridges (T1001 to T1004), only difference are the tanks with less yield (T0711 to T0714), which are delivered with the Stylus SX510W. The Stylus Office BX610FW comes with high yield cartridges (T1001 to T1004).

In addition to the low yield (T0711) and the high yield black tank (T1001), Epson offers a "medium" yield tank, available only in a twin pack (T0711H).

Black tanks: Three different capacities (T0711, T0711H (only as twin pack), and T1001).

Color cartridges: Two different capacities (T0712 to T0714, and T1002 to T1004).

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HP Photosmart C4680

Ink tanks: Exchange fidgeting.

HP introduced a number of Photosmarts, which are all equipped with single ink cartridges, except for the C4680. This, HP´s smallest, has two ink tanks with one-way-printhead just like Canon´s Pixma MP490.

One color used up: Print head must go as well. Even if there is lots of ink left in the other chambers: One chamber empty, print head and unused ink end up in the scrapheap.

HP-Photosmart-C4680-tanks: One black and one color cartridge (Nr. 300), with integrated print head.

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HP Photosmart Premium Fax C309a

Ink tanks: Easy accessibility and replacement.

For almost a year now HP offers single exchangeable ink cartridges for non-business printers as well. Cartridges and concept look like Canon´s: There are three basic colors, a tank for photo-black (all dye-ink), and a big tank with pigmented ink for text print. As clone-protection all tanks have a chip. Refill is possible, however, as is with Canon.

Unlike Canon HP offers tanks in two sizes. Low yields come with the printers. Inside they have two compartments: One empty and one with a sponge. In the high yield tanks (364XL) both are filled with ink. In the low yield cartridges (364) only the compartment with a sponge is filled with ink, the other is empty. To prevent a refill of the empty compartment HP has closed the connection between both in cartridges with low yield. And since one cell is empty, there is no need for an observation window.

HP Photosmart Premium Fax C309a: Almost the same concept: Very similar to Canon Pixma single ink tanks...

...and on the bottom side you find a small inspection window for filling control. The smartchip is there as well.

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Kodak ESP 5250

Ink tanks: Both cartridges can be swapped easily.

All AIOs, which Kodak has launched so far, can be fed with the same ink tanks: One tank for black ink, and one for the colors. According to Kodak the print head will last the lifetime of the printer. The tanks within scope of supply provide the same yield as the ones you can buy.

Both cartridges are furnished with smartchips, which prevent a refill. Once a tank is empty, the printer refuses to accept it when refilled.

The nozzles of the black and yellow cartridge generate droplets, which are 6.5 picoliters in size - black in the color cartridge, cyan, and magenta come out 2.7 picoliters in diameter.

Kodak ESP 5250: Two non-refillable tanks with chip (black, cyan, magenta, yellow, and a gloss-optimizer).

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Lexmark Impact S305

Ink tanks: Similar to Epson with four cartridges. Easily accessible.

Single ink tanks are a novelty with Lexmark. Except for their J110 there always were tanks with one-way-printheads. The cartridges have a chip, which is not visible from the outside. It is said to be a RFID-chip. The tanks are sold in different sizes and under varying conditions of sale. The table below shows the different kinds. Ink tanks without "A" in their names (see box below) are "return inkjet cartridges", which are to be sent back to Lexmark and which cannot be refilled. Ink tanks with an "A" hold the same amount of ink, they are more expensive, but you may refill them. Whether or not a refill is actually possible, DC will test soon.

With the printer you get ink tanks with low yield, which cannot be refilled and have to be sent back to Lexmark.

Lexmark Impact S305: Four single ink tanks with dye-colors and pigmented black.

RFID-Chip inside

On the outside of the tanks no chip or electrical contact is visible. The RFID-chip is hidden below a sticker. The printer has access to the chip via wireless. The picture below shows the chip´s front- and backside. It stores the filling level of the tank. An empty "return" tank can be refilled but not used again, the printer will refuse to accept it.

RFID-Chip: Top left side, bottom right side, with antenna.

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