Blocked squeezy bottle needle

[Emulator]

When attempting to fill a cartridge, I was surprised to find that my 2/3 full squeezy fill bottle of Photo Magenta refused to pass ink through the needle. After removing the needle from the bottle, I managed to clear the needle with pressure from a syringe, but I think it would be unwise to use the ink to refill.

 

[Grandad35]

Whatever caused the blockage was probably responsible for at least 2 of my clogged print heads that required disassembly and a high pressure purge in the plastic body to clear. Good find.

Since the ink has to pass through the very fine filter at the cart's exit to get into the print head, my blockages must have formed inside the print head itself. The solution to this problem isn't in filtering the ink.

 

[Emulator]

It raises the question of what make and type of dye ink produces good results and is safe to use?

 

[PeterBJ]

Something similar has also happened to me, I have lost print heads for IP4300, iP5200 and MP970 due to what I suspect is organic growth in the ink. In my case the affected inks were regular cyan IS 2032 and photo magenta IS 6120.

The affected print heads were working perfectly one day and the next day the affected colour was almost or totally gone, something had happened overnight. A stamp test showed that the affected nozzles were blocked, it was not an electronic failure.

Here is one post showing suspect microbial growth, also see post #15 in the same thread. This lengthy thread discusses the causes of magenta failure in Canon print heads. There are two theories, microbial growth and an electronic print head failure affecting many Canon print heads. This post shows some algae (?) from magenta ink. Here is one more thread also showing possible microbial growth.

For medical purposes the syringes and needles we use for refilling are strictly single use, as once used they are no longer sterile. We refillers use them till they wear out, so could the syringes and needles help spread this possible infection? Could the ink be sterile filtered using special syringe filters when refilling? Does anybody have any experience with this?

Proper storage of the ink and shelf life is also important. Perhaps ink should be stored in the fridge when not in use?

 

[berttheghost]

I've had enough bad experiences over the years that I'm ready to try syringe filters.

Maybe part of the problem is bad ink from suppliers, but there are also several ways to contaminate the ink during the refilling process. Ink should never be returned to the storage bottles. Better still, nothing should ever be inserted into the storage bottles, including supposedly clean needles. Squeeze bottles could be used to measure inks into syringes. I'm sure that there are other guidelines that one could adopt to ensure sanitary practices when handling and transferring inks. Maybe someone could write a sticky post with some obscure title like 'Inkjet refilling hygiene'.

I'm one of those people who used to drill tiny holes in their pgi-9 cartridges in order to refill back in the days before squeeze bottles. Never a problem back then, except for putting those tiny #72 screws back in the holes.

I wonder if maybe (thermal) inkjet inks are autoclavable? That might provide an answer to the bacterial growth issue.

 

[Roy Sletcher]

When attempting to fill a cartridge, I was surprised to find that my 2/3 full squeezy fill bottle of Photo Magenta refused to pass ink through the needle. After removing the needle from the bottle, I managed to clear the needle with pressure from a syringe, but I think it would be unwise to use the ink to refill.

Important to know the inkset - was it precision colours CLI-42 old formulation for the Pro100?

If it was precision colours CLI-42 new formulation - I think it is called MARK 2, it could be the cause of a world of pain for Mikling.

Not to mention those of us using the ink.

 

[stratman]

I store my refilling gear and inks and refill the cartridges in the basement. It has the worst of conditions in the summer - hot, humid, musty. This changed with the application of a dehumidifier late summer / fall. Since I only refill one set of cartridges they are in the printer. The room where the printer is in ranges in temps from 60F to 90'sF and can be quite humid in the summer.

The point is even in these less than ideal conditions, my cartridges run properly. Those cartridges are several years old and have not had a flush in years. If anyone should have a microbial growth problem with their ink/cartridges then it should be me. But it hasn't happened.

I have not had squeeze bottle needle blockage, maybe because after I refill I use some folded up paper towel held over the tip of the needle tip with the bottle upright and squeeze twice to clear ink from the needle. I also use a needle scabbard.

Could it be the CLI-8 cartridges and Precision Colors inkset are that much more immune to issues than other cartridges?

 

[The Hat]

When attempting to fill a cartridge, I was surprised to find that my 2/3 full squeezy fill bottle of Photo Magenta refused to pass ink through the needle. After removing the needle from the bottle, I managed to clear the needle with pressure from a syringe, but I think it would be unwise to use the ink to refill.

@Emulator I don’t think there is any wrong with your P magenta ink at all, maybe you need to change the way your refill your cartridges just a little.

To refill the cartridge you squeeze the ink bottle till the reservoir is all most full then withdraw the needle from the cartridge, sounds easy enough.

But if your only release your grip on the bottle when it’s right side up again then any remaining ink that is left in the needle will be pulled back into the bottle by the vacuum created, this method also prevents any cross contamination from occurring.

Regardless of which gauge size needle you use this method will prevent needle blockage every time, then putting the scabbard back on top of the needle will keep your ink fresh and free from any air borne contaminants..

 

[Emulator]

Hi Roy, To respond to your questions and to clarify the details, the ink is manufactured by Image Specialists. The type is Photo Magenta 6120 and the batch reference number is M6120-0000003. It was not supplied through Precisioncolors in Canada, but the UK supplier OctoInkJet.

I use top fill and the squeezy bottle the ink is delivered in, plus cap, needle and scabbard. This is the first blocked needle I have experienced, but I am on my second print head, albeit used with other bottles of IS ink. In attempting to refill a PM cartridge I found that it was impossible to squeeze any ink through the needle. I tried it over the wash basin but not a drop. I removed the needle and cap and tried to force water through the needle with a syringe in the reverse direction, it suddenly cleared and ejected ink.

I think I may buy some OEM magenta cartridges and flush the others and the print head.

All my cartridges have been flushed with pharmacist's solution since the head was replaced and perform the better for it. I wonder if the solution provides any anti growth factor and if not could one be added?

Are there any recommended alternatives for the 9000 II?

 

[mikling]

I have a 6121T and 6120T that are NOT from IS. I have them profiled as well.
http://www.precisioncolors.com/C8B.html