joseph1949
Getting Fingers Dirty
Comparison of old style orange caps with the new style orange caps
I will be comparing the old style orange caps on Canon carts with the new style orange caps on Canon carts.
If you have bought a new Canon printer in the last year or so you probably used carts that had the new style (ns) orange caps. My original printer (a Canon PIXMA MX870 printer) came with carts with old style (os) orange caps. Since then the original printer was returned to Canon and a refurbished Canon MX870 printer has taken its place. I used my (os) carts with the refurbished printer.
For various reasons I decided to purchase two (2) refurbished MX870 printers. The two printers came with carts with new style (ns) orange caps. The (ns) carts were similar to the (os) carts except for the caps. (Note: The cart shown has the transparent ink reservoir. If your (newer) cart has the wrapper you can assume it has the opaque ink reservoir.) The (ns) caps had several differences with the (os) caps. I will be going into detail, below, in telling how the (ns) caps differ from the (os) caps.
After reading this topic you should be able to gleam the following facts:
1. The (ns) caps are one-time-use caps per Canon.
2. If you are refilling, you cannot treat the (ns) caps like the (os) caps. If you do the (ns) caps will leak.
3. If you have a choice between the carts with the (ns) caps and carts with the (os) caps, it would be smart to pick the carts with the (os) caps and with transparent ink reservoirs (if possible)big time.
The following pictures with their notes will explain the differences between the (ns) caps with the (os) caps:
1. This picture shows the (ns) carts with its wrapper. The wrapper serves two purposes: it covers the air vent and adds support to the (ns) cap. If possible pick carts that do not have the wrapper. Wrapper equals (ns) cap!!!!!!!
2. In this picture the wrapper has been removed and you can see the (ns) cap.
3. The following pictures show the (ns) caps next to (os) caps. Starting from the left:
(os) cap for the PGI-220BK Canon cart, (ns) cap for the PGI-220BK Canon cart, (os) cap for CLI-221C, M, Y, BK Canon carts, (ns) cap for CLI-221C, M, Y, BK Canon carts
Here is the list stating the differences between the (ns) cap and the (os) caps:
1. The (os) caps have dark cap liners.
2. The (ns) caps have clear or transparent liners.
3. The (os) liners are flat (more or less).
4. The (ns) liners are composed of raised areas, grooved areas, and other differences. In short, the (ns) liners are more complicated than the (os) liners.
5. The inside and outside diameters of the (os) cap heads are smaller than the inside and outside diameters of (ns) cap heads.
6. The (os) caps have four (4) indents in the inside diameters of their heads. The indents correspond to projections on the (os) carts ink outlet.
7. The (ns) caps do not have the indents, but the (ns) carts ink outlet does have projections.
8. The (ns) caps have hold-down nibs. The (ns) cap for the PGI-220BK cart has two (2) nibs. The (ns) cap for the CLI-221 carts has four (4) nibs. The nibs appear after you twist off the (ns) caps. There are projections that hold the cap against the carts ink outlet and the projections also keep the cap from rotating. The wrapper also helps to keep the cap stabilized. When you twist the cap you break the hold down projections and with that what you have left are the nibs.
Open Question: Why are there only two (2) nibs on the PGI-220BK cart? You would think that because the PGI cap is larger you would have at least the same number (4) of nibs as the CLI caps.
9. The (ns) caps have curved handles and the (os) caps have straight handles. The curved handle forces you to twist the cap in the direction of the arrow that is on the caps head.
10. The (ns) carts have a wrapper. The wrapper is there to cover the air vent and to help stabilize the cap.
If you add-up the differences the reader should come-up with one conclusion: Canon made the (ns) caps as one-time-use caps. The one-time-use caps work with the opaque ink reservoirs to make it more difficult for refillers.
If you want to use the (ns) caps for refilling you will have to do things differently than how you do things with the (os) caps. With the (os) caps you can snap them on the ink outlet. Because of the larger inside diameter the (ns) caps cannot be snapped on like the (os) caps. You will need to add material to the (ns) caps to get a reasonable tight fit. You can use several layers of something like Cling-Wrap to get a fit where the cap will stay on the ink outlet. You can also use aluminum, but be sure to place the Cling-Wrap between the aluminum and the outlet. The aluminum may react with the ink. This is especially true for long time storage. You will need to experiment to find the right material(s) and how many layers to use.
Note: You may find that you do not need to use materials for a tight(er) fit. Experiment with and without materials and see what happens!!!!!!
After you have a fairly tight fit you need to hold the cap against the outlet using rubber bands, tape, c-clamp, etc. You should use three (3) bands to hold down the capone in the middle and one on each side. You can use something like electricians tape to hold down the cap. I have not tried this method myself. It should work, but I am thinking that the using the tape will be awkward. Try it and see what happens. Even though I have not used a c-clamp the c-clamp may give you the best results. I am thinking that the c-clamp should give you the same clamping force as the wrapper and the hold down projections. If you use the c-clamp be sure to get one that is just big enough to fit over the cart. If you use a bigger clamp you may over tighten the clamp with the result you may have an ink bomb on your handssmaller is much better.
I have used rubber bands to hold down the cap. The results were mixed. Sometimes the cap would not leak. Sometimes the cap would leak. If I found the cap was leaking I would hold the cart (I use the top fill method) in the horizontal position (like it is in the print head) for a long time. When I was sure that the outlet was no longer leaking (you should check for leaks with the cap on and off) I would place the cart in the print head. After doing this I would wait over night before using the printer. I think it is important to give enough time for the cart to stabilize.
If the reader is willing to experiment, the following is one experiment you can perform:
Take a (ns) cap and place it in 140 F water for five (5) minutes. After the five (5) minutes remove the cap from the water and place the naked (no material used to get a tighter fit) cap on the ink outlet. Next, wrap rubber bands (or whatever) around the cart and the cap. Fill the cart with ink. After you fill the cart you should watch for leakage from the outlet before you remove the cap and after you remove the cap.
I believe that the hot water will soften the liner and thus, give you a better seal. You can use materials between the cap and outlet and see if the materials help give you a better seal.
I hope the above information will help the reader spot and avoid the (ns) carts and (ns) caps. If the reader must use the (ns) caps the information should give the reader various methods to get the best results (i.e. no leakage or minimum leakage).
Thank you.
I will be comparing the old style orange caps on Canon carts with the new style orange caps on Canon carts.
If you have bought a new Canon printer in the last year or so you probably used carts that had the new style (ns) orange caps. My original printer (a Canon PIXMA MX870 printer) came with carts with old style (os) orange caps. Since then the original printer was returned to Canon and a refurbished Canon MX870 printer has taken its place. I used my (os) carts with the refurbished printer.
For various reasons I decided to purchase two (2) refurbished MX870 printers. The two printers came with carts with new style (ns) orange caps. The (ns) carts were similar to the (os) carts except for the caps. (Note: The cart shown has the transparent ink reservoir. If your (newer) cart has the wrapper you can assume it has the opaque ink reservoir.) The (ns) caps had several differences with the (os) caps. I will be going into detail, below, in telling how the (ns) caps differ from the (os) caps.
After reading this topic you should be able to gleam the following facts:
1. The (ns) caps are one-time-use caps per Canon.
2. If you are refilling, you cannot treat the (ns) caps like the (os) caps. If you do the (ns) caps will leak.
3. If you have a choice between the carts with the (ns) caps and carts with the (os) caps, it would be smart to pick the carts with the (os) caps and with transparent ink reservoirs (if possible)big time.
The following pictures with their notes will explain the differences between the (ns) caps with the (os) caps:
1. This picture shows the (ns) carts with its wrapper. The wrapper serves two purposes: it covers the air vent and adds support to the (ns) cap. If possible pick carts that do not have the wrapper. Wrapper equals (ns) cap!!!!!!!
2. In this picture the wrapper has been removed and you can see the (ns) cap.
3. The following pictures show the (ns) caps next to (os) caps. Starting from the left:
(os) cap for the PGI-220BK Canon cart, (ns) cap for the PGI-220BK Canon cart, (os) cap for CLI-221C, M, Y, BK Canon carts, (ns) cap for CLI-221C, M, Y, BK Canon carts
Here is the list stating the differences between the (ns) cap and the (os) caps:
1. The (os) caps have dark cap liners.
2. The (ns) caps have clear or transparent liners.
3. The (os) liners are flat (more or less).
4. The (ns) liners are composed of raised areas, grooved areas, and other differences. In short, the (ns) liners are more complicated than the (os) liners.
5. The inside and outside diameters of the (os) cap heads are smaller than the inside and outside diameters of (ns) cap heads.
6. The (os) caps have four (4) indents in the inside diameters of their heads. The indents correspond to projections on the (os) carts ink outlet.
7. The (ns) caps do not have the indents, but the (ns) carts ink outlet does have projections.
8. The (ns) caps have hold-down nibs. The (ns) cap for the PGI-220BK cart has two (2) nibs. The (ns) cap for the CLI-221 carts has four (4) nibs. The nibs appear after you twist off the (ns) caps. There are projections that hold the cap against the carts ink outlet and the projections also keep the cap from rotating. The wrapper also helps to keep the cap stabilized. When you twist the cap you break the hold down projections and with that what you have left are the nibs.
Open Question: Why are there only two (2) nibs on the PGI-220BK cart? You would think that because the PGI cap is larger you would have at least the same number (4) of nibs as the CLI caps.
9. The (ns) caps have curved handles and the (os) caps have straight handles. The curved handle forces you to twist the cap in the direction of the arrow that is on the caps head.
10. The (ns) carts have a wrapper. The wrapper is there to cover the air vent and to help stabilize the cap.
If you add-up the differences the reader should come-up with one conclusion: Canon made the (ns) caps as one-time-use caps. The one-time-use caps work with the opaque ink reservoirs to make it more difficult for refillers.
If you want to use the (ns) caps for refilling you will have to do things differently than how you do things with the (os) caps. With the (os) caps you can snap them on the ink outlet. Because of the larger inside diameter the (ns) caps cannot be snapped on like the (os) caps. You will need to add material to the (ns) caps to get a reasonable tight fit. You can use several layers of something like Cling-Wrap to get a fit where the cap will stay on the ink outlet. You can also use aluminum, but be sure to place the Cling-Wrap between the aluminum and the outlet. The aluminum may react with the ink. This is especially true for long time storage. You will need to experiment to find the right material(s) and how many layers to use.
Note: You may find that you do not need to use materials for a tight(er) fit. Experiment with and without materials and see what happens!!!!!!
After you have a fairly tight fit you need to hold the cap against the outlet using rubber bands, tape, c-clamp, etc. You should use three (3) bands to hold down the capone in the middle and one on each side. You can use something like electricians tape to hold down the cap. I have not tried this method myself. It should work, but I am thinking that the using the tape will be awkward. Try it and see what happens. Even though I have not used a c-clamp the c-clamp may give you the best results. I am thinking that the c-clamp should give you the same clamping force as the wrapper and the hold down projections. If you use the c-clamp be sure to get one that is just big enough to fit over the cart. If you use a bigger clamp you may over tighten the clamp with the result you may have an ink bomb on your handssmaller is much better.
I have used rubber bands to hold down the cap. The results were mixed. Sometimes the cap would not leak. Sometimes the cap would leak. If I found the cap was leaking I would hold the cart (I use the top fill method) in the horizontal position (like it is in the print head) for a long time. When I was sure that the outlet was no longer leaking (you should check for leaks with the cap on and off) I would place the cart in the print head. After doing this I would wait over night before using the printer. I think it is important to give enough time for the cart to stabilize.
If the reader is willing to experiment, the following is one experiment you can perform:
Take a (ns) cap and place it in 140 F water for five (5) minutes. After the five (5) minutes remove the cap from the water and place the naked (no material used to get a tighter fit) cap on the ink outlet. Next, wrap rubber bands (or whatever) around the cart and the cap. Fill the cart with ink. After you fill the cart you should watch for leakage from the outlet before you remove the cap and after you remove the cap.
I believe that the hot water will soften the liner and thus, give you a better seal. You can use materials between the cap and outlet and see if the materials help give you a better seal.
I hope the above information will help the reader spot and avoid the (ns) carts and (ns) caps. If the reader must use the (ns) caps the information should give the reader various methods to get the best results (i.e. no leakage or minimum leakage).
Thank you.
