General Info

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

i just received this email today and not sure if there is any truth in it. I
have been refilling toners and inkjets cartridges since 1991 and network
with several remanufacturers. This is the first time any of us has heard of
this. Does anyone know if HP is really doing this? Pete

HP SPONGES VARY: New tricks up their sleeves


Dear valued dealer



As you may not know, HP® has started shipping several of their HP C6578
cartridges with shorter sponges



Many remanufactures have grown accustomed to conversion-filling DO-RATED
(19ml cartridges) to A-RATED (39ml units) by simply filling them with more
ink.



Now HP® has released various versions of the D-rated cartridges; where in
some cases the magenta sponge alone is half-sized and the Cyan and yellow
are full size;



In other cases we have discovered that the Cyan and yellow sponges are half
sized and the magenta is full-size



Naturally over-filling a smaller sponge will/may result in inkflow being
inhibited (through lack of air flow) and causing you, in post testing, to
fail the said cartridge through "missing colour" indicators



Amongst others, we have noted that you can pick these up as you go along, by
prodding a needle into each chamber after removing the ventilation plugs and
by this calculating the height variables of the sponges in each individual
chamber



On the slim side of the cartridge (where electronics are mounted) you will
note etching/printing here that HP® applies to all cartridges; we have
discovered that those with N7* and 5N* are some of the "models" with
differing sponge heights



NB:

The "*" is important in looking for these. For instance you can find N7
etched cartridges that are fine, but N7* that are not



Please look to these issues before blaming your filling machine or ink