Two printer questions - remaining ink and cartridge detection.

JohnB47

I'm having printer ink problems again.

I have a Brother DCP-J4120DW printer and yesterday I checked the ink status. I was just curious - no problems with printing recently and there were no messages about low ink.

The little display showed the Magenta and Cyan empty. When I pulled out each one, they were both half full. Then I couldn't get the machine to recognise the Magenta cartridge, no matter how many times I pulled it out and 'slowly' pushed it in. I ended up replacing the magenta and I've kept the old one (sealed with tape). I did a test print and everything was OK.

So, how does a machine tell that a cartridge has been installed? I'm wondering if I will be able to reuse the old magenta cartridge.

Secondly, how does it know how much ink is left?

grumpycrab

Obviously, as you've found out, if it ain't broke don't fix it. This may give some answers (but I suggest you don't do anything until you need too).
https://itstillworks.com/reset-brother-ink-cartridges-4740636.html

JohnB47

grumpycrab wrote: »

Obviously, as you've found out, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Yep. I'm kicking myself.

I found another site that talks about a little float in the cartridge:

"This usually occurs [inability to recognise a cartridg] either if the cartridge is replaced before the printer prompts you to replace the cartridge or when the cartridge is replaced with the printer turned OFF. You should always replace the ink cartridges when the machine is ON and only when prompted to do so. [Doh!]

In the event that the printer doesn't detect that you have replaced the cartridge simply remove ALL cartridges and one by one install them again. After installing each cartridge and closing the door you should be prompted by the printer eg: Did you replace the Black Cartridge ?

In each case simply press YES and continue re installing the cartridges one at a time using the same process. If you find that this still doesn't work then with all of the cartridges still installed, unplug the printer from the wall for 20 mins and this will reset the memory.

If this still fails on some of the newer Brother printers then it can be caused by a jammed float in the ink level window. These Ink cartridges have a small float which sits on top of the ink within the small window at the front of the cartridge and if this is jammed or faulty this problem can occur."

I can't see any such float.

I'll leave the printer for now but when it calls for a new Magenta cartridge, I'll try the methods suggested by your site and by above.

that

Loads of ways. it can be done optically, but manufactures know how much ink is squirted if that squirted number goes above a certain value then the cartridge is empty, or it is deemed that you have had enough value per number of squirts for a cartridge.

You do for some cartridges get chip resetters, to get more ink out. Some places sell chips that say that the cartridge never run out of ink. Epson is renown for doctoring the firmware 'upgrades' on their printers and cartridges to maximize the highest return.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6jaK5QJRNI
The above is what you may want to try when the current working magenta runs out.

Chip reseter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5sMf1UWfto

of you do lots of printing, this this could be the way to go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1kZrf3MXMY

JohnB47

that wrote: »

Loads of ways. it can be done optically, but manufactures know how much ink is squirted if that squirted number goes above a certain value then the cartridge is empty, or it is deemed that you have had enough value per number of squirts for a cartridge.

You do for some cartridges get chip resetters, to get more ink out. Some places sell chips that say that the cartridge never run out of ink. Epson is renown for doctoring the firmware 'upgrades' on their printers and cartridges to maximize the highest return.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6jaK5QJRNI
The above is what you may want to try when the current working magenta runs out.

Chip reseter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5sMf1UWfto

of you do lots of printing, this this could be the way to go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1kZrf3MXMY

Thanks for those. All very interesting.

What I can't figure out is why the magenta cartridge was working and recognised until I removed and replaced it. The yellow one behaved properly when I removed and replaced it, so why the problem with the magenta?

that

JohnB47 wrote: »

What I can't figure out is why the magenta cartridge was working and recognised until I removed and replaced it.

Power spike? Chip being accessed and now corrupt? Head circuitry shot? Blockage?

That chip is often very low capacity ram. If it is not the chip, you are stuffed

JohnB47

that wrote: »

Power spike? Chip being accessed and now corrupt? Head circuitry shot? Blockage?

That chip is often very low capacity ram. If it is not the chip, you are stuffed

No, not to worry. I had a new replacement magenta ready and installed it first time OK. So it's something to do with the cartridge itself. As you say, maybe the chip.

One video I've seen shows how to swap the chips over. Might do that when the current magenta runs out, just for a larf.

Neil_Jones

A lot of printers "know" that the cartridge has to have a certain amount of ink in it and when it thinks its all used up it will decide that it is empty never mind what you can hear sloshing around, but this is more common for re-manufactured cartridges that tend to have more ink in them.

Older printers tended to actually monitor the ink in the cartridge so you'd get the full life out of them, but the more recent trend is to only squirt what's supposed to be in there and measure the output via the chip.

slinga

I've got a Brother J 132W.
When ink is low I cover the ink window on the cartridge with black tape.
Ink can last double the usual amount of time then.

JohnB47

slinga wrote: »

I've got a Brother J 132W.
When ink is low I cover the ink window on the cartridge with black tape.
Ink can last double the usual amount of time then.

Curious. Can you describe the location of the ink window?

slinga

JohnB47 wrote: »

Curious. Can you describe the location of the ink window?

It's quite obvious when you look at the replacement catridge


I found out about while googling.
A youtube shows you what to do.