Ink cartridge
An ink cartridge is a replacable component of an inkjet printer that contains the ink that is spread on paper during printing.
Each ink cartridge contains one or more partitioned ink reservoirs, electronic contacts and a chip that communicates with the printer.
How it works
Inside each partition of the ink reservoir is a tiny metal plate. In response to a signal given by the printer, a tiny current flows through the metal causing it to warm up. The ink immediately surrounding the heated plate is vapourised. As a consequence the total volume of the ink exceeds that of the cartridge. An ink droplet falls out of the cartidge onto the paper. This process takes place in matter of milliseconds.
Variants
- Typically, two seperate cartridges are inserted into a printer: one containing black & white and one with the primary colors.
- All printer supplier produce their own type of ink cartridges. They are mutually incompatible, either physically or software-wise.
Varia
Ink cartridges are generally very expensive; the price of the ink per gram exceeds that of pure gold.