Waste Ink...

...is a common and contentious issue reported by many Epson inkjet owners. The problem is the process used to jet the ink in Epson printers is a cold one. As a result the printer needs to regularly purge its printhead by pulling relatively large quantities of ink through the nozzles to help clear out any solidifying ink deposits.

The issue of ink being wasted in large quantities is a separate one but what is particularly frustrating for users is the fact that the printer will quickly fill its waste ink padding (located in the base of the printer) and before too long the dreaded "Service Required" message pops up and the printer refuses to work.

The reason for this is simple. Your printer has reached a point where it knows that continuing could result in the pads being overwhelmed and the printer will start oozing waste ink onto whatever surface the printer is on. Obviously something you want to avoid!

Refs: "Resetting the waste ink counter"  (Coming Soon)| "Reducing waste" (Coming Soon)

The good news is that most of the Epson printers are designs in such a way that it's relatively easy to redirect the waste ink into an external waste tank of some form, which is where the WIB or "Waste Ink Bag" kit comes in.

Why a Waste Ink Bag (WIB)?

When I started out with Epson printers and CIS kits, some years ago, I did everything to ensure the printers continued to work for as long as possible, so naturally I modified the printers to use an external waste ink tank.

It soon became apparent that rigid containers have their downsides.

• They require a vent to allow air to escape as ink enters the tank, allowing ink to escape if dislodged or knocked
• They need to be secured somehow at the right height near the printer
  • Placed too low the waste ink tank could cause a syphon effect on the CIS ink and drain them dry
  • Placed too high and the waste ink couldn't reach the tank or flowed back into the printhead resting pad and soil the base of the printhead.

As with many things the solution presented itself while I was trying to solve other problems. But it was quickly obvious that a bag system had some major benefits:

• the bag expands as ink enters so there's no need for a vent
• an auto-closing valve allows you to dis-connect the bag with minimal mess
• easy to locate just behind the printer thanks to it's long thin shape.
• able to withstand a fair amount of abuse and shouldn't disconnect or spray the room with ink unless pierced or punctured

Marrying Rigid with a Bag

Obviously there may be environments where a rigid tank would provide added protection for our bag system. You can either handle this by adapting a suitable container yourself or you can purchase one of our WIBB (Waste Ink Bag in a Box) kits. The kits add a liquid tight enclosure which provides plenty of space and air for the bag to accept waste ink without requiring a vent.

This particular kit is somewhat specialised and has been produced for those with young children or users who want to use the kit in environments where sharp/heavy objects could be placed on, or in close proximity to, the printer equipped with the bag.

Our WIB Kits

We offer two types of kit (with a third type pending) that have been designed to make it as easy as possible for you to connect and then forget about your waste ink tank.

WIB-Solo
The Single tube design is for most of the A4 printers as these only have a single tube for waste ink.

WIB-Duo
The Double tube design is required for the larger Epson printers such as the R1800 or R2400 printer models.

WIBB (Solo or Duo) Waste ink Bag in a BOX
As described above, these are the same kits but with a twist. These units are self contained bags complete with a water tight enclosure. Check the store for more information.