This question has been put to me a few times and we’ve noted that some competitors like to spread a little FUD about what the kits do, the parts, etc… so this article provides a bit more information about Why, What and How the Printer Potty kits came to be.
We’ve learned from the mistakes so you don’t have to…
If you have read the “About Us” intro’, you will know that our founder and owner started looking at waste ink because of my work in primary/K-12 schools. Having small children of that age, running riot around an inkjet printer with a loose container full of ink is a lot like leaving a big red button with a sign “Do Not Push!“… A disaster waiting to happen.
As a result we have spent considerable time learning what can go wrong (sometimes the hard way) and using that experience to develop a relatively foolproof system that takes the worry out resolving the “Service Required” problem.
Here’s just some of the aspects of our kit designs that help you avoid a disaster.
The Valve
One of the core features on any of the waste kits is the simple but very effective valve (the plastic thing with a blue centre) that is permanantly connected to the tank and provides the connection point for the tubing.
This valve is essential as it provides a low height access point that ensures the ink flows into the tank, not back towards the printhead.
From a design/usage point of view it provides two things:
- A simple, standard connection that any of the tube parts can connect to (so you can upgrade easily).
…BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY… - The valve closes automatically as you disconnect and this, naturally, stops ink from flowing out.
Why is this so clever? Because you don’t have to remember to close any valves manually! 🙂
Why not use a non-return valve?
The reason for this is that the pressure required for a non-return valve is quite high and the design of non-return valves also provide a perfect environment for ink to clog into a solid block. Clog the tube in this way and you get a major backflow of ink. Not a good idea!
The Clamp
Because of the tube diameter ink can’t free out easily when disconnected but it’s never wise to ass-u-me so the tube clamp really only provides a bit of added protection by allowing you to clamp the tube while the waste tank is disconnected.
Note: Never leave your tube clamped for long periods of time! Reconnect the waste tank and unclamp as soon as you can to avoid potential issues.
The Tubing
Printer Potty kits use Tygon Lab quality tubing because its smooth internal surface reduces the likelihood of ink adhering and forming clogs within the tube. Tygon also has a long life compared to PVC or other materials which tend to crack and/or degrade over time.
The Tank Connection (Boxes)
Putting the valve aside there are another four parts that form the connection point on the box tanks. With the exception of a rubber seal, these parts are ALL medical grade which means excellent strength and a consistent quality. These internal parts are often drowned in ink so it’s important that they do not leak.
So, why would you want a Printer Potty® ?
Hopefully, the reasons for seriously considering an one or our kits should become self evident as you’ve read this article but in case you need a bit more evidence, here’s a couple more examples of why paying a bit more now might save you much more in the long run.
The RULES (according to waste ink)
- Your waste ink should never reach a point higher than your print head
- Your waste ink should never reach a point lower than the bottom of your printer
- Any tubing should not constrict the waste ink flow
- Any container should keep ink in and allow air to escape OR expand to accomodate both
- Murphy’s Law still applies
Many competing kits that break one or more of the above rules and, in some cases, contrary advice is given for profit.
These rules require a seperate KB article to explain properly, but the key thing to remember here is that Printer Potty kits provide a solution that obeys all these rules and does what it can to negate the Law of Murphy (ie: if it can go wrong, it will).
Disobeying the rules is like anything else. Sometimes you can get away with it, but eventually you will get caught. In this instance, “getting caught” can mean a broken printer, a stained carpet, an electrical hazard or similar. The question is whether you think the risk is worth it.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately even if we were to sell an armour plated, self-sealing version of the kits for silly money, we still could not guarantee that you won’t have an accident or problem that the kit and/or your printer will not survive. We have however done all we can to minimise the risk.
Support
As noted earlier, the Printer Potty design encompasses all the lessons learned over years so we have the experience and knowledge to share with our customers.