Where does the ink go?

Question

I know that it is probably an easily answered, logical question, but, when a printer's head is cleaned, where does the used ink go?

Answer 1

I was trained on Epson printers, but sure this applies to all inkjets. A small pad absorbs the ink. On professional printers this pad is a consumable and needs to changed when its full (commercial inkjet printers are used a lot more than home printers). The Epson printer flashes a service LED and refuses to print until the pad is changed. For the average home user the pad will never be full during average normal use. The printer would wear out (the user would want a better model) before the small amount of ink that is used in head cleaning could acumulate and fill the sponge pad.

Answer 2

I took apart an ink jet printer and found a lot of wasted ink in the bottom of the machine. I would never have found it if I hadn't taken the time to take it apart to see how it works. I only know this is true for one type of Epson printer, I don't know about yours, but you are right it has to go somewhere.

If the cartridge is self cleaning one then it has to either dump it into the printer, or have a reservoir in the cartridge to catch the ink. If if does have this reservoir then the ink in it is contaminated with dust so it is useless.

Answer 3

The ink on the printer head?

It isn't removed. The nozzles are simply unblocked.

Answer 4

some printers require you to run a piece of paper through them.
the ink is then deposited on the paper and then discarded

Answer 5

it depends really on the printer you see what happens when you clean your print heads a tiny bloke with a rag jumps up and cleans them if at some point they stay dirty ,he has either a. gone on holiday, or b.has died

Answer 6

It dissappears...

Answer 7

i dont know?