Austin Franklin wrote:
>> It apparently turns out that the Epson 870/890/1270 printers with the
>> chipped cartridges work by reading the cartridge info once upon
>> installation, then that info is sent to the computer and then software
>> is used to keep track of the ink levels until the cartridge is removed,
>> at which point the new ink level info is written to it.
>
>
> That is not my understanding of how the chipped cartridges work.
The ink
> use is read from the cartridge every time it is powered up, or an ink
> cartridge inserted, and recorded back to the cartridge every time it is
> powered down, or removed from the printer. It is not sent back to the
> computer at all. That would make no sense to do it the way you suggest.
>
> What is the source for your information?
>
> BTW, I do not believe this link is correct:
>
>
You are absolutely correct, Austin, (I hope that makes you feel better)
there is an error in the URL, which is shown corrected at the end of
this posting.
As I mentioned, the website is written in somewhat difficult to
understand english, probably due to the language being a second language
to the writer. So, it is possible my explanation might have been garbled.
However, as to if my interpretation make sense or not, that's another
matter.
As I see it, the only time the ink levels need to be written to the
cartridge is when it is removed from the printer. This could be when
the cartridge is partially full, or empty. The only time the printer
needs to read the ink levels in the cartridge, is when a cartridge is
installed, either a new one, or a partially used one.
As to if the printer communicated this info to the computer, that too
would make sense. Epson has, in the past, always allowed the printer
driver through a TSR type program to keep track of the ink levels, which
are shown graphically in a computer graphic which is part of the menu
for the printer driver. Since a similar graphic is used with the
1270/870/890 printers, it makes sense that somewhere along the line the
printer has to inform the driver of the ink levels. It could do so
continually, or it could leave this task to the printer driver to
maintain, based upon the approximation of ink used by the print method
used (which determines the dot sizes, etc.), and the amount of each
color used, all of which, could easily be determined on the software
end of things by the printer driver. This info could be saved on the
system.
However, if Epson was concerned about a software hack cracking their
system, they might, as you suggested, have gone for a more hardware
intensive solution, which indeed might have required the info being
written each time the system is shut down or at another interval.
Then, perhaps the method this guy uses is to trick the system into
re-writing to the chip that it is full after pulling the switcheroo
from the full OEM cartridge to the refilled cartridge.
Personally, I just think you are jealous that you didn't figure out this
trick yourself. ;-p
Under any circumstances, it must work as MIS is now selling refill inks,
and they would have a lot of angry customers if it did not.
So, without further fanfare, I provide for all the corrected URL (and
especially for Austin, who just can't seem to be happy unless he can
call someone 'wrong'...)
Art
