Supertank printer

Supertank printers are a type of continuous ink system (CISS) inkjet printer. Supertank printers differ from traditional inkjet printers in that the printhead is connected via a tube system that draws ink from high-capacity ink tanks, which are filled and refilled via high-capacity ink bottles, eliminating the need for ink cartridges. Cost-per-page (CPP) can be significantly lower than traditional cartridges, as replacement ink bottles contain enough ink to print thousands of pages, and typically cost under $20.[1]

Supertank printhead types

Supertank printers come in two different configurations: fixed (permanent) printheads and disposable printheads. Each configuration has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Fixed printheads

Fixed printheads are a permanent printhead that is designed to last for the life of the printer. Because it does not need to be replaced every time it exhausts its ink supply, ink costs can be lower and the printhead itself can be more precise than a disposable one, typically requiring no calibration.

On the other hand, if a fixed printhead is damaged, obtaining a replacement can become expensive, and removal and replacement of the head is not always possible. If the printhead cannot be removed, the printer itself would need to be replaced.

Fixed-printhead consumer supertank printers are manufactured primarily by Epson and HP.

Disposable printheads

Disposable printheads use a printhead that is part of a replaceable ink cartridge. If the printhead is damaged, it can be replaced. Canon now uses (in most models) replaceable printheads which are designed to last the life of the printer, but can be replaced by the user should they become damaged.

Advantages
  • Printing costs are lower with the use of low-cost replacement ink bottles vs. ink cartridges.[1]
  • The convenience of printing thousands of pages with fewer interruptions to replenish ink.
  • As an inkjet printer, it dispenses ink droplets at a very high speed, which allows for a relatively long distance between the printhead and the substrate, and a high drop-ejection frequency, allowing for high-speed printing.
  • The reduction of waste due to the elimination of used cartridges and their packaging.[2]
  • The printer manufacturers are being forced to measure the ink volume remained in the printer by optical measurements and can't use smart chips for planned obsolescence, since the ink cartridge is integrated into the printer, and filled every time ink runs out.

Disadvantages
  • The initial cost to purchase is generally higher than cartridge printers, which often follow the razor and blades model of selling the printers at or below cost to generate later sales of proprietary cartridges.

Examples

Epson pioneered this technology by launching the EcoTank range, first in Indonesia in 2010,[3] with a North American launch in 2015.[4] The supertank concept proved commercially successful,[3] and Canon and HP launched their own lines of supertank printers, under the names MegaTank (Canon)[5] and Smart Tank (HP).

References
  1. "Canon MegaTank & Epson EcoTank Supertank Printers". Consumer Reports. 2017-06-07. Archived from the original on 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
  2. Harrison, Kate (2018-07-31). "These Green "Supertank" Printers Are A Good Investment For Your Business". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
  3. Epson (6 July 2016). "Epson High-Capacity Ink Tank Printers Achieve Cumulative Global Sales of 15 Million Units". Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  4. Epson (4 August 2015). "Epson Transforms Printer Category with EcoTank – Loaded and Ready to Print for Up to Two Years Without an Ink Refill". Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  5. Canon U.S.A., Inc. (3 December 2019). "Experience Mega Value with New Canon PIXMA G-Series MegaTank Printer". Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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