To Initiate a Standard for Inkjet Printer Ink Cartridges

Lalit A Patel

The black ink cartridge of an inkjet printer of Umi has run out of ink and her inventory has run out of that particular ink cartridge. Umi visits her favorite office supplies retail store. The store carries a number of different models of ink cartridges, but not the one she wants. She runs from one store to another. When she does find her required ink cartridge at a store, she finds its price unreasonably high. She again visits a few other stores. By the time she gets her required ink cartridge at a reasonable price, she is so tired that she does not get a good sleep at night. The next morning, she fails to make a good marketing presentation for her company. … This is a typical scenario, faced by most of us every now and then. The inconvenience faced by users like Umi is due to the absence of a standard for inkjet printer ink cartridges and can be eliminated or reduced by creating an appropriate standard. Nothing moves without moving, and so, someone will have to initiate the process for this standard. I feel like persuading users, dealers, manufacturers, and a standards organization to create a standard for inkjet printer ink cartridges. This altruistic undertaking will be difficult but not impossible and it will immensely help us all.

Rationale

The invention of the printing ink a few millennia ago, the invention of the printing press a few centuries ago, and the invention of the personal computer a few decades back are ranked amongst the greatest inventions that have revolutionized the human civilizations. They have enabled human beings to express, communicate, and interact in ways no other living being can. They are now so much interwoven in the human life and culture that people take them for granted. Upon extending the horizon of thinking, it becomes clear that developments related to inkjet printer and its ink cartridge are affecting lives and wallets of lots of people, and people cannot remain a silent spectator to these developments.

The inkjet printers have a long and interesting history. Soon after the introduction of the personal computer in the market, Epson and a few other companies developed and introduced the dot matrix printer. The dot matrix printer’s requirement of a specially perforated and costly paper necessitated a new technology. That led to the laser printer. The laser printer’s requirement of a specially packaged and costly cartridge prompted printer manufacturers to find new ways. That led to the inkjet printer. Thanks to painstaking efforts of many inventors, investors, and manufacturers (such as HP, Canon, Lexmark, and Eposn), inkjet printers have now become commonplace and affordable.

Inkjet printers have no standard design architecture so far. Inkjet printers from different manufacturers have different design principles, and consequently need different types of ink cartridges. This state of affairs is understandable. They are complex devices with many mechanical, electrical, electronic, and chemical components. In a typical technological development, different manufacturers take different routes to developing their products. Consequently, products intended for the same end use, but from different manufacturers, happen to have different characteristics and accessories.

The path of standardization can boost up technological advancements and markets. The huge and constant rate of increase in the number of transistors on microprocessors, as quantified in terms of Moore’s famous law, has been possible due to many technological feats, which have been propelled by the growth in the personal computer industry. The growth in the PC industry could not have been possible in the absence of IBM’s pioneering efforts in the direction of an open and standard architecture for PC. The history of the PC industry clearly indicates the importance of standardization efforts in the growth of an industry.

There is a great need for standardization of ink cartridges. The inconvenience faced by users like Umi is a big problem that needs to be resolved. Inkjet printer ink cartridges are mass consumption items and need to be made cheaper. They can be made cheaper only by adopting a path of standardization. Without standardization for ink cartridges, everyone would suffer in the long run – users, dealers, manufacturers, and investors. It is now high time that inkjet printer manufacturers are persuaded to evolve a standard for ink cartridges.

Hurdles

A major hurdle in the direction of standardization of inkjet printer ink cartridges will be the sophistication of the inkjet printing technology. As explained by Dr. Alan Wood, a team Director at HP: “Ink cartridges are surprisingly complex. [There are many different] techniques for causing ink to precisely spray where [it is wanted], and the physics involved [is] very detailed. The drops sprayed are on the order of microns.” As stated by Dr. Fred Schenkelberg, a reliability expert from HP: “The little I've learned about inkjet technology has completely amazed me. The interaction of the MEMS device (nozzles), flex circuits, ink delivery, computer processes and power delivery is just plain magic to me.” There are not many experts who can comprehend the inkjet printing technology thoroughly and can resolve technical issues in the process of standardization.

The proprietary nature of the inkjet printing technology may make it difficult to make a headway towards the standardization of inkjet printer ink cartridges. Wood states that there are about 100 patents involved in an HP ink cartridge. Likewise, other inkjet printer manufacturers maintain their own patents portfolios quite aggressively.

The still evolving and changing nature of the inkjet printing technology may prevent printer manufactures from collaborating for standardization of inkjet printer ink cartridges. To highlight this point of view, Schenkelberg states, “The pen is a part of the printer system. As the pens increase in capability or have different features, the amount of power and instructions change. This often requires a change in the interface between the pen and the printer. The pen has two main parts, the area that shoots ink to the paper (nozzles) and the ink reservoir. Some designs separate these features or to meet different market needs, alter the size/shape of one or both parts. […] So while agreeing with many of the points […] on the need for cartridge standards I do not know if or how it could be accomplished in any meaningful way.” When corporations are busy in marketing strategies and engineers are busy in product designs, they rarely find time to look outside the box to perceive a global view of their industry.

It is anticipated that the process of standardization of inkjet printer ink cartridges will have to face unwillingness of or even opposition by inkjet printer manufacturers. This feeling is echoed in the feedback from Wood: “While users may find this a good thing, I think the manufacturers would not be in favor of it.” The users’ perspective is expressed emphatically by Dr. Navendu Vasavada, an ex-Director of Aetna and now an investment consultant, “The absence of a standard for inkjet cartridges is deliberate. [Every] 6 months new models come out with different cartridges. […] Retailers don’t care either. The higher the price, the greater is their profit since percentage commission is fixed. Who loses? The consumers […]. The profit from ink is so high that printer makers sell the printer hardware with a starter partially filled cartridge for a low price. […] Technical support is not an issue for printer makers. […] Sorry, we can’t do anything.” Stephen Patel, an engineer at Intel, expresses a similar viewpoint, “Manufacturers operate on the razor and blade model. They sell the razor (printer) for a one-time loss but make money on the repeat sales of blades (cartridges). A cartridge standard could commoditize cartridges and jeopardize those profits.” There is no action without a will to act.

It is thus apparent that an initiation towards ink cartridge standardization will face a lot of opposition. The printer manufacturers, such as HP, Canon, Lexmark, and Eposn, make lucrative profits by manufacturing proprietary ink cartridges. They might treat the standardization as a threat to their business and do everything possible to stop or halt the standardization process. Several companies, such as Inksell, depend on the manufacture of cheap substitute cartridges or cartridge refill inks. They might see a threat to their survival and try to resist any move in the direction of a standard. Retailers, such as Staples, and Inkraider, earn more by selling costly and numerous types of ink cartridges. They might join hands with manufacturers in opposing the standardization process. Moreover, thinking that they would not get their required ink cartridges if proprietary ink cartridges are replaced by standardized ink cartridges, many current users of existing printers might oppose the standardization move.

Another problem might be related to the modus operandi. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the institute involved in the standardization of electrical and electronic products, may not consider ink cartridge as a product under its jurisdiction and may not take interest in its standardization. An association of office supplies manufacturers may treat ink cartridge as an electrical item and may not have adequate motivation or understanding for its standardization. Even if IEEE or some other association agrees to undertake this standardization, it will be very difficult to win confidence of the printer manufacturers and receive their support, without which there will not be any clear modus operandi for the standardization. As rightly pointed out by Professor Penny Shreve, ink cartridge standardization will call for inkjet printer standardization. There may be a lot of technical issues involved in handling the standardization of inkjet printers and ink cartridges simultaneously.

Since I am not an influential big shot, concerned parties may not pay any attention to my contentions. Thus, my efforts may not have much or timely impact. Besides, it may be difficult for me to sustain my movement without any financial or institutional backing. Slow and ineffective efforts will generate heat, but no movement; there may be some noise here and there, but no fruitful action.

Plan

Despite their anti-consumer strategies, inkjet printer manufacturers are worthy of respect for the role they have played in the technological development. Even if their technical marketing strategies are anti-standardization, they should not be confronted with arguments. An offensive approach that can make them defensive and reactive will be futile. An approach that can work will be an approach of realization that can make them collaborative and creative. Stephen Patel advises this approach, when he says, “To make it work, manufacturers may need to be convinced that they can make up the loss with higher volume sales of printers and cartridges and less technical support.” With this understanding, I shall devise and use a strategy to make the inkjet printer manufacturers realize that they will be benefited rather than hurt by the ink cartridge standardization.

Gathering relevant data and statistics will be of paramount importance. These include: number of inkjet printers in use, rates of addition of inkjet printers, rates of consumption of ink cartridges, profitability for printer and ink cartridge manufacturers without standardization. These data may not be available directly, but they can be compiled from other data available in the literature or on the internet. The next step in the process will be to analyze the profitability for printer and ink cartridge manufacturers when ink cartridges get standardized. This will not be an easy thing to do; it will require a lot of brainstorming and simulation. While preparing this analysis, it will be helpful to understand effects of the camera roll standardization on the economy of camera manufacturers, effects of the staple standardization on the economy of stapler manufacturers, and effects of the electrical plug standardization on the economy of electrical contractors.

With the necessary information and analysis in hand, the next thing to do will be to prepare an article for a well-read professional magazine. The article will have to be convincing in content and aesthetic in appearance. The article should be in a position to convince the printer manufacturers that the ink cartridge standardization is necessary and to their advantage. Stephen Patel or someone good at technology and management can help in making the content of the article very convincing. Professor Penny Shreve or the Chaffey College Writing Center can provide a helping hand in improving the language, flow, and aesthetics of the article. The magazine and timing for the publication of the article will need to be selected carefully.

After publishing the article and hinting the concerned parties about the next move, the next move will be to approach the IEEE’s committee for standards with a request to create an ink cartridge standard. With a good presentation to the IEEE, it may be possible to get the things rolling without much delay. Some additions and alterations will, however, be mandatory. It might happen that the IEEE may seek collaboration for some other organization to take up this standardization. The IEEE may also look into technical issues regarding standardizing the inkjet printer along with standardizing ink cartridges. It will all depend on how well the IEEE is convinced about the need for such a standardization, and how printer manufacturers react to the whole issue. Whatever is the case, once the ball starts rolling, it will be a matter of time and the ink cartridge standardization will come in force. I may not be required or involved beyond the initiation of the standardization process within the IEEE or some other similar organization. That initiation will be where my goal will seem to close.

Timeline

This goal of initiating the inkjet printer ink cartridge standard is neither my personal goal nor some company’s corporate goal. Not being a straightforward goal, it will depend on innumerable external variables. It is, therefore, difficult to set a timeline for this goal in a meaningful way. I, however, feel that I can prepare and publish the article in the year 2004. I would then be able to approach the IEEE in the first half of the year 2005. If all goes well, it is expected that the standardization process will be taken up for formalization in the later half of 2005. Much of this depends on where I get employed, who supports me, and who opposes me. Being optimistic, I shall keep my morale high and work towards this goal, despite many foreseeable or unforeseeable constraints.

The inkjet printer ink cartridge standardization will definitely help all the users. Though the dealers and manufacturers will feel that the standardization will hamper their interests, it is hoped that they will look deeper and realize the long-term benefits they may have from the standardization. The institution of the cadre of IEEE will have done a great service to the humanity and technology by creating the to create an inkjet printer ink cartridge standard. I will then take a deep breath and say: “Eureka! Thank you, world!”

Work Cited

Canon. Web page titled “Canon USA, Consumer Products Printers Index”. 3 November 2003. 3 November 2003. <http://www.usa.canon.com/html/conCprCatProdIndex.jsp?section=10199>.

This web page shows the different models of Canon printers. Canon has been a trendsetter in the modern printing technologies. Preoccupied with the improvement of printing technologies, Canon has so far not worked on the standard for ink cartridges.

Epson. Web page titled “EPSON America, Buy Ink Now”. 3 November 2003. 3 November 2003. <http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/BuyInk.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=0>.

This web page lists the different models of Epson printers and shows their corresponding ink cartridges. Epson reigned the market of dot matrix printers, and upon seeing others’ growth, made a late entry into the market of inkjet printers. Unlike HP, Epson ink cartridges depend on the printer-head’s electrodes rather than having in-built electrodes, and hence, seem to be wasting more ink. It appears that Epson has so far concentrated on penetrating the market of inkjet printers.

HP. Web page for Hewlett-Packard Printing and Digital Imaging Supplies & Accessories. 30 October 2003. 30 October 2003. <http://www.hp.com/united-states/consumer/pandi/mac/supplies_acc.html>.

This web page provides model numbers and specifications of ink cartridges suitable for different printers from HP. Otherwise a strong advocate of standards, HP has so far not paid any attention to reduce the number models of ink cartridges and to enhance cross-operability of ink cartridges.

IEEE-SA. Web page of IEEE-SA Standards Board Actions on 11 September 2003. 30 October 2003. 30 October 2003. <http://standards.ieee.org/bearer/sba/09-11-03.html>.

This web page shows standards-related activities of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). If persuaded appropriately, IEEE may take up the creation of a standard for inkjet printer ink cartridges.

Inkraider. Web site of Inkraider that sells Ink cartridges for Canon Epson HP and other Printers. 3 November 2003. 3 November 2003. <http://www.inkraider.net>.

This is a good one-stop source to see different printers from different manufacturers and their corresponding ink cartridges. The business of this and other similar companies is benefited from innumerable and non-standardized varieties of ink cartridges.

Inksell. Web site titled “Ink cartridges and printer ink refills InkSell.com”. 3 November 2003. 3 November 2003. <http://www.inksell.com/>.

Inksell is one amongst numerous companies that has plunged into providing affordable solutions to the costly ink cartridge. The fact that users of ink cartridges remain confused in the absence of a standard for ink cartridges is helping these companies.

Patel, Stephen. Communication by email. 7 November 2003.

After completing his BS and MS from Stanford University, he now works with Intel. He has a strong understanding of technological developments in various fields.

Schenkelberg, Fred. Communication by email. 7 November 2003.

Dr. Schenkelberg is with the Reliability group at HP, and the Vice Chairman of the IEEE-SCV Reliability chapter. He is an expert on standards, and can influence the process of inkjet printer ink cartridge standardization.

Shreve, Penny. Communication by email. 7 November 2003.

Professor Penny Shreve teaches English at Chaffey College. A charming and intelligent person, she has an excellent command over grasping and improving literary works.

Staples. Web page for Staples Ink Product Matchmaker. 3 November 2003. 3 November 2003. <http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Matchmaker/

brands.asp?PageType=3&ClassID=30001&bcFlag=True&bcSCatId=3&bcSCatName=

Technology&bcCatId=3&bcCatName=Cartridges+%26+Toner>.

Staples is a representative office supplies retailer, which sells a variety of ink cartridges. This web page shows the magnitude of the inventory that Staples needs to carry to meet needs of users of different printers. Despite carrying huge inventories, office supplies retailers cannot satisfy all the customers.

Vasavada, Navendu. Communication by email. 7 November 2003.

Dr. Vasavada was a Director at Aetna, an investment and insurance company, and he presently works as an investment consultant through Lumen Assets Management. He is watchful of and influential in technological developments.

Wood, Alan. Communication by email. 7 November 2003.

Dr. Wood is the Director of the Reliability group at HP, and the Chairman of the IEEE-SCV Reliability chapter. He is an expert on standards, and can influence the process of inkjet printer ink cartridge standardization.