Brother LC-3219 extract original ink from the cartridge

For developing a high quality refill ink suitable for Brother LC-3217 and LC-3219 it is necessary to gain comprehensive knowledge of the important, physical parameters of the original ink. We extract the pigmented inks from an original Brother Valuepack, which contains one large ink cartridge LC-3219 per printer colour. Based on these inks, our ink laboratory Octopus Fluids develops the appropriate, high-quality refill ink.

We demonstrate the extraction of the original, pigmented Brother ink using an original Brother LC-3219 yellow cartridge. For this purpose, the filling tip matching the ink outlet of the LC-3219 is used together with a refill syringe. The outer housing of the Brother LC-3219 cartridge consists of two parts. To be able to control the progress of the ink suction and to guide the ink towards the ink outlet, we recommend to remove the front cap of the outer casing.

The front cap is attached to the internal ink tank of the Brother LC-3219 by means of three retaining hooks. The hooks are located in 3 holes in the front cap. To loosen the retainer, we use a small, flat screwdriver to gently push the retaining hook towards the rear of the cartridge.

Once all three retaining hooks have been released, the front cap can be easily removed from the ink tank of the LC-3219. Please handle the removed part of the housing with care, as the chip of the ink cartridge is also located on it. Printing with a refilled ink cartridge requires an intact chip. To remove the printer ink, we use the ink port on the cartridge. There is no need to manipulate the cartridge, or more precisely the inner ink tank. The Brother LC-3219 cartridge should be positioned so that the ink port is below the air inlet. In this way, exhausted ink is reliably replaced by air flowing in through the air inlet and no negative pressure is created inside the ink tank.

Brother LC-3219 ink cartridges have a spring valve in the air inlet. Place the filling tip on the refill syringe and carefully press the filling tip into the ink inlet. The valve is open when the refill tip can no longer be pushed in and resistance can be felt. The filling tip is held in this position. The plunger of the refill syringe is carefully pulled out and the ink flows from the ink tank into the syringe body. With a little practice, this procedure can also be done with the cartridge held in one hand and the syringe with refill tip in the other. With this procedure it is easier to direct the printer ink contained in the Brother LC-3219 towards the ink port.
By the way, we use the original Brother ink LC-3219, LC3217 to develop the suitable alternative product at Octopus Fluids.