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This Cartridge may be used with the following printers:
Brother
MFC-5890CN
MFC-5895CW
MFC-6490CW
MFC-6890CDW
Please select an issue you might be having with your cartridge
The cartridge and printer used in this video may not look identical to yours, but the same
procedures used in this video may be used for the cartridge you have chosen to troubleshoot.
If you receive an error message stating that the “alignment failed” or that the ”alignment could not be completed”, this may indicate that the printer is not properly recognizing the cartridge.
Remove the cartridge from your printer, slowly reinstall the cartridge and attempt the alignment process again.
If the error continues, it may be necessary to perform a cleaning cycle to improve the quality of the print and allow the alignment process to be completed. Every printer is different so please consult your printer’s user manual for instructions on performing a cleaning cycle on your printer.
If you are not able to perform a cleaning cycle or if the alignment fails even after performing a cleaning cycle, please ensure that the scanner glass is clean and free from fingerprints or debris (this applies to certain models only).
If these steps do not allow the printer to align the cartridge(s), you will need to return the cartridge(s) to the place of purchase.
The cartridge and printer used in this video may not look identical to yours, but the same
procedures used in this video may be used for the cartridge you have chosen to troubleshoot.
If your printer gives you an error message stating that the cartridge cannot be detected or has blinking lights, there may be a simple solution to fix this.
Confirm that the cartridge pictured matches the cartridge you have in your hand or installed in your machine.
Confirm that the printer you are using is listed in the printer compatibility table as a suitable printer for the cartridge you are trying to install.
If ONE of these TWO criteria do NOT match, you have most likely received the incorrect cartridge for your printer. Please visit our PRINTER COMPATIBILITY page in order to determine what cartridge you need for your machine.
Once you have confirmed you have the correct cartridge for your printer, follow any on-screen prompts and open the cover on the printer.
Remove the cartridge and close the cover.
At this point, your printer may direct you to install an ink cartridge.
Slowly reinstall the cartridge.
If the problem persists after returning the cartridge to its cradle, you should reset your printer.
This can be done by turning off your computer and your printer with the cartridges installed.
Unplug your printer and leave your machines off for 2 minutes.
Restart the printer and your computer, and attempt your print again.
If you are still experiencing problems, you will want to clean the optical sensor.
The optical sensor is located inside the printer and looks like the “eye” on an optical mouse. This sensor may need to be cleaned from any obstruction or debris.
Slightly dampen a cotton swab with distilled water (you may use bottled water, but be sure to run the cotton swab against the bottle’s opening several times to remove any excess water).
Carefully clean the optical sensor with the swab.
Once this is complete, reinstall the cartridge and close the printer door.
If the cartridge is still not being recognized after you have completed the above steps, make sure you are installing the cartridge into the correct location in your printer.
Please consult your printer's user manual for information on how to correctly install your remanufactured cartridge.
If the error persists after attempting all troubleshooting steps, you will need to return your cartridge to the place of purchase.
The cartridge and printer used in this video may not look identical to yours, but the same
procedures used in this video may be used for the cartridge you have chosen to troubleshoot.
To install your remanufactured cartridge in your printer, begin by removing the old cartridge from the printer.
Next, remove the pull tab from the cartridge.
Your cartridge may now be installed into the printer.
*The cartridge and printer shown may vary from yours, but the general installation instructions are the same.
The cartridge and printer used in this video may not look identical to yours, but the same
procedures used in this video may be used for the cartridge you have chosen to troubleshoot.
If you have just installed a remanufactured cartridge and the ink levels display as low or empty, there may be a solution for this problem.
Carefully remove the cartridge from your printer, and slowly reinstall into your printer.
If a low or empty ink level still shows, remove the cartridge from your printer and close the cover, turn the machine off and disconnect the power supply for 2 minutes.
When 2 minutes have passed, turn your printer back on and reinstall the cartridge when prompted.
If the error persists, you should return your cartridge to the place of purchase.
In the event your cartridge does not appear to fit into the machine, please look at the print port on the cartridge. Some inkjets may have a protective covering that will need to be punctured upon insertion into your printer, as indicated in the image below.
The puncturing of this material will allow for the cartridge to be seated into the space properly. If your cartridge does not contain this material, please just ensure you are inserting the cartridge into the correct slot and hear it click into place.
The cartridge and printer used in this video may not look identical to yours, but the same
procedures used in this video may be used for the cartridge you have chosen to troubleshoot.
If your printer gives you an error message stating that the cartridge cannot be detected or has blinking lights, there may be a simple solution to fix this.
Confirm that the cartridge pictured matches the cartridge you have in your hand or installed in your machine.
Confirm that the printer you are using is listed in the printer compatibility table as a suitable printer for the cartridge you are trying to install.
If ONE of these TWO criteria do NOT match, you have most likely received the incorrect cartridge for your printer. Please visit our PRINTER COMPATIBILITY page in order to determine what cartridge you need for your machine.
Once you have confirmed you have the correct cartridge for your printer, follow any on-screen prompts and open the cover on the printer.
Remove the cartridge and close the cover.
At this point, your printer may direct you to install an ink cartridge.
Slowly reinstall the cartridge.
If the problem persists after returning the cartridge to its cradle, you should reset your printer.
This can be done by turning off your computer and your printer with the cartridges installed.
Unplug your printer and leave your machines off for 2 minutes.
Restart the printer and your computer, and attempt your print again.
If you are still experiencing problems, you will want to clean the optical sensor.
The optical sensor is located inside the printer and looks like the “eye” on an optical mouse. This sensor may need to be cleaned from any obstruction or debris.
Slightly dampen a cotton swab with distilled water (you may use bottled water, but be sure to run the cotton swab against the bottle’s opening several times to remove any excess water).
Carefully clean the optical sensor with the swab.
Once this is complete, reinstall the cartridge and close the printer door.
If the cartridge is still not being recognized after you have completed the above steps, make sure you are installing the cartridge into the correct location in your printer.
Please consult your printer's user manual for information on how to correctly install your remanufactured cartridge.
If the error persists after attempting all troubleshooting steps, you will need to return your cartridge to the place of purchase.
The cartridge and printer used in this video may not look identical to yours, but the same
procedures used in this video may be used for the cartridge you have chosen to troubleshoot.
If you have printed a document and are unsatisfied with the print quality, you may need to perform a cleaning cycle in order to improve the quality of your print.
To perform a cleaning cycle, please do the following:
On the printer’s Control Panel, press the “ink” button.
Scroll down to Cleaning and press “ok”.
Scroll down to “all” and press “ok”.
You will observe your printer performing a cleaning cycle.
When the cycle is finished, you will see a message on your printer stating “cleaning completed”.
Please be aware that cleaning your printhead does consume ink; and therefore, should only be completed when necessary.
Once the cleaning cycle has been completed, you will want to print a test page to see if the print quality has improved.
If the print on your test page is satisfactory, you may return to the document you wish to print and resume printing.
If your test page is unsatisfactory after performing the cleaning cycles, you may need to replace your inkjet cartridge.
A small electrical patch containing contacts which stores information for interaction between the cartridge and the printer. Not all inkjet cartridges have a chip. Most inkjet cartridges contain a flexible ribbon (called a "flex ribbon") that contains the information for interaction with the printer.
A plastic part used to protect the contacts and nozzle plate during transportation and before use.
A cartridge that is made entirely of new components to resemble the OEM. Sometimes the cartridge only resembles the OEM on the exterior however most cases resemble the OEM both internally and externally.
A series of copper squares that makes contact and communicates with the printer.
The portion of the printer where the inkjet cartridges are installed. This device also carries the inkjet cartridges back and forth across the page creating the desired image.
Prints blue shades
Dye based inks are typically found in color cartridges; however, there are some cases where black cartridges are dye based (photo blacks are dye based). Dye based inks are not water proof or water resistant. They are available in a variety of shades which aids in the color matching to the OEM.
A cartridge that contains foam in one or more areas of the cartridge. The foam acts as a sponge holding the ink in the cartridge however adequately releasing the ink as needed when the space becomes available in the ink reservoir.
An integrated inkjet cartridge has a nozzle plate (printhead) installed on the cartridge along with an electric flexible ribbon connecting the nozzle plate to the electrical contact that interact with the printer.
Prints red shades
A non-integrated inkjet cartridge does not have a nozzle plate included on the cartridge. The nozzle plate for these types of cartridges is included in the printer. The printhead is a consumable item; in some cases, however, in others the printhead is not replaceable. In most cases the chip can be replaced on these style cartridges allowing them to respond to the printers exactly like the original.
Consists of a series of tiny holes that eject ink to form an image or text when instructed to do so by the computer through communication of the chip or flex ribbon.
Original Equipment Manufacturer; the brand new product produced by the company that produced the printer (i.e. HP, Lexmark, Dell, etc)
At times, OEM manufacturers make updates to ink cartridges and/or printer firmware that will cause printers to produce an error message that states “older generation” upon the installation of a cartridge. This firmware update requires that a customer purchase an OEM for their printer or insert a “newer generation” cartridge in order for the printer to function properly. This affects OEM as well as remanufactured cartridges. Inkjet remanufacturers are able to stay on top of these updates and begin producing the “newer generation” cartridges as soon as possible. For more information on these updates, click here for the HP 61 series or click here for the HP 950/951 series.
Lighter shades of black which allows for more color combinations and more "life-like" photographs.
Lighter shades of blue which allows for more color combinations and more "life-like" photographs [i.e. better flesh tones]
Lighter shades of red which allows for more color combinations and more "life-like" photographs [i.e. better flesh tones]
To pull ink from the foam or ink reservoir down to the nozzles preparing them for printing. This is a regular operation performed by the printer, but can also be manually performed to aid in producing an acceptable print.
A cartridge that has no foam inside and consists either of a bag/lining or a series of channels and canals. Both of these mechanisms adequately dispense the ink at the correct rate.
Pigment based inks are typically found in black cartridges; however, there are some cases where color cartridges are pigment based (some Epson, Kodak, and some wide format printer applications). Pigment based inks are water resistant and fade resistant; however, they do not come in many shades so color matching to the OEM is difficult. Pigment based inks also have a higher cost associated with them than do the dye based inks.
An inkjet spittoon is a component in inkjet printers that collects the ink that is removed from the cartridge when the inkjet is primed. This spittoon (sometimes called a reservior) can be either a plastic tray or a piece of foam that absorbs the excess ink. Some of the ink can dry (which makes the foam not absorb as well), and the ink that isn’t absorbed sits in the bottom of the printer. This is how ALL inkjet printers work, which is why it is never a good idea to move an inkjet printer as there will more than likely be ink in the bottom (especially older printers or printers that are used a lot).
A cartridge that is foam based and contains 3 different colors of ink in one cartridge. Typically these colors of ink are Cyan/Magenta/Yellow however there are photo cartridges that contain Photo Cyan/Photo Magenta/Photo Black.
