zlacker

I think people forget that ink is a liquid which dries up and leaves a sticky mess. They think of the printer as a magic technology box that somehow is supposed to deal with that mess perfectly, without issues or waste.

Well it doesn’t work! Ink needs to be flushed to keep the lines clear. Inkjet printers need to print regularly for optimal performance and low waste. If you need a printer to sit on the shelf for 4 months between print jobs, laser is the only game in town. Toner is a solid powder and it lasts forever without issues. No clogging, no mess.

>>chongl+(OP)
Shouldn’t a liquid not dry up if it’s sealed properly?

>>soared+Qu1
The container has to have holes through which to squirt the ink onto the page, and when ink is dispensed it is replaced in the container with air.

>>stonog+Xy1
You could make one that doesn't have an air hole. Put a membrane between the air and the ink. Consider a standard reverse osmosis water tank--inside there's basically a big bag, pressurized air on the outside, water on the inside. The outside should stay dry, the inside shouldn't contact the air.

You still have the problem at the print head, though.

>>chongl+(OP)
We don't forget this, we don't care. We buy a printer and it should print.

>>soared+Qu1
Sure. But no seal is 100%. Have you ever saved an opened glue or epoxy container? It'll eventually dry out.