The phrase describes a state of affairs the place an ink cartridge registers as empty to a printer, regardless of nonetheless containing ink. This could happen for a number of causes, together with defective communication between the cartridge and printer, dried ink clogging the print head, or the cartridge reaching a programmed expiration date no matter remaining ink ranges. For instance, a consumer may see a “low ink” warning, or the printer might refuse to print altogether, regardless that a visible inspection of the cartridge reveals ink remaining.
This state of affairs presents a irritating downside for customers, resulting in pointless cartridge replacements and elevated printing prices. It contributes to digital waste and highlights the restrictions of present ink cartridge know-how. Addressing this subject requires a multifaceted method involving printer producers, cartridge producers, and shopper consciousness. Enhancements in cartridge design, printer firmware, and consumer interfaces may assist alleviate this downside. Traditionally, numerous strategies, some with questionable effectiveness, have been employed by customers to bypass this subject, starting from manually resetting cartridge chips to shaking the cartridge.