Anatomy

Everything is straightforward from outside. Every structure is pretty much like you see in the above picture. There are no holes on the top. The filling hole from the factory seem to be the one on the bottom. The other hole that labeled "Duct" is to carry the ink/air up to the upper chamber. Do not open this plastic cover or block it because you will ruin the ink flow pattern. (you may need to block this duct if you construct the CIS with the tubing connected to upper chamber)

There are 2 layers of plastic stickers, the outer most is just a label which is now peeled off and reveals another plastic membrane that seal and complete the air vent channel and also the ink pathway on and after the circular disc valve. This is the vulnerable part, the tear of this membrane may result in a malfunction cartridge. Note the duct the carry the ink up.

The piece of plastic that open the air-vent system is removed (easily with a small screw driver and it's re-installable). Some web site called this - tang which I prefer not because there is no sharp object on this piece.

Please note that this piece of plastic may not be interchanged (it physically compatible to the cartridge), because there is a color specific configuration for each color.

The label sticker was peeled off, the plastic that air-vent activator removed.

The lid or the non-sticker (left) side of the cartridge opened up. It reveals the 2 main chambers. Upper chamber which is completely seal off from the lower chamber with the plastic membrane. I have spent a while (months) to find the connection between the two. Notice the almost empty lower chamber. There is still some ink left in the upper chamber. The ink smear on the inner side of the lid (removed) and also on the plastic membrane indicates that there was a thin layer of ink sitting between the lid and this plastic membrane and this part belongs to the lower chamber .

Normally, you should not see any air reach the circular disc after the regular use (like the black one). The blue cartridge was fully drain (intentionally -16 ml -out). Normally, the chip will read empty at about 14 ml and the continuous stream of ink should be maintained up to the sponge position.

The non-sticker side (left) side opened. If you don't see the internal membrane drag your mouse over the picture to see the light black version which will give you a better image.

It looks like a lot of ink left but after we peeled off the plastic membrane, it's only 2-3 ml can be collected into the syringe. Many bubbles of course. The upper chamber now can be seen clearer, it's divided in to multiple part with the walls. Note the small circular sponge that served as a filter before the air/particle reach the circular one way disc valve.

At the lower bottom part, notice the small crescent shape opening that allow the ink in the lower chamber to get sucked up to the upper chamber

Now, we've removed the plastic membrane and clear the excess ink out.

Now, we have washed the cartridge and peel of the clear sticker on the right side. Also the air-fluid membrane peeled off. Notice the partial septum that divide the squared surface into 3 parts.

The circular disc now opened, notice a soft spring in the middle of the circle. There is a thin layer of rubber that will allow the ink to flow in only one direction (toward the exit). This valve will prevent any air reflux from the exit or ... any refill from the exit.

The same old exit valve that presented since T007/009 can be noticed in this picture, too. I love this exit valve very much, it prevents all kinds of mess that we can get from ink oozing when taken off the printer.

The right side, after washed, reveal the disc valve.

Volume

The septa of the lower chamber are not complete like the upper (the upper are not 100% complete, too). The ink in the lower chamber (A) will be sucked up into the upper part and then the ink level in B and C and D will decline until E.

A = 7.5 ml.
B = 1.0 ml.
C = 2.2 ml.
D = 2.0 ml.
E = 1.0 ml. ( between E-F there is a small slit- less than 0.5 ml)
F = < 1.0 ml. (plus the sponge will hold some amount of volume)
G = < 1.0 ml.

Opposite to G, there is another circular pocket that is another side of the disc valve, this pocket + the small tube that lead to the exit, contains less than 1 ml.

The volume of each compartment.

Also to mention that there is some ink that lay between the left side wall and the inner plastic membrane of the upper chamber. This part belongs to A (lower chamber) and can be accounted for a volume of about 5cm x 5cm x 0.1cm = 2.5 ml. So total ink in the cartridge will be anywhere between 16-17 ml. Under a regular use, the chip will allow only 12-14 ml to be used. The rest of 3-4 ml is just to keep the part F, G and distal free of air and also for a safety margin since the chip doesn't really read the level of ink.