Printer toner chip backup and restore

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi guys,
I bought a new printer. I am thinking of taking backup of the toner chip, byte by byte, instead of getting to know what data is being changed or where it is being changed inside the chip, as the ink decreases. So, once I get the "low ink" warning messages, I can restore data on to the chip.

  1. Will it work?

  2. There are four leads coming out of the chip. How do I know which is which? http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v0/1561816787/Compatible_cartridge_toner_chip_for_For_Ricoh.jpg_200x200.jpg

  3. Is there a possibility of ruining the chip during the process ?

2
  1. Will it work?
    If the chip is read/write, and the chip is used to store information about the remaining contents, and you can figure out how to read and write it.
  1. There are four leads coming out of the chip. How do I know which is which?
    You would connect a logic analyzer to the four pins to see how they behave. If there is a Ground pin it will always be LOW. If there is a Vcc pin it will always be HIGH. There will likely be a Data pin and a Clock pin. If you start the printer both with and without the chip present you might be able to tell what data is going TO the chip and what data is coming FROM the chip.
  1. Is there a possibility of ruining the chip during the process ?
    Absolutely. Perhaps you should order some spares.
3

I wish you well on your efforts but I just don't know the answer. I'd also like to know if I can do something similar with the chips used by my OKI printer. I believe the OKI just consists of an RFID chip. Once the printer sees that it's a new one, it will just count down until it decides it's time to kill it off.

The new chip just needs to have a different RFID to the old.

These are just money making machines for the manufacturers, killing the toner cartridges irrespective of what toner is left in them.

4

Yes , when im considering a new printer i go to cartrige world and check they can refill them first

5

Boardburner2:
Yes , when im considering a new printer i go to cartrige world and check they can refill them first

Boardburner2:
Yes , when im considering a new printer i go to cartrige world and check they can refill them first

I wish I had before I bought the OKI. The cartridges themselves are not very expensive, but they add up when you have to keep replacing them when they're nowhere near empty. I can also buy replacement chips but this is not an ideal solution.

One of these days, when I've got nothing to do with my time, I WILL get to the bottom of how these chips are being implemented.