CLA-2-84:S:N:N1:110 876142
Ms. Karen L. Sager
Smith Corona Corporation
P.O. Box 2020
Cortland, NY 13045
RE: The tariff classification of Ink Jet Printers and components
to be manufactured in a Foreign Trade Zone.
Dear Ms. Sager:
In your letter dated June 25, 1992, you requested a tariff
classification ruling.
The merchandise under consideration includes a model JP 150
Olivetti ink jet printer, and such accessories and components as
ink jet cartridges, automatic sheet feeder, RAM cards, printer
emulation cartridges, and font cartridges.
The JP 150 ink jet printer is a personal desk-top printer
that uses "bubble-ink jet" technology, and is designed primarily
for home computing, desk-top publishing, and small office
printing. The machine can handle paper width of a maximum of 9.5
inches, has a printing resolution of 300 dots per inch, and a
print speed of 160 CPS in draft mode. The machine incorporates
media transport, control and a print mechanism. The disposable
bubble ink jet cartridge is a print head containing a 50 print
nozzle assembly group and the ink supply for the life of the
print head. The machine incorporates a standard parallel
bidirectional host interface, and emulations for the HP Deskjet
and extended PCL 3.
The actual print mechanism is a disposable bubble ink jet
cartridge that contains a print head that contains the 50-print
nozzle assembly group and ink supply. The ink jet head consists
of an interchangeable sealed container containing 50 print
nozzles, a liquid ink cartridge and an electric circuit including
50 miniresistors. The ink, contained in a sponge cartridge, is
connected to the nozzles via channels in the resin layer of the
head.
The automatic sheet feeder is a bin which is attached under
the printer to allow for the continuous feed of up to 70 sheets
of paper. The RAM cards (128K or 256K Byte) are memory expansion
cartridges which are slotted into the printer as needed to
facilitate downloading from a personal computer. The printer
emulation cartridges are inserted into the printer to allow the
printer to interpret print commands formatted for other common
personal computer printers. The font cartridges are inserted
into the printer to provide a greater variety of print styles and
character sets.
The applicable subheading for the Ink Jet Printer will be
8471.92.6580, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTS), which provides for other printer units incorporating at
least the media transport, control and print mechanism. The rate
of duty will be 3.7 percent ad valorem
The applicable subheading for the ink jet cartridge,
automatic sheet feeder, RAM cards, printer emulation cartridges,
and font cartridges will be 8473.30.4000, HTS, which provides for
parts and accessories of the machines of heading 8471 not
incorporating a cathode ray tube. The rate of duty will be free.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Section
177 of the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport