Chapter 6
76
Printer Maintenance
P83173A RevA
7/19/10
Daily maintenance
NOTE: The Clean Heads Procedure and End of Day Clean only need to be performed when the
printer is being utilized.
Tips for Clean Heads procedure
1) What is the purpose of the Clean Heads procedure?
♦
To maintain consistent nozzle performance.
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To introduce a small amount of Daily Maintenance Solution to the nozzle plate to prevent
ink from curing or adhering to the nozzle surface.
2) How hard do I press the Anticon wipe-covered swab against the surface of
the printhead nozzle plate?
♦
As light as possible while still making contact.
o
Effectively, you are trying to wick the excess ink off the surface of the nozzle
plate. You ARE NOT trying to scrub the nozzle surface. The printhead nozzle
plate is a very sensitive coated surface. Excessive pressure can result in scratches
to the printhead surface or removal of the protective coating, which can result in
lost or angled nozzles that will negatively affect print quality. The most effective
way to hold the Anticon wipe-covered swab is with 2 fingers. Holding the swab
with more fingers makes it more likely you will apply excessive pressure to the
nozzle plat
e
.
3) How can I be sure my clean was effective?
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You should print a nozzle out test print after every 4 hour clean.
o
You should check for any new missing nozzles based on your previous nozzle
out pattern. There are 4,096 nozzles in your printer, each with a distinct line on
your nozzle print pattern. You want to make sure that you have as many nozzles
as possible firing.
4) Why do I lose nozzles?
Reasons for temporary loss of nozzles include:
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Wiping too hard with the Anticon wipe-covered swab.
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Using too much Daily Maintenance Solution on the surface of the Anticon wipe-covered
swab.
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NOT covering Fisher brand foam-tipped swab with Anticon wipe as per this manual’s
specific instructions.
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Printing too long between cleans.
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Not performing an End of Day Clean.