ITX 3000/2000 Printer User Manual
(UMITX315.PDF
)
Page 53 of 82 Date: 4/27/05
12.4.2
Printhead Cleaning
The printhead and drive roller should be cleaned periodically to eliminate the build up of thermal ink residue and paper dust.
This is easily accomplished by using a soft, isopropyl alcohol impregnated, cleaning sheet. This sheet should be fed through the
paper path, several times. To assist with this operation a diagnostic support tool is used.
Caution: Although printhead cleaning is a normal, and recommended, preventative maintenance activity, if frequent
cleaning of heavy buildup is occurring, this is a symptom that something is wrong with the media/printer thermal
operating relationship. Heavy buildup will shorten the life of the printhead because it blocks the flow of thermal
energy, from the printhead, to the media, which is acting as a heat-sink path for this energy. If the thermal media is
depositing onto the printhead it is a most likely due to a quality problem: the media has not been cured properly, or
the press-printed inks are not thermally stable and are burning off, etc. Also, it could be due to a mismatch of the
media’s thermal response characteristic to the printer’s thermal energy delivery level. If very fast media is being
used, the printer’s thermal energy may need to be reduced to better match it. The best solution is to select the thermal
media that is compatible with the printer’s normal (default) energy level setting
.
12.4.2.1 Printhead Cleaning Diagnostic Tool
The entry into this tool is a Power On Switch Panel Operation, refer to section 12.1. Once in this mode, the printer becomes a
simple paper movement device. A isopropyl alcohol impregnated cleaning sheet is required to clean both the printhead and the
driver roller. The front panel switches serve to direct the paper forward or backward through the paper path.
[F0] – Move forward slowly.
[F1] – Move forward rapidly.
[F2] – Move backward slowly.
[F3] – Move backward rapidly.
12.4.2.2 Printhead Cleaning Cards
Printhead cleaning cards are available from Practical Automation.
ITX MODEL
Cleaning Card Width
Part Number
ITX 2002 / ITX 3002
2.00" (50.8 mm) width
A15-70051-1
ITX 2003 / ITX 3003 / ITX 2003A / ITX 3003A
3.25" (82.6 mm) width
A15-70051-2
ITX 2004A / ITX 2004AS / ITX 2004A / ITX 3004AS
4.00" (101.6 mm) width
A15-70051-3
Note: 1. The instructions on the cleaning card package are outdated. The instructions listed in section 12.4.2.1 are more
current and should be used.
2. The adjustable printers models “A” and “AS” should be adjusted to the maximum width before cleaning,