How To Manually Clean The Print Head?
How To Manually Clean The Print Head?
The print head plays a crucial role in the printer as it is responsible for spraying ink to form images or text. However, due to its complex structure and functionality, the print head is relatively delicate. Therefore, special attention should be given to the maintenance and care of the print head to avoid damage caused by collisions or improper use. Regular cleaning and proper usage of the printer are essential steps to keep the print head healthy and extend its lifespan.
Every time we start the printer, we need to activate the automatic cleaning function. However, after extended use, you may encounter a situation where even after multiple cleaning attempts, there are still missing large color blocks or no improvement at all when printing a test page. This indicates that your printer's print head needs a manual cleaning.
To perform a manual cleaning, you will need the following materials:
1 bottle of cleaning liquid
2-3 syringes
3-4 bottles of distilled water
A pack of tissues
Preparation:
Place tissues on both sides of the print head to protect it from water damage during the cleaning process.Carefully remove the dampers and set them aside.
Step 1 - Start Cleaning:
Using a syringe, draw approximately 10ml of distilled water and insert the syringe's nozzle into the print head's channel. Inject the water to clean each channel of the print head. Repeat this process for each channel.
Step 2 - Extract Waste Ink:
Reverse flush the print head channels to draw out any trapped waste ink. Be careful when handling the syringe plunger to prevent waste ink from re-entering the channels. Repeat this process for each channel.
Note: At this stage, the syringe's hose will be filled with waste ink. Before proceeding to the next step, it is essential to clean the hose by extracting distilled water. If you find it cumbersome, you can use a new syringe. Also, ensure that the distilled water used for flushing the channels is not contaminated with ink; otherwise, replace it with a fresh bottle of distilled water.
Step 3 - Repeat Steps 1 and 2:
The channels usually require multiple rinses to be thoroughly cleaned. Therefore, repeat Steps 1 and 2 until the water flowing out from the channels becomes clear and free of impurities. Make sure every channel is clean and free of hidden waste ink before moving on to the next step.
Step 4 - Deep Cleaning:
Using a syringe, draw approximately 10ml of cleaning liquid and inject it into the channels for flushing. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes, allowing the cleaning liquid to undergo some chemical reactions with the remaining waste ink. After 10 minutes, flush the channels again with distilled water. Draw water into the syringe and inject it into the channels to flush out the cleaning liquid, ensuring that the water flowing out is clear and free of impurities. After a thorough rinse, perform a "reverse ink extraction" once again to remove any remaining impurities that might not have been flushed out by water.
Step 5 - Reassembly:
Place the Dampers back in its original position, starting from the nearest channel and moving outward. Activate the printer's automatic cleaning function multiple times to complete the entire cleaning process.
If, after multiple automatic cleaning cycles, the test color blocks are still incomplete, then you should consider the possibility that there is air inside the print head causing the issue. In this situation, simply add cleaning fluid to the cap, soak for 5 minutes then restart the automatic cleaning.Problem will solve.
Finally, if you plan to stop using the printer for an extended period due to the need for prolonged absence, it is also essential to perform a manual cleaning before stopping and add some moisturizing liquid after cleaning. This step can protect your print head during the period of non-use.
The moisturizing liquid serves to prevent the print head from drying out and clogging. When the printer is not used for a long time, ink may dry up in the print head, leading to clogging issues. By adding moisturizing liquid, you can keep the ink moist, reducing the risk of clogging and ensuring that the print head remains in good working condition during its dormancy.
When you start using the printer again, remember to perform a test print first to ensure that the print head has been thoroughly cleaned and moisturized, and that the output quality of images or text is satisfactory. This simple additional step will help maintain your printer and ensure its long-term stable operation.