Most cartridges can be filled several
times, but you should be aware that
the lifespan of the cartridge can be
extended to almost double the expected
by following a few simple rules of
Cartridge Maintenance.
Firstly, there is nothing unhappier than
a dry cartridge. How, you ask, can we
ensure the cartridge is kept in a moist
condition?
1. Never operate the printer when you
are aware that the cartridge is empty.
Expecting the print head to fire without
ink is akin to boiling water dry in a
saucepan and not removing the pan
from the heat.
2.
Pay regular attention to the print
head. Coagulated ink on or around this
area is a recipe for disaster. The cartridge
should be removed from the
printer, say around once every two
weeks, and the print head rubbed with
a moist rag to clean off any residual
inkm in that area.
Never use any form of solvent; the ink
in the cartridge is water based and this
is the only cleaning
substance that can
safely be used. In the
case of Hewlett
Packard cartridge, the
print head should
show a nice shiny
brass area with slight
ink seepage, and in
the case of the Canon
the print head will be
clean without any ink
over the head itself.
There is no need to
dry the head, which
should still be moist
when returned to the
printer.
3. Have the cartridge refilled before it
gets totally empty. Another alternative
is to top up every couple of weeks or
so, depending on how often the printer
is used.
4. Nothing is more important than running“The Print Head Clean” option,
shown in the operator’s manual, on a
regular basis, to ensure the head is
cleaned.
Most machines also have the option of
printing a jet-by-jet grid to allow you to
physically check
whether a jet in the
head is blocked. We
cannoy overstress the
iportance of running
this function, especially
in those printers
where the print head
is not an integral part
of the cartridge (eg.
Epson, Canon).
We have known
cases where a printer
has failed to print all
but a print shadow
and the customer has
been advised to
replace the print
head, when the problem
could have been solved by allowing
the print head with cartridge inserted
to stand for 24 hours and then carry
out the head clean and test procedures
for two to three cycles.
Summary:
• Keep the cartridge in the machine
unless refilling
• Physically clean the head if possible
• Top up with ink on a regular basis
• Run the print head clean option
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