Epson PRINTHEAD Recovery Procedure

In many cases when owning an Epson printer, you will need to perform printhead recovery of Epson printers. This article will show you the procedure for performing Printhead recovery.

This two – part process is described on the following pages:

PART A – PUMP AND CAP TEST

PART B – PRINT HEAD RECOVERY/ FLUSH PROCEDURE

Digital print heads come in many variations but all have the same function which is to jet ink accurately to the substrate.

Over time the nozzle galleries, orifices and ink transfer systems get clogged or partially blocked.

PRINT HEAD RECOVERY PROCEDURE

CLEANING SOLUTIONS REQUIRED:

Epson PN 1041371, A29 Clear fluid

Epson PN 1047886, S46 Red fluid

PART A – PUMP AND CAP TEST

1. PUMP TEST

a) Power the printer OFF, remove any paper. Replace the top over, disconnect print head lock mechanism.

Locate the print head on the left of the cap. Soak the cap with CLEAN TAP WATER. Revolve the pump gear manually and observe the fluid drain from the cap. The cap will dry and turn white if the pump is running.

b) Please test if INK is flowing through the print head once the above is done. Locate print head among cap and make sure that the air valve is closed. Rotate the pump gear and look at the ink return to the cap, the cap will change colors corresponding to the I/C structure. If it doesn’t run then the cap pr air valve assembly will require cleaning. To tidy up and flush the pump system, please follow the steps below. But if the cap does fill up wit ink colors and NO NOZZLES fire, let’s look print head cable connections over.

(This initial test will define your next step. If the pump doesn’t work in this case, you had better replace and clean the pump assembly. The pump should check well as outlined above before proceeding. In case of bad pump, there is no sense recovering the print head)

2. CAP CLEANING

a) GET RID OF and TIDY UP THE CAP. Replace the CAP assembly and the Wiper Strip, carefully removing the ink tubing.

(Refer to applicable service manual). Tidy the CAP and Wiper in the sink, flush with plain water. (We introduce this CAP & WIPER cleaning step, if the head needs to be flushed or not)

b) In case the print head requires to be flushed; the PUMP TEST worked OK and you decide to complete flush process, then leave the CAP off and carry on PART B. If not, remove the CAP assembly and the WIPER and show the NOZZLE TEST functions and tidying the cycles up as necessary. If printing is not satisfied in this case, you may decide to perform PART B at that time.

(Go on PART B if the print head needs flushing)

PART B – RECOVERY/ FLUSH PROCEDURE

1. GENTLY INJECT RED FLUILD: Replace the CAP assembly. Locate a paper towel in the cavity where the cap was. Position the print head over the towel. Replace any ink cartridge. Using a syringe with tubing, inject red cleaning gently into each color and black nozzle set.

(NOTE: If fluid can not be injected, install and puddle cap with fluid and soak for 30 minutes. Retry step 1)

2. REPLACE THE CAP and RE-INSTALL THE OLD INK CARTRIDGE: Move the CR assembly to the left and replace the paper towel, bit the area dry with a clean towel. Remove the CAP assembly and reconnect tubes.

3. PUDDLE THE CAP: Fill the cap with red fluid. That means puddle the cap with the syringe.

4. SOAK OVERNIGHT: The printer is now ready to soak. The cartridge will hold the fluid in the head and the red fluid in the cap will release any remaining residual ink.

Leave undisturbed overnight

5. REMOVE THE CAP AND CLEAN: ( It is the same as PART A)

6. GENTLY INJECT CLEAR FLUID: Locate a paper towel in the cavity where the cap was. Position the print head over the tower. Get rid of any ink cartridges. Using a syringe with tubing, add one full syringe of clear cleaning fluid gently in each color and black nozzle set.

7. REINSTALL CAP: Put the CAP assembly back in.

8. WITH POWER ON, INSTALL NEW CARTRIDGES: Put new ink cartridge in the printer using the correct install process.

9. PERFORM CLEANING CYCLES UNSTILL FRESH INK IN THE CAP: It regularly takes two or three cleaning cycles until the cap is banded with color from the ink.

10. PRINT TEST: Power the printer up and show a self-test or nozzle test. Display additional cleaning cycles as necessary. (Let’s print a photo page as for final verification. Check page files can be found on the Epson inkjet Training CD.)