what do the dashes and sloping lines of dashes mean in nozzle check?

[Paul W.]

I know this is a basic question but forgive me - this is how I learn! I have a 1400 and a 1430. The nozzle check has six patches one for each cartridge of course. But each patch has 9 sloping lines and each line has 10 dashes. Can someone tell me exactly what these mean? Is each dash a different nozzle or each line? I've heard one explanation that each sloping line is a nozzle and each dash represents a different firing of the same nozzle. Is that true?

It would also be helpful to see a diagram of the underside of the head, showing the configuration of the nozzles.

Thank you!

Paul

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

I think the 1400 has about the same printhead as the old R265 6x90 nozzles, which are arranged in 3x2 columns - please see a copy out of the service manual

That's an image of a very old printhead, a leftover , just ignore the scratches

or closer
That's just quick close-ups of that old printhead.

Each nozzle should be visible in the nozzle check and fire several times for best visibility,
9 of your sloping lines with 10 dashes = 90 nozzles per color

 

[Paul W.]

Thanks, @Ink stained Fingers , that underside view of the head is very helpful. Just to be sure I understand - and perhaps it was in the diagram and I missed it, but:

Take any cart: does that cart's pattern show the state of nine nozzles? or ninety?

The reason I'm asking is that I still get about 2 lines missing in my cyan position. I've been trying for a couple of months to clear the nozzle check for the cyan position. Yet - and I do rather demanding 11x14 photos - the prints are just fine.

One explanation I've heard is that the nozzle check prints are in draft - and it's easy to miss some checks in that mode. Whereas when I do a photo the head makes several passes for each line which cover up any gaps. Sound plausible to you?

Thanks!

Paul

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

please scan and post your nozzle check here. Yes, the printhead does several passes with higher quality settings so that some small gaps are covered, but not 'any' . Yes, you should see 90 short lines for 90 nozzles - per color

 

[Paul W.]

Thanks, @Ink stained Fingers . I now have a better understanding on just what the nozzle check means.

I'm inserting a photo of my troublesome Cyan pattern - note that it is dated 4/25 when I had various shades of grey in my cartridges. The cyan position is 30% black and easy to photograph. Lately however I have Piezoflush in all six cartridges and as you know that's a very pale pink. I can't get a photo of it with that fluid. Unfortunately I don't have time for the next few days to empty the Piezoflush and go back to the black and grey inks for a better photograph. I can tell you that the current pattern shows gaps in different places. I think that's somewhat encouraging, my understanding is that if a gap moves around it's likely to be air in the lines and not a clog.

When I post a more up to date photo a few days from now, and I insert your name like this @Ink stained Fingers , do you get a notice that there's a message for you? I'm still new here and I'm not sure if you get an alert or not.

Stay tuned!

Paul

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

yes, participants of a thread get an e-mail with new additions . You have quite a lot of nozzles missing already, you may try some soaking of the nozzle plate. You power up the printer and you pull the plug again as soon as the printhead starts moving. You can shift it then freely. You place a piece of kitchen paper into the printing path , soak it with window cleaner or your Piezoflush , shift the printhead over it and let it rest there for some time, do a cleaning and another nozzle check. Air should go away pretty soon if that's the problem. You may download the WICReset utility which gives you access to some printer parameters via the status report and the waste ink counter, and this utility has a function 'Ink Charge' which is a more intense cleaning cycle which can be used to move more ink - or cleaner - Piezoflush - through the nozzles. Look to the waste ink counter - it is adding some there.

 

[Paul W.]

Apparently my earlier nozzle check has served a purpose. Today's nozzle check shows missing areas but in a different location but as I said, it's too faint to capture in a photo. Should I still post a more current nozzle check when I get black/gray ink back in the cartridges or does this earlier photo tell you enough? Like I say, it would be a few days till I could get to that.

I'm familiar with that paper towel technique, in fact I just did that yesterday, with Piezoflush. I call it the "shoe-shine" technique! I've been using that technique every few days, with Piezoflush. I haven't tried window cleaner yet... it contains ammonia which I'm a little reluctant to use. Maybe it's time to give it a try. When you say let it sit "for some time"... I've let my soaked paper towel remain in position for up to several hours. After that the fluid begins to dry up.

I've heard of the WICReset utility but I'm a little reluctant to use that too. When I first heard about it several years ago it was considered somewhat dangerous - maybe it's been fixed.

Maybe I've been too cautious throughout all this!

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

'shoe-shine' technique - some time - a few hours - that all should be o.k. Not all window cleaners contain ammonia actually a very few, they contain some small amount of alcohol and some detergent/tensid/cleaning agent. You may run WICreset separately through your virus scanner or another online scanner, I found it clean over the years. But there is always one scanner which reports a problem, or on other software, even installed software was suddenly blocked including Microsoft software, so being cautious is always advisable, but sometimes you just get false alarms you have to assess.

 

[Mike Earussi]

Thanks, @Ink stained Fingers , that underside view of the head is very helpful. Just to be sure I understand - and perhaps it was in the diagram and I missed it, but:

Take any cart: does that cart's pattern show the state of nine nozzles? or ninety?

The reason I'm asking is that I still get about 2 lines missing in my cyan position. I've been trying for a couple of months to clear the nozzle check for the cyan position. Yet - and I do rather demanding 11x14 photos - the prints are just fine.

One explanation I've heard is that the nozzle check prints are in draft - and it's easy to miss some checks in that mode. Whereas when I do a photo the head makes several passes for each line which cover up any gaps. Sound plausible to you?

Thanks!

Paul

All the nozzles are used, but if a few are missing that will affect your color balance slightly. And if an entire head drops out you'll really notice it.

 

[Paul W.]

@Mike Earussi : Thank you, but I'm printing in b/w, each cart is a different shade of gray, plus one cart that's solid black. I take your point however, I may be getting different inaccurate shades of grey.