Canon IP3600 21 orange flashes yes 21?

[danuk76]

hi all

I have an ip3600 printer and the orange light flashes 21 times (alternates with green), any help would be most grateful or service manual link.

bit of history, I have done the waste tank reset and wanted to clean the waste pads so I cut a hole int the bottom of the printer (with a soldering iron )

I have removed the felt pads and I was going to fit a little waste tank but after reassembly I have this pesky 21 flashes.

 

[danuk76]

bump I have checked many things
near the print head drive motor on top right has a white cog on a arm that can go in 1 off 3 positions, which one do i put it in???,
I must have dislodged it when I had it upside down

 

[danuk76]

ok there is 4 positions the cog on the arm can go,,,,crazy???

 

[The Hat]

hi all

I have an ip3600 printer and the orange light flashes 21 times (alternates with green), any help would be most grateful or service manual link.

bit of history, I have done the waste tank reset and wanted to clean the waste pads so I cut a hole int the bottom of the printer (with a soldering iron )

I have removed the felt pads and I was going to fit a little waste tank but after reassembly I have this pesky 21 flashes.

Did you get the 21 flashes before you tried to change the waste pads or afterwards ?
Why was there a need reset the waste counter in the first place, was it full ?

 

[PeterBJ]

The iP4600 and iP4700 printers are similar to the iP3600, so a simplified service manual for the iP4700 might be useful. Link here: http://www.gondack.com.ar/media/useruploads/files/ip4700-ssm.pdf . See page 8/24 for an explanation of the 21 blinks.

For disassembling the printer and changing the ink absorbers see this instruction from Druckerchannel.de: http://www.druckerchannel.de/artikel.php?ID=2744&seite=1&t=anleitung_zum_wechsel_des_ink_absorbers or a Google translation: http://translate.google.dk/translat...e=1&t=anleitung_zum_wechsel_des_ink_absorbers . This instruction also applies to the iP3600.

The idea of attaching an external waste ink tank is good for Epson printers, but not for Canon printers. It has been tried by forum member ghwellsjr: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4882

Although you might get away with resetting the waste ink absorber counter once and continue printing without replacing or cleaning the absorbers, it is not a good idea as you risk a nasty ink spill: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=308

I guess you have one of the Canon service tools, as you have reset the waste ink counter. For more information see this thread: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7416

I hope you find out how to reassemble the printer properly. Good luck with the repair
Peter.

 

[The Hat]

A Great reply Peter, I dont think you have left anything out at all..
Phew...

 

[danuk76]

Thanks peter amazing post, i searched high and low for this 21 flashes error

having a rest from it at the moment will update soon

thanks again

 

[danuk76]

I read all the links, but i cannot find the drive switch, where might this be located on the printer there is several drive motors (I have all covers off)

21 times Drive switch
error
[C000] Drive was not switched
properly.
1) Foreign material or paper debris in the
drive switch area;
remove foreign material,
confirm the ink tank conditions, or
re-set the ink tanks properly.
2) Part replacement:
- Purge drive system unit
- ASF unit
- Carriage unit

 

[PeterBJ]

The Canon MP640 uses the iP4600 as print engine. The iP4600 is similar to the iP3600. The service manual for the MP640 has more mechanical info and is found here: http://www.bendata.de/Downloads/Canon/mp640_e.pdf . Resetters.ru also has two good articles on disassembling the iP3600 and iP4600. links to Google translations are here: http://translate.googleusercontent.....shtml&usg=ALkJrhjEog24Wrzr91tqx9iTvfmQPSo8Fw and here: http://translate.googleusercontent.....shtml&usg=ALkJrhjHmH0acWqb3Kaq8x9Xw601ToaoAQ . The word "extension" at the bottom of the pages of the iP4600 article means "next page"

I think that the "Drive switch" is not an electric switch but a mechanical switch like a clutch/gearbox mechanism. There are many motors ( 4 ? ) in an iP3600 and at least one does double duty both in paper transport and driving the purge unit. I think the drive switch area is located at the left hand side of the printer, opposite to the purge unit.

Here is a picture shot using a webcam inside a MP540, which uses the iP3600 as print engine. This is what I think is the drive switch. Note similarity with an oldfashioned unsynchronized gearbox. Click to enlarge:



The purge unit does more than suck ink through the nozzles to clear them, is also caps/uncaps the nozzles and locks/unlocks the printhead.

The list of suggested parts replacements indicates to me that error C000 is a mechanical error.

As some causes of this error message are foreign material in the drive switch area or ink cartridges not seated properly and thus blocking printhead movement, I think a probable cause of this error is that "the white cog on an arm near the printhead motor" is not positioned right. If repositioning this cog, trying out all 4 possible ways does not help, then try to check for other causes of printhead movement blocking.

If this doesn't help, sadly I'm out of ideas.

 

[danuk76]

Thanks again, if I get anywhere over the weekend i will report back, but if I have no luck these great web links can help others, thanks peter