- Joined
- Apr 19, 2007
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- Printer Model
- Canon MB5120, Pencil
I'm going to try to think this through as I type, a stream of thought. Others may offer clearer insights.
You wrote nozzle checks are poor the first time after Windex treatment but appear OK on the second try. This sounds like ink needs time to flow either out of problematic cartridge or around some obstruction in the print head.
The image you posted shows a variable intensity darker blue line spaced at consistent intervals. This may be due to a print head malfunction, unless the dark blue is the proper color and the rest is an improper light colored blue, demonstrating a tremendous clog in the print head except for one thin layer of nozzles. Not likely, since you would probably see areas of no ink. Also, is is doubtful this artifact is caused by an issue with the cartridge since the cartridge would either have to alternately give more or less ink fairly consistently throughout the printing, albeit there might , MIGHT be enough time for ink to flow enough to give the dark band as the print head carriage returns from one side to the other to begin printing again in as when printing uni-directionally (like a typewriter). I believe your printer prints bi-directionally, printing both left to right and right to left in order to speed up printing jobs, so this is probably not a cartridge issue. Plus, I would expect to see the dark blue line immediately if the printer had been idle before starting the print job.
BUT, the darker, evenly spaced blue line varies in intensity and improves as printing proceeds, even appearing to vanish, or nearly disappear, a couple of times, but returning nonetheless. You don't say which end of this image came out of the printer first, my assumption may be the opposite of the situation. Regardless, this seems to point to an intermittent ink flow issue within the print head.
Could this be a paper feed problem or a print head carriage movement issue? Doubtful since all the colors would show this consistent alternating dark banding pattern, which you have not commented on so far.
I take it that the image you posted was from a plain paper print? If so, does this occur with photo paper set to the appropriate photo paper type (ie not plain paper setting)?
If you want, you could soak the print head in Windex, or some other cleaning fluid such as those suggested by Pharmacist on the forum, over night. Make sure the level of fluid is above the inlet screens on the print head. You could try running tap water over the print head inlet screens (and bottom ejection ports) until no colors flush from the bottom or are seen pooling on the top of the inlet screens. Make sure to dry out the print head thoroughly before inserting it back into the printer. If you have hard water - lots of minerals in the water - you can do a final rinse with distilled water. Another method to flush a print head would be to use tubing or a cut-away syringe that fits over the inlet screens and flush with water. I'm sure there are other methods, but you hopefully get the picture.
Using any substance on the print head risks issues with electrical contacts, soldering, adhesives, etc. You might damage the print head. I have not ruined a print head using these methods, but then again, I did not fix my problem either. So, it might help, it might not, or it might make things worse. No sweat, eh?
Please follow the steps outlined in my last post so we can better understand what and where your issue is.
You wrote nozzle checks are poor the first time after Windex treatment but appear OK on the second try. This sounds like ink needs time to flow either out of problematic cartridge or around some obstruction in the print head.
The image you posted shows a variable intensity darker blue line spaced at consistent intervals. This may be due to a print head malfunction, unless the dark blue is the proper color and the rest is an improper light colored blue, demonstrating a tremendous clog in the print head except for one thin layer of nozzles. Not likely, since you would probably see areas of no ink. Also, is is doubtful this artifact is caused by an issue with the cartridge since the cartridge would either have to alternately give more or less ink fairly consistently throughout the printing, albeit there might , MIGHT be enough time for ink to flow enough to give the dark band as the print head carriage returns from one side to the other to begin printing again in as when printing uni-directionally (like a typewriter). I believe your printer prints bi-directionally, printing both left to right and right to left in order to speed up printing jobs, so this is probably not a cartridge issue. Plus, I would expect to see the dark blue line immediately if the printer had been idle before starting the print job.
BUT, the darker, evenly spaced blue line varies in intensity and improves as printing proceeds, even appearing to vanish, or nearly disappear, a couple of times, but returning nonetheless. You don't say which end of this image came out of the printer first, my assumption may be the opposite of the situation. Regardless, this seems to point to an intermittent ink flow issue within the print head.
Could this be a paper feed problem or a print head carriage movement issue? Doubtful since all the colors would show this consistent alternating dark banding pattern, which you have not commented on so far.
I take it that the image you posted was from a plain paper print? If so, does this occur with photo paper set to the appropriate photo paper type (ie not plain paper setting)?
If you want, you could soak the print head in Windex, or some other cleaning fluid such as those suggested by Pharmacist on the forum, over night. Make sure the level of fluid is above the inlet screens on the print head. You could try running tap water over the print head inlet screens (and bottom ejection ports) until no colors flush from the bottom or are seen pooling on the top of the inlet screens. Make sure to dry out the print head thoroughly before inserting it back into the printer. If you have hard water - lots of minerals in the water - you can do a final rinse with distilled water. Another method to flush a print head would be to use tubing or a cut-away syringe that fits over the inlet screens and flush with water. I'm sure there are other methods, but you hopefully get the picture.
Using any substance on the print head risks issues with electrical contacts, soldering, adhesives, etc. You might damage the print head. I have not ruined a print head using these methods, but then again, I did not fix my problem either. So, it might help, it might not, or it might make things worse. No sweat, eh?
Please follow the steps outlined in my last post so we can better understand what and where your issue is.
