MP500 again - purge problem?

[Sherden]

One thing I notice from your print head photos in post #21 above that I didn't think of. The photo showing the assembled head "prior to wiping off" shows two black rectangles, an almost square one around the color nozzles, and a narrower rectangle around the PGBK nozzles. The rectangles appear to be imprints from the soft sealing gasket of the purge pads, and really should not intersect, as this could disturb the sealing "quality" during purging...

Any condition that disturbs this seal will degrade the already meager vacuum that the purge pump is capable of...causing ink supply issues, particularly after a cart change.

Hi Turbguy, I am wondering what do you mean with "they should not intersect".

From the picture by @PeterBJ in post #5 it the soft sealing gaskets (Pgbk and colour one) "share" one side so what shown in the picture #21 it seems exactly the contour of the gasket\s.

I am asking because the picture of my printhead shows the same "pattern"... and I am experiencing the same issue discussed here

BTW: the small lips to hold the porous plates should stay under or over the plates?

 

[PeterBJ]

BTW: the small lips to hold the porous plates should stay under or over the plates?

They should go over the plates, else they don't hold the plates in place. Also note the position of the cut-off corners to make sure the plates are properly positioned. They should be in the upper left corners. Here is the picture again:

 

[Robert the Bruce]

@Robert the Bruce : Hi, I am experiencing the same issue as your with my IP4300. Just wondering if you were able to recover completely the PGBK issue and how.

Thank you in advance

I'm afraid I gave up with it :-( I could get the ink to flow briefly (and with an incomplete pattern) by priming as @turbguy suggested, but it would not last.
I ended up just forcing the printer to use the Photo Black instead. It increases the length of time required to print by an order of magnitude, but at least it produces good results. I can even print music with it now. I can't really afford to spend any more time or money sorting out the PGBK problem, much as I'd like to.

 

[Robert the Bruce]

One thing I notice from your print head photos in post #21 above that I didn't think of. The photo showing the assembled head "prior to wiping off" shows two black rectangles, an almost square one around the color nozzles, and a narrower rectangle around the PGBK nozzles. The rectangles appear to be imprints from the soft sealing gasket of the purge pads, and really should not intersect, as this could disturb the sealing "quality" during purging...

Any condition that disturbs this seal will degrade the already meager vacuum that the purge pump is capable of...causing ink supply issues, particularly after a cart change.

That's a good point. I did wonder whether I was getting a proper vacuum, seeing as I had noticed a slight nick out of one of the corners of the gasket. Someone here commented that they had a spare gasket. I will have to go back and check who, but if the poster in question is still around, would the offer to send one still be open? I would like to give this one last shot.
EDIT: I see it was @PeterBJ. Do you still have those spares? I will report the result if you can send them to me - details and address forthcoming in mailbox if necessary. Thanks.

 

[turbguy]

Hi Turbguy, I am wondering what do you mean with "they should not intersect".

From the picture by @PeterBJ in post #5 it the soft sealing gaskets (Pgbk and colour one) "share" one side so what shown in the picture #21 it seems exactly the contour of the gasket\s.

I am asking because the picture of my printhead shows the same "pattern"... and I am experiencing the same issue discussed here

BTW: the small lips to hold the porous plates should stay under or over the plates?

Never mind about "intersecting"...I see from the photo above there's only one gasket for both parking pads...I though (mistakenly) that the two pads were independent.

 

[turbguy]

They should go over the plates, else they don't hold the plates in place. Also note the position of the cut-off corners to make sure the plates are properly positioned. They should be in the upper left corners. Here is the picture again:

I don't see what is so particular about the chamfered corner being positioned correctly. What might I be missing?

 

[PeterBJ]

The porous plates have a curved and a flat side. The flat side must be turned upwards. By placing the cut off corner correctly, the flat side is always up.

 

[turbguy]

The porous plates have a curved and a flat side. The flat side must be turned upwards. By placing the cut off corner correctly, the flat side is always up.

Thanx. Never noticed any difference in flatness on either side.

 

[PeterBJ]

....EDIT: I see it was @PeterBJ. Do you still have those spares? I will report the result if you can send them to me - details and address forthcoming in mailbox if necessary. Thanks.

I still have the parts and my offer is still valid. The parts are from an iP4000, but look like those from an iP4200, which I think is the print engine in your MP500. You can use the "Conversations" to send me your postal address.

 

[The Hat]

When I went looking I also found the two porous pads from the purge unit from a iP4200 that never worked..