Possible print head clog with IP4500

[l_d_allan]

Or better still, purge the cartridge and fill with dye ink that would help in preventing clogs happen +
make it easier to clear quicker if and when it happens again)

I did come across an older 2006 post which suggested using black dye ink in a black pigment tank as a way to help tackle a clog problem with the black pigment . IIRC, you'd do one or several deep cleanings of the pigment nozzles with the dye ink.

Seems like it might be worth a try as a nearly last resort if you didn't have cleaning carts. The impression I got from that post was you'd be advised to go back to using black pigment ink in the black pigment cart once the clog problem was fixed.

YMMV

 

[tsu3000]

I did come across an older 2006 post which suggested using black dye ink in a black pigment tank as a way to help tackle a clog problem with the black pigment . IIRC, you'd do one or several deep cleanings of the pigment nozzles with the dye ink.

Seems like it might be worth a try as a nearly last resort if you didn't have cleaning carts. The impression I got from that post was you'd be advised to go back to using black pigment ink in the black pigment cart once the clog problem was fixed.

Thanks for the link. Its quite interesting. I have already tried doing deep cleans and used up one PIGMENT cart already and it did not improve matters.

I have now refilled the pigment cart with DYE ink but plan to go though my own steps again. I will not soak the head this time, but just use a saturated kitchen paper (kitchen roll) and gently "pump" the head to loosen any clogs. I will also add extra drops of isopropyl alcohol to the glass cleaner I am using (Lidl W5) to increase the strength.

Thanks.

 

[The Hat]

l_d_allan The impression I got from that post was you'd be advised to go back to using black pigment ink in the black pigment cart once the clog problem was fixed.

I advise tsu3000 to use dye ink in his pigment cartridges permanently because of his particular circumstance
so it would help him maintain a good healthy print head without having to resort to massive time consuming cleaning etc. and wasting his inks

So my advice to you is please, if youre not going to read up on someone problems carefully
then you shouldnt give your lengthy opinionated views on it till you do.. :|

 

[tsu3000]

*UPDATE 2*

Just a quick update on the progress of unclogging the PIGMENT black.

Here are some scans:

Scan #1 After the first Cleaning cycle


Scan #2 After the 12th Cleaning cycle (this included 3 deep cleans along the way)


Progress is slow, but there are improvements. The grid pattern got progressively darker and more of the grid got printed. You can just make out the letters "PG" in the second scan.

To get to this stage I basically went through ALL my previous steps - including a head soak. I know I said I would omit this step, but I later thought I might as well do it properly. I did not soak the head overnight as before but left it there for a few hours.

I also changed the soaking solution and increased the strength by adding isopropyl alcohol and household ammonia to W5. I basically tried to follow pharmacist's cleaning formula as close I could with the materials I had to hand. But I did not have propylene glycol or glycerol. I am not sure how crucial they are to the mixture. Probably very important.

Between each cleaning cycle I put 2 drops of the cleaning solution onto the inlet screen of the PIGMENT black only. I put 2 drops of the solution on the large dark purge pad making sure the pad was not overfilling. I also added about 5 drops onto the outlet of the cart.

I wanted to do more deep cleans but didn't want to go against Canon's advice on no more than 3 deep cleans in a 24hr period.

I finished off with 2 drops of solution on the inlet screen of the pigment black and turned the printer OFF. I will check it after 24hrs to see if there are any improvements.

Thanks.

 

[The Hat]

tsu3000
Its great to see that you have made some real progress now.
Before too long youll know everything there is to know about trouble shooting a print head.

The one thing I failed to mention earlier was to rest the printer in between clean/nozzle checks
but youre doing that anyway so good on you.

When everything is working again you can treat yourself to a print head alignment,
that will put all the colours in their right place again after the inns and outs the print head had..

 

[tsu3000]

*UPDATE 3*

I have not much progress since the last post. I did another nozzle test print today and it is the same as last time ie the central section of the grid pattern is missing. I have followed my previous steps as before but used a stronger solution by added extra drops of isopropyl alcohol to the mixture.

I decided to take a look at the purge unit for the PIGMENT black. I took out the long thin piece of black plastic using tweezers and wash it under a hot tap. There was a LOT of ink. The plastic material seems to be quite absorbent. I noticed that under this black plastic are two tiny white holes in a rectangular "well". I am assuming that's where all the ink drains out.

I then put 5 drops of solution onto the long thin "well" of the purge unit. I did some cleaning cycles, normal ones followed by up to 3 deep cleans. The solution did not drain way. Some questions:

1) Will the solution just sit there if I don't do cleaning cycles?
2) Should the solution drain away after cleaning?
3) Do I have a blocked purge unit?

I also have a "ring" of ink on top of the rubber washer on the PIGMENT black inlet. What does this mean?

Thanks.

 

[ghwellsjr]

The solution should stay there until you do a cleaning cycle. If it doesn't get sucked away during a cleaning cycle, then you have a blocked purge unit.

Sometimes you can get the blockage out by putting more cleaning solution in the purge tray and doing more cleaning cycles but if it doesn't come clean after many tries, the only way I know to fix the problem is to take apart the printer and attach some tubing to the exit tubing of the purge unit and force cleaning solution in and out with a syringe until it finally breaks through and squirts out of one of the holes in the purge tray.

The "ring" of ink on the top of the rubber gasket (if you remove it, you will see that it is not a simple rubber washer) is quite normal. It is from the ink that comes from the outlet port of the cartridge.

 

[tsu3000]

ghwellsjr

Thanks for the info.

It looks like my problem is similar to this one. If you look down at post #6, the print pattern is the same as mine ie a large section in the middle is missing.

I filled the purge tray with solution and did a few cleaning cycles, the solution is still there. So it looks like a blocked purge unit/tubes.

Are there any links to help me look into this further please? Maybe a YouTube vid or PDF on how to dismantle the printer?

Thanks.

 

[PeterBJ]

I found this video on disassembling the iP4500 on YouTube. Part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcreqnT8lvg and part two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIlJbrOYXP4&feature=related

A simplified service manual is here: http://www.gondack.com.ar/media/useruploads/files/ip4500-ssm.pdf
It has no instructions on disassembly, but other info that might be useful.

Good luck in unclogging the purge system.
Peter.

 

[ghwellsjr]

You're going to have to replace the waste ink pads, too. Hobbicolors pigment black ink has the same problem as the original Inktec pigment black ink that I used for many years and clogged up many printers that I was taking care of. And don't use Hobbicolors pigment black ink anymore.

I would encourage you to take lots of pictures as you dismantle the printer, especially of the waste ink pads as you remove them one by one. I think you'll find that there is a lot of thick black semi-dried ink deposit which is the real cause of the problem that eventually lead to a clog in the purge tubing.