Maintenance and Care / Checking Condition and Maintaining
Cleaning the Print Head
Using the Head Cleaning utility
Using the Control Panel
If you find that the printed image is unexpectedly faint or some dots in the printed image are missing, you may be able to solve these problems by cleaning the print head, which ensures that the nozzles are delivering ink properly.
You can clean the print head from your computer using the Head Cleaning utility in the printer software, or from this product itself by using the Control Panel.
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Note:
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Print head cleaning uses both color and black inks. To avoid wasting ink, clean the print head only if the copy quality drops (for example, blurred printout, incorrect or missing color).
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Use the nozzle check first to confirm that the print head needs to be cleaned. This saves ink.
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When a message appears on the LCD panel to prompt you to replace the ink cartridge or to indicate the ink is low, you cannot clean the print head. In this case, replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.
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Do not start head cleaning or the nozzle check while printing is in progress; otherwise, your printout may be marred.
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Using the Head Cleaning utility
Refer to the appropriate section below to use the Head Cleaning utility.
For Windows users
Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the Head Cleaning utility.
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Make sure that this product is on and the Error light is off.
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Note:
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If the Error light is on, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.
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Load a few sheets of A4 size paper in the sheet feeder.
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Access the printer software, click the Maintenance tab, and then click the Head Cleaning button.
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Follow the on-screen instructions.
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The On light flashes while this product performs the cleaning cycle.
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Caution:
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Never turn off this product while the On light is flashing. Doing so may damage this product.
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When the On light stops flashing, click Print Nozzle Check Pattern in the Head Cleaning dialog box to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.
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Below are nozzle check patterns:
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Good sample
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Print head needs to be cleaned
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If the nozzle check page does not print satisfactorily, you may need to repeat the head cleaning and print the nozzle check pattern again.
If the print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn this product off and leave it alone overnight. Then do the nozzle check again, and repeat the head cleaning if necessary.
If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge before it is empty, see Replacing an Ink Cartridge.
If the print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.
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Note:
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To maintain good print quality, we recommend printing a few pages at least once every month.
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For Macintosh users
Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the Head Cleaning utility.
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Make sure that this product is on and the Error light is off.
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Note:
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If the Error light is on, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.
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Load a few sheets of A4 size paper in the sheet feeder.
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For users of Mac OS 8.6 to 9.x, access the printer software, click the  Utility icon button, and then click the Head Cleaning button.
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For Mac OS X users, double-click the EPSON Printer Utility icon in the Applications folder in Macintosh HD (by default setting), select this product, click OK in the Printer List window, and then click the Head Cleaning button in the Utility dialog box.
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Follow the on-screen instructions.
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The On light flashes while this product performs the cleaning cycle.
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Caution:
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Never turn off this product while the On light is flashing. Doing so may damage this product.
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When the On light stops flashing, click the Confirmation button in the Head Cleaning dialog box to print a nozzle check pattern and to reset the cleaning cycle. Use the check pattern to confirm that the head is clean.
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Below are nozzle check patterns:
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Good sample
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Print head needs to be cleaned
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If the nozzle check page does not print satisfactorily, you may need to repeat the head cleaning and print the nozzle check pattern again.
If the print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn this product off and leave it alone overnight. Then, do the nozzle check again, and repeat the head cleaning if necessary.
If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge, see Replacing an Ink Cartridge.
If the print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.
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Note:
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To maintain good print quality, we recommend printing a few pages at least once every month.
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Using the Control Panel
Follow the steps below to clean the print head, using the Control Panel.
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Make sure that this product is on and the Error light is off.
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Note:
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If the Error light is on, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.
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Press one of the Menu buttons repeatedly until Head Cleaning appears on the LCD panel, and then press the  Color Copy button.
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Print head cleaning starts and the On light begins flashing.
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Caution:
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Never turn off this product while the On light is flashing. Doing so may damage this product.
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When the On light stops flashing, print a nozzle check pattern to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.
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If the nozzle check page does not print satisfactorily, you may need to repeat the head cleaning and print the nozzle check pattern again.
If the print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn this product off and leave it alone overnight. Then, do the nozzle check again, and repeat the head cleaning if necessary.
If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge, see Replacing an Ink Cartridge.
If the print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.
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Note:
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To maintain good print quality, we recommend printing a few pages at least once every month.
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