power plotter printheads jet/manual/5 … · to avoid clogged nozzles for plotters that are not in...

POWER JET Plotter Reference Manual

3 The Inkjet Printheads

3.1 PRINTHEADS LAYOUTS

PRINTHEADS VIEW FROM FRONT OF PLOTTER

PRINTHEADS VIEW FROM REAR OF PLOTTER

CARRIAGE LAYOUT: view from RIGHT side (PRE - 2001)

CARRIAGE LAYOUT: view from RIGHT side (Starting 2001)


3.2 INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS Each of the four printheads has an array of 128 nozzles from which ink is sprayed onto the print surface. As opposed to bubble jet technology that heats ink to boiling temperatures, causing the ink to burst from the jet nozzles, these printheads employ piston-like rods, the piezoelectric transducer actuators, which compress the ink within channels, mechanically ejecting it out through the nozzles. Because these heads are not subject to the high temperatures used in bubble jet technology, the operational life of the heads is prolonged notably. The ink cartridge contains approximately 82ml of usable ink which affords up to 7000 meters of printed paper (1500mm width). The container stopper (pre 2001) should always be open during plotter operations to provide compliance with the fluidic system and thereby prohibit debris and air bubbles to collect in the nozzles. The ink is oil-based and does not dry. It penetrates and becomes part of the paper and is light-fast, water-fast and organic-resistant. WARNING: use of any ink other than the quality supplied by Algotex with the printheads voids any and all warranties. - Storage shelf life of the separately sealed containers is two years at room temperature. - Pot life of containers that are installed onto printheads is one to three months depending on the amount of plotter operation. When the plotter is not in operation the ink is stagnant and ink recirculation is extremely low. If the plotter is ON for long periods of time, but not in movement and therefore not printing, the ink may begin to jell, causing clogging of some nozzles to occur, which then may spread to the entire printhead. To avoid clogged nozzles for plotters that are not in constant operation, turn the plotter OFF, rather than leave it idle for long periods of time (more than 2-3 hours). Instructions (pre – 2001): The stopper must be in the ‘CLOSE’ position during all operations in which the printhead might be overturned (cable or head substitution, or during shipping). The stopper must be in the ‘OPEN’ position during printing operations to allow air bubbles to dissipate into the atmosphere. If the stopper is in the closed position during plotting operations, the plotter will stop after 4-5 minutes.


3.3 QUICK REFERENCE PRINTHEAD SPECIFICATIONS 3.3.1 Electrical Specifications - Maximum ratings

3.3.2 Electrical Specifications - Operating conditions


3.4 INK FLOW RESTRAINING TAPS - INK RESERVOIR STOPPER [NOTE: restraining taps and the reservoir stopper for plotters delivered BEFORE 2001]. The Power Jet plotter has two ‘Ink Flow Restraining Taps’ that are set at the CLOSED position before the plotter is to be shipped. WARNING: Be sure to open these taps and the ink supply reservoir stopper before starting plotting operations. Preparations for plotting operations follow below: 1) Regulate the ‘Ink Flow Restraining Taps’ - OPEN the two ‘Ink Taps’ (A) by turning each of the two screws COUNTER-CLOCKWISE four to five complete turns. 2) OPEN the ink reservoir stopper (B).

A = Use a screwdriver to open the Ink Taps by turning them counter-clockwise 4-5 complete turns B = Ink reservoir stopper in the OPEN position


3.5 SUBSTITUTING THE INK CARTRIDGE

1) When substituting the ink cartridge first exit the plotting program. 2) Simply unscrew the cartridge and replace it with a new one. WARNING: do not leave the ink tank uncovered. After removing the old ink cartridge, install the new cartridge within 60 seconds.

Simply unscrew the ink cartridge and replace it with a new one, within 60 seconds 3.6 PRIMING THE PRINTHEADS

3.6 A) Printhead priming with the vacuum pressure pump Starting April 2002, Algotex offers a ‘Vacuum Pump’ priming tool that uses vacuum pressure to prime each individual printhead separately. Before attempting to prime the printhead manually, contact local qualified technical assistance for a demonstration of the procedures documented below. The basic ‘Vacuum Pump’ unit consists of a pump body with movable handle, transparent tubing (length cm 60), a plastic ink receptacle and receptacle lid, a metal adaptor (between lid and black tubing), black tubing (length cm 18), the head mask and the head mask gasket. The movable handle of the pump is simply squeezed rapidly several times with your hand, as when clenching your fist. This will result in the creation of a vacuum in the receptacle providing that the receptacle lid is screwed on snugly and all tube fittings are tight. When the movable handle is released from the closed position, vacuum pressure is created which causes the ink to be drawn out of the printhead, through the head mask and black tubing into the ink receptacle.


3.6A - 1 Vacuum pump priming tool assembly instructions

E = Metal Adaptor

H = Head Mask

I = Mask Gasket

A = Vacuum Pump E = Metal Adaptor I = Mask Gasket B = Pump Front Port F = Ink Receptacle J = Mask Hook C = Transparent Tube (cm 60) G = Black Tube (cm 18) K = Pump Handle D = Receptacle Lid H = Head Mask L = Squeeze Handle

1) Screw the receptacle lid onto the receptacle.

2) Fit the transparent tube between the pump’s front port and the port of the lid marked ‘To Pump’.

3) Screw the threaded end of the metal adaptor into the port of the receptacle lid (opposite the port marked ‘To Pump’).

4) Fit the black tube over the tapered end of the metal adapter with a pressing and twisting motion.

5) Fit the other end of the black tube over the tapered end of the fitting mask.


3.6A - 2 Vacuum pump priming instructions

WARNING: NEVER rub or wipe the front of the printheads.

Vacuum Pump Priming Tool

1) Without touching the front of the printheads, fit the priming tool HOOK into the NOTCH at the side of the printhead.


2) Position the prime tool HEAD MASK in front of the printhead. Then fit the mask STRAIGHT against the face of the printhead. NOTE: DO NOT SLIDE the head mask laterally onto the front of the printhead.

3) While holding the head mask in place against the face of the printhead, SQUEEZE THE PUMP HANDLE completely closed several times in rapid succession. Then release the handle so that it returns to the original open position. This last movement should draw ink out of the printhead and into the ink receptacle.

4) Remove the head mask from the printhead and verify that ink has been drawn into the ink receptacle. If not, ensure that the receptacle lid is on snugly and that all tube fittings are tight. Then make another attempt to prime the printhead, verifying that the head mask fits properly onto the front of the printhead. 5) Repeat the priming procedure for all 4 printheads. Refer to section 5.8, for instructions how to run the ‘Jets Tests’ to determine if all of the 128 inkjet nozzles for each of the four printheads are printing correctly.


3.6 B) Hand pump priming (using priming cap – starting 2001) The process of forcing ink through the printheads by pressure created with the rubber hand pump supplied in the plotter’s tool kit. Priming may become necessary in order to evacuate air bubbles from the ink channels and/or to clean extraneous debris from the nozzle plate at the front of the printhead. Instructions for printheads priming follow below.

1) Remove the ink cartridge and replace it with the ‘Priming cap’ (B). The priming cap has a 4mm hole at the top, and is supplied in the plotter’s Tool Kit.

WARNING: NEVER rub or wipe the front of the printheads.

2) Hold soft, absorbent paper (A) BELOW the front of the printheads (B).

3) Position the rubber hand pump (C) over the hole on the priming cap and squeeze. WARNING: ink tends to flow more easily from the Power Jet plotter printheads than from the Projet plotter printhead during priming operations. Begin priming by GENTLY squeezing the rubber hand pump. Then raise the pump from the hole and release it. Do NOT release the pump while it is still in the hole on the priming cap. This would draw air into the channels of the printheads.

4) Repeat the priming procedure at least 3 – 4 times in order to unblock all of the 128 inkjet nozzles in each of the printheads. 5) Remove the ‘Priming cap’ and re-install the INK cartridge on the printheads carriage. 6) Refer to section 3.7 for instructions how to run the ‘Jets Efficiency Test’ to determine if all of the 128 inkjet nozzles for each printhead are printing.


3.6 C) Hand pump priming – (with restraining taps – Pre 2001) The process of forcing ink through the printheads by pressure created with the rubber hand pump supplied in the plotter’s tool kit.

1) Before priming the printheads remove the ink cartridge. 2) Replace the ink cartridge with the ink supply ship cap (B).

3) Close the RIGHT ink tap (A) to prime the two printheads on the LEFT side.

4) Hold soft, absorbent paper (B) in front of and underneath the printheads.

5) Position the rubber hand pump firmly over the ink supply orifice (A) and squeeze. WARNING: ink tends to flow more easily from the MIT printheads than from the Trident printheads during priming operations. Begin priming by GENTLY squeezing the rubber hand pump. Then raise the pump from the hole and release it. Do NOT release the pump while it is still in the ink supply orifice. This would draw air into the channels of the printheads. 6) Clean the ink from the printheads by GENTLY TAMPING the absorbent paper against the fronts of the heads. Do NOT rub or wipe the paper across the fronts of the printheads. 7) Open the ink tap on the RIGHT. If necessary proceed to prime the two RIGHT printheads, by first closing the LEFT ink tap.

power plotter printheads jet/manual/5 … · to avoid clogged nozzles for plotters that are not in...

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