Error Status; Ink Out; Paper Out; Paper Jam - Epson Stylus Color 400 Service Manual

1.5 Error Status

When following status occur, the printer goes to the error status and stops taking data, setting
the /ERROR signal in the interface as "Low", and Busy signal as "High". At this time, the printer
goes to non printable status. Refer to section 1.4.3 for more details of LED Panel indicators during
the various error status.

1.5.1 Ink Out

When the printer runs out the most part of the ink of any one color, it warns ink-low and keeps printing.
When the printer runs out the whole ink of any one color, it stops printing and indicates ink-out error.
User is requested to install a new ink-cartridge in this state. A ink-cartridge once taken out should
never be used again. Re-installation of the cartridge not filled fully upsets the ink level detection and
may cause a serious problem in the print head as a result.


Never use the ink cartridge once taken out.
Following explains above warning sign.
[Step 1] After the cartridge is once taken out, bubbles come in from the ink supply hole located at
the top of cartridge and are absorbed into the head during printing performance.
Therefore, the head will be unable to discharge the ink properly. Also, inevitable
entering of bubbles when installing a new ink cartridge can be absorbed to ink itself since
the ink itself in the cartridge is deaerated during the production process.
However, this absorbing ability can last only about one hour after the cartridge is installed.
[Step 2] Even after the bubble absorbing ability described above stops, there is no worry about
entering bubbles as long as the ink cartridge is being installed to the printer.
However, if the ink cartridge which does not have absorbing ability any more is once
removed from the printer, new coming bubbles into the cartridge will never disappear
naturally. These bubbles may cause not only printing malfunction but also thickening ink.
This thickened ink goes into the head and clogs ink path in the head or nozzle and may
cause serious head damage.
[Step 3] As standard specification for Stylus Color 400, ink consumption counter is reset when
the ink cartridge is removed. If an ink cartridge is removed and re-installed unnecessarily
the value on the ink consumption monitor which the user can check will be wrong and
printer may keep printing even though the ink cartridge is installed empty.
This may cause head damage.

1.5.2 Paper Out

When printer fails to load a sheet after power on operation including timer-cleaning is done
and Load/Eject button on the FF command or operation panel is pressed, it goes paper out error.

1.5.3 Paper Jam

When printer fails to eject a sheet even after feeding motion is completed or Load/Eject button on
the FF command or operation panel is pressed, it goes paper jam error.
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EPSON Stylus Color 400 Service Manual
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