Interior Cleaning; Cleaning The Printhead, Platen Roller, Media Sensors/Damper; Printhead Cleaning; Platen Roller Cleaning - Printronix t8000 Administrator's Manual

Interior Cleaning

Clean the interior of the printer by removing any dirt and lint with a vacuum cleaner, as described above, or
use a brush with soft non-metallic bristles.

Cleaning the Printhead, Platen Roller, Media Sensors/Damper

NOTE:
Even though the printhead, platen roller, media sensors and media damper are individually
listed in these cleaning procedures, debris and adhesive on these components can ultimately
travel to the printhead area and therefore should be cleaned and examined each time the
printhead is cleaned and in the order shown.

Printhead Cleaning

As you use your printer, the printhead may become dirty with ribbon residue and label adhesives which can
result in poor print quality. Keeping the printhead clean will help maintain its life.
•
Cleaning Agent - Clean the printhead using a Printhead Cleaning Pen, Printronix PN 203502-002 or
an Isopropyl Alcohol Wipe, Printronix PN 254945-901.
•
Schedule - Clean the printhead each time you install a new roll of ribbon (thermal transfer print mode)
or when you install a new roll or box of media (direct thermal print mode).
WARNING
If you have just been printing, allow one minute for the printhead to cool down
to avoid burns from accidental printhead contact.
CAUTION
• Avoid electrostatic damage to the printhead by first making hand contact with
an unpainted part of the printer frame or by using an anti-static wrist strap
grounded to the printer frame.
•
Do not use hard, sharp or abrasive objects to remove residue from the
printhead.
•
Do not touch the heating element surface of the printhead with your hands to
avoid printhead corrosion. Any accidental skin contact with the element surface
should be immediately followed by a thorough cleaning with a Printhead
Cleaning Pen or an Isopropyl Alcohol Wipe.
•
The heating element surface should be free from any condensation to avoid
corrosion.
1. Rotate the blue deck lock lever clockwise to open the pivoting deck and remove the media and ribbon,
if installed.
2. Clean the printhead by gently rubbing an Isopropyl Alcohol Wipe or the felt tip of a Printhead Cleaning
Pen across the printheads light brown heating elements area. Allow the printhead to dry for one minute
before reloading ribbon or media.
NOTE:
Even after a thorough cleaning with a Printhead Cleaning Pen or Alcohol Wipe, you may still
see printouts with voids or streaks. This may be the result of baked-on ribbon resin that can be
hard to remove when normal cleaning cycles are not maintained. Try using a Thermal Printer
Cleaning Card or Sheet. When using a cleaning card or sheet, follow the directions on the
packaging. Thermal printer cleaning cards and sheets are available on the internet.

Platen Roller Cleaning

Label parts, media dust, and adhesive residue on the platen can degrade print quality and cause voids in
your label image.
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