Figure 1-17. Head Cleaning Timing Chart - Epson SQ-B50/2550 Technical Manual

145.6 hours
REV.-A
1.4.1.6 Printhead Cleaning and Capping
The printer has cleaning and capping functions to protect the printhead from damage (for details of
each operation, see Chapter 2). There are two types of cleaning, arbitrary and automatic. Normally, the
printhead is capped to prevent from damage. Arbitrary cleaning is required when printing becomes
abnormal (e.g. a specific dot is missing, or the printing color is not uniform).
WARNING
• Turn the printer power off only after confirming that the printhead is capped. If the
printhead has been uncapped for a long time, printing might be abnormal (e.g. a specific
dot is missing) because the printhead gets dried out and clogs.
• Never turn the printer power off during cleaning. (The reasons are the same as those
described above.)
• Do not execute cleaning unnecessarily. The life of the ink cartridge will be shortened.
Arbitrary cleaning
Press both the I-O-N-L-I-N-E-'I and
I
LINE FEED
I
switches when the printer is OFF LINE.
Automatic cleaning
The printer automatically executes cleaning in the following cases:
• When the printer power is turned on after
145.6
hours or more have passed since the last cleaning
operation.
~ ~
[
Power ON:Cleaning is not executed
CI~aningp:~
, = _
C
Power ON:Cleaning is executed
F===== ==========
I
I
I
I
Figure 1-17. Head Cleaning Timing Chart
• When the printer power is turned on and the printhead is found to be uncapped.
• When the printer is reset with the printhead uncapped.
Similarly, capping will be executed in the following cases:
• If printing is not executed continuously while the printer power is on. (When a few seconds have
passed after printing had been stopped.)
For reference, the amount of ink consumed when cleaning or capping is executed
or when printer initialization is executed at power on are as follows:
Automatic cleaning at time-out :Approx. 0.5 cc
Arbitrary cleaning :Approx. 2.0 cc
Normal capping :Approx. 0.009 cc
Capping when the carriage is at any position other than the home position
(assuming that the printhead has been uncapped for a long time) :Approx. 0.5 cc
Initial sequence at power on :Approx. 0.03 cc
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