Printing A Nozzle Check; Using The Head Cleaning Utility; Aligning The Print Head - Epson Stylus COLOR 480/480SX - Stylus Color 480SX Ink Jet Printer Installation & Operation Manual

EPSON Stylus COLOR 480SX

Printing a Nozzle Check

Follow these steps to run the Nozzle Check utility:
1. Make sure the printer is plugged in but not printing.
2. Right-click the Status Monitor 3 icon on your
Windows taskbar, then select
that appears.
If you have an application running, you can also run the
utility by accessing the printer settings dialog box. Click the
Utilities tab, then click the Nozzle Check button.
3. Make sure letter-size or larger paper is loaded in the printer
and click to print a nozzle check pattern.
Print
4. Examine the nozzle check pattern you print.
Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should
be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern.
5. If your printout looks okay, click
If any dots are missing, click
instructions on the screen to clean the print head again.
If you don't see any improvement after cleaning three or four
times, check the solutions in the Printer Basics book. You can
also turn the printer off and wait overnight—this allows any
dried ink to soften—and then try cleaning the print head
again.

Using the Head Cleaning Utility

Follow these steps to run the Head Cleaning utility:
1. Make sure the printer is plugged in but not printing.
2. Right-click the Status Monitor 3 icon on your
Windows taskbar, then select
menu that appears.
If you have an application running, you can also run the
Head Cleaning utility by accessing the printer settings
dialog box. Click the Utilities tab, then click the Head
Cleaning button.
3. Click and follow the instructions on the screen to
Start
clean the print head. Cleaning takes about 30 seconds,
during which the print head moves and the printer makes
some noise.
Never unplug the printer while it's cleaning the print
head.
4. When cleaning is finished, run a nozzle check to confirm
the print head nozzles are clean. Click
.
Pattern
EPSON Stylus COLOR 480SX
8 -
in the menu
Nozzle Check
.
Finish
and follow the
Clean
in the
Head Cleaning
Print Nozzle Check
5. Make sure letter-size or larger paper is loaded in the printer.
Then follow the instructions on the screen to print a nozzle
check.
6. See the previous section for details on examining the nozzle
check pattern. If the nozzle check pattern isn't missing any
dots, click .
Finish
If any dots are missing, click
instructions on the screen to clean the print head again.
If you don't see any improvement after cleaning three or four
times, check the solutions in the Printer Basics book. You can
also turn the printer off and wait overnight—this allows any
dried ink to soften—and then try cleaning the print head
again.

Aligning the Print Head

If your printouts contain misaligned vertical lines, you may
need to align the print head. Your printer must be connected
directly to your computer, not connected over a network, to
use the Print Head Alignment utility. Follow these steps:
1. Make sure the printer is plugged in but not printing, and
letter-size or larger paper is loaded.
For the best results, load EPSON ink jet paper in the
printer whenever you check the print head alignment.
Don't use plain, recycled, or photocopier paper.
2. Right-click the
Windows taskbar, then select
menu that appears.
If you have an application running, you can also run the
Print Head Alignment utility by accessing the printer
settings dialog box. Click the Utilities tab, then click the
Print Head Alignment button.
3. Click to print an alignment page.
Next
4. On the printed page, select the pattern that shows the two
vertical lines most precisely printed on top of each other.
Select one pattern each for rows 1, 2, and 3.
6/00
and follow the
Clean
Status Monitor 3 icon on your
Print Head Alignment
in the