Ink System Management; Ink System Operations - Epson Stylus COLOR 1520 Service Manual

2.4 Ink System Management

This section explains how the ink system is controlled to protect the printheads and to ensure the output
in high quality. The ink system consists of following operations:

Power On

Initialization

Ink Cartridge Replacement

Cleaning

Print Start

Flushing

Waiting

False Absorbing

Wiping

Rubbing

Micro Absorbing

Carriage Lock
The printer also selects an ink sequence based on the printer condition by referring to the value for the
timer counter IC that has a back-up lithium battery and timer counter stored in the EEPROM. The printer
has following counters:

Protect Counter A

Protect Counter C

Ink Consumption Counter

One-time Flag

2.4.1 Ink System Operations

The ink system operations are as described below.


Power on
Performed when the printer is turned on. It performs a cleaning sequence by referring to the counter
value.


Initialization
Performed when the printer receives the initialization command. The CR returns to the home position
during this operation.


Ink Cartridge Replacement
Performed through the control panel operation when the ink cartridge needs replacing. It determines
whether the ink cartridge is installed and performs cleaning sequence if necessary.


Cleaning
Performed to solve decline in print quality caused by the abnormal nozzle status such as nozzle
clogging and inaccurate ink ejection.


Print Start
Performs the cleaning or flushing operation before the printer starts printing after power on.


Flushing
Performed to eject few ink dots during printing to prevent ink from increasing viscosity.


Waiting
Performs the flushing operation after the printing operation to avoid nozzle clogging caused by the
viscous ink.


False Absorbing
Absorbs the ink inside the cap and eliminates the ink on the nozzle plate after ink is absorbed.


Rubbing
Performed to eliminate the ink and dust that adheres on the nozzle surface. Few dots of ink is
absorbed to moisten the nozzle surface prior to this operation.


Micro Absorbing
Performed to eject bubbles formed inside the cavity.


Carriage Lock
Locks the carriage when turning off the printer or no printing is performed for 5 minutes with the
printer power on.
Rev. A
Operating Principles
2-27