you do not need to turn off the printer before cleaning the printhead. if power is turned off, all label formats and images, as well as any temporarily saved parameter settings stored in the printer’s internal memory, are lost. when power is turned back on, you need to reload these items.
to clean the printhead, refer to figure 27 and follow these steps:
1. open the printhead.
2. remove the media and ribbon (if loaded).
3. moisten an applicator tip with solvent and wipe along the print elements from end to end. (the print elements are on the brown strip just behind the chrome strip on the printhead.) allow a few seconds for the solvent to evaporate.
4. rotate the platen roller and clean thoroughly with solvent and an applicator.
5. brush/vacuum any accumulated paper lint and dust away from the rollers.
6. reload ribbon and/or media, and close the printhead.
if print quality has not improved after performing this procedure, try cleaning the printhead with save-a-printhead cleaning film. this specially-coated material removes contamination buildup without damaging the printhead. call your authorized zebra reseller/distributor for more information.
extendthe life of your printhead with save-a-printhead cleaning film
challenge
the printhead is the most critical component in your printer, and possibly the most delicate. it is a consumable item just like the brakes on your car, which eventually wears over time. however, with ongoing careful attention and maintenance, you can extend the life of the printhead!
below are photographs of three printheads. the first printhead is brand new. the second has printed over 1 million linear inches of thermal transfer labels and has been properly maintained. the third printhead has printed far fewer labels, but without proper care and maintenance, signs of abrasion and contamination build-up are evident.
preventive maintenance
for optimum performance, clean the printhead regularly after every roll of thermal transfer ribbon or after every roll of direct thermal labels. take care when handling or cleaning the printhead by removing any jewelry that may scratch the printhead and use a grounding strap or anti-static mat to discharge static electricity that could damage the printhead.
to start, only use the pre-soaked (isopropyl alcohol) cleaning swabs provided in the preventive maintenance kit. first, turn off the printer and open the printhead. lightly blow or brush away any loose dust and lint particles within the print mechanism (i.e. rollers, media/ribbon sensors, and printhead). never use any hard, metallic, or abrasive objects-such as a screwdriver-to remove adhesives or other contaminants that may have built up on the printhead.
next, press the swab tip against the printhead and swipe the print elements from end to end. then, turn the platen rollers while wiping them from side to side. repeat this step until the swab no longer shows dirt.
avoid the contributing factors to premature printhead failure
abrasion- over time, the movement of media/ribbon across the printhead wears through the protective ceramic coating, exposing and eventually damaging the print elements (dots).
in order to avoid abrasion:
1 clean your printhead frequently and use well-lubricated thermal transfer ribbons with backcoatings optimized to reduce friction.
2 minimize printhead pressure and burn temperature settings by optimizing the balance between the two.
3 ensure that the thermal transfer ribbon is as wide or wider than the label media to prevent exposing the elements to the more abrasive label material.
ribbon backcoating and buildup- printhead contamination from direct thermal media or thermal transfer ribbon may occur in applications requiring high burn settings, high head pressure, high speed, or high volume. this contamination builds up on the printhead elements, creating a barrier to the heat transformation required to produce high quality images. contaminant buildup occurs gradually and results in poor print quality that may look like faded print or failed print element(s). this build up is very resistant to cleaning with the pre-soaked swabs and is difficult to remove.
in order to avoid ribbon backcoating and buildup:
1 use thermal transfer ribbons that have been specially cured to provide backcoat protection for high demand applications. these ribbons — sometimes referred to as anti-stick ribbons — also dissipate static and provide more lubrication.
2 follow the recommended printhead preventive maintenance procedures.
3 use our save-a-printhead cleaning film to remove printhead contamination buildup quickly and easily.
save-a-printhead cleaning film
what is save-a-printhead cleaning film? a specially coated film that removes contamination buildup without damaging the printhead.
what are the benefits of save-a-printhead cleaning film?
1 extends the life of your printhead.
2 reduces maintenance downtime and the cost of replacing a printhead.
3 an inexpensive, easy and quick way to remove contaminants without having to remove the printhead.
when should you use save-a-printhead cleaning film? when you see degrading print quality that looks like faded print or a failed print element(s) that cannot be corrected by cleaning with the pre-soaked cleaning swabs.
how to use save-a-printhead cleaning film
1. remove power from the printer.
2. open the printhead, remove media and ribbon from the print mechanism.
3. clean the printhead per the recommended preventive maintenance procedures.
4. position the save-a-printhead film in the print path, placing the glossy side down away from the printhead (matte side up).
5. close and latch the printhead.
6. slowly pull the full length of the film through the print mechanism.
7. clean the printhead per the recommended preventive maintenance procedures a second time.
8. reload media and ribbon, close and latch the printhead.
9. print labels and inspect for improved print quality. if quality has not improved, contact our technical support staff.
1 only one pass is required to remove contamination buildup.
2 each strip of film can be used up to 10 times.
3 discard the strip when residue buildup or other contamination is apparent.
in the case that a replacement printhead is needed, product from the original equipment manufacturer (oem) is strongly recommended to ensure that your printer and part warranties remain intact, and that the product performs optimally.
how to order save-a-printhead cleaning film kits
there are 5 kits to accommodate the different width printers. each kit contains three 10" long strips of film. reference the following table to order the kit for your printer:
