a tube came off my ink thing

[AKA Gray Asphalt]

I've got an R200 Epson and an external ink supply that has tubes running to
the cartridge in the place where the normal ink cartridges go. THe
tube,black, got pulled off and the ink retreated back into the resevoir. Can
I use a syringe to prime the tube? What's the best thing to get the ink back
to normal?

 

[CWatters]

I've got an R200 Epson and an external ink supply that has tubes running to
the cartridge in the place where the normal ink cartridges go. THe
tube,black, got pulled off and the ink retreated back into the resevoir. Can
I use a syringe to prime the tube? What's the best thing to get the ink back
to normal?

Follow the instructions on priming that came with the CIS system.

 

[AKA Gray Asphalt]

Follow the instructions on priming that came with the CIS system.

I don't see how the instrctions apply. The printer shut down because there
is no ink to the ink port. I can't clean the heads.

 

[CWatters]

I don't see how the instrctions apply. The printer shut down because there
is no ink to the ink port. I can't clean the heads.

If the ink dried out in the head you may have big problems. Google for
advice on cleaning blocked jets.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

You didn't mention in your first posting that the printer was "shut
down"... I know some of us may be mind readers, but it does limit the
ability for most of us mere mortals to reply.

What do you mean by our printer being "shut down"?

Lack of ink entering the head will not typically shut down an Epson
printer. If it has shut down, it is almost definitely another cause.

How is your CIS designed to deal with the ink monitoring chips on the
normal cartridges?

In terms of restarting the ink in the tube, the pervious answer you
received is correct, you can use the same method the CIS manufacturer
provided if you needed to prime your printer cartridges/heads to do so.
On the type that come pre-primed, yes, pulling a syringe will work.

However, if the printer is indeed "shut down" that won't fix that problem.

Now, should you wish to provide us with the complete story (and any
messages your printer generated to your computer) that might help us to
determine the real problem.

Art

 

[AKA Gray Asphalt]

You didn't mention in your first posting that the printer was "shut
down"... I know some of us may be mind readers, but it does limit the
ability for most of us mere mortals to reply.

What do you mean by our printer being "shut down"?

Lack of ink entering the head will not typically shut down an Epson
printer. If it has shut down, it is almost definitely another cause.

How is your CIS designed to deal with the ink monitoring chips on the
normal cartridges?

In terms of restarting the ink in the tube, the pervious answer you
received is correct, you can use the same method the CIS manufacturer
provided if you needed to prime your printer cartridges/heads to do so. On
the type that come pre-primed, yes, pulling a syringe will work.

However, if the printer is indeed "shut down" that won't fix that problem.

Now, should you wish to provide us with the complete story (and any
messages your printer generated to your computer) that might help us to
determine the real problem.

Art

Since there is no ink to the printer because of the large amount of air in
the line ... I think that is why the printer says the cartridge needs to be
changed. I pulled the tube off and lifted the ink container to eliminate the
air bubble but it didn't work too well. I guess I need to use some kind of
magnifier to do it quickly and accurately enough to keep the air out. Maybe
I should get a hemostat to crimp the tube. I've got black hands and a ruined
pair of jeans.

 

[AKA Gray Asphalt]

If the ink dried out in the head you may have big problems. Google for
advice on cleaning blocked jets.

The heads are ok. At least they were a week ago before the tube came off.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Once again, Epson printers do not typically shut down due to lack of
ink. The heads do not really overheat from lack of ink flow, as may
happen in thermal inkjet printers made by other companies like HP, Canon
or Lexmark. Therefore if the printer literally has shut down, rather
than just that no black printing is occurring in spite of the printer
going through the motions, I suspect something else is wrong, such as
the CIS auto chip resetting isn't working correctly.

Art

 

[AKA Gray Asphalt]

Once again, Epson printers do not typically shut down due to lack of ink.
The heads do not really overheat from lack of ink flow, as may happen in
thermal inkjet printers made by other companies like HP, Canon or Lexmark.
Therefore if the printer literally has shut down, rather than just that no
black printing is occurring in spite of the printer going through the
motions, I suspect something else is wrong, such as the CIS auto chip
resetting isn't working correctly.

Art

My printer is just saying that the black cartridge is out of ink and to
replace it. I guess because the ink is not getting to the cartridege, the
heads, or the nozzles. That's my best guess.

 

[Tony]

My printer is just saying that the black cartridge is out of ink and to
replace it. I guess because the ink is not getting to the cartridege, the
heads, or the nozzles. That's my best guess.

Read what Art has said carefully. The printer has no way of knowing whether the
ink gets to the head or nozzles. All it knows is that the cartridge thinks it
is empty.
So you need to either reset the chip on the cartridge or replace the cartridge
with one that has a good chip (chips can fail, they are after all an electronic
device).
Tony

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Let me try to help explain how Epson printers operate in terms of ink
monitoring.

The printers have no sensors in them to measure ink. There is a sensor
that can in very extreme situations shut down a very overheated head,
but they doesn't happen under any normal condition, including printing
without ink installed.

With regular cartridges, there is a microchip on the side of each
cartridge which has some simple flash or EPPROM memory. When you buy
the cartridge new, the chip is set to "full". As the ink is used, or
assumed used by printing or cleaning cycles, the printer reads the
amount the chip indicated on start up, subtracts the mount used during
the printing session, and then the chip is rewritten to to update the
amount of ink in the cartridge.

At no time is the ink within the cartridge ever actually measured. With
CI this chip is often specialized, to avoid having to remove the
cartridge and then reinstall it, so it either cycles back to full every
so often, or it doesn't rewrite the chip as the ink is "used".

However, you need to determine why the black cartridge continues to read
empty. I'm guessing either the chip surface or the wires it contacts
are dirty (clean them carefully with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab)
or you may just need to press down gently on the cartridge to make sure
it is making proper contact.

Art

 

[AKA Gray Asphalt]

Read what Art has said carefully. The printer has no way of knowing
whether the
ink gets to the head or nozzles. All it knows is that the cartridge thinks
it
is empty.
So you need to either reset the chip on the cartridge or replace the
cartridge
with one that has a good chip (chips can fail, they are after all an
electronic
device).
Tony

Are you guys saying that the cartridge does not know that it isn't getting
ink? I just bought the cartridges which came with the external ink, large
capacity ink feeding system. And it seems too coincidental that the only
cartridge to require replacement is the one that has the air in the line.
But I realize you guys are a lot more knowledgable and you seem pationt, so
I'll try to do what you say, if you think that I should reset the chip or
try to replace the new cartridge.

 

[AKA Gray Asphalt]

Let me try to help explain how Epson printers operate in terms of ink
monitoring.

The printers have no sensors in them to measure ink. There is a sensor
that can in very extreme situations shut down a very overheated head, but
they doesn't happen under any normal condition, including printing without
ink installed.

With regular cartridges, there is a microchip on the side of each
cartridge which has some simple flash or EPPROM memory. When you buy the
cartridge new, the chip is set to "full". As the ink is used, or assumed
used by printing or cleaning cycles, the printer reads the amount the chip
indicated on start up, subtracts the mount used during the printing
session, and then the chip is rewritten to to update the amount of ink in
the cartridge.

At no time is the ink within the cartridge ever actually measured. With CI
this chip is often specialized, to avoid having to remove the cartridge
and then reinstall it, so it either cycles back to full every so often, or
it doesn't rewrite the chip as the ink is "used".

However, you need to determine why the black cartridge continues to read
empty. I'm guessing either the chip surface or the wires it contacts are
dirty (clean them carefully with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab) or you
may just need to press down gently on the cartridge to make sure it is
making proper contact.

Art

Thanks again. I'll try to do that.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Yes, I am saying neither the cartridge nor the head "knows" if it is
getting ink or not. They don;t have sensors of that type.Eons heads
have a sensor to measure the head temperature, but not really to protect
it from overheating. Rather that sensor is designed to determin eth
temperature of the ink to estimate the viscosity of the ink, and it
makes adjusting in the frequencies the heads use to be more responsive
and accurate in dot position and size.

It is possible you recieved a defective cartridge, chip or something
else is wrong. You should contact the manufacturer of the CIS cartridge
They may be able to inform you of something they already know, or they
may replace the bad cartridge.

Art

 

[polymorph]

If they are autoreset chips: most autoreset chips require you to shut
the printer off for a few minutes, then when you turn the printer back
on they all read full or 99% full.

It is very likely that the hose and the cartridge reading empty are
just coincidentally happening at about the same time.

If the cartridge is actually empty of ink, you'll need to reprime the
cartridge, too.

1. Tell the printer you are going to change the black cartridge. After
it stops it in the change position, unplug the printer. Don't turn it
off, unplug it. Take the black cartridge out of the printer.

1a. Slide a dampened strip of lint-free cloth or window wipe under the
head, this is to keep it from drying out and it will help any clogs
that may have formed in the black nozzles. Not wet! Just damp. NO PAPER
TOWELS! They shed like mad and are abrasive.

2. Plug the hose back into the cartridge. You may need to warm the hose
up a little.

3. Tilt the cartridge at about a 45 degree angle. The idea is to end up
with a little air left inside the cartridge, so don't flip it upside
down.

4. Use a syringe to pull ink into the hose and cartridge. Keep pulling
until there is no or very little air/foam coming out. Just squirt the
ink you've pulled out back into the bottle.

5. Fold over the hoses between the tanks and the printer. I use a big
clip meant for holding paper. Not a little paper clip, I mean those big
black spring metal things. Like this:
http://www.polyphoto.com/tutorials/bulkinksystem/1280/HCPCISInstallationPg09.jpg

6. As suggested, clean the chip contacts with clear, nonscented
isopropyl alcohol. I suggest 90% or better, as 70% or 50% will leave a
lot of water behind when it evaporates. Use a lint free rag, -NOT- a
paper towel or Qtip. Both will shed fibers, and paper towels are -way-
too abrasive on the gold plating.

7. Snap the head back in. With an eyedropper, put a few drops of
distilled water into the foam in the park pad. Even better: 1 part
nonsudsing household ammonia, 4 parts isopropyl alcohol, 5 parts
distilled or filtered water. Do NOT use "purified" water, that is just
sterilized and all the minerals are still in there.

8. Take out the damp wipe/cloth from under the head. Make sure the
hoses are all dressed properly so they won't snag. Gently slide the
heads back all the way over the park pad, right at the end you'll feel
a little resistance, that is the park pad pushing up onto the heads.
Push gently until it stops.

9. Take the clip off the hoses and straighten them out. Now leave it
this way for 20 or 30 minutes, this is to give the moisture you've just
added to the park pad time to moisten the nozzles in the black print
head.

10. Turn the printer on and let it complete it's cycles. Run two
cleaning cycles, then print a nozzle check.

11. Let us know how it works out, good or bad.

Your head may be clogged now, if so don't panic! Patience is a virtue.

http://www.polyphoto.com/tutorials/PrintHeadCleaning/

Arthur has a more extensive cleaning manual, you must email him
directly, not here, to request it.

Steve Greenfield