Canon i560 Cross Contamination of Ink

[casbar]

I have read the many very informative posts regarding
cross-contamination of ink in the Canon i560. I, too, have this
problem, with the yellow cartridge 'sucking up' black ink. After
trying out several things, it seems that when printing, an excess of
black ink is released from the cartridge. Then, when the printhead
parks, this ink drops onto the sponges on top of the purge tray.
Eventually it is then drawn up into the yellow cartridge. My question
is: does anyone know if there is a seal in the printhead (involved with
the black nozzle) which may have failed? Also, is the printhead able
to be disassembled, and if so, would anyone have a diagram of same?

Cheers
Carol

 

[measekite]

Sounds like you are not using Canon ink

 

[Tony]

I have read the many very informative posts regarding
cross-contamination of ink in the Canon i560. I, too, have this
problem, with the yellow cartridge 'sucking up' black ink. After
trying out several things, it seems that when printing, an excess of
black ink is released from the cartridge. Then, when the printhead
parks, this ink drops onto the sponges on top of the purge tray.
Eventually it is then drawn up into the yellow cartridge. My question
is: does anyone know if there is a seal in the printhead (involved with
the black nozzle) which may have failed? Also, is the printhead able
to be disassembled, and if so, would anyone have a diagram of same?

Cheers
Carol

Carol
As you are no doubt aware, this has nothing to do with who makes the ink. I
don't have an answer but I have seen this phenomenon in Canon "i" and "ip"
series printers. It is always the way you describe it, the yellow ink is the
one that becomes contaminated but I am not convinced that it is alway with
black ink. My suspicion is that it is some sort of syphoning effect and I think
it is a design related issue. I have not seen it in any other manufacturers
printhead. Taking the printhead apart would be microsurgery and way beyond the
capability of anyone outside the R&D people from a printhead manufacturer. It
happens with OEM and compatible inks.
I can also report that every one of these I have seen was fixed by replacing
the yellow cartridge and performing a few cleaning cycles and so far I have not
seen a printer that has done this twice.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[measekite]

Carol
As you are no doubt aware, this has nothing to do with who makes the ink.

This does not happen with Canon genuine ink and Canon genuine carts

 

[casbar]

You are quite right - if the price of a set of inks was less than the
cost of a new printer, perhaps I might! Having said that, I have used
several brands of generics (not refills) with no problems previously.
Since having this problem, I have used three different brands all with
the same results.

 

[casbar]

Thanks Tony. I have been through quite rigorous cleaning many times,
only to have the problem recur. If I remove the printhead and clean it
thoroughly, then print only a couple of pages, the printhead again has
a lot of excess black ink.

Carol

 

[Tony]

If you remove the yellow cartrdige, can you see the contamination, instead of
yellow the ink will be orange or even darker. If you can see discolouration
then you cannot recover that cartridge, if you replace the cartridge with a new
one and do a few head cleaning cycles all should come right. Hopefully .

Thanks Tony. I have been through quite rigorous cleaning many times,
only to have the problem recur. If I remove the printhead and clean it
thoroughly, then print only a couple of pages, the printhead again has
a lot of excess black ink.

Carol

Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[casbar]

Hi Tony

Yes, have been there and done that - THREE times to be precise. In
each case replaced the contaminated yellow with a new cartridge. My
modus operandi now is to remove the black cartridge after each print
session - a pain, but at least it saves the yellow. I also 'mop up'
any excess black ink which has collected on the sponges over the ink
tray.

Carol

 

[Tony]

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. Unfortunately a replacement printhead (which may
well fix the problem) is too expensive.
I have to assume that the seal in the printhead has failed. Sorry I couldn't
have been more help.
My regards to OZ.
Tony

Hi Tony

Yes, have been there and done that - THREE times to be precise. In
each case replaced the contaminated yellow with a new cartridge. My
modus operandi now is to remove the black cartridge after each print
session - a pain, but at least it saves the yellow. I also 'mop up'
any excess black ink which has collected on the sponges over the ink
tray.

Carol

Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging