Canon iP4000 Print Head Problem

[Gene West]

I have a Canon ip4000 with only 1/2 of the black (3e-BK) printing in the
draft and the standard modes. Very distinct bands (not streaking)
alternating with a good line and a blank line. Cleaning was to no
avail. What I did to be able to use the head was to go into the envelop
mode which gave me extra passes, however, it was significantly slower
than the draft mode. Apparently there is unidirectional passes in the
envelop mode. Normal printing must be have bidirectional passes in the
draft and standard modes. I was also successful in the photo mode, but
it was extremely slow.

Any other comments or suggestions on this type of printing problem would
be welcome.

Very soon I am ordering a new print head, however, Googling for ordering
was not clear. I assume the price is about $55, does anyone know of a
good place to purchase this print head?

Geneo

 

[Al]

I have a Canon ip4000 with only 1/2 of the black (3e-BK) printing in the
draft and the standard modes.  Very distinct bands (not streaking)
alternating with a good line and a blank line.  Cleaning was to no
avail.  What I did to be able to use the head was to go into the envelop
mode which gave me extra passes, however, it was significantly slower
than the draft mode.  Apparently there is unidirectional passes in the
envelop mode.  Normal printing must be have bidirectional passes in the
draft and standard modes.  I was also successful in the photo mode, but
it was extremely slow.

Any other comments or suggestions on this type of printing problem would
be welcome.

Very soon I am ordering a new print head, however, Googling for ordering
was not clear.  I assume the price is about $55, does anyone know of a
good place to purchase this print head?

Geneo

I think your print head is only clogged. Google this group for head
cleaning techniques and try that first.
I was able to get an acceptable black by using the colors when that
happened to me. Then out of the blue the black started printing again
without any special procedures.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Canon inkjet printer heads are "time limited" usually about 18-24 months
with moderate use. They then will burn out and require user accessible
replacement, but they are costly, and often the cost makes the
replacement difficult to justify.

Canon printer heads have a number of different size nozzles for each
color, so one nozzle size may burn out while the other may continue to
work. Also some Canon printer have two types of black ink, (and
different nozzles again) for photo black and pigment black (used for
black only documents or black text).

However, before giving up on the head, it may just be a clog.

I have a free small manual for some ways of cleaning Canon printer heads
which I have put together fro suggestions from several people and
websites (I don't own any Canon printers, so I have just assembled
suggestions and ideas from others)

If you'd like a copy, just email me at the address below, and mention
the Canon cleaning manual. I do not trade, sell, or spam your email
address. This is a free service.

Art

e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @

(dot) = .


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I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

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[Gene West]

Thanks for the info.

Gene

 

[Gene West]

Thanks, I'll give that a shot. Will post if it works.

Gene

 

[Gene West]

I've had my IP4000 for 4.5 yrs and all heads were good until recently,
when 1/2 the black pigment stopped printing in one direction when used
in draft and standard mode. I did as Charlie+ suggested for the reasons
suggested, but I would consider my printing load rather light.

My question is: Can a burnout occur over 1/2 of the black head only and
have the other half perfect? I tried to clean the print head electrical
contacts as suggested by another poster, however, that did not help. I
ordered a new head and I will soon know if the problem is internal to
the printer or within the print head. Will keep folks who are following
this problem posted on the results.

Gene

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I'm pleased to hear that Canon user replaceable heads are now giving
better service duty. The information you provide is probably helpful for
those using some models of Canon printers. I don't have any idea what
type of print intensity you are using. Obviously, text uses less nozzle
firing than full page images, and how evenly the colors are used will
also have an affect on life span of the head overall.

I would like to correct one comment. While you are correct that with
thermal print heads like Canon, and others using that technology,
running the head while dry of ink can cause more damage to it, piezo
heads are not really damaged by being run without ink in them, since the
process is electro-mechanical and not thermal, they do not generate a
lot of heat, running without the ink cooling them isn't typically much
of an issue.

Art


If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

 

[Gene West]

What happens when you run the nozzle check? Are you showing a full chequer
pattern for the BC3e cart ?

Currently, I get the BC3e grid for the upper half only and it is
perfect. The lower half is completely blank. All other colors and
grays are perfect.

If my memory serves me correctly, I saw the lower half printing with
skips some months back. This leads me to believe the the lower half was
getting clogged and may have finally burned out. I wish I would have
deep cleaned it then. ;( Again, the new head should confirm/disprove
this theory. Will give an update in a week or so.

I am doing pretty well using the envelope mode in standard (reasonably
fast printing) and the high resolution mode (slower printing) in
standard for a better print output. These modes are most likely
unidirectional print head movements.

gene

 

[Arthur Entlich]

No Charlie, I am not mixing them up.

Epson print heads almost never develop mechanical failures, although
they occasionally do develop electronic ones, they can work ten years or
more. They do clog, but most clogs can be cleared. The piezo
mechanical head is designed for literally hundreds of millions to a
billion actuations per nozzle. Canon heads experience thermal failure
well before that as part of their design. Each nozzle has a resistor
associated with it which causes it to rapidly heat and cool with every
drop of ink expelled, this both erodes the nozzle and causes eventual
failure of the resistor.

Canon Pixma heads are available on line to buy for replacement. Almost
everyone I know who uses Canon Pixma inkjet printers in moderate to
heavy use has replaced the heads once or twice.

Art

If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

 

[Gene West]

I just received a new print head and installed it. Presto! it works.
Ran a pattern check and all is well. Did so on the draft mode so
bi-directional printing is good.
I still don't know the physics of the head problem, and probably won't
find out. As of now it is being stored as a "limping" backup.
Thanks to all who replied.
Gene