Strange black printing phenomenon

[PaulFXH]

Hi Folks
A few days ago I posted here about an aparently blocked printhead on a
Canon S200 BJ printer which was resolutely refusing to print anything
in black, although color printing was pretty near perfect.
I took on board some of the suggestions made but haven't as yet managed
to track down an ultra-sonic device as was recommended in one of the
posts.
Nevertheless, printing in black has not at all improved.
However, yesterday, I tried the PrintHead Alignment procedure offered
in the Maintenance section of the printer properties options. This
prints four bi-directional alignment columns (two in black, two in
blue) and one horizontal-alignment column in black.
When I printed this yesterday, as expected the two black bi-directional
columns failed to appear alongside of the blue columns. But, the black
horizontal-alignment column DID APPEAR, clearly and distinctly and as
black as the proverbial ace of spades.
I tried this a total of four times, both yesterday and today, and
everytime get the same result.
For me, this clearly indicates that black ink is getting from the cart
through the printhead onto the paper. So, why doesn't it do this
everytime and in all circumstances?
Can anybody help me to interpret this unexpected turn of events and,
better still, use this information to get the printer printing in black
again.
TIA
Paul

 

[Tony]

Hi Folks
A few days ago I posted here about an aparently blocked printhead on a
Canon S200 BJ printer which was resolutely refusing to print anything
in black, although color printing was pretty near perfect.
I took on board some of the suggestions made but haven't as yet managed
to track down an ultra-sonic device as was recommended in one of the
posts.
Nevertheless, printing in black has not at all improved.
However, yesterday, I tried the PrintHead Alignment procedure offered
in the Maintenance section of the printer properties options. This
prints four bi-directional alignment columns (two in black, two in
blue) and one horizontal-alignment column in black.
When I printed this yesterday, as expected the two black bi-directional
columns failed to appear alongside of the blue columns. But, the black
horizontal-alignment column DID APPEAR, clearly and distinctly and as
black as the proverbial ace of spades.
I tried this a total of four times, both yesterday and today, and
everytime get the same result.
For me, this clearly indicates that black ink is getting from the cart
through the printhead onto the paper. So, why doesn't it do this
everytime and in all circumstances?
Can anybody help me to interpret this unexpected turn of events and,
better still, use this information to get the printer printing in black
again.
TIA
Paul

Paul
The horizontal black may be a composite black made up from the other colours
and may not use the black cartridge at all. I am not sure about this but it is
not uncommon for alignment pages to do this with some printers. If this is
correct then the printhead is still the likely cause.
Tony

 

[PaulFXH]

Tony escreveu:

Paul
The horizontal black may be a composite black made up from the other colours
and may not use the black cartridge at all. I am not sure about this but it is
not uncommon for alignment pages to do this with some printers. If this is
correct then the printhead is still the likely cause.

Hi Tony
Thanks for your reply.
So, it seems that the light I was beginning to see at the end of the
tunnel may well be illusionary.
Hmmm...but wait, does this mean I can use a black made up of a
composite of colors to get over my partially blocked printhead?
TIA
Paul

 

[Tony]

Tony escreveu:


Hi Tony
Thanks for your reply.
So, it seems that the light I was beginning to see at the end of the
tunnel may well be illusionary.
Hmmm...but wait, does this mean I can use a black made up of a
composite of colors to get over my partially blocked printhead?
TIA
Paul

Paul
First of all I hope I am wrong, and you can recover the printhead somehow.
As to using composite black as a default, that is an intriguing idea and I have
absolutely no idea whether you can force that to happen unless there is some
way that you do it in the driver.
Hopefully someone else will read this and come up with an idea.
Tony