Replacing printheads HP Designjet Plotter

1.Replacing Printheads

If there is an error with one or more printheads, the printhead status is shown by four icons, referring from left to right to the Cyan, Black, Magenta, and Yellow printheads.

Assume  magenta printhead is missing (the icon flashes).

Figure 1.1: Magenta printhead is missing

In Figure 1.2, the magenta printhead is faulty (the cross flashes).

Figure : Magenta printhead is faulty

• If you identified a printhead as being faulty during the Troubleshootingroutine, the icon shows a flashing exclamation mark.
• If the printer is unable to determine which of several printheads are faulty, the front panel shows three or four flashing question marks.

Printhead status

To determine the status of the printheads, do the following:

1. From the main front-panel menu, select ink system and press enter.
2. Select information and press enter.
3. Select printheads and press enter. You can then call up the information about any of the printheads.
4. Select the specific INDIVIDUAL PRINTHEAD and press enter to examine the status of an individual printhead.

To replace printheads, follow these steps:

1. From the main front-panel menu, select INK SYSTEM and press enter.
2. Select REPLACE PRINTHEADS and press enter.
3. Wait for the front-panel to display “Open window to replace printheads,” then open the window and locate the carriage assembly, as shown in Figure 3.3.
   Figure : Opening the window

   
4. Release the latch on the carriage printhead cover, as shown in Figure 1.4.
   Figure 1.4: Releasing the latch on the printhead cover
5. Lift up the printhead cover, allowing access to the printheads, as shown in Figure 1.5.
   Figure : Lifting up the printhead cover

   
6. To remove a printhead, lift up the blue handle, as shown in Figure 1.6.
   Figure : Lifting up the blue handle

   
7. Using controlled force, pull the blue handle upwards until the printhead is released from the carriage assembly, as shown in Figure 1.7.

Figure : Pulling the blue handle upwards

Section 4: Installing new Printheads on Plotter

1. Remove the tape from the new printheads, as shown in Figure 2.1.
   Figure : Removing the tape

   
2. Insert a new printhead, ensuring that the colored label on the printhead corresponds to that on the printhead slot, as shown in Figure 2.2.
   Figure : Inserting a new printhead

   
3. When you have replaced all printheads that need replacing, pull the printhead cover down over the printheads, as shown in Figure 2.3.
   Figure : Pulling the printhead cover down

   
4. Close the latch on the printhead cover by catching the hook over the latch and moving the handle towards the back, as shown in Figure 2.4.
   Figure : Figure 2.4: Closing the latch on the printhead cover

   
5. Finally, close the window, as shown in Figure 4.5.
   Figure : Figure 2.5: Closing the window

   

• After the replacement of the printheads, the printer checks that they are all functioning correctly. This can take several minutes.
• You will see the front-panel message “HP No. 11 printheads successfully installed.” Then the printhead alignment procedure starts. See section five below: “Aligning printheads."

Section 5: Aligning Printheads

The printhead alignment procedure requires paper to be loaded, and will take several minutes to perform. You can start the procedure yourself, for example, after clearing a paper jam, as follows:

1. From the main front-panel menu, select ink system and press enter.
2. Select align printheads and press enter.
3. Choose either standard(which will take about 4½ minutes, and is recommended for normal use) or special(which takes about 11 minutes and can correct problems that occur with alignment across the width of the paper); press enter.
   • Standard alignment requires paper of at least A4/ Letter-size, loaded in landscape mode.
   • Special alignment requires paper of at least A3/ B-size, loaded in landscape mode. Two separate prints are made.
   • Not all paper types are supported for alignment; the printer will tell you if you load the wrong type. Among those supported are: HP Bright White Inkjet Paper (Bond paper), HP Coated Paper, HP Heavy Coated Paper, HP High-Gloss Photo Paper, HP Satin Poster Paper, and HP Plain Paper.

Section 6: Color calibration

Color calibration is the process of matching the ink with the paper. When new printheads have been installed, we recommend that you use the color calibrationroutine to ensure that the quality of your images is optimized.

You can discover what paper the ink system is currently calibrated for, as follows:

1. From the main front-panel menu, select ink system and press enter.
2. Select color calibration and press enter.
3. Choose status and press enter. You will see something like the following:
   • If the paper loaded is not as shown, choose calibrate paper.
   • The printer will print and use a small calibration pattern to ensure an optimal match between the paper and the ink.