JV3 printing colors in wrong places

[akuarela]

This just started, doing 2K, CY, cc instead of normal KM CY cm. I had not even noticed the KK, because the other goofy cm (before turning to cc) was looking so strange...
I use a Triangle bulk system and inks coming out of there look fine, not so by the time they get to the hoses leading to the dampers before the printheads. Totally baffled, nothing like this before.

First pic, coming from bulk system (I print 2CMYK as the other head is less good), 2nd coming into the dampers, and print test, I will appreciate your comments.

 

[ColoPrinthead]

The only thing I can think of that would cause that is putting the wrong color of ink into the wrong cartridge of your bulks system . . . . something I have never done before :Oops:

 

[akuarela]

ColoPrinthead, thank you! But not at all, have not changed a thing other than do the regular cleaning, etc. I opened up the top and saw that the ink on the Magenta for instance, changes from Magenta to Black within the tube from the bulk system to the heads, and it did not change color or position as I run a strong cleaning.
How can it be that the ink from the other side of the printheads may be flowing backwards contaminating the other side?? and in 2 printheads to top it off??!!
More ideas welcome

 

[ColoPrinthead]

Did you just recently switch to triangle ink from another brand?

 

[akuarela]

Did you just recently switch to triangle ink from another brand?

No, ColoPrinthead, this ink has been used for many years. I'm suspecting something with the pump and/or capping stations, don't seem to hold the solvent without draining almost right away in those 2 problem locations.

 

[heyskull]

This is a capping problem as Black and Magenta are on the same head.
The ink has wicked (if their is such a word) when the head has been parked.
I would check that the pump is pulling correctly.
Also if their is a pool of ink in the cap this will be creating this or the head is touching the mesh in the cap.

SC

 

[WalkerP]

I agree with heyskull. Does it print out after a few inches of a print and is only doing it on the nozzlecheck? Meaning, you get the weird nozzlecheck, but if you send a print the colors go back to normal after a while in the print? If one set of nozzles on the head aren't being cleaned properly, those nozzles will suck the other color up into them and that little bit of ink will be "trapped" in the head. Eventually that ink will print out and the proper color should print. That is if the ink is flowing properly. If I remember correctly one pump controls 2 caps on that machine. It sounds like one line coming from that pump is bad, or that cap. You can swap the lines from the pump to the cap line to check to see if it's the pump or the cap. Pretty easy swap.

 

[akuarela]

Thank you Heyskull and WalkerP

I agree with heyskull. Does it print out after a few inches of a print and is only doing it on the nozzlecheck? Meaning, you get the weird nozzlecheck, but if you send a print the colors go back to normal after a while in the print? If one set of nozzles on the head aren't being cleaned properly, those nozzles will suck the other color up into them and that little bit of ink will be "trapped" in the head. Eventually that ink will print out and the proper color should print. That is if the ink is flowing properly. If I remember correctly one pump controls 2 caps on that machine. It sounds like one line coming from that pump is bad, or that cap. You can swap the lines from the pump to the cap line to check to see if it's the pump or the cap. Pretty easy swap.

The ink is actually flowing back on the opposite lines of those 2 printheads, so we ordered a set of caps and also pumps, etc. to get hopefully all this resolved. Gratefully, the wrong color has not gone all the way back to the tanks, but somewhere in between.

 

[WalkerP]

I'd pull those carts out just in case the ink continues to retreat towards them. Wasting ink in the lines is one thing, but if it gets to the tanks that can be a huge waste.