JV33 Blocked Head?

[sxbelfast]

Hi there,

We currently have a problem with our JV33 whereby when we did a test draw some of the black on the grid were missing (see initial problem photo). We attempted to do a nozzle wash however this seemed to make the issue worse.

We continued to print as we were waiting on a new capping station to arrive, during the printing the cyan cartridge ran out and during the switch over the cyan fell off the test grid completely. After yet another nozzle wash we completely lost the black and yellow also. We now have a test draw which only prints the far right magenta grid (see current problem photo).

We were told that the issue was most likely a capping issue so we replaced the capping station this morning and completed a few fill up ink to try to draw the ink through the head. The test grid is still only showing the far right magenta so we have been told by a mimaki engineer to soak the head using the nozzle wash function for 99 mins & then fill up the ink again.

Can anyone suggest any other issues we may have overlooked? or what we should do to try to get the ink through the head again?

All help greatly appreciated!
Cathy

 

[Solventinkjet]

Make sure the cap top you installed has a blue rubber stopper on the third hole in the cap top. If that is not on there it will not work at all.

Using a syringe and cleaning solution, push cleaning solution through the tubes that come from the cap top, through the pump and into the waste tank. If it does not allow you to do this, you have a clog in the maintenance system. Most of the time you can unclog it by pushing solution through and squeezing the tubes to break up the clog.

If those ideas don't do anything for you, start looking at the dampers and ink lines for broken seals and damage. Also, the switches that open the valves to the ink cartridges may be stuck closed.

99% it is a bad/improperly installed cap top, clog in the maintenance station, or weak/old pump that causes all of the nozzles to drop out like that. I don't think your nozzles are clogged. They just aren't receiving ink.

 

[just]

don’t blame it on the head

First of all don’t blame it on the head. Unless you left it uncapped for some weeks it’s not the head.
Check the printhead nozzle surface. There should be no dried ink at all. Check position of "capping print" on the printhead surface. "Capping print" is an ink mark on the head face left by the cap. To make it visible smear some ink at top of cap rubber. Normally "Capping print" should not be shifted to any side and have all nozzle lines inside. If it touches left or right metal plates or comes off in front or rear there is something wrong with cap position.
Then check the suction of ink. Take of head cover (2 screws) and capping station cover (5 screws). Run fill up and check dampers membranes. Membranes should implode while pump is rotating. If not there could be issue with cap, tubes connection or pump.