Removing, cleaning and aligning a Canon printhead

The inkjet printers sometimes need to be cleaned. Otherwise, it may become clogged. As a result, print quality is greatly reduced. And if the ink "tightly" dry up, the device will stop working altogether. The device from Canon has a hardware cleaning function. Run the program on the computer, and the gadget itself removes blockages. You can also manually wash the part. But for this it needs to be removed.

The procedure for cleaning and aligning the Canon printhead.

Causes and signs of pollution

The printer needs service if:

  • Printed sheets have white stripes or other defects.
  • "Missing" some color. In this case there is ink in the cartridge.
  • Print quality has declined.
IMPORTANT. Canon has reliable products. But you need to clean the printer head once a month, even if nothing is broken. As a prevention.

The problem may appear:

  • Due to prolonged downtime. The paint is dry.
  • The use of empty cartridges. Do not "squeeze" the remnants of them. Otherwise nozzles will clog. And this will lead to damage.
  • Incompatible ink. Pigment and "water" can not be mixed. There is a sediment that clogs the head. And also do not take paint from different manufacturers. If the device is new and it already has original cartridges from Canon, replace the ink in them. Choose one type of consumables and always use it.

The nozzles become clogged with time. They will have to be washed in any case. Even if you have good cartridges.

Hardware cleaning

Clogging in inkjet printers is a common problem. After all, the paint dries in all devices. Therefore, they often add a self-service function. You can clean the Canon printhead without even removing it. When connecting a gadget, the system must find and install the driver. But it is better to put the software from the disk that comes with the device.

On the manufacturer's website there are utilities for managing the printer. They have different settings and interface. Download them optional. Rinse the nozzle and can be so.

  1. Fill cartridges.
  2. Connect the gadget to the PC.
  3. Insert a blank sheet of paper into it.
  4. On your computer, open the "Control Panel".
  5. Menu "Devices and Printers".
  6. Click the Canon icon with the right mouse button.
  7. Item "Properties".
  8. Section "Service".

  9. Select the type of cleaning (“Standard” or “Deep”) and cartridges.
  10. Printing will begin. The printer will deliver ink under great pressure. A jet of paint will break through the blockage.
  11. After cleaning, the system will offer to print a test page.
  12. To start the test yourself, click on the “Check nozzles” button in the same “Maintenance” section.

First, perform a standard "flush". From the first time, perhaps it will not work. Try twice and print a test page. If it does not work, start deep cleaning. Do not forget to refill cartridges - a lot of paint is consumed. Do not remove the part yet. Wait a day. Then try cleaning again. If it does not help, you need to wash it manually.

Remove the head

How to remove it depends on the device model. In the documents that came with the gadget, and on the manufacturer's website should be the instruction manual. It takes into account the features of the printer. Read it first. And then you can remove the Canon head.

  1. Turn on the device.
  2. Open the lid.
  3. The device will push the carriage with cartridges.

  4. Pull them out one at a time and place them on a soft, lint-free cloth. If the printer does not have a color palette, remember the order in which the cartridges were installed.
  5. Raise the retainer.
  6. Here is the print head. Its easy to pull out.

Manual cleaning

You will need:

  • Soft rags, napkins or other lint-free material. It must absorb moisture. Cotton pads, bandages, gauze will do.
  • Needle syringes.
  • Plastic container with low sides: cover, tray, container.
  • Distilled water. Sold in pharmacies.
  • Cleaning agent
IMPORTANT. To flush the Canon head, it is best to use printer maintenance fluids. They can be purchased at office equipment stores. But look at the composition. Do not use ethyl alcohol or strong solvents. Suitable only ammonia. Detail can be cleaned with window cleaners. But again, look at the composition.
  1. Dampen a napkin in this liquid.
  2. There are contacts on the print head that cannot be touched. Carefully wipe the dirt off of it. Follow the nozzle contour. If necessary, use several wipes.
  3. Remove the sealing gum. They must be washed, dried and put back in place.
  4. Clean the intake grilles.

  5. Fold the napkin, wet and place in a plastic container.
  6. From above put the head nozzles down.
  7. Take the cleaning agent into the syringe.
  8. Squeeze a small drop on the intake grilles.

  9. When the liquid “passes” through the grate and is absorbed into the napkin, drip more.
  10. If there are too many ink stains on the napkin, change it.
  11. Keep dripping until these spots appear.
  12. If not cleaned, heat the detergent to 50 degrees.
  13. When all paint is out, do not remove the part. Leave it on napkins for an hour or two. If the material is clean, without divorce, then everything turned out.
  14. If necessary, clean it from flushing agent. Use a cotton pad and distilled water. Do not hit the contacts.

Severe blockage

If the head does not let the fluid in at all, then the blockage is strong. But you can get rid of it.

  1. As in the previous instructions, place the part on a napkin.
  2. Take the dropper tube.
  3. Cut it into small pieces. Somewhere 5-7 centimeters.
  4. Put them on the nozzles to receive paint.

  5. Pour washing liquid into them.
  6. Add and change wipes periodically.

There are extreme methods. For example, you can shove a syringe without a needle into the nozzle and push the liquid through. Or pour detergent into the cartridges instead of ink. But it is risky.

We set and align

To reassemble the device:

  1. Install the head into a Canon printer.
  2. Press it down with the retainer.
  3. Replace the cartridges. On the carriage should be a palette. Do not confuse colors.
  4. Close the lid.
  5. Do a test print.

If irregular lines appear on the sheet, calibrate the device. Most likely, the carriage has shifted. It is necessary to align the head Canon.

  1. Fill cartridges.
  2. Insert 3 sheets of paper into the tray.
  3. Start - Control Panel - Printers.
  4. Right click on the device from Canon.
  5. Item "Properties".
  6. "Special Options".
  7. Check the “Align manually” option.
  8. Save.
  9. Service tab.
  10. Click on “Alignment”.
  11. In the next window, also click on "Alignment."
  12. The printer will print samples.
  13. Enter the numbers of the samples that you thought were of high quality. Choose examples in which white stripes are invisible.

And also it is possible to wipe a positioning tape on which the carriage moves. Use soft paper napkins and service fluids. Then dry the tape. If the printer is properly maintained, it will work longer. Yes, and with regular cleaning strong blockages will never appear.