QTR-Quadtone RIP

Hi Everybody,

I have problems to charge my R3000 bubble-free / air-free with ink. This is not related to QTR, but I assume that the community here has intimate experience with handling printers and how to "fuel" them with ink, therefore I also place my question here hoping for your helpful response.

While working on my R3000 to convert it from K3 to K4 and after replacing the pre-filled one-way cartridges with refillable cartridges it repeatedly happens that the LK and LLK channels (that I work on) do not deliver ink at all - most probably because of air cought in the ink pathway.

Does anyone have a reliable approach to charge the printer with ink, and that does not introduce air to the system?

Here is what I have been doing:

I use a syringe with a flexible tube attached to charge my R3000 with bulk ink. The tube (inner diameter 3mm, about 1/8 inch) fits tightly to the ink-receptor pin at the cartridge holder base.
I load the syringe and the tube with ink in a way that the tube is completely filled with ink.
But - in the attempt to fit the ink filled tube to the ink-receptor pin a drop or more of ink is usually lost, and consequently air is introduced to the tube. When I apply pressure to press ink into the system that air is of course also pushed towards the print head. I believe this approach with a syringe/tube inevitably behaves that way since the rather large inner diameter of the tube does not hold the ink and it drops out when the tube tip touches the ink-receptor pin.

I now consicer the following approach: press ink into the system via the attached cartridge with a syringe, no tube in between. When the cartridge is propperly attached and filled with ink there should be a closed strand of ink between the cartridge ink reservoir and the printhead nozzles. When I need to charge that channel with ink (e.g. to flush it, to unclog the nozzles etc.) I would seal the cartridge's vent hole, insert the syringe tip, now without that flexible tube and no needle attached, directly into the cartridge's load hole (where you usually insert the needle). This way I create an air-tight system between the ink-loaded syringe, via the cartridge all the way to the print head - and can press ink from the syringe into the cartridge, the added pressure translating to ink being pressed towards the print head.

This is my theory. I am not sure if the cartridge's ink outlet (attached to the ink-receptor pin) is tight enough to hold that kind of pressure and to not leak. I obviously wouldn't be able to see that leak and the resulting mess before it is too late. Does anyone have experience with that approach? Or do you have a different reliable approach to charge the printer with ink that does not introduce air to the system?

Thanks and Regards,
Amin

Hi Myron,

thanks for your detailled feedback. I think I need to clarify my case: it is not about general refilling of cartridges but about charging the ink leading system between the ink-receptor pins, via the ink tubes (the R3000 has ink tubes, like an built-in CIS system) to the print head / nozzles. Usually this system is only charged with ink when you put a new printer to use. The initiation procedure for the R3000 includes an initial ink charge, taking ink from the cartidges and filling up the ink leading system all the way to the nozzles.

Since I experiment with replacing color ink on the color channels with bw ink, I need to flush a channel, and refill it with bw ink. This may happen more than once. However, since I have been doing that kind of work on the R3000 I have complete ink channels fail on me, i.e. there is no ink at all coming from some of the channels I have manipulated as described. Right now I have even the cyan channel failing, since I am right now working on the printer - despite I have not touched it. I have no clue why this is happening. Am I messing up something? Or is it air in the system, as I was suspecting in my prior post?

Anyone out there having seen similar behavior?

Regards,

Amin

Hi Amin:

 

Sorry that you are having trouble.  Allow me first to say that I do not use an Epson 3000, and I do not recall which refillable carts you are using, i.e., from Jon Cone or from MIS. However, I wonder if there might be some relevant information on the Jon Cone Ink Jet Mall web site ( and the MIS web site at the area where carts are discussed ).  On Jon's excellent and very informative web site there are videos that explain printer maintenance,  where multiple maintenance issues discussed, and where there is a tech support area where questions such as yours might have already been posed and solutions provided. 

 

http://www.inkjetmall.com/tech/forum.php 

 

 

Here is a link to a very complete discussion of printer maintenance with detailed instructions about procedures to be followed.  I suspect that your problem will be solved by following the procedures listed…and, watch the videos!

 

http://www.inkjetmall.com/tech/content.php?133-Printer-Cleaning-and-Preventative-Maintenance

 

If your problem is still not solved, then:

 

Perhaps the battery in the chip reset is faulty?  Yes, I know that the battery is mainly responsible for providing information about the ink fill level.  Nevertheless, take a look here about faulty batteries sometimes affecting ink flow:

 

http://www.inkjetmall.com/tech/content.php?150-How-to-replace-chip-on-refillable-R3000-cartridge an

 

 

Here is a link to an Adjustment/Service Program specific for your printer manual.  Note at the very top of the page the Epson R3000 information.  Perhaps there will be information there that will help-but the manuals are only for PC and not for Macs.

 

http://www.inkjetmall.com/tech/content.php?151-Initial-Fill-Procedures-for-Epson-Pro-Model-Printers and d http://www.2manuals.com/

 

Please note that I have NOT had to use these programs and have therefore no experience with the programs.

 

 

So, to recapitulate the information that is above: Have you used several cleaning cycles using a spare set of carts and a cleansing solution available from Ink Jet Mall or MIS?  Often a cleaning cycle will resolve issues that result from dried ink which can block the free flow of ink.  Do I understand your question to infer that there is a block at the ink-receptor pins?  Such might prevent ink from filling the tubes.  A cleaning cycle as I described, or manually cleaning the ink receptor pins ( using a Q tip ) with one of the flush solutions or distilled water might remove any dried ink blocking the outflow from the carts through the ink-receptor pins to the hoses.  Use a Q tip and water or flush solution and also clean the area on the carts that is pierced by the ink-receptor pins.  And of course, the ink pad and the bottom of the print head should be tended to.  Be certain ( I suspect that you have already checked! ) to be sure that the fill hole is closed and the "vent hole" is open, and that there are no large air bubbles.   Again…watch the videos that detail the various cleaning procedures.

 

Finally, if the 3000 needs replacement ( which I sincerely hope will NOT be the case ) then unless you are making many prints weekly or need to make very large prints consider the two models alluded to now. Although the 2800 is not a professional model, the printer has much to commend it-none the least of which is the ease with which one can change carts and clean the ink flow "trail" with Piezoflush.  I know that others here have also written favorably of the 2880.  Ditto with the 1400 and 1430-which of course is the 1400 with wireless capability.  As an aside I am amazed to see the prices for new 1400 models-and even used models-on that auction site are often far above the price for a brand new and warranted 1430.  Of course Jon's inks are available for these models, and his profiles work perfectly.

 

At any rate, I suspect and hope that you will find the procedure that will solve your problem Amin.

 

Please let us know how you fair, and the very best wishes.

 

Elliot

From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@...m] 
Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2014 6:46 PM
To: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [QuadtoneRIP] charge printer with ink - and with no air

 

  

Hi Myron,

 

thanks for your detailled feedback. I think I need to clarify my case: it is not about general refilling of cartridges but about charging the ink leading system between the ink-receptor pins, via the ink tubes (the R3000 has ink tubes, like an built-in CIS system) to the print head / nozzles. Usually this system is only charged with ink when you put a new printer to use. The initiation procedure for the R3000 includes an initial ink charge, taking ink from the cartidges and filling up the ink leading system all the way to the nozzles. 

 

Since I experiment with replacing color ink on the color channels with bw ink, I need to flush a channel, and refill it with bw ink. This may happen more than once. However, since I have been doing that kind of work on the R3000 I have complete ink channels fail on me, i.e. there is no ink at all coming from some of the channels I have manipulated as described. Right now I have even the cyan channel failing, since I am right now working on the printer - despite I have not touched it. I have no clue why this is happening. Am I messing up something? Or is it air in the system, as I was suspecting in my prior post?

 

Anyone out there having seen similar behavior?

 

Regards,

Amin

Supplement:

I just found this procedure for draining the Epson 3000 lines:

  1.  Switch on the printer
  2.  Remove all the ink cartridges
  3.  Close the compartment door
  4.  Switch off the printer
  5.  Wait until the printer stops flashing and making a noise this can take up to 5 mins Removal of old ink is now complete.

Great information to have Myron.  If I ever have a problem with the 2880 or
the 1430 I will keep your suggestion in mind.

 

Elliot

From: QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com [mailto:QuadtoneRIP@yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2014 5:53 PM
To: QTR group group
Subject: Re: [QuadtoneRIP] charge printer with ink - and with no air

 

  

Supplement: 

 

I just found this procedure for draining the Epson 3000 lines:

1.	Switch on the printer 
2.	Remove all the ink cartridges 
3.	Close the compartment door 
4.	Switch off the printer 
5.	Wait until the printer stops flashing and making a noise this can
take up to 5 mins Removal of old ink is now complete.

Hi Myron,

 

thanks for your post - it is actually very helpful for me. From another
source I heard that charging the ink system by manually applying pressure
may damage internal valves / pumps. So my procedure seems not to be the best
one from the beginning. I picked it up from a description on how to flush a
clogged channel with cleaning fluid / windex. The next time I replace the
carts with refillable ones and bulk ink I will try according to the
directions you found for discharging ink, and use the Epson Reset Tool to
initiate the charging procedure. Can you provide the link to the source you
found?

 

Regards,

Amin