Brother MFC 297C User Manual

							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance
101
B
dTurn the green knob on the protective 
yellow cap clockwise until it clicks to 
release the vacuum seal, then remove 
the cap (1).
 
 
eEach colour has its own correct position. 
Insert the ink cartridge in the direction of 
the arrow on the label.
 
fGently push the ink cartridge until it 
clicks, and then close the ink cartridge 
cover.
 
gThe machine will automatically reset the 
ink dot counter.
Note
• If you replaced an ink cartridge, for 
example Black, the LCD may ask you to 
verify that it was a brand new one 
(Did You Change Blck?). For each 
new cartridge you installed, press 1 (Yes) 
to automatically reset the ink dot counter 
for that colour. If the ink cartridge you 
installed is not a brand new one, be sure 
to press 2 (No).
• If the LCD shows No Cartridge or 
Cannot Detect after you install the ink 
cartridges, check that the ink cartridges 
are installed correctly.
 
WARNING 
If ink gets in your eyes, wash them out with 
water at once and call a doctor if you are 
concerned.
 
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							102
CAUTION 
DO NOT take out ink cartridges if you do 
not need to replace them. If you do so, it 
may reduce the ink quantity and the 
machine will not know the quantity of ink left 
in the cartridge.
 
 
DO NOT touch the cartridge insertion slots. 
If you do so, the ink may stain your skin.
  
If ink gets on your skin or clothing, 
immediately wash it off with soap or 
detergent.
  
If you mix the colours by installing an ink 
cartridge in the wrong position, clean the 
print head several times after correcting the 
cartridge installation.
  
Once you open an ink cartridge, install it in 
the machine and use it up within six months 
of installation. Use unopened ink cartridges 
by the expiration date written on the 
cartridge package.
  
DO NOT dismantle or tamper with the ink 
cartridge, this can cause the ink to leak out 
of the cartridge.
 
Cleaning the outside of the 
machineB
CAUTION 
Use neutral detergents. Cleaning with 
volatile liquids such as thinner or benzine 
will damage the outside surface of the 
machine.
  
DO NOT use cleaning materials that 
contain ammonia.
 
 
DO NOT use isopropyl alcohol to remove 
dirt from the control panel. It may crack the 
panel.
 
Clean the outside of the machine as 
follows:
B
aPull the paper tray (1) completely out of 
the machine.
 
bWipe the outside of the machine with a 
soft cloth to remove dust.
 
cLift the paper tray cover and remove 
anything that is stuck inside the paper 
tray.
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							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance
103
B
dWipe the inside and outside of the paper 
tray with a soft cloth to remove dust.
 
eClose the paper tray cover and put the 
paper tray firmly back in the machine.
Cleaning the scanner glassB
aLift the document cover (1). Clean the 
scanner glass (2) and the white 
plastic (3) with a soft lint-free cloth 
moistened with a non-flammable glass 
cleaner.
 
b(MFC-290C and MFC-297C only)
In the ADF unit, clean the white bar (1) 
and the glass strip (2) with a soft lint-free 
cloth moistened with a non-flammable 
glass cleaner.
 
Note
In addition to cleaning the scanner glass 
and glass strip with a non-flammable glass 
cleaner, run your finger tip over the 
scanner glass and glass strip  to see if you 
can feel anything on it. If you feel dirt or 
debris, clean the scanner glass and glass 
strip again concentrating on that area. You 
may need to repeat the cleaning process 
three or four times. To test, make a copy 
after each cleaning attempt.
 
2
1
3
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							104
Cleaning the machine printer 
platenB
WARNING 
Be sure to unplug the machine from the 
electrical socket before cleaning the printer 
platen.
 
aLift the scanner cover until it locks 
securely into the open position.
bClean the machine printer platen (1). 
Cleaning the paper pick-up 
rollerB
aPull the paper tray completely out of the 
machine.
bUnplug the telephone line cord first, and 
then unplug the machine from the 
electrical socket and open the Jam 
Clear Cover (1) at the back of the 
machine.
 
cClean the Paper Pick-up Roller (1) with 
isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab.
 
dClose the Jam Clear Cover back.
Make sure the cover is set properly.
ePut the paper tray firmly back in the 
machine.
fRe-connect the power cord.
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							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance
105
B
Cleaning the print headB
To maintain good print quality, the machine 
will automatically clean the print head. You 
can start the cleaning process manually if 
there is a print quality problem.
Clean the print head and ink cartridges if you 
get a horizontal line or blank text in the text or 
graphics on your printed pages. You can 
clean Black only, three colours at a time 
(Yellow/Cyan/Magenta), or all four colours at 
once.
Cleaning the print head consumes ink. 
Cleaning too often uses ink unnecessarily.
CAUTION 
DO NOT touch the print head. Touching the 
print head may cause permanent damage 
and may void the print heads warranty.
 
aPress Menu, 7, 2.
bPress aorb to choose Black, Color or 
All.
Press OK.
The machine cleans the print head. 
When cleaning is finished, the machine 
will go back to standby mode 
automatically.
Note
If you clean the print head at least five 
times and the print has not improved, try 
installing a new genuine Brother Branded 
replacement cartridge for each problem 
colour. Try cleaning the print head again 
up to five more times. If the print has not 
improved call your Brother dealer.
 
Checking the print qualityB
If faded or streaked colours and text appear 
on your output, some of the nozzles may be 
clogged. You can check this by printing the 
Print Quality Check Sheet and looking at the 
nozzle check pattern.
aPress Menu, 7, 1.
bPress aorb to choose 
Print Quality.
Press OK.
cPress Colour Start.
The machine begins printing the Print 
Quality Check Sheet.
dCheck the quality of the four colour 
blocks on the sheet.
 
Is Quality OK?
 
1.Yes 2.No
eDo one of the following:
„If all lines are clear and visible, 
press1 to choose Yes, and go to 
stepi.
„If you can see missing short lines as 
shown below, press 2 to choose No.
fThe LCD asks you if the print quality is 
OK for black and three colours.
 
Black OK?
 
1.Yes 2.No
Press 1 (Yes) or 2 (No). OK Poor
  
 
						

							106
gThe LCD asks you if you want to start 
cleaning.
 
Start Cleaning?
 
1.Yes 2.No
Press 1 (Yes).
The machine starts cleaning the print 
head.
hAfter cleaning is finished, press 
Colour Start.
The machine starts printing the Print 
Quality Check Sheet again and then 
returns to stepd. 
iPress Stop/Exit.
If you repeat this procedure at least five 
times and the print quality is still poor, 
replace the ink cartridge for the clogged 
colour. 
After replacing the ink cartridge, check 
the print quality. If the problem still 
exists, repeat the cleaning and test print 
procedures at least five times for the 
new ink cartridge. If ink is still missing, 
call your Brother dealer.
CAUTION 
DO NOT touch the print head. Touching the 
print head may cause permanent damage 
and may void the print heads warranty.
 
Note
 
Checking the print alignmentB
You may need to adjust the print alignment 
after transporting the machine, if your printed 
text becomes blurred or images become 
faded.
aPress Menu, 7, 1.
bPress aorb to choose Alignment.
Press OK.
cPress Mono Start or Colour Start.
The machine starts printing the 
Alignment Check Sheet.
 
Is Alignment OK?
 
1.Yes 2.No
dCheck the 600 dpi and 1200 dpi test 
prints to see if number 5 most closely 
matches number 0. 
„If the number 5 samples of both the 
600 dpi and 1200 dpi test prints are 
the best matches, press 1 (Yes) to 
finish the Alignment Check, and go to 
stepg.
„If another test print number is a 
better match for either 600 dpi or 
1200 dpi, press 2 (No) to choose it.
eFor 600 dpi, press the number of the test 
print that most closely matches the 
number 0 sample (1-8).
 
600dpi Adjust
 
Select Best #5
fFor 1200 dpi, press the number of the 
test print that most closely matches the 
number 0 sample (1-8).
 
1200dpi Adjust
 
Select Best #5
gPress Stop/Exit.
 
i
 
When a print head 
nozzle is clogged 
the printed 
sample looks like 
this.After the print 
head nozzle is 
cleaned, the 
horizontal lines 
are gone.
 
						

							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance
107
B
Checking the ink volumeB
You can check the ink that is left in the 
cartridge.
aPress Menu, 7, 3.
bThe LCD shows the ink volume.
cPress aorb to choose the colour you 
want to check.
dPress Stop/Exit.
Note
You can check the ink volume from your 
computer. (See Printing for Windows
® or 
Printing and Faxing for Macintosh
® in the 
Software Users Guide on the CD-ROM.)
 
Machine InformationB
Checking the serial numberB
You can see the machine’s serial number on 
the LCD.
aPress Menu, 6, 1. 
1.Serial No.
 
XXXXXXX
bPress Stop/Exit.
 
						

							108
Packing and shipping 
the machine
B
When you transport the machine, use the 
packing materials that came with your 
machine. Follow the instructions below to 
properly pack your machine. Damage caused 
to your machine during transit is not covered 
by your warranty.
CAUTION 
It is important to allow the machine to ‘park’ 
the print head after a print job. Listen 
carefully to the machine before unplugging 
it to make sure that all mechanical noise 
has stopped. Not allowing the machine to 
finish this parking process may lead to print 
problems and possible damage to the print 
head.
 
aOpen the ink cartridge cover.
bPress the lock release lever to release 
the ink cartridge and take out all the ink 
cartridges. (See Replacing the ink 
cartridges on page 100.)
cInstall the green protective part, and 
then close the ink cartridge cover.
 
CAUTION 
Make sure that the plastic tabs on both 
sides of the green protective part (1) have 
securely clicked into place (2).
  
If you are not able to find the green 
protective part, DO NOT remove the ink 
cartridges before shipping. It is essential 
that the machine be shipped with either the 
green protective part or the ink cartridges in 
position. Shipping without them will cause 
damage to your machine and may void your 
warranty.
 
dUnplug the machine from the telephone 
wall socket and take the telephone line 
cord out of the machine.
eUnplug the machine from the electrical 
socket.
fUsing both hands, use the plastic tabs 
on both sides of the machine to lift the 
scanner cover until it locks securely into 
the open position. Then unplug the 
interface cable from the machine, if it is 
connected.
  
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							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance
109
B
gLift the scanner cover (1) to release the 
lock. Gently push the scanner cover 
support down (2) and close the scanner 
cover (3).
 
hWrap the machine in the bag and put it 
in the original carton with the original 
packing material.
 
iPack the printed materials in the original 
carton as shown below. Do not pack the 
used ink cartridges in the carton.
 
jClose the carton and tape it shut. 
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							110
C
On-screen 
programming
C
Your machine is designed to be easy to 
operate with LCD on-screen programming 
using the menu keys. User-friendly 
programming helps you take full advantage of 
all the menu selections your machine has to 
offer.
Since your programming is done on the LCD, 
we have created step-by-step on-screen 
instructions to help you program your 
machine. All you need to do is follow the 
instructions as they guide you through the 
menu selections and programming options.
Menu tableC
You can program your machine by using the 
Menu table that begins on page 112. These 
pages list the menu selections and options.
Press Menu followed by the menu numbers 
to program your machine. 
Memory storageC
Even if there is a power failure, you will not 
lose your menu settings because they are 
stored permanently. Temporary settings 
(such as Contrast, Overseas mode, and so 
on) will be lost. You may have to reset the 
date and time.
Menu keysC
Menu and FeaturesC
 
 
Access the menu.
 Go to the next menu level.
Accept an option.
 
Go back to the previous menu 
level.
Delete an incorrect letter when 
you need to enter text into the 
machine.
 Scroll through the current menu 
level.
 Go back to the previous menu 
level.
 Exit the menu.