Brother MFC 990CW User Manual

							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance159
B
fLift the scanner cover (1) from the front 
side of the machine until it locks 
securely into the open position. Make 
sure that there is no jammed paper left 
inside the machine.
 
Note
• If the paper is jammed under the print head, unplug the machine from the power 
source, and then move the print head to 
take out the paper.
• If the print head is at the right corner as  shown in the illustration, you cannot move 
the print head. Press Stop/Exit until the 
print head moves to the middle. Then 
unplug the machine from the power 
source, and take out the paper.
 
• If ink gets onto your skin, immediately wash it off with soap or detergent.
 
gLift the scanner cover to release the 
lock (1). Gently push the scanner cover 
support down (2) and close the scanner 
cover (3) using both hands.
 
hPush the paper tray firmly back into the 
machine.
Note
Make sure you pull out the paper support 
until it clicks.
 
 
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							160
Routine maintenanceB
Replacing the ink cartridgesB
Your machine is equipped with an ink dot 
counter. The ink dot counter automatically 
monitors the level of ink in each of the 
4 cartridges. When the machine detects an 
ink cartridge is running out of ink, the machine 
will tell you with a message on the LCD.
Note
For example, when one of the ink 
cartridge is nearly empty, the LCD will 
display Ink low (name of colour).
You should purchase a replacement 
cartridge in preparation for when the 
machine indicates the colour is completely 
empty.
When one of the ink cartridge is empty, 
the LCD will display  Cannot Print or 
B&W Print Only .
You should only replace the actual ink 
cartridge when this message  Cannot 
Print or  B&W Print Only  appears on 
the LCD.
 
The LCD will tell you which ink cartridge is low 
or needs replacing. Be sure to follow the LCD 
prompts to replace the ink cartridges in the 
correct order.
Even though the machine tells you that an ink 
cartridge is empty, there will be a small 
amount of ink left in the ink cartridge. It is 
necessary to keep some ink in the ink 
cartridge to prevent air from drying out and 
damaging the print head assembly.
CAUTION 
Brother multifunction machines are 
designed to work with ink of a particular 
specification and will work to a level of 
optimum performance and reliability when 
used with genuine Brother Branded ink 
cartridges. Brother cannot guarantee this 
optimum performance and reliability if ink or 
ink cartridges of other specifications are 
used. Brother does not therefore 
recommend the use of cartridges other than 
genuine Brother Branded cartridges or the 
refilling of empty cartridges with ink from 
other sources. If damage is caused to the 
print head or other parts of this machine as 
a result of using other brands of ink or ink 
cartridges, any repairs required as a result 
may not be covered by the warranty.
 
 
						

							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance161
B
aOpen the ink cartridge cover.
If one or more ink cartridges are empty, 
for example Black, the LCD shows 
B&W Print Only or  Cannot Print.
bPress the lock release lever as shown to 
release the cartridge indicated on the 
LCD. Remove the cartridge from the 
machine.
 
 
cOpen the new ink cartridge bag for the 
colour shown on the LCD, and then take 
out the ink cartridge.
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.
 
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							162
fGently push the ink cartridge in 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, the LCD may ask you to verify that it was a brand 
new one (for example,  Did You Change 
Black). For each new cartridge you 
installed, press  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  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.
 
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.
 
 
						

							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance163
B
Cleaning the outside of the 
machineB
Clean the Touchscreen as follows:
CAUTION 
Turn off the power switch when you clean 
the Touchscreen.
  
DO NOT use any type of liquid cleaners 
(including ethanol).
 
aClean the Touchscreen with a dry soft 
cloth.
 
Clean the outside of the machine as 
follows:
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.
 
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 output paper tray and remove 
anything that is stuck inside the paper 
tray.
dWipe the paper tray with a soft cloth to 
remove dust.
 
eClose the output paper tray and put the 
paper tray firmly back in the machine.
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							164
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.
 
bIn the ADF unit, clean the white bar (1) 
and the glass strip (2) with a lint-free 
cloth moistened with a non-flammable 
glass cleaner.
 
Note
In addition to cleaning the glass strip with 
a non-flammable glass cleaner, run your 
finger tip over the glass strip to see if you 
can feel anything on it. If you feel dirt or 
debris, clean the 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.
 
Cleaning the machine’s 
printer platenB
WARNING 
Be sure to unplug the machine from the 
electrical socket before cleaning the printer 
platen (1).
 
aLift the scanner cover until it locks 
securely into the open position.
bClean the machine’s printer platen (1) 
and the area around it, wiping off any 
scattered ink with a soft, dry lint-free 
cloth.
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							Troubleshooting and Routine Maintenance165
B
Cleaning the paper pick-up 
rollerB
aPull the paper tray completely out of the 
machine.
bUnplug 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.
Make sure the cover is closed correctly.
ePut the paper tray firmly back in the 
machine.
fRe-connect the power cord.
Cleaning the print headB
To maintain 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 
(Cyan/Yellow/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 .
bPress 
Cleaning.
cPress Black,  Color or All.
The machine cleans the print head. 
When cleaning is finished, the machine 
will go back to the Ready screen 
automatically.
Note
If you clean the print head at least five 
times and the print has not improved, try 
installing a new Brother original 
Innobella™ 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.
 
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							166
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 .
bPress Test Print .
cPress Print Quality .
dPress Colour Start .
The machine begins printing the Print 
Quality Check Sheet.
eCheck the quality of the four colour 
blocks on the sheet.
fThe LCD asks you if the print quality is 
OK.
Do one of the following:
„ If all lines are clear and visible, press 
Yes to finish the Print Quality check 
and go to step j.
„ If you can see missing short lines as 
shown below, press  No to choose 
No.
gThe LCD asks you if the print quality is 
OK for black and three colours.
Press  Yes or  No.
hThe LCD asks you if you want to start 
cleaning.
Press Colour Start .
The machine starts cleaning the print 
head.
iAfter cleaning is finished, press 
Colour Start .
The machine starts printing the Print 
Quality Check Sheet again and then 
return to step e. 
jPress  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
 
OK Poor
   
 
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 Maintenance167
B
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 .
bPress Test Print .
cPress Alignment.
dPress Mono Start or  Colour Start.
The machine starts printing the 
Alignment Check Sheet.
eCheck the 600 dpi and 1200 dpi test 
prints to see if number 5 most closely 
matches number 0. 
fDo one of the following:
„ If the number 5 samples of both the 
600 dpi and 1200 dpi test prints are 
the best matches, press  Yes to finish 
the Alignment Check and go to 
step i.
„ If another test print number is a 
better match for either 600 dpi or 
1200 dpi, press No to choose it.
gFor 600 dpi, press the number of the test 
print that most closely matches the 
number 0 sample (1-8).
hFor 1200 dpi, press the number of the 
test print that most closely matches the 
number 0 sample (1-8).
iPress  Stop/Exit.
Checking the ink volumeB
Although an ink volume icon appears on the 
LCD, you can use the ink menu to see a large 
graph showing the ink that is left in each 
cartridge.
aPress .
bPress Ink Volume .
The LCD shows the ink volume.
cPress  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 User’s Guide on the CD-ROM.)
 
 
						

							168
Uninstalling and installing the 
handset and handset cradle 
(MFC-790CW only)B
If you do not use the handset you can remove 
the handset and handset cradle.
Uninstalling the handset and handset 
cradle
B
aUnplug the curled handset cord from the 
machine.
 
bPull the tab (1) back and hold it in 
position as you push the cradle (2) to the 
back of the machine.
 
cAttach the side cover. 
Installing the handset and handset 
cradle
B
aRemove the side cover. 
Note
If you cannot open the cover with your 
hand, use a coin to open it.
 
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