Canon Pixma Ip3500 Quick Start Guide

27
Routine Maintenance
5Install the ink tank.
(1) Insert the front end of the ink tank into the Print 
Head.
Make sure the position of the tank matches the 
label (A).
(2) Press on the   mark on the ink tank until 
the ink tank snaps firmly into place.
(3) Make sure that the ink lamp lights up red.
6Close the Top Cover.
Important
The printer cannot be used unless all the ink tanks are 
installed.
Note
zIf the  ALARM  lamp still flashes orange after the Top Cover is closed, see “ALARM Lamp 
Flashes...

28Routine Maintenance
Keeping the Best Printing Results
To avoid drying of the Print Head and cl ogging of the nozzles, note the following.
„When You Turn Off the Printer
Follow the procedure below to turn off the printer.
(1) Press the  POWER button to turn off the printer.
(2) Confirm that the  POWER lamp has gone out.
This takes a few seconds or  as long as around 30 seconds. 
(3) Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
If you are using a power outlet strip, you can switch it off instead.
When you...

29
Routine Maintenance
When Printing Becomes Fain t or Colors Are Incorrect
When printing becomes faint or colors are incorrect  even if ink remains in the ink tanks, the print 
head nozzles are probably clogged. Print the nozzle c heck pattern to confirm the condition of the 
nozzles and then perform Print Head Cleaning.
If print results are not satisfactory, performing Print Head Alignment may improve print quality.
z If the Ruled Lines Are Shifted
Note
Before performing maintenance
zOpen the Top Cover...

30Routine Maintenance
Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern
Print the nozzle check pattern to determine whet her the ink ejects properly from the print head 
nozzles. 
1Make sure that the printer is on and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain 
paper in the Rear Tray.
2Open the Front Tray and extend  the Output Tray Extension.
Set the Paper Thickness Lever to the left. 
For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to “Front View” in “Main Components” of the 
User’s Guide on-screen manual.
3Open...

31
Routine Maintenance
1Make sure that the printer is on and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain 
paper in the Rear Tray.
2Open the Front Tray and extend  the Output Tray Extension.
Set the Paper Thickness Lever to the left. 
For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to “Front View” in “Main Components” of the 
User’s Guide on-screen manual.
3Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
4Print the Nozzle Check Pattern.
(1)Select  Test Print  in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Nozzle Check...

32Routine Maintenance
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern
Examine the nozzle check pattern output by the  printer, and clean the Print Head if necessary.
1Confirm the printed nozzle check pattern.
(1)If lines of this pattern are missing, the  Black print head nozzle needs cleaning.
Example: When lines are missing
(2) If these patterns have white streaks, the  Color print head nozzle needs cleaning.
Example: When white streaks appear
2When cleaning is necessary, click  Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog...

33
Routine Maintenance
Print Head Cleaning
Clean the Print Head if lines are missing or if  white streaks appear in the printed nozzle check 
pattern. Cleaning unclogs the nozzle s and restores the print head condition. Note that cleaning the 
Print Head causes used ink to be absorbed in t he ink absorber. Cleaning the Print Head consumes 
ink, so perform Print Head Cleaning only when necessary.
If you click  Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box that is displayed after printing the nozzle 
check...

34Routine Maintenance
(6)Confirm the displayed message and click  Print Check Pattern.
The nozzle check pattern is printed.
Do not perform any other operations until t he nozzle check pattern finishes printing. 
5Check the print head condition with the printed nozzle check pattern, and take 
appropriate action.
See “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 32.
If you click Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box that is displayed after printing the nozzle 
check pattern, the  Print Head Cleaning...

35
Routine Maintenance
(6) Confirm the displayed message and click  Print Check Pattern.
The nozzle check pattern is printed.
Do not perform any other operations until  the nozzle check pattern finishes printing.
5Check the print head condition with the printed nozzle check pattern, and take 
appropriate action.
See “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 32.
Note
The nozzle check pattern will not be printed correctly if there is not enough ink. Replace the ink 
tank if the remaining amount of ink...

36Routine Maintenance
Print Head Deep Cleaning
If print quality does not improve by standard  Print Head Cleaning, try Print Head Deep Cleaning, 
which is a more powerful process. Note that cl eaning the Print Head causes used ink to be absorbed 
in the ink absorber. Print Head Deep Cleaning consumes more ink than standard Print Head 
Cleaning, so perform this procedure only when necessary.
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Open the Front Tray and extend  the Output Tray Extension.
3Open the printer...