Canon Pixma Ip4500 Quick Start Guide

37
Routine 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
Note
The nozzle check pattern will not be printed correctly if there is...

38Routine Maintenance
2When cleaning is necessary, click  Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box.
To proceed to cleaning of the Print Head, go to step 4-(3) of the Windows or Macintosh Print 
Head Cleaning procedure, depending on your  platform. See “Print Head Cleaning” on 
page 38.
If no lines of the group (1) pattern are missing and the group (2) patterns have no white 
streaks, click  Exit or Quit  to exit nozzle chec k pattern examination.
Print Head Cleaning
Clean the Print Head if lines are...

39
Routine Maintenance
4Start  Print Head Cleaning .
(1)Click the  Maintenance  tab.
(2) Click  Cleaning .
(3) Select the ink group to be cleaned.
When cleaning the nozzles  of black ink tanks:
Select  Black to clean the nozzles of PGI-5BK, 
Color  to clean the nozzles of CLI-8BK.
(4) Click  Execute .
Print Head Cleaning starts when the  POWER 
lamp starts flashing green.
Do not perform any other operations until Print 
Head Cleaning finishes. This takes about 60 
seconds.
(5) Load a sheet of A4 or...

40Routine Maintenance
4Start Print Head Cleaning .
(1)Make sure that  Cleaning is selected in the pop-up menu. 
(2) Click  Cleaning .
(3) Select the ink group to be cleaned.
When cleaning the nozzles  of black ink tanks:
Select  Black to clean the nozzles of PGI-5BK, 
Color  to clean the nozzles of CLI-8BK.
(4) Click  OK.
Print Head Cleaning starts when the  POWER 
lamp starts flashing green.
Do not perform any other operations until Print 
Head Cleaning finishes. This takes about 60 
seconds.
(5) Load a...

41
Routine 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.
2Press the Open button to open the Paper Ou tput Tray and extend the Output...

42Routine Maintenance
(4)If the print head nozzles are still not clean, turn off the printer and perform another Print 
Head Deep Cleaning after 24 hours.
(5) If this does not solve the problem, the Print Head may be damaged. Contact your Canon 
Service representative.
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Press the Open button to open the Paper Ou tput Tray and extend the Output Tray 
Extension.
3Open the  Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
4Start Print Head Deep Cleaning.
(1)Make sure that  Cleaning...

43
Routine Maintenance
Aligning the Print Head
If ruled lines are printed misaligned or print result s are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head 
position.
„ Automatic Print Head Alignment
For Automatic Print Head Alignment, follow the procedure below.
1Make sure that the printer is on, and t hen load two sheets of A4 or Letter-sized 
Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 with the printing side (whiter side) facing UP in 
the Rear Tray.
2Press the Open button to open the Paper Ou tput Tray and extend...

44Routine Maintenance
(3)Confirm the displayed message and click  Print 
Head Alignment .
The print head alignment pattern is printed. 
Printing takes about 10 minutes to complete. 
If the pattern is printed as shown to the right, the 
Print Head is aligned automatically. 
Important
Do not open the Top Cover while printing.
Note
Clicking  Print Alignment Value  prints the current 
settings and finishes Print Head Alignment.
Note
z If the pattern is not printed successfully, see 
“ALARM Lamp Flashes...

45
Routine Maintenance
1Make sure that the printer is on, and t hen load two sheets of A4 or Letter-sized 
Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-101 with the printing side (whiter side) facing UP in 
the Rear Tray.
2Press the Open button to open the Paper Ou tput Tray and extend the Output Tray 
Extension.
3Open the  Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
4Adjust the print head pattern.
(1)Select  Test Print  in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Print Head Alignment .
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click  Print...

46Routine Maintenance
If the pattern is printed as shown to the right, the 
Print Head is aligned automatically. 
Note
zIf the pattern is not printed successfully, see 
“ALARM Lamp Flashes Orange” on page 77.
z If results of Automatic Print Head Alignment are not 
satisfactory, see “Manual Print Head Alignment” on 
page 47 and align the Print Head manually.