Canon Pixma Mp970 Quick Start Guide

57 Routine Maintenance
Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern
Print the nozzle check pattern to determine whether the ink ejects properly from the print head 
nozzles.
1Make sure that the machine is turned on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-
sized plain paper in the Rear Tray or Cassette.
2Open the Paper Output Tray, and then open the Output Tray Extension.
(1)Put your finger in the center of the top of the Paper Output Tray and open it gently.
(2)Open the Output Tray Extension.
3Press the Paper Feed...

58Routine Maintenance
Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern
Examine the nozzle check pattern, and perform cleaning if necessary.
1Check the nozzle check pattern you printed.
(1)Check if lines in this pattern are missing.
(A) Good
(B) Lines are missing
(2)Check if there are white streaks in this pattern.
(C) Good
(D) White streaks present
Note
If the ink level is low, the nozzle check pattern is not printed correctly. Replace the relevant ink tank.
See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 50.
(1)
(2)
(A) (B)
(C)...

59 Routine Maintenance
2The confirmation screens for white streaks and missing lines are displayed 
alternately. Select the pattern that is closer to the nozzle check pattern that you 
printed.
zIf There Are No Missing Lines and No White Streaks
(1)Select All A and press the OK button.
The LCD returns to the Maintenance screen.
zIf Lines Are Missing or White Streaks Are Present
(1)Select Also B and press the OK button.
The cleaning confirmation screen is displayed.
(2)Select Ye s and press the OK button...

60Routine 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 nozzles and restores the print head condition. Note that cleaning the 
Print Head causes used ink to be absorbed in the ink absorber. Cleaning the Print Head consumes 
ink, so perform Print Head Cleaning only when necessary.
1Make sure that the machine is turned on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-
sized plain paper in the Rear...

61 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 cleaning 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 machine is turned on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-
sized plain paper in the Rear Tray...

62Routine Maintenance
Aligning the Print Head
If ruled lines are printed with misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print 
head position.
„Automatic Print Head Alignment
1Make sure that the machine is turned on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-
sized plain paper in the Rear Tray.
2Open the Paper Output Tray, and then open the Output Tray Extension.
(1)Put your finger in the center of the top of the Paper Output Tray and open it gently.
(2)Open the Output Tray...

63 Routine Maintenance
„Manual Print Head Alignment
If the results of Automatic Print Head Alignment are not satisfactory, follow the procedure below 
to perform Manual Print Head Alignment.
For details on performing Automatic Print Head Alignment, see “Automatic Print Head 
Alignment” on page 62.
1Make sure that the machine is turned on, and then load three sheets of A4 or 
Letter-sized plain paper in the Rear Tray or Cassette.
2Open the Paper Output Tray, and then open the Output Tray Extension.
(1)Put...

64Routine Maintenance
5Look at the first printout, and then adjust the 
print head position.
(1)Check the printed patterns, and use the [ or 
] button to input the number of the pattern in 
column A that has the least noticeable vertical 
streaks.
(2)Repeat the same procedure until you finish inputting the pattern number for columns B to 
F, then press the OK button.
(3)Confirm the displayed message and press the OK button.
The second pattern is printed.
Note
If it is difficult to pick the best pattern,...

65 Routine Maintenance
6Look at the second printout, and then adjust the print head position.
(1)Check the printed patterns, and use the [ or 
] button to input the number of the pattern in 
column G that has the least noticeable vertical 
streaks.
(2)Repeat the same procedure until you finish 
inputting the pattern number for columns H to 
K, then press the OK button.
For column K, the best pattern will be smooth 
and have no streaks in the border indicated by 
the arrow.
(3)Confirm the displayed...

66Routine Maintenance
7Look at the third printout, and then adjust the print head position.
(1)Check the printed patterns, and use the [ or 
] button to input the number of the pattern in 
columns L and M that has the least noticeable 
horizontal streaks, then press the OK button.
Note
If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable 
horizontal white streaks.
(E) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(F) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
(E) (F)