Canon printer PIXMA iP100 User Manual

							27
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
2Take the appropriate action.
z When cleaning is necessary
Click  Cleaning , and then go to step 3-(3) of the Windows or Macintosh Print Head Cleaning 
procedure, depending on your platform. See “Print Head Cleaning” on page 28.
z When cleaning is not necessary
Click  Exit or Quit  on the  Pattern Check  dialog box to exit nozzle  check pattern examination.
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 is insufficient.
See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 43.
(2)
(1) 
						

							28Routine 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 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 pattern, go to step 3-(3).
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Open the printer properties dialog box.
3Start Print Head Cleaning.
(1) Click the  Maintenance  tab.
(2) Click  Cleaning .
(3) Select the ink group to be cleaned.
(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 2 minutes.
(5) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Rear Tray and set the Paper 
Thickness Lever to the right.
For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refe r to “Front View” in “Main Components” of 
the  User’s Guide  on-screen manual.
Note
Cleaning the Print Head Without a Computer
The Print Head cleaning can also be performed without a computer, using the  RESUME/CANCEL button. 
1. Make sure that the printer is on.
2. Hold down the RESUME/CANCEL  button until the Power lamp flashes green once, and then 
release it immediately.
Note
Clicking  Initial Check Items  displays the items to 
be checked before cleaning.(3)
(4) 
						

							29
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. 
4Check the print head condition with the printed nozzle check pattern, and take the 
appropriate action.
See “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 27.
If you click  Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box that is displayed after printing the nozzle 
check pattern, go to step 3-(3).
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Open the  Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
3Start 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.
(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 2 
minutes.
(5) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Rear Tray and set the Paper 
Thickness Lever to the right.
For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refe r to “Front View” in “Main Components” of 
the  User’s Guide  on-screen manual.
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 is insufficient. See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 43.
Note
If the problem is not resolved after performing steps 3 and 4 twice, try  Print Head Deep Cleaning. 
See “Print Head Deep Cleaning” on page 31.
Note
Clicking  Initial Check Items  displays the items to 
be checked before cleaning.
(3)
(4) 
						

							30Routine 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.
4Check the print head condition with the printed nozzle check pattern, and take the 
appropriate action.
See “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 27.
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 is insufficient. See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 43.
Note
If the problem is not resolved after performing steps 3 and 4 twice, try  Print Head Deep Cleaning. 
See “Print Head Deep Cleaning” on page 31. 
						

							31
Routine Maintenance
Print Head Deep Cleaning
If print quality does not improve by standard Pr int 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 printer properties dialog box.
3Start Print Head Deep Cleaning.
(1) Click the  Maintenance  tab.
(2) Click  Deep Cleaning .
(3) Select the ink group to be deeply cleaned.
(4) Click  Execute .
(5) Confirm the displayed message and click  OK. 
Print Head Deep Cleaning starts when the  Power lamp starts flashing green.
Do not perform any other operations until Pr int Head Deep Cleaning finishes. This takes 
about 2 minutes.
4Check the condition of the Print Head.
(1) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Rear Tray and set the Paper 
Thickness Lever to the right.
For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refe r to “Front View” in “Main Components” of 
the  User’s Guide  on-screen manual.
(2) Print the nozzle check pattern to check the print head condition.
See “Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 25.
(3) If the print head nozzles are still not clean, turn off the printer and perform another Print 
Head Deep Cleaning after 24 hours.
(4) If this does not solve the problem, the Pr int Head may be damaged. Contact your Canon 
Service representative.
Note
Clicking  Initial Check Items  displays the items to 
be checked before deep cleaning.(3)
(4) 
						

							32Routine Maintenance
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
3Start Print Head Deep Cleaning.
(1)Make sure that  Cleaning is selected in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Deep Cleaning .
(3) Select the ink group to be deeply cleaned.
(4) Click  OK.
Print Head Deep Cleaning starts when the 
Power  lamp starts flashing green. 
Do not perform any other operations until Print 
Head Deep Cleaning finishes. This takes about 
2 minutes.
4Check the condition of the Print Head.
(1) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Rear Tray and set the Paper 
Thickness Lever to the right.
For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refe r to “Front View” in “Main Components” of 
the  User’s Guide  on-screen manual.
(2) Print the nozzle check pattern to check the print head condition.
See “Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 25.
(3) If the print head nozzles are still not clean, turn off the printer and perform another Print 
Head Deep Cleaning after 24 hours.
(4) If this does not solve the problem, the Pr int Head may be damaged. Contact your Canon 
Service representative.
Note
Clicking  Initial Check Items  displays the items to 
be checked before deep cleaning.
(3)(4) 
						

							33
Routine Maintenance
Aligning the Print Head
If ruled lines are printed misaligned or print resu lts 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 turned on, and then load a sheet of the supplied paper 
(Paper For Print Head Alignment) or A4/Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper 
MP-101 with the printing side (whiter side) facing up in the Rear Tray.
Set the Paper Thickness Lever to the right. For  details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to 
“Front View” in “Main Components” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
2Open the printer properties dialog box.
3Adjust the print head pattern.
(1)Click the  Maintenance  tab.
(2) Click  Print Head Alignment .
NotezThe print head alignment pattern is printed in black and blue only.
z Aligning the Print Head without a Computer
The Print Head Alignment can also be performed without a computer, using the  RESUME/
CANCEL  button.
If the printer driver is not installed in the computer, align the Print Head in this way.
1. Make sure that the printer is turned on, and then load a sheet of the supplied paper 
(Paper For Print Head Alignment) or A4/Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper MP-
101 with the printing side (whiter side) facing up in the Rear Tray.
2. Set the Paper Thickness Lever to the right . For details on the Paper Thickness Lever, 
refer to “Front View” in “Main Components” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
3. Hold down the  RESUME/CANCEL  button until the Power lamp flashes green four 
times, and then release it immediately.
The print head alignment pattern is printed. Do not open the Print Head Cover while printing. 
The print head position is adjusted automatically when the print head alignment pattern finishes 
printing.
(1)
(2) 
						

							34Routine Maintenance
(3)Confirm the displayed message and click 
Align Print Head.
The print head alignment pattern is printed. 
Printing takes about 4 minutes to complete.
If the pattern is printed as shown right, the Print 
Head is aligned automatically.
1Make sure that the printer is turned on, and then load a sheet of the supplied paper 
(Paper For Print Head Alignment) or A4/Letter-sized Canon Matte Photo Paper 
MP-101 with the printing side (whiter side) facing up in the Rear Tray.
Set the Paper Thickness Lever to the right. For  details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to 
“Front View” in “Main Components” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
2Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
3Adjust the print head pattern.
Important
Do not open the Print Head 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 Orange” on page 67.
z If results of Automatic Print Head Alignment are not 
satisfactory, see “Manual Print Head Alignment” on 
page 36 and align the Print Head manually. 
						

							35
Routine Maintenance
(1) Select  Test Print  in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Print Head Alignment .
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click 
Align Print Head .
The print head alignment pattern is printed. 
Printing takes about 4 minutes to complete.
If the pattern is printed as shown right, the Print 
Head is aligned automatically.
Important
Do not open the Print Head Cover while printing.
Note
Clicking  Print Alignment Value  prints the current 
settings and finishes Print Head Alignment.
Notez If the pattern is not printed successfully, see “Alarm 
Lamp Flashes Orange” on page 67.
z If results of Automatic Print Head Alignment are not 
satisfactory, see “Manual Print Head Alignment” on 
page 36 and align the Print Head manually.
(2)
(1) 
						

							36Routine Maintenance
„Manual Print Head Alignment
If the results of Automatic Print Head Alignmen t are not satisfactory, follow the procedure below 
to perform Manual Print Head Alignment  to precisely align the Print Head.
For details on performing Automatic Print Head Alignment, see “Automatic Print Head 
Alignment” on page 33.
1Make sure that the printer is on and then load two sheets of A4 or Letter-sized plain 
paper in the Rear Tray.
Set the Paper Thickness Lever to the right. For  details on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to 
“Front View” in “Main Components” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
2Print the pattern.
(1)Open the printer properties dialog box.
(2) Click the  Maintenance  tab and then  Custom Settings . 
(3) Select the  Align heads manually  check box, and then click  Send.
(4) Confirm the displayed message and click  OK.
(5) In the  Maintenance  sheet click Print Head Alignment .
(6) Confirm the displayed message and click 
Align Print Head .
(7) After the pattern is printed, click  Yes.
The dialog for entering a print head alignment 
value is displayed.
Important
Do not open the Print Head Cover while printing.
Note
Clicking  Print Alignment Value  prints the current 
settings and finishes Print Head Alignment.