Canon printer PIXMA iP1800 User Manual

							17
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 print head nozzle needs cleaning.
Example: When lines are missing (Black ink)
(2) If these patterns have white streaks, the print head nozzle needs cleaning.
Example: When white streaks appear (Color ink)
Note
The nozzle check pattern will not be printed correctly if there is not enough ink. Replace the FINE 
Cartridge if the remaining amount of ink is insufficient.
See “Replacing a FINE Cartridge” on page 26.
(2)
(1) 
						

							18Routine Maintenance
2When cleaning is necessary, click  Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box.
To proceed to cleaning of the Print Head, go to step 3-(3) of the Windows or Macintosh Print 
Head Cleaning procedure, depending on your  platform. See “Print Head Cleaning” on 
page 19.
If no lines of the group (1) pattern are missing and the group (2) patterns have no white 
streaks, click  Exit (Windows) or  Quit (Macintosh) to exit nozzle  check pattern examination. 
						

							19
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 pattern, Print Head Cleaning starts. Go to step 3-(3).
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Open the printer properties dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Printer Properties Dialog Bo x Directly from the Start Menu” in “Opening 
the Printer Properties Dialog Box (Windows)” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
3Start Print Head Cleaning .
(1)Click the  Maintenance  tab.
(2) Click  Cleaning .
Print Head Cleaning starts when the  POWER lamp starts flashing green.
Do not perform any other operations until Pr int Head Cleaning finishes. This takes about 
60 seconds.
(3) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder and set the 
Paper Thickness Lever to the left. For detai ls on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to 
“Front View” in “Main Components” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
(4) 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 
appropriate action.
See “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 17.
If you click Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box that is displayed after printing the nozzle 
check pattern, the dialog box shown in of st ep 3-(3) in the following procedure will appear.
1Make sure that the printer is on.
Note
The nozzle check pattern will not be printed correctly if there is not enough ink. Replace the FINE 
Cartridge if the remaining amount of ink is insufficient. See “Replacing a FINE Cartridge” on 
page 26.
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 21. 
						

							20Routine Maintenance
2Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Canon IJ Printer Utility (Macintosh)” in the  User’s Guide on-screen 
manual.
3Start  Print Head Cleaning .
(1)Make sure that  Cleaning is selected in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Cleaning .
(3) Confirm the displayed message and 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.
(4) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder and set the 
Paper Thickness Lever to the left. For detai ls on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer to 
“Front View” in “Main Components” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
(5) 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 
appropriate action.
See “Examining the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 17.
Note
Clicking Initial Check Items  displays the items to be checked before cleaning.
Note
The nozzle check pattern will not be printed correctly if there is not enough ink. Replace the FINE 
Cartridge if the remaining amount of ink is insufficient. See “Replacing a FINE Cartridge” on 
page 26.
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 21.
(3) 
						

							21
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.
2Open the printer properties dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Printer Properties Dialog Bo x Directly from the Start Menu” in “Opening 
the Printer Properties Dialog Box (Windows)” of the  User’s Guide on-screen manual.
3Start Print Head Deep Cleaning .
(1)Click the  Maintenance  tab.
(2) Click  Deep Cleaning .
(3) Confirm the displayed message and click 
Execute .
(4) 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 one to two minutes.
4Check the condition of the Print Head.
(1) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder and set the 
Paper Thickness Lever to the left. For detai ls on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer 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 15.
(3) If the print head nozzles are still not clean, perform Print Head Deep Cleaning again.
(4) If this does not solve the problem, a FINE Cart ridge may have run out of ink. Replace it 
with a new one. See “Replacing a FINE Cartridge” on page 26.
1Make sure that the printer is on.
2Open the  Canon IJ Printer Utility  dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Canon IJ Printer Utility (Macintosh)” in the  User’s Guide on-screen 
manual.
Note
Clicking  Initial Check Items  displays the items to be 
checked before deep cleaning.(3) 
						

							22Routine Maintenance
3Start Print Head Deep Cleaning.
(1)Make sure that  Cleaning is selected in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Deep Cleaning .
(3) 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 Print 
Head Deep Cleaning finishes. This takes about 
one to two minutes.
4Check the condition of the Print Head.
(1) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder and set the 
Paper Thickness Lever to the left. For detai ls on the Paper Thickness Lever, refer 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 15.
(3) If the print head nozzles are still not clean, perform Print Head Deep Cleaning again.
(4) If this does not solve the problem, a FINE Cart ridge may have run out of ink. Replace it 
with a new one. See “Replacing a FINE Cartridge” on page 26.
Note
Clicking Initial Check Items displays the items to be checked before deep cleaning.
(3) 
						

							23 Routine Maintenance
Aligning the Print Head
If ruled lines are printed misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head 
position.
1Make sure that the printer is on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain 
paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder.
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.
2Open the printer properties dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Printer Properties Dialog Box Directly from the Start Menu” in “Opening 
the Printer Properties Dialog Box (Windows)” of the User’s Guide on-screen manual.
3Click the Maintenance tab and then Print Head Alignment.
4Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The print head alignment pattern is printed.
5After the pattern is printed, click Ye s.
Important
Do not open the Front Cover while printing. 
						

							24Routine Maintenance
6Look at the printout. From the patterns, select the most even, least irregular 
patterns for each column and enter their numbers. Click OK.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
7When the confirmation message is displayed, click OK.
1Make sure that the printer is on, and then load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain 
paper in the Auto Sheet Feeder.
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.
2Open the Canon IJ Printer Utility dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Canon IJ Printer Utility (Macintosh)” in the User’s Guide on-screen 
manual.
3Select Test Print in the pop-up menu.
Note
If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable white 
streaks.
Note
When you turn off the printer, be sure to press the POWER button on the printer. Otherwise, the 
settings made here will not be saved.
(A) (B)
(C) (D) 
						

							25 Routine Maintenance
4Click Print Head Alignment.
5Confirm the displayed message and click OK.
The print head alignment pattern is printed.
6Look at the printout. From the patterns, select the most even, least irregular 
patterns for each column and enter their numbers. Click Send.
(A) Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B) More noticeable vertical white streaks
(C) Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(D) More noticeable horizontal white streaks
Important
Do not open the Front Cover while printing.
Note
If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable white 
streaks.
Note
When you turn off the printer, be sure to press the 
POWER button on the printer. Otherwise, the settings 
made here will not be saved.
(A) (B)
(C) (D) 
						

							26Routine Maintenance
Replacing a FINE Cartridge
If there is no improvement with the quality of printing following such maintenance as Print Head 
Cleaning, a FINE Cartridge is probably empty. When ink runs out, replace the FINE Cartridge. The 
printer will not print properly if the wrong type of FINE Cartridge is used, or if it is installed in the 
incorrect position.
For information on available FINE Cartridges, see the back cover of this guide.
„Getting the Ink Level Information
The printer considers as ink is full when new FINE Cartridge is installed, and then starts counting 
a remaining level of ink. Even if new FINE Cartridges are not installed, the function for detecting 
the remaining ink will work. However, with such cartridges, the detection may not be correct. 
Refer to the ink level information for those only as a guide.
Open the Canon IJ Status Monitor to check the ink level information.
(1)Open the printer properties dialog box.
Refer to “Opening the Printer Properties Dialog Box Directly from the Start Menu” in 
“Opening the Printer Properties Dialog Box (Windows)” of the User’s Guide on-screen 
manual.
(2)Click View Printer Status on the Maintenance sheet.
The following message is displayed.
*1 Confirm whether any symbols are displayed here.
Ink is low:
The “!” symbol appears above a FINE Cartridge with low ink. Prepare a new replacement 
FINE Cartridge.
Ink is out:
The “x” symbol appears above a FINE Cartridge that has run out of ink. Replace the 
FINE Cartridge with a new one immediately.
Ink may have run out:
The “?” symbol appears above a FINE Cartridge that may have run out of ink. Replace 
the FINE Cartridge with a new one.
* To confirm the FINE Cartridge information, click the Ink Details menu.
* You can also display the Canon IJ Status Monitor by clicking the Canon IJ Status Monitor 
icon which appears on the taskbar during printing.
*1