Canon printer PIXMA iP4500 User Manual

							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 not enough ink. Replace the ink tank if the 
remaining amount of ink is insufficient.
See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 28.
(1)
(2) 
						

							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 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, the  Print Head Cleaning  dialog box shown in of step 4-(3) in the following procedure 
will appear.
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 printer properties dialog box.
Note
z Make sure that the Inner Cover is closed.
Cleaning the Print Head Without a Computer
z The Print Head can also be cleaned from the printer itself, 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. 
						

							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 Letter-sized plain  paper in the Rear Tray or Cassette.
(6) Press the  Paper Feed Switch  to select the paper source in which you loaded the paper.
(7) 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 37.
If you click Cleaning on the Pattern Check  dialog box that is displayed after printing the nozzle 
check pattern, the  Print Head Cleaning  dialog box shown in of step 4-(3) in the following procedure 
will appear.
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.
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 ink 
tank if the remaining amount of ink is insufficient. See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 28.
Note
If the problem is not resolved after performing steps 4 and 5 twice, try  Print Head Deep Cleaning. 
See “Print Head Deep Cleaning” on page 41.
(3)
(4) 
						

							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 sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain  paper in the Rear Tray or Cassette.
(6) Press the  Paper Feed Switch  to select the paper source in which you loaded the paper.
(7) 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 37.
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 ink 
tank if the remaining amount of ink is insufficient.
See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 28.
Note
If the problem is not resolved after performing steps 4 and 5 twice, try  Print Head Deep Cleaning. 
See “Print Head Deep Cleaning” on page 41.
(3)
(4) 
						

							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 Tray 
Extension.
3Open the printer properties dialog box.
4Start  Print Head Deep Cleaning .
(1)Click the  Maintenance  tab.
(2) Click  Deep Cleaning .
(3) Select the ink group to be deeply 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 .
(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 90 seconds.
5Check the condition of the Print Head.
(1) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain  paper in the Rear Tray or Cassette.
(2) Press the  Paper Feed Switch  to select the paper source in which you loaded the paper.
(3) Print the nozzle check pattern to check the print head condition.
See “Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 35.
If a particular color is not printed properly, replace the ink tank of that color.
See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 28.
Note
Make sure that the Inner Cover is closed.
Note
Clicking  Initial Check Items  displays the items to be checked before deep cleaning.
(3)
(4) 
						

							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 is selected in the pop-up menu.
(2) Click  Deep Cleaning .
(3) Select the ink group to be deeply 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 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 
90 seconds.
5Check the condition of the Print Head.
(1) Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain  paper in the Rear Tray or Cassette.
(2) Press the  Paper Feed Switch  to select the paper source in which you loaded the paper.
(3) Print the nozzle check pattern to check the print head condition.
See “Printing the Nozzle Check Pattern” on page 35.
If a particular color is not printed properly, replace the ink tank of that color.
See “Replacing an Ink Tank” on page 28.
(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.
Note
Clicking  Initial Check Items  displays the items to 
be checked before deep cleaning.
(3)(4) 
						

							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 the Output Tray 
Extension.
3Open the printer properties dialog box.
4Adjust the print head pattern.
(1) Click the  Maintenance  tab. 
(2) Click  Print Head Alignment .
Note
Make sure that the Inner Cover is closed.
Important
You cannot feed paper from the Cassette when performing Automatic Print Head Alignment. 
Always load paper in the Rear Tray.
NotezAligning the Print Head without a Computer
The Print Head can also be aligned from the printer itself, 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 on.
2. Press the Open button to open the Paper Output Tray and extend the Output Tray 
Extension.
3. 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.
4. 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 Top Cover while printing. The print 
head position is adjusted automatically when the print head alignment pattern finishes printing.
z The pattern is printed in black and blue.
(1)
(2) 
						

							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 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. 
						

							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 
Head Alignment .
The print head alignment pattern is printed. 
Printing takes about 10 minutes to complete. 
Important
Do not open the Top Cover while printing.
Note
Clicking  Print Alignment Value  prints the current 
settings and finishes Print Head Alignment.
(1)
(2) 
						

							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.