Epson B 500DN User Manual

							Troubleshooting161
Using the Progress Meter
When you send a print job to the printer, the progress meter appears, as shown in the 
illustration below.
The progress meter indicates the progress of the current print job and provides printer 
status information. This window also displays error messages as well as helpful tips for 
better printing. Refer to the appropriate section below.
Tips
Tips for getting the most out of your Epson printer driver appear in the text box of the 
progress meter window. A new tip appears every 15 seconds. For more details on the tip 
displayed in the window, click the Details button.
 
						

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Error Messages
If a problem occurs during printing, an error message appears in the text box of the 
progress meter window. For more detailed information, click Online Support to access 
Epson’s support website.
Using EPSON Status Monitor 3
EPSON Status Monitor 3 displays detailed information on the printer status.
There are two ways to access EPSON Status Monitor 3:
❏Double-click the printer shortcut icon on the Windows taskbar. If the printer icon does 
not appear, refer to the following section to add the icon.
&See “From the Shortcut Icon on the Taskbar” on page 15.
 
						

							Troubleshooting163
❏Open the printer driver, click the Maintenance tab, then click the Status Monitor 3 
button.
When you access EPSON Status Monitor 3, the following window appears:
EPSON Status Monitor 3 provides the following information:
❏Ink Status:
EPSON Status Monitor 3 provides a graphic display of the ink status. To see detailed 
information about the ink cartridges, click the Information button.
❏Maintenance box Status:
EPSON Status Monitor 3 provides a graphic display of the maintenance box status.
 
						

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❏Online Support:
You can access Epson’s support website from EPSON Status Monitor 3. If you 
encounter a problem, click Online Support in the EPSON Status Monitor 3 window.
For Mac OS X
Using EPSON StatusMonitor
If EPSON StatusMonitor detects a printer problem, it will inform you with an error message.
Follow these steps to access EPSON StatusMonitor.
1. Access the EPSON Printer Utility3.
&See “Accessing the Printer Driver for Mac OS X” on page 15.
2. Click the EPSON StatusMonitor button. The EPSON StatusMonitor appears.
 
						

							Troubleshooting165
The Paper Jams
c
Caution:
Pull out the jammed paper gently. If you remove the jammed paper with force, torn pieces 
may stay inside the printer or the printer may be damaged.
1.For B-500DN users
Press the OK button to eject the jammed paper.
For B-300 users
Press the )Paper/Cancel button to eject the jammed paper.
2. If the error does not clear, turn off the printer and remove all of the paper inside, 
including any torn pieces. Refer to the appropriate section below.
In the output tray:
Gently pull out the jammed paper forward.
Inside the printer:
Open the front printer cover, and then gently pull out the jammed paper forward.
 
						

							Troubleshooting166
In the rear sheet feeder:
Gently pull out the jammed paper upward.
In the front paper cassette:
Close the output tray and pull out the front paper cassette. Then gently pull out the 
jammed paper forward.
Note:
❏If you cannot pull out the front paper cassette, pull out the output tray first and remove all 
paper that is loaded in the front paper cassette.
Then pull out the front paper cassette and gently pull out the jammed paper forward.
 
						

							Troubleshooting167
❏After you remove the jammed paper and insert the front paper cassette, reinsert the output 
tray into the printer.
In the back of the printer:
Remove the duplex unit (B-500DN) or the upper rear printer cover (B-300) and open the 
lower rear printer cover. Then gently pull out the jammed paper.
 
						

							Troubleshooting168
In the duplex unit:
Remove the duplex unit and open the cover of the duplex unit. Then, gently remove the 
jammed paper.
3. Close the printer cover and turn on the printer.
4.For B-500DN users
Reload the paper and press the OK button to resume printing.
For B-300 users
Reload the paper and press the )Paper/Cancel button to resume printing.
Note:
If you cannot easily remove a foreign object, do not use force and do not disassemble the printer. 
Contact Epson for assistance.
&See “Where To Get Help” on page 182.
If your paper jams frequently, make sure of the following:
❏The paper is smooth, not curled or wrinkled.
❏You are using high quality paper.
❏The printable side of the paper is face-up in the rear sheet feeder and face-down in the 
front paper cassette.
❏The paper stack was fanned before loading.
❏The paper is not loaded above the carrow mark inside the edge guide.
 
						

							Troubleshooting169
❏The number of sheets in the paper stack does not exceed the limit specified for that 
paper.
&See “Paper Loading Capacities” on page 21.
❏The left edge guide is snug against the left edge of the paper.
❏The printer is on a flat, stable surface that extends beyond the base in all directions. 
The printer will not operate properly if it is tilted.
Print Quality Problems
If you are having print quality problems, then compare it with the illustrations below. Click 
the caption under the illustration that best resembles your printout.
Good sample Good sample
“Horizontal Banding” on page 170 “Vertical Misalignment or Banding” 
on page 170
“Horizontal Banding” on page 170 “Vertical Misalignment or Banding” 
on page 170
 
						

							Troubleshooting170
Horizontal Banding
❏Make sure the printable side of the paper is face-up in the rear sheet feeder and 
face-down in the front paper cassette.
❏Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles.
&See “Cleaning the Print Head” on page 139.
❏Use up ink cartridges within six months of opening vacuum package.
❏For best print quality, use genuine Epson ink cartridges.
❏Check the ink cartridge status.
&See “Checking the Ink Cartridge Status” on page 122.
If the graphic displays the ink is low or expended, replace the appropriate ink cartridge.
&See “Replacing an Ink Cartridge” on page 128.
❏Make sure the paper type selected in the printer driver is appropriate for the type of 
paper loaded in the printer.
&See “Selecting the Correct Paper Type or Media Type” on page 29.
Vertical Misalignment or Banding
❏Make sure the printable side of the paper is face-up in the rear sheet feeder and 
face-down in the front paper cassette.
❏Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles.
&See “Cleaning the Print Head” on page 139.
❏Run the Print Head Alignment utility.
&See “Aligning the Print Head” on page 143.
❏Clear the High Speed check box from the Advanced window in your printer driver 
(Windows). See the printer driver online help for details.
“Incorrect or Missing Colors” on 
page 171“Blurry or Smeared Printout” on 
page 171