Epson Stylus NX515 User Manual

							Maintaining Your Printer31
Maintaining Your Printer
Follow the instructions in this chapter for checking and cleaning the print head 
nozzles and replacing ink cartridges. To align the print head, if necessary, see your 
on-screen Epson Information Center.
Caution:
To keep your Epson printer looking like new, don’t place anything on top of the cover or 
use it as a writing surface. If you need to clean the cover, use only a soft, non-abrasive 
microfiber-type cloth.
Checking the Print Head Nozzles
If your printouts are faint or have gaps in them, some of the nozzles in the print 
head may be clogged or ink may be running low in one or more of the ink 
cartridges. Follow the steps below to check the print head nozzles.
1. Load letter- or A4-size paper in the sheet feeder (see 
page 5).
2. Press 
Setup.
3. Press lorr to select 
Maintenance, then press 
OK.
4. Select 
Nozzle Check and press OK.
5. Press x
Start.
6. Check the nozzle check pattern that prints to see if there are gaps in the lines.
7. If there are no gaps, press 
OK.
If there are gaps or the pattern is faint, press x
Start to clean the print head 
(see page 32). 
Nozzles are clean
Nozzles need cleaning
 
						

							32Maintaining Your Printer
Cleaning the Print Head
If print quality has declined and the nozzle check pattern indicates clogged 
nozzles, you can clean the print head. Print head cleaning uses ink, so clean it only 
if necessary.
Note:
You cannot clean the print head if an ink cartridge is expended, and may not be able to 
clean it when a cartridge is low. You must replace the cartridge first
 (see page 34).
1. Load letter- or A4-size paper in the sheet feeder 
(see page 5).
2. Press 
Setup.
3. Press lorr to select 
Maintenance, then press 
OK.
4. Press d to select 
Head Cleaning, then press OK.
5. Press x
Start.
Cleaning takes approximately one minute. When it’s finished, you see a 
message on the display screen.
Caution: 
Never turn off your Epson printer during head cleaning or you may damage it.
6. Press xStart to run a nozzle check (as described on page 31) to verify that 
the print head is clean.
7. If there are still gaps or lines, or the test patterns are faint, run another 
cleaning cycle and check the nozzles again.
Note:
If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning the print head four times, turn off your 
Epson printer and wait at least six hours to let any dried ink soften. Then try cleaning 
the print head again. If quality does not improve, one of the ink cartridges may need to 
be replaced. If that doesn’t help, contact Epson as described on page 42.
If you do not use your Epson printer often, it is a good idea to print a few pages at least 
once a month to maintain good print quality.
 
						

							Checking Ink Levels33
Checking Ink Levels
You can check ink levels any time using the LCD screen.
Note:
You cannot print or copy when an ink cartridge is expended even if the other cartridges 
are not expended. Replace any expended cartridges before printing or copying.
1. Press Setup.
2. Press lorr to select 
Ink Levels, then press OK.
A cartridge marked with   is getting low on ink. 
See page 34 to replace the cartridge.
3. Press 
Back as necessary to return to the main 
screen.
A window may also appear on your computer screen when you try to print when 
ink is low. This window can optionally display ink offers and other updates from 
Epson.
Note:
To disable checking for ink offers or updates from Epson, see the instructions in your 
on-screen Epson Information Center.
Purchasing Epson Ink Cartridges
You can purchase genuine Epson ink and paper from Epson Supplies Central at 
www.epson.com/ink3 (U.S. sales) or www.epson.ca (Canadian sales). You can 
also purchase supplies from an Epson authorized reseller. To find the nearest one, 
call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766).
Use the following list when you order or purchase new ink cartridges:
Ink colorStandard-capacityHigh-capacityExtra high-capacity
Black 69 68 97
Magenta 69 68 —
Yellow 69 68 —
Cyan 69 68 —
 
						

							34Maintaining Your Printer
Note:
We recommend that you use genuine Epson cartridges and do not refill them. The use 
of other products may affect your print quality and could result in printer damage.
Yields vary considerably based on images printed, print settings, paper type, frequency 
of use, and temperature. For print quality, a small amount of ink remains in the cartridge 
after the “replace cartridge” indicator comes on. Your printer ships with full cartridges 
and part of the ink from the first cartridges is used for priming the printer.
For best printing results, use up a cartridge within six months of opening the package, 
and before the expiration date on the cartridge box.
Store ink cartridges in a cool, dark place. If cartridges have been exposed to cold 
temperatures, allow them to warm up to room temperature for at least 3 hours before 
using them.
Replacing Ink Cartridges
Make sure you have a new ink cartridge before you begin. You must install new 
cartridges immediately after removing the old ones.
Caution:
Do not open ink cartridge packages until you are ready to install the ink. Cartridges are 
vacuum packed to maintain reliability.
Note:
Leave the expended cartridge installed until you have obtained a replacement, or the 
ink remaining in the print head nozzles may dry out.
1. Turn on your Epson printer.
2. If an ink cartridge is expended, you see a message 
on the LCD screen. Note which cartridges need to 
be replaced and press 
OK.
If a cartridge is expended, you must replace it to be 
able to print. If a cartridge is low, you can continue 
printing until a cartridge needs replacement.
If you’re replacing a cartridge before you see a 
message on the LCD screen, press 
Setup, press lorr to select 
Maintenance, and press OK. Then select Change Ink Cartridge and 
press
OK.
 
						

							Replacing Ink Cartridges35 3. Open the scanner, and open the cartridge cover.
4. Squeeze the tab on the cartridge and lift it up. Dispose of it 
carefully. Do not take the used cartridge apart or try to refill 
it.
Warning: 
If ink gets on your hands, wash them thoroughly with soap and 
water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with 
water. Keep ink cartridges out of the reach of children.
5. Before you open the new cartridge package, shake it gently 
four or five times. Then remove the cartridge from the package.
Caution: 
Do not touch the green chip on the front of the cartridge. This can damage the ink 
cartridge.
6. Remove the yellow tape from the bottom of 
the ink cartridge.
Caution: 
Do not remove any other labels or seals, or ink 
may leak.
 
						

							36Maintaining Your Printer
7. Insert the new ink cartridge into the holder and push it down until it clicks 
into place.
8. Once you replace all the cartridges that need replacing, close the cartridge 
cover and push it down until it clicks into place.
9. Close the scanner.
10. Press 
OK to begin charging the ink. This takes 
about 2 minutes. When you see a completion 
message on the display screen, ink charging is 
finished.
Caution: 
Never turn off your Epson printer while ink is 
charging or you’ll waste ink. If you see an ink 
replacement message on the display screen, press 
OK and press down all the cartridges securely. Then press OK again.
Note: 
If you replaced a cartridge while copying a document or photo, cancel printing and 
make sure your original is still placed correctly on the scanner glass. Then copy 
your original again.
If you remove a low or expended ink cartridge, you cannot reinstall and use the 
cartridge.
 
						

							Solving Problems37
Solving Problems
If you have a problem with your Epson printer, check the messages on the LCD 
screen to diagnose the cause.
You can also check “Problems and Solutions” on page 39 for basic troubleshooting 
suggestions, or see the on-screen Epson Information Center for more detailed help.
Checking for Software Updates
Periodically, it’s a good idea to check Epson’s support website for free updates to 
your NX510 Series software. Open your on-screen Epson Information Center and 
select 
Download the Latest Software or visit Epson’s support website at 
epson.com/support (U.S.) or epson.ca/support (Canada).
With Windows, you can select 
Driver Update on the Maintenance tab in the 
printer settings window. You can also click 
Start or  , select Programs or All 
Programs
, select EPSON, select your printer’s folder, and click Driver Update.
 
						

							38Solving Problems
Error Indicators
Follow the instructions on the display screen to solve most common problems. 
If you see one of the error messages below, follow the steps here to proceed.
LCD screen messageProblem and solution
Press the 
OK button to replace 
the cartridges.Replace the expended ink cartridges (see 
page 34).
If you just replaced a cartridge and the message 
still appears, the cartridge is not installed 
correctly. Press the 
OK button to move the 
cartridges to the replacement position. Press 
down on all the installed cartridges, then press 
the 
OK button again to continue.
Paper jam. Open the scanner unit 
and remove the paper.Paper is jammed. Carefully remove the jam (see 
page 39).
Press the Start button to eject the 
paper inside. See your 
documentation.
Paper is jammed in the printer. 
Turn off the printer, open the 
scanner unit, remove paper. See 
your documentation.
No photos could be recognized. 
Make sure photos are positioned 
correctly. See your manual.Make sure your photo is placed correctly on the 
scanner glass (see page 9).
A printer error has occurred. Turn 
off the printer and turn it on again. 
Please see your documentation.Turn your Epson printer off, make sure no paper 
is jammed inside (see page 39), and turn it back 
on. If the error is not resolved, contact Epson for 
help (see page 42).
A scanner error has occurred. See 
your documentation.Turn your Epson printer off and then back on. If 
the error is not resolved, contact Epson for help 
(see page 42).
 
						

							Problems and Solutions39
Problems and Solutions
Check the solutions below if you’re having trouble using your Epson printer.
Printing and Copying Problems
■Make sure your original is positioned in the front right corner of the scanner 
glass. If the edges are cropped, move your original away from the edges 
slightly.
■Make sure your paper is loaded short edge first and is positioned against the 
right side with the edge guide against its left side. Don’t load paper above the 
arrow mark inside the edge guide.
■Make sure the paper size settings are correct for the paper you loaded.
Paper Feeding Problems
■If paper doesn’t feed, remove it from the sheet feeder. Tap the edges to align 
the stack of paper and flip through the stack to separate the sheets a little. 
Then reload the paper against the right side, and slide the left edge guide 
against the paper (but not too tightly).
The printer’s ink pads are nearing 
the end of their service life. 
Contact Epson Support.Parts inside your Epson printer are at the end of 
their service life. Contact Epson for help (see 
page 42).
The printer’s ink pads are at the 
end of their service life. Contact 
Epson Support.
Cannot recognize the memory 
card or disk.The memory card is not inserted correctly or 
there is a problem with the card. Remove it and 
check the card. Make sure the card is 
compatible with your Epson printer (see 
page 14).
LCD screen messageProblem and solution
 
						

							40Solving Problems
■Do not load too many sheets at once. You can load up to 120 sheets of letter-
size plain paper, 80 sheets of matte, or 20 sheets of photo paper. Load other 
papers one sheet at a time. See your on-screen Epson Information Center for 
more information.
■Do not load paper with holes punched in it.
■If paper is jammed, follow these steps:
1. Gently pull out jammed paper from the output tray or sheet feeder.
2. If paper is stuck inside, turn off your Epson printer.
3. Open the scanner, remove the jammed paper and torn pieces, close the 
scanner, and turn the printer back on.
Print Quality Problems
If you have any problems with the copy or print quality, try these solutions:
■Make sure the document is placed flat against the scanner glass and your 
Epson printer is not tilted or placed on an uneven surface.
■Load the paper printable side up (usually the whiter, brighter, or glossy side).
■Make sure your paper isn’t damp or curled.
■Use a support sheet with special paper (such as a sheet of plain paper beneath 
the special paper sheet) or load your paper one sheet at a time. Remove sheets 
from the output tray so not too many collect at a time.
■Make sure that the paper support extensions are fully extended (see page 5).
■Make sure the type of paper you loaded matches the paper size and paper type 
settings on the control panel or in your printer software (see page 28). 
■For the best print quality, use Epson special paper (see page 7) and genuine 
Epson ink cartridges (see page 33).
■If you notice light or dark bands across your printouts or they are too faint, 
you may need to clean the print head (see page 32). This unclogs the nozzles 
so they can deliver ink properly. Run a nozzle check as described on page 31 
to see if the print head needs cleaning.
■If you notice jagged vertical lines, you may need to align the print head. See 
your on-screen Epson Information Center for instructions.