Avery 676 user manual Printhead Fail Modes, Symptoms, Causes, Solutions

Printhead Fail Modes

Symptoms, Causes, Solutions

Symptom #1: A dot is leaving a line in the print direction. The dot appears to be dragging or failed on, sometimes in the print area, and sometimes not. If in a barcode, the verifier will halt the printer.

Cause: Paper dust or dirt on the printhead causing the ink to print without printhead firing. The dot is NOT failed on. The printhead is

DIRTY.

If not addressed immediately: the line will go from black or gray to white and the dot will fail. The printhead will be damaged.

Lines of print from

adragging dot

	Specialty				Specialty				Specialty				Specialty				Specialty
		Brand				Brand				Brand				Brand				Brand
	Style: Fall				Style: Fall				Style: Fall				Style: Fall				Style: Fall
Color: Rose				Color: Rose				Color: Rose				Color: Rose				Color: Rose
23456				23456				23456				23456				23456
78901				78901				78901				78901				78901
$5.95			$5.95				$5.95				$5.95				$5.95

Solution: Immediately stop the printer and clean the printhead in the machine.

If problem continues: Remove the printhead and clean with hard pressure.

Symptom #2: Edges of barcode and text do not appear crisp and sharp.

Cause: Strobe is too high. Printhead is dirty.

Solution: Reduce front panel strobe one increment at a time until fuzzy printing goes away.

If problem continues: Clean the printhead as described below.

23456 78901

Fuzzy edges

Symptom #3: While printing along fine early in the printheads life (< 300,000 inches), a dot suddenly appears missing. The verifier will halt the machine if the missing dot is in a barcode.

Cause: Most likely, the printhead failed from static.

Solution: Replace the printhead.

If problem continues: Check that the machine has all the static upgrades. Double check the connections and wires.

User Manual Model 676 LOKPRINT® Appendix C • 51