146Troubleshooting Ribbon Problems

Ribbon Problems

Table 18 identifies problems that may occur with ribbon, the possible causes, and the recommended solutions.

Table 18 • Ribbon Problems

Problem

Possible Cause

Recommended Solution

 

 

 

Broken or melted

Darkness setting too high.

1. Reduce the darkness setting. See Print

ribbon

 

Darkness on page 83 for how to change the

 

 

darkness setting.

 

 

2. Clean the printhead thoroughly. See Clean

 

 

the Printhead and Platen Roller

 

 

on page 126.

 

 

 

 

The ribbon is coated on the

Replace the ribbon with one coated on the

 

wrong side and cannot be used

correct side. For more information, see Coated

 

in this printer.

Side of Ribbon on page 49.

 

 

 

Wrinkled ribbon

Ribbon was loaded incorrectly.

Load the ribbon correctly. See Load the Ribbon

 

 

on page 54.

 

 

 

 

Incorrect burn temperature.

For optimal print quality, set the darkness to the

 

 

lowest possible setting for your application. You

 

 

may want to perform the FEED Self Test

 

 

on page 151 to determine the ideal darkness

 

 

setting.

 

 

See Print Darkness on page 83 for how to

 

 

change the darkness setting.

 

 

 

 

Incorrect or uneven printhead

Set the printhead pressure to the minimum

 

pressure.

needed for good print quality. See Printhead

 

 

Pressure Adjustment on page 121.

 

 

 

 

Media not feeding properly;

Make sure that media is snug by adjusting the

 

“walking” from side to side.

media guide, or call a service technician.

 

 

 

 

The printhead or platen roller

Call a service technician.

 

may be installed incorrectly.

 

 

 

 

The printer does not

The printer may have been

Calibrate the printer, this time using ribbon, or

detect when the

calibrated without ribbon.

load printer defaults. See Calibrate the Ribbon

ribbon runs out.

Later, ribbon was inserted

and Media Sensors Manually on page 106 or

 

without the user recalibrating

Load Defaults on page 93.

In thermal transfer

the printer or loading printer

 

mode, the printer did

 

defaults.

 

not detect the ribbon

 

 

 

even though it is

 

 

loaded correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

The printer indicates

The printer was not calibrated

Calibrate the printer. See Calibrate the Ribbon

that ribbon is out,

for the label and ribbon being

and Media Sensors Manually on page 106.

even though ribbon is

used.

 

loaded correctly.

 

 

 

 

 

P1056468-002

7/3/13