Xpres Subli-Print Epson R1800: Feeder System Troubleshooting Guide - Manual (Page 13)

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APPENDIX D – Cartridge Removal Guide
If the cartridges have been removed and replaced for any reason, air may have been introduced
into the system (
this is relevant with cartridge-based or bulk ink systems ). Many cartridges are
foam filled to act as a baffle and avoid ink slopping from side to side during the print head
movement. If these cartridges are removed they are often stood so the ink will not spill out of
them (unlike Epson original cartridges they do not have a valve to block the ink on removal) the
ink therefore does not immediately fall to the bottom of a cartridge when replaced back into
the printer. During the initial head charge all the print head can do is suck air into the nozzles
and this will result in a terrible nozzle check. Multiple head cleans will do nothing to cure this
until the ink has slowly returned to the bottom of the cartridge.
If you have a Bulk Ink System fitted the best way of approaching this problem is to use the
guidelines laid out in ‘Power Clean Guide’ (see Appendix E). If too much air has been introduced
into the system then it is possible that the guidelines in ‘How to Prime the Ink Cartridges and
Check the Flow of Ink’ (see Appendix F) need to be applied.
The ‘Power Clean’ method is not recommended for a cartridge-based system more than a
couple of times, as it will drop the ink level reading severely even if ink is not coming through.
Once the chip is reading empty (irrespective on how much ink is still in the cartridge) the printer
will no longer print until the cartridge has been replaced. The best way to approach this
problem is to just let the printer settle for a while (at least an hour). Any air in the cartridge will
now have worked its way to the top and using the guidelines in ‘How to Get a Good Nozzle
Check’ (see Appendix A) you should get your printer working again.