Aligning the Print Head
18-Aug-2011
8201155500
Solution
If printed ruled lines are misaligned or print results are otherwise unsatisfactory, adjust the print head position.
REFERENCE
If the remaining ink level is low, the print head alignment sheet will not be printed correctly. Replace the FINE cartridge whose ink is low.
-> [ Replacing a FINE Cartridge ]
You need to prepare: a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper (including recycled paper)*
* Be sure to use paper that is white and clean on both sides.
1. Make sure that the power is turned on.
2. Load a sheet of A4 or Letter-sized plain paper in the front tray.
3. Open the output tray extension, open the paper output tray, then extend the paper output support.
4. Print the print head alignment sheet.
(1) Press the 
(Maintenance) button repeatedly until u (lowercase "u") is displayed.
(Maintenance) button repeatedly until u (lowercase "u") is displayed.
(2) Press the Color or Black button.
The print head alignment sheet will be printed.
IMPORTANT
- Do not touch any printed part on the print head alignment sheet.
- Be careful not to get the print head alignment sheet dirty. If the sheet is stained or wrinkled, it may not be scanned properly.
5. Scan the print head alignment sheet to adjust the print head position.
(1) Load the print head alignment sheet on the platen glass.
Load the print head alignment sheet WITH THE PRINTED SIDE FACING DOWN and align the mark 
on the upper left corner of the sheet with the alignment mark 
.
on the upper left corner of the sheet with the alignment mark . 
(2) Close the document cover gently, make sure that U (uppercase "U") is displayed on the LED (Light Emitting Diode), then press the Color or Black button.
The machine starts scanning the print head alignment sheet, and the print head position will be adjusted automatically.
When adjusting the print head position is complete, the LED returns to the copy standby mode.
Remove the print head alignment sheet on the platen glass.
IMPORTANT
- Do not open the document cover or move the print head alignment sheet on the platen glass until adjusting the print head position is complete.
- If adjusting the print head position has failed, the error code is displayed on the LED.
Press the Stop/Reset button to release the error, then take appropriate action.
REFERENCE
- If the print results are still not satisfactory after adjusting the print head position as described above, adjust the print head position manually from the computer.
Refer to [ Aligning the Print Head Position from Your Computer (Manual Print Head Alignment) ] within this webpage.
- To print and check the current head position adjustment values, display L on the LED, then press the Color or Black button.
Print head alignment corrects the installation positions of the print head and improves deviated colors and lines.
This machine supports two head alignment methods: automatic head alignment and manual head alignment.
To perform automatic head alignment,Refer to [ Aligning the Print Head (Automatic Print Head Alignment) ] within this webpage and then execute the function from the operation panel of the machine.
The procedure for performing manual print head alignment is as follows:
1. Open the printer driver setup window
2. Click Custom Settings on the Maintenance tab
The Custom Settings dialog box opens.
3. Switch head alignment to manual
Check the Align heads manually check box.
4. Apply the settings
Click OK and when the confirmation message appears, click OK.
5. Click Print Head Alignment on the Maintenance tab
The Start Print Head Alignment dialog box opens.
6. Load paper in the machine
Load three sheets of A4 size or Letter size plain paper into the front tray.
7. Execute head alignment
Make sure that the machine is on and click Align Print Head.
Follow the instruction in the message.
8. Check the printed pattern
Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes.
Even if the patterns with the least amount of streaks are clicked in the preview window, their numbers are automatically entered in the associated boxes.
When you have entered all the necessary values, click OK.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(A)Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B)More noticeable vertical white streaks
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white streaks.
(A)Less noticeable horizontal white streaks
(B)More noticeable horizontal white streaks
9. Confirm the displayed message and click OK
The second pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
Do not open the document cover while printing is in progress.
10. Check the printed pattern
Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least amount of streaks in the associated boxes.
Even if the patterns with the least amount of streaks are clicked in the preview window, their numbers are automatically entered in the associated boxes.
When you have entered all the necessary values, click OK.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable vertical white streaks.
(A)Less noticeable vertical white streaks
(B)More noticeable vertical white streaks
11. Confirm the displayed message and click OK
The third pattern is printed.
IMPORTANT
Do not open the document cover while printing is in progress.
12. Check the printed pattern
Enter the numbers of the patterns with the least noticeable horizontal stripes in the associated boxes.
Even if the patterns with the least noticeable horizontal stripes are clicked in the preview window, their numbers are automatically entered in the associated boxes.
When you have entered all the necessary values, click OK.
REFERENCE
- If it is difficult to pick the best pattern, pick the setting that produces the least noticeable horizontal white stripes.
(A)Less noticeable horizontal white stripes
(B)More noticeable horizontal white stripes
REFERENCE
To print and check the current setting, open the Start Print Head Alignment dialog box, and click Print Alignment Value.