A printing problem

[snowqueen]

I use an epsom R220 for all my college work and the odd photo, ive had no problems with it untill today.
Ive not used it for a week and when i printed today i have blue lines all over the page?

Ive gone in to maintenence and cleaned it and done every other option its given me

but

the blue lines are still there?

I did notice the blue ink is getting low and i did always use epsom ink but being a poor student this lot of ink is a cheaper version but is compatible with this printer.
Ive printed 100's of pages and this is the first problem ive had with this printer??

can anyone help?
thank you

[Nod]

I use an epsom R220 for all my college work and the odd photo, ive had no problems with it untill today.
Ive not used it for a week and when i printed today i have blue lines all over the page?

Ive gone in to maintenence and cleaned it and done every other option its given me

but

the blue lines are still there?

I did notice the blue ink is getting low and i did always use epsom ink but being a poor student this lot of ink is a cheaper version but is compatible with this printer.
Ive printed 100's of pages and this is the first problem ive had with this printer??

can anyone help?
thank you

I'm guessing that the bolded part is your problem. Original carts may be expensive but cheap carts that cause problems (sounds like a blocked nozzle) and have to be thrown away, followed by some deep cleaning cycles with genuine carts are often (?usually?) a false economy.

[snowqueen]

Thanks nod, i have cleaned it a few times and the nozzel check pattern is coming out ok????
I will remove the blue ink and try another cartridge.
thanks for your help

[LargeFormat]

If the nozzle check is OK and it is blue lines you are getting I wonder whether some debris on the print head is being dragged backwards and forwards. It may be worth, very carefully, cleaning the print head by hand.

[john_g]

Blue Lines... anyone else got Massive Attack gigging in their head?

[snowqueen]

If the nozzle check is OK and it is blue lines you are getting I wonder whether some debris on the print head is being dragged backwards and forwards. It may be worth, very carefully, cleaning the print head by hand.

which bit is the print head, is it easy to spot when i open the front? sorry for my lack of knowledge on printers

[Malcolm_Stewart]

... which bit is the print head, is it easy to spot when i open the front? sorry for my lack of knowledge on printers

I've been using an R220 as my main printer for a few years, but always with Epson inks.

The print head is hidden below the ink cartridge. The only suggestion I have, if the nozzle cleaning checks are OK, is to try printing on to somewhat rougher paper than normal - any cartridge paper available? And hope that this will remove any dross adhering around the nozzle area. (Slightly damp paper perhaps? or you could try an envelope)

Hope you get it sorted.

[john_g]

Just a thought... do the blue lines look like they're being printed or do they look like smears? If the level of the blue ink has dropped unexpectedly, could it be leaked ink that is being smeared over the paper by the printhead? I guess I'm not sure exactly what the blue lines look like, but it it's extras ink being placed on the prints, this doesn't - to me at least - sound like a blocked nozzle... except maybe if the blue lines are only blue because the other coloured inks aren't being printed.

If you could post a picture of the blue lines, it might help people to get a better understanding of what's happening. But I've never used an Epson printer and might well be talking my usual rubbish.

[LargeFormat]

Slight refinement of Malcolm's proposal would be to slide the head along, as in cartridge replacement mode, and slip a couple of layers of paper between the roller and head and move it about a bit. I suggest not using a fluffy paper as it might make things worse but damp paper sounds a good idea.

[snowqueen]

Thanks everyone,
the blue lines are printed not smears,
i kinda had a play around last night and noticed that when the head was moved to replace a cartridge there seems to alot of black ink splattered about in there also?
I printed off a few pages and some printed without blue lines and some with?

will have a go with your sugesstions.
thanks again

[Mojo_66]

If one of the carts in my Epson printer is low, ie. if the ! is showing, I sometimes get banding and weird colours. Replacing the cart always solves the problem, though I always use Epson ink.