During the operation of the printer, one or another malfunction may occur due to various reasons. Sometimes the printer starts printing in stripes. Why is this happening and what should be done to restore the normal functioning of the device?
Inkjet printer prints in stripes: reasons
The content of the article
- Inkjet printer prints in stripes: reasons
- What to do if the inkjet printer prints in stripes
- Why stripes appear when printing on a laser printer
- How to eliminate streaks when printing on a laser printer
There are many reasons that cause streaks to appear when printing. First, we will analyze the most probable reasons for the appearance of such defects during the operation of an inkjet printer:
- low ink
- ink drying;
- cartridge integrity violations;
- technical damage to the print head;
- Encoder element contamination.
IMPORTANT! There are more complex malfunctions. But to identify and correct them, without special knowledge and tools is impossible. To eliminate such malfunctions, you have to take the device to the service.
What to do if the inkjet printer prints in stripes
Let's take a closer look at the causes, methods for their diagnosis and elimination.
If the printer is equipped with a continuous ink supply system (CISS), then you can check their level simply by looking at the refueling containers. There is another way. In almost every modern device, there is a sensor that allows you to determine the approximate level of filling the container. You can check this indicator in the software that the manufacturer provides with the printer. And to solve this problem, you just need to refill the tanks or replace the cartridge.
If everything is okay with the ink level, check the technical condition of the cartridge. To check the integrity of the cartridge housing, you must remove it from the printer, carefully inspect and shake a little. This should be done on pre-spread paper so as not to stain surrounding objects. If defects are found in the housing, the element must be replaced.
Then you should check the integrity of the CISS loop. Maybe somewhere a crack formed or during installation it was pinched. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to fully check the cable without disassembling the printer, and replacing it is also a very difficult task, which is better to entrust to specialists.
After checking the integrity of the CISS loop, verify that the filters for the air holes are in good condition. During a long break in operation or after prolonged use, the filters become clogged and cease to allow air to pass through normally. When they become worthless, they should simply be replaced with new ones.
A common cause is contamination of the encoder belt. This is a translucent plastic film running along a movable carriage. A soft rag soaked in detergent is used for cleaning. After cleaning, wait 30 minutes to allow the encoder belt to dry.
Perhaps the most unpleasant breakdown will be the contamination of the print head. But manufacturers have provided an easy way to clean. In the software for the printer, there is a tab “Maintenance” - in it you can start cleaning nozzles. True, such a feature is not in every inkjet printer.
If the program cleaning did not help, or it is completely absent, then you should manually clean the nozzles with a special cleaning agent.
IMPORTANT! Do not use water or other cleaning products. Due to improper fluid density, it will leak or clog nozzles even harder. Use only specialized fluids.
If after all possible manipulations the device continues to issue sheets with stripes, then it should be taken to a service center.
Why stripes appear when printing on a laser printer
Stripes when printing on a laser device are a common problem. The main reasons for the appearance of such defects:
- low ink
- broken cartridge housing;
- technical malfunction of the drum;
- damage to the magnetic shaft or small objects falling onto it;
- Hopper overflow for excess toner;
- poor installation of the metering blade;
- poor contact of the magnetic shaft with the drum unit.
There are many more reasons for poor quality laser printing. But they are much less common and it is very problematic to fix them independently.
How to eliminate streaks when printing on a laser printer
To diagnose the causes of poor printing, it is worth analyzing the specifics of the resulting bands - this will allow you to accurately determine the cause of the malfunction.
The strip in the middle of the sheet indicates a low toner level - it means it's time to refill it or replace the cartridge. If the toner level is at an acceptable level, then the defect is in the feed system. In this case, you must contact the service center.
Stripes that look like small dots appear for two reasons. A filled toner container or an improperly fixed blade for dispensing toner. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cause will be in the container, so you should check it first. If the container is not full, check the blade and correct if necessary.
There are two reasons for the appearance of frequent, poorly-printed streaks - either the toner comes to an end, or debris sticks to the magnetic shaft. To solve the problem, the toner supply must be replenished and the magnetic shaft cleaned.
Dark stripes located at the edges indicate failure of the drum unit. It is also often associated with normal wear and tear. And unfortunately, the part will also have to be replaced.
If black winding stripes stretch across the sheet, most likely low-quality toner was used for refilling. If you have recently refilled a cartridge, you need to clean it and refill it with good toner. But sometimes a simple contamination of the optical system or magnetic shaft is possible. Then they just need to be cleaned carefully.
Most printing problems can be fixed by yourself. But do not get involved in this process. Printer parts are very sensitive to damage and careless actions can completely damage the device.
