Printer attempts to print but no ink is on the paper (F20)

If there are missing colors, or no colors appear on the paper, it may be due to one of the following reasons:

• The ink in the BJ tanks has run out.
  
• The printhead nozzles may be clogged.
  

Check the level of ink in the ink tanks.

1. Press <Menu> repeatedly until [INK VOLUME] appears on the display.
   
   
2. Press <Set>. The display will show the current ink level for the color and black ink tanks. Symbols will appear to the right of [COLOR INK] and [BLACK INK]. The symbols will indicate if the tanks are full or empty or if the low ink warning setting was turned off.

• If a symbol of 3 bar graphs appears and all 3 graphs are completely black, this indicates the tank is approximately 100 to 30 % full.
  
  
• If a symbol of 3 bar graphs appears and 2 of the 3 graphs are completely black, this indicates the tank is approximately 30 % full.
  
  
• If a symbol of 3 bar graphs appears and 1 of the 3 graphs is black, this indicates the tank is empty.
  
  
• If a question mark (?) appears, this indicates the Ink counter was not reset.
  
  
• If a minus (-) appears, this indicates the 'Low Ink Warning' setting is turned off.

3. If an ink tank is low or has run out of ink, replace the ink tank. Failure to do so may shorten the life of the printhead.
   
   
4. Check that the tops of the ink tanks are aligned properly. If the ink tank is not seated correctly, ink will not flow out of the chamber into the printhead. When inserting an ink tank into the printhead, press firmly on the ink tank's tab until it clicks into place.
   
   Click here to replace an empty ink tank.
   
   Click here to check the status of the printhead.

Nozzle Check Pattern -
Print a Nozzle Check Pattern to confirm whether the inks are being correctly ejected from the printhead nozzles and whether the printhead is correctly aligned.

1. On the MultiPASS control panel, press <Menu> repeatedly until [MAINTENANCE] appears on the display.
   
   
2. Press <Set>. The Nozzle Check Pattern will print.
   
   
3. After the Nozzle Check Pattern is printed, check the linear pattern (the top 4 patterns with the letter titles: K, C, M, and Y) to see if any lines are missing. Missing lines or no ink appearing on the paper indicates a printhead cleaning may be required.
   
   
4. In the patterns titled A through F, check for unevenness. If you find any unevenness, the printhead would need to be aligned.
   
   Click here to perform a printhead cleaning.
   
   Click here to perform a printhead alignment.

Cleaning -

1. Press <Menu> repeatedly until [MAINTENANCE] appears on the display.
   
   
2. Press '>' the right arrow key until [HEAD CLEANING] is displayed on the bottom row and then press <Set>. The printhead cleaning takes approximately 30 seconds to complete.
   
   
3. Print another Nozzle Check Pattern to see if the print quality is improved.

1. On the MultiPASS control panel, press <Menu> repeatedly until [MAINTENANCE] appears on the display.
   
2. Press <Set>. The Nozzle Check Pattern will print.
   

4. Perform Head Refreshing if lines are still missing on any of the four-colored patterns at the top set of patterns. Click here to perform a Head Refreshing.

Ink Tank -

1. Make sure the MultiPASS F20 is powered on.
   
   
2. If the paper output tray is closed, pull down on the sides of tray to open it. You will now see the inner cover.
   
   
3. Open the inner cover by pulling on the cutout at bottom left corner of the inner cover. The printhead holder will move to the left. Please take caution to not manually move or stop the printhead holder or to touch any metal parts inside the unit.

1. When the printhead holder stops moving, you will notice that the black ink tank is on the right and the color ink tank is on the left.
   

4. To remove the empty ink tank, press on the tab located on the top of the ink tank and then pull it forward to release the ink tank from the printhead.
   
   
5. Now, lift out the ink tank. Please take caution not to remove the printhead from the MultiPASS.

1. If ink tanks need replacing, remove and replace each one individually.
   

6. Remove the new ink tank from its packaging.
   
   
7. Hold the ink tank firmly and then remove the protective cap.
   
   
8. Insert the new ink tank into the empty slot on the printhead. Press firmly on the ink tank's tab until it clicks into place.

1. If you need to replace the other ink tank, replace it at this time.
   

9. Close the inner cover.
   
   
10. When the LCD displays [INK TANK CHANGED], press the '<' left arrow on the operator panel to select 'YES' and to reset the ink counter.
    
    
11. The next set of displays will ask if the black and color ink tanks were changed, make your selection by pressing the appropriate arrow. Press the '<' left arrow to select 'YES' or press the '>' right arrow to select 'NO'.
    
    
12. Completing the color ink tank selection will reset the ink counter for ink tanks.
    
    
13. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.
    
    
14. If lines are still missing on the Nozzle Check Pattern, perform a Head Refreshing. Click here to perform a Head Refreshing.
    

Alignment -
Prior to aligning the printhead, make sure paper is stacked in the multi-purpose tray and the ink tanks are properly seated and contain ink. You can align the printhead either from the operation panel or from the MultiPASS Printer Driver.

Click here to align the printhead using the operator panel.

Click here to align the printhead from the MultiPASS Printer Driver.

Panel -

1. To align the printhead from the operator panel, press <Menu> repeatedly until [MAINTENANCE] appears on the display.
   
   
2. Press '>' the right arrow until [ALIGN PRINT HEAD] displays on the bottom row and then press <Set>. [HORIZ. PATTERN PRINTING] is displayed on the LCD as the horizontal pattern prints out.
   
   
3. Review the printout for the pattern with the most solid box in column "A".
   
   
4. To the left of the pattern with the most solid box, is a value. The values range from +7 at the top to -3 at the bottom.
   
   
5. On the operator panel, press the left '<' or right '>' arrow to scroll to the number that matches the value on the printed pattern for column "A".
   
   
6. Press <Set> to select the most solid pattern.
   
   
7. [Change H Value] will appear. This time for column "B".
   
   
8. Continue to change horizontal alignment for columns B through F by pressing the left '<' or right '>' arrows and then pressing <Set> to select the value.
   
   
9. After the printhead is aligned, the display will return to standby mode.
   
   

Driver -

1. On Windows desktop, click 'Start', point to 'Settings' and then click 'Printers'.
   
   Note: For Windows XP, click 'Start', 'Control Panel', 'Printers and Other Hardware' and then 'Printers and Faxes'.
   
   
2. In the Printers (Printers and Faxes) window, click the MultiPASS F20 Printer icon to highlight it.
   
   
3. From 'File' menu, select 'Properties' for Windows 98 or Me; or 'Printing Preferences' for Windows 2000 and XP.
   
   
4. In the MultiPASS F20 Printer Properties dialog box click the Maintenance tab.
   
   
5. Click the Print Head Alignment icon.
   
   
6. When prompted to print an Alignment Test Page, click 'OK'.
   
   
7. If the pattern printed correctly, click 'Yes'.
   
   
8. Compare the different patterns for each color on the printout. Notice that most patterns have vertical lines, but some in the middle look smooth and uniform.
   
   
9. For each color on the test printout, enter the number in the Print Head Alignment dialog box that corresponds with the smoothest looking test pattern with the least vertical striping.
   
   
10. When finished, click 'OK'.
    

Head Refreshing -

1. Press <Menu> repeatedly until [MAINTENANCE] appears on the display.
   
   
2. Press '>' the right arrow until [HEAD REFRESHING] is displayed on the bottom row and then press <Set>. The printhead cleaning takes approximately 1 to 2 minutes to complete.
   
   
3. Perform the Nozzle Check Pattern test again.