No. TE12-0343 Rev.B Date: Nov.

29th, 2012 1/5

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
SEIKO EPSON CORP, Printer Technical Support Group
[*]H/W SUPPORT [ ]S/W,F/W SUPPORT Authorized by / H. Shiohara Mgr.
[ ]MANUAL/STK [ ]AS-TOOL Approved by / R. Maruyama
[ ]GENERAL Issued by / M.Orii

[] <<URGENT>> Please take immediate action with highest priority

[] <<IMPORTANT>> Please make sure all necessary actions are taken
care of
<<CONFIDENTIALITY RANK>> [] Rank S [*] Rank D [] Rank U
(ESC/Internal (open to (Public)
only) dealers)

Model: SureColor-S306X0, S506X0, S706X0,

SUBJECT: Ink drop due to dust.

1. Description
SEC got report from EAI, ETT, EHC about ink drop on print surface. In this T/I, we inform
result of SEC analyze and field handling.

Ink Drop

2. Cause
By SEC analyze until 30th July, 2012, the cause is dust comes print head and it makes ink
drop.

2.1 SEC Evaluation

We spread the media on floor of office for 2 days. Then, print it, the ink drop happen. After
printed, we checked print head surface, there are dust. Please see Fig1. We suspect that
by putting media in office condition, dust coming on it. And dust attached print head surface
by CR moving or paper feed. Even worse, TFP head has tend to remain the ink at head
frame after wiping compared with F8 head, and also, SC-S306X0 has more ink mist than
SP9900/9910 series. Therefore, dust attached easier than other models.

Fig1. Dust on print head surface

Form-QG-0201-E(ENG)
No. TE12-0343 Rev.B Date: Nov. 29th, 2012 2/5

2.2 Verification
SEC member found dust on print head surface when we went to Japanese customer side
and ETT office just when ink drop happen. These dust are too small and difficult by visual
check, but they are on camera.

3. Mechanism
1.Dust comes to print head surface
Depends on print condition, dust comes to prin head surface.
2. Ink flows, accumurate to dust
Ink flows from nozzle through the dust or dust prevent the ink fire. By this, ink accumulated on
dust.

Dust Ink accumulated on dust

Fig2. Dust on print head surface Fig3. Ink accumulated on dust

Fig4. Dust with accumulated Ink

Form-QG-0201-E(ENG)
No. TE12-0343 Rev.B Date: Nov. 29th, 2012 3/5
3-1 Ink drop by direct tuch with dust and media
When ink drop appears ellipsoidal, dust tuch the media directly.
Head Dust with accumulated ink
Media

CR move direction

3-2 Ink drops from dust

When ink drop appears roundly, ink drops from dust.

Dust with accumulated ink

Head

Media

Ink
CR move direction

[Difference between TFP and F8]

The difference TFP and F8 is as below.

Frame

Head

TFP Head F8 Head

TFP head is assembled 5 pices of nozzle plate by head frame, but F8 head is only 1 set of plate
and frame. Therefore, the wiping operation is different as below. Wiper：
Wiping at once

Wiper：
5times for 5 nozzle plate Remain ink after wiping

By these difference, TFP head have risk of attaching dust to remain ink. And wiping direction
towards back side, ink gathered back side and it is difficult to cleaning.

Form-QG-0201-E(ENG)
 No. TE12-0343 Rev.B Date: Nov. 29th, 2012 4/5
4. Request
Please inform the customer or dealer below items for prevent dust coming.

1. During no printing, please roll back the media and cover it for not to come dust.
2. When printing, please close the front cover. If open it, paper suction fun pulls dust to
inside the printer.
3. Please clean the print head, wiper, cap, as “Users Guide”. Especially, back side of print
head is effective for ink drop. According to the user’s circumstances such as dusty room
and carpet floor, please clean around the print head once a day.

Front view Under view

Before cleaning around the print head After cleaning around the print head

Form-QG-0201-E(ENG)
No. TE12-0343 Rev.B Date: Nov. 29th, 2012 5/5

4. Please remove fluff dust on the edge of media (refer to the photos below) and use
media holding plate for avoiding fluff dust on print head.

Fluff dust of media

5. Please remove dust on platen and maintenance space (inside of maintenance covers)
by vacuum cleaner.
6. Please damp the cleaning stick with ink cleaner liquid for cleaning print head frame. (Do
not allow ink cleaner to drip from the cleaning stick)
7. Please use the authorized cleaning stick for avoiding ink drop because of using cotton
swabs in market.

- End -

Service Report No.(None)

S/B Issue: [*]No []Yes (S/B No. )

Form-QG-0201-E(ENG)