Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
I suspect you had two problems that coincided.
The waste pad number was reached, and the carriage was not properly
lubricated, and so one confounded the other.
However, it is just possible that the manual reset didn't work several
times. Sometimes the button are a bit finicky and if you don't hold
them with enough pressure, they read as an intermitted press, which then
is either ignored, or send the wrong command.
I don't much like or trust the Russian program. It seems to not work as
often as it works, and since the coding was done by someone hacking
around I'm not sure it can be trusted 100% to function as stated. I
know of a few cases where people selected the wrong model and it did
something to the firmware or internal software which was not reversible
at a user level, at least.
But the good thing is you are up and running, and since Christmas is
over, you probably don't need the blinking lights anymore for decoration.
Art
ALBERT C. GOOD JR. wrote:
> Dear Art
>
> Finally got the inkaholic to work.
>
> First I had oiled the guide bar as you and some other had suggested. Still
> the lights blinked.
>
> This morning I went through reset procedure manually and on the second try
> the blinking thing recycled and after considerable head cleaning it was
> giving me good printing.
>
> For some reason that program that I down loaded was not working properly.
> But it had some nice features, such as a through head cleaning routine and
> the ability to clean black or other color combinations.
>
> Also when it did a test pattern, it would print a pattern along the upper
> border and stop.
>
> Calling up another test pattern would advance the paper a inch or so and
> then print the next pattern until it reached the end of the page.
>
> This is a feature that is bound to be a paper saver.
>
> I now want to thank you and all the others who helped me sort through this
> problem. It certainly ws a educational experience, and will equip me to fix
> other problems with the drunk.
>
> Yours
> Albert
>
> "Arthur Entlich" <artistic@telus.net> wrote in message
> news:_1fzd.21297$KO5.11606@clgrps13...
>
>>Good luck and keep me informed.
>>
>>I'm assuming the printer does its Christmas Tree lighting ceremony even
>>when it is not connected to the computer, is that correct? If so, I
>>don't think the LPT1 condition is indicative of anything. If you cannot
>>get the printer to print a test page with the printer disconnected form
>>the computer, the problem is within the printer itself.
>>
>>Art
>>
>>ALBERT C. GOOD JR. wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Art
>>>
>>>I tried your advice.
>>>
>>>Cleaned the guide bar with alcohol soaked surgical gauze pad.
>>>After it dried I applied Singer sewing machine oil directly to the point
>>>where the guide bar enters the bearing. Then slid the head back and
>
> forth
>
>>>and applied a few more drops to the guide-bar itself.
>>>
>>>After turning it on the head seemed to park better and further to the
>
> right
>
>>>than usual. However the blinking lights where still blinking.
>>>
>>>Next I ran the SSServ program and attempted to reset the EPROMS and that
>>>seemed to go ok except when I attempted to read the condition of the
>
> EPROMS.
>
>>>at this point I got a error message.
>>>
>>>But...you probably guessed it the blinking lights are still blinking.
>>>
>>>Attempts at printing met with the same lack of success that I a error
>>>message saying that it was not possible to feed the printer at LPT1.
>>>
>>>Next I will attempt to use the manual reset procedure against the
>>>possibility that the EPROM resetting program is a bust.
>>>
>>>If after that it fails to behave, I will leave it on and use it for a hi
>>>tech Christmas Tree.
>>>
>>>Yours
>>>Albert
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>"ALBERT C. GOOD JR." <retirement@pa.net> wrote in message
>>>news:fTRyd.876$uN2.270231@monger.newsread.com...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi Art
>>>>As soon as I can get my hands on some sewing machine I will try the
>>>
>>>cleaning
>>>
>>>
>>>>and get back to you.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks Albert
>>>>
>>>>"Arthur Entlich" <artistic@telus.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:CEDyd.13330$nN6.6674@edtnps84...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi Albert,
>>>>>
>>>>>I would still clean that bar and replace the lubricant.
>>>>>
>>>>>That grey substance is actually worn metal from the bearings. If the
>>>>>head carriage sticks even slightly it can cause this flashing light
>>>>
>>>>problem.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Did you attempt the EPROM resetting procedure I posted? Did it not
>>>
>>>help?
>>>
>>>
>>>>>I am trying to recall now if the head lock tab moves forward or
>
> backward
>
>>>>>relative to the printer front and back. The tab needs to be lowered
>>>>>below the surface of the sheet metal to fully release the head
>
> carriage.
>
>>>>>Yes, it is connected to the wiping pad.
>>>>>
>>>>>The cleaning station "sponge" is indeed stiff and abrasive. That's
>>>>>quite normal. It is mainly there to hold some moisture. It very
>
> porous
>
>>>>>in most cases, unless it gets blocked with old ink.
>>>>>
>>>>>On very rare occasion the oil pad that normally feeds the lubrication
>
> to
>
>>>>>the carriage bearings becomes lodged between the carriage and the
>
> chrome
>
>>>>>plated carriage guide (the rod the carriage rides on). This oil
>>>>>pad is sort of centered in the carriage at the top where it would
>>>>>contact that rod I just mentioned. It is sometime accessible with the
>>>>>cartridges removed.
>>>>>
>>>>>Anyway, typically the two causes of blinking lights on the 640 are need
>>>>>to reset the protection numbers (indication the waste ink pads are
>>>>>"full") or the carriage is not moving correctly. Other than that, I'm
>>>>>stumped.
>>>>>
>>>>>Art
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>ALBERT C. GOOD JR. wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Hi Art
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I checked the guide that the head follows and found that it has a film
>>>>
>>>>of
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>light lubricate on it but it seemed otherwise clean.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The oil has a Grey substance mixed in with it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The head does have a slight tendency to stick as the head is moved
>>>>
>>>>manually
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>form right to left and back again
>>>>>>after the machine has started it start up routine and the plug has
>>>
>>>been
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>pulled while the head is in the middle of its travel.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The is a "L" shaped white tab that protrudes from the lower track that
>>>>
>>>>the
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>head assembly rides on. This tab seems to be undamaged. But with
>>>
>>>plug
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>pulled and the head in the middle of its travel, it does not depress
>>>>
>>>>when
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>light finger pressure is applied. It also seems to be attached one
>>>
>>>way
>>>
>>>
>>>>or
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>another to the tray that holds the pad.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Also this tab is located to the left of the heads parked position and
>>>>
>>>>that
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>makes me wonder if it is the same tab that you talked about in your
>>>>
>>>>email.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Also I have questions about the "pad". It is hard almost as hard as a
>>>>>>abrasive scrubber. As I remember the place where the pad is located
>>>
>>>had
>>>
>>>
>>>>a
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>soft foam surface about 3 months ago when the printer was streaking
>>>
>>>and
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>installing full cartridges didn't seem to help. At that time I had
>>>>
>>>>wiped
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>the surface of this part with a wet foam tipped swab. That seemed to
>>>>
>>>>cure
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>the streaking problem.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If I where to replace this part where would I get the replacement
>>>
>>>part?
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>Thanks
>>>>>>Al.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Arthur Entlich" <artistic@telus.net> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:nrhyd.14292$KO5.7216@clgrps13...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Hi ALbert,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>As I mentioned to you in private email, your carriage guide bar (the
>>>>>>>chrome one the carriage rides along) may require cleaning and
>>>>>>>relubrication. All Epson printers are very sensitive about free
>>>>>>>movement of the carriage to avoid mis-stepping with the stepper motor
>>>>>>>and the toothed belt. In actual fact, the toothed belt is designed
>
> to
>
>>>>>>>allow a clutched (spring loaded) gear on one side to slip if the
>>>
>>>stepper
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>>motor gets out of sequence. That is the grinding sound some people
>>>>>>>occasionally here, as the printer resets the stepper motor and belt
>>>>>>>positions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Art
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>ALBERT C. GOOD JR. wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>No grinding noise.
>>>>>>>>However I have been noticing that the head carriage does not return
>>>>>>
>>>>>>fully to
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>the parked position.
>>>>>>>>With a little nudging it can be persuaded to return to the parked
>>>>>>
>>>>>>position
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>and at that time there is a kind of ratcheting wound for the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>approximately
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>one and a half inch that it take to contact the stops in its resting
>>>>>>>>position.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Since the carriage is pulled along by a toothed belt, I checked to
>
> be
>
>>>>>>>>certain that was not slipping but it seems to be tightly gripping
>
> the
>
>>>>>>>>carriage.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>The only way that I have been able to get the carriage to move
>>>>>>
>>>>>>completely
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>from right to left and then back is if the power is interrupted (Ie;
>>>>>>
>>>>>>plug
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>pulled, when that carriage has done so during the start up cycle.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>However
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>even when that carriage is manually pushed to the parked position it
>>>>>>
>>>>>>still
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>displays the blinking lights.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"Richard J. Webb" <r.webb@sheffield.ac.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>news:cqbbq6$hsv$1@hermes.shef.ac.uk...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>I look after several Epson 640s and get this quite a lot with one
>
> of
>
>>>>>>>>them -
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>all lights on and flashing.
>>>>>>>>>Is there a grinding noise when you switch it on? It might just be
>>>>
>>>>stuck.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Switch it off and slide the ink cartridge carrier left a right a
>
> few
>
>>>>>>>>times -
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>leave it pushed fully to the right and switch back on again.
>>>>>>>>>This always clears mine.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>
>
>
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