Epson 870 perforation like artifact.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave E
  • Start date Start date
D

Dave E

Hi All,
I am hoping someone may be able to help me with a small problem I am having
with my digital photo printouts.
The printer I have is an Epson Stylus Photo 870. I have recently bought a
digital camera and of course wish to print out my "best" shots. On printing
there appears a slight perforation effect about a quarter of the way to the
right of the print as it comes out of the printer. It is not a full
perforation but appears to be tiny score marks in the ink. This doesn`t
appear to happen with all papers. Epsons own (expensive) seems fine. Generic
premium paper, of which I have a lot, it happens every time. This paper is
the same gsm/finish as Epson. I have thought it may be because the ink isn't
drying as quickly as on the Epson paper, but the marks seem deeper than just
the inks surface. I have also tried setting the adjustment lever to 0 intead
of the default +.
I think I have narrowed the problem down to a small serrated wheel in the
printer which you can see if you look into the printer at the same level as
the paper tray. There is a small white wheel about 3 inches from the right.
This appears to be spring loaded as you can, with finger pressure, hold it
up.
If this wheel is non essential for operation can I carefully tape it up?
If I have to keep buying Epsons own paper I may as well buy a Canon printer
for photo work and use the Epson for text only. It's fine with text btw.
All or any replies gratefully received.
TIA
Dave.
 
After the print dries for a day or so can you still see the pizza wheel
marks? On some papers that makes a difference.
 
Hi Safetymom,
Yes I can. The perforation like effect cuts right through the ink.
I think I'll temporarily tape up the suspected wheel and see if it makes any
difference.
It surprises me that no one else has suffered from this before. Every Epson
870 must have one of these sharp serrated wheels.
Oh well.
Thanks for your reply.
Dave.
 
It surprises me that no one else has suffered from this before.
Click to expand...

The problem has existed since the original Stylus Photo printer was
released. There are a several solutions. The first is to chose your paper
carefully, as not all papers suffer from the problem. The others involve
printer modification. For examples of these, see:

http://www.inkjetart.com/pizza/
http://skyscraper.fortunecity.com/skully/129/features/pizza/pizza1.html
http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/pizza.html

or do a Web search on: Epson pizza wheel.

Jon.
 
Hi Jon,
And thank you so much. You've solved my problem.
Yes it was the "pizza wheel" effect I was suffering from. My printer, the
870 is off a slightly different construction than those on the sites you
gave me but the solution was the same. Removal of the serrated wheels. I
could not shim the wheel bar as described on the sites you recommended as it
was notched into another metal fabrication on the side of the printer.
Because of what I thought was the obvious problem, the single wheel marks
left by the single wheel at the front of the printer I did not notice that
my prints were full of these marks.
For your information I did a Google search for "pizza wheel problem". It
threw up some interesting facts. One of which was a NG thread. The
contributor stated that he had informed Epson of this design flaw. At first
they declined to see anything wrong at all, but after a series of emails
admitted it was a flaw on the Photo series of their printers and were
looking into it to resolve the problem. Obviously they haven't, as the
thread was dated 1999. Incredible.
I suppose I could have just used Epson paper and ink but having to do that
really pushes my buttons. Ink I can just about see their reasoning for, but
paper... It even exhibited the aforesaid marks on premium grade HP and Kodak
paper.
Anyway wheels removed, perfect prints.
Thanks again.
Dave.
 
And thank you so much. You've solved my problem.
Click to expand...

You're welcome and I'm pleased to hear it.
Anyway wheels removed, perfect prints.
Click to expand...

What amazes me is that the solution seems to have no adverse effects, so
why are the wheels there in the first place?


Jon.
 
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