EPSON stylus color 640 help info change ink cartridge please !

  • Thread starter Thread starter Catherine Jemma
  • Start date Start date
C

Catherine Jemma

Hi folks

Friends upgrading their computer system, gave me their old printer, complete
with the original cdrom and a brand-new colour ink cartridge, warning me it
had run out of ink

Well now, a year or so later I've got this computer fixed, I've connected
the wires and got the software drivers loaded all ok

The computer goes through the motions and the traces of ink on the paper
seem to indicate that it is attempting to print ok. The head moves back and
forth and the paper feeds through ok

However I can't for the life of me work out how to lock the printhead in the
*exposed* position so that I can remove the old ink cartridge and install
the new one I's given

I's never given any paper-handbook that may have come with this printer
originally and the little pictorial stickers inside the lid are pretty
useless

Holding down the selected "head clean" button for the 3 seconds as indicated
seem to engage a cleaning mode. But nothing I do or try will make the head
pop out from it's hidden position on the right side of the printer, and STAY
LOCKED OUT there so I can change the ink cartridge

There's obviously a way of doing this

*Help please* Replies to my email are appreciated

many thanks

Catherine
Outback Western Australia

(e-mail address removed)
 
The cd-rom should have the owners manual in one of its directories. If not,
have you tried to get a user manual from the manufacturers web site? Most of
them have files for downloading. You could also try disconnecting the power
cord while the print head is in the 'exposed' position.
 
Catherine Jemma said:
Hi folks

Friends upgrading their computer system, gave me their old printer, complete
with the original cdrom and a brand-new colour ink cartridge, warning me it
had run out of ink

Well now, a year or so later I've got this computer fixed, I've connected
the wires and got the software drivers loaded all ok

The computer goes through the motions and the traces of ink on the paper
seem to indicate that it is attempting to print ok. The head moves back and
forth and the paper feeds through ok

However I can't for the life of me work out how to lock the printhead in the
*exposed* position so that I can remove the old ink cartridge and install
the new one I's given

I's never given any paper-handbook that may have come with this printer
originally and the little pictorial stickers inside the lid are pretty
useless

Holding down the selected "head clean" button for the 3 seconds as indicated
seem to engage a cleaning mode. But nothing I do or try will make the head
pop out from it's hidden position on the right side of the printer, and STAY
LOCKED OUT there so I can change the ink cartridge

There's obviously a way of doing this

*Help please* Replies to my email are appreciated

many thanks

Catherine
Outback Western Australia

(e-mail address removed)
Click to expand...

Lower the output tray
Lift the top cover
Press the load/eject button until the head moves to the left
Replace the cartridge
Press the load/eject button and close the top cover
The printer should then go through a cleaning cycle (about 1 minute)
Good luck
Tony
 
Thanks Tony I seem to be winning. And thanks drc I'll try Googling for a
manufacturer's website book (if there was instructions on the cdrom, I
couldn't find them)

thanks again

Cath
 
The printer seems to be working well now thanks

However it seems that I'd also need a new B+W ink cartridge as well. I'd
noticed it has a 2nd smaller position to the left of the colour cartridge
(where I'm assuming a smaller, black-ink-only cartridge goes)

Previously I'd thought that colour printers simply squirted out a mix of RGB
colours to make up black

I guess with this Epsom model, that a dedicated Black cartridge is supposed
to save on colour ink use when just printing black/grey text (previous
printers I had were just B+W)

I've done some test pages off of websites and the output seems partly ok.
Printing the first page of my 'blog, some text is clear and other is very
faint, I'm assuming that coloured text is printing well and Black text very
poorly. Now that I know all the rest of this printer seems ok
(paper-feed etc), I'll buy a Black-ink cartridge for it next time I make my
monthly supply-run into civilisation

cheers
 
Catherine Jemma said:
The printer seems to be working well now thanks

However it seems that I'd also need a new B+W ink cartridge as well. I'd
noticed it has a 2nd smaller position to the left of the colour cartridge
(where I'm assuming a smaller, black-ink-only cartridge goes)

Previously I'd thought that colour printers simply squirted out a mix of RGB
colours to make up black

I guess with this Epsom model, that a dedicated Black cartridge is supposed
to save on colour ink use when just printing black/grey text (previous
printers I had were just B+W)

I've done some test pages off of websites and the output seems partly ok.
Printing the first page of my 'blog, some text is clear and other is very
faint, I'm assuming that coloured text is printing well and Black text very
poorly. Now that I know all the rest of this printer seems ok
(paper-feed etc), I'll buy a Black-ink cartridge for it next time I make my
monthly supply-run into civilisation

cheers
Click to expand...

So I guess courier delivery is slightly absurd in your part of the big Island :)

Yes you are right, from what you describe a black cartridge should do the trick
hopefully.

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/...=Doc&oid=14424&prodoid=8277&category=Products

for the user and other manuals.
Best wishes
Tony
 
You can download the full manual at:

http://files.support.epson.com/pdf/sc640_/sc640_u1.pdf

It will be a pdf file.

Look within it for a section on replacing an "outdated" or expired
cartridge. You will need to hold one or more front panel buttons to
make the head move into the change cartridge location.

It is better to do it this way rather than to manually unlock the head
because after the new cartridge is in place, the printer will engage in
a longer purging cycle, to type to help clear the head of all ink and air.

However, if replacing the cartridge doesn't resolve the situation, email
me and I will send you a manual with information on how to fix it all.


e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)com

(at) = @ (dot) =.

Art
 
I'm amazed it works at all without the black cartridge installed. Most
Epson printers do not.

Art
 
Back
Top