Inkjet Printer Printhead Daily & Holiday Maintenance Manual (Highly Recommended for Reference)
Inkjet Printer Printhead Maintenance Guide
Application Segmentation of Inkjet Printers
Compared with traditional screen printing and plate-based printing, inkjet printers are non-contact printing devices.
In inkjet printing, image data commands are sent by the printing software, processed by RIP software, and transmitted to the control board. After receiving the RIP data, the control board drives the corresponding printhead channels according to the ink sequence settings in the PM software, enabling ink ejection and final image output.
Main Application Areas of Industrial Inkjet Printers
*Advertising & large-format graphics
*Carton & packaging printing
*Books, labels, and commercial printing
*Ceramic decoration
*Textile digital printing
*Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)
*OLED panel printing
*New energy battery cell manufacturing
*Semiconductor industry
*Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Common Types of Inkjet Printers
UV flatbed printers, nano conductive ink printers, digital textile printers, inkjet rotary presses, large-format printers, photo printers, PCB character inkjet printers, anti-corrosion coating systems, UV insulation coating systems, ceramic inkjet printers, etc.
Importance of Printhead Maintenance
The printhead is the core and most precision-critical component of an inkjet printer. Its maintenance is therefore essential.
Correct maintenance methods and good maintenance habits can significantly reduce printhead failures and ensure normal service life.
Proper printhead care not only guarantees print quality but also reduces unnecessary costs, as standard printheads cost several thousand RMB, while high-end printheads can cost tens of thousands.
In addition to daily maintenance, the operating environment has a major impact on printhead reliability. Whenever possible, ensure:
*Temperature: 22 ± 2 °C
*Humidity: 50% ± 20% RH
*Dust-free or cleanroom environment
*Operators wear cleanroom garments
*Electrostatic protection during machine operation and product handling
For detailed cleanroom requirements, refer to:
“Cleanroom Classification Standards and Corresponding Requirements for the Inkjet Printing Industry.”
01. Daily Printhead Maintenance
Common Materials for Daily Maintenance
-
Flat-type lint-free swabs (foam swabs)
-
Ultra-fine microfiber lint-free cloth
(Rough cloth may shed fibers, cause streaks, residue, or nozzle clogging)
-
Dedicated cleaning solution
(Select according to printhead model and ink type; UV ink cleaning solution shown)
-
Glass beaker
Daily Maintenance Procedure
-
Before work
Ensure the carriage is positioned above the capping station. Perform ink priming 2–3 times after powering on to remove air bubbles from the ink path or printhead. -
Pour 10–20 ml of cleaning solution into a glass beaker (sufficient for ~4 printheads).
-
Soak one lint-free swab in the cleaning solution for 15 seconds until fully saturated.
-
Gently wipe the printhead surface horizontally from one end to the other using the soaked swab.
Flip the swab to its clean side and repeat the wipe in the same direction.
⚠ Do not wipe back and forth; always wipe in one direction.
★ Important: Use gentle force to avoid scratching the nozzle plate. -
Use one swab per printhead, wiping twice (front and back). Never reuse swabs on other printheads to prevent contamination.
-
Use a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with cleaning solution to clean areas around the nozzle, including the carriage baseplate, removing ink residue and foreign matter to prevent ink curing buildup.
-
After maintenance, print a nozzle test pattern to confirm there are no new clogged or misfiring nozzles. If issues appear, repeat steps 1–6.
-
After work
Return the carriage to the capping station, turn off printhead power, close secondary ink tank valves (if available), and perform one maintenance cycle. If conditions do not allow, shut down the machine directly.
02. Holiday Printhead Maintenance (5–30 Days)
Required Materials
-
Dedicated cleaning solution
-
Ultra-fine microfiber lint-free cloth
-
Syringe, ink tubing, butterfly filter (for suction assembly)
-
Glass beaker
-
Printhead-specific moisturizing fluid
(Use general moisturizing fluid if dedicated type is unavailable)
-
Plastic wrap
-
Ink tube plugs/connectors
Holiday Maintenance Procedure
-
Drain ink
Disconnect the ink supply tube between the main ink tank and the secondary tank. Drain ink from the secondary tank and printhead using the ink priming or drain pump. -
Flush ink path
Insert the cleaning solution bottle into the secondary tank inlet. Fill the tank with cleaning solution and perform priming 5–10 times to flush ink from tubing, tank, and printhead. -
Disconnect ink tubes
Remove the inlet and outlet ink tubes from the printhead and seal them using plugs/connectors. -
Prepare moisturizing fluid
Pour 30 ml moisturizing fluid into a glass beaker and draw it into the syringe assembly. -
Inject moisturizing fluid
Remove the inlet tube plug, connect the syringe, and inject moisturizing fluid into the printhead. Immediately reseal the inlet to retain fluid inside. Repeat for all printheads and all ink channels. -
Remove printhead for storage
Place 2–3 layers of lint-free cloth soaked with moisturizing fluid under the printhead. Wrap tightly with plastic film to isolate from air and store in a dark place. -
Alternative: Store printhead on carriage
Clean the carriage baseplate. Place soaked lint-free cloth beneath the printhead, wrap the printhead and carriage with plastic film, and store the machine sealed and away from light.
★ Note:
Steps 6 and 7 are alternative options.
-
For machines with fewer printheads and easy alignment (e.g., demo flatbeds), step 6 is recommended.
-
For machines with many printheads or high alignment complexity, step 7 is preferred.
03. Maintenance for Other Holiday Durations
Holiday 3–5 Days
-
UV ink: Daily maintenance is sufficient; stricter conditions may follow 5–30 day procedure.
-
Water-based or solvent inks: Follow the 5–30 day holiday maintenance procedure.
Holiday Over 30 Days
-
Follow steps ①–⑥ of the 5–30 day procedure.
-
Do not perform step ⑦.
Summary
The above procedures cover standard daily and holiday maintenance for inkjet printer printheads.
Due to different industrial processes and application requirements, specific details may vary, so adjustments should be made according to actual operating conditions.