Canon IP5000 spots on prints

[tim]

I have a 15 month old Canon Pixma ip5000 printer. For the past few months it's occasionally been putting extra bits of ink at the bottom of the page, like there's a little bit of ink laying around inside the printer that the paper has touched. I've cleaned every area I can find but nothing helps.

It's 3 months outside of warranty, but because of consumer laws here i'm going to ask Canon to fix it anyway. But does anyone have a way for me to avoid having to do this? It would be a pain to be without it, since what I mostly print is contracts for customers and onto printable CDs, again for customers.

[asylumxl]

wierd, i assume you've tried using the print head cleaning utitlity to get rid of any rubbish in them? must be a faulty head or something.

[tim]

It's not a print head thing, it's something to do with paper handling as it mainly happens when the page is turned upside down for duplex printing. I've tried print head cleaning and bottom plate cleaning, both option in the printer driver.

[MHP]

rollers maybe? Don't know the ip 5000 but ink on your rollers can do that, especially when turning pages over to quickly after printing the first run, if there any wet ink the rollers will be the first to gather it.

[tim]

That would mean there was something wrong inside, as the rollers must dry between usages - I use it only every few days. I'll take a look, thanks. It's in the dead centre of the page, at the bottom.

[MHP]

maybe out of alignment. can you do an alignment check with the software for it, it's quite easy just follow the procedure.

See if there is a roller in dead centre, you'll know if it's rollers from there i would think. Sometimes I will get it on a bottom corner with my epson, but only after heavy usage or bent paper, or after using heavy paper. also check to see the printer is set to the right paper, if it is set to a heavier paper or image paper it stands to theory that it uses more ink.

[tim]

I did a print head alignment. It's standard office paper, I'll check the rollers thanks

[tweatherred]

Could the "overflow tank" or whatever they call it when you print borderless be full? On my i9900 it is basically a sponge under the carriage. There are instructions for cleaning it on the internet, but I can't find them right now. Anyway, it seems like that could cause the problem you describe.

[tim]

That sponge does have ink on it, and I can't get rid of all of it. Cleaning or replacing it would be a great idea. If you find the link i'd be interested to see it. I've called my supplier who are looking into repairs for me.

[tweatherred]

Here it is:
http://www.neilslade.com/Papers/inkjetstuff11.html
(http://www.neilslade.com/Papers/inkjetstuff11.html)
Obviously its one of those try at your own risk type things, but it imight be helpful. He seems to give a mix of helpful and questionable advice on his website. The relevant portion is way down at the bottom of the page.

[tim]

Thanks! I'll have a read but might just let Canon deal with it.