Microcom 226 Users Guide - Manual (Page 44)

Maintenance and Adjustments Chapter 6
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426 User’s Guide
6.2 Thermal Printer Card
Decline in print quality, voids, or drop out areas in bar codes and/or graphics may indicate
that the print head is dirty and needs to be cleaned. The necessary cleaning materials can
be purchased through Microcom Corporation by contacting your sales representative and
ordering the Cleaning Kit, part # 040005-0000. The print head should be cleaned after every
roll of media or after every 512 feet (a typical stack of tag or fanfold media is about 3200
tags).
A thermal printer card is the quickest and easiest way to clean the print head, drive roller,
and peel edge all at the same time. Follow the steps below for the proper cleaning
procedure.
1. Remove any installed media.
2. Dampen both sides of one end of the cleaning card with isopropyl alcohol.
3. While pushing down on the Head Lift Lever, insert the card into the front of the printer
between the print head and the peel edge (See Figure 14).
4. Continue inserting the card until you feel resistance, now release the Head Lift Lever.
5. Using both hands, slowly pull the card out of the printer at a 45º down angle (See
Figure 15).
6. Repeat as necessary
7. Reinstall media.
Thermal cleaning cards should not be used more than three times each and extremely dirty
cards should be disposed of immediately.
CAUTION: Never touch or clean the print head with any abrasive
solvents and/or with any metal or sharp object.