If you’re a small retail business, saving money is always a top priority. So when you’re suddenly faced with a scale printer issue, it can mean a substantial bill. But what if you could solve these issues yourself?
Believe it or not, the majority of print quality issues can be solved by you! Tasks like properly cleaning and leveling your printer can prevent these problems from occurring. And save you time and money in the long run.
So if you’re looking to avoid massive service bills, this article is for you!
CLEANING YOUR SCALE PRINTER
Poor print quality. Paper jams. Trouble removing labels.
Any of these sound familiar? If so, it’s nothing a little cleaning won’t fix!
Proper cleaning can extend the life and enhance the productivity of your scale printer. For the above mentioned issues, you’re likely dealing with a dirty printhead.
So let’s tackle that first.
Remember! Make sure to always switch off the power and unplug your device before cleaning!
THE PRINTHEAD & PRINTER INTERIOR
For scale printers, residue from label adhesive gradually builds up over time. Specifically, on the printhead.
To best remove this, use some of the following items:
- 90% isopropyl alcohol
- Cotton swabs or cleaning wipes
- Cleaning pens
Cleaning pens are a nifty tool for cleaning printheads. However, if you don’t have any, isopropyl alcohol will do the trick.
- Open the label cassette cartridge and remove any labels or liner from inside the printer.
- Remove any label cores
- Gently scrub the printhead until all of the residue is removed.
Make sure you are extremely careful when cleaning the printhead – they are easily damaged and scratched. Never use any metal tools to clean your printhead!
After the printhead is cleaned, wipe down the rest of the interior. This includes:
- Rollers
- Sensors
Failing to clean these sections can also result in print issues.
Allow all parts of the printer to dry before loading labels back into the scale.
Remember, there could be potential complications if your printer isn’t cleaned regularly. So what’s “regular” for scale printers?
At least once a week. Or sooner if your printer sees a lot of use.
Once the interior of your printer is cleaned, don’t forget to pay some attention to the exterior as well.
SCALE & PRINTER EXTERIOR
Yes, the exterior of your scale printer matters, too. Removing dirt or debris along the scale, screen, or buttons avoids inaccurate readings or performance issues.
To clean the scale, use some of the following:
- Warm water and a mild soap or detergent
- Food industry safe solution
- Clean sponge or cloth
Avoid using harmful chemicals that could contaminate food products.
To start, carefully wipe down the scale. Use enough pressure to remove dirt or residue left by products. Do not allow any water to enter the printer openings – this can damage the scale system.
Then wipe down the screen and buttons on the front of the scale printer. Use some of the following:
- Soft cloth (ex: glasses cleaning cloth)
- Glass cleaning agent
Like cleaning the scale, gently wipe down the screen and buttons. Avoid getting excess liquid into any printer openings.
While cleaning is one way to prevent printer issues, it’s not the only one you can perform. Adjusting your printer can quickly solve any accuracy issues you’re dealing with.
CHECK LEVEL ADJUSTMENTS
Is your scale printer clean but still printing inaccurate readings on labels?
An unlevel scale printer might be the culprit. One way to avoid a service call for this issue is to level your scale.
To see if your scale is level, check the level indicator.
The level indicator will look like a bubble surrounded by 2 circles, one large and one small. It’s found either on the front of the printer or under the scale platter.
For the scale printer to be level, the bubble needs to be centered inside the small, inner circle. If any part of the bubble is outside of this circle, the scale is not level.
To level your scale:
- Adjust the 4 level adjustment feet on the bottom of the device
- Rotate them clockwise or counterclockwise
Once the bubble is completely centered inside the level indicator, you’re set!
DON’T FORGET YOUR SCALE LABELS!
Besides cleaning and leveling your printer, you can’t forget about the scale labels. If your labels aren’t printing correctly, the solution could be simple: you didn’t buy the right ones.
You’ll want to guarantee you’re using the right scale label with your printer brand name.
Need help finding scale labels for your newly cleaned and leveled scale printer?
Pinnacle Labels carries a wide variety of scale label sizes and preprints to help meet your business needs. Ready to buy or have questions?
Give our team a call at 800-955-5555 or email us at info@pinnaclelabels.com.