Storage of the GTX4 Printer

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STORAGE OF THE GTX4 PRINTER
This document will cover the Short-term & Long-term storage of the GTX4 printer.
 
Before you place your printer in either short-term or long-term storage you need certain maintenance items on hand.
 
For short-term and long-term storage: If the Printer is Setup with White ink and CMYK Ink (NOT in White Ink Pause Mode.)
 
 

For short-term and long-term storage: If the Printer is Setup to Print CMYK ink only without White ink loaded (WITH White Ink Pause Mode enabled)
You will need the items mentioned above and 2 of the following:
 
 

Things to know before you proceed.
      •    Do not turn the printer off. Otherwise, the printer may be damaged. If the power source to the printer cannot be sustained, please contact your dealer in advance.
      •    If any error message is displayed on the screen, follow the instructions to correct the error prior to proceeding.
      •    If you will not be using the printer for more than a month it is suggested to put the printer in White Ink Pause Mode. This process is explained further down in this document. Click Here for how to place the printer in this mode.
•    When not using the printer for more than two weeks you will need to thoroughly clean the printhead nozzle guards, wiper blade and exhaust caps. For details on how to clean these key areas please refer to the documents listed below:
          o   Cleaning the Nozzle Guards 
          o   Refilling the Cleaning Solution Tank
          o   Cleaning the Rubber Caps (please note in this document you are to use the cleaning stick T and not R as shown in the document for cleaning).
          o   Cleaning the Wiper Blade (please note in this document you are to use the cleaning stick T and not R as shown in the document for cleaning).
          o   Emptying the Waste Tank
 

                                                                                                                                                                                              
 
If the Printer is Setup to Print with White ink & CMYK ink (Not in White Ink Pause Mode)

If using the printer within 2 weeks
The printer can operate normally after a short storage period by performing the following maintenance tasks.
 
1.    Check the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank, and if the tank is halfway filled or higher with waste ink, discard the ink.
2.    Check the amount of cleaning solution in the cleaning liquid tank and refill the tank when its amount is below the proper level.
3.    After 7 days of none-use, a message should appear on the printer panel requesting for you to agitate the white ink. 
      a.    Remove the W12 ink cartridge.
      b.    Agitate the white ink within the pouch and reinsert the cartridge back into the printer. Repeat for the W34 cartridge.
      c.    Press the OK button on the printer panel.
      d.    As required, print out a nozzle check pattern for both the CMYK and White ink heads.
 
 
If NOT using the printer for more than 2 weeks
Perform the following maintenance every two weeks. 
1.    Check the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank, and if the tank is halfway filled or higher with waste ink, discard the ink.
2.    Check the amount of cleaning solution in the cleaning liquid tank and refill the tank when its amount is below the proper level.
3.    After 14 days of none-use, a message should appear on the printer panel requesting for you to agitate the white ink. 
      a.    Remove the White Ink 12 cartridge.
      b.    Agitate the white ink within the pouch and reinsert the cartridge back into the printer. Repeat for the W34 cartridge.
      c.    Press the OK button on the printer panel.
      d.    As required, print out a nozzle check pattern for both the CMYK and White ink heads.
      e.    If a non-firing nozzle is found, perform a head normal cleaning and run the nozzle check pattern print again, and verify the results.
4.    Repeat Step 3 every 14 days.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                             
 
If the Printer is Setup to Print CMYK ink only (With White Ink Pause Mode is Enabled)

If the printer will not be used for more than a month it is suggested to put the printer in White Ink Pause Mode. This will require the purchase of 2 Maintenance Solution pouches. The maintenance tasks are explained below after the maintenance solution has been introduced to the white ink side. 

Click here for the steps on how to put your printer in White Ink Pause Mode.
Click here to learn how reinstall the White Ink when want to start printing again. 
 
 
If using the printer within 2 weeks with white ink pause mode enabled do the following.
The printer can operate normally after a short storage period by performing the following maintenance tasks.
1.    Check the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank, and if the tank is halfway filled or higher with waste ink, discard the ink.
2.    Check the amount of cleaning solution in the cleaning liquid tank and refill the tank when its amount is below the proper level.
3.    As required, print out a nozzle check pattern for the color side. When in White ink pause mode, print the nozzle check patterns for the CMYK head only.
 

more than 2 weeks with white ink pause mode

Perform the following maintenance every two weeks.
1.    Check the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank, and if the tank is halfway filled or higher with waste ink, discard the ink.
2.    Check the amount of cleaning solution in the cleaning liquid tank and refill the tank when its amount is below the proper level.
3.    As required, print out a nozzle check pattern for the color side. When in White ink pause mode, print the nozzle check patterns for the CMYK head only.
4.    If a non-firing nozzle is found on the CMYK side, perform a head cleaning and run the nozzle check pattern print again.
5.    Perform a normal white head cleaning.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                             
 
 
Disabling the White Ink 
If you do not plan to use the white ink for 1 month or longer, it is recommended to set the printer to white ink pause mode. This eliminates the necessity to maintain the white ink and saves its consumption. This will require the purchase of 2 Maintenance Solution pouches to start this process to replace the white ink.
<NOTE>
Although the white ink pause mode can be activated even when the remaining volume of maintenance solution in the maintenance solution pouch is running short, there may be a case where the pouch needs to be replaced with a new one in the middle of the process depending on such remaining volume. If the remaining volume is 500 g (17.6 oz) or less, prepare a new maintenance solution pouch, follow the instructions on the screen to replace the pouch, and activate the mode again.
   1.    From the menu, select [Maintenance] > [White Ink Pause Mode] > [Enable].
   2.    Check the amount of waste ink in the waste ink tank, and if the tank is halfway filled or higher with waste ink, discard the ink. Then press      . 
   3.    Remove the white ink cartridge from the printer.
         <CAUTION>
        •    The bottom of the cartridge may be soiled with ink. Clean the printer on a regular basis. 

 
 
4.    Open the cartridge's lid.
     <IMPORTANT>
      •    When opening the lid, be sure not to touch portion (a). Otherwise, it could be damaged.
      •    Place the entire cartridge on a flat surface, push the latches on the bottom surface of the cartridge downward and gently slide open the lid
 

 
5.    Pinch the latch at the front end of the ink pouch and lift the white ink pouch from the cartridge.
     <CAUTION>
      •    Remove the accumulated ink at the tip of the cartridge with a waste cloth (non-fuzzy cloth). Clean the printer on a regular basis.
 

 
6.    Place the maintenance solution pouch in the cartridge.
 
       Push the tip end of the maintenance solution pouch into the cartridge until it clicks into place.
 
       Straighten the maintenance solution pouch in such a manner that it will be aligned with the gutter of lid of cartridge, and mount into position by pulling it with your hand.
    <NOTE>
      •    If the edge of the ink pouch is bent or undulating significantly, make it straight with your hand.
 

 
7.    Place the maintenance solution pouch in its correct position.
      <CAUTION>
       •    Avoid touching portion (a) of the cartridge. Otherwise, you may cut your hand. 

 
 
8.    Close the lid and reinsert the cartridge with the maintenance solution pouch back into the printer’s ink bay.
9.    Repeat the same process to replace the other white ink cartridge with the maintenance solution pouch.
10.    On the printer panel, press      . 
 
Then, the white ink will be replaced with the maintenance solution. 
     <TIPS>
       •    After the procedures are completed, the current screen will go back to the standby mode screen.
       •    If the maintenance solution pouch runs out, replace the maintenance solution pouch with a new one.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                             
 

When you want to resume printing with White Ink, perform the following operations to replace the Maintenance Solution in the lines with the White Ink.
 
Reinitializing the white ink 
1.    From the menu, select [Maintenance] > [White Ink Pause Mode] > [Disable]
2.    Check the waste ink tank level and take a necessary measure for it, if any, then press      . 
3.    Remove the maintenance solution cartridge from the printer.
      <CAUTION>
      •    The bottom of the cartridge may be soiled with ink. Clean the cartridge on a regular basis. 
 

 
4.    Open the cartridge's lid.
      <IMPORTANT>
       •    When opening the lid, be sure not to touch portion (a). Otherwise, it could be damaged.
       •    Place the entire cartridge on a flat surface, push the latches on the bottom surface of the cartridge downward and gently slide open the lid. 

 

 
5.    Remove the maintenance solution pouch from the cartridge, and put the white ink pouch in place.
 
       Push the tip end of the ink pouch into the cartridge until it clicks into place.
 
       Straighten the ink pouch in such a manner that it will be aligned with the gutter of the lid of cartridge, and straighten the position by pulling it with your hand.
     <NOTE>
       •    If the edge of the ink pouch is bent or undulating significantly, make it straight with your hand. 
 

6.    Ensure that the white ink pouch is set in its correct position, to close the lid. 
    <CAUTION>
       •    Avoid touching portion (a) of cartridge. Otherwise, you may cut your hand.
 

7.    Gently Shake the cartridge 100 times, side to side to agitate the ink.
   <IMPORTANT>
      •    The white ink cartridge should be held horizontally when shaking it.
      •    Holding the white ink cartridge upside down or shaking it too roughly could break the ink pouch.
    <NOTE>
     •    Wear the provided gloves when performing this task. 
     •    When the remaining ink level becomes approximately 5.9 in. (15 cm), shake the cartridge with its cover open and with the edge of the ink pouch slightly winded, to make the ink easier to agitate
 

 
8.    Open the lid of the cartridge and place the ink pouch in its correct position.
    <IMPORTANT>
      •    Always open the cartridge lid and properly rewind the ink pouch. If the pouch is placed without opening the lid, ink can flow into the wound section of the pouch when agitating, causing improper winding of the pouch.
      •    When opening the lid, place the entire cartridge on a flat surface, push the latches on the bottom surface of the cartridge downward and gently slide open the lid.
      •    When setting the ink pouch, avoid unevenness or wrinkles on the pouch.
      •    When opening the lid, be sure not to touch the portion (a). Otherwise, it could be damaged.

   <NOTE>
      •    If the remaining ink level is low, hold the sagged part of the ink pouch and close the lid. See image below.
 

9.    Close the lid and gently reinsert the white ink cartridge into the correlating slot in the printer ink bay.
    <IMPORTANT>
•    W12 and W34 cartridges should be correctly placed at their original locations. Wrongly placed cartridges could cause printer malfunction.
10.    Repeat the same process to replace the other maintenance solution cartridge with the white ink pouch.
11.    On the operation panel, press       .
Then, the white ink will be installed
    <TIPS>
      •    When the white ink pouch runs low on its remaining volume of white ink, the Install Ink function can no longer get started. Furthermore, there may be cases where the pouch needs to be replaced with a new one during the installation process of white ink. If the remaining volume is 400 g (14.1 oz) or less, prepare a new white ink pouch, follow the instructions on the screen to replace the pouch, and activate the mode again.
      •    After the procedures are completed, the current screen will go back to the standby mode screen.

For additional support on the direct to garment printers, please visit www.BrotherDTG.com/Support

 
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