Cleaning the ZD421C Printhead
Cleaning the ZD421C Printhead

Cleaning the ZD421C Printhead

Clean the printer's printhead often to maximize print quality and printer life.
Always use a new cleaning pen on the printhead (an old pen carries contaminants from its previous use that may damage the printhead).
The printhead becomes hot while printing. To protect from damaging the printhead and risk of personal injury, avoid touching the printhead. Only use the cleaning pen to perform printhead maintenance.
The discharge of electrostatic energy that accumulates on the surface of the human body or other surfaces can damage or destroy the printhead and other electronic components used in this device. You must observe static-safe procedures when working with the printhead or the electronic components under the top cover.
When you load new media or ribbon cartridges, you can also clean the printhead.
  1. The printer is open for replacing the media roll or performing printer service.
  2. Pull the two release arms out to release the ribbon drive transport. See Accessing the Printhead of the Ribbon Cartridge Printer for more details.
  3. Lift the printhead actuator arm up to gain access to the printhead.
  4. Rub the cleaning pen across the dark area of the printhead. Clean from the middle to the outside. This will move adhesive transferred from the outer edges of media to the area outside of the media path.
    Shows cleaning the printhead
  5. Wait one minute before closing the printer.
  6. Release the printhead actuator arm (it swings down) and then push the ribbon drive transport up into the printhead actuator arm. The release arms will snap into place relinking the ribbon drive transport to the top cover and the printhead actuator arm.