1. ZT411/ZT421 Industrial Printer User Guide
  2. Routine Maintenance
  3. Cleaning Schedule and Procedures
  4. Cleaning the Printhead and Platen Roller
  • ZT411/ZT421 Industrial Printer User Guide
Cleaning the Printhead and Platen Roller

Cleaning the Printhead and Platen Roller

Inconsistent print quality, such as voids in the barcode or graphics, may indicate a dirty printhead. For the recommended cleaning schedule, see Cleaning Schedule and Procedures.
When cleaning a linerless platen roller, do not wash or scrub, which can damage the platen roller. Remove particles using the adhesive side of linerless media.
While you are not required to turn off printer power when working near an open printhead, Zebra recommends it as a precaution.
If you turn off power, you will lose all temporary settings, such as label formats, and you must reload them before you resume printing.
Before touching the printhead assembly, discharge any built-up static electricity by touching the metal printer frame or by using an anti-static wrist-strap and mat.
  1. Raise the media door.
    Media door opening
    HOT SURFACE:
     The printhead may be hot and could cause severe burns. Allow the printhead to cool.
  2. Open the printhead assembly by rotating the printhead-open lever upward.
    Printhead opening
  3. Remove the ribbon (if used) and the media.
  4. Using the swab from a Zebra Preventive Maintenance Kit, wipe along the brown strip on the printhead assembly from end to end. In place of the Preventive Maintenance Kit, you may use a clean swab dipped in 99.7% isopropyl alcohol. Allow the solvent to evaporate.
    Swabbing the printhead from side to side
  5.
    If you have a...
    Then...
    Linerless platen roller (dark brown)
    Do not use the swab on a linerless platen roller because it can cause damage.
    Lightly touch the linerless platen roller with the sticky side of a linerless label to lift particles off of the exposed area of the platen roller and the media path. Rotate the platen roller to access all sides of it.
    Standard platen roller (white)
    While manually rotating the standard platen roller, clean it thoroughly with the swab. Allow the solvent to evaporate.
    Cleaning a standard platen roller
  6. Reload the ribbon (if used) and the media. For instructions, see Loading the Ribbon or Loading the Media.
  7. Rotate the printhead-open lever downward until it locks the printhead in place.
    Closing the printhead
  8. Close the media door.
    Closing the media door
    The printer is ready to operate.
  9. Press
    PAUSE
     to exit pause mode and enable printing.
    The printer may perform a label calibration or feed a label, depending on your settings.
If performing this procedure does not improve print quality, try cleaning the printhead with Save-A-Printhead cleaning film. This specially coated material removes contamination buildup without damaging the printhead.
Call your authorized Zebra reseller for more information.