Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
Tony wrote:
>
> Scott <golden@uslink.net> wrote:
> >Tony wrote:
> >>
> >> Scott <golden@uslink.net> wrote:
> >> >I have an HP 722C printer that's at least 7-8 years old. It's been a
> >> >real workhouse. I just installed a new black print cartridge. After
> >> >half a day, I started seeing light-colored horizontal bands on the
> >> >printed sheets. The black ink doesn't seem to go on as thick as
> >> >it always has. Also, the print head is pooling black ink on the head
> >> >(which is probably causing the lighter bands). When I clean it, it's
> >> >fine for awhile. Does this sound like the printer cartridge, or is
> >> >my trust old 722C starting to show it's age?
> >> >
> >> >Thanks!
> >> >Scott
> >>
> >> Scott
> >> Almost certainly the print cartrdige, I suggest that you return it as faulty.
> >> It is pretty unlikely that the printer itself would fail in that way
> >> Tony
> >
> >Tony,
> >
> >Yes, that's what I thought, so I returned the cartridge to Wal-Mart. I then
> >went and re-purchased at Office Max. When I tried the new black cartridge,
> >same
> >problem---black ink pooling on the print head, causing light printing. Color
> >prints fine. So that tells me it's the printer (manufactured April 1998).
> >
> >Fortunately, about a year ago, I bought a used HP 722C on eBay, and I've kept
> >it as a backup. So I connected it, transferred the print cartridges, and all
> >is working well.
> >
> >The question is, what would cause the black print cartridge to pool ink? The
> >only thing I've done differently lately on my old 722C is to run some
> >four-fold
> >color brochures with glossy finish (folded in half--so it's double standard
> >paper thickness) through the printer to add some info to the brochure. I've
> >done this many times in the past with no problems. Could that have any effect
> >on the print cartridge? I've had the usual number of paper jams in the past,
> >also, but it hasn't seem to have had any effect on the printer operation or
> >the cartridges.
> >
> >Scott
>
> Scott I doubt that what you have done is the cause, nothing wrong with
> reprinting if the paper feed can handle it.
> I suspect the printer is telling the printhead to print at the incorrect time,
> bad luck really. Glad you have a spare.
> Tony
Tony,
Yes, I suspect something has gone wrong with the internal electronics of the printer.
Since my HP722C is 7 years old, and I work it pretty hard 7 days a week, I'm not
surprised it's wearing out. In fact, I'm surprised it's lasted this long. The
spare that I have is very clean inside and appears to have very little use. So,
I'll just keep plugging along. The reason I like the 722C is that it prints to
DOS, and I have a DOS inventory/invoice program that I use constantly. It looks
like most new printers no longer print to DOS. Although, another computer I have,
a WinXP Pro model does print from DOS using a fairly new HP Photosmart printer
(I set it up for printer pooling). However, the text is somewhat lighter than it
should be, and there appears to be no way to adjust the darkness of the text.
Scott