I would suggest stick with the regular cleaning process as this does work - it might take a good few goes but so long as the head isn't shot it should clear eventually. It also can take a very long time to actually get to the blockage as the contaminants tend to settle and the nozzle in the print head is unbelievably small.ĭuring the head cleaning cycle, the printer will dump a small amount of ink onto a pad under the head, which should in theory soften any blockage from the paper side of the head itself and is more efficient that trying to get a solvent in from the back.
You can get "cleaner cartridges" that are supposed to clear blockages, but the performance of these is variable and depends on whether or not the solvent in them is compatible with the ink you've been using. If you remove the cartridge to soak it very little would happen, as the cartridges reseal when you remove them so you don't get drenched if you change a cartridge before it's dry.
#Epson printer drivers r200 install#
When you install a cartridge into these beasts you break a seal on the cartridge and the printer uses a delivery system between the cartridge and the head. They have a permanent head that stays in-situ for the life of the printer. Good idea, but sadly Epson's don't have the nozzles on the cartridge like HP do, for example. It softens the surface ink enough for the cleaning utilities to do a better job. Not sure how your ink cartridges are set up, but when I get a bad clog, I set them in a bowl of warm water, enough to just cover the nozzles, with some dish soap added, for about an hour.