HP ThinkJet, QuietJet, and QuietJet Plus Printers - Print Cartridge, Installation, Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide

	Introduction
	Installation
	Maintenance
	Troubleshooting

Introduction

This document provides information on how to install, maintain and troubleshoot the print cartridges for the HP ThinkJet and HP QuietJet and QuietJet Plus printers. Refer to the appropriate sections below. The HP ThinkJet and HP QuietJet printers support two types of black, disposable print cartridges. Print cartridge P/N 92261A is used when printing on HP JetPaper and print cartridge P/N 51604A is used for plain paper.

Installation

Follow the steps below:

1. Open the print cartridge container, and take out the print cartridge; set it aside. If you have the HP QuietJet printer discard the white/yellow rectangular object and the clear plastic disc. If you have the HP ThinkJet printer keep the rectangular (absorber) object.
2. Open the printer's front cover: Reference Figure 1 (below) for the HP QuietJet, or Figure 2 for the HP ThinkJet.

Figure 1: HP QuietJet: Opening front cover.

1. Open the HP QuietJet printer's front cover by placing both hands on the front cover and gently pressing down on the tear window while pulling the cover toward you. See Figure 1 above.

Figure 2: HP ThinkJet: Opening front cover

1. Open the HP ThinkJet printer's cover by lifting the cover up and toward you. See Figure 2 above.

3. For the HP ThinkJet printer, (the HP QuietJet does not have one) replace the Absorber with the clean one removed from the Cartridge package. Reference step 1 above and Figure 3 below. A pencil or pen tip may be useful in removing the old one by placing the tip in the top hole of the pad.

Figure 3: HP ThinkJet Absorber pad, top insert clean pad, bottom insert dirty pad.

4. Prime the print cartridge by gently pushing the end of a straightened paper clip, or similar object, about .25 of an inch into the hole in the rear of the print cartridge. Gently push the ink bladder until a drop of ink appears on the face of the print cartridge. See Figure 4 below. Wipe the print cartridge face with a soft tissue. Be careful, excessive force will puncture the bladder! See Figure 4 below.

Figure 4: Priming the print cartridge.

1. Insert upper left: Inserting the paper clip on bottom of cartridge.
2. Insert upper right: recommended distance.
3. Center view, cartridge inverted, showing the ink drop.

5. Pull the carriage cradle latch down toward you. Step 1 in Figure 5 below.
6. Set the print cartridge in the cradle (Step 2 Figure 5 below) and push the cradle latch back to lock the print cartridge in place. Step 3 in Figure 5 below.

Figure 5: Cartridge install

Maintenance

To maintain the print cartridge for optimum use, follow the steps below.

1. Avoid touching the face of the print head cartridge with fingers.
2. Periodically check the ink level of the print cartridge. If the bladder inside the cartridge is collapsed (See Figure 6 below) then the ink supply is nearly depleted and the cartridge needs to be replaced.

Figure 6: Ink cartridge, collapsed bladder

3. If the printer has not been used for a prolonged period, or if dust has accumulated on the print cartridge face, you may need to gently wipe the face of the print cartridge with a damp lint-free cloth to maintain best print quality. See Figure 7 upper left insert below.

Figure 7: Cartridge cleaning, contacts cleaning.

4. Avoid allowing the print cartridge face to come into prolonged contact with other materials.
5. Use the print cartridge before the expiration date printed on the package.

Troubleshooting

If dots are missing from a printout, remove the print cartridge from the printer. Generally, one of five print cartridge problems has occurred:

1. The Carriage latch is not closed tightly, resulting in a poor electrical connection between the print cartridge and the contacts on the printer. (Reference step 6 in the Installing section.
2. Contacts on the print cartridge or the printer carriage are dirty. Reference step 3 in the Maintenance Section above.
   1. For the contacts use a foam or lint-free Q-tip dampened with water as shown in Figure 7 of the Maintenance section above.
3. Dust is clogging the print cartridge faceplate (chrome square area). See step 3 in the Maintenance section above.
4. The print cartridge requires priming. Perform Step 4 of the installation section above. Reference Figure 4 above.
5. The print cartridge is out (or is running out) of ink. See step 2 in the Maintenance section above. Reference Figure 6.

If the cartridge is replaced and the problem persists, the print head voltage may be out of specification, causing damage to the print cartridges. Contact an authorized repair technician for assistance.

Copyright (C) Hewlett-Packard Co. 1999
This information is subject to change without notice and
is provided "as is" with no warranty.
Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for any direct,
indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages
in connection with the use of this material.