User's Manual

99
Routine Maintenance
Cleaning Schedule and Procedures
5/12/08 ZM™ Series/RZ™ Series User Guide 79695L-002 Rev. A
Cleaning Schedule and Procedures
Specific cleaning procedures are provided on the following pages. Table 14 shows the
recommended cleaning schedule. These intervals are intended as guidelines only. You may
have to clean more often, depending upon your application and media.
.
Clean the Exterior
You may clean the exterior surfaces of the printer with a lint-free cloth and a small amount of a
mild detergent, if necessary. Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaning agents or solvents.
Important • Zebra is not responsible for damage caused by the use of cleaning fluids on this
printer.
Table 14 • Recommended Cleaning Schedule
Area Method Interval
Printhead Solvent* Direct Thermal Mode: After every roll of
media (or 500 feet of fanfold media).
Thermal Transfer Mode: After every roll of
ribbon or three rolls of media.
Platen roller Solvent*
Media sensors Air blow
Ribbon sensor Air blow
Media path Solvent*
Ribbon path Solvent*
Pinch roller (part of Peel-Off option) Solvent*
Cutter
module
If cutting continuous,
pressure-sensitive media
Solvent* After every roll of media (or more often,
depending upon your application and media).
If cutting tag stock or label
liner material
Solvent* and
air blow
After every two or three rolls of media.
Tear-off/peel-off bar Solvent* Once a month.
Take-label sensor Air blow Once every six months.
* Zebra recommends using Preventive Maintenance Kit (part number 47362). In place of this kit, you may use a clean swab
dipped in a solution of isopropyl alcohol (minimum 90%) and deionized water (maximum 10%).
100
Routine Maintenance
Cleaning Procedures
5/12/08 ZM™ Series/RZ™ Series User Guide 79695L-002 Rev. A
Clean the Printhead and Platen Roller
You can minimize printhead wear and maintain print quality with regular preventive measures.
Over time, the movement of media or ribbon across the printhead wears through the protective
ceramic coating, exposing and eventually damaging the print elements (dots). To avoid
abrasion:
• Clean the printhead frequently, and use well-lubricated thermal transfer ribbons with
backings optimized to reduce friction.
• Minimize printhead pressure and burn temperature settings by optimizing the balance
between the two.
• Ensure that the thermal transfer ribbon is as wide or wider than the label media to prevent
exposing the elements to the more abrasive label material.
For best results, clean the printhead after changing every roll of ribbon. Inconsistent print
quality, such as voids in the bar code or graphics, may indicate a dirty printhead.
Figure 15 • Location of the Printhead and Platen Roller
Caution • While performing any tasks near an open printhead, remove all rings, watches,
hanging necklaces, identification badges, or other metallic objects that could touch the
printhead. You are not required to turn off the printer power when working near an open
printhead, but Zebra recommends it as a precaution. If you turn off the power, you will lose
all temporary settings, such as label formats, and you must reload them before you resume
printing.
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Note • For printers with a peel assembly, keep the peel assembly closed while cleaning the
platen roller to reduce the risk of bending the tear-off/peel-off bar.
1
Printhead assembly
2
Platen roller
1
2