Videojet Printhead Carriage Position Error Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing a Videojet printhead carriage position error on your Dataflex 6530 or 6330 printer. This error may interrupt your printing operations and impact productivity. We've provided the following steps to quickly resolve this issue.

Troubleshooting Guide

1. Print head gap adjustment:

Keep printhead gap within 1-5mm range to prevent triggering errors. Correct measurements are critical for accurate calibration. The easiest way to check this gap is to manually move the printhead up and down. Pay attention to the gap between the peel shaft and the print head. If they are touching or very close, there may be a printer problem. Some issues that can cause gaps are: removing the printer from the packaging line and improperly positioning the printer subjecting the peel shaft to bending forces, the printhead or pivot magnet not holding the printhead in place, damaged timing belt teeth, damaged pivot assembly and improper belt tension.

2.Print position setting:

Properly align the print position on the drum and avoid extremes in both directions for seamless printing. This is suitable for continuous printing applications. The printhead must be centered on the platen to obtain optimal print quality and prevent this nasty printhead carriage position error.

3. Car movement inspection:

Turn off the printer and check the carriage for any obstructions or bindings. Clean and lubricate as needed to ensure smooth movement. You need to make sure there are no screws or debris impeding movement. You will definitely experience printhead carriage position errors if something is blocking carriage movement. Printhead carriage motors without sensors can also cause movement issues. The easiest way to find this problem is to remove the motor and manually rotate the motor shaft, if the shaft resists it needs to be replaced. Another issue to be aware of is the missing component of the pivot. When the shim is missing, excessive movement is allowed in the pivot. This movement can cause the pivot assembly to scrape the motherboard during movement, causing the carriage to be positioned incorrectly.

4.Belt tensioning considerations:

 Optimize belt tension to promote smooth transport movement and mitigate potential errors.

5. Nozzle motor inspection:

There is a very simple test that will cycle through the head infinitely without applying energy to the print head. Over the past 9 years we have found that if the print head carriage is in the wrong position during this test, it is most likely a bad motor or PCB.

In summary, Videojet print head carriage position error, from carefully adjusting the print head gap to a thorough inspection of key components and electrical connections, every step in the troubleshooting process plays a vital role in identifying and correcting the underlying problem.