Need help?Do you have a question about the Entrust Sigma Series and is the answer not in the manual?
Details routine printer cleaning tasks and procedures for the printer.
Steps for using the cleaning card with a single-hopper printer.
Steps for using the cleaning card with a multi-hopper printer.
The Entrust Sigma Series Card Printer is a sophisticated device designed for the efficient and high-quality printing of cards. This cleaning guide provides essential information and procedures to ensure the printer operates optimally and maintains superior print quality over time.
The Entrust Sigma Series Card Printer is primarily used for printing on various card stocks, likely for identification, access control, or financial applications. Its core function involves precisely applying images and data onto cards. The printer is designed to handle different types of card stock, and its performance is directly linked to the cleanliness of its internal components. Regular cleaning is crucial to prevent common printing issues such as unprinted lines, color inconsistencies, or white lines on completed cards, which often indicate dirt or contaminants on the printhead or other card path components.
The printer is designed for ease of use, with clear instructions for routine operations and maintenance. It features an LCD panel that provides status updates and alerts, such as "Cleaning required," to prompt users when maintenance is due. The printer supports both single-hopper and multi-hopper configurations, catering to different volume and card handling needs.
For single-hopper printers, the process of loading cleaning cards involves unlocking the printer and input hopper, opening the printer cover to remove the print ribbon cartridge or cassette, closing the cover, opening the input hopper cover, removing any unprinted cards (handling them by the edges or with inspection gloves), loading the cleaning card into the input hopper, and then closing and locking the input hopper.
For multi-hopper printers, the procedure is similar but involves pulling out the multi-hopper exception slide to insert the cleaning card, then pushing the exception slide back in. After the cleaning card is loaded, users are guided to run the cleaning cycle via the LCD panel. The panel displays messages like "Ready SIGMA," "Suspended: SIGMA Menu available," "Suspended: Main Menu > Maintenance," "Suspended: Cleaning Card > Start," and "Busy Insert cleaning card 172" to guide the user through the process. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, the isopropanol cleaning card is ejected into the output hopper or the printer reject tray, depending on whether the printer has locks.
After cleaning, the printer needs to be prepared for use. This involves unlocking the printer, replacing cards in the input hopper (for single-hopper printers), installing a new cleaning roller on the ribbon cartridge, loading the print ribbon, closing and latching the printer cover, and finally locking the printer. The used cleaning card and cleaning roller should be discarded.
The Entrust Sigma Series Card Printer emphasizes a proactive maintenance schedule to ensure consistent print quality and prolong the life of the device. The cleaning kit (part number 53164-001) contains all necessary supplies, including adhesive cleaning rollers, cleaning swabs, isopropanol cleaning cards, lapping sticks, and card inspection gloves.
Routine cleaning tasks are recommended each time the ribbon is changed or every 500 cards. This primarily involves cleaning the printer with an isopropanol cleaning card and replacing the adhesive cleaning roller. The cleaning roller is a critical component that removes dust and particles from cards before they enter the printer, preventing contamination of the print path and printhead. Replacing it involves opening the printer cover, removing the print ribbon cartridge, detaching the used roller, loading a new roller onto the cartridge, and removing its protective wrapper.
Beyond routine cleaning, specific issues may necessitate additional cleaning procedures:
The printhead, while not requiring routine cleaning, can accumulate debris that causes horizontal lines in printed images. Cleaning the printhead is a delicate but crucial task. It involves powering off the printer, unlocking and opening the printer cover, retracting the printhead protective cover using its side handles, and then gently scrubbing the printhead edge with a cleaning swab. The swab should be held vertically, and pressure applied with a thumb, scrubbing back and forth quickly for at least 10 seconds. After cleaning, the printer cover is closed and latched, and the printer is powered on to print a sample card to verify print quality.
If horizontal lines persist after cleaning with a swab, a lapping stick can be used in a similar manner, followed by another cleaning with a swab. It is crucial to avoid touching the printhead edge with bare fingers or sharp objects, as skin oils and physical damage can permanently impair print quality. Cleaning swabs are single-use items, while lapping sticks can be reused by utilizing a clean spot on the lapping paper.
Proper card handling is integral to maintaining print quality and reducing the frequency of cleaning. Users are advised to purchase quality card stock free from burrs, scratches, or surface defects. Blank cards should be handled by their edges only, preferably with card inspection gloves, to prevent grease or oils from fingers from contaminating the print surface. Dropped cards should be cleaned with a lint-free cloth before use. Certain substances like organic solvents, soft vinyl chlorides, hand lotions, hairdressing products, or cosmetics should be kept away from cards as they can cause discoloration or fading. Cards should also be stored away from direct sunlight, high temperatures, and high humidity to preserve their quality.
By adhering to these comprehensive cleaning and handling guidelines, users can ensure the Entrust Sigma Series Card Printer consistently delivers high-quality card prints and maintains its operational longevity.
General| Print Technology | Dye Sublimation |
|---|---|
| Print Resolution | 300 dpi |
| Connectivity | USB, Ethernet |
| Supported Card Sizes | CR80 (85.6 x 54 mm) |
| Operating System Compatibility | Windows |
| Print Capabilities | Full color, monochrome |
| Encoding Options | Magnetic stripe, smart card, contactless |
To Next Page
