seems reasonable, except that would print the keepalive page even if you had just printed something 5 minutes ago. I suppose it's still worth it if the printer sees such infrequent use that this is worthwhile. though if that's the case, you could just pull the cartridges out and seal them up. I think that's what I'll do in my case.
-wes On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 2:58 PM, Pete Lancashire <[email protected]>wrote: > dont have system with printer where Im at but something like this > > in cron run script once a day > > check the timestamp on a file, if older then 7 days lpr the squirt > file to the printer > touch the file > > the test file is a zero length file in /var, the squirt file is HP > code to print four rectangles > high enough to ensure all nozzles are being used. I used something like > gimp to > create them. Made the height just enough to where it took two passes > of the print head. > > Their width was like 1/10 inch or something like that > > > > > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:41 PM, wes <[email protected]> wrote: > > you could always put the activity-page back in the feed tray whenever you > > see it in the output tray. > > > > I really like this idea. any chance you would be willing to share your > > script? > > > > -wes > > > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:36 PM, Pete Lancashire < > [email protected]>wrote: > > > >> Any inkjet is not going to like going for a long time without > >> printing. BTW a 970 is > >> a great work horse, and comes apart so one can clean the 'drip pan'. I > have > >> two > >> of them. > >> > >> I have a little init job that checks to see if the printer has done > >> anything i a week and > >> if not prints a little test line of a few vertical bars. That took > >> care of the clogging sadly > >> at the expense of paper. > >> > >> Before that a little soak on a wet paper towel for a couple minutes > >> always fixed things > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:23 PM, Denis Heidtmann > >> <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 12:43 PM, Keith Lofstrom <[email protected]> > >> wrote: > >> > > >> >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 09:40:01AM -0700, Denis Heidtmann wrote: > >> >> > > Thanks for all the replies. The printer is sitting not > connected > >> to > >> >> any > >> >> > computer. It goes through the alignment test, where the carriage > >> moves > >> >> > across the paper and a light shines down. I assume that this is > >> locating > >> >> > the paper edge. It then goes back and forth a couple of times, > then > >> >> > abruptly changes to self-test. After 10 or 20 more seconds it > changes > >> >> > to Initializing, ejects the paper, then goes back to the alignment > >> test > >> >> with > >> >> > a request for loading paper. No ink appears on the paper. This > >> endless > >> >> > loop gives me no opportunity to try anything other than power-off. > >> This > >> >> > leads me to discount computer drivers, etc. as the issue. > >> >> > >> >> This is surprisingly like the behavior of my HP2605 color > >> >> laserjet after we moved. > >> >> > >> >> The BIG MISTAKE was moving it with the toner cartridges in it. > >> >> ( Three moves equals one fire, as the saying goes, things get > >> >> broken and lost in the chaos of moving ). The second mistake > >> >> was using a refurb toner cartridge from Office Max, which > >> >> spewed little grains of red toner everywhere. > >> >> > >> >> Most importantly, a grain got into an optical calibration path, > >> >> a pair of millimeter-diameter holes running through one of the > >> >> plastic assemblies to an LED and a phototransistor. IIRC, my > >> >> laser printer has four of these, and uses them to detect paper > >> >> size and make tiny dots on the paper, which are measured to > >> >> precisely align the colors. > >> >> > >> >> I am insane, so I took it apart down to the hundreds of pieces > >> >> level ( color laser printers are complicated ), cleaned > >> >> everything, and got it working again. > >> >> > >> >> Before cleaning the holes, the printer would calibrate repeatedly, > >> >> then give up, with the colors misaligned by 5mm. After cleaning, > >> >> it is lined up within a hairwidth. > >> >> > >> >> I doubt there are as many sensors on a cheap inkjet, but optical > >> >> sensors are easier than switches, so HP may be using the same > >> >> trick (and have the same vulnerabilities). If the former owner > >> >> has dust or shedding cats, then the blockage may be something > >> >> besides dried ink in a cartridge. > >> >> > >> >> Consider asking free geek if they will loan or sell you some > >> >> partly used cartridges for this beast, for testing. > >> >> > >> >> But first you may want to do a deep cleaning. Cut-apart egg > >> >> cartons double-stickied onto a board can hold all the little > >> >> fiddly bits. These compartments correspond with notes in a > >> >> notebook. HP sometimes has detailed service manuals. I've > >> >> considered making many digital photos during disassembly, > >> >> but so far sketches in a repair notebook have been adequate. > >> >> > >> >> Keith > >> > > >> > > >> > Interesting. The Free Geek idea is worth a try. Taking this thing > apart > >> > with the idea of getting it back together is a daunting prospect. I > used > >> to > >> > be very clever at such tasks, but my short-term memory is getting too > >> short, > >> > so I would need a video with instant replay to make a success of the > >> > project. The lack of ink on the paper puts plugged cartridges high on > >> the > >> > list. > >> > > >> > A related question (if this printer never gets resuscitated) is what > >> color > >> > printers are on the recommended list? As a measure of our usage rate, > we > >> go > >> > through cartridges on our present Deskjet 970 at the rate of one of > each > >> > type every 1 1/2 years. A pair of cartridges costs about $67. A > combo > >> > scanner-printer would be nice. Copy and Fax would likely not be used > >> much, > >> > if at all. > >> > > >> > -Denis > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > PLUG mailing list > >> > [email protected] > >> > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > >> PLUG mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug > >> > > _______________________________________________ > > PLUG mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug > > > _______________________________________________ > PLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug > _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
