When you need to address issues like missing lines or incorrect colors in your Brother printer's output, performing an ink cleaning cycle is the recommended procedure. This process, sometimes referred to conceptually as "flushing" clogged ink from the nozzles, helps to clear blockages in the print head.
Based on the provided reference, here are the steps to perform an ink cleaning cycle on compatible Brother printer models:
Steps to Perform Ink Cleaning on Brother Printer (Based on Reference)
This process involves navigating the printer's control panel menu.
- Initiate the Cleaning Process:
- Look for the INK key on your Brother machine's control panel.
- If present, press the INK key. (Note: The exact button or menu path might vary slightly on models without a dedicated INK key, but the underlying cleaning function remains.)
- Select "Cleaning":
- Use the UP OR DOWN ARROW keys on the control panel.
- Navigate the menu options until you find and select Cleaning.
- Confirm Selection:
- Press the OK key to confirm that you want to proceed with the cleaning function.
- Choose Cleaning Scope:
- Again, use the UP OR DOWN ARROW keys.
- Select the specific ink color(s) you wish to clean. Your options will typically be:
- BLACK: Cleans only the black print head nozzles.
- COLOR: Cleans the color (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) print head nozzles.
- ALL: Cleans both the black and color print head nozzles. Selecting "ALL" is often recommended for general print quality issues.
- Start Cleaning:
- Press the OK key one more time to start the cleaning procedure for the selected color(s).
The printer will now perform the cleaning cycle. This process uses ink to push through the print head nozzles and clear any dried ink or blockages. It can take a few minutes to complete.
What to Expect After Cleaning
After the cleaning cycle finishes, it is highly recommended to perform a test print (like a nozzle check pattern) to check if the print quality has improved. If the issue persists, you may need to perform the cleaning cycle again. Sometimes, multiple cleaning cycles are necessary to resolve stubborn clogs.
Be aware that the cleaning process uses a small amount of ink. Repeated cleaning cycles can consume a significant amount of ink, so it's best to only perform them when necessary due to print quality issues.
| Step | Action | Control Panel Input |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Access Ink Menu | Press INK key (if present) |
| 2 | Select Cleaning | Use UP/DOWN ARROW, select Cleaning |
| 3 | Confirm Selection | Press OK |
| 4 | Choose Color(s) | Use UP/DOWN ARROW, select BLACK, COLOR, or ALL |
| 5 | Start Cleaning | Press OK |
This cleaning procedure, as described by the reference, is the standard method provided by Brother to address common ink flow and print quality problems on compatible models.
