Installation Instructions for Epson Stylus C120
Bulk Feed Continuous Flow System
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Installation Procedure
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Prerequisite -
Before starting this installation, you MUST test your printer to make sure it is printing 100% correctly. The
best way to do this is to first print a Nozzle pattern, using the printer utility software provided by Epson.
Once a perfect nozzle pattern is achieved, print 5 copies of the MIS purge4.tif image using the Plain
Paper and 360 dpi settings on the printer. All 5 pages must print without banding or skipping (white spaces).
If your printer can not do this, do not install the CFS. Run some cleaning cycles or get new cartridges.
Do not proceed until you can pass these tests.
You can also get it from the Helpdesk Download Library. If you
have a Mac you can download it from our website.
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Tools & Materials Needed -
MIS C120 CFS Unit, ink, and a working Epson Stylus C120 Inkjet printer
Ruler or measuring tape
Pair of scissors
Alcohol and some paper towels
Some paper to print on
2 Small flatblade screw drivers
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| 1. |
If you purchased your system prefilled, go to Step 2. If you purchased an empty CFS unit, then vacuum
fill the cartridges with the ink that came with the system or the ink of your choice. Follow the instructions
that are included with the vacuum pump or get them from our
Knowledge Base. When this is complete, go to Step 2.
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| 2. |
On the printer, push the Ink button to move the cartridges to the Replacement position. While in
this position, pull the power plug out of the wall. Next, remove
the cartridges. The cartridges ride in a black cartridge carriage and are secured by a gray
clamp that must be raised in order to remove the cartridges.
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| 3. |
The cartridge clamp also needs to be removed. This is the black colored clamp with the gray release lever that holds the
cartridges down when they are installed in the printer. This step is best performed with the use of two small screw drivers.
Done correctly little of no harm will come to the printer. If too much force or pressure is applied then some parts
may be damaged, but should not interfere with the operation of the printer or the CFS unit. In the image below, identify
the part that is to be removed. Placing a small flat blade screw dirver behind the Clamp Hinge Clip as in the photo below,
put forward pressure on the screwdriver blade. With a second screwdriver, slide under the clip form the left side and put
upwared pressue on the blade. This can be done by twisting the screwdriver, and finally by pulling upward.
The clip removal is best performed by using more upward pressure on the second screwdriver as the clip begins to come loose.
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Clamp hinge clip
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Once the clip pops out, the Cartridge Clamp will easily slide out as well. Set both pieces aside as they will no longer
be needed.
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| 4. |
PARTIALLY install the CFS cartridges. Do not push the cartridges all the way down. We do not want the seals
on the bottom to be punctured until the tubes have been installed on the bottles. The tubing ends with white plugs
should be guided to the left side of the printer.
Next, clean and dry the printer housing with alcohol where the bridge bracket and beige
clip are to be installed. Locate the Bridge Bracket from your package and install it as shown in the photo below.
Before peeling the protective tape from the mounting strips on the bridge bracket, place it in the location
described below and as seen in the photo below. The Bridge Bracket mounts 2 5/8 of an inch from the left inside
of the printer housing opening and fully against the lip at the back of the printer in top. These areas should have
been cleaned with an alcohol pad.
Now peel the protective tape from the foam strips on the front and back edge of the bracket. This position
should leave about 6 1/2 inches on the right hand side of the bridge bracket and the printer housing opening.
See the photo below.
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Bridge Bracket and Beige Clip Installation
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| 5. |
Install the beige tubing clip as shown in the photo above. Clean and dry the printer housing with alcohol
and place the beige tubing clip in the position as shown.
The clip installs on the left side of the printer housing 3 inches fromt eh back of the printer measuring from in
front of the cover. It should align with the clip on the bridge bracket so that the tubes run parallel with the print
carriage between the clip on the bridge bracket and the clip you are installing on the printer housing. See
photo above. Affix the clip so that it opens from the front side of the printer. This placement is critical
and must be done correctly in order to align the tubing.
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| 6. |
The tubing ends with the white plugs should now be on the left hand side of the printer. You can now place the
tubing into each of the beige clips and close them.
The tubes should be positioned in the beige Bridge Bracket clip first. This position should allow enough length of
tubing so that the cartridge carriage can slide the full length of the printer from right to left and back again
without pulling the tubes and without being restricted by the tubes when they are clamped in the beige tube clip
on the Bridge Bracket. Checking this process will be a bit difficult as the cartridges should not yet be
fully locked into the carriage. Obseve the curl in the tubing as depicted in the figure in step #4 above. Tubing
may also be adjusted later.
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| 7. |
Once the tubes are securely inserted into the middle beige Bridge Bracket and you can allow the
remaining tube length to feed to the left hand housing beige clip, and clamp the tubing. This will leave the
remaining tube length at the left side of the printer ready to be trimmed for connection to the bottles. Be certain that
the tubing is not being pinched closed in either of the beige clips.
Un-web the tubes from the left end beginning at the yellow tube (farthest from the front) up to the left hand side of the
beige tube clip on the housing, so that each tube can be independently connected to its bottle. The tubes are
easily un-webbed by just pulling them apart, no tools are required. Don't go to far.
You can now align the bottles on the left hand side of the printer. The order of the ink bottles from front
to back are,
Black - Black - Magenta - Cyan - Yellow
NOTE: The photo below shows Cyan in the front, disregard this color scheme, follow the order listed above.
We used Cyan here for clarity in the photo, black was difficult to see.
The bottles are adhered to the printer with velcro patches to keep them supported near the side of the printer. When you
press the exposed Velcro adhesive against the printer, the hook portion will stick to the printer and this becomes the
permanent position for the bottle, so choose your bottle positions carefully. Align bottles in the order listed above.
Apply the Velcro to the bottle. In the image below, note the location of the velcro to the upper portion of the bottle.
Peal the adhesive backing from each side of the velcro and press firmly to the side of the printer.
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Velcro attachment
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Locate the bottles caps and replace each cap on the ink bottle with the CFS caps.
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CFS Bottle Caps
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| 8. |
Connecting the tubing to the bottles.
The tube lengths will need to be trimmed so that the tube will connect to the fitting on top of the bottle without
having a large amount of slack. The best way to accomplish this is to pull the tube over next to the bottle and mark
the tube with a ball point pen at the point where the tube and the bottom of the bottle cap meet. Set up the bottles
described in step 7, and work with one tube at a time, starting with the yellow tube.
Test the length of this tube by placing it near the bottle, on the outside, and see if it is going to reach the bottom
of the bottle cap. It should not be too short. If it looks like it is going to be too long, then mark the tube with
a ball point pen at the spot you think it should be cut. Remove the white plug from the end of the tube and cut the tube
with scissors where you placed the mark. After cutting the tube immediately connect it to the bottle.
SAVE THE WHITE PLUGS as they will be needed if you ever remove the CFS System from your printer.
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| Make sure the correct color tube goes onto the correct color ink bottle. A mistake here will ruin the
whole system and you will need to purchase an empty cartridge set w/ tubes.
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The tubes should make a nice smooth curve to the bottles. Don't let your tubes make any vertical loops. The transition
into the bottles should be smooth and gradual.
Repeat this process for each of the colors.
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| 9. |
You can now press the cartridges down into the correct positions. You may hear them click into place, it is
okay if you do not hear the click. Just be certain they are securely seated making certain the cartridges are
properly aligned and down all the way in the carriage. Push the cartridge carriage all the way to the right
hand inside of the printer, all the way.
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| 10. |
Plug the printer back in and turn on the power. Run a few cleaning cycles until you have a perfect
nozzle pattern. (Refer to your owners manual for this procedure.) The printer is now ready to use. If you have
problems getting a perfect nozzle pattern, let the printer rest overnight, and try again in the morning.
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| 11. |
Resetting - In order to reset the ink monitor on the C120 with Auto Reset chips, Simply press the
ink replacement button. The carriage will move to the cartridge replacement position. Remove the cartrides only
slightly from the carriage and reseat it. About 1/2 inch will do. Note that the ink monitor will not reset the
cartridge until the color channel has a reported a low ink level warning. Once the cartridge is reseated, press
the innk replacement button again, be ceratin there is paper loaded and begin printing again.
If for some reason you receive the double red error lights that will not clear after restarting the printer,
remove the CFS unit, reinstall Epson original cartridges to clear the error then reinstall the CFS. Check to
be certain the tubing is not preventing the print carriage from traveling the full length of the printer.
If it can not travel to the far left and right, the double red lights will come on.
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The Care and Feeding of a CFS -
There are a couple of things you should know that will keep your system running trouble free.
These systems work best if they are used often, daily is best, but every few days is more important.
If you are an infrequent printer or only print once or twice a week, then you might wish to consider our AUTOPRINT
program (download it for free from our CFS page). Autoprint will make a printout
using any of our Purge images everyday as long as you leave your computer and printer turned on.
If you have to do cleaning cycles, do them in groups of 3 and be certain to print something, we recommend
a copy of the Purge pattern after every 3 cleaning cycles. This resets the printer
firmware so that you get a medium, long, and short duration cleaning cycle. If you don't do this, you
will only get short cleaning cycles after the 3rd one. Running several short cleaning cycles will cause
nozzles to drop out. If you are still having problems after about 3 or 4 sets of 3 cleanings, then let the
printer rest for a few hours or overnight and try again later. This has worked on many Epson printers in
the past. It gives the air bubbles in the ink a chance to rise to the surface and get out of the printhead.
Don't let your ink bottles get empty. Refill them when they are at the 1/4 full level. Before pouring new
ink into your bottle, transfer the ink that is left into a clean glass or jar. Then wash out the CFS ink
bottle with soap and water. Then refill with leftover ink and new ink. This keeps algae from building up
on the walls of the bottle and causing premature ink failure. An easier method is to order a spare set of
empty bottles, and keep them on hand, clean and ready to use.
If an ink does not print. Remove the tube from the bottle, lift the cartridge out, and suck out a little
ink, not more than 2 cc, to eliminate any air locks that may be present. Use the syringe and bottom fill
adapter, then reinstall. If you have all colors printing but you are having problems getting a perfect
nozzle pattern after several cleaning cycles, then let the printer rest overnight and try a few cleaning
cycles in the morning.
For additional technical assistance please read our CFS
Troubleshooting Guide or visit our online HelpDesk
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Return to CFS Information Page
© Copyright 2008 MIS Associates Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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