StyleWriter II paper errors

[LCGuy]

So, I recently got one of my StyleWriter cartridges re-filled, and the other night I went to print something on the StyleWriter II, on the LC475. However, I ran into a problem when it gave me an error saying that the page size in the printer was different to that specified in Page Setup. I was printing on A4 paper. I checked Page Setup, it was set to A4 paper. It then gave me an error saying that it was out of paper, there was paper in it.

It does this on both an LC475 running OS 8.1 using the StyleWriter 1200 driver, and an LCIII running System 7.1 using version 1.2 of the StyleWriter II driver. I've checked the service manual, to no avail, and the printer obviously is working fine mechanically, as is the cartridge, as it has no problems at all printing a test page. (ROM version 1.03, if it matters) For the record, on both machines AppleTalk is disabled, and i've tried on both the modem and printer ports to no avail.

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[Franklinstein]

Couple of issues probably present.

First, the rubber paper transport bits (if they haven't been replaced) are probably hard and glazed (or squishy and sticky) by now. Reconditioning and/or replacing them could possibly restore functionality. However, since it prints a test page properly, this may not be the problem.

Second, there are probably a few paper sensor devices in there, whether they be switches or optical/contact sensors. Check around for items of this nature and test, clean, and/or replace them. Switches only have a finite number of cycles, and sensors can become clogged, carbon-tracked, or otherwise obstructed (nothing lasts forever, after all). A failure of one of these can keep an otherwise good printer down. I doubt there are a large number of any of these in the SWII, though, since it's old and relatively cheap, but there's bound to be at least one or two.

 

[tomlee59]

I've never had to do any work on a StyleWriter II other than unclog cartridges, so I haven't encountered your particular problem before. But there must be some sensors that detect the things it's complaining about. Disassemble the printer (I recall that it is very easy), and look for microswitches that would act as paper size/presence sensors. Do the usual tests (switch action, connector integrity, etc). If it's just a switch problem, you've lucked out. If it's a logic problem, then you're probably looking at a new printer.

 

[LCGuy]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I pulled the printer to bits this afternoon, and I have the mainboard from it sitting right next to me right now. Its actually a very simple design, from what I can see, there's no reed switches or anything anywhere that I can see, but there are two optical sensors on the mainboard, which are activated by the sheet feeder, at locations PS1 and PS2 on the mainboard, they're similar to the ones you'd find in a ball mouse. They look spotless to me, but still, there could be something up with them...how do you clean optical sensors?

 

[tomlee59]

They usually consist of an IR LED and sensor, although occasionally you'll run into ones with visible LEDs. A blast of compressed air from a lens cleaner spray can will often do the job if it's just a matter of dust.

If you're able to apply power to that thing, you can use a voltmeter and measure whether the sensor is actually working. One of the pair will have an output voltage that depends on the presence/absence of paper in the slot. The other pair (that corresponds to the LED's connections), will just be a constant DC voltage.

 

[LCGuy]

Ok, you guys will be interested to know that, if you didn't read in Conquests, i bought another SWII today. This one, however, has ROM Rev. 1.01. (my original one has Rev. 1.03) Sadly, it has the exact same problem. I'm thinking though...i'm starting to think that the plastic bits that go into the optoelectronic sensors to obstruct the IR beam aren't working properly...so i'm wondering...now that i have a spare that I can perform experiments on...i wonder what would happen if i was to snap those plastic bits off... [}] ]'>

Just a thought...

 

[tomlee59]

Don't snap off the bits. They're so low tech that I would place them at the bottom of the suspects list. Unless you can see that the plastic bits aren't ever moving, or that they have magically transformed into transparent material, they aren't your problem.

What I find remarkable is that the replacement SWII has the same problem. That might suggest that your problem lies elsewhere. It's possible, of course, that you happen to have two printers that have failed in identical ways (for example, maybe this is a common problem for that printer -- although I've never heard of it), but you may wish to look beyond the printer itself as the source of the problem. Try a different cable, sacrifice a chicken, that sort of thing.

 

[LCGuy]

I'm talking to a mate online about it at the moment, and he is suggesting that the emitter in one (or both of) the optical sensors has died. I'm thinking...last time i checked, Big W has PS/2 ball mice for $5...maybe i could get one of those and scrap it for the optical sensors.

What I will try today, though, is running it with the board hanging out of the printer, away from the plastic bits that go into the optical sensors. That will eliminate the plastic bits as being a problem.

For the record, now that you mention cables, that reminds me - I'm using PhoneNET connectors to connect it to the Mac, as it seems that my two standard Mac serial cables have gone walkabout. The PhoneNET connectors are in good shape, they work when connecting Macs together, and both are terminated properly. Still, now that i think about it..i might try seeing if I can dig up one of my proper Mac serial cables.

 

[tomlee59]

Yes, run, don't walk, to your nearest Stack O' Cables and fish out a plain-jane serial cable. The SWII is not an appletalk-enabled printer, so it will not function without a standard serial cable connection to the Mac.

 

[LCGuy]

Interesting...i'm pretty sure i've run it on PhoneNET connectors before, but oh well. Could this really be the cause of my problem? Could it really be as simple as something like this? Lol...and I've spent all that time pulling two StyleWriters to bits mucking about with optical sensors and all. Unfortunately both my serial cables have gone walkabout, oh well.

 

[LCGuy]

Alrighty, i can barely believe this but it seems that my stupid ID-10-T errors were all that the problem was! Found a Mac serial cable this morning, plugged it in and tried it, worked like a charm on the first try Oh man, I can't believe how stupid i was...all that mucking about with paper sensors and crap, and that was all that the problem was.

*shoots self*

 

[Unknown_K]

How do you unclog the carts? I recently snagged 2 Stylewriter II printers and one feeds perfectly, but the carts are either empty (one feels empty) and the other just doesn't print (how do you unglog it?).

How well do refills work?

 

[LCGuy]

Having never had to do so in the past, i have no idea how to unclog a cartridge, sorry.

As for refills, i get my cartridges for all my printers, including the SWII refilled professionally, and they work very well, just like a brand new cartridge.

 

[tomlee59]

Glad that it was just a cable thing.

As to unclogging, I've found that wiping the cartridge's jets with an alcohol-moistened cloth works well.

Refill kits work fine. Somewhat messy operation, though, and I don't care how careful you are. Replacement cartridges for that printer (remember, it's really a Canon bubblejet) are widely available at low cost, though, so I wouldn't bother.

 

[Unknown_K]

I am cheap, and have 4 laser printers anyway. I just wanted to make sure the printer works (might be cool to use it on my SE FDHD) so maybe a refill kit will do.

 

[tomlee59]

We are definitely brothers in cheapness.

But (refilled) BJ ink cartridges are available for so little (especially if you shop around) that the difference is pretty small. Given the hassle of dealing with all that ink, neatness wins out over cheapness in this case for me.

 

[Quadraman]

We are definitely brothers in cheapness.
But (refilled) BJ ink cartridges are available for so little (especially if you shop around) that the difference is pretty small. Given the hassle of dealing with all that ink, neatness wins out over cheapness in this case for me.

Here's the catch, though. Those carts may be cheap, but they don't hold very much ink. And low end printers cram all the colors into one cartridge so it has to be replaced every time one of the colors runs out, even if the others are still full. My BJC 1010 was killing me in ink expenses before I retired it. EVen with refill kits, you end up wasting a lot of and making a big mess. I was using an HP 550C before that that wasn't costing me nearly as much in ink, but the resolution was lower and I got the BJC free with the purchase of a few ink cartridges. Lesson learned, don't use low end printers that only have one color cartridge. It's better to spend the extra and buy one that uses multiple cartridges that won't eat into your budget every time one color runs out.

 

[tomlee59]

But we're talking about a Stylewriter II, which is monochrome. One cartridge. That's all. And the refilled ones that I come across seem to have generous amounts of ink in them, unlike the pathetic "starter" cartridges that are initially shipped with most color printers. I think you're talking about this latter case, not the issue that the OP was raising.