If you’re experiencing problems with your edible ink cartridges, we’ve compiled a quick checklist of common issues:
The Cartridges won’t register on my printer
- If you’re using reflllable cartridges you must ensure both the cavity and sponge side of the cartridge are full – otherwise the cartridges won’t be heavy enough to register on the printer
- You may have been sent the wrong cartridges. The easiest way to check is to read the chip on the underside of the cartridge. If you’ve ordered a Canon IX6850 printer, the number on the chip should start 550 or 551. If you’ve ordered the Canon TS5050 the number on the chip should start 570 or 571. For the Canon TS705, TS705A printer and TS6350 Printer, the chip should start 580 or 581. If these numbers don’t correspond with your printer then please contact us on sales@edibleprintsupplies.co.uk and we’ll replace your cartridges.
- Refillable edible ink cartridges don’t last forever and should be replaced at least every 6 months. If they’ve been working fine and just stopped working there’s a good chance you need to replace them.
The ink won’t come out of the cartridges
- Please ensure you’ve removed the ‘Pull’ strip on top of the cartridges
- If the ink still won’t come out of the cartridge there is a small soft breathe hole on top of the cartridge (this would have been under the pull strip at the opposite end to the coloured plug), please pierce this with a pin or needle. This helps the air and ink to flow through the cartridge. Press onto the soaker sponge underneath the cartridge (where the ink comes out)with a cotton bud or something similar (please ensure you wear gloves) until the ink starts flowing
- Again, please make sure both the cavity and sponge side of the cartridge are full of ink
How to Fill the Cartridges
- Please ensure you fill the cartridges whilst they are still in the orange holders otherwise the ink will pour from the bottom.
- Once both the cavity and sponge side of the cartridge is full of ink (ink should be nearly to the top of the cavity but not quite, so it doesn't overflow) then replace the coloured plug. Remove the cartridge from it’s cradle and swiftly insert it into the printer (again we recommend wearing gloves!)
- You must keep the orange cradles for re-filling the cartridges next time they are empty
There’s an error message saying ‘ink tank cannot be recognised’
- Please ensure you’ve ordered the correct cartridges for your printer, or we’ve sent you the correct cartridges – occasionally although we try to avoid them, mistakes do happen.
- If you’ve ordered the Canon IX6850 Edible Printer the number on the chip should start 550 or 551. If you’ve ordered the Canon TS705A the number on the chip should start 580 or 581. If these numbers don’t correspond with your printer then please contact us on sales@edibleprintsupplies.co.uk.
- If you’re using reflllable cartridges you must ensure both the cavity and sponge side of the cartridge are full – otherwise the cartridges won’t be heavy enough to register on the printer
- Refillable edible ink cartridges don’t last forever and should be replaced at least every 6 months. If they’ve been working fine and just stopped working there’s a good chance you need to replace them.
- The cartridges won’t work unless you’re using the correct coloured cartridge ie. if you try to insert a magenta cartridge into the printer where a yellow cartridge should be it won’t work. Each cartridge has a specially formatted chip to work with the corresponding colour.
I Haven’t Used My Printer for a While and the Cartridges Won’t Work
- There’s a good chance the cartridges / printhead will have become clogged if you’ve not used your edible printer for a while. The best remedy for this is to remove the printhead and give it a good clean under running warm water
- Once the print head is in position, turn off the power cable to stop the print head returning to the hidden right position.
- To clean the print head, run it under hot water for 3-4 minutes, rotating it so that the water runs into the top downwards and also back through the bottom with the water running back through the other way.
- Yes, the print head does have electronic parts, but it is perfectly safe to get these wet also, just do not submerge the print head in water, or leave it in water for a long period.
- Dry the print head with kitchen paper as much as possible prior to replacing.
- It will take 3 or 4 new print outs to get the ink flowing again, so we advise you print a test page or nozzle check first thing after replacing the print head. This will show you that the head is fully clean again per the print pattern.
- If this still doesn’t work, then we suggest purchasing a replacement set of cartridges or printhead, genuine Canon replacement printheads can be found at edibleprintsupplies.co.uk.