A JPS printer's quality can be directly impacted by a few different things. it can be affected by:
Missing or damaged platen roller clips
A dirty print head or platen roller
A worn out print head
Incorrect darkness settings
Bad print media (labels)
Inspect your platen roller and clips
The Rubberized platen roller is what feeds your labels, and provides the proper tension/pressure necessary to transfer heat from the printhead to your label media. Attached to the platen roller are two plastic clips.
Please inspect these clips for any damage. If you notice any broken or missing clips, please take a look at our guide for Replacing Platen Roller Clips
Dirty print head or platen roller.
Cleaning your Zebra ZD410/ZD411 printer regularly is essential to maintain its performance and longevity. Follow these step-by-step instructions to clean your printer using rubbing alcohol. This will resolve:
Streaks or Smudges: If prints show streaks or smudges, repeat the cleaning process, focusing on the printhead.
Media Jams: Ensure the platen roller and media sensors are thoroughly cleaned to prevent jams.
Materials Needed:
Lint-free cloths or swabs
Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
Compressed air (optional)
Safety Precautions:
Ensure the printer is turned off and unplugged before cleaning.
Avoid touching the printhead directly with your fingers.
Use rubbing alcohol in a well-ventilated area.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Turn Off and Unplug the Printer
Power Down: Ensure the printer is turned off using the power button.
Unplug: Disconnect the printer from the power source.
2. Open the Printer
Access the Interior: Lift the top cover of the printer to access the printhead and internal components.
3. Remove the Media
Take Out Labels: Remove any labels or media inside the printer to prevent them from getting damaged or dirty during the cleaning process.
4. Clean the Printhead
The printhead is found on the lid of the device.
Prepare the Cloth/Swab: Moisten a lint-free cloth or swab with rubbing alcohol.
Wipe the Printhead: Gently wipe the printhead with the cloth or swab. Avoid using excessive force to prevent damage.
5. Clean the Platen Roller
Moisten a Cloth: Dampen another lint-free cloth with rubbing alcohol.
Remove the platen roller from your device
Wipe the Roller: Gently clean the platen roller (the rubber roller that feeds the labels through the printer). Rotate the roller manually to clean the entire surface.
6. Clean the Media Sensor
The media sensor is the yellow sensor eye found on the main body of the printer
Use a Moistened Swab: Use a swab moistened with rubbing alcohol to clean the media sensor. This sensor detects the presence of labels and can become dirty over time.
7. Allow to Dry
Dry time: Allow all cleaned components to air dry completely before reassembling and powering on the printer.
8. Reassemble the Printer
Reload Media: Place the labels or media back into the printer.
Close the Cover: Securely close the printer cover.
9. Power On the Printer
Plug In: Reconnect the printer to the power source.
Turn On: Power on the printer using the power button.
Worn out print head
If you have thouroughly cleaned the print head and are still having print quality issues, the print head itself may be worn out . Due to the repeated heating, cooling, and reheating of this electronic component, they can wear out over time depending on the volume of prints that you're doing with your Zebra printer/JPS. If you are still having streaks, smudges, or other issues after completing the cleaning steps above please contact our technical support team via chat at support.jolt.com or [email protected]
Incorrect Darkness Settings
ZD410 printers have a slider that allows you to set the proper darkness for your printer. you can find this slider on the back of the device:
If you're using a zd 411 you can follow the following steps:
1. Enter Advanced Mode
Ensure the media is loaded and the printer is powered on.
Press the Pause button for 2 seconds. All indicator lights will flash yellow.
Press the Feed (center) button two times to illuminate the Data Transfer light yellow
The printer is now in Advanced Mode and is in the Manual Darkness Adjustment mode
2. Adjust the Darkness
Press the Pause button while the Data Transfer light is illuminated yellow.
The printer will print a test pattern showing the current darkness number with several barcode patterns and then pauses momentarily.
The printer then repeats the the pattern with the next darkness level.
When you see the printer print a pattern with solid, even black lines, press the Feed button to set the darkness value and return the printer to a ready state.