Workshop How to replace waste ink sponges of Canon S- & i-models: Lifetime of a waste ink collector
As mentioned before, as long as the machine prints, you needn´t waste a thought on the waste ink absorber. A necessary change actually is a rare occasion in a printer´s lifetime. When it happens, it is rather a repair than an exchange of consumables.
However, if you print a lot or have lots of print-head cleaning cycles, the waste ink collector might become full. We think that this could occur after printing 20.000 to 30.000 pages. That´s not very precise, because there are many factors with an influence on the waste ink collector´s lifetime. Normally they should maintain their capacity for several years.
How to recognize a full waste ink collector
Manufacturers have installed counting devices that measure the amount of ink used by cleaning processes. When reaching a predetermined limit the printer will stop working, giving out an error message.
Most Canon-models show an error message and signals by blinking, when you try to print with a full waste ink collector.
If you see an orange LED blinking 8 times in a row followed by one longer green blink (these signals being repeated several times) it is an indication for an almost full waste ink collector. You may continue printing by pressing the "Resume" button.
If your LEDs blink alternately orange and green seven times, and then once green for a longer time, the waste ink collector is completely filled.
This code is used with S-models (except for S400, S450, S4500). BJC-printers and the S-models in brackets, which have semi-permanent print heads, blink alternately six times green and orange, then once (longer) green. This code unfortunately isn´t a definite one, it can also mean a damaged print head. A more distinct information might be in the printer´s driver.
If you are not sure, whether this message concerns the waste ink collector or another unknown defect, use the service-mode and find out. How to print out a complete message can be found in this article.
On top of the message you will find a "D", followed by a three-digit number, a point, and another digit (e.g. 085.5).
You find this "D" with the Canon S750 on the first page of the message.
The digits behind the "D" show the waste ink collecto´r´s filling condition in percent, 100.0 is the end of the line.
