Epson SC-F9400H Series Manual

Operator's Guide
CMP0193-01 EN

Copyrights and Trademarks
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Seiko Epson Corporation. The information contained herein is designed
only for use with this Epson printer. Epson is not responsible for any use of this information as applied to other printers.
Neither Seiko Epson Corporation nor its affiliates shall be liable to the purchaser of this product or third parties for damages, losses, costs, or expenses
incurred by the purchaser or third parties as a result of accident, misuse, or abuse of this product or unauthorized modifications, repairs, or alterations to
this product, or (excluding the U.S.) failure to strictly comply with Seiko Epson Corporation's operating and maintenance instructions.
Seiko Epson Corporation shall not be liable for any damages or problems arising from the use of any options or any consumable products other than those
designated as Original Epson Products or Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.
Seiko Epson Corporation shall not be held liable for any damage resulting from electromagnetic interference that occurs from the use of any interface cables
other than those designated as Epson Approved Products by Seiko Epson Corporation.
EPSON and EPSON EXCEED YOUR VISION or EXCEED YOUR VISION and their logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Seiko Epson
Corporation.
Microsoft
®
and Windows
®
are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Apple, Mac, and OS X are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
Adobe, Acrobat, and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Bemcot
™
is a trademark of Asahi Kasei Corporation.
YouTube
®
and the YouTube logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of YouTube, LLC.
Firefox is a trademark of the Mozilla Foundation in the U.S. and other countries.
General Notice: Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Epson disclaims any
and all rights in those marks.
© 2019 Seiko Epson Corporation. All rights reserved.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Copyrights and Trademarks
2

Contents
Copyrights and Trademarks
Viewing Manuals
MeaningofSymbols........................4
Illustrations..............................4
VideoManuals............................4
Part Names
FrontSection.............................5
Slider...................................6
Inside...................................6
Back....................................7
Basic Operations
PrecautionsWhenHandlingMedia.............8
NotesonLoadingMedia.....................8
Loadingmedia............................9
UsingtheAutoTake-upReelUnit.............15
Importantpointsforcorrecttake-up.........15
AttachingtheRollCore...................16
Take-upwiththePrintedSideFacingIn.......19
Take-up with the Printed Side Facing Out. . . . . 21
SettingsforLoadedMedia...................23
RemovingtheTake-upRoll..................24
Printing the Amount of Media Remaining. . . . . 24
CuttingMedia.........................25
RemovingMedia........................26
Maintenance
When to Perform Various Maintenance
Operations..............................28
Cleaning Locations and Cleaning Timing. . . . . . 28
Replacing and Refilling Consumables. . . . . . . . . 29
Regularmaintenance.....................29
Othermaintenance......................29
WhatYou’llNeed.........................31
Precautionsregardingmaintenance............31
DailyCleaning...........................32
PerformingRegularCleaning................33
Usingtheinkcleaner.....................33
MovingthePrintHead...................34
CleaningAroundthePrintHead............35
CleaningAroundtheCaps................36
FinishingCleaning......................38
Inkrefill................................39
TimePeriodforInkRefills................39
Precautionswhenrefillingink..............39
ProcedureforInkRefills..................40
Stirring High Density Black Ink and Fluorescent
Ink....................................45
DisposingofWasteInk.....................47
PreparingandReplacementTiming..........47
WasteInkCounter......................48
ReplacingtheWasteInkBottle.............48
ReplacingtheHeadCleaningSet..............49
PreparingandReplacementTiming..........49
HowtoReplacetheHeadCleaningSet........50
Disposalofusedconsumables................52
Disposal..............................52
Information on Maintenance Items
Inkpacks...............................53
Others.................................54
Handling Ink Drops and Clogged
Nozzles
HeadCleaning...........................55
AutoHeadMaintenance....................56
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Contents
3

Viewing Manuals
Meaning of Symbols
Warning: Warnings must be followed
to avoid serious bodily
injury.
Caution: Cautions must be followed to
avoid bodily injury.
c
Important: Important must be followed
to avoid damage to this
product.
Note: Notes contain useful or
additional information on
the operation of this product.
UIndicates related reference
content.
Illustrations
The illustrations may differ slightly from the model you
are using. Please be aware of this when using the manual.
Video Manuals
Video manuals are available on YouTube.
Click [Epson Video Manuals (Videos)] from the top
page of the online manual, or click on the blue link
below to view them.
Epson Video Manuals
If the subtitles are not displayed when you play the
video, click the subtitles icon shown in the image below.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Viewing Manuals
4

Part Names
Front Section
This description uses illustrations of the SC-F9400H Series.
AMaintenance cover (left) IHeat shield QUSB port
BHeater JInk tanks
*
RMaintenance cover (right)
CMedia guide bar KSlider SMedia loading lever
DHandle LLock levers TAlert lamp
ERoll core holders left/right MCheck lamp UControl panel
FRoll support (x2) NStirring stick VFront cover
GWaste ink bottle OAC inlets #1/#2
HStopper PLAN port
* The SC-F9400 Series has eight tanks.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Part Names
5

Slider
ASlider
BInk inlet cover
CChip unit
Inside
AMedia edge plates (x2) DCutter groove GCaps
BPlaten EFlushing pad
CPressure rollers FWiper Unit
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Part Names
6

Back
ADrive switch CRoll support (x2) EHandle
BRoll holder left/right DLift lever
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Part Names
7

Basic Operations
Precautions When
Handling Media
If the following points are not observed when handling
media, small amounts of dust and lint may stick to the
media surface and cause ink drops in the print results or
cause the nozzles to clog.
Do not place exposed media directly on the floor.
Media should be rewound and inserted in its original
packaging for storage.
Do not carry media with the media surface pressed
against clothing.
Handle media in its individual packaging until just
before loading the media in the printer.
Notes on Loading Media
Caution:
❏The heater may be hot, so observe all necessary
precautions while doing work. Failure to
observe the necessary precautions could result
in burns.
❏Because the media is heavy, it should not be
carried by one person. We recommend using a
lifter for media that weighs over 40 kg.
❏Be careful not to trap your hands or fingers
when opening or closing the front cover. Failure
to observe this precaution could result in
injury.
❏Do not rub your hands along the edges of the
media. The edges of the media are sharp and
can cause injury.
Load the media just before printing.
The pressure rollers may crease media left in the printer.
The media may also become wavy or curled, causing
jams or resulting in the media coming into contact with
the print head.
Do not load media if the right and left edges are
uneven.
If media is loaded and the right and left edges of the roll
are uneven, media feeding problems may cause the
media to move around during printing. Either rewind to
align the edges or use a roll without any issues.
Media that cannot be used
Do not use media that is folded, wrinkled, scuffed, torn,
or dirty. The media could rise up and contact the
printheads and damage them.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
8

Example of media with folded/wrinkled edges
Loading media
You can check the procedure in a video on YouTube.
Epson Video Manuals
A
Press the Pbutton , and then wait until Load
media.is displayed on the screen.
B
Open the front cover, and then lower the media
loading lever.
C
While holding the tabs of the media edge plate on
both sides, move the plate out of the way toward
both edges of the platen.
D
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
9

c
Important:
If the right-side roll holder handle shaft is not
visible, rotate the handle forward until it stops.
The media cannot be properly loaded if the
handle shaft is not visible.
E
Move the roll holder to the set position according
to the inner diameter of the roll of the media that
will be loaded.
F
While pressing from the top of the roll holder,
tighten the fixing screw until it no longer turns.
Tighten it so the roll holder does not move.
G
Note:
The method of placing the roll media varies as
follows depending on how media is rolled.
Printable Side Out
Printable Side In
H
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
10

I
Firmly insert the roll core of the media onto the
roll holder.
Note:
If the roll of media has an outer diameter that is less
than 140 mm, the roll core will not reach the roll
holder when raised using the lift lever.
Raise it with your hands, and insert the roll core
into the roll holder.
J
K
Note:
If the roll of media has an outer diameter that is less
than 140 mm, the roll core will not reach the roll
holder when raised using the lift lever.
Raise it with your hands, and insert the roll core
into the roll holder.
L
To ensure that the roll holder is sufficiently
inserted into the roll core, push the top of the roll
holder towards the end of the roll two times.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
11

c
Important:
If the roll holder is inserted into the roll core
insufficiently, media is not fed correctly during
printing because of slippage between the roll
holder and roll core.
This may cause banding in the print results.
M
While pressing from the top of the roll holder,
tighten the fixing screw until it no longer turns.
Tighten it so the roll holder does not move.
c
Important:
If the roll holder screw is loose, the roll holder
may move during printing. This could cause
stripes and unevenness in the print results.
N
Rotate the handle until part A in the illustration
below is fully inserted.
c
Important:
Once part A is hidden, do not turn the handle
any further. Failure to observe this precaution
could damage the roll holder.
If part A is still visible even after the handle has
been turned fully, rewind the handle. Loosen
the right-side roll holder's screw, and then
restart from step 4.
O
Insert the media approximately 30 cm into the
opening, then lower the media loading lever.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
12

P
Confirm that the left edge of the media is within
the range of the label's rectangle in the
illustration below.
c
Important:
If the left edge of the media is not within the
black square of the label, do steps 5 to 16 in
reverse to adjust the position of the roll holder.
Do not attempt to reposition the roll holders
while they are inserted in the media.
Q
R
Hold the center of the media in one hand, and
pull it straight until it is aligned with the bottom
edge of the label on the heater.
Do not pull the media with both hands. This
could cause the media to skew or move around.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
13

S
T
Tap lightly on both ends of the media, and check
if there is a difference in tension between the left
and right sides.
If there is a difference in tension, the media
becomes crooked.
From the front of the printer, raise the media
loading lever, and correct the crookedness of the
media.
Once the crookedness is corrected, lower the
media loading lever.
U
While holding the tabs of the media edge plate on
both sides, move the plate to the top edge of the
media.
Adjust so that the edges of the media are aligned
with the center of the round holes in the media
edge plates.
The media edge plates prevent the media from
riding up and keep fibers on the cut edge of the
media from touching the print head.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
14

c
Important:
❏Do not use the media edge plates with
media that is 0.4 mm or more thick. The
media edge plates could touch and
damage the print head.
❏Always position the plates so that the edges
of the media are at the centers of the round
holes. Incorrect positioning causes
banding (horizontal banding, tint
unevenness, or stripes) during printing.
❏Move the media edge plates to the left and
right edges of the platen when they are not
in use.
❏Do not use the media edge plates if the
sides of the printed media are smudged.
V
Using the Auto Take-up
Reel Unit
The Auto Take-up Reel Unit automatically takes up
media as it is printed, improving the efficiency of
unmanned operation.
The Auto Take-up Reel Unit for this printer can take up
media in either of the following directions.
Printed side in Printed side out
Taking-up with printed side in places the printed
surface on the inside of the roll. "Printed side in" is
recommended in most situations.
Taking-up with printed side out places the printed
surface on the outside of the roll.
You can check the procedure in a video on YouTube.
Epson Video Manuals
Caution:
❏Follow the instructions in the manual when
loading media or roll cores or removing media
from the take-up roll.
Dropping media, roll cores, or take-up rolls
could result in injury.
❏Be sure that your hands or hair do not get
caught in the Media Feeding Unit or Auto
Take-up Reel Unit while it is operating.
Failure to observe this precaution could result
in injury.
Important points for correct
take-up
Observe the following points for correct take-up of
media.
❏We recommend using a take-up roll core with the
same width as the media. If a take-up roll core of a
different width is used, the take-up roll core may
bend, and the media will be taken up incorrectly.
❏We recommend "printed side in" for the take-up of
media. "Printed side out" may cause the media to
move around and create a large misalignment with
the roll. When take-up cannot be done correctly
with "printed side out", do take-up using "printed
side in".
❏Media smaller than 36 inches wide may move
around and be taken up incorrectly.
❏Do not attach take-up roll cores like the ones shown
in the following figure. The take-up tension will be
uneven and the core will spin loosely. As a result, the
paper cannot wind correctly, which may cause
banding in the print results.
Edges are worn
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
15

Deformed
Attaching the Roll Core
Preparing
Get a take-up roll core that is the same width as the
media.
Get a commercially available adhesive tape.
Loading
A
After confirming that the media is loaded
correctly, keep the dbutton pressed until the
edge of the media reaches the roll core holder.
c
Important:
Always press the dbutton to feed the media. If
the media is pulled by hand, the media may
twist during take-up.
B
Loosen the roll core holder fixing screws on both
sides and adjust the roll core holders so that the
distance between the two is wider than the media.
If the roll supports are not positioned evenly,
move them so that they are even.
c
Important:
If the left-side roll core handle's shaft is not
visible, rotate the handle as shown in the
illustration until it stops. The roll core cannot
be properly loaded if the handle's shaft is not
visible.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
16

C
Align and move the right-side roll core holder to
the right edge of the media.
D
While pressing from the top of the roll core
holder, tighten the fixing screw in place.
E
Insert the roll core into the right-side roll core
holder.
F
Check that the left-side roll core holder is fully
inserted into the roll core and that the roll core
and edges of the media are not misaligned.
c
Important:
If the edges of the media are misaligned, the
media cannot be taken up correctly. If the
edges are misaligned, loosen the fixing screw
for the right-side roll core holder, and then
restart from step 3.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
17

G
To ensure that the roll core holder is sufficiently
inserted into the roll core, push the top of the roll
core holder towards the end of the roll two times.
Confirm that the roll core and edges of the media
are not misaligned.
H
While pressing from the top of the left-side roll
core holder, tighten the fixing screw.
Tighten it so the roll core holder does not move.
I
Rotate the handle until part A in the illustration
below is fully inserted.
c
Important:
Once part A is hidden, do not turn the handle
any further. Pressing too hard may damage the
roll core holder.
If part A is still visible even after the handle has
been turned fully, the roll core holder may not
be fully inserted. Return to step 6.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
18

J
Leave a 10 to 20 cm wide section in the center of
the media, and cut at least 25 cm in height from
the left and right corners of the media.
Cutting the media prevents feeding problems,
such as the left and right corners of media being
folded and caught at the start of take-up.
For the subsequent steps, see the following depending
on how the media is rolled.
For information on taking-up with printed side in, see
U“Take-up with the Printed Side Facing In” on
page 19.
For information on taking-up with printed side out, see
U“Take-up with the Printed Side Facing Out” on
page 21.
Take-up with the Printed Side
Facing In
A
While pulling the center of the media straight
down, wrap it around the roll core from back to
front, and affix it using commercially available
adhesive tape.
c
Important:
Attach the media to the take-up roll core with
the media pulled tightly. If media is attached
loosely, the media may move around during
take-up.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
19

B
Hold down the dbutton in the control panel to
feed enough media for a single wrap around the
take-up roll core.
C
Flip the Auto switch to Off and hold down the
Manual switch on the side to take-up the
media for a single wrap around the core.
D
Flip the Auto switch to .
E
Confirm that the media is attached and is not
crooked.
If the tension on the left and right of the media
differ, such as in the areas circled in the
illustration below, the media will not be taken up
correctly. If one of the sides is loose, restart the
procedure from step 1.
SC-F9400H Series/SC-F9400 Series Operator's Guide
Basic Operations
20