Why Is My Printer Printing Blank Pages After Cleaning Cycles?

Question:
Even after running multiple cleaning cycles, my printer only produces blank pages. The ink is not reaching the cartridges. When I try waste priming, there’s no resistance at all—just air. What could be causing this problem?

Answer:

1. No Resistance During Priming

When you attempt waste priming and feel no resistance at all, this is a strong indicator that your printer’s capping station is not functioning correctly. The capping station is responsible for sealing against the printhead and creating suction to draw ink through the system. If it fails, the printer simply cannot pull ink from the cartridges into the dampers and onto the nozzles.

Usually, even in cases of partial clogging or air leakage, you would feel some resistance. The fact that you think none suggests a complete failure in the vacuum seal or suction mechanism.

2. Possible Causes

Several components could be at fault here:

• Capping Station Malfunction

  • If the capping station pad is dried, misaligned, or damaged, it won’t create a proper seal against the printhead. This prevents suction and leaves your system full of air.

• APG (Aspiration Pump Group) Unit Failure

  • The APG is the pump responsible for creating suction during cleaning cycles. If this pump fails, the system won’t be able to generate negative pressure to pull ink through.

• Unsealed Dampers or Leaks in the Ink Path

  • If dampers aren’t seated properly or if there’s a leak in the ink line, air will enter the system. Even if the pump is working, air leakage breaks suction and prevents ink from moving.

• Printhead Seal Issues

  • If the printhead itself isn’t seated tightly against the capping station, suction can’t be maintained. This might happen if the head is misaligned or if there’s debris preventing a flush seal.

3. Why This Results in Blank Pages

Because there’s no suction, the printer cannot draw ink into the dampers or maintain ink pressure inside the printhead. This means that—even though your cartridges contain ink—the nozzles are starved of it, resulting in completely blank pages.

4. What You Can Do

• Check the capping station: Inspect the rubber seal for cracks, ink buildup, or misalignment.

• Verify the pump: If possible, listen for the pump operation during cleaning cycles. A silent or weak pump may need replacement.

• Examine dampers and tubing: Make sure dampers are seated properly and that no visible air leaks or cracks are present.

• Ensure proper sealing: Gently clean the underside of the printhead and the capping pad to remove debris that might prevent a tight seal.

If all else fails, the issue is most likely with the capping station or pump unit, which may require replacement to restore functionality.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Therefore, we aren’t able to provide remote troubleshooting or repair support. BCH Technologies does, however, offer an in-person printer repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Because of high demand, repairs are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and it may take a few weeks before your printer can be serviced. Our repair rates are not the lowest, so we highly encourage self-help where possible. A great starting point is our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). You can use the search function (found next to “About” on the top menu bar) to locate videos on specific issues. This is often the fastest way to find detailed instructions tailored to your situation.

Thank you again for reaching out and for supporting BCH Technologies. We truly value your trust and look forward to helping you get your printer working again.