Hi Andreas,
It appears that cleaning the affected area of your printer provided temporary relief, but the issue has returned, strongly suggesting a drainage problem.
One of the more important components responsible for managing waste ink is the capping station. It performs two key functions:
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It uses a pump to draw (or “pull”) waste ink from the print head during cleaning cycles.
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It forms an airtight seal over the print head when idle to prevent the nozzles from drying out.
The waste ink collected by the capping station is then routed through a drain tube into the maintenance waste ink system (or waste pad/tank). For the system to work correctly, this drain tube must allow the contents to flow freely.
Based on the recurring nature of the problem, you are likely looking at two main possibilities:
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A Clogged Waste Ink Tube**:** The drain tube is plugged, or it has a kink/tight bend preventing proper flow.
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A Pump Malfunction**:** The pump associated with the capping station is not operating correctly or efficiently.
If you are comfortable with light disassembly and maintenance:
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You can test the drain tube by gently applying a small amount of cleaning solution (like PiezoFlush) directly into the capping station to see if it drains. If it doesn’t, removing the housing to inspect the tube for any kinks or tight bends and simply manipulating it may be enough to resolve a manufacturing-related issue.
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Replace the Capping Station**:** The capping station often comes pre-attached to its drain tube. As a dedicated part, replacing the entire capping station might resolve the issue if there is a subtle defect in the part or its tube.
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Check the Pump**:** If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, the pump itself is the next likely culprit. You would need to consult your printer’s Field Service Manual to accurately locate and test or replace the capping station pump.
This type of problem is common with printers that are older or that have made 1000s of prints and cleaning the capping station, wiper blade and flush box as we demonstrate in our videos is very effective. In your case, I am thinking more of a defect preventing draining because your printer is so new. The cartridges are pressurized and were you to have a leak it would show during printing as dripping.
Rachel
IJM-TechSupport