dont have system with printer where Im at but something like this in cron run script once a day
check the timestamp on a file, if older then 7 days lpr the squirt file to the printer touch the file the test file is a zero length file in /var, the squirt file is HP code to print four rectangles high enough to ensure all nozzles are being used. I used something like gimp to create them. Made the height just enough to where it took two passes of the print head. Their width was like 1/10 inch or something like that On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:41 PM, wes <p...@the-wes.com> wrote: > you could always put the activity-page back in the feed tray whenever you > see it in the output tray. > > I really like this idea. any chance you would be willing to share your > script? > > -wes > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:36 PM, Pete Lancashire > <p...@petelancashire.com>wrote: > >> Any inkjet is not going to like going for a long time without >> printing. BTW a 970 is >> a great work horse, and comes apart so one can clean the 'drip pan'. I have >> two >> of them. >> >> I have a little init job that checks to see if the printer has done >> anything i a week and >> if not prints a little test line of a few vertical bars. That took >> care of the clogging sadly >> at the expense of paper. >> >> Before that a little soak on a wet paper towel for a couple minutes >> always fixed things >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:23 PM, Denis Heidtmann >> <denis.heidtm...@gmail.com> wrote: >> > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 12:43 PM, Keith Lofstrom <kei...@kl-ic.com> >> wrote: >> > >> >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 09:40:01AM -0700, Denis Heidtmann wrote: >> >> > > Thanks for all the replies. The printer is sitting not connected >> to >> >> any >> >> > computer. It goes through the alignment test, where the carriage >> moves >> >> > across the paper and a light shines down. I assume that this is >> locating >> >> > the paper edge. It then goes back and forth a couple of times, then >> >> > abruptly changes to self-test. After 10 or 20 more seconds it changes >> >> > to Initializing, ejects the paper, then goes back to the alignment >> test >> >> with >> >> > a request for loading paper. No ink appears on the paper. This >> endless >> >> > loop gives me no opportunity to try anything other than power-off. >> This >> >> > leads me to discount computer drivers, etc. as the issue. >> >> >> >> This is surprisingly like the behavior of my HP2605 color >> >> laserjet after we moved. >> >> >> >> The BIG MISTAKE was moving it with the toner cartridges in it. >> >> ( Three moves equals one fire, as the saying goes, things get >> >> broken and lost in the chaos of moving ). The second mistake >> >> was using a refurb toner cartridge from Office Max, which >> >> spewed little grains of red toner everywhere. >> >> >> >> Most importantly, a grain got into an optical calibration path, >> >> a pair of millimeter-diameter holes running through one of the >> >> plastic assemblies to an LED and a phototransistor. IIRC, my >> >> laser printer has four of these, and uses them to detect paper >> >> size and make tiny dots on the paper, which are measured to >> >> precisely align the colors. >> >> >> >> I am insane, so I took it apart down to the hundreds of pieces >> >> level ( color laser printers are complicated ), cleaned >> >> everything, and got it working again. >> >> >> >> Before cleaning the holes, the printer would calibrate repeatedly, >> >> then give up, with the colors misaligned by 5mm. After cleaning, >> >> it is lined up within a hairwidth. >> >> >> >> I doubt there are as many sensors on a cheap inkjet, but optical >> >> sensors are easier than switches, so HP may be using the same >> >> trick (and have the same vulnerabilities). If the former owner >> >> has dust or shedding cats, then the blockage may be something >> >> besides dried ink in a cartridge. >> >> >> >> Consider asking free geek if they will loan or sell you some >> >> partly used cartridges for this beast, for testing. >> >> >> >> But first you may want to do a deep cleaning. Cut-apart egg >> >> cartons double-stickied onto a board can hold all the little >> >> fiddly bits. These compartments correspond with notes in a >> >> notebook. HP sometimes has detailed service manuals. I've >> >> considered making many digital photos during disassembly, >> >> but so far sketches in a repair notebook have been adequate. >> >> >> >> Keith >> > >> > >> > Interesting. The Free Geek idea is worth a try. Taking this thing apart >> > with the idea of getting it back together is a daunting prospect. I used >> to >> > be very clever at such tasks, but my short-term memory is getting too >> short, >> > so I would need a video with instant replay to make a success of the >> > project. The lack of ink on the paper puts plugged cartridges high on >> the >> > list. >> > >> > A related question (if this printer never gets resuscitated) is what >> color >> > printers are on the recommended list? As a measure of our usage rate, we >> go >> > through cartridges on our present Deskjet 970 at the rate of one of each >> > type every 1 1/2 years. A pair of cartridges costs about $67. A combo >> > scanner-printer would be nice. Copy and Fax would likely not be used >> much, >> > if at all. >> > >> > -Denis >> > _______________________________________________ >> > PLUG mailing list >> > PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org >> > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> PLUG mailing list >> PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org >> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >> > _______________________________________________ > PLUG mailing list > PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug > _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug