BASIC USER MAINTENANCE

In this section you will learn how to maintain the following types of public affairs office gear:

Typewriter

Microcomputer

Overhead transparency projector

Opaque projector

Carousel slide projector

Typewriter

Your typewriter may have a rugged exterior, but it is actually a delicate instrument. Treat it as such and give it daily care. A typewriter in first-class condition is easier to operate and turns out clean, crisp-looking correspondence.

Keep your typewriter covered when you are not using it. Clean it by wiping the outside with a soft, dry cloth.

Occasionally you should give your typewriter a thorough cleaning. The frequency of these cleanings depends on how often you use the typewriter and the amount of dust in your office atmosphere. In general, we recommend that you perform the following procedures once a month:

l Remove the platen or cylinder and wipe it with a cloth moistened with a small amount of denatured alcohol or cleaning fluid Do not wipe off the alcohol; allow it to evaporate.

l Remove the daisy wheel and inspect it for damage and dirt accumulation. If necessary, clean it with a short bristled brush. Using the points of the bristles, tap the daisywheel lightly to loosen the dirt; then brush it off lightly.

l Remove the casing and clean the interior of the typewriter with a long-handled brush or a soft cloth. Brush toward the front of the machine.

Microcomputer

Although microcomputer systems are small and generally unobtrusive in the workplace, they require a good deal of operator maintenance. Dirt accumulates on diskettes, disk drives, printers, display screens and keyboards. Static electricity also can be a major problem, especially in areas where humidity is low.

Keep your microcomputer as clean as possible. One way for you to do this is by using dust covers. This, of course, only protects the system when it is not in use. You will still need to clean the following components on a regular basis: l Floppy disk drive heads l Keyboard l Display screen l Printer

FLOPPY DISK DRIVE HEADS. - C1ean the floppy disk drive heads with a head cleaning diskette. The instructions that come with the head cleaning kit may direct you to put fluid on the cleaning diskette; then insert the cleaning diskette in the drive and activate (lower) the heads for a few seconds. This helps reduce service calls, and you are less likely to lose data. How often you will need to do this depends on how often you use the microcomputer and whether the area is very dusty.

Some floppy disk drive manufacturers recommend cleaning the heads no more than twice a year. However, we recommend that you clean the heads after 40 to 50 hours of actual use.

KEYBOARD. - To clean keyboards, you can use specially angled swabs with cleaning solution or a portable vacuum cleaner (fig. 16-9) that has special attachments to reach between keys. Vacuums of this type usually have dual-filter systems to keep from blowing dust and dirt back into the room. Ultra soft thin bristle brushes also are available for cleaning keyboards.

Figure 16-9. - Portable vacuum cleaner.

It is not a good idea for you to use low-pressure air or tamed air (a nontoxic gas under pressure) to clean the keyboard. If you use this method, you may blow dust and dirt into cracks, crevices and electrical components, which may result in future problems.

DISPLAY SCREEN. - The display screen needs routine cleaning as well. A dirty screen can be hard to read and may contribute to headaches and fatigue. Dust buildup on the screen can cause static electricity that may result in lost data. You may use a liquid video spray cleaner, but do not spray it directly on the screen. Spray it on a lint-free nonabrasive cloth before you contact the screen.

NOTE: Many commercial cleaning solvents contain alcohol and other flammable agents. If your display screen is on (energized) when it is cleaned with one of these flammable fluids, combustion can occur. An energized display screen can discharge quite a bit of static electricity - a sufficient amount to ignite alcohol. Therefore, if you intend to clean your screen, turn the monitor off first.

You also may clean the screen with wet/dry towelettes. These are convenient to use because the cleaning solution is normally premeasured and they come in individual packets. To reduce static electricity, you can use special antistatic sprays or antistatic pads or mats. Some cleaning solutions include antistatic chemicals.

An antistatic filter for the display screen is another way to reduce static buildup. Antistatic dust covers also may help when the system is not in use.

PRINTER. - A printer creates its own dust from being inconstant contact with paper. To clean the printer, use a vacuum similar to the one shown in figure 16-9. Cleaning solutions and specially shaped brushes are available for cleaning platens. For cleaning the print heads, you can feed a specially designed print sheet cleaner through the printer just like you feed continuous form paper.