Epson R200 : Foam pad soaked in ink

[Will Hay]

As most of you will know there is a small white foam pad on the right hand side of the printer (sat under the 'stationary' point of the ink cartridges) and having only printed maybe 20/25 disks I've noticed this is pretty saturated with ink.
I'm still using official Epson cartridges and wondered if anyone else is having this issue; is it normal?
I'll take a picture tonight when I get home and upload, just to see if this could be construed as 'normal' behaviour.
Many thanks,
Will Hay

[posit]

I have the R200 sitting her at work in front of me. It has the same soaked pad, it looks like its purpose is to catch any excess ink. If its a defect seems like a handy one.

Posit

[Poppa_Meth]

I have the R300. on the right the drip pad has some ink on it but not a great deal. looks like it has caught just a few minor drips. on the left side there is a foam pad covered in 3 streaks of different color ink, may have something to do with cleaning the heads. there is a foam section that goes all the way across the bottom of the R300 under where the carriage travels, but those spots are the only ones showing any ink. I've done about a dozen discs and several full color inserts.

[Will Hay]

This is a snap of mine, Ithink it's always been like this since I installed the cartridges.
I guess it's the norm then, good, thanks

Will Hay

[iooi]

As far as i'm aware all epson printers have these pads. I know for certain that the 400, 640 and 900 have as i have used them. Its where it squirts ink when cleaning the heads.