IR3100cn Unusual Image Distortion

[PCTech]

teckat, the scanning process that produced that PDF did no printing at all, there was a good print inserted into the ADF and the scan was sent to my mailbox... there was no drum involved in that instance.. Also if the device prints something out of its own accord like a failed to send report, it comes out perfect...

Screwtape : when you say check the main controller, do you have any tips or procedures for doing so?

[SCREWTAPE]

You mention that some prints came looking like the image was digitized and choppy.
Yes if its only happing when scanning, then the problem is in the reader section only.
But when prints come out intermitly looking digitized and choppy, the laser is still involve as teckat
mention. However when troubleshooting image faults we have to check everything that deals with
image processing. The main controller is part of the image processing for printer output. There other
sub boards on the main controller that deal with the rest of image processing.

The main controller is located at the rear, its basically in its own cage. I would recommend you have someone
who is trained on canon models such as the iR3100 to check out what your problem is.
That's the best tip I could give you at this point.

[PCTech]

Screwtape: I get what you are saying, but I really don't think it has anything to do with the laser or drum or printing in general, if you get the device to produce a page from the menu or from its own internal systems, like an error send report when it tries to fax... then the print is 100% perfect.. I have also had success printing using PS not PCL, if we use PCL then the problem shows up, it's a very "digital" distortion, perfectly formed thin lines scattered across the page, and the pattern follows a distorted version of the image but not in any sort of ghosting, reflection or other manner that could be created by poor laser alignment. I spent some time looking at examples of all the different types of distortion caused by different copier errors and nothing really matches... I'm going to lean towards it being the "main controller" which is the board that I've taken a look at. I thought I might be able to swap some of the cards over but they are totally different between the two ir3100c's we have. I've got an engineer coming down either this afternoon or Monday to take a look at them and see if we can get one "good" unit out of the two for the time being... I am already looking to find something along the lines of a 3200, 3220 or 2620 as a replacement, but we have these devices here now and we could really do with using them until something better passes through our hands.

Thanks guys for all your help, it's just unfortunate that the machine I thought would be good for spares has a totally different main board. I'll be sure to update this thread with the outcome of any work so should anyone else experience this type of distortion again they will know where to start board/component wise.

[teckat]

teckat, the scanning process that produced that PDF did no printing at all, there was a good print inserted into the ADF and the scan was sent to my mailbox... there was no drum involved in that instance.. Also if the device prints something out of its own accord like a failed to send report, it comes out perfect...

Screwtape : when you say check the main controller, do you have any tips or procedures for doing so?

All Images (Scans/Prints /Copies/Fax/Mailbox/that are printed from anywhere on this printer are applied to the ITB belt/image from the belt is then transferred to paper.

That PDF u posted, where did it or you print it from ???????

1.GLASS and ADF copies and Network prints are fine ??????
2.Only stored mailbox scans print out like that ??????
3.So when u printed out that PDF/ how do u think that image was produced/ by magic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/
that PDF analog scan to digital storage in your copier mailbox> why don't you explain the print and copy process to us

[PCTech]

1. No, the only things that have printed consistently fine are items produced internally to the device... for example the sheet that is produced when a Send job has failed (it was failing due to SMTP configuration at the mailserver end)

2. I've not mentioned stored mailboxes at all.. (*correction*) I mentioned mailboxes, as in my company e-mail box, which the device transmitted the scan to via SMTP...

3. Perhaps I wasn't clear... That PDF was scanned by the device... the document that was scanned was a perfectly printed Windows 2008 test page that was printed by the device... Sometimes the printing is good, for example I just did two seperate test pages with different driver versions to test the PS/PCL difference... both using PS this time and the first one came out with similar distortion and the second one came out perfectly... Please not the scan does not match the document that was put through the adf... the SCAN is distorted... This made me think it was the scanner at fault, but then some test pages sent from the network also display similar digital distortion I decided it must be something common to printing and scanning, but specific to neither which points me in the direction of the image processing systems.

[D_L_P]

Couple thoughts. 1st, The scanner frame might have got bent in transport, its just natural to push it around with your hands on the scanner. I haven't seen it on a Canon before but have on a couple Ricohs. There is one front corner of the scanner that is unsupported, and we had to pull up on it and warp it a bit to get rid of some lines/weird shading just on the top half of the copy.

2nd, I'd still try swapping out the memory. Once we had delivered a copier and it was working beautifully. We put an ip address in and rebooted, boom wouldn't boot up. Long story short, we narrowed it down and just had to replace the memory sticks. Another time we had one that wouldn't print more then 50 without jamming, but only when printing PCL/PS. After swapping many, many parts, it is now working fine and has every original part except the memory. I remember on the way to OfficeMax thinking this is a waste of time, but we put it in and away she went.

Does this have the external parallel cable running from the scanner to the main controller? Try swapping/reseating that maybe.

[PCTech]

Hi D_L_P thanks for your input, but I'm fairly certain this isn't a scanner issue as it isn't specific to the scanner... the problem also shows up although not always when printing from the network with nothing being scanned... I've had some good prints out like the test pages which I used to scan... they were GOOD prints, perfect in fact, but other times those same exact print jobs have come out with the same distortion. So I can say with a fair amount of confidence through trial and error that:

1. It isn't the scanner (I've also connected the three cables from another IR3100C over and done a scan from that ones tray with the same results)
2. It isn't anything to do with the physical printing system as it does some good prints under specific conditions (i.e. the internally generated documents)
3. That leaves the electronic systems involved in processing and generating prints from either the scanner or the network (of which there appears to be many components)

I understand there are a number of cards and boards involved in this process, there is obviously the main board and the card the data cable from the scanner is plugged in to (forgive my lack of knowledge regarding the specific names for these items, if anyone would like to update me on these that would also be very helpful!)... My question at this point is does this card do any of the image processing required to turn a print job from the network card into a print out of the device? Obviously the RAM is in question here but I don't have any around of the same type in order to test it, and are there any other cards in the device that would be used by the device in order to process scanned images, images from a print job over the network and scan jobs being sent internally to print?

[teckat]

Att .PCTech
You seem to be jumping all over the place with this issue. As a Canon Color troubleshooter, when called to a image problem I always disconnect all external boxes/& cables. Then I make sure the Copier is working as a stand alone machine> as in Glass prints/ ADF copies/ & Test Prints.
If all checks out, I then move on to connecting back network cables,and or the Firey if used. Then I proceed to check the basics of Network Printing and Scanning. U have to keep it simple and follow a procedure in troubleshooting a problem.

[SCREWTAPE]

I'm convinced it might be the main controller.
Besides that 3100 isn't the best. The problem your facing now won't be your last.
You do have a better option with the 3220.

Good luck.

[PCTech]

*edit* Cheers Screwtape, I think at this point I'm going to get the engineer to attempt to fix the "other" 3100 that seemed to be exhibiting mechanical issues with feeding and is now coming up with an error code after clunking a bit... This would seem to be a smaller job than attempting to replace the main controller, and I've already ruled out swapping the main controller since they don't even appear to have the same connections on the top of the board :/


Teckat: Thank you teckat, the copier doesn't work as a stand alone machine, that was established when I tried the first copy... my procedure from then has been an attempt to work out what aspect of the copier isn't functioning correctly... Firstly I connected it to the network to see if it would at least print correctly, which it doesn't... I have been able to get some good prints out of it, but not consistently from the network. The internal printing of items as I have stated before does print correctly, I am able to consistently produce items from the menu which come out perfectly every time... That led me to believe it must be something to do with the image processing systems in the device, which is why I took a good page and scanned it to my network, I was hoping this would demonstrate that the problem has nothing to do with the printing systems or the mechanical operation of the device, since they are not involved in the slightest. The only things mechanical that are involved are the ADF mechanism and the scanner itself and they appear to operate well and cannot be the root cause of the issue since printing also causes the issue.

My posting on this forum was an attempt to see if anyone had seen anything similar and if they knew of a fix, either a direct replacement or at least a further procedure that would help me narrow it down a little... Mostly so I didn't get screwed over when I did call a copier tech and asked them to trace and fix it, I've had many "specialists" attempt to pull the wool over my eyes regarding anything I am not a certified expert in (recently an air-con firm trying to tell me they would need to replace an entire unit since a pipe was bent, after a LOT of questioning, disbelief they lost the contract), but since I usually do my homework I always get them to back down and do the job I asked of them or as with the air conditioning firm; I simply call someone else who will.

If it sounds as though I have come across all over the place that is not becuase I haven't followed a procedure it is most probably becuase I have been mis-understood when attempting to offer my understanding of the issue and have had to further expand upon the processes I have gone through. If I appear curt to you, it is not becuase I am being rude, it is simply becuase I do not like having to re-explain something that I thought I had clearly explained and ruled out in the process. My job is in finding elegant solutions to complex technological problems, it is something I do all day nearly every day in my working life, I understand the importance of procedure and focus.

So to conclude, you don't know what the issue is from the information provided, I haven't been able to provide you with any more information since you haven't asked anything I haven't already answered and you can't provide me with any tips or useful procedures I may follow regarding the troubleshooting of the electronic systems that run the copier. Is this correct?