MP C305 with SC285 Errors

[Gary Bowen]

Was at an account yesterday and the colours were misaligned. Tried doing SP 2111-003 and -001 but both failed. The result in SP 2194 showed "2" (Cannot Detect Patterns) for CMY & K. No SC285 had been logged at that point but did occur while I was trying to get the colour calibration to work. Interestingly, I decided to run Test Pattern 11 Independent Pattern - 1 Dot) to see how uniform the colour laydown was. Black ran normally but CM &Y all produced a test pattern with the image of my Colour Test Target on it. Ricoh Tech Support suggested an Engine Clear which resolved nothing. I reloaded System/Copy and Engine firmware because of the bizarre Colour Test Pattern printed; again nothing resolved. Oh, this machine has 2K B&W and 200 colour copies! I am thinking of replacing the Density Sensor Assy but am puzzled by the crazy test pattern which occured with Test Pattern 12, 13 and 23 (2 Dot, 4 Dot and Full Dot Patterns). Any thoughts?

[Tonerbomb]

was your test chart on the glass when you ran the test pattern??

[slimslob]

I would start with cleaning the ID sensors. After that set everything back to the birth certificate values. If SP 2111-003 and 2111-001 still fail, you might have to start manually adjusting until everything gets close enough for 2111 to pull it back in. I like to use printer SP 1103-002 to print a test page. You can then pick one color to change line position values and see which way that color moves.

[Gary Bowen]

Yes my Test Target was on the glass. The Test pattern selected was SP 2109-003 (#11 - Independent Pattern - 1 Dot). Black runs fine. Colour selection is 1 - Black, 2 - Magenta, 3 - Yellow, 4 - Cyan. The Test Pattern printed should be maybe what they call a .6 Grey; does not matter what is on the glass. After an Engine Clear you have to input the Non Default Data (AKA Birth Certificate) which was done. The machine is absolutely SPOTLESS (2, 200 copies Total B/W & Colour). Everything including ID Sensors are spotless.

[kannuki2]

Gary, I've recently ran into the same problem on a MPC5000 and replaced Image Transfer Belt Ass'y along with the paper transfer roller to fix the problem.

[Gift]

try unplugging/reseating the flatband ribbon cables at both laser units

[spil85]

The MpC305 has 2 Laser Units. One for black and cyan and one for magenta and yellow.
The Part Nr. Is D117-1860

[Lagonda]

These boxes are are head straight to the top of my most hated list, for size of them they cause an awful lot of grief.

We have had a lot of success solving strange errors in magenta and yellow by taking the Y/M laser unit out and re-seating it. Our current theory is that the laser isn't square on to the drum and not drawing the patch properly so it's misread by the ID sensor. You can't see any misalignment and you don't feel that the laser unit has seated in a different position but all of a sudden the odd codes stop appearing.

Fixing these things is a bit like religion, don't inquire to closely how a miracle happens, just be glad that it does!

[Gary Bowen]

Update. Following the advice of Lagonda I reseated the two Laser Housings and it worked! The machine passed SP2111-003/001 (Music adjustments). I also checked the values for Skew with SP2117-001 to 004 and Black was significantly out. I completed the setup for 4.3.7 (Colour Skew Adjustment). Everything is OK - again than you Lagonda.

[Lagonda]

Thanks for the acknowledgement Gary, but I can't take the credit for that fix, John the Meccano Man and Short Circuit Fuse Rick came up with that dodge. Glad it got you out of the mire.