MPC2500 Print and Bypass Tray Issues

[kduray]

Hi Everyone. Forgive me, I'm not a copy technician, but I'm hoping you might have answers.

I have a couple of issues with my Ricoh Aficio MPC2500. I run an invitation business and we print LOTS of invitations on this machine, typically on a thicker cardstock. The most often type is an 80# cover stock.

I'm attaching a scan of a file we recently printed. The customer is very unhappy beause of the splotchyness in the purple areas. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it's such heavy coverage. I printed from the bypass tray using the "thick 3" setting from my computer driver. However, the screen on the maching reads "cardstock" on the bypass tray.

Anyway, any ideas what's causing this and how to fix it?

Second issue, is that the bypass tray can not seem to pick up cardstock very well. It seems to misfeed every other sheet. We end up sitting at the printer "helping" it feed each sheet - what a waste of time! Why does it have such issues picking up cardstock?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[schooltech]

When it comes out of the machine, does the toner rub off very easily? It looks like a few things I've seen before: toner not fully adhering to the paper, and/or poor transfer. If the toner is not fully adhering to the paper, you need to have the heat increased and the media slow way down through the machine.

I've seen machines handle more fill than that and look alright, so I think something else is going on here.

I haven't worked on these machines in a few years, but they have some, if I remember, copier adjustments in the user tools for density.

Having said that, my experience with Ricoh bypass feed mechanisms are that the feed reverse roller (FRR) system they use can be a bit finicky with thicker paper.

Do you have a service or maintenance agreement on this machine?

I'm sure that someone else will be of more help here, but there may be other adjustments needed that can produce a higher-quality image, and these adjustments will be in service mode.

Another thing I will add is that, in my experience with color copiers, Ricoh produces OK machines, but their color can sometimes be a bit off, and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. You can put five different manufacturers' copiers next to each other, print the same thing to each of them, and you will have five different outputs. I considered Ricoh copiers pretty good BUSINESS COLOR machines, but they were not very good when high-quality color is needed on a regular basis.

[KenB]

Sometimes just changing to a different paper stock can make all the difference.

You may want to try slightly different paper stock, if acceptable.

[tcs04]

	Quote:			Originally Posted by kduray
	Hi Everyone. Forgive me, I'm not a copy technician, but I'm hoping you might have answers. I have a couple of issues with my Ricoh Aficio MPC2500. I run an invitation business and we print LOTS of invitations on this machine, typically on a thicker cardstock. The most often type is an 80# cover stock. I'm attaching a scan of a file we recently printed. The customer is very unhappy beause of the splotchyness in the purple areas. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it's such heavy coverage. I printed from the bypass tray using the "thick 3" setting from my computer driver. However, the screen on the maching reads "cardstock" on the bypass tray. Anyway, any ideas what's causing this and how to fix it? Second issue, is that the bypass tray can not seem to pick up cardstock very well. It seems to misfeed every other sheet. We end up sitting at the printer "helping" it feed each sheet - what a waste of time! Why does it have such issues picking up cardstock? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Paper Spec for the MPC2500

Paper Weights -

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Thin paper: Below 60 g/m2 (16 lb)

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Normal plain paper: 60 – 81 g/m2 (16 – 22 lb.)

��

Middle Thick: 82 – 105 g/m2 (22 – 28 lb.)

��

Thick 1: 106 – 169 g/m2 (28.5 – 44.9 lb.)

��

Thick 2: 170 – 219 g/m2 (45 – 58 lb.)

�� Thick 3: 220 – 253 g/m2 (58.5 – 67 lb.)

If you are running 80lb (?) this is too heavy for this machine and may result in paper feed problems and poor image transfer (Thats what the sample looks like)

[schooltech]

So what happened with the stock? Even though it's out-of-spec, I got the impression that 80 lb was a common weight of media he was running.

In any event, I'm curious as to what the happened with the stock and any adjustments made.

[imaginemoko]

it simply machine's limitation with regards to paper type to feed into this machine..... which perhaps give undisirable results.

[KopyKat]

	Quote:			Originally Posted by tcs04
	Paper Spec for the MPC2500 Paper Weights - �� Thin paper: Below 60 g/m2 (16 lb) �� Normal plain paper: 60 – 81 g/m2 (16 – 22 lb.) �� Middle Thick: 82 – 105 g/m2 (22 – 28 lb.) �� Thick 1: 106 – 169 g/m2 (28.5 – 44.9 lb.) �� Thick 2: 170 – 219 g/m2 (45 – 58 lb.) �� Thick 3: 220 – 253 g/m2 (58.5 – 67 lb.) If you are running 80lb (?) this is too heavy for this machine and may result in paper feed problems and poor image transfer (Thats what the sample looks like)

If the label on the paper says "80lb Cover" that equates to 216 g/m2 (per the "Grams/Meter² Converter" on the Ricoh TSC site). This is within spec.

That being said, from my take on the sample it looks like it is textured paper...Is that correct? If so, the toner cannot transfer in to the grooves in the paper. Textured paper is not supported. The MCP 2500 is not a high end graphics production color copier...no matter what the salesman told you.

As for the bypass feed problems, you should have this looked at by a technician. If you have been using the bypass for the majority of your work it may need feed rollers changed and a good cleaning due to the various types of stocks you put through it.

[Scott_Lewis]

This is a business class copier that will never have the same print quality as a graphics class copier. Experiment with different paper stock to see what else might give you better results. Others have covered this as well all with good points.

The feed problem is what I wanted to address. The bypass feed system is a simple roller/friction pad. This isn't the best (IMO) for trouble-free paper feed. Things you need to do are fan and riffle all of your paper that you place in the tray. All paper, and especially heavy paper, can be hard to separate. There are two issues you need to deal with, pages sticking together and the edges gripping/grabbing adjacent sheets.

I like to 'bevel' the stack of paper before I put it into the drawer or tray. The purpose is to move every sheet of paper at least a little bit from the sheet under it. The point is to break any bonds between each sheet. Sometimes you will have ragged edges that can hang onto the next sheet. Fan the paper, this will help break up any static cling and edge gripping. Finally, pay attention to the paper coating.

Can you slide the top sheets of paper off the stack with just your damp thumb? The copier might get a better grip on the paper. But, not by much more than you might think.

One more thing. If you want to run lots of weird paper through the bypass tray, learn to clean your bypass feed roller in between service call by your copier tech.

[zyqwiz]

I have noticed that with the rets of the settings the same, changing between the various thickness settings on the driver changes the colour of half tones

[Gary Bowen]

This may be helpful. Here are the actual Paper Specifications for this product line from the Ricoh Product Support Guide and recommended papers. I just came back from a call yesterday where the customer told me the paper was in spec (the paper they were using was 110LB Coverstock; spec is 80LB). Also, be aware that there have been problems with damage to the Mylars on both the Duplex Unit and both Registration Mylar Plates.