Discolouration/Banding on CLC3200 (C1)

[dagoof]

I've got a CLC3200 (had it around a year now). I use it for my small print shop but a year of use has meant it could use a little attention. I noticed a few weeks back the rollers started giving off a clicking sound but there didn't seem to be any issues caused from this (though it was occassionally depositting yellow blobs on the page, even shortly after a drum change).

Now I'm all of a sudden get large areas of discolouration - the page is supposed to be mostly blue, however, it was turning out all olive green apart from the inch strip in the middle (running short ways) that was the correct/intended blue. So I knew it was a problem with the yellow - I checked the drum yield and it's only at 69% for the yellow, 34% for the cyan. The yellows always seem to burn up pretty quick - I tend to run pretty heavy stock and the yellow never lasts past 100%, probably only getting half their expected lifespan of 40K pages (but I accept this is due to the heavier stock).

I ran a full gradiation adjustment and it's 80% solved it - there's still discoloration in the areas mentioned though. I've tried running adjustment again but there's no real improvement over the 1st adjustment. I also ran an internal cleaning cycle too.

Could anyone offer any advice?

[Oze]

All color copiers lay down the color on the transfer system(ITB etc) as YMCK.
So yellow is the first color laid on the transfer belt.
My knowledge of CLC's stops at the 1100 series(Single OPC drum unit) but if this box uses individual drums then it sounds like an iRC.
If this issue has only started after the last drum change then I'd say either a dud drum or the supply from the dev(toner container) is faulty.
A work around might be to do a toner stir and SUPPLY to the yellow dev.
If this issue has been ongoing despite drum changes then I'd be looking at the yellow dev...maybe it need restarting?
Or more likely the yellow transfer roller?
Sorry...not up to speed on the overseas CLC range.

[OtherTech]

This is the same as Ir3200 in Canada. The Clicking sound is most likely the Fuser. You should leave machine off when not using it as wear occurs on drum units and fuser from control rotations etc.You are probably only doing a couple thousand a month which is why you are not getting proper mileage from drum units.I typically get 220to 280% from drum units where customer is doing 10K+ a month. Running Dev clean from service mode will remove old toner from dev unit. (If you are running low coverage prints toner is charged/discharged but not used, getting rid of this may help) To diagnose problem try running single color half tone "test prints" from service mode(test print 5 I think). If you see problem in all colors then not a drum issue but transfer or fuser.If in one color then that drum unit is problem. Hope this helps

[alex@wocltd.com]

the clicking can also be the exit assembley -you just pop the offending roller back in the 'retainer'...

[dagoof]

Hi guys,

Thanks very much for the help, some good info and advice there - I'm away on holiday but will be checking all this out when I get back.

[OtherTech]

You are right about exit shaft for lower delivery popping out at the front, just push back in.

[dagoof]

Back from my hols! Still not quite managed to sort this unfortunately - tried running the Dev Clean but it didn't help.

Oze - lots of questions By toner stir I take it you mean just giving the cart a few rotations by hand? Tried that and it didn't work - how would I 'supply' it?
When you mention restarting the yellow dev would this just be done by restarting the copier (have tried that too)? And how would I check the yellow transfer roller?

Othertech - tried going into the service and hit the 'test' tab. Then had the various options for CYMK density and colour but when I hit Y density then ok it didn't do anything, could you give more info on that?

Haven't managed to get that offending roller back in yet so I'll need to go over them all again and see which blighter it is!

[Oze]

Oze - lots of questions By toner stir I take it you mean just giving the cart a few rotations by hand? Tried that and it didn't work - how would I 'supply' it?

To supply toner to the dev/drum unit to counteract over toning you go to SERVICE MODE>COPIER>FUNCTION>INSTALL>SPLY-Y.

And how would I check the yellow transfer roller?

The yellow transfer roller will be on the ITB assembly(if this machine is the same as an iRC3200)...you need to look for damage to the roller and to make sure it's still firmly seated in it's bushings.

[dagoof]

Hi Oze,

Thanks - unfortunately I only seem to have 3 options here;
Card
Dry-RT
Key

I'm just looking into getting the service manual for this but could you give a brief run down on checking the ITB?

[PoonKing5000]

When was the last time you replaced your transfer cleaning blade?

[dagoof]

Hi Poon,

It hasn't had anything done other than new drums and toners. Is there a way of checking that?

The machine has about 240K pages on it, but I've probably only put around 25K in the past year.

[PoonKing5000]

You can check the counter in service mode COPIER/COUNTER/??... i forget what it says but there should be one in there called TR-CL... something or other. Sorry for the lack of detail in this message as i am at home and not near the service manual or near one of those machines. The cleaning blade is located behind the waste container there is one screw that is holding it in place and it slides out the front of the machine.

[dagoof]

Thanks Poon, will check that when back at the machine

[dagoof]

Poon - got the T-CLN-BD at 59%, are these percentages used or left?
Edit: removed the blade, it was pretty dirty with toner so I gave it a wipe and shook out any excess.

Going to get the ir manual today, can't seem to locate one for the CLC specifically but they seem pretty much the same.

[OtherTech]

You need to run single colour copies to see where the problem is. You could run off the glass if you don't know how to run test prints. Put a coloured piece of paper on platen glass, then choose your colour (yellow, cyan , magenta, black). The paper on the glass will ensure you get toner laydown. Try each drum colour seperately , you can vary the density using your exposure settings on the panel.(Don't leave on Auto). My guess is that it is the drum unit and this should verify that. (Although the foam backup roller in the transfer assembly is a possibility, I wouldn't go there until you check the drum units.)