BizHub C253 - Vertical Lines and Horizontal Pattern in Magenta Only

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  • SyblingQ
    Junior Member
    • Aug 2024
    • 9

    BizHub C253 - Vertical Lines and Horizontal Pattern in Magenta Only

    This is my first post, so I should give a little abridged background to my knowledge and experience. I'm an electronics/electrical technician with IT experience many moons ago, and I just started working at a very small company. I did complete the CompTIA a+ certification forever ago, but I'm familiar with the inner workings of laser printers despite my knowledge becoming fatigued. That said, everyone is doing a little bit of everything within my office, so I'm the resident IT guy by default.

    I'm experiencing an issue with unwanted color printing lines and a consistent horizontal pattern, specifically with magenta using our Konica BizHub C253. A few weeks ago, I was told that all color prints contain a "dump" of magenta across the top third portion of the page. The issue doesn't affect B/W copies or prints. Interestingly enough, the top-third magenta pattern is photo-dependent -- meaning if you make the print portrait or landscape, the pattern will span the entire horizontal axis. A printed color test page within the service menu for this example. (See PrintPhoto1 and 3)

    Reading through the service manual I found online, I made an educated guess that the issue was the fault of the image transfer roller unit and cleaned it using alcohol and a lent-free cloth. Printed another image and the issue persisted. After looking at the image transfer, I found the same pattern and strips found on the paper. (See PrintPhoto2)

    I then opened the front hatch and looked at the imaging drum, I believe Konica calls it the PH Unit, and noticed a bit more toner near the back of the magenta slot than any other color drum slot. (See PrintPhoto4) Cleaned the port up as best as I could with a cloth since I didn't want to use a typical consumer vacuum (I've heard horror stories of the mess that can make). I also used the window jig once I reinstalled the unit.

    Fortunately, we have a new magenta toner on hand. Switching between the two did not improve the situation, so I don't believe the issue is with the toner itself. Perhaps the gear mechanism that actuates the toner "door." I also changed the toner waste box as that was close to end-of-life.

    Lastly, I pulled out the fusing unit to see if any obvious damage was visible, but it seemed to be fine. Maybe some extra melted orange lines toward the extreme ends of one roller.

    At this point I'm stumped. The PH unit is still within the replacement window but things do fail early, I changed the toner and cleaned any rouge magenta I found within the printer. I'm hoping for some guidance before working on this issue again next week since getting a tech to look at the Konica isn't possible for at least another month.

    Edit: Added that I changed the toner waste box.
    Attached Files
  • Larhal
    Retired

    Site Contributor
    VIP Subscriber
    250+ Posts
    • May 2013
    • 342

    #2
    Looks like your Transfer Belt cleaner is not doing it's job. Also Looks like your Transfer Belt is getting worn. You said you changed the toner, Are you using Genuine Konica Toner?. It takes 1000-3000 prints at 5% coverage to purge the old toner out.
    What is the life reading for the transfer belt and cleaner? The Transfer belt is good for 150,000 pages.
    Larhal

    Retired

    If all else fails read the Service Manual!

    If that fails, meet me at the pub and we will discuss it, maybe, probably not we are at the pub!

    Comment

    • copyman
      Owner / Technician

      Site Contributor
      2,500+ Posts
      • Sep 2005
      • 4123

      #3
      Looks like you could have a few issues going on, magenta image unit & transfer belt.
      Keep in mind that model has been in "end of life" status since 2017 and no longer supported.

      Comment

      • SyblingQ
        Junior Member
        • Aug 2024
        • 9

        #4
        Originally posted by Larhal
        Looks like your Transfer Belt cleaner is not doing it's job. Also Looks like your Transfer Belt is getting worn. You said you changed the toner, Are you using Genuine Konica Toner?. It takes 1000-3000 prints at 5% coverage to purge the old toner out.
        What is the life reading for the transfer belt and cleaner? The Transfer belt is good for 150,000 pages.
        The toner is Konica branded, and I'll run 20 or so mostly magenta color copies to see if I can purge the residual toner. I have some actual numbers I pulled from the machine's counter menu, if that helps isolate possible bad components.

        Fusing Unit: 199813
        Image Transfer Belt: 69455
        Imaging Unit: 8989M (This is the same for CMY, and I'm not sure what 'M' represents)
        Imaging Unit (K): 9438M

        Comment

        • SyblingQ
          Junior Member
          • Aug 2024
          • 9

          #5
          Originally posted by copyman
          Looks like you could have a few issues going on, magenta image unit & transfer belt.
          Keep in mind that model has been in "end of life" status since 2017 and no longer supported.
          Would a bad imaging unit cause the vertical stripes and/or horizontal pattern? The transfer belt issues seems a bit more obvious since I could see the toner on the roll itself.

          Comment

          • 4Toon
            Technician

            50+ Posts
            • Mar 2023
            • 90

            #6
            Originally posted by SyblingQ

            Would a bad imaging unit cause the vertical stripes and/or horizontal pattern? The transfer belt issues seems a bit more obvious since I could see the toner on the roll itself.
            Is this the old models with the drum and Dev all in one? if so that is your issues if it was your belt you would see a issue with blk too. If this is drum and dev separate replace drum and check developer sleeve for a magenta band on it. Remove the stuck on toner from the dev sleeve with a green abrasive pad. If it is the all in one Dev/Drum get a new one.

            I would avoid cleaning the transfer belt with anything, if the belt is not getting clean it is due to the cleaning blade or auger is plugged. Cleaning that could fix that issue but you would need setting powder for the blade after cleaning.

            The laser "PH" usually causes a void area 9/10

            Hope this helps

            Comment

            • ADACOPYY
              Junior Member
              • Feb 2023
              • 4

              #7
              magenta image ünit charge corona


              While the transfer belt goes down and starts printing, the red unit leaks.
              The drum size stain mark is visible in the picture

              Comment

              • copyman
                Owner / Technician

                Site Contributor
                2,500+ Posts
                • Sep 2005
                • 4123

                #8
                Originally posted by 4Toon

                Is this the old models with the drum and Dev all in one? if so that is your issues if it was your belt you would see a issue with blk too. If this is drum and dev separate replace drum and check developer sleeve for a magenta band on it. Remove the stuck on toner from the dev sleeve with a green abrasive pad. If it is the all in one Dev/Drum get a new one.

                I would avoid cleaning the transfer belt with anything, if the belt is not getting clean it is due to the cleaning blade or auger is plugged. Cleaning that could fix that issue but you would need setting powder for the blade after cleaning.

                The laser "PH" usually causes a void area 9/10

                Hope this helps
                Yes this is the older model with the dev & drum in one "Image unit"

                You can use yellow toner instead of setting powder for the transfer belt cleaning blade. This is what the factory uses.
                Last edited by copyman; 08-25-2024, 01:46 PM.

                Comment

                • SyblingQ
                  Junior Member
                  • Aug 2024
                  • 9

                  #9
                  Hello, I hope you all had a great weekend. Appreciate the suggestions and assistance with this issue.

                  Based on what 4Toon stated, it seems like the PH/imaging unit could be the issue since there is a consistent void area when printing with only magenta. (seen in attached printphoto3.jpg)

                  The magenta definitely seems to be "leaking" as ADACOPYY stated. After cleaning the magenta toner and imaging unit ports, there will always be more when opened again.

                  I was able to find a new magenta drum online, which I'll pass to office management for purchase.

                  If any other suggestions arise, please let me know.

                  Thank you all!

                  Comment

                  • Gift
                    Service Manager

                    1,000+ Posts
                    • Mar 2011
                    • 2401

                    #10
                    Guess a new magenta IU will do the trick. ITB looks pretty worn out, too but I wouldn't swap it before it makes issues.

                    Comment

                    • SyblingQ
                      Junior Member
                      • Aug 2024
                      • 9

                      #11
                      I received the magenta drum replacement today and the issue was immediately resolved. I don't know if it's possible to tag people in the forum, but I want to thank everyone that assisted me with this issue. Since I am the designated IT for my company, I'm sure I'll be perusing this site often.

                      Comment

                      • copyman
                        Owner / Technician

                        Site Contributor
                        2,500+ Posts
                        • Sep 2005
                        • 4123

                        #12
                        Originally posted by SyblingQ
                        I received the magenta drum replacement today and the issue was immediately resolved. I don't know if it's possible to tag people in the forum, but I want to thank everyone that assisted me with this issue. Since I am the designated IT for my company, I'm sure I'll be perusing this site often.
                        Instead of tagging people that helped how about making a small donation to this website to keep it running. A small donation is not much when you realize how valuable a "tool" it is and to have in your bag!

                        Comment

                        • 4Toon
                          Technician

                          50+ Posts
                          • Mar 2023
                          • 90

                          #13
                          Originally posted by SyblingQ
                          I received the magenta drum replacement today and the issue was immediately resolved. I don't know if it's possible to tag people in the forum, but I want to thank everyone that assisted me with this issue. Since I am the designated IT for my company, I'm sure I'll be perusing this site often.
                          Glad to hear that helped solve your issue. Transfer belt does still not look the best but I personally on a old MFP like this one run it until it smokes lol.

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