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.
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.
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