I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

[srvctec]

I decided to start a thread where maybe we can keep track of this. This thread is where I first saw mention of the issue right after I had the same issue on a C550i, the first time we've come across the issue.

Well, today I had a C360i in the field for 10 months with 26K on the meter with the same issue. I spent quite a bit of time trying to find out what caused it but came up with absolutely nothing. I was able to clean all the toner out of the cleaning unit and it seems fine now but not sure why it clogged up in the first place. I thought maybe when the belt was installed at the factory that maybe the shutter didn't open like it should, causing the cleaning unit to fill up. Upon further inspection of the Waste Toner Conveyance ASSY, it had toner in the entrance shutter. If the belt shutter never opened, there would be no toner there.

Then I removed the shutter assy above the Waste Toner Conveyance ASSY and below the belt to see if it was clogged and it had toner in it but wasn't clogged. Once I opened the bottom shutter, the toner just fell out. I even disassembled the Waste Toner Conveyance ASSY to see what might be the issue with it and didn't see anything abnormal. It did have an issue with turning hard and I had to remove the drive assy and lube the second gear with a tiny bit of grease to free it up.

Post if you have had the same issue and what you find if anything.

[blackcat4866]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

I've seen this sort of issue on a wide variety of Konica Minoltas, Toshibas, & some Kyoceras. The print engine layout is pretty similar.

The event sequence that I've noticed goes something like this:

Enduser runs low percentage of color (though I've seen it on the B&W versions of the same machines).
Normal color calibrations account for a relatively larger percentage of transfer waste at the far left side of the waste bottle.
Waste toner full detection is right of center.
The left side of the waste bottle fills to overfill, backing up into the spout, then the primary transfer cleaner.
Enduser sometimes complains of a thumping or screeching sound from the finisher end of the machine or "an internal error has occurred ... " and clears by itself ... or the enduser doesn't even notice.

Here is where the sequence varies:
Service Call

or Enduser changes the waste bottle, but the noise doesn't change, then service call.

If you get there and the waste bottle is overfull, or the waste bottle is new and overspray around the transfer waste, this fits with this scenario. If you find compressed chunks of toner, toner rocks, or hard toner coating on the inner surface of the spout, this fits with this scenario. You might also see primary transfer shift errors, crossfeed image blurrs, ripped transfer belts, registration patch and toner density patches on the prints, registration patch and toner density patch errors, spun gears (either spun on a "D" shaped shaft or broke the auger), and on Toshibas E011 paper jams (the transfer belt stops turning, stalling the paper at second transfer).

In very rare cases I've had customers mention in passing, some of these symptoms, and when they changed the waste bottle it resolved itself without service.

Does that sound like it? =^..^=

[jwai]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

i remember there have modified waste toner bottle.

[copier tech]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

I decided to start a thread where maybe we can keep track of this. This thread is where I first saw mention of the issue right after I had the same issue on a C550i, the first time we've come across the issue.

Well, today I had a C360i in the field for 10 months with 26K on the meter with the same issue. I spent quite a bit of time trying to find out what caused it but came up with absolutely nothing. I was able to clean all the toner out of the cleaning unit and it seems fine now but not sure why it clogged up in the first place. I thought maybe when the belt was installed at the factory that maybe the shutter didn't open like it should, causing the cleaning unit to fill up. Upon further inspection of the Waste Toner Conveyance ASSY, it had toner in the entrance shutter. If the belt shutter never opened, there would be no toner there.

Then I removed the shutter assy above the Waste Toner Conveyance ASSY and below the belt to see if it was clogged and it had toner in it but wasn't clogged. Once I opened the bottom shutter, the toner just fell out. I even disassembled the Waste Toner Conveyance ASSY to see what might be the issue with it and didn't see anything abnormal. It did have an issue with turning hard and I had to remove the drive assy and lube the second gear with a tiny bit of grease to free it up.

Post if you have had the same issue and what you find if anything.

The waste looks totally black not the usual brown could one would expect.

What is the colour v black count ratio ?

[blackcat4866]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

The waste looks totally black not the usual brown could one would expect.

What is the colour v black count ratio ?

Sorta fits with my theory, yes?

[tsbservice]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

Looking like sping with 33 coils to me from B0265 post.

[rrrohan]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

I thought the wtb had a mixing paddle to help evenly distribute toner.



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[copier tech]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

Sorta fits with my theory, yes?

Yes pretty much.

Konica do have history with developer being pulled into the waste box.

[srvctec]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

I've seen this sort of issue on a wide variety of Konica Minoltas, Toshibas, & some Kyoceras. The print engine layout is pretty similar.

The event sequence that I've noticed goes something like this:

Enduser runs low percentage of color (though I've seen it on the B&W versions of the same machines).
Normal color calibrations account for a relatively larger percentage of transfer waste at the far left side of the waste bottle.
Waste toner full detection is right of center.
The left side of the waste bottle fills to overfill, backing up into the spout, then the primary transfer cleaner.
Enduser sometimes complains of a thumping or screeching sound from the finisher end of the machine or "an internal error has occurred ... " and clears by itself ... or the enduser doesn't even notice.

Here is where the sequence varies:
Service Call

or Enduser changes the waste bottle, but the noise doesn't change, then service call.

If you get there and the waste bottle is overfull, or the waste bottle is new and overspray around the transfer waste, this fits with this scenario. If you find compressed chunks of toner, toner rocks, or hard toner coating on the inner surface of the spout, this fits with this scenario. You might also see primary transfer shift errors, crossfeed image blurrs, ripped transfer belts, registration patch and toner density patches on the prints, registration patch and toner density patch errors, spun gears (either spun on a "D" shaped shaft or broke the auger), and on Toshibas E011 paper jams (the transfer belt stops turning, stalling the paper at second transfer).

In very rare cases I've had customers mention in passing, some of these symptoms, and when they changed the waste bottle it resolved itself without service.

Does that sound like it? =^..^=

Your theory sounds solid except there was hardly any toner at all in the waste box or the Waste Toner Conveyance ASSY and the WTB has never been changed.

Total count was 26,750. Black was 25,238 and color is only 1,512.

[blackcat4866]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

How about the environment?

Is it in a small or overly hot room? Poor ventilation?
=^..^=

[srvctec]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

How about the environment?

Is it in a small or overly hot room? Poor ventilation?
=^..^=

Perfect office environment. It was in the front office right behind the receptionist, until the day I serviced it last week when they moved it back to the server room. Not too warm or cold and no abnormal humidity.

[copyrooks]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

I encountered my first one in the wild last week. Started as a noise complaint that was intermittent. Eventually pinpointed it with a help of a colleague. There was a big pile of toner/developer where the transfer belt cleaner unit sits when latched inside the copier. We ended up just replacing the belt and sent it in for a warranty claim. Copier had less than 60,000 clicks on it. We don't think the problem is fixed of course so we keeping an eye and ear out. If happens again might have to dig deep.

[Konicatech]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

Had this exact same issue myself on a c250i a few months back, went like this:

1. Customer called in to say machine wouldnt print and was making a really loud grinding sound
2. I arrived on site and initially thought it was coming from the fuser, but removed the belt and could see that it would not turn by hand.
3. Removed cleaning mechanism and it was PACKED with toner, emptied this and cleaned machine and not heard from customer since.

Waste toner bottle was not full and machine is relatively low mileage - been installed for 9 months

[srvctec]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

We just had another C550i do the same thing last week. I didn't get the call but the customer has only had the machine a couple months. That's about a 20% failure rate for us on these i-series machines getting the cleaning unit plugged up. Pretty ridiculous as far as I'm concerned. Never had any consistent belt issues like this on any other Minolta or KonicaMinolta machine. Hope they get it figured out soon because this is looking pretty bad.

[copytechtrouble]

Re: I-Series belt cleaning units clogging up

Had this exact same issue myself on a c250i a few months back, went like this:

1. Customer called in to say machine wouldnt print and was making a really loud grinding sound
2. I arrived on site and initially thought it was coming from the fuser, but removed the belt and could see that it would not turn by hand.
3. Removed cleaning mechanism and it was PACKED with toner, emptied this and cleaned machine and not heard from customer since.

Waste toner bottle was not full and machine is relatively low mileage - been installed for 9 months

just wanted to confirm that i have had the EXACT same issue as this on a c250i.