[Electrical] converting color photocopiers

[adel_nathan]

Good morning, dear group members. I’m asking if anyone has experience in converting color photocopiers to black and white only with removing the color developer tanks and drums.

[Ropariva]

I’ve seen this done on other brands where special firmware was written to enable it, but this was for a country wide deal and the manufacturer was involved. Otherwise I couldn’t see it being possible.

[KYO_OEM]

NOT POSSIBLE!!
If you remove any color drum or dv unit you get error codes.
Color systems always running e.g. calibrations to ensure a constant quality, this always requires color toner...
If we get color toner empty, the amount of possible pages is limited!
e.g. on A3 systems are 1000 pages possible, affter you reach this target, system will stop any printout until new color toner would mounted.

[adel_nathan]

I know that if any toner tank is removed, the machine will display an error code. However, I mean installing an external board that connects to the machine to provide an alternative reading (TDS) for the three color toner tank sensors, thus eliminating the tanks. This is similar to converting the 3051 model to black and white, but the 06 series models are more complex. So, I’m asking if anyone has managed to create an alternative board for the 06 series models?




4o

[dalewb74]

why not just go into the overhead and turn the color option off? and do the same for the print driver?

[tmaged]

You can turn on allow B&W print when the color is empty and then put empty cartridges in it.

[Slammers]

You can turn on allow B&W print when the color is empty and then put empty cartridges in it.

AsKYO_OEM stated, this fucntion is only temporary and after 1000 prints the device will stop all printing until the empty colour cartridge is replaced.
Even in BW only the machine will still run auto calibrations which cannot occur if the colour toner is empty.
This is an emergency setting that can tide over a customer if a toner shipment has been delayed or an alert was missed.

[Slammers]

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Interestingly, the information section for the 3 and 4 series omits the section detailing the ammount of pages that can be printed after colour toner depletion. I am sure the training we got on the 4 series did mention these values, I will have to confirm this.
Unless someone else has information direct from Kyocera.

[tmaged]

I didn't realize there was a page limit. This is a great idea that was very poorly executed. It should prompt the end user that it's out of color, but you can continue in B&W. When it's enabled, the pages just start printing in B&W and the customer wonders why. We set some up this way, but don't any more.

[adel_nathan]

The maximum number of prints or copies after the color toner runs out is strictly 1,000 pages only. After that, the machine will not be usable until the toner is refilled. This is because the machine continuously calibrates the colors to maintain image quality.
There are several additional benefits to converting the machine to black-and-white copying only. When the color drums and toner tanks are removed, an empty space is created inside the machine, allowing for better ventilation and reducing the internal temperature, especially in hot regions like African countries. This also decreases the mechanical load on the machine, reducing the risk of malfunctions. Additionally, it saves three drums and three toner tanks, which can be used later when the black drum and toner tank need to be replaced.

[KYO_OEM]

this is totally new for me.
How you want to get any color system running without cmy drums?
How you would prevent C7902/03/04? (Do you remove the drum tube only?)
But how you want to use color toner cartridge for bk?
I have seen a lot and i know many "hidden doors" to get systems running again, but this will never ever work in case of correct maintenance.