[Misc] Taskalfa 300ci vertical stripes in color and b/w prints

[Thorsten_300ci]

Please see attached pics where the vertical stripes are visible.
When printing in color more stripes are visible compared to b/w mostly only two stripes.
I inspected and cleaned all the four drums but couldn’t see any damage which would indicate those kind of stripes.
Having said that due to light sensitivity of the drums I performed the inspection/cleaning unter less then optimal lighting conditions.

Any ideas what could be the cause or if in all likelihood the drums are „kaputt“ indeed?

[ThisPete]

Measure the distance between same looking marks and use the 'Repetitive Defects Gauge' in the manual.

[Thorsten_300ci]

Measure the distance between same looking marks and use the 'Repetitive Defects Gauge' in the manual.

ThisPete, thank you for the quick reply unfortunately the 300ci service manual doesn’t offer this option.

[ThisPete]

Hi Thorsten_300ci, it's usually found 'hidden/hiding' in the 'Appendixes' section at the end of the manual.. no idea why... 🤷♂️

[TreeMan]

Typically, if all four colors are involved, the service manual indicates a problem with the transfer belt. In the worst-case scenario, it may be the print head.

[Thorsten_300ci]

ThisPete I used a .pdf version of the service manual and searched for „Repetitive“ and „Defects“ but got no hits.

I added some pics from running U089

[kyotechnz]

Has this copier been sitting inactive for quite a while?

If it is as I think you will find toner stuck to the drums, usually where they have been in contact with the transfer belt.
You could try cleaning the drums. When I have seen this we have usually just sold them another copier.
The cost of getting in back to usable is quite expensive. New drums and transfer belt (if you can get them), these are more than what the copiers worth.
They could get a good more modern second hand copier for what it will cost to repair.

[tmaged]

Looks like it needs a primary belt at minimum. It's probably no longer available and not worth it, if it is.

[Ropariva]

Yep, only ever seen this on very old devices. As above, the transfer belt cracks and allows the glue between the layers to contact the drums. The drums can be cleaned but it’s very time consuming. You will need to replace the transfer belt. $$$
I think we got rid of the last of these from our fleet twelve years ago. They are now six generations old. Time to upgrade my friend.

[Thorsten_300ci]

Thank you all for the many tipps and replies.
I agree our 300ci seems to be „BER“.
kyotechnz, Ropariva the 300ci is our family printer we bought it used a couple of years ago.
I somehow prefer those professional MFPs were you can scan, copy, print and fax especially also A3 compared to the regular consumer ones.
But of course our weekly print volume isn‘t that high and sometime we don‘t print for weeks.
The question remains what we should buy as a replacement and if we should again go for a used MFP?