[CQ] Intermittent blank areas

[cscce]

I've been asked to look into a problem with our company's Ricoh MP C3300 but I don't have much Ricoh experience. I can't work on this machine because it's under contract with a local Ricoh dealer. The dealer has been struggling with this problem for quite some time (see image). They have reportedly replaced "just about everything" or so I'm told. The copier has 650K pages printed. About one page out of 9 has this defect. I'm leaning toward a bad bearing based on the age of the machine and the varying position of the print defect. The attached pdf file shows snippets from 4 pages.

Thanks in advance.

[LNorris]

Re: Intermittent blank areas

if you run a 11x17 thru, does the issue repeat? since all colors are being affected, I'd lean towards ITB or defect in fusing belt.

[sandmanmac]

Re: Intermittent blank areas

Why 'Snippets' of the output? We never get upset by full pages?
Also, what direction is the 'blanking' in relation to paper direction?? I'm assuming horizontal?
Does it happen on B&W output? Or just colour?

'Replaced just about everything' is pretty broad and vague (how about a list?). And if that's the case, they should have at the very least isolated whether it happens during image formation or fusing?
Both copies & Prints I assume?
Just my initial thoughts/ questions....

[cscce]

Re: Intermittent blank areas

if you run a 11x17 thru, does the issue repeat? since all colors are being affected, I'd lean towards ITB or defect in fusing belt.

Yes, the problem also occurs with 11x17 paper.
Thanks for your question.

[cscce]

Re: Intermittent blank areas

Why 'Snippets' of the output? We never get upset by full pages?
Also, what direction is the 'blanking' in relation to paper direction?? I'm assuming horizontal?
Does it happen on B&W output? Or just colour?

'Replaced just about everything' is pretty broad and vague (how about a list?). And if that's the case, they should have at the very least isolated whether it happens during image formation or fusing?
Both copies & Prints I assume?
Just my initial thoughts/ questions....

Thanks for asking. I'm including a full page image of an 11x17 print. The problem happens in color and B&W and on both prints and copies. I haven't seen the defect repeat within a single sheet, even on 11x17 prints. I realize that the description "replaced just about everything" is really vague. That's all the dept. supervisor could tell me. I was just handed this today and upper management wanted me to weigh in on the problem before they call the service company again. I'll be here when their tech arrives so I can get specific info on what they've done.

[LNorris]

Re: Intermittent blank areas

on the 11x17, do a skyshot (open adf and copy the blank glass) this should give you a black solid copy. see if the pattern repeats on that. also notate which end is lead edge. see if the void moves at all down the page on multiple copies.