[CQ] MP401 Somethings fishy here.

[sturmtrooper]

We have a customer with a 401 with just over 12k copies on. Got a call today for lines on the copies. Go to it and there are two lines gouged deep into the drum cartridge. This happened before about two months ago. Very similar lines, very similar spacing.

d9A8ETc.jpg

I added the staple myself, but it sure does look interesting.

No one would be dumb enough to try to copy onto a piece of paper with a staple in it right? RIGHT?

I looked around inside the machine all over and didn't see anything inside that would lead me to believe something was in there to damage the drum.

[slimslob]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

Either nicks on the cleaning blade or toner clods on the cleaning. You did not provide a picture of the drum. Have you confirmed that it is scratches on the drum surface and not being caused by a dirty charge roller?

[sturmtrooper]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

Either nicks on the cleaning blade or toner clods on the cleaning. You did not provide a picture of the drum. Have you confirmed that it is scratches on the drum surface and not being caused by a dirty charge roller?

I can physically feel two furrows in the surface of the drum, I tried brushing the toner line off the surface of the drum to see if it was just a damaged cleaning blade and I could feel the damage.

When I go back to replace the cartridge next week I'll take a picture of it.

We replaced a drum cartridge mid June for the exact same reason, which Is why I'm starting to wonder what the hell is happening.

[TonerMunkeh]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

In short, the Stella PCU's are shit. Utter shit. You are VERY lucky if they make it to 30k.

[Jake2o]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

No one would be dumb enough to try to copy onto a piece of paper with a staple in it right? RIGHT?

Never underestimate the stupidity of end users.
A staple in a piece of paper would impact but you'd just see 2 large spots rather than line. If the staple fell in and was dragged into the machine and got lodged in the drum housing then possibly. I primarily work on Xerox & Canons so I'm not sure about the internal mechanics on other devices and the drums are kept well away from the paper path on those machines so staples impact the transfer belt instead causing the single dot marks, or get stuck in the transfer belt cleaner this would cause such marks.

I did once have a customer who tried to print on paper after she had put it in a laminating pouch because she though as the fuser got hot it would laminate and print at the same time. So never discount how stupid some people are.
You first starting point of diagnosis is to presume they are lying to you until proved otherwise.

Customer - "No we never put fake toner in the machine you have just fixed. The streaks are because you didn't fix it properly last time, 6 months ago"
Me - "Please explain why there is an invoice on the machine and the itemized lines state 1) compatible toner for Xerox Phaser XXXX and 2) Toner cartridge re-set chip for Xerox Phaser XXXX?"

[sturmtrooper]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

In short, the Stella PCU's are shit. Utter shit. You are VERY lucky if they make it to 30k.

I've heard they are bad, but 6k seems unreasonable

Never underestimate the stupidity of end users.
A staple in a piece of paper would impact but you'd just see 2 large spots rather than line. If the staple fell in and was dragged into the machine and got lodged in the drum housing then possibly.

Which makes sense. But this has happened to TWO cartridges.

[Jake2o]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

I have someone with a high end Xerox that has a high capacity feeder(HCF) on it. The same staple type impact mark kept appearing on the transfer belt (went through 3 in total) I couldn't understand it until one day I went in and he was running the HCF with the top off.
His explanation was that he could get to jammed paper easier if the lid was off.
I found that used staples and other bits of debris were falling on to the top sheet of paper and being dragged into the machine, thus causing the marks. People would copy documents but first take the staples out and leave them on the top of the machine and then someone else or the wind would knock them off and they would fall into the HCF.
Told him to keep the lid on and nothing has happened since. Either a surprise visit or just quietly watch other people use the machine for a while and see what happens, if you spot something most people won't even realize what it they are doing it's like they are auto pilot.

[Jehosaphat94]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

Im having the exact same issue with two customers of mine. Both have MP401SPF and both have had drum issues happen before 20k. It is hard for me to think this is user error. If it is two different customers. Both have been replaced recently, and both are having to be replaced again. Who else is having these gouges on the drum?

[sturmtrooper]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

Im having the exact same issue with two customers of mine. Both have MP401SPF and both have had drum issues happen before 20k. It is hard for me to think this is user error. If it is two different customers. Both have been replaced recently, and both are having to be replaced again. Who else is having these gouges on the drum?

Two parallel gouges into the drum surface only a small distance apart?

[Jehosaphat94]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

Sometimes more but always gouges on the right side of the drum unit.

[tonnerboy]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

I heard about a study carried out by Ricoh due to lack of reliability of this componente (PCDU). Apparently they came to the conclusion that the PCDU ventilation system contaminates the development unit with dust.
It Has some logic because if you look carefully the defect always appears on the right side of the drum ...

I have this devices on some client and we arranged a filter to put in the ventilation system that in some cases the PCDU lasted just 5k...

So far there appears to be positive results... We have managed to reduce the impact.

[Jehosaphat94]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

I heard about a study carried out by Ricoh due to lack of reliability of this componente (PCDU). Apparently they came to the conclusion that the PCDU ventilation system contaminates the development unit with dust.
It Has some logic because if you look carefully the defect always appears on the right side of the drum ...

I have this devices on some client and we arranged a filter to put in the ventilation system that in some cases the PCDU lasted just 5k...

So far there appears to be positive results... We have managed to reduce the impact.

Ok glad it is not just me. Do you have a link or something to this study by Ricoh? Also how do add a filter to the ventilation system on these units?

[Dark Helmet]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

Ok glad it is not just me. Do you have a link or something to this study by Ricoh? Also how do add a filter to the ventilation system on these units?

I have some experience with adding ventilation to Canon and Sharp machines, im sure i could explain the principle and you could apply it to a Ricoh.
copiers.jpg

[Imprestik]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

Yeah I got a client with 3 of these with over 150K on each of them.

i cant remember how many pcdus i have fitted, biggest dog box yet.

should of stayed with the mp301 type of device, a lot more reliable

[slimslob]

Re: MP401 Somethings fishy here.

It has been an on going problem with this type of 45K PCU. Development roller seize up and give a development motor error at roughly 20-25K. It is similar to the problem with the 25 to 35 page models with rebuildable PCU starting with the 3025 where the development gears strip and the machine keeps asking for toner. Ricoh came out and said that it was the result of developer working through the rear bushings on the mixer shafts and to replace the development unit. I have found recently that it is also from the openings at the front and rear of the development that the developer passes through from one mixing shaft to the other becoming clogged and causing the developer to stack up and bind the shafts. I used a spring hook to clean the openings and was able to get the developer to mix properly. The clogs could be the result of the dust mentioned by tonnerboy.