More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

[owelesstax]

I've always found the answers to all my problems on this board and am thankful for it. This one is just a little too weird and I can't find the answer no matter how much I search.

Ricoh MP-C3503
total 95k Color images
total 43k B&W images

The attached picture is of two pages. On the left you will see lines running from the top of the page down about 3 inches, those coincide with the bottom of the dark blue box at the top of the other page. Only on this print job is there ever a problem. But this is printed often and many 100 at a time, every few weeks.

Print is set up with the paper feeding wide and short (11x8.5), The Printer Tray 2 is set to "Thick Paper 2" which is correct for this Paper Thickness, Exact Index 110lb,199gm paper. Printed "180 degree rotation" to be able to print edge to edge on the 3 most important edges. This allows the white margin to exist on the back side of the pages where there is no graphic at the edge, or at least it is on the least visible pages with graphics. The marks are almost exactly 2 inches apart.

The obvious part of the Diagnosis is that it is residual toner on the drum. It is the black drum.

Is it a problem from printing to the very edge of the 110 index paper? None of the other colors that print to the edge seem to be effected.
Will it be fixed, long term with a drum replacement?
Is it the cleaning blade?
Is there something else?

as a Side Issue, Client has the SR3150 Finisher. Intended to have these saddle stapled and folded. But, the saddle stapler just errors out when it's asked to saddle staple across the long side. And it won't saddle staple anything more than middle thickness.

If I can't resolve this is there another machine that would actually do this job?
1. Print true edge to edge on all edges?
2, Saddle staple a very few pages of thick 110 index card stock?
3. Saddle staple 8.5x11 in the long dimension.

[davel]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

Is the stock fed long or short edge feed, have you tried replacing fuser.
No Office printer will do full edge to edge.
Will only saddle staple short edge fed stock.
Will not saddle staple heavy stock.

[slimslob]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

total 95k Color images
total 43k B&W images

I see two major problems. 43K is not the total on the B/W PCDU. It is only the count of black only usage. Total usage for the Black PCDU would be 138K. Your color ratio is 68.8%. Recommended color ratio for the MP C3503 is only 30%. Your color ratio would indicate that you need a production machine but your total usage does not support the equipment cost for production.

It looks like your main problem right now is a dirty black charge roll. You might even see rings around the charge roller that match the lines on the prints. There are a few posts on cleaning the charge rollers. There is also a bulletin on one of the models. You should also clean out all lube bar dust and toner buildup. If the lube bar has less than 1/8 inch remaining at either end it is time to replace.

The settings in the attached may help once the charge roller is clean. It helps prevent toner buildup on the charge roller by slightly reducing toner concentration in the developer and offset by slightly increasing the amount of toner transferred from the drum to the ITB. I may also reduce toner usage and keep the inside cleaner.

[owelesstax]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

Is the stock fed long or short edge feed, have you tried replacing fuser.
No Office printer will do full edge to edge.
Will only saddle staple short edge fed stock.
Will not saddle staple heavy stock.

Stock is fed long edge.so the lines are parallel to axis of the drum.

[slimslob]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

Stock is fed long edge.so the lines are parallel to axis of the drum.

Then that would mean they are most likely the result of cleaning blade chatter.

[owelesstax]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

total 95k Color images
total 43k B&W images

I see two major problems. 43K is not the total on the B/W PCDU. It is only the count of black only usage. Total usage for the Black PCDU would be 138K. Your color ratio is 68.8%. Recommended color ratio for the MP C3503 is only 30%. Your color ratio would indicate that you need a production machine but your total usage does not support the equipment cost for production.

I agree the color use is higher than ideal. The machine was used and they don't need it to last it's multi-million copy life. Like a good we'll used car as long as it is reliable they cover inscheduled payments, and when the unscheduled payment is more than it's worth they'll junk it and buy another good we'll used car.

It looks like your main problem right now is a dirty black charge roll. You might even see rings around the charge roller that match the lines on the prints. There are a few posts on cleaning the charge rollers.

I'll check the charge roller. But these lines are parallel to the axis of the charge roller, not in line with a particular point along the length of the roller.

There is also a bulletin on one of the models. You should also clean out all lube bar dust and toner buildup. If the lube bar has less than 1/8 inch remaining at either end it is time to replace .

That'll be what I do measure the lube bar. Thank you for the wealth of information, for this post and all the other posts that I've found in the past. And I'll make the adjustments you suggested below.

The settings in the attached may help once the charge roller is clean. It helps prevent toner buildup on the charge roller by slightly reducing toner concentration in the developer and offset by slightly increasing the amount of toner transferred from the drum to the ITB. I may also reduce toner usage and keep the inside cleaner.

[slimslob]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

One other thing to check. measure the distance between the lines on the prints. Then see if it matches the circumference of the charge roller. If it does,cleaning the roller might correct it.

[Mark Bbb]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

cleaning unit, as Slim mentioned before.

[UNICORNico]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

If you have cleaned the "Charge Roller", and the defect still appears, check the "Drum" margin corresponding to that part of the print.
It may be marked in some repair if the drum turned badly and the cleaning sheet was not lubricated enough, it was marked, I would recommend replacing it.
And had cases like this, and only when I demand quality/definition to show the defect.

[mikadonovan]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

Replace the K PCU to fix the black line problem.

[owelesstax]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

One other thing to check. measure the distance between the lines on the prints. Then see if it matches the circumference of the charge roller. If it does,cleaning the roller might correct it.

The distance between lines is almost exactly 2 inches. I haven't cracked the machine yet but from my last time, I think the charge roller is about 3/8 diameter making the circumference about 1 inch. The drum is about 2 in.

[slimslob]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

The distance between lines is almost exactly 2 inches. I haven't cracked the machine yet but from my last time, I think the charge roller is about 3/8 diameter making the circumference about 1 inch. The drum is about 2 in.

Then read what UNICORNico and mikadonovan posted.

[mga]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

Basic copy quality problem check pm life replace with only oem parts not cheap China parts they don't work

[Klydon]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

Late to the party on this one. Those almost look like dirty marks from guide ribs. Because heavy stock is being used on this, it may be hitting the fuser differently (or another part of the paper path). What happens if you print that exact page using just regular paper? To me, I believe I can see lines not only on the left side, but in the middle and towards the right. They are not as dark, but they seem to be there. Also, the lines appear to end below the solid color on the right side to me. They don't end even with the bottom.

Perhaps you can start printing that on card stock and open the machine up while it is doing it so you can see the image before it gets to the fuser and/or while it is still on the belt. If the lines are on the transfer belt, then you have a image generation issue. Basically you need to figure out where in the machine the lines are generated.

[slimslob]

Re: More Detailed Lines/streaks problem

Late to the party on this one. Those almost look like dirty marks from guide ribs. Because heavy stock is being used on this, it may be hitting the fuser differently (or another part of the paper path). What happens if you print that exact page using just regular paper? To me, I believe I can see lines not only on the left side, but in the middle and towards the right. They are not as dark, but they seem to be there. Also, the lines appear to end below the solid color on the right side to me. They don't end even with the bottom.

Perhaps you can start printing that on card stock and open the machine up while it is doing it so you can see the image before it gets to the fuser and/or while it is still on the belt. If the lines are on the transfer belt, then you have a image generation issue. Basically you need to figure out where in the machine the lines are generated.

One problem with that. If the lines were from the guide ribs they would be parallel to the direction paper travel, not parallel to axis of the drum.(post #4 of this thread) When you are late to the party you need to read carefully all posts in the thread.