[Misc] IMC300 doesn't print black

[Bourriks]

Hello everyone.

I'm calling for some help on a IM C300 I'm struggling with since 3 days. Here is the story :


- I changed the PCDU K last month to solve black stripes (in vertical). prints OK when done.
- Last week, IO'm called for other stripes. I check, it's horizontal stripes, one stripe evey 3 or 4 sheets.
- I think about some problem on the ITB belt. I try to remove the ITB module to check, it's stuck.
- When I manage to remove teh ITB, I see the spring making wontact with the black TR is tangled. Happened to me some months before with another IM C300.
- When I put back the ITB, the black printing is very pale, almost white. The colours are OK (printed the colour pattern to check).
- The black TR in the ITB does not work, because of the tangled spring, I take the machine back to the workshop. I order the D117-5869 spring for replacement.
- I receive the spring yesterday, dismantle the machine for replacement (this spring is hidden underneath the motor module, underneath the electronic boards, some time to dismantle and re-mantle).
- Always this pale black printing, I can't get why.
- I tried to swap the PCDU K with a new one, same with the ITTB from another new machine, always the same.
- I've dismantled and re-mantled 3 times the machine, checked with lamp and mirror is the spring makes contact with the ITB's metallic leak, all is OK.
- I don't remember where to search in the system SP menu where I can check the bacl TR voltage in the ITB.
- I finally tried the laser K+C module, it is also okay...

- At this point, the only possible cause left could be a malfunction in the High-Voltage Power Supply board (the PCB23 : AZ32-0213). I can pick one on some MP C307 I have in workshop for spare parts, they are the same.
- But before, I need to check this voltage about the back TR in the ITB, I'm looking where I can read it in the system SP menu.

Do you have some ideas to help me ? Thanks in advance.


IMG_20230308_153647.jpg

[Gift]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

Did you initiate and interrupt a test print with full black to see if the drum has the black image on it? This way you can figure out if this is drum or transfer related.

If the image looks fine on the drum perhaps something is wrong with the mechanism or lever you must use to move the ITB away from the black drum during service / replacements.

[semi]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

The colour prints are fine so there's no issue with the transfer unit or the HV board-the black bais terminal(spring) is not contacting the metal plate for black on the transfer belt unit.
Remove the left hand cover and fan unit and you should easily see if the spring makes contact when you push the tranfer belt into the machine-if not use pliers to reform the spring.

[Bourriks]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

The colour prints are fine so there's no issue with the transfer unit or the HV board-the black bais terminal(spring) is not contacting the metal plate for black on the transfer belt unit.
Remove the left hand cover and fan unit and you should easily see if the spring makes contact when you push the tranfer belt into the machine-if not use pliers to reform the spring.

Oh this contact is fine, I tripple-cheked this this morning with a colleague. I checked with a mirror the exact contact point of the end of the spring, the contact is fine there. On the other side of the spring, the contact with the PCB23 board, it's okay too.

Did you initiate and interrupt a test print with full black to see if the drum has the black image on it? This way you can figure out if this is drum or transfer related.

If the image looks fine on the drum perhaps something is wrong with the mechanism or lever you must use to move the ITB away from the black drum during service / replacements.

Good Idea. I'm on another problem with the machine seeing a jam in the ADF section (another wire bad plugged, I'm checking) so I can't print a full dot black page. I tried with a color pattern on the printer SP, and I have toner on color drums, but nothing appearently on black drum.

I tried my black PCDU on the new machine (which is my test) and the printing is fine, except some horizontal stripes (this new PCDU seems so faulty, because it was the reason the customer asked me last wednesday, and I didn't suspect the PCDU cause it had only a month of age).

I'm about to try with the new PCDU from the new machine on my falty machine to see if I have something better.

[Bourriks]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

The black pages printed are very pale, but it does not seem to have any toner on the drum cylinder.
I was interrupted in my printing tests by a default of toner supply (the toner cartridge is 2/3 full).

It was the end of the daywork, I'll dismantle the machine one more time tomorrow and check the toner hopper.
This machine is turning me completely nuts.

[slimslob]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

Is the ITB contact/separation lever in the correct position and does it properly lift the K transfer roller? If that roller is not lifted it will cause no or very weak black.

[Bourriks]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

It's the current mistake when you test a brand new machine. But the lever is in correct position ant the black tranfer roller is lifted.
I have to check the black toner hopper, I'll do this later in the day.

[Gift]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

It's the current mistake when you test a brand new machine. But the lever is in correct position ant the black tranfer roller is lifted.
I have to check the black toner hopper, I'll do this later in the day.

I can't imagine that the hopper is faulty - if the black is almost non-existent due to low toner level the machine would have prompted toner low or SC code errors. You can test the PCDU in another IMC300 or check the TD values in SP.

[Bourriks]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

I can't imagine that the hopper is faulty - if the black is almost non-existent due to low toner level the machine would have prompted toner low or SC code errors. You can test the PCDU in another IMC300 or check the TD values in SP.

I tested the PCDU K yesterday on the brand new machine, it was okay in trpinting, except some black stripes.
I don't have time today for checking the hopper, I'm busy outside for other repairings. I'll do it tomorrow morning.

[dalewb74]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

it is using ricoh toner?

[Bourriks]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

Gentlemen, I am happy to tell you the problem is solved.

IMG_20230310_104132bis.jpg IMG_20230310_105248.jpg IMG_20230310_111743.jpg

And it was because of a mistake I did when I first re-mounted the machine.
Underneath the Black Dev's Clutch, in the engine/gears box, there was a white plastic bushing.
His right place is on the blue arrow on the first screen, and I put it on the hole located with the green arrow.

I made the mistake because I didn't think about putting a bushing on an un-empty hole.
Becasue of this mistake, the gear of the black BD didn't turn correctlyn, and by chain issues, I was close to beark the black toner hopper, and the machine didn't correctly receive the black toner in the black Drum.



I thank you all for searching with me this problem.

[Gift]

Re: IMC300 doesn't print black

Thanks for getting back with your findings!