Color Ricoh machines and Cartadis card readers

[mrwho]

Anyone here ever configured a color machine to work with a Cartadis TC11N (or similar)?



I managed to make the machine work with this equipment - it asks for a valid card in order to enable the machine's functions, and it successfully charges for copies.

My trouble is that I can't make it charge different ammounts for color copies compared to bw copies - it charges the same ammount, making no distintion between one or the other.

Anyone?

[tcs04]

Which model Ricoh?

I've put them on loads of black and white machines with no problem. We have them on colour machines but as I recall our Cartadis supplier set the last one and may have changed settings on the unit to recognise a colour box.

I don't know where the Cartadis unit gets its info from for colour copies as on black and white machines they seem to act just like a key counter with double click for A3.

What kind of interface plug are you using? We now tend to use the standard 20(?) way black IDC socket.

Have you had a play with the external card unit settings in both user tools and SP mode (SP5113 - trial and error)?

I'm not sure if you have to program the card reader itself but any info regarding this should be supplied with the unit.

Good Luck! If no joy I will have a word with my Cartadis supplier after the holiday! Please advise.

[D_L_P]

None of mine are Color, but I've got about 50 Equitrac's (similar card reader) on MP2550's and MP4000's.
Ricoh tech support is usually pretty good, but they couldn't tell me anything except keep trying a setting until you find one that works. There is no documentation and pretty much like TCS said, trial and error to find a SP5113 setting that works and under user tools->Admin tools->Key counter or External counter both seem to work with mine.
I would hope there is a menu in the user tools->admin tools-> key/external counter management where you turn it on for copy/fax/scan/print, where you can also set it different for color or b/w.

[mrwho]

Thank you guys for your replies.

Some new info, though:

I have two machines, machine A and B. Both are Ricohs MPC2050 and both have Cartadis attached. But now here's the funny part:

1) Color vs Black prices

Machine B doesn't recognize a price difference between color and black copies.
Machine A DOES recognize the difference, and bills accordingly. I've checked the configuration between them, and all is the same. I'm going to check the connections now to see if there's a cable or connector not correctly plugged in.

2) Color Copies vs Color Prints

Although machine A does charge the correct amounts for color and black copies (1 for black, 3 for color), it does not do so for color and black prints, charging 1 for both color and black prints. I generally assumed that once a machine charged correctly for color copies, it would do the same for color prints, since we're talking about the same price.

So, here's where I'm standing right now. As soon as everything is working OK, I'll post here a quick & dirty guide on how I made this work.

[tcs04]

Thank you guys for your replies.

Some new info, though:

I have two machines, machine A and B. Both are Ricohs MPC2050 and both have Cartadis attached. But now here's the funny part:

1) Color vs Black prices

Machine B doesn't recognize a price difference between color and black copies.
Machine A DOES recognize the difference, and bills accordingly. I've checked the configuration between them, and all is the same. I'm going to check the connections now to see if there's a cable or connector not correctly plugged in.

2) Color Copies vs Color Prints

Although machine A does charge the correct amounts for color and black copies (1 for black, 3 for color), it does not do so for color and black prints, charging 1 for both color and black prints. I generally assumed that once a machine charged correctly for color copies, it would do the same for color prints, since we're talking about the same price.

So, here's where I'm standing right now. As soon as everything is working OK, I'll post here a quick & dirty guide on how I made this work.

You are using the 20 way IDC and not the "old" standard 4 way key counter connection? both machines have the same counter setup, Devs or pages?

[mrwho]

You are using the 20 way IDC and not the "old" standard 4 way key counter connection? both machines have the same counter setup, Devs or pages?

Exactly.

Turns out, situation 1 was caused by a malfunctioning Cartadis. That problem is now solved - both machines charge 1 per black copy and 3 per color copy.

Situation 2, though, still haunts me: the printing machine (it's just one) charges only 1 click per black *or* color print, but it charges correctly for copies. Any hint?

[tcs04]

Exactly.

Turns out, situation 1 was caused by a malfunctioning Cartadis. That problem is now solved - both machines charge 1 per black copy and 3 per color copy.

Situation 2, though, still haunts me: the printing machine (it's just one) charges only 1 click per black *or* color print, but it charges correctly for copies. Any hint?

Firmware?

Since the cartadis unit accepts information from the copier and the copy mode is ok it must now be the input info in print mode being processed by the copier that is incorrect(?). (That's "Tech" for Mmmmmmmm??!!).

Have you checked for differences in the SMC reports / printer config pages?

[mrwho]

Since only one machine is printing, I have no way of comparing. But I'm assuming both would behave the same way, since the machines are brand new and no major changes were made to the SPs (besides the common ones needed to do the job).

Of course I'm assuming everything's okay on the Cartadis side, but I've read somewhere on this forum "Don't assume anything" on someone's sig.

If there is a solution for this, I'm assuming it lies on the machine's SPs, but documentation on this is pretty scarce - so I'm hoping someone on this forum has already gone through the hoops and can tell me how to make it work.

[tcs04]

Since only one machine is printing, I have no way of comparing. But I'm assuming both would behave the same way, since the machines are brand new and no major changes were made to the SPs (besides the common ones needed to do the job).

Of course I'm assuming everything's okay on the Cartadis side, but I've read somewhere on this forum "Don't assume anything" on someone's sig.

If there is a solution for this, I'm assuming it lies on the machine's SPs, but documentation on this is pretty scarce - so I'm hoping someone on this forum has already gone through the hoops and can tell me how to make it work.

I'll have a word with my Cartadis man.

[mrwho]

Thanks for that!

[mrwho]

Well, talked today with our Cartadis representative, and he confirmed to me that it should work, since he saw before Ricoh machines working correctly with both copies and prints, charging correctly for black and color. Thing is, he personally doesn't know how to configure the machine.

So, I spoke to our Ricoh representative, and he also personally doesn't know which configurations are needed, since he never personally worked with Cartadis card readers. So he needs some time to dig into it.

So all I got to do is to sit on my thumbs and wait. Bummer.

[tcs04]

Sorry didn't get back... Just had an EEK! week!!

I will ask my man ASAP.

[tcs04]

Finally got the man!

He said, the reader should be supplied with an "Operator access card" This should give a menu on the reader (He said it should "display" 4 arrows, left,right, up, down, but i'm not sure where.... On the keypad?).

Scroll down x 4. This should display "price setup"

Right arrow (Or enter?). Should display prices 1-4.

1 = A4 black
(Scroll down)
2 = A3 black
3 = A4 colour
4 = A3 colour

Good luck!!

[mrwho]

Finally got the man!

I really appreciate that you got to the trouble of asking your colleague about that, but that part of the Cartadis is correctly configured.

If you could transmit to him that the MFP works A-OK while making *copies* but when *printing* it doesn't make any distinction between b/w a color, it would be great. Maybe he knows what needs to be changed in order for it to work.

Thanks once more for your concern.

[tcs04]

I really appreciate that you got to the trouble of asking your colleague about that, but that part of the Cartadis is correctly configured.

If you could transmit to him that the MFP works A-OK while making *copies* but when *printing* it doesn't make any distinction between b/w a color, it would be great. Maybe he knows what needs to be changed in order for it to work.

Thanks once more for your concern.

Ah! should have re-read the question!!

I really can't think of anything else on the Cartadis which would cause the problem! The Cartadis would be basicaly a Key Counter waiting for inputs from the copier and I would imagine these would be the same for print and copy, so maybe the copier switches these in certain "counter type" configurations? (just thinking out loud.... ie the usual drivel)

UNLESS... There is another sub menu on the Cartadis to disinguish between copy and print?

I wonder if you can print out some kind of config page from the reader on the copier?

Do you have two machines on the same site? (Or close by?)

Could you take the unit with the problem and try it on the other machine to see if the fault travels with the Cartadis or stays with the copier? At least this would give a clue as to the source of the problem.

I will have another try via my guy.