Ricoh CL4000DN Calibration - what is it really doing and does it use a lot of toner?

[jsulliva]

I have a Ricoh CL4000DN that gets used typically only once per day, usually to print just a couple of pages. When it wakes up, it first goes through a calibration cycle before it will print. On the rare days it is used a lot, like to print 500-1000 pages, it also sometimes stops and does a calibration cycle.

When it does this, is it using (wasting) a lot of toner.
Is this a lot of wear or usage on other parts of the printer?
What is it actually doing?

I'm especially concerned as most days it only gets used for a couple of pages.

Thanks.

[zed255]

It does use toner to write a pattern on the ITB and reads it with optical sensors to determine if any adjustments in line position need to be made. This is to ensure all four colours align over each other accurately. It will do this when the fuser is cold from sitting inactive for a period of time and will also do it after a specific number of pages have been produced. It will do it the least when the printer is used regularly for 'longer jobs' of about 200 pages or there abouts. It rotates all drums and developers and the ITB, so yes some wear will result from the process, but that should be minimal when using the printer regularly.

This isn't really the type of printer suited to a few pages per day, it is more like a small workgroup printer that ideally would be printing documents from a group of users that keep it ticking along with modest volumes much of the day.

In a nut shell, yes it uses some toner, yes it produces some wear, no it isn't throwing vast quantities away assuming the unit is maintained well and isnt doing it multiple times in a row to complete the cycle successfully.

[jsulliva]

Hi Zed.
Once again, thanks for the explanation.
The printer was acquired for its ability to do the larger 500 page color runs but of course now it gets used for the little stuff, which is most of the time.
Still looking for memory, by the way.
Best regards,
John