Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

[jonezy999]

Gday all,

Been looking at an af3030 which is repeating the image every 125mm intermittently. So far we have replaced the entire PCU with fresh dev, complete fuser assembly and transfer roller roller. Machine has only 100k on the clock although this number could be misleading as we did not refurb or sell this box.
Hoping someone here has seen this problem before and can shed some light.

Cheers.
J.

[TonerMunkeh]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

You tried pulling the controller and reseating the DIMM's? That's the only thing I can think of it being now, apart from the IPU board.

[kyoceran]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

check to see if a roller has a diameter of 40mm approx, probably the hot roller, good luck

[blackcat4866]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

126mm sounds to me like a fuser roller too. Take a look at fuser temperature settings (default is preferable), fuser pressure (probably not adjustable but it should be ~5mm nipp), and media type being used.

Also check to see if you've got non-OEM toner.

If all of these check out OK, then check the machines internal temperature is not rising due to clogged fan filters, inoperable fans, or fans installed facing the wrong way. =^..^=

[Herrmann]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

At first, do the old "ripping door open trick"
make some copys in a row and rip the front door open while the mashine is operating... does the ghost image appear on the sheet before entering the fuser?

[CrapAimer]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

Try the power supply unit

[jonezy999]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

Cheers for the replies.

Have been back there today and checked all mentioned. Still can't put my finger on this one. The fault is so intermittent a stop test is near impossible. I printed 3 entire SMC reports and only 2 pages had the repeated image. I have noticed the media this customer uses could be causing an issue although I'm not sure what steps to take to rectify it.
The customer uses scrap paper in one cassette (old fax confirmation reports etc.) and a letterhead in another which is probably around 100-120gsm, the issue is I don't know which settings to use for these types of media. We have letterhead setting, don't know if this is a thick setting?????, and a cardstock setting which I think is probably too much for 100 gsm. As for the pre printed or scrap paper, I have removed it from the machine to eliminate this as an issue for now.

PS. Ya know that thread "Can techs take a joke," well, after 2 repeat calls like this one, customer jokes don't seem that funny.

[jonezy999]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

Try the power supply unit

Can you explain a little more about what you think I should be trying with the power supply?

[teebee1234]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

"letterhead" and "cardstock" are just reference labels for the display and won't affect process. "thick" setting is what you need to use and I believe it's only available on the bypass for this model. You could try raising the fuser temp by maybe 5-10 degrees for a particular drawer in service mode and see if that helps.

[Counsel]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

The only roller the service manual lists that is that large is the Drum with a 125mm circumfrence. I would say though by what you described as paper types your not using a hot enough setting for the fuser. The service manual does say what temps to run paper.

Normal paper is 60-81 g/m
Middle thick 82-105 g/m
thick 1 is 106-169 g/m
thick 2 is 170-219 g/m
thick 3 is 220-253 g/m

So i would suggest running about 20 pages off on a thick 1 setting, which should clear up whatever remanents are still on the hot roller, and continue to use a thick 1 setting for that paper type.

[teebee1234]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

I missed the part about the distance between the repeat being approx. the diameter of the drum. In that case, I would also suggest checking that the erase lamps are functioning. A residual charge can exist from the previous print, and depending on the amount of coverage could produce a ghosting.

[Counsel]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

I missed the part about the distance between the repeat being approx. the diameter of the drum. In that case, I would also suggest checking that the erase lamps are functioning. A residual charge can exist from the previous print, and depending on the amount of coverage could produce a ghosting.

After re-reading what I wrote about the fuser temps that would seem to be the most likely cause, however after thought of the marks being at 125mm repeated would suggest teebee could be on to something, a poor fusing temp would likely cause toner to ghost but it would be sporradic splotches, it wouldnt be in exactly the same place every time. I would check the quenching lamps but again that would probably fail to clear off an entire portion of the drum, not an area exactly 125mm apart. Having a sample of what your looking could help, is it an image, a line, a spec or a scuff that is accuring. A scuff or mark would suggest a scratched drum, a vertical line 125mm from the next vertical line would lean towards some other problems. A pealed off image that is ghosted would suggest a fuser not fusing properly. I would think if you replaced the PCU you likely replaced the drum with it so having that line doesnt make sense to be the drum itself, but its the only roller with that circumference, its actually 125.7mm i believe.

[Counsel]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

After re-reading what I wrote about the fuser temps that would seem to be the most likely cause, however after thought of the marks being at 125mm repeated would suggest teebee could be on to something, a poor fusing temp would likely cause toner to ghost but it would be sporradic splotches, it wouldnt be in exactly the same place every time. I would check the quenching lamps but again that would probably fail to clear off an entire portion of the drum, not an area exactly 125mm apart. Having a sample of what your looking could help, is it an image, a line, a spec or a scuff that is accuring. A scuff or mark would suggest a scratched drum, a vertical line 125mm from the next vertical line would lean towards some other problems. A pealed off image that is ghosted would suggest a fuser not fusing properly. I would think if you replaced the PCU you likely replaced the drum with it so having that line doesnt make sense to be the drum itself, but its the only roller with that circumference, its actually 125.7mm i believe.

Forget what I said about the drum, I was looking at a savin 3030 manual not an aficio 3030, big difference. I am so used to going by the code or the gestetner number then the aficio numbers. The drum in a B209 is not 125mm, its only 30mm diameter, the fuser hot roller is 40mm though which would be 125mm cercumference. I still think if they are using paper thats over 100gsm and not using a thick 1 setting your fuser is not going to fuse properly.

[jonezy999]

Re: Lanier LD230/Ricoh af3030 repeating image

Its gotta be the hot roller. Will up the temps a bit in the morning. Cheers for all replies.