Preventing ADF ghosting

[Athlontini]

The machine that's bugging me is an MP 161, but I imagine this'll be applicable to just about any machine.

The client's machine has been producing ghost images from the ADF only. I have serviced it twice and done a scanner realignment both times as well as cleaning the optics, and I've found that the ghosting has most likely been caused by somebody leaning on the corner of the machine. If I push or pull up on that corner just enough, I can get copies/faxes looking perfect again. I make the client aware of this, let them know what I did so they can give it a shot if it happens again, and run on out of there. The service call has come back twice now, once to another tech and now to me again.

What can I tweak or fix to eliminate this issue? It isn't as though someone has been using the thing as an armrest. Just a little force up or down on the scanner unit is all it takes to make the thing start ghosting - or stop. The last tech on the call, according to his log, was at a loss as well.

[Zeldaman]

[Athlontini]

Re: Preventing ADF ghosting

Oh, I know exactly what L-shaped part you're talking about. I just left the call but didn't think to check that to see if it was broken. I actually had a little bit of success tightening the op panel screws (of all things) and replacing one of the screws on the back cover that goes into the side. Printed 30-40 perfect-looking ADF copies, then after I got everything put back together it was ghosting/backgrounding again.


It's a nightmare to push/pull the scanner to get it juuuuust perfect, and you're gonna get a call back in two days anyway because the client pushed a button too hard or nudged the machine or something.

Too bad my boss is off this week, I'll definitely have to escalate this if there's nothing I can do for that poor scanner.

[Athlontini]

Re: Preventing ADF ghosting

Haven't been called back to this particular call yet (and hopefully I won't), but for anyone else having this problem, I spoke to another tech who made me aware of the metal white reference plate on the underside of the doc feed. Apparently it can cause this problem if its springs get "stuck" somehow and it doesn't hang down low enough to the exposure glass. He suggested folding up a piece of paper underneath it. I have not gotten to try this, though.

[Athlontini]

Re: Preventing ADF ghosting

Bumping this thread because I've got the machine here in the shop now, and would really be interested in some suggestions beyond replacing the whole scanner unit. The aforementioned L-shaped black piece is not broken.

[gaudin]

Re: Preventing ADF ghosting

I have no experience with this problem, but try to explain your problem in a hardware store...i am shure they can help you?! e.g. add a stronger metal plate?

[tcs04]

Re: Preventing ADF ghosting

Bumping this thread because I've got the machine here in the shop now, and would really be interested in some suggestions beyond replacing the whole scanner unit. The aforementioned L-shaped black piece is not broken.

There was a mod bracket from Ricoh tech supplied for the AF1035 to bolt onto the outside of the frame and prevent deformation.A2309101 Scanner Support Plate or B0049902 Scanner Support Bracket kit.Not sure if something similar was produced for the MP161.

[Athlontini]

Re: Preventing ADF ghosting

Whoa, that's an interesting tidbit. I'm not certified on that particular family of machines but I'm really curious now as to what other machines Ricoh has made these plates/brackets for. A couple other techs came in and assisted me in fixing the machine today - we took the scanner unit apart and aligned the carriage with the pins (again), but this time we aligned it with the holes in the bottom of the scanner bed. That got rid of the ghosting and almost all of the persistent lines; the rest were dispatched by tweaking the ADF side-to-side registration in SP mode.