[CQ] Vertical lines.. Ricoh MPC5501

[Lotec]

Hi,

I have a MPC5501 with more or less faint/shadow like vertical lines (not horizontal like dirty charge roller lines..).
A bit difficult to scan an example, but I have tried. The scanner corrects some of the gray lines lines. It is slightly darker in real life..

The machines "died" during a firmware upgrade when it was new. We changed BICU, NVRAM etc. Produced OK prints after this.
Then only a few weeks later problems started. When less then 5 000 pages were printed.

The lines are black/grey. Looks like the charge roller is hopping, or it gets uneven power or something.. I might change the card that supply the power to the charge roller..

The machine may have been handled a bit rough during transportation before we got it.

Complete PCU and DEV unit is changed with no change in image quality.
Sometimes a few pages can look better, with very faint lines - almost invisible. But <99% of the pages have lines.

Any ideas?

[JustManuals]

Re: Vertical lines.. Ricoh MPC5501

This Parts & Service Manual can now be purchased for $12.77 and downloaded immediately after payment from:


Just Manuals, The Internet's largest selection of manuals ~ Instant Downloads


Paul@justmanuals.com

[ptrflrs]

Re: Vertical lines.. Ricoh MPC5501

have you tried to run auto color calibration and registration in user tools/maintenance? what does color print and copy look like?

[Lotec]

Re: Vertical lines.. Ricoh MPC5501

have you tried to run auto color calibration and registration in user tools/maintenance? what does color print and copy look like?

I have tried to calibrate the machine and forced line position and stuff like that, with no luck.

Prints look perfect in both color and B/W.. just that there are grey vertical lines. Almost identical to the lines you can get from the small B/W Ricoh machines, when you get setting powder on the charge roller after you change the drum.
But here it is with new charge roller/new PCU. Also the charge roller is a non-contact type on the Color MFCs.

I think the problem is related to the charge roller somehow. I will check the high voltage supply board. The DC/AC charging is supposed to ensure a uniform charge. If the voltage is fluctuating .. it may give lines like this.?

Before I change the high voltage board I will turn the charge roller voltage to the fixed setting, just to see what happens. If that does not work I'll look in the shop to see if we have a MFC I can borrow a hogh voltage board from.
Unless anybody have a better idea.
I will have to take the drive up to the customer in a few days. Since the trip is fairly long, I will have a high voltage board with me.

Do you guys know if I can use the AZ320175 board from the MPC4000 on the 5501. The 5501 part number is AZ320182. Don't know if they are compatible like some other cards that get a new part number when there is a new revision.. but are still backward compatible..
I hate the pseudo 3D parts catalog (catalogue?.. what is the right word here?) btw. I'll take a good "old fashion drawing ANY day.

[TonerMunkeh]

Re: Vertical lines.. Ricoh MPC5501

Are the lines present on crash stopped images on the transfer belt? How many prints has this thing done?

[Lotec]

Re: Vertical lines.. Ricoh MPC5501

Are the lines present on crash stopped images on the transfer belt? How many prints has this thing done?

Hi,

I have not checked the image on the transfer belt. . have not crossed my mind at all. I will check when I visit the customer again.

I scanned the page counter from the machine. It's about 26K color and 155K B/W.
The problem has been present since it had less than 10k in total. They got the machine in the Summer of 2012 i think.