MX-3140N Random Blank Pages

Collapse
X
Collapse
+ More Options
Posts
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Madnhain
    Trusted Tech

    100+ Posts
    • Dec 2012
    • 148

    #1

    MX-3140N Random Blank Pages

    So, we got a service call the other day that this machine was randomly outputting a blank page. We chuckled and figured it was user error. I went out and looked at it and sure enough, every 5th page was blank.
    I numbered front and back of ten pages and ran duplex double sided to single sided and between the 3rd front and 3rd back page, there was a blank page, also between the 5th back and 6th front page, a blank... also between the 8th front and 8th back... weird.
    We printed a multi-page pdf, and noticed that before it printed a blank page it looked like it was having fusing issues, some of the image wasn't fusing properly. After the blank page, the section that fused poorly showed up on the next page. Almost like it was detecting it was having fusing issues and sent a "cleaning page" through... except these machines don't do that.
    There are options to add blank pages in, or to have a different color page occasionally, or a page between transparencies, though those all need to be set per job and don't have a default as far as I know.
    So, we resolved the issue by resetting all the settings to factory default and bumping the default paper to a heavier weight.
    The problem went away. But this still bugs me... what could it have been?

    *edit* First thing I tried was a firmware upgrade, and this has a new fuser as well.
  • bilyahn
    Service Manager

    1,000+ Posts
    • Dec 2006
    • 1470

    #2
    Re: MX-3140N Random Blank Pages

    You actually can set insert or cover pages as default but it would be pretty obvious I think on the screen but that would only apply to copying not printing. Too bad that you fixed it, it would of been interesting to see it that blank page was coming from another tray or the same tray could of been a hint to the cause.

    Great job fixing it.

    Bil

    Comment

    • Madnhain
      Trusted Tech

      100+ Posts
      • Dec 2012
      • 148

      #3
      Re: MX-3140N Random Blank Pages

      We thought of that insert/cover page option and that there might be a page coming from another tray. However there are 3 trays only 1 of which had 8 1/2 x 11 paper in it. The other 2 were legal and 11 x 17 I believe. I wonder if this might be mentioned in a future firmware upgrade.

      Comment

      • Andyyy41
        Technician
        • Nov 2012
        • 14

        #4
        Re: MX-3140N Random Blank Pages

        Hi, could it have been as simple as replacing the torque limiter? I've seen it a few times on newer models where an extra blank page would randomly appear. It was also causing fusing issues because two pieces of paper was going through the fuser as opposed to one. Replacing the torque limiter on the affected tray fixed it for me.

        Comment

        • blackcat4866
          Master Of The Obvious

          Site Contributor
          10,000+ Posts
          • Jul 2007
          • 22997

          #5
          Re: MX-3140N Random Blank Pages

          On the analog machines it was not uncommon to get a seizing paper feed clutch that would feed a page from a cassette that you aren't using, randomly. If coincidentally the page mostly overlaps another page passing by, one of the pages will be printed and the other blank, without jamming. If it doesn't overlap you'll get a jam condition with two pages in the vertical path coming from two different paper sources. =^..^=
          If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
          1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
          2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
          3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
          4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
          5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

          blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

          Comment

          Working...