Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

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  • blackcat4866
    Master Of The Obvious

    Site Contributor
    10,000+ Posts
    • Jul 2007
    • 22858
    #1

    Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

    This is kind of hard to describe. It's happened only once. I got samples.

    Let's start with the basics. The machine is an e Studio 306. The enduser loaded (8) single sided originals to the document feeder LT. The machine is set to copy single sided, and the only matching paper is in tray #1 LT plain. The enduser presses Start. Pretty straightforward, yes? The result is not so straightforward.

    Let's imagine that I took my (8) originals to the paper cutter and cut them the long way at random widths, so that I had ~48 strips of paper of random widths x 11" long. Then I took a piece from the first page starting at the left, and a piece from the second page, and a piece from the third ... and taped them all together: that's the first copy. Now imagine that I had cut the strips at different random widths, and again assembled a piece from the first original, a piece from the second, a piece from the third ... and taped them all together: that's the second page. All eight copies came out this way, each one unique, only on one occasion.

    Clearly the data is getting corrupted, but where? Probably not the CCD if these sample strips vary in width and combination. How about the HDD or short term memory storage, or the system board where the image processing is done? Has anyone seen this?

    Quality Sample Strange.jpg

    =^..^=
    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 =^..^=
    Tags: None
    • SwisSeV
      Trusted Tech

      250+ Posts
      • Jan 2016
      • 307
      #2
      Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

      That's just what health insurance paperwork look like to me.


      Weird problem, never seen it myself. I would guess the HDD failed and corrupted the cache memory. The HDD is usually the weakest link.

        Comment

        • ToshibaGuy16
          #3
          Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

          I had this on a color machine. I chased it. Replace HDD, Scanner parts, laser, System board. Never corrected. New software etc. Machine was replaced. Its definetly how the data is stored. The laser is just writing how its recorded. Which is only two things, Memory(SYS) or HDD. The images are clear other than the distortion so I think the CCD is good as well.

            Comment

            • arnh79
              Trusted Tech

              Site Contributor
              VIP Subscriber
              250+ Posts
              • Apr 2010
              • 464
              #4
              Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

              My guess would also be HDD, especially if it's one of the new WIPE types (hey that rhymes!). I replace about one of those a week in my territory because they're constantly failing. I'll be very curious to see what the fix is for you.
              Why does every customer think they're the first one to ever say: "you've been here so much we should get you an office, ha, ha, ha"?

                Comment

                • blackcat4866
                  Master Of The Obvious

                  Site Contributor
                  10,000+ Posts
                  • Jul 2007
                  • 22858
                  #5
                  Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                  Right now we're treating it as a one time occurrence. Time will tell. =^..^=
                  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

                    • arnh79
                      Trusted Tech

                      Site Contributor
                      VIP Subscriber
                      250+ Posts
                      • Apr 2010
                      • 464
                      #6
                      Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                      Did it only happen the one time or were you able to duplicate it? (Sorry if I misunderstood your post.)
                      Why does every customer think they're the first one to ever say: "you've been here so much we should get you an office, ha, ha, ha"?

                        Comment

                        • blackcat4866
                          Master Of The Obvious

                          Site Contributor
                          10,000+ Posts
                          • Jul 2007
                          • 22858
                          #7
                          Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                          I could not duplicate it. I had the originals. I had the copies. I questioned the enduser at length.

                          I don't think that he would have gone to the trouble to fake it. =^..^=
                          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

                            • Ctl-Alt-Del
                              Trusted Tech

                              Site Contributor
                              250+ Posts
                              • Jul 2006
                              • 431
                              #8
                              Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                              Originally posted by blackcat4866
                              Right now we're treating it as a one time occurrence. Time will tell. =^..^=
                              I seem to remember a Kyocera A4 machine with a similar issue of what I called intermittent "Partridge Family Bus" looking CQ. It was 4+ years ago so I can remember details about the originals but after trying lots of other stuff it ended up being the laser ass'y. It was probably some electrical noise from the motor but who knows, the problem went away so we were done.

                                Comment

                                • Gar the pilot
                                  #9
                                  Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                                  What about arcing?

                                    Comment

                                    • blackcat4866
                                      Master Of The Obvious

                                      Site Contributor
                                      10,000+ Posts
                                      • Jul 2007
                                      • 22858
                                      #10
                                      Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                                      Two other techs at the office pointed to the laser. I think that makes 3 votes. One other tech suggested HDD. That's two votes.

                                      I'm throwing my vote in with the first group. If it re-occurs I'll start with the laser. =^..^=
                                      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

                                        • arnh79
                                          Trusted Tech

                                          Site Contributor
                                          VIP Subscriber
                                          250+ Posts
                                          • Apr 2010
                                          • 464
                                          #11
                                          Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                                          My only thought with the laser would be that if the output has more than one original "piece" on it then I can't see it being the laser. As far as I understand it, the laser has no memory so it only writes what it is told. If it was faulty I could see a single original being screwed up but one page having pieces from multiple originals seems impossible. But I've been wrong before. Once or twice. I think.
                                          Why does every customer think they're the first one to ever say: "you've been here so much we should get you an office, ha, ha, ha"?

                                            Comment

                                            • blackcat4866
                                              Master Of The Obvious

                                              Site Contributor
                                              10,000+ Posts
                                              • Jul 2007
                                              • 22858
                                              #12
                                              Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                                              Originally posted by arnh79
                                              My only thought with the laser would be that if the output has more than one original "piece" on it then I can't see it being the laser. As far as I understand it, the laser has no memory so it only writes what it is told. If it was faulty I could see a single original being screwed up but one page having pieces from multiple originals seems impossible. But I've been wrong before. Once or twice. I think.
                                              My thinking runs the same way. It seems unlikely to me, too, but I'm certainly willing to consider the other possibilities. The tech that had seen the problem found a pin backed out of the connector that goes to the laser at the left frame, on an eS3510C. There are plenty of differences between monochrome and color MFP, but I would think the circuit design used by Toshiba would remain basically the same, just x4.

                                              As logic goes, I'd have to consider the HDD first. If I understand HDD function correctly, bits of data are stored all over the disk randomly, in random sized chunks. Assuming that there is a directory of those locations, if that directory got scrambled, the HDD might retrieve the data in the wrong order, from the wrong locations, like rearranged puzzle pieces. Is my logic flawed? How? =^..^=
                                              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

                                                • Hansen88
                                                  Service Manager

                                                  Site Contributor
                                                  1,000+ Posts
                                                  • Dec 2009
                                                  • 1036
                                                  #13
                                                  Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                                                  I have fixed weird problems like that before by reseating connectors, once a bad corona was causing something like that.

                                                    Comment

                                                    • NeoMatrix
                                                      Senior Tech.

                                                      2,500+ Posts
                                                      • Nov 2010
                                                      • 3514
                                                      #14
                                                      Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                                                      Dont' know this machine.

                                                      I believe the problem is periodic and related to mechanical image production not image scanning ....

                                                      If you measure the large white\blank lead edge it may be a multiple of a missing gear tooth on the registration roller , reg feed clutch or timing pulse.

                                                      Could it be something like a plastic bridge over a separation corona sit up proud or broken and grabbing like a talon ?


                                                      HTH
                                                      Inauguration to the "AI cancel-culture" fraternity 1997...
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                                                        Comment

                                                        • Iowatech
                                                          Not a service manager

                                                          2,500+ Posts
                                                          • Dec 2009
                                                          • 3933
                                                          #15
                                                          Re: Copy Quality ... if you can call it that.

                                                          My experience with Toshiba equipment ended when Lanier switched from analog Toshibas to digital Ricohs. So this could be useless nonsense.
                                                          Still, I have to side with the people that disagree with the laser.
                                                          Best I can tell based on the information provided, I'd guess there might have been a voltage surge or something (it is that time of year after all) that temporarily screwed up the image processing in that machine. It might not hurt to check the quality of voltage being provided from the outlet that machine is plugged into before you choose to start swapping parts if that problem reoccurs and goes away again like it did this time.

                                                            Comment

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