[Misc] Riso RZ220UI - Not inking page

[Guest]

Hello,
I'm new to this forum and in fact new to Risograph machines. While I've done diligence on researching in the copytech forums as well as around the internet prior to posting, please excuse the newbie-ness of this post/problem.

I recently acquired a Riso RZ220UI; it looks clean, has low/avg counts, and came from a reputable person. It has sat unused for a time. Got the machine home, purchased and installed black ink into the existing (black) ink drum, installed new master roll. Machine powers up, produces a clean master and cycles through the printing process, but the page comes out blank with only a faint indent from the print roller lines - no ink and no semblance of a scanned image.

When I check the masters, they all look fine. I've tried cleaning the ink drum screen, ran it in test mode and re-inked the drum; still nothing. I've gone through the technical manual and ran as many requisite tests/cycle codes as I thought would be applicable but still the machine does not produce a printed image.

I feel like I'm missing something really basic/stupid; basically I think this is an issue of human error, not machine. I'm placing the scan img in the appropriate field, using regular copy paper, etc. Tearing my hair out here trying to find the solution. My next step is to slowly start taking the machine apart and cleaning it out until something presents itself. I'd rather not do that.

One curious thing is every time I power the machine on, it asks me to verify the ink color drum (code H101). Is that normal? Could the ink drum itself be bad? I feel like I've included every other detail so as to make it not so much of a mess for someone to help.

Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions or insights, I'd be forever grateful. I've printed on a couple risos before - years ago - but never spent too much time with one.

Thanks so much in advance!

Edit - just thought I'd add that I did see on this forum a posting similar to my problem back in 2010 - looks like the problem was never solved; the distinct difference in our cases is the person was able to get a clean print once in a while whereas I've gotten nothing.

[Iowatech]

Re: Riso RZ220UI - Not inking page

On the left hand side of the operator's panel, there is a button labeled "Idle", or something close to that anyway. Press that, and then make a new master, and then make at least 20 prints and let us know what happens after that.
Also, as we cannot see your machine and what it is doing, pictures would be useful. At least if my suggestion doesn't help anyway.

[jermyth]

Re: Riso RZ220UI - Not inking page

The H101 error code is saying you are not using the correct ink color. Now that can be from either the drum got programmed for color or you are not using RISO brand ink, aka after market ink. And maybe the RF tag on the tube is bad or missing.
As for the main problem, try the idling are run 50 or more prints like Iowatech suggests. Also two other things can cause blank prints, dried ink inside the drum specially on the ink antenna and poor pressure on the drum from the impression roller. I'm thinking dry ink if the unit sat unused for a year.
Good luck.

[civil_primate]

Re: Riso RZ220UI - Not inking page

Thank you guys so much for your advice/insight. I'll reply further indepth when I get home from work - with some pictures - but lemme just say a couple updates/thoughts.

- The ink is Riso RZ series ink and it was freshly ordered so I think it's fine? But I might pop in the other ink I bought just to see if that PCB is bad or not.

- I ran the idle mode 50 copies and not much happened but then I ran it again (and again) and now I am seeing a faint image start to appear. Does this mean I just need to run several hundred copies through the machine to fully ink the drum in this case? It IS starting to show up. I am planning to run through many more copies in the meantime to see.

- If it is a dried out drum, is there a site/tutorial/etc for the best way to thoroughly clean the drum? Looking around, it seems like everyone has their own preferential way. I'd like to do it right and thorough if I do it again (first time I just gave it the quick once-over).

Thanks so much again guys.

[Iowatech]

Re: Riso RZ220UI - Not inking page

I'm probably not the best source of information for dried out drums as I've never seen one. Any time I've seen light prints from a Riso, the problem has been either an under inked drum or a problem with the pressure roller. The former problem is usually caused by someone using the Riso as a copier by making less than twenty prints per master (sorry, I didn't see anything to indicate otherwise in your first post, which is why I suggested the Idling function). The latter could be caused by a worn out pressure roller (although that usually starts with streaks of lightness parallel to the direction paper travels through the machine), or some failure of the mechanics that make the roller contact the drum.
I've seen a couple of times where a big blob of ink will build up around the ink antenna while the rest of the ink bead on the squeegee roller gets used up. That could be the cause of the light prints I suppose. If that's the case, you'll probably want to get a qualified tech to clean up the excess ink. They get paid to get ink on their hands and clothes (or at least I do).

[civil_primate]

Re: Riso RZ220UI - Not inking page

OK so much has happened since the first post, I'll briefly update. Thanks again for the insight, it's what's gotten me this far.

I've gone from no ink on the page to ink coverage on about 75-80% of the print area which is great. Cleaned the drum out with diesel, wrapped the rag around the drum and let sit. Basically there is still a large field on the right side where the ink is not penetrating through the screen. There is also a ghost image from a previous master. You can see a series of spaced horizontal lines - those are text lines.

photo 1.JPGphoto 2.JPGphoto 3.JPGphoto 4.JPG

What you're seeing in the pictures is sequential printing every 200 copies. This is the last in a long line of tests, I've had to ink the hell out of the drum and run a couple thousand prints to get this far. The progress I'm making at this point is now very marginal - in fact you guys probably can't tell much difference between the last couple; that's because it's extremely minimal.

So again the question is, can I eventually push this thing though repetition or is that ghost & blotted field there permanently? Thanks so much again for the help, I'm rejuvenated with the progress made.

[jermyth]

Re: Riso RZ220UI - Not inking page

Ok, it looks like the screen and maybe the drum still has dried ink in it. That's the large void area. As for the ghosting that maybe fixable with removal of the screen and body to be washed/cleaned. But one or both may need replaced if they a "burned" from previous use & wear. It maybe easier to find a new drum or get a tech to work on it.
Good luck.