TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS,

The following "Tech Tips" are designed to assist end users of copiers, faxes, and printers in solving some common problems with their office equipment. We at Tonerprice.com hope that you find this information beneficial. We are always adding new information which we hope will save you money and make your equipment perform better.

Feel free to call us with your comments or questions at 800-500-3038

COPY QUALITY PROBLEMS

STREAKS ON COPY- Usually caused by drum cleaning blade not making good contact with drum surface. The cleaning blades are made of rubber and do wear out. If lines on copy are thin "pencil-like" lines, the drum itself usually has rotation scratches in the surface and must be replaced. Look for a pattern of the marks on the copy. If they repeat on the page, the marks are on your drum. DON'T TRY CLEANING THE DRUM WITH HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS. 99% of the time, your problems will get worse. To remove small build-ups on the drum surface, use rubbing alcohol with a soft tissue. DON'T RUB HARD. YOU'LL SCRATCH THE DRUM.

For lines on the copy, the other place to check is in the Fuser unit. This is the area of the machine where the toner is fused into the paper. BE CAREFUL, THIS AREA MAY BE VERY HOT!! Check the upper heat roller (usually black) for lines.

For large "blotchy" areas, clean the Transfer corona assembly with canned air (it's right below the drum) Be careful, corona wires break very easily. LIGHT COPIES- Usually, light copies indicates that the toner is not moving throughout the machine as it should. Check to make sure that the toner ctg. is installed correctly and is full, even if the toner replacement light is not on.

If the image is light and the background of the copy has a gray appearance or if the copy feels "gritty", the developer needs to be changed. If the "toner add" light is on, and the machine has adequate toner, have your technician check the Image Density Sensor (clean with canned air), and the toner motor.

DARK COPIES- On copiers and fax machines, all mirrors need to be cleaned. BE CAREFUL HERE. On copiers, mirrors are usually located under the dark metal box beneath the glass on top on the machine. There is always at least three, sometimes four or five. To access mirrors, use a MAGNETIC screwdriver to remove screws holding down the darkbox. Remove box cover VERY SLOWLY. Clean mirrors with alcohol and soft cotton pad. Reassemble. DOUBLE IMAGE- If the image you're copying repeats itself on the copy, the Drum Cleaning Blade is worn and must be replaced. ALL BLACK COPIES- Check to see if exposure lamp under glass lights up when making copy. Replace if it doesn't. NO IMAGE ON PAPER- Usually caused by broken charge or transfer corona wire. They are very thin and hard to see. Use a flashlight. On small Canon PC copiers, as well as small Xerox and Sharp copiers, the charge corona is in the drum unit. Replace the unit. This holds true for most fax machines and Laser Printers. Replace the unit first!

OTHER PROBLEMS

PAPER JAMS- Paper usually jams in one of three places. the paper pick-up section, the registration section, or in the fuser unit. For jams in the paper pick-up section, clean the paper pick-up rollers. Household cleaners usually don't work well, and most solvents are too strong and will melt the rollers. Try the "BLOW-OFF" rubber rejuvenator in our "Copier Survival Kit" (see home page). This product works great on paper feed rollers both in the machine and the A.D.F. units. Spray BLOW-OFF on clean cloth, and scrub rollers until they start to feel a bit "tacky" Don't spray near open flame. VERY FLAMMABLE.

For jams in the registration section, use BLOW-OFF to clean the registration roller (long black rubber roller to the right of the transfer corona assembly). Be careful not to break the sensor arm on the registration sensor. If this doesn't work, call your service tech. You've done all you can.

For jams at the fuser of exit section, you'll need to check and see if the fuser rollers are turning. If paper is "accordion" or squished together. If so, the rollers are probably not turning. To be sure, mark the red lower roller with a ball point pen, close up machine and make a copy. Open up machine and check the red roller. If the pen mark is in the same position, the rollers have not turned. Check the gear on the end of the upper heat roller (black and hot!). This is the main fuser gear and they break frequently. Tell you tech. to bring one with them.

If your copier has a sorter attached to it, check to see that it is aligned properly.

LOSS OF POWER- Make sure that machine is plugged in and that power outlet has voltage ( do this by plugging something else into the outlet ). Make sure all doors and covers are closed (even on the sides and back) on the machine.

A.D.F. PROBLEMS- Use Blow-Off for cleaning D.F. rollers. DO NOT use Blow-Off on the big white A.D.F. belt or on exterior covers of the machine. It will damage these parts.

Clean glass with our "BRILIANIZE" anti-static glass cleaner. It's a great cleaner for both glass and plastic covers. In addition, it's anti-static properties greatly reduces A.D.F jams. Many nationally known commercial printing companies use this product to keep their Doc. feeders running like new.

PLEASE UNPLUG MACHINE BEFORE SERVICE!

GOOD LUCK