*** Copier Trouble Shooting ***

COPIER - FAX - PRINTERS - REPAIR SERVICE
Clear Copy Service Company
112-25 Jamaica Ave.
Richmond Hill, NY 11418-2458

1-718-805-2650

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If you have problem with any machine, check for the service code. These normally appear on the display panel. There may be an indicator light with a picture next to it or a letter with a number i.e. EO, L1, U4 et. Some times you have to press the PRINT/START button to get a sub code. An EO's sub code might be 07, in this case the complete code would be EO-07. The display panel may have a ? Icon, pressing on that may display a code.

Your operators´ manual is the first place to go to for more information.

Removing misfed paper and fixing quality problems should be in there also.

By the way you should not try to do anything the operators manual does not show you; you could damage the machine or yourself. Before you make the service call check simple things like; cassettes out of paper, original wrong side down, the wrong toner et.

Describing how the paper is placed on the glass can be defined as Portrait from www.pagetutor.com (usually the way an 8.5x11 sheet is placed on larger machine exposure glass) and Landscape (usually the way an 8.5x14 sheet is placed on most machine exposure glass).
The first part of copy that emerges from the exit side of the machine is called the Lead Edge. The last part of copy that exits machine is called the Trail edge. Standing facing the Operation Panel, you are facing the Front of the machine.
Now when you call a technician here, you can tell us for example- I am running Portrait copies and there is a mark 2 inches before the exit near the front or I am getting a noise coming the right-front of the machine.

Look over the list that follows. If you see the problem the approximate cost is determined by adding the time for the first 1/2 hr. -S/C (Service Charge) to the LB (Labor charge/quarter hr.) the number in front of the LB is the multiplier, if there is a 2LB, multiply LB by 2 for the Total LB Cost. Charges are listed in the Service Call Price List and, for parts; goto the Parts List.

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Make sure that you have adequate power to the machine. The cassettes are in there proper slots and they have not been modified (sometimes people like to change the position of the paper in the trays, which may require you to change tabs on the cassette or program operation panel to let machine know what paper size it has). Keep supplies and parts on hand to reduce repair down time (if technician determines you will need a certain supply or part someday get it now and keep it on hand for when you really need it.

This page doesn´t explain how to take apart assemblies or the procedure to adjust and calibrate them (if you want more information you could order a service manual). For problems and what to look for here, there is also a cause which is not addressed, speak to your friendly neighborhood technician for that.

TROUBLE SHOOT LIST

1) COPIES DARK - Exposure glass and mirrors (optics) need cleaning; estimated cost= SC + LB. Over toned (too much toner in the developer unit). Wrong toner added to machine; estimated cost= PMA to PMC. Exposure lamp defective (non-digital machine); estimated cost= SC + 1LB + EXPOSURE LAMP.

2) LIGHT COPIES - Toner motor- not turning on, not turning (try running machine without toner cartridge and/or replace cartridge). Estimated cost=SC + 1LB + TONER MOTOR.

Wrong type toner (change the developer powder/cartridge and recalibrate if necessary). Estimated cost=PMA-PMC.
Toner cartridge empty or solidified (take toner bottle/cartridge out, cover exposed holes with tape or paper towels and tap it then shake it a bit). See 1. Developer worn out, contaminated or developer missing (change the developer/cartridge). See 1. Corona wire broken or corona end blocks shorted. See 7. Mirrors (optics) dirty. See 1.

Blank or light copies- Go back over what you did before you had the problem- if you pulled something out - push it back in. Moved a lever up or down? Pulling out a High voltage corona will give you blank or light copies. Levers sometimes move the Drum, Transport or Developer unit away from other assemblies and may not indicate an error on panel, recheck these items.

Wrong type paper- or moist paper. Sometimes you can actually feel the paper is wet. Moist paper happens during times of high humidity. Running a blank sheet through the machine than trying to make a copy on it proves if its the paper or not. Take paper from the center of pack of paper and try it, thats where the paper is dry. In the old days I have found customers using coated (Thermal Fax) paper.

3) PAPER NOT FEEDING/PAPER MISFEEDS GOING IN - Feed rollers need cleaning; estimated cost= SC. Needs feed rollers; estimated cost= SC + 2LB + FEED ROLLER(s).

4) LINES ON COPY - Corona wires need cleaning; estimated cost= SC. Needs corona wires; estimated cost= SC + CORONA/WIRE. Drum/Drum blade defective. Estimated cost= SC + 1LB + DRUM. See JAMMING AT FUSER. Glass, mirrors or lens (Optics) may have toner or page correcting fluid stain on them. See (1) for estimate.

5) SPOTS ON COPY - If spots appear the same shape, distance and amount, and stay in the same area on the copy they are (usually) on the glass. Spots as described before, that move from Lead to Trail can be on any cylindrical part- Drum or Fuser Roller is usually suspect.

Measure the distance where the spot repeats and you will have the circumference of the problem item (or take a copy that exits machine and bring two like spots together to see the size roller giving the problem). Spots that are erratic or that appear smeared are the result of toner dropping onto the copy paper; this is usually a sign that the machine needs a Recycle (Anti Toner Spill) Blade.

Technicians run the copier and shut it down before the copy reaches the Fuser, by doing this they can tell if the problem is happening before the copy paper reaches the Fuser.

6) JAMMING AT FUSER - If you are running dark originals, move the original a 1/2 inch from glass scale to give copy a white lead edge. Don´t make copies with the Original Cover open. Try running copies in Landscape. Copies dark (dark copies cause paper to stick to upper or lower fuser rollers, this is usually due to worn or defective fuser claws); estimated cost=See copy quality problems and add 2LB + FUSER (parts). Paper caught in Fuser, needs cleaning. Estimated cost= SC + 1LB. Fuser Roller not turning (Defective or worn fuser parts). Estimated cost=SC + FUSER (parts).

7) BLANK (Totally white) COPY - Corona wire is broken or corona end blocks shorted. Estimated cost= SC to SC + 2LB or SC + CORONA/WIRE. Needs an optics cleaning (laser optics if digital). Estimated cost= SC + 2LB. Exposure lamp defective (if digital). Estimated cost=SC + 1LB + EXPOSURE LAMP.

8) PAPER JAMS AT DRUM- Wrong type paper, 'expensive paper' is not necessarily the best paper. Paper that is too smooth or has the wrong type curvature can cause the paper to stick to drum- try flipping the paper over in cassette tray or change the paper to a different type; estimated cost=NPF. Separation corona wire broken. See #7. Separation Belt broken. Estimated cost=SC + SEPARATION BELT.

9) NOISE - Theres not much you can do. If machine is making a grinding or rumbling noise make sure machine is properly closed. Make sure machine is level. If machine is 'Clam Shell' type open the main body and check for a foriegn object in machine (like a paper clip, screw, penny; et.). A technician will probably run machine with main body open, remove gears and or assemblies till the section causing noise in the machine is isolated. It can take up to 2 hrs to locate what is causing noise, than an estimate for part or assembly can be made. Estimated cost= SC + 8LB + (parts).

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CLEAR COPY OPERATES MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. (CLOSED HOLIDAYS). If you wish to visit, or have any questions call us at 1-718-805-2650.
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