Ricoh A109 Technical Bulletin

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-001

SUBJECT: Oil end sensor harness wiring DATE: April 30 ’94

PAGE: 1 of 2

PREPARED BY: S. MANO
CHECKED BY: S. Hamano

CLASSIFICATION:

Action Required
Troubleshooting
Retrofit Information

We have found the following problem in the factory.
The oil end sensor harness is caught by the positioning pin and it is disconnected after the

fusing unit is pulled out and pushed in several times. If this occurs, oil end is not detected.

Revision of service manual
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FROM: 2nd Technical Support Section

MODEL: DFC-α

Normal condition When problem occur
To prevent this, the wiring route has been changed as shown below.

Caution: When reconnecting the hot roller’s fusing lamp after replacing hot roller
and/or pressure roller, be sure to route the oil end sensor harness as
shown above.

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-001

SUBJECT: Oil end sensor harness wiring DATE: April 30, ’94

PAGE: 2 of 2

The oil end sensor harness wiring will be changed from the first May 1994 production
machine. (The cut-in serial number is as shown below.)

A109-17: A351405xxxx ~
A109-22: 67 940500 01 ~
A109-27: A351405xxxx ~
For the machines prior to the above serial number, we recommend changing the wiring at

the machine installation.

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-002

SUBJECT: MANUAL CORRECTIONS DATE: MAY 15 ’94

PAGE: 1 of 2

PREPARED BY:S. MANO
CHECKED BY: S. Hamano

CLASSIFICATION:

Action Required
Troubleshooting
Retrofit Information

Please correct your service manual as follows:

Revision of service manual
Information only
Other

FROM: 2nd Technical Support Section

MODEL:
DFC - α

PAGE 4-21 Item "❷" Note

Incorrect :

standard data: (Standard data of the potential sensor calibration is blank)

Correct:

standard data: 230 ±20

PAGE 4-21 Item "❹"

Incorrect :

Indicates data (Vsg, Vsp, Vsg/Vsp) relate to ID sensor for each color and potential sensor
output while detecting the ID sensor pattern.

Correct:

Not used. (Actually this page 3 exists but all data indicated is " 0 ")

PAGE 4-24 Item "❶"

Incorrect :

Default setting must be selected.
Default:PID

Correct:

"PID" setting must be selected.
Default: Reset

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-002

SUBJECT: MANUAL CORRECTIONS DATE: MAY 15 ’94

PAGE: 2 of 2

PAGE 4-26 Item "❼"

Incorrect :

Table of item ❼ is tinted

Correct:

Table of item ❼ is not tinted. This means the data can be changed in the field.

Select " Display " when editor is installed.

PAGE 4-42 Step #1, #3, #6

Incorrect :

1. Confirm that the main switch is ON.

2. Turn the DIP-switch 501 No.4 of the main control board ON and OFF.

3. Turn the main switch OFF and ON.

6. Replace all developer. (See section 5, Developer section.)

Correct:

1. Confirm that the main switch is OFF.

2. Turn the DIP-switch 501 No.4 of the main control board ON.

3. Turn the main switch ON. Then turn OFF the DIP-switch 501 No.4.

6. Replace all developer. (See section 5, Developer section.)

NOTE: SP4-2, No.403 (Process Control Mode Selection) - change the setting to "PID".

PAGE 5-69 DEVELOPER INSTALLATION Step #10

Incorrect :

Shake 2 packs of developer [G] 20 times then pour them in.

Correct:

Shake a pack of black developer [G] 20 times then pour them in.

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-003

SUBJECT: SP402 ADJUSTMENT DATE: MAY 15 ’94

PAGE: 1 of 2

PREPARED BY: S.MANO
CHECKED BY: S. Hamano

CLASSIFICATION:

Action Required
Troubleshooting
Retrofit Information

Revision of service manual
Information only
Other

FROM: 2nd Technical Support Section

MODEL:
DFC - α

SYMPTOM

If paper becomes very dry under low humidity, the following symptoms are most visible.

1. Rough solid image surface and poor color reproduction in 4C mode.

2. Scattered toner around solid image areas in 1C mode.

The level of these symptoms depend on paper kinds such as smoothness and electrical
resistance, and how paper is dried.

POSSIBLE CAUSE

The transfer belt bias and transfer roller bias are adjusted for the machine under normal,
high, and low humidity conditions. The absolute humidity is detected by the humidity
sensor and the bias voltage changes accordingly. However, as the humidity sensor cannot
detect the moisture in the paper, those bias settings are for the paper just from the
package and not for too dried or too moistened paper.

Therefore, when we face the above symptoms, we can use the SP402 as a
troubleshooting but it might not solve them completely.

The best solution is to instruct the customer to keep the paper as fresh as possible and to
use a good pa per brand .

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-003

SUBJECT: SP402 ADJUSTMENT DATE: MAY 15 ’94

PAGE: 2 of 2

COUNTERMEASURE

The following is how to use the SP as a troubleshooting.

1. ROUGH SOLID IMAGE SURFACE AND POOR COLOR REPRODUCTION IN
4C MODE

Increase the transfer roller bias for low humidity to improve this symptom.
Adjustment range: From 100% (1700V) to 150% (2550V)
If you have following side effect, decrease the setting to improve the side effect to an

acceptable level:

1) Incomplete toner transfer for low density areas (Too much transfer ability)

2) Feed roller mark in half toner image area in 1C mode

You should also check if the fresh paper can get reasonable copy image or not.
If not, decrease the setting.

2. SCATTERED TONER AROUND SOLID IMAGE AREAS IN 1C MODE

Increase the transfer belt bias for low humidity to improve this symptom.
Adjustment range: From 100% (2000V) to 140% (2800V)
If you have the following side effect, decrease the setting to improve the side effect to an

acceptable level:

1) The edge of letters become blurred with scattered toner (Toner scatters not all over

around the image but along the letter edges as thin lines.)

You should also check if the fresh paper can reasonable copy image or not. If not,
decrease the setting.

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-004

SUBJECT:MAIN BOARD REPLACEMENT IN THE FIELD DATE: June 15 ’94

PAGE: 1 of 1

PREPARED BY: S. MANO
CHECKED BY: S. Hamano

CLASSIFICATION:

Action Required
Troubleshooting
Retrofit Information

Just after the mass-production started, the software (Main ROMs on the main control
board) was modified. (We do not mention the detail in this RTB)

We replaced the ROMs on all the mass-produced machines before shipping. In other
words, all of your machines have updated ROMs. (Up to now, the latest version main
ROMs are A1095265E and A1095267E).

However, the main control boards shipped out as initial stock parts were shipped without
the modification.

The main ROMs on the initial stock parts are A1095265B and A1095267B or A1095265D
and A109 5267D.

Therefore, when replacing the main control board in the field, please check the part
number suffix of the main ROMs on the main control board. If the suffix is B or D (C does
not exist), remove the main ROMs on the old main control board and install them on the
new main control board.

Revision of service manual
Information only
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FROM: 2nd Technical Support Section

MODEL: DFC - α

It is possible that the following symptoms occur if the ROMs are not updated when
replacing the main control board.

1. Toner scattering

2. Copy image leaning to some color (Bk,C,Y, mostly magenta).

3. Dirty background at the front or rear side of copies

4. Dirty background on entire copies

5. Toner spots on copies

6. Toner end misdetection

7. Toner end recovery error.

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-005

SUBJECT: ORIGINAL DOUBLE FEEDING DATE:June 30, ’94

PAGE: 1 of 2

PREPARED BY: S. MANO
CHECKED BY: S. Hamano

CLASSIFICATION:

Action Required
Troubleshooting
Retrofit Information

This is additional information of RTB-025 "DJF double feeding".

Revision of service manual
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FROM: 2nd Technical Support Section

MODEL:DUAL JOB
FEEDER FOR DFC-α

<PHENOMENON>

Original double feeding (two or more sheets of the originals are fed at a time)

<POSSIBLE CAUSE>

The separation belts become dirty with the toner, loosing the friction to separate the
originals.

This is especially true when the customer feeds lots of poorly fused originals such as laser
output or cotton paper.

Separation Belts

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-005

SUBJECT: ORIGINAL DOUBLE FEEDING DATE: June 30, ’94

PAGE: 2 of 2

<FIELD COUNTERMEASURE>

Replace the separation belts with the new parts. The new part number is A3769502.
The material of the separation belts has been changed to the one which less toner

adheres to.
NOTE: Depending on the type of originals that the customer use, there is still a possibility

that the separation belts become dirty. For those cases, cleaning the belts at every
visits, which was introduced in the previous RTB, is recommended.

This modification is implemented from the following serial numbers.

A376-10: 537403xxxx
A376-15: 41 240300 01
A376-17: A33840 30001
A376-22: 53 240300 01
A376-26: 3D80340001
A376-27: A33840 30150

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-006

[A]

New style stopper

SUBJECT: Overtoning / Undertoning Countermeasures Reissued on: Nov. 30, ’94

DATE: OCT. 15 ,’94
PAGE: 1 of 2

PREPARED BY: S. Hizen
CHECKED BY: S. Hamano

CLASSIFICATION:

Action Required
Troubleshooting
Retrofit Information

SYMPTOM 2: Overtoning
Overtoning in the development unit just after installing a new toner bottle at toner end

CAUSE:

The toner fluidity increases when the toner bottle is shaken because the toner holds a lot
of air. This results in excessive toner being supplied into the development unit when a
new toner bottle is set by a customer.

COUNTERMEASURE:

The open angle of the toner bottle shutter has been changed from 180 degrees to 70
degrees to make the toner supply time longer. This is to reduce the amount of air held by
toner at toner bottle installation. The following two modifications have been implemented
to change the shutter open angle.

Revision of service manual
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Other

FROM: 2nd Technical Support Section

MODEL: DFC-alpha

Toner Bottle Guide Modification:

The toner bottle guide rib has been changed as shown in the illustration [A] from the first
production to stop the bottle rotation at 70 degrees.

Old style stopper

[B]

Toner
Bottle

Toner bottle guide rib

Toner Tank

Old toner guide New toner guide

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-006

SUBJECT: Overtoning / Undertoning Countermeasure Reissued on: Nov. 30, ’94

DATE: OCT. 15, ’94
PAGE: 2 of 2

Toner Bottle Modification:

The shape of the stopper has been changed as shown in the illustration [B] (on the
previous page) from the following lots in each color toner. This is to prevent the stopper
from going inside the guide rib as shown below [C] when the toner bottle is turned strongly.

Open angle of toner bottle.

180°

Old Bottle Guide
with
Old Bottle

[C]

Start Lot # for the new style shape stopper bottle.
Black: Lot #4416001
Cyan: Lot #4416001
Magenta Lot #4416001
Yellow Lot #4416001

SYMPTOM 2: Undertoning when making many copies with a high image ratio.

70°

70°

New
style
stopper

Old
style
stopper

New Bottle Guide
with
New Bottle

New Bottle Guide
with
Old Bottle

The Toner End indicator is on even if there is toner still in the bottle.

CAUSE:

The toner supply amount from the toner hopper to the development unit is not enough
when making many copies with a high image ratio at the same time. This is due to the
development ability limitation.

COUNTERMEASURE:

Instruct a customer to make copies using lengthwise paper feed rather than sideways
paper feed. lengthwise feed takes longer than sideways feed. This allows enough toner
be supplied to the development unit to develop copies with a high image ratio.

Note: Continuous copy runs using lengthwise paper cause the undertone problem on

both sides of copy. (Please refer to RTB - 007 for details.)
Side-way paper feeding is recommended when more than 30 continuous copies
are made.

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-007

SUBJECT: Light image along both sides of the copy DATE: OCT.15 ’94

PAGE: 1 of 2

PREPARED BY: S. MANO
CHECKED BY: S. Hamano

CLASSIFICATION:

Action Required
Troubleshooting
Retrofit Information

Revision of service manual
Information only
Other

FROM: 2nd Technical Support Section

MODEL:DFC-alpha

<SYMPTOM>

If the customer feeds small size paper (A4 or less/8 1/2 x 11 or less) mostly lengthwise, it
is possible that the image density of half tone areas image on both sides will become
lighter than the center area. (This symptom will be visible only when copying a half tone
original and using wide size copy paper.)

To prevent this, when feeding small size paper (A4 or less/8 1/2 x 11 or less), feed the
paper in sideways.

[B]

[A]

[C]

<REASON>

At the paper transfer area, the paper [A] affects the electrical resistance between the
transfer belt [B] and the transfer roller [C]. When the paper exists, less paper transfer bias
is applied from the transfer roller to the transfer belt.

If small size paper is continuously used, the front and rear areas of the transfer belt
continuously receive a stronger paper transfer bias than the center area of the transfer
belt. This is because the paper exists only at the center.

This gradually reduces the electrical resistance of the transfer belt ion the side. Especially
when many OHP transparency sheets are fed, the possibility to cause this symptom will be
higher due to higher paper transfer bias for OHP mode.

Technical Bulletin No. RTB-007

SUBJECT: Light image along both sides of the copy DATE: OCT. 15 ’94

PAGE: 2 of 2

<COUNTERMEASURE>

If this symptom is weak, after feeding several (about 50 sheets) of wide paper, the transfer
belt’s electrical resistance will become even, and the symptom will disappear. (So, if the
customer feeds both narrow and wide paper alternately, the symptom does not appear.)

However, if this has no affect, you must replace the transfer belt. After replacing the
transfer belt, please instruct the customer to feed the paper in sideways as frequently as
possible.