Ricoh 9210 Premature Fuser Belt Wear

[Melluvscats]

We are getting lines in our fusers belts and going through them so fast our service provider is telling us we may have to start paying for them. I have 3 fusers on the floor for the 9210. Techs have advised us to change the fuser for the various sheets sizes. Well our manager will not let us do that. I know what a sheet edge "line" looks like, but the belts are getting fine lines all across the belt and the edges look rough from the sheet edge lines. Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[Shawnd]

Increase the fuser cleaning so it happens more often.

 

[jwheeler]

Well our manager will not let us do that.

Why not?

 

[MailGuru]

I have 3 fusers on the floor for the 9210. Techs have advised us to change the fuser for the various sheets sizes. Well our manager will not let us do that.

I guess I'm a little confused.

Swapping out fusers to accommodate sheet sizes and quality issues is a normality for fuser-based machines. That's why they are so easy to swap out. Usually only two thumb screws and an easily accessible handle grasp at top (like a lunch box).

Why do you have 3 fusers on the floor, but, your manager won't let you swap them out?

Am I missing something?

 

[Melluvscats]

Increase the fuser cleaning so it happens more often.

Is Fuser cleaning same as belt smoothing? Does anyone clean the buffer rollers?

 

[Melluvscats]

I guess I'm a little confused.

Swapping out fusers to accommodate sheet sizes and quality issues is a normality for fuser-based machines. That's why they are so easy to swap out. Usually only two thumb screws and an easily accessible handle grasp at top (like a lunch box).

Why do you have 3 fusers on the floor, but, your manager won't let you swap them out?

Am I missing something?

I don't understand the management thinking on the fuser. He thinks if our 13x19 gets a line , then we don't have a 13x19 for a day and we will be down.

 

[Melluvscats]

I guess I'm a little confused.

Swapping out fusers to accommodate sheet sizes and quality issues is a normality for fuser-based machines. That's why they are so easy to swap out. Usually only two thumb screws and an easily accessible handle grasp at top (like a lunch box).

Why do you have 3 fusers on the floor, but, your manager won't let you swap them out?

Am I missing something?

I can swap out fusers no problem. I learned to swap fusers and change alot of my parts thanks to online videos. We try to minimize down time and not call service if possible. Plus I like reading the manuals.

 

[Melluvscats]

Why not?

Concerned if Fuser 13x19 we will not have a 13x19. So now we are running all sheet sizes and having line problems ( grid patterns) and have 2 fusers on the floor that need rebuilt. UGH!!

 

[Melluvscats]

Concerned if Fuser 13x19 we will not have a 13x19. So now we are running all sheet sizes and having line problems ( grid patterns) and have 2 fusers on the floor that need rebuilt. UGH!!

If Fuser 13x19 goes down

 

[Shawnd]

Is Fuser cleaning same as belt smoothing? Does anyone clean the buffer rollers?

You should see a setting called: Fusing Belt Auto Smoothing Setting

I would try setting it first to: Frequently and if that doesn't help then More Frequently

 

[Stickman42]

"It's the paper"

 

[Shawnd]

"It's the paper"

No joke, had a ricoh tech tell me it was because we ran too much C2S

 

[kslight]

The solution is either don’t run mixed sizes or swap fusers when doing so. Or just tolerate it. Waiting for service to fix every time when you have fusers on the floor you could swap to is just silly. Let service bill you for it, I bet the problem will solve itself (management will then decide it’s okay for you to swap).

Honestly, 99% of the time for what we do, it doesn’t actually matter and I do not stop production over inevitable lines. Postcard is going through the mail? - the fuser line will never get noticed.

 

[MailGuru]

"It's the paper"

In a way.........he's exactly right! If you didn't run any paper through it, you would not see any fuser lines. Problem Solved! Next?

 

[Stickman42]

I know what a sheet edge "line" looks like, but the belts are getting fine lines all across the belt and the edges look rough from the sheet edge lines.

Edge lines are one thing, but the "fine lines all across" are another, correct?

Pics might help.

 

[MailGuru]

I'm not an expert on the 9210, but, I tend to agree with @Stickman42

If what you are describing is a "grid-like" pattern, that doesn't sound like a fuser problem.

Is there any way to stop (interrupt) a page after the charged toner application, but, before it enters the fuser, like, force-opening a door or something?

If so, do the lines appear on the page?

 

[Melluvscats]

Thanks f

I'm not an expert on the 9210, but, I tend to agree with @Stickman42

If what you are describing is a "grid-like" pattern, that doesn't sound like a fuser problem.

Is there any way to stop (interrupt) a page after the charged toner application, but, before it enters the fuser, like, force-opening a door or something?

If so, do the lines appear on the page?

I did find out 2 of my fusers the buffer rollers didn't have bearings in them. But my new Fuser did have bearings in them and the belt still getting fine scratches on the belt. You can see the lines in the belt. I will try the stop method and check the sheet before fusing. I run postcards and higher end calendars and have several universities that do high end work so I have to be quality conscience to an extent or find a "happy medium" for quality. Management finally on board with Fuser swap with paper size. I'm just trying to get my belts in order because currently all 3 have scratches. Most jobs with heavy coverage you don't see the lines. But lighter cover you can see them. I will post photos.

 

[bcr]

Concerned if Fuser 13x19 we will not have a 13x19. So now we are running all sheet sizes and having line problems ( grid patterns) and have 2 fusers on the floor that need rebuilt. UGH!!

Then get an extra fuser so that you always have one extra as a spare, like you would with toner?

 

[Melluvscats]

Then get an extra fuser so that you always have one extra as a spare, like you would with toner?

I already have 3 fusers. Hopefully the tech coming in today can figure something out. Just need to figure out why the belts keep getting the fine lines and scratches. I have auto smoothing set to " frequently" and that seems to help with sheet sizing lines, but not fine scratches across the whole belt width. Is it normal for the buffer roller to get toner staining and streaking?

 

[Melluvscats]

Here is my buffer roller. Is this normal. These lines on this roller are showing up in the belt.