Prints image although there is no image...

1619 Views 10 Replies 3 Participants Last post by equipmentzone, Mar 22, 2012

davitos

Discussion Starter · Mar 21, 2012

so we are having a problem that we have never seen before:

when we send an image to the printer (using the RIP) it prints parts although there is no actual image to be printed. Please see the photo....

for a few days now it prints this ghost image no matter if its with or without underbase...

it looks like a computer problem to me? any suggestions? we are lost!

thank you!

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JeridHill

· #2 · Mar 21, 2012

I would assume it's a hardware issue. I know on the Tjets, they had a strip of white vinyl on the side. If that got bunched up or wrinkled, etc., it could cause something like this. I'm not sure if the Kiosks had this strip or not. You may also want to check your encoder strip with a flashlight and see if there are any marks or ink on the strip. If so, clean it very well with rubbing alcohol or windex.

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davitos

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 21, 2012

hi jerid- white vinyl on the side? please elaborate what that means or is exactly

thanks!

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davitos

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 21, 2012

its with every design we print and its not an artwork issue...

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JeridHill

· #5 · Mar 21, 2012

davitos said:
hi jerid- white vinyl on the side? please elaborate what that means or is exactly

thanks!

I'm not extremely familiar with the kiosk series, but if it was like the tjet, on the bed where you drop your platen in if you were looking at the front of the machine, it would be on the top left on the back side facing up. It could be white or yellow, but it's a strip probably 2" wide. If there isn't anything there, then I would examine it to see if it's wrinkled or mangled up. If there isn't anything there, then it is different than the Tjet series and I would just examine the encoder strip.

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equipmentzone

· #6 · Mar 21, 2012

davitos said:
so we are having a problem that we have never seen before:

when we send an image to the printer (using the RIP) it prints parts although there is no actual image to be printed. Please see the photo....

for a few days now it prints this ghost image no matter if its with or without underbase...

it looks like a computer problem to me? any suggestions? we are lost!

thank you!

From J in our Support Department:

1) Make sure encoder strip is cleaned and unscratched

2) Check and clean the encoder scale (clear disc with #s on it) this is located under the right hand chrome panel (opposite the buttons). Make sure it is undamaged and clean.

Good chance it's the encoder strip. They are extremely inexpensive and fairly easy to change out. You should always keep a spare new one on your shelf as a backup.

The white vinyl strip Jerid is referring to was only on the T-Jet 1 printer. Both the T-Jet 2 and Kiosk printers use the same drive system.

Harry
Equipment Zone

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JeridHill

· #7 · Mar 21, 2012

equipmentzone said:
2) Check and clean the encoder scale (clear disc with #s on it) this is located under the right hand chrome panel (opposite the buttons). Make sure it is undamaged and clean.

This could definitely do it, forgot about that!

The white vinyl strip Jerid is referring to was only on the T-Jet 1 printer. Both the T-Jet 2 and Kiosk printers use the same drive system.

Thanks, now I know....

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equipmentzone

· #8 · Mar 21, 2012

When this issue appears it is normally caused by a dirty or scratched encoder strip.

Harry
Equipment Zone

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davitos

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 22, 2012

so we replaced encoder wheel and encoder strip. problem solved. thanks guys!!!

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JeridHill

· #10 · Mar 22, 2012

Great! I typically replace one part at a time to determine what the real cause was. The quicker would have been the encoder strip. If it continued, then the encoder wheel. The encoder wheel doesn't typically have a chance to scratch anywhere as easy as the encoder strip, so that's what I would have tried first.

But the bottom line is, you are up and running!

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equipmentzone

· #11 · Mar 22, 2012

davitos said:
so we replaced encoder wheel and encoder strip. problem solved. thanks guys!!!

Glad to hear you're going.

It is always a good idea to keep a spare new encoder strip on your shelf. It really is cheap insurance.

Harry
Equipment Zone

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