244735.

Mottled, light grainy texture, especially solids and halftones Page 1 of 3

Mottled, light grainy texture, especially solids and

halftones
Author: EUGENE CARLE
ETI
Validator: GLENN LATULIPE Show details
SourceName: DC535 Family Tech Eureka
DC535/545/555, CC35 - WC275,
Applies to: Distribution: Xerox Use Only
WC5632 - WC5687
Fault Codes: Chains: 09

Problem:
A normal text copy/print looks OK, but halftones, dark gray or black solid areas appear light /
mottled (light copies). The same effect is seen on Internal Test Patterns #s 5, 12 & 15. There
are white "flecks" in the solid and halftone areas giving them a mottled / orange peel / grainy /
textured look.

Cause:
The cause can be any one of the three below. The most frequently reported caused is #2.

1. Developer Module not seated properly.

2. The toner has been depleted from the developer module and is not being adequately
replenished, or the toner concentration sensor is mis-reading the toner concentration
3. Defective Developer Module.

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244735.Mottled, light grainy texture, especially solids and halftones Page 2 of 3

Solution: Fixed! Did not fix.

INITIAL ACTION :

To make sure that development, and not image processing or ROS malfunction is the cause
of the mottling, we need to produce a "solid black print" independent of the image processing
and the ROS. There should be no mottle on a solid black print. As the name implies, it should
be solid black.

To run a solid black print use a AA Mini-Maglite with fresh batteries.

a) Unscrew the head of the Mini-Maglite. The bulb will light and stay lit.

b) Slide out the XCRU.

c) With the bottom end of the Mini-Maglite to the back of the XCRU, and the bulb end almost
midway to the front of the XCRU, drop the Mini-Maglite lengthwise into the slot above the
drum

d) Reinstall the XCRU.

e) Run a copy.

The area of the drum that the bulb illuminates produces a SOLID BLACK PRINT when the
development parameters are correct. Ifthesolidblackprintlooksmottled,continueto
step 1. If the solid black print is good -solid black - troubleshoot the ROS or image
processing.

1) Remove, inspect and reseat the Developer Module. Run one solid black print. If still
mottled, perform step 2

2) While running copies of test pattern 82E2020 check the value of the toner concentration
sensor by measuring the voltage between PJ93 pin 8 (the red wire in the 10 pin connector
on the left side of the developer module) and machine frame. The voltage should be
between1.8and2.8vdc.Ifthevoltageisabove2.8vdc,thenthereisaproblemwiththetoner
dispensing system. Replace the toner dispense module PL 9.15 / 9.17. (You can use the 09-
361 RAP to troubleshoot the toner dispense module.)

If the voltage is between 1.8 and 2.8vdc and the solid black print is mottled, then the toner
concentration sensor is mis-reading the toner concentration of the developer material. To
increase and maintain the amount of toner in the developer material (in effect to change the
setpoint of the toner concentration sensor) perform the following:

a) Enter diagnostics / DC131 / Chain 09 / location 09-069.

b) Note the current value, then add 200 to it.

c) Write, Save and Reboot.

d) Run 200 copies of 82E2020 while monitoring the toner concentration sensor voltage. It

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should start out at over 3vdc and then as more toner is supplied to the developer module it
should stabilize between 1.8 and 2.8vdc.

e) Run one solid black print. If the print is solid black, perform an NVM save and note the
change to DC131 09-069 in the machine log book. If still mottled, perform step 3.

3) Replace the Developer Module PL 9.15.

Thanks to Darrell Coley and Thomas Heffner for returning parts to Field Engineering for
analysis.

ETI v1.3.21.2

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