Epson Aculaser-C9100

Epson Intermediate Drum Transfer Unit.

Epson C9100 Intermediate Drum Transfer Unit (IDT):Part 1433004 (In the Service Manual called 1285007)

The IDT serves a similar purpose to the transfer belt in many other laser printer, it accumulates the images produced by the Photoconductors. In use the IDT will gradually wear out and ultimately need replacing. The machine gives a warning.

The user guide for the printer says you should "contact your dealer" for a replacement unit. If you are not covered by a contract dealers will probably charge a call out fee which could add substantially to the cost of the job. Examining the situation in 2013 showed that replacement units were widely available from Amazon and other Internet parts vendors however it is worth noting that their prices were not very attractive and most will not give any advice on how to complete the job. We try to remedy that here.

Epson Aculaser-C9100_Internals - from the brochure. The rollers at the left give an idea what the IDT replaces.

Part of the job will probably be familiar as the IDT is pulled out to change the photoconductor drums.

However you should note that this replacement part was intended for dealers, not users. The unit clips and slides into and out of the machine however it is heavy, particularly when the photoconductor drums are installed. The photoconductors are vulnerable to damage, even flecking from a cough or sneeze could show up as marks.

Once the unit is fitted the printer will need the life-counter for the part clearing and could need a colour registration adjustment. The registration adjustment will be more swiftly achieved by someone familiar with it.


Epson Aculaser-1285007 1433004 - from the Service Manual.

Instructions

The printer should probably be off before an IDT installed. The service manual leaves it open to work with power on but turning off seems a sensible precaution.

The IDT has a handle to withdraw it from the machine. There is a latch inside the handle and with that pressed the handle can be turned and the unit pulls outwards. The unit should reach an end-stop.

With the IDT at the end stop the Photoconductor unit lifts out of it using the orange handle. Observe how the photoconductor is hooked onto the IDT. The rollers of the photoconductor must not be touched, and should not be exposed to bright light. Put the photoconductor unit on a level, dust free surface and limit it's exposure to light to low levels for a short time.

Epson Aculaser-1285007 1433004 - from the Service Manual.

The IDT is held by a cream-white stopper. Holding the black handle of the IDT release the stopper and lift the unit away. Take care, it is quite heavy.

A new unit can be lifted into place on the rails that held the old one. The stopper needs to be in it's disengage position to slide in.

The Photoconductor unit mounts back in the new IDT in the same way the old one was held. shafts on the photoconductor line up with holders in the IDT.

The IDT slides back into the machine chassis, it should move smoothly

The printer should be turned on and allowed to warm up for some time. particularly if the IDT came from a cold place.


Epson Aculaser-1285007 1433004 - from the Service Manual.

Maintenance Mode

Two things are needed in maintenance mode

  • IDT Reset
  • Possibly - Colour alignment

Maintenance mode is activated by holding down Back, UP Down and enter buttons on the operator panel at power on. The printer should start in MAINTENANCE MODE. Alignment after replacing the IDT may require use of several menu entries

Epson's service manual sets out how to do the Color Registration Adjustment properly, what is given here are notes that may help.

The Epson Manual is called:

A3 Full Color Laser Printer
EPSON Aculaser C9100

SEPG04001


Epson Aculaser-1285007 1433004 - from the Service Manual.

Correction of starting position in sub-scanning direction

Menu entry: Color Regist Check

The printer may find no adjustment necessary in which case it reboots and correction ends.

If an adjustment is necessary the printer LCD displays

Y±Nnn   M±Nnn   K±Nnn   C±Nnn  

Adjustments are made with a 5.5mm hex key (nut driver). The first number in each section is the number of complete turns and the smaller one is the number of steps. The adjustment screws are on the ROS unit and "+" is interpreted as clockwise.

The manual warns that turning the screws unnecessarily may damage the ROS Unit.

Once the adjustments have been made close the front cover and press the enter switch for more than 1 second.

If "color Regist Warn" appears during measurement press the Enter switch to continue.

Epson Aculaser-1285007 1433004 - from the Service Manual.

Adjustment of starting position in main-scanning direction

Menu entry:

Color Regist Sheet

Read the values for Left, Center or Right of chart A at the where the diagonal Yellow Magents and Cyan lines intersect with white lines.

Menu entry: Select Color Regist Menu

Set the values read before: Press Up or down to select the colour, then enter Give the Left, Center and Right Values. Then select another colour until all have been done.

After setting the correction values run Color Regist Sheet again to check that all values are now zero. When they are zero proceed to Chart B

For chart B Read the points at which Yellow Magenta and Cyan are deepest

Menu entry: Select Color Regist Menu

Set the values read before: Press Up or down to select the colour, then enter Give the Left, Center and Right Values. Then select another colour until all have been done.

If all the values are at or near "0" the adjustment is finished.

Epson Aculaser-1285007 1433004 - from the Service Manual.

Color Registration Check

Menu entry: Configuration Sheet

Print the configuration sheet and check the registration lines in both direction. Limits in engine registration mean registration may never be perfect.