Utax PF-3100 User manual

Service
Manual
Paper Feeder
PF-3100
First Edition
Date: 17-10-2016
3S3SM060

Service
Manual
Paper Feeder
PF-3100
First Edition
Date: 17-10-2016
3S3SM060

CAUTION
RISK OF EXPLOSION IF BATTERY IS REPLACED BY AN INCORRECT TYPE. DISPOSE
OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS.
It may be illegal to dispose of this battery into the municipal waste stream. Check with your
local solid waste officials for details in your area for proper disposal.
ATTENTION
IL Y A UN RISQUE D’EXPLOSION SI LA BATTERIE EST REMPLACEE PAR UN MODELE
DE TYPE INCORRECT. METTRE AU REBUT LES BATTERIES UTILISEES SELON LES
INSTRUCTIONS DONNEES.
Il peut être illégal de jeter les batteries dans des eaux d’égout municipales. Vérifiez avec les
fonctionnaires municipaux de votre région pour les détails concernant des déchets solides
et une mise au rebut appropriée.
The correspondence printer is as follows.
P-4531DN
P-5031DN
P-5531DN
P-6031DN

Revision history
Revision Date pages Revised contents

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Safety precautions
This booklet provides safety warnings and precautions for our service personnel to ensure the safety of
their customers, their machines as well as themselves during maintenance activities. Service personnel
are advised to read this booklet carefully to familiarize themselves with the warnings and precautions
described here before engaging in maintenance activities.

Safety warnings and precautions
Various symbols are used to protect our service personnel and customers from physical danger and
to prevent damage to their property. These symbols are described below:
DANGER: High risk of serious bodily injury or death may result from insufficient attention to or incorrect
compliance with warning messages using this symbol.
WARNING: Serious bodily injury or death may result from insufficient attention to or incorrect compliance
with warning messages using this symbol.
CAUTION: Bodily injury or damage to property may result from insufficient attention to or incorrect com-
pliance with warning messages using this symbol.
Symbols
The triangle ( ) symbol indicates a warning including danger and caution. The specific point of attention is
shown inside the symbol.
General warning. Warning of risk of electric shock.
Warning of high temperature.
indicates a prohibited action. The specific prohibition is shown inside the symbol.
General prohibited action. Disassembly prohibited.
indicates that action is required. The specific action required is shown inside the symbol.
General action required. Remove the power plug from the wall outlet.
Always ground the copier.

1. Installation Precautions
WARNING
• Do not use a power supply with a voltage other than that specified. Avoid multiple connections to
one outlet: they may cause fire or electric shock. When using an extension cable, always check that
it is adequate for the rated current. .....................................................................................................
• Connect the ground wire to a suitable grounding point. Not grounding the copier may cause fire or
electric shock. Connecting the earth wire to an object not approved for the purpose may cause
explosion or electric shock. Never connect the ground cable to any of the following: gas pipes, light-
ning rods, ground cables for telephone lines and water pipes or faucets not approved by the proper
authorities. ..........................................................................................................................................
CAUTION:
• Do not place the copier on an infirm or angled surface: the copier may tip over, causing injury. .........
• Do not install the copier in a humid or dusty place. This may cause fire or electric shock. .................
• Do not install the copier near a radiator, heater, other heat source or near flammable material. This
may cause fire. ...................................................................................................................................
• Allow sufficient space around the copier to allow the ventilation grills to keep the machine as cool
as possible. Insufficient ventilation may cause heat buildup and poor copying performance. ............
• Always handle the machine by the correct locations when moving it. .................................................
• Always use anti-toppling and locking devices on copiers so equipped. Failure to do this may cause
the copier to move unexpectedly or topple, leading to injury. ..............................................................
• Avoid inhaling toner or developer excessively. Protect the eyes. If toner or developer is accidentally
ingested, drink a lot of water to dilute it in the stomach and obtain medical attention immediately.
If it gets into the eyes, rinse immediately with copious amounts of water and obtain medical atten-
tion. .....................................................................................................................................................
• Advice customers that they must always follow the safety warnings and precautions in the copier’s
instruction handbook. .........................................................................................................................

2. Precautions for Maintenance
WARNING
• Always remove the power plug from the wall outlet before starting machine disassembly. ................
• Always follow the procedures for maintenance described in the service manual and other related
brochures. ..........................................................................................................................................
• Under no circumstances attempt to bypass or disable safety features including safety mechanisms
and protective circuits. ........................................................................................................................
• Always use parts having the correct specifications. ............................................................................
• Always use the thermostat or thermal fuse specified in the service manual or other related brochure
when replacing them. Using a piece of wire, for example, could lead to fire or other serious acci-
dent. ...................................................................................................................................................
• When the service manual or other serious brochure specifies a distance or gap for installation of a
part, always use the correct scale and measure carefully. ..................................................................
• Always check that the copier is correctly connected to an outlet with a ground connection. ...............
• Check that the power cable covering is free of damage. Check that the power plug is dust-free. If it
is dirty, clean it to remove the risk of fire or electric shock. .................................................................
• Never attempt to disassemble the optical unit in machines using lasers. Leaking laser light may
damage eyesight. ...............................................................................................................................
• Handle the charger sections with care. They are charged to high potentials and may cause electric
shock if handled improperly. ...............................................................................................................
CAUTION
• Wear safe clothing. If wearing loose clothing or accessories such as ties, make sure they are safely
secured so they will not be caught in rotating sections. ......................................................................
• Use utmost caution when working on a powered machine. Keep away from chains and belts. ..........
• Handle the fixing section with care to avoid burns as it can be extremely hot. ..................................
• Check that the fixing unit thermistor, heat and press rollers are clean. Dirt on them can cause
abnormally high temperatures. ...........................................................................................................

• Do not remove the ozone filter, if any, from the copier except for routine replacement. ......................
• Do not pull on the AC power cord or connector wires on high-voltage components when removing
them; always hold the plug itself. ........................................................................................................
• Do not route the power cable where it may be stood on or trapped. If necessary, protect it with a
cable cover or other appropriate item. ................................................................................................
• Treat the ends of the wire carefully when installing a new charger wire to avoid electric leaks. ..........
• Remove toner completely from electronic components. .....................................................................
• Run wire harnesses carefully so that wires will not be trapped or damaged. ......................................
• After maintenance, always check that all the parts, screws, connectors and wires that were
removed, have been refitted correctly. Special attention should be paid to any forgotten connector,
trapped wire and missing screws. .......................................................................................................
• Check that all the caution labels that should be present on the machine according to the instruction
handbook are clean and not peeling. Replace with new ones if necessary. .......................................
• Handle greases and solvents with care by following the instructions below: ......................................
· Use only a small amount of solvent at a time, being careful not to spill. Wipe spills off completely.
· Ventilate the room well while using grease or solvents.
· Allow applied solvents to evaporate completely before refitting the covers or turning the power
switch on.
· Always wash hands afterwards.
• Never dispose of toner or toner bottles in fire. Toner may cause sparks when exposed directly to
fire in a furnace, etc. ...........................................................................................................................
• Should smoke be seen coming from the copier, remove the power plug from the wall outlet immedi-
ately. ...................................................................................................................................................
3. Miscellaneous
WARNING
• Never attempt to heat the drum or expose it to any organic solvents such as alcohol, other than the
specified refiner; it may generate toxic gas. ........................................................................................
• Keep the machine away from flammable liquids, gases, and aerosols. A fire or an electric shock
might occur. ........................................................................................................................................

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CONTENTS
1-1 Specifications
1-1-1 Specifications..........................................................................................................................................1-1-1
1-1-2 Paper specifications................................................................................................................................1-1-2
(1) Paper specifications..........................................................................................................................1-1-2
(2) Selecting the right paper ...................................................................................................................1-1-2
(2-1) Condition of the paper...............................................................................................................1-1-2
(2-2) Paper size .................................................................................................................................1-1-2
(2-3) Smoothness ..............................................................................................................................1-1-3
(2-4) Basis weight..............................................................................................................................1-1-3
(2-5) Moisture content........................................................................................................................1-1-3
(3) Paper storage....................................................................................................................................1-1-3
(4) Envelopes and postcards..................................................................................................................1-1-4
(4-1) Envelopes..................................................................................................................................1-1-4
(4-2) Curly envelopes.........................................................................................................................1-1-5
(4-3) Post cards .................................................................................................................................1-1-5
(5) Storage of envelopes and postcards.................................................................................................1-1-5
1-2 Installation
1-2-1 Unpacking and installation......................................................................................................................1-2-1
(1) Installation procedure........................................................................................................................1-2-1
1-2-2 Operating the paper feeder.....................................................................................................................1-2-8
(1) Loading paper ...................................................................................................................................1-2-8
(1-1) Loading paper ...........................................................................................................................1-2-8
(2) Loading envelopes and postcards.....................................................................................................1-2-9
(3) Loading paper in the printer’s paper cassette...................................................................................1-2-9
(4) Selecting paper feed from the paper feeder......................................................................................1-2-9
(4-1) Selection from the printer’s operation panel..............................................................................1-2-9
(4-2) Selection using prescribe’s PSRC command..........................................................................1-2-10
1-3 Troubleshooting
1-3-1 Paper misfeed detection.........................................................................................................................1-3-1
(1) Paper misfeed indication...................................................................................................................1-3-1
(2) Paper misfeed detection conditions ..................................................................................................1-3-2
1-3-2 Self-diagnostic function...........................................................................................................................1-3-3
(1) Self-diagnostic function.....................................................................................................................1-3-3
(2) Self diagnostic codes ........................................................................................................................1-3-3
1-3-3 Electric problems ....................................................................................................................................1-3-4
1-4 Assembly and Disassembly
1-4-1 Precautions for assembly and disassembly............................................................................................1-4-1
(1) Precautions .......................................................................................................................................1-4-1
1-4-2 Assembly and disassembly.....................................................................................................................1-4-2
(1) Removing the bulk paper feeder from the printer..............................................................................1-4-2
(2) Removing the tray cover ...................................................................................................................1-4-2
(3) Removing the side covers.................................................................................................................1-4-3
(4) Removing the paper outlet and top cover .........................................................................................1-4-3
(5) Removing the mounting rail from the printer base ............................................................................1-4-4
2-1 Mechanical construction
2-1-1 Paper feed section..................................................................................................................................2-1-1
(1) FRR System......................................................................................................................................2-1-1
(2) The fault detection function of the PWB............................................................................................2-1-3
2-2 Electrical Parts Layout
2-2-1 Electrical parts layout..............................................................................................................................2-2-1
(1) Electrical parts...................................................................................................................................2-2-1
(2) Electrical parts (PB-325) ...................................................................................................................2-2-2
2-3 Operation of the PWBs
2-3-1 Main PWB...............................................................................................................................................2-3-1

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3S3
1-1-1
1-1 Specifications
1-1-1 Specifications
Item Specifications
Paper size Envelope Monarch, Envelope #10, Envelope DL, Envelope C5, Execu-
tive, Letter, A4, B5, A5, A6, B6, Envelope #9, Envelope #6, ISO B5, Cus-
tom, Hagaki, Oufuku Hagaki, 16K, Statement, Youkei 2 and Youkei 4
Paper type Plain, Transparency, Preprinted, Labels, Bond, Recycled, Vellum,
Rough, Letterhead, Color, Prepunched, Envelope, Cardstock, Thick,
High Quality, and CUSTOM 1 (to 8)
Paper capacity 2,000 sheets (75 g/m2)
Printer Dimensions
(W × D× H) 345 × 420 × 371 mm
13 37/64 × 13 17/32 × 14 39/64"
Weight 7.5 kg / 16.5 lb
Attach-
ment Printer base PB-325
Dimensions
(W × D× H) 380 × 706 × 184 mm
14 15/16 × 27 13/16 × 7 1/4”
Weight 6.5 kg / 14.3 lb

3S3
1-1-2
1-1-2 Paper specifications
General guidelines
The bulk paper feeder is designed for use with various special types of print media such as adhesive backed label, thick
paper, envelopes, and post cards, it may not be used to print on paper not satisfying the requirements below.
Note
The manufacturer assumes no liability for problems that occur when paper not satisfying these requirements is used with
the bulk paper feeder.
Selection of the right paper is important. The wrong paper can result in jams, misfeeds, curl, poor print quality, and paper
waste, and in extreme cases can damage the bulk paper feeder and/or the printer. The guidelines given below will
increase the productivity of your office by ensuring efficient, trouble-free printing and reducing wear and tear on the bulk
paper feeder and the printer.
(1) Paper specifications
The following table summarizes the basic paper specifications.
(2) Selecting the right paper
Printer printing is a process involving light beam, electrostatic discharge, toner, and heat. In addition, as the paper passes
through the printer it undergoes considerable sliding, bending, and twisting motions. A high- quality printing paper match-
ing the requirements withstands all these stresses, enabling the bulk paper feeder and the printer to turn out clean, crisp
printed copy consistently.
Remember that all paper is not the same. Some of the factors to consider when selecting paper for use with the bulk paper
feeder are as follows:
(2-1) Condition of the paper
Avoid using paper that is bent at the edges, curled, dirty, torn, or contaminated with lint, clay, or paper shreds.
Use of paper in these conditions can lead to illegible printing, misfeeding, and paper jams, and can shorten the life of the
bulk paper feeder and the printer. In particular, avoid using paper with a surface coating or other surface treatment. The
paper should have as smooth and even a surface as possible.
(2-2) Paper size
The minimum size of paper loadable in the bulk paper feeder is 76 ´ 148 mm (3 ´ 5.8 inches). The maximum size is 216 ´
305 mm (8.5 ´ 12 inches). The bulk paper feeder can feed paper of any sizes between these sizes (shaded area in the fig-
ure below), including the standard sizes of A4, B5, A5, letter size, etc. The legal size paper is not usable with the bulk
paper feeder.
Since the printer does not recognize the size of the paper currently loaded in the option bulk paper feeder, it assumes that
all paper fed from the bulk paper feeder have the legal size (8-1/2 by 14 inches). You can use the SPSZ (Set Paper SiZe)
Item Specification
Weight 60 to 200 g/m2
Thickness 0.086 to 0.29 mm
Squareness of corners 90°±0.2°
Curl Inream flat within 4 mm
Packaging Moisture-proof ream wrapping required
Moisture content 4 to 6%
Direction of grain Long grain
Pulp content 80% or more

3S3
1-1-3
command of the PRESCRIBE command language to tell the printer the size of the paper or envelope. Refer to the
printer’s Prescribe II Command reference in the CD-ROM supplied with the printer.
(2-3) Smoothness
The paper should have a smooth, uncoated surface. Paper with a rough or sandy surface can cause voids in the printed
output. Paper that is too smooth, however, can cause multiple feeding and fogging problems. (Fogging is a gray back-
ground effect.)
(2-4) Basis weight
Basis weight is the weight of a standard quantity of paper. In the traditional system the standard quantity is a ream consist-
ing of 500 sheets measuring 17 ´ 22 inches each. In the metric system the standard quantity is 1 square meter.
Paper that is too light or too heavy can cause misfeeding, jams, and premature wear of the bulk paper feeder and the
printer. Uneven paper weight can cause multiple feeds, print defects, poor toner fusing, blurring, and other print quality
problems. The proper weight is 60 to 200 g/m2(16 to 53 lbs/ream).
(2-5) Moisture content
Moisture content is defined as the percent ratio of moisture to the dry mass of the paper. Moisture can affect the paper’s
appearance, feedability, curl, electrostatic properties, and toner fusing characteristics.
The moisture content of the paper varies with the relative humidity in the room. When the relative humidity is high and the
paper absorbs moisture, the paper edges expand, becoming wavy in appearance. When the relative humidity is low and
paper loses moisture, the edges shrink and tighten, and print contrast may suffer.
Wavy or tight edges can cause misfeeding and alignment anomalies. The moisture content of the paper should be 4% to
6%.
To ensure the proper moisture content it is important to store the paper in a controlled environment. Some tips on moisture
control are:
Store paper in a cool, dry location.
Keep the paper in its wrapping as long as possible. Rewrap paper that is not in use.
Store paper in its original carton. Place a pallet etc. under the carton to separate it from the floor.
After removing paper from storage, let it stand in the same room as the printer for 48 hours before use.
Avoid leaving paper where it is exposed to heat, sunlight, or damp.
(3) Paper storage
When the bulk paper feeder is not to be used for a long time of period, the paper must be removed from the bulk paper
feeder and wrapped in moisture-proof paper for storage.

3S3
1-1-4
(4) Envelopes and postcards
When selecting envelopes and postcards, use the guidelines given below.
(4-1) Envelopes
An envelope is a more complex objects than a single sheet of paper. For this reason, it may not be possible to obtain con-
sistent printing quality over the entire envelope surface. Use the following guidelines to select the proper envelopes.
Envelopes should have the basis weight of 70 to 100g/m2(0.16 to 0.22 lb./ream) and up to 4 plies of the paper that is
used to construct the paper including all flaps and overlaps.
Envelopes should have sharply-creased folds and accurately joined corner edges.
Envelopes should have a smooth, uncoated surface. Envelopes that are too smooth, however, can give an adverse
effect to the drum and fuser units inside the printer.
Envelopes should have a straight grain orientation.
Envelopes should have a pulp content of al least 80%, and should have a moisture content of 4 to 6%.
Figure below shows some typical envelope types:
This is the type of envelope best recommended
for use with the bulk paper feeder.
Although this type of envelope generally feeds
normally, they are somewhat prone to jamming
than above.
This type of envelope performs reliably, pro-
vided that envelopes are loaded so that the bot-
tom (sealed end) feeds into the printer first.
Avoid using this type of envelope made of dou-
ble-ply paper.
Figure 1-1-1Types of envelopes
Before printing on envelopes of any type, test printing performance. Avoid using any of the following kinds of envelopes
even if the envelope meets the requirements above.
Envelopes that have exposed adhesive surface, or having a peel-off sealing string for adhesive surface. (Peeled-off
sealing string inside the printer can cause a serious problem.)
Envelopes with metal fasteners or tie strings.
Envelopes with transparent windows, holes, perforations, or cutouts.
Envelopes made using paper, pigment, adhesive, or other material that will degenerate or release hazardous gases
when subjected to the heat that is generated in the printer.
Envelopes that is bent, dirty, or redundant of paper dust.

3S3
1-1-5
(4-2) Curly envelopes
An envelope tends to curl excessively or become uneven in its thickness since it is constructed by paper which is folded,
creased, and seamed in many parts, making the stack of envelopes on the feeder tray unlevel. To avoid feeding problems,
the unlevelness of the stack of envelopes on the paper tray must be less than those specified in the following figures.
Figure 1-1-2Curl limits for envelopes
Reduce the envelopes, if necessary to keep the unlevelness of the stack of envelope within the specified limit.
(4-3) Post cards
The paper used in postcards should have a basis weight of 135 to 190 g/m2(0.3 to 0.42 lb./ream) and uncoated. The
paper should also satisfy the same conditions as white bond paper.
(5) Storage of envelopes and postcards
Store envelopes and postcards, making sure of the following hints.
Avoid leaving paper where it is exposed to sunlight.
Store envelopes in a clean, dust-free environment.
Temperature in the storage area should be maintained in the range from 50 to 95°F (10 to 35°C), and relative humidity
should be kept between 20 and 80%.
Thickness in bottom or top
must be less than 10 mm
Thickness in right or left trails
must be less than 5 mm.
Vertical curl must
be less than 10 mm.
Horizontal curl must
be less than 5 mm.
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