SERVICE BULLETIN COPIER

Issued by Canon Europa N.V.

MODEL: NP6216 No.: 1550-010

(XR2316-003-00)
Date: 10.08.99

LOCATION: FEEDER ASSEMBLY – CORONA ASSEMBLY RAIL PLATE

SUBJECT: IMPROVING POSITIONING AND LOCKING OF TRANSFER

CORONA ASSEMBLY AGAINST COPY QUALITY DEFECTS

OUTLINE

This bulletin has the purpose of instructing the Field on the proper sequence of operations and
precautions to observe for assuring the correct functionality of the Transfer Corona Assembly.

DETAILS

During tests periodically performed on the outgoing production, one machine performing feedability
tests in N/L condition showed a high jam rate when copying in duplex mode on recycled paper, and
deformed image when copying on SM1 paper.
The phenomenon is due to the discharger not working properly, because of the Transfer Corona
Assembly being not correctly positioned in place, hence making the electrical contact uncertain.

[Phenomenon]
In a problem machine, few release / close cycles of the feeder assembly are enough to at least
displace the Transfer Corona Assembly and even to free it almost completely. In such a condition the
Transfer Corona Assembly tends sliding few millimetres frontward. Once the feeder assembly is
released down, the Transfer Corona Assembly can often be removed right away, without any need for
pushing its handle down first.
Moreover, copy quality problems could also be observed, such as “light-to-white” copies, or deformed
image in limit condition and with special papers, depending on the degree of displacement of the
Transfer Corona Assembly.
Other effects, such as some electrical micro-discharging phenomena in the contact’s area – although
never confirmed through observation – cannot however be discarded.

[Cause]
Further analyses determined that the displacement of the Transfer Corona Assembly was caused by
the front Leaf Spring of the feeder assembly being out of shape, therefore unable to keeping the
Transfer Corona Assembly correctly in place when the feeder assembly was released down.
Such a condition can therefore happen when installing the drum unit, or whenever having to remove a
jammed sheet.
Since both the front and the rear Leaf Springs have the same design, the rear one as well could be
defective.
While the height and shape of both the front and rear Leaf Springs is not so determinant for the
electrical grounding contact (that is guaranteed anyway), the correct height and shape of the front Leaf
Spring is instead essential to the correct positioning and locking of the Transfer Corona Assembly.
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FACTORY MEASURE

[Temporary Measure]
After determining the cause of the defect, all parts along the line and in stock have been reworked to
match with the design requirements.

[Final Measure]
The Supplier corrected the production process and improved the process controls.

FIELD MEASURE

Taking into consideration that replacing the Leaf Spring in the Field would be quite difficult, we
designed a Countermeasure Spacer that is easy to mount without the need for using any special tool.
The spacer can be used for reverting to the original and correct condition the functionality of the front
Leaf Spring where this is necessary (see Fig. 1 for details).

Fig. 1 – Countermeasure Spacer

The Countermeasure Spacer should be used on installation or otherwise at the first service scheduled
on machines showing the problem.
Whenever any of the conditions described in the [Phenomenon] section above occur, first check the
condition of the machine and in particular the gap between the top edge of the Leaf Spring and the
bottom face of the upper guide of the Corona Assembly Rail Plate above it. If necessary AND
appropriate, then install the Countermeasure Spacer.

[Time Required]
Approximately 3 minutes are required for completing the full cycle on one machine.
COPIER -3- 1550-010

[Operations]

1) Power OFF the machine.

2) Disconnect the power cord from the power outlet.
3) Open the front door.

A) Checking the Condition of the Machine

1) Release the handle of the feeder assembly, then lock the unit back in place for few times (two or
three).

Note:
When releasing the feeder assembly, DO NOT use extreme care in accompanying the unit whilst it goes down,
but try simulating a more typical User’s behaviour, instead.

2) Check the position and freedom of the Transfer Corona Assembly FG2-3020 (Fig. 560 in Parts
Catalogue).

Note:
If you are unsure of the result, reposition the Transfer Corona Assembly and repeat step 1) above, or alternatively
try some copies to see the effects how they will appear to the User.

3) Remove the Transfer Corona Assembly.

4) Check the shape of the front Leaf Spring FA5-1907 (key N° 16 in Fig. 350 of P.C.), and the gap
between the top edge of the Leaf Spring and the bottom face of the upper guide of the Corona
Assembly Rail Plate above it.

Note:
In a “good” machine, the gap between the top edge of the Leaf Spring and the bottom face of the upper
guide of the Corona Assembly Rail Plate above it should be 3 mm (typical).

• If necessary (displacement of Transfer Corona Assembly, copy quality defects) AND appropriate
(the gap between the top edge of the Leaf Spring and the bottom face of the upper guide of the
Corona Assembly Rail Plate (key N° 2 in Fig. 350 of P.C.) above it is greater than 3 mm), then
install the Countermeasure Spacer as detailed further in Section B.

Caution:
It might happen that – although the Transfer Corona Assembly became displaced after performing step 1
above – the gap between the top edge of the front Leaf Spring and the bottom face of the upper guide of the
Corona Assembly Rail Plate above it is less than 3 mm. If this condition occurs, it was quite probably
determined because of subjecting the feeder assembly to some mechanical solicitation beyond reasonable
limits when performing step 1.
In this case, try repeating step 1 above taking care for applying a more realistic mechanical solicitation to the
feeder assembly. This time, the Transfer Corona Assembly should not become displaced again.
COPIER -4- 1550-010

B) Installing the Countermeasure Spacer

Caution:
DO NOT install the Countermeasure Spacer on a machine where the gap between the top edge of the Leaf
Spring and the bottom face of the upper guide of the Corona Assembly Rail Plate above it is less than 3 mm.

Installing the Countermeasure Spacer (having a thickness of ~ 1.5 mm) on a machine were the gap between the
top edge of the Leaf Spring and the bottom face of the upper guide of the Corona Assembly Rail Plate above it is
less than 3 mm may not work. Doing so will result into an extra interference condition between the Leaf Spring
and the guide of the Corona Assembly Rail Plate.

Such an interference condition may either prevent snapping the spacer in place (hence forcing not to install it
properly), or – on the other hand – may prevent sliding the Transfer Corona Assembly inside the machine.

1) Remove the drum unit.

Caution:
Shade the photoconductor with some sheets of light-barrier material.

Note:
If you could exercise yourself to use your left hand, this would certainly make the job much easier.

2) Slide the Countermeasure Spacer onto the Corona Assembly Rail Plate (key N° 2 in Fig. 350 of
P.C.) while keeping it oriented along the front-rear axis of the machine, and with its hook placed
downward at your right (toward the by-pass area).

Fig. 2 – Installing the Countermeasure Spacer (Step 2)

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3) Then, begin rotating the Countermeasure Spacer 90° clockwise while pushing it rearward having
care of fitting both its ends correctly beneath the two terminals of the Leaf Spring.

Caution:
DO NOT continue until BOTH ends of the Countermeasure Spacer are placed correctly beneath the terminals of
the Leaf Spring.

If either end is laying above the corresponding terminal of the Leaf Spring, then remove the Countermeasure
Spacer at this point and repeat steps 2 and 3 above before continuing.

Fig. 3 - Installing the Countermeasure Spacer (Step 3)

4) Finally, push the Countermeasure Spacer completely rearward until looking its central hook inside
the slot located in the centre area of the Corona Assembly Rail Plate.

Fig. 4 - Installing the Countermeasure Spacer (Step 4)

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Caution:
Take care of pushing the hook of the Countermeasure Spacer WELL INSIDE the slot located in the centre area of
the Corona Assembly Rail Plate, pressing it onto the Cushion FA5-2160 (key N° 27 in Fig. 350 of P.C.), that is
cropping through the slot.

You may wish using a slot head screwdriver for pushing the Countermeasure Spacer correctly in place.

See Fig. 5 for a detail of the final and correct positioning of the Countermeasure Spacer.

Fig. 5 - Installing the Countermeasure Spacer (Caution)

C) Remounting the Machine

1) Remount the drum unit.
2) Remount the Transfer Corona Assembly.
3) Raise and lock the feeder assembly.
4) Close the front door.
5) Reconnect the power cord to the power outlet.
6) Power ON the machine.
Machine is now ready to work.

SERVICE TOOLS

Description Part Number Remarks

Slot head screwdriver FY9-1009-000 175 mm

COPIER -7- 1550-010

AFFECTED MACHINES

Potentially Affected Serial Numbers

Model NP6216

Destination From To
Canon Deutschland GmbH UCW35031 UCW50130
Canon Europa N.V. UCW37231 UCW52190
Canon France SA UCW36331 UCW48130
Canon Italia SpA UCW39261 UCW51130
Canon (UK) Ltd. QBE11891 QBE13390

Note:
All reworked machines can be identified by the Gray-Beige Dot stuck on the shipping label of the packing box.