9050dn Registration Roller Jam

[nedsim]

I'm getting persistent jams at the registration roller just before the image drum in a 9050dn. The roller does spin on startup and when clearing a jam, but does not start when running a print job from any of the 4 feed trays. The image drum is turning when a print job starts. So it doesn't seem to be the registration roller clutch.

Tray 4 and a duplexer are installed. No other accessories.

The control panel reads13.03.00 JAM INSIDE RIGHT DOOR. The leading edge of the jammed sheet is up against the roller, slightly accordioned and barely reachable under the flip-up inside the right door.

Self test reads 1429,0000,0000,0000. Event log page (when I am able print) reads 88 0E29 FailCode from Engine Self-Test Execution and 13.03.00 PAPER FEED 2. PAPER LATE JAM.

Thanks for any hints.

[Valsimot]

How you concluded that it isn't registration roller clutch ? I would blame it on a registration clutches like 99%.  You can easily test them with 12V, they have 2 wires, the rotate freely but when you apply 12V voltage they lock.  Remove them from registration, test them before, then they can be opened, clean them and test again for differences.

[nedsim]

Thanks for the reply.

The roller turns when the printer is warming up and when clearing the paper path after a jam. The roller does not seem to even try to turn when starting a normal print cycle even though the toner cartridge is turning.

Do you know when the clutch is supposed to engage when starting a print job?

The jam problem started all of a sudden -- it did not start gradually and get worse over time. Since the problem started I've been able to print a couple pages, but the jam happens at least 9 times out of 10.

Thanks for the info on checking the clutch. I didn't want to remove the registration assembly without knowing how to test the clutch.

Do the error codes help at all? I couldn't find the '88 0E29' or 1429 codes in the service manual or online.

[Valsimot]

The toner cartridge is turning with separate motor nothing to do with registration assembly. Just remove the 2 clutches on registration, test them with 12 V, you will see how they operate ( rotate ) with and without applied voltage.  If you rotate the outside gear it will rotate freely, when you apply voltage and rotate the outside gear the inner part of clutch starts to rotate too. They might be opened and cleaned, they can be sticky, test them after cleaning to see is there difference in operation.

The purpose of them is to stop and to start paper feed rollers rotating. When the printer engine is turning the rollers are not turning, the rollers engage in turning with the engine only when electronics ( DC board) applies voltage signal to the clutch. The clutch engages with the rest of the engine rotation and paper feed rollers start to rotate.

[nedsim]

I removed the registration assembly and tested the clutches. They both turn freely with no voltage and lock up solidly with voltage on. The current draw agrees with the labels on the clutches. All the gears in both the assembly and the mating gears in the printer frame are in good shape and the rollers turn freely. I'm thinking something (a sensor?) is preventing the control logic from turning on the clutch at the proper time? Any more suggestions before I reassemble everything and I hope I get lucky? Thanks again for your help.

[Valsimot]

They might lock solidly when removed, you need to take into consideration that the inner rotating part is under the force of feed rollers and then a large force is applied when the engine rotates. The clutches get sticky or slips, but not every time, so paper jams on the 9th page not on the 1st. if it was anything sensor-related you would get a jam on 1st printed page.

[nedsim]

I tested the clutches both on and off the roller shafts. When installed on the shafts it was impossible to make them slip with as much torque as I dared to apply.

I also disassembled the clutches.  They were very clean inside. No oil, grease, dust or wear on the clutch plates. I wiped the plates off with a little isopropyl and reinstalled them in the reg assembly.

After reassembling the printer it behaves exactly as before. The only other thing that occurs to me is to check that the control board is delivering full voltage to the clutch. Not sure when I'll get time to do that.