How to set the IP address for a Ricoh Aficio MP 4001/5001 copier

To print to and scan from a multifunction copier on a TCP/IP network, the copier will need an IP address.  Some networks will use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to assign the IP address to the copier, but if you want the copier to keep its IP address permanently, you can manually assign it an address yourself.  This assignment can be done from a computer, using Ricoh's Web Image Monitor, or it can be done directly from the copier itself.

The instructions below explain how to assign an IPv4 address directly from the copier's operation panel.

🛈 These instructions also apply to other similar Aficio models, such as the MP 3500, MP 4500, MP 4000, and MP 5000, as well as some color-capable machines like the MP C3500, MP C4500, MP C4000, and MP C5000.

🛈 The copier's default gateway can be set in the same manner as the IP address; just select IPv4 Gateway Address from the Interface Settings tab instead of Machine IPv4 Address.

🛈 If the copier has a paper jam or is out of toner, you may not be able to access any settings until the condition has been fixed.

⚠ Before assigning an IP address to the copier, ensure that the specific address is not in use by another device, otherwise a connection conflict will occur.

1. Go into the System Settings menu

With the copier on and ready, press the User Tools/Counter button in the upper left corner of the operation panel.  When the User Tools menu appears, tap System Settings.

2. Go to the IP address settings

On the System Settings screen there will be a row of tabs toward the top of the screen.  Tap the tab labeled Interface Settings.  Then tap Machine IPv4 Address.

3. Disable DHCP

To manually enter an IP address, DHCP will have to be turned off.  There are two buttons toward the top of the screen -- Auto-Obtain (DHCP) and Specify.  If Specify is the highlighted button, then DHCP is already off.  If Specify is not highlighted, tap it to highlight it.

4. Enter the IP address

Below the DHCP settings, there is a line that says "Machine IPv4 Address" followed by a series of numbers.  Tap Change to the right of the numbers, then type in the IP address that you want to use.  After every three digits that you type, the cursor will automatically move to the next octet (set of three numbers) in the address.  If you type just one digit for an octet (such as "1" instead of "001") then you'll need to manually advance to the next octet by tapping the right arrow button on the screen.

Once you've entered the IP address, tap the onscreen pound (#) button or press the pound button on the keypad.

5. Enter the subnet mask

Enter the subnet mask the same way you entered the IP address: tap Change after Subnet Mask, enter the address, then press the pound button.  If you don't know what subnet mask to use, contact your network administrator.

6. Save the new IP address

Once you've entered both the IP address and subnet mask, tap OK in the upper right corner to save the information.  If you exit out of this screen without pressing OK, the new settings will not be saved.

7. Exit out of User Tools

Press the Exit button in the upper right corner of the screen to exit the System Settings menu, then press it again to exit User Tools.  After a few moments the new IP address should take effect; you can verify this by pinging the copier from a computer, or by trying to print to it.  If the new IP address does not take effect, turn the copier completely off and then turn it back on again.  (To turn it off, press the power button on the right side of the operation panel, wait for the screen to go dark and the green light to stop flashing, and then flip the orange power switch on the lower left side of the front of the copier.)

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to find the IP address for a Konica Minolta bizhub 368e copier

To view the IP address for a Konica Minolta bizhub 368e multifunction printer that's connected to a network:

- Tap Utility on the home screen (near the bottom)
- Tap Device Information

The IP address (IPv4 and/or IPv6) will be displayed on-screen.

How to change the paper size on a Ricoh Aficio 3035 / 3045

Many of the older lower-volume Ricoh copiers use the same basic system for setting the paper size in a paper tray.  There is a dial located either in the front or the back of the tray, and depending on where you set the dial, the system looks for that size paper.  If the dial is set wrong, the copier will jam.

On a Ricoh Aficio 3035 or 3045, the paper dial is located in the back left section of the paper tray.  If you have four paper trays on your copier, each tray will have its own dial.  (Other Ricoh Aficio models that are set up the same way include the 350, 450, 1035, 1045, 2035, and 2045.)  The paper dial is just a green plastic wheel with several common paper sizes and orientations, and it must be set correctly depending on what size paper you have loaded in the tray.  The paper size that shows through the little cut out in the back of the tray is the size that is currently selected.

If you are using a special size paper that isn't shown on the dial, set the dial to the asterisk (*) to signify a non-standard paper size, and you can specify the exact page size in the copier's user settings.  To get to the paper size settings, press the User Tools/Counter button on the operation panel, then on the touch screen select System Settings.  Go to the Tray Paper Settings Tab.  There will be a button labeled Tray Paper Size: Tray 1, as well as additional buttons for each paper tray that the machine has.  Touch the button for the tray you are using, and choose the paper size from the list that appears.  (You can scroll down to see more sizes.)

If the size you are looking for is not represented, press the Custom button, and you can input the paper dimensions manually.  Use the number pad to enter the width and length in inches, and press OK to save your selection.

Any time you change the paper size or orientation (for example, if you change from 8.5" x 11" portrait to 8.5" x 11" landscape) you have to change the dial as well, to let the copier know what dimensions to look for when it feeds the paper through.  If you try to run copies with the wrong paper size selected, the machine will detect timing errors and show a paper jam.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, July 2010)

(Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay)

Tips for loading toner in a Ricoh MP 2550 or MP 3350 copier

Ricoh manufactures a broad range of multifunction office machines.  The MP 2550 and MP 3350 are essentially the same copier, just with different processing speeds.  (25 copies per minute and 33 copies per minute, respectively.)  Both are good low-volume copiers for a home business or a small office.  Like their predecessors, replacing any of the consumables (toner, photoconductor, staples, or paper) is a simple task.

Loading toner is something you will have to do quite a few times over the life of the machine, but once you've done it the first time it's a piece of cake.  The new toner should come with installation instructions, but this article will walk you through installing new toner in your MP 2550 or MP 3350 copier.

The first thing you should always do is make sure you have the right toner.  Depending on where you ordered your toner from, you might have been shipped toner for a different copier by mistake, and they are not compatible.  The correct toner for both the MP 2550 and MP 3350 is type 2120D -- this number should be printed on the toner bottle.

Each toner bottle comes with a large black screw-off cap.  This outer cap gets removed; the inner cap (much smaller and gray) stays on.  Removing the inner cap before installing the toner can cause a huge mess and wreak havoc on your machine.

To remove the old toner bottle, open the copier's front door (the main cover in the front of the machine with the Ricoh label on it).  Lift up -- gently -- on the green toner handle, and then push down on the green lever to the left-hand side of the toner unit.  The toner hopper (the tray that the toner bottle rests on) should pop out.

Remove the old bottle, and be sure that the inner cap (the gray one) is still attached.  Occasionally this cap can come loose and remain in the toner hopper, causing problems when the new toner bottle is installed.

If you haven't already, remove the black screw-off cap from the new toner bottle.  Set the bottle on the toner tray with the top of the bottle facing toward you (away from the machine).  Slowly push the toner hopper all the way in, until the green lever on the left side snaps into place.  Gently push down on the toner handle until it, too, locks in place.

Once you close the front door, the machine will cycle the toner.  If there was previously a low toner or no toner message displayed on the screen, the copier will now load the new toner, which may take a couple of minutes.  Once the toner has been loaded, your copier is ready to use again.

These tips also apply to older copiers in the same family -- the Ricoh Aficio 1022, 1027, 2022, 2027, 2510, 3010, 3025, and 3030.  All of these copiers use the same toner (type 2120D) and it is installed in exactly the same way.  Each toner bottle is rated to last about 11,000 copies, but of course this depends on what you are copying -- how much text or image fill appears on each page, what size paper you are using, etc.

If you are having trouble installing the toner bottle, call your local service provider to see if they can walk you through the installation over the phone.  You can also visit Ricoh's Support and Downloads web page to download the product manual for your MP 2550 or MP 3350, if you don't already have it.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, 2010)

(Disclaimer: I earn a commission on Amazon sales made from links in this post.)

How to change the output trays for a Ricoh Aficio MP 5500 copier

A typical Ricoh Aficio MP 5500 copier (as well as the other copiers in the series -- the MP 6500 and MP 7500) has two options for paper output -- the finisher upper tray and the finisher shift tray.  Some MP 5500s are purchased without finishers; for these machines the only option for paper output is the plastic copy tray that hangs off the left side of the copier.

For stapled, sorted, or stacked jobs, the paper must exit out of the finisher shift tray, because of the paper path.  However, for other copy jobs -- and for jobs printed from a computer or from the document server -- the user can specify which tray they want the paper to be sent to.

When the MP 5500 is first set up, the output trays are not designated, and all output (except for stapled or collated jobs) defaults to the finisher upper tray (if a finisher is installed).  If you had previously designated output trays and then for some reason you disconnected the finisher and turned the copier on, the output tray selections would be erased, and you would have to re-enter them.

The output trays can be set up or changed through the copier's configuration settings.  To get to the output tray selections, press the User Tools/Counter button (to the left of the display) and then on the touch screen select System Settings.  The first tab is "General Features" (it should be the active one) and on the right side of the screen you should see options labeled "Output: Copier" and "Output: Document Server."  (If you have the print function installed, you'll also see an option for "Output: Printer.")

Pressing any of these choices will bring up the tray selection for that function.  If your copier doesn't have a finisher, "Copy Tray" will be the only option you can choose.  If the copier does have a finisher, you'll see options for "Finisher Upper Tray" and "Finisher Shift Tray," and "Copy Tray" will be grayed out.

To make a selection for one or more of the functions, choose that function, press the appropriate choice for the output tray that you want to use, and then press OK.  You can have all of the functions output to the same tray, or you can set the trays up any way you want.

You can use the same process to change output trays on other similar families of Ricoh copiers -- the 2051/2060/2075 series and the MP 6000/7000/8000 series, among others.  You can change the output trays any time you want, except when the copier is in the middle of a job; it won't let you into the System Settings screen while it's running.  Some error codes will also prevent you from accessing System Settings.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, 2010)

(Image by Crea Park from Pixabay)

How to change the hole punch mode on a Ricoh Aficio 2075 copier

The Ricoh Aficio 2075 copier, when used with a finisher that has a punch unit installed, can make hole punched copies with either two or three holes.  To choose the hole punch option (assuming the punch unit has already been installed) just click the Punch icon on the lower right corner of the Copy screen before making your copies.

However, even though the punch unit is capable of punching either two or three holes, it is not always set up to do both.  Some users may not even be aware that it has that ability.  You can change the punch mode from three holes to two holes, or vice versa, or enable both modes, from within the copier's User Tools.  (This article also applies to the Ricoh Aficio 2051 and Aficio 2060 copiers.)

To change the punch mode, click the User Tools button on the operation panel.  On the menu that appears on the touch screen, select Copier/Document Server Features.  Go to the Input/Output tab, and scroll down to the next page (page 2 of 2).  Touch the button on the left side of the screen labeled Select Punch Type.

You'll see two different buttons appear -- one for two-hole punch and one for three-hole punch.  You can select either one of these, or both of them; the option or options that are highlighted will be enabled.  You can also de-select both options if you don't want the hole punch option to appear on the main Copy screen.

Once you've made your selection and pressed OK, exit out of the User Tools menu and go back to the Copy screen to verify that the changes were saved.  If you've only enabled one of the two hole punch modes, the mode that you selected -- either two- or three-hole punch -- should appear under the Punch section of the screen.  If you selected both modes, only one will show up on the main screen, but when you touch the Punch button, both options will pop up and you can choose the one you want.

Note that not all paper types and orientations will work with both hole punch modes.  For example, you can't use three-hole punch mode when copying onto legal-sized (8.5" x 14") paper, because there is not enough room on the paper for all three holes.  If the paper size you're using and the punch mode you've chosen are incompatible, a message will flash across the screen and you'll have to make another selection.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, 2010)

(Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay)

How to change the paper type on a Ricoh Aficio MP 3500

People use all sorts of paper in their photocopiers, from super-thin, almost see-through paper to heavy-duty cardstock and transparency sheets.  Unfortunately, when you load a new kind of paper in the copier's paper tray or paper bank, it doesn't automatically know how thick, how rigid, or how smooth that paper is.  When you use anything other than ordinary copy paper or multipurpose paper, you should make sure to set the paper type in the copier's settings, for maximum performance and operation.

To set the paper type on a Ricoh Aficio MP 3500 or MP 4500 multifunction device, press the User Tools/Counter button on the copier's operation panel.  Then, on the touch screen, select System Settings.  A row of tabs will appear; choose the one labeled Tray Paper Settings.

The page of options that you'll see now is for changing paper sizes -- you can disregard these settings unless you have specially-sized paper in one of the trays and you've set the paper dial to the asterisk (*).  Touch the button in the lower right corner to scroll down to the next page.

Here you will see your paper type settings for your two standard paper trays and your bypass tray, as well as any additional paper trays or large capacity trays you may have installed.  Select the tray you want to change.

The screen that appears gives you all the paper types you can choose from, from plain paper (no display) to cardstock, bond, or recycled paper.  These choices will show up on the main Copy screen, so you can see what kind of paper is loaded in each tray, but they can also help the copier run better if it knows what it's looking for.  Using darkly-colored paper, for example, may result in jams if the copier thinks it's looking for white paper to pass through and it doesn't see it.

If the paper you are using is very thick and doesn't bend easily, you may want to disable duplex copying from that tray, so that no one uses it by accident.  Trying to run double-sided copies on very thick paper often doesn't work because the paper can't make the turns necessary to go through the duplex unit.

Once you've made your selections, press the OK button to save the changes.  When you exit out to the main Copy screen, the tray you changed should display the paper type below the paper size.

If you are using the copier as a printer too, you'll have to make the same paper type selections in the printer driver, otherwise you'll get a paper mismatch error every time you try to print from that tray.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, 2010)

(Image by Oliver Kugland from Pixabay)

How to reduce paper jams in your copier or printer

Everyone who uses a copier or printer on a regular basis has probably experienced a paper jam at least once.  And anyone who has had to deal with a paper jam probably didn't enjoy the experience.  Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce the frequency of paper jams (which can increase productivity as well as office morale).

1. Keep paper sealed as long as possible

If you don't use a high volume of paper on a regular basis, put enough paper in the copier to last for a day or so, and keep the rest your paper sealed up in its package.  Paper that sits in an opened package, or sits out on a shelf, is more prone to atmospheric conditions and will probably cause more paper jams.  Especially in damp or humid environments, keeping your paper sealed up can help your copier or printer to run more efficiently.

2. Fan and flip

If the paper is jamming and it feels damp or has an obvious curl to it, take the paper out of the tray and fan it out, then put it back in upside down to reverse the direction of the curl.  Curled paper can often have a hard time making it through the twists and turns inside a copier, so if your paper is curly and it is in the direction to be fed long edge first (portrait) try turning it so the short edge is fed in first (landscape) which will help it travel through the machine better.  (Be sure to also adjust the paper guides and fences in the tray, and if the copier or printer requires you to set the paper size, change it to the appropriate setting.)

3. Check the paper size settings

Some copiers have an auto-detect feature which allows them to automatically sense the size and orientation of the paper.  If your copier does not have auto detect, make sure that each paper tray is set for the right dimensions.  A wrong paper size setting can cause jams as the sensors don't see paper when they think they should, or they see paper when they don't expect to.

4. Use the right kind of paper for your machine

Some paper is designed specifically for laser or inkjet printers, and this should be stated on the package.  Using inkjet paper in a laser printer can cause jamming, as well as cause damage to the internal components.  Also be sure not to use paper that is too thick, too thin, or too heavy for your machine.  The copier's specifications can usually be found in the user guide, or online at the manufacturer's web site.

🛈 Certain types of paper, such as bargain or discount paper and recycled paper, are more prone to jamming than high-quality copier paper.

5. Take care when loading paper

Be gentle when loading paper into the paper tray.  The paper on the bottom of the stack can easily become bent when you slide it in, causing the paper stack to sit at an angle and not feed into the machine properly.

6. Watch out for static

Static electricity can build up in a stack of paper, causing individual sheets to stick together.  When the paper is picked up by the rollers, two or more sheets fed through together will almost always cause a paper jam, which can sometimes be hard to remove.  If your paper has a lot of static and sticks together, replace it with paper from a fresh ream.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to fix the DHCP connection error on a Ricoh copier

These days, office copy machines are more often used as multifunction printers (MFPs) than stand-alone copiers.  However, if your copier is not connected to a network, it may flash this DHCP error in the lower left corner of the display screen:

Cannot connect with DHCP server. (101)

Contact the administrator.

Although that message doesn't necessarily indicate that something is "wrong" with the copier, you can easily clear it by following the steps below.  This guide was written for modern Ricoh MP series copiers; for older Ricoh copiers without a color touch screen, the basic fix is the same but some of the tabs and buttons may be labeled differently.

Please note: If the copier is connected to your local network, contact your network administrator before changing any network settings.

• Press the User Tools button on the copier's operation panel (typically located to the upper left of the display screen).
• On the touch screen, tap System Settings (in the upper left corner of the screen).
• The System Settings section is broken into tabs; tap the Interface Settings tab.  (On older copiers, this tab may be called Host Interface.)
• Tap Machine IPv4 Address.
• There are two options here: Auto-Obtain (DHCP) and Specify.  (The first option should be the active one.)  Tap Specify to turn off DHCP, so the copier won't try to obtain an IP address.
• It doesn't matter what IP address you specify, since the copier isn't connected to a network.
• Tap OK to save the change.
• Press the User Tools button again to exit out of the menu.

The DHCP error message should disappear within a few moments.  If it doesn't, turn the copier off and then back on and it will go away.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to adjust color registration on a Ricoh MP series color copier

The Ricoh MP series color copiers (such as the MP C3300, MP C4500, or MP C2550) all put out good-quality color copies and prints.  However, since the copiers use a different drum for each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) the different colors can get out of alignment with each other occasionally.  If you notice that some of the colors don't line up correctly when printing a color image, you can usually fix this problem easily by running the color registration adjustment.

1. Go into User Tools

Press the User Tools button on the copier's operation panel (typically located to the upper left of the display screen).

2. Go to Maintenance

From the choices that appear, select Maintenance by pressing it on the touch screen.

3. Choose Color Registration

You'll see two options on the Maintenance menu.  Choose the second one, Color Registration.

4. Confirm your choice

A message will appear asking you to confirm that you want to adjust the color registration.  Press OK.

5. Wait

The color registration adjustment takes a little while to complete.  Once it has finished, you'll be returned to the Maintenance menu.

6. Exit out of the menu

Press the User Tools button to exit out of the menu.

7. Verify that the alignment is fixed

Make a color copy to confirm that the color alignment has been corrected.  If the colors still aren't lined up, or if the color registration adjustment fails, contact your service technician.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

Tools every copier technician should have

Any copier technician should already have a toolbag full of screwdrivers, pliers, and various other tools.  However, if you're compiling a standard list for new techs, or if you're putting together your own set of tools, here are the tools that every copier technician should have:

• Screwdrivers (magnetized): At least one large Phillips screwdriver, one small Phillips screwdriver, one flathead screwdriver, and one tweaker (very thin flathead screwdriver).  If you can get screwdrivers with detachable heads and extra bits, do it.

• Phillips screwdriver (non-magnetized): For working on circuit boards.

• Nut driver (magnetized): If you work on machines that use a lot of hex-head screws (like Ricoh copiers).

• Magnetizer: For re-energizing magnetic screwdrivers.  (Old solenoids make great magnetizers, if your company won't buy you one.)

• Pliers: At least a pair of needle-nose pliers, a pair of slip-joint pliers, and a pair of diagonal (cutting) pliers.  If you work with snap rings at all, a pair of snap ring pliers (aka retaining ring pliers) is a necessity.

• Spring hook: For removing and attaching springs.

• Captive spring hook: For removing and attaching tiny springs, or springs in hard to reach places.

• Flashlight: The insides of a copier can be very dark.

• Multimeter: A voltmeter can be substituted, but a multimeter will allow you to check the continuity of electrical components such as lamps and fuses.

• Ruler/millimeter scale: For measuring gaps, alignment, or skew.  If the ruler/scale is metal, it can also be used to scrape toner off of metal cleaning rollers.

• Tweezers: For retrieving springs, clips, and paper scraps from hard to reach places.

• Cleaning agents: Alcohol, D-Ink, and some sort of rubber rejuvenator will all come in handy.

• Rags/cloths: Oil rags are great for general cleaning of machine covers and guides, and lint-free cloths work well on more sensitive areas (such as photoconductors or mirrors).

• Scouring pad: For scraping built-up toner off of metal rollers.

• Lubricant: Oil and grease are both good to have, depending on what you are lubricating.

• Setting powder: For drum surfaces or any belts that require powder to be applied.

• Laptop or tablet: For looking up manuals, parts guides, and service bulletins, and for downloading firmware or print drivers. You can use a smartphone in a pinch, but finding part numbers or tracing an electrical circuit on a phone's small screen will get old very quickly.

• Plastic bags (not grocery bags): for emptying waste toner or developer.

In addition to the tools on this list, there are probably other tools you'll want to carry, depending on what you're used to, what machines you work on, and what problems you commonly see.  Some other tools that can be nice to have if you have the space (and the budget) are a soldering iron, a level, superglue, a set of thick gloves (for handling fusers) and a set of hex keys.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, Sept 2009 in shorter form - updated)

Where to find the product code sticker on a Ricoh copier or printer

When Ricoh introduces a new copier or printer, it gives the machine two separate identifiers: a product name (such as Aficio 2035e) and a product code (like B135).  The product name is what most people know the machine by, and is typically all you'd ever need.  However, in some instances -- such as when contacting Ricoh directly for either parts or support -- it can be helpful to know the product code.  The product code will almost always be four characters long -- one letter followed by three numbers.

Just about every Ricoh copier and printer has a silver or gray sticker somewhere on it that lists the product name, product code, and that machine's serial number (along with other information).  The sticker can come in handy, for example if the label with the machine's name has come off the front and you don't know what kind of copier or printer it is, or if you need to get the serial number and the machine won't turn on.  It is also an easy way to find out the machine's product code (though you can also usually look that up online if you know the product name).

The product code stickers appear in different places on different copiers, and they can sometimes be difficult to find.  Here are the locations of the product stickers for many Ricoh models:

• On many of the high-volume copiers, such as the Aficio MP9000/1100/1350 series or the Pro 906EX/1106EX/1356EX series, the sticker can be found by opening the right front door.  It will be on the plastic frame cover facing out.

• On the Ricoh Aficio MP4000 and MP5000 copiers, as well as on the newer MP4001 and MP5001, the product sticker can be found on the rear of the machine, in the bottom left corner of the rear cover (close to the finisher, if there is one installed).

• On the 55 to 80 copy-per-minute machines such as the Aficio MP6000/7000/8000 series or MP6001/7001/8001 series, as well as their color counterparts like the MP C6501 and MP C7501, the product sticker is hidden by the bypass tray on the right side of the copier.  You have to pull open the bypass tray to see the sticker, which faces out to the right.

• On low-volume models like the Aficio MP2550 and MP3350 (and on the older machines in the same family) the sticker is on the rear cover, close to the center and toward the lower half of the copier.

• On the Aficio MP C2030, MP C2050, and MP C2550 color series, the product sticker is located on the rear cover of the machine, in the lower left corner.  (When looking at it from the back, it's in the lower right corner.)

• On the wide format Ricoh FW780 printer, the product code sticker is on the rear left side of the machine.

If your model isn't listed here, there's a good chance you can find the sticker somewhere on the back of the copier or printer.  Ricoh accessories (document feeders, bridge units, duplex units, etc.) also have their own product code stickers.  They will vary in location as well, but are typically easier to spot.  On many Ricoh finishers, the sticker can be found by opening the finisher's front door and looking either at the very top of the inside of the finisher, or the very bottom.  If it's not there, it's probably underneath one of the finisher's exit trays, viewable from the left side of the machine.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, Sept 2010)

How to fix lines when copying or scanning from the document feeder

One of the most common problems on a copier, printer or scanner is lines on the output. There are various reasons for lines to appear, and by narrowing down the potential sources of the problem you can usually figure out a way to fix it. For example, if the lines don't go all the way to the edge of the page (stopping a fraction of an inch away) then the problem most likely lies with the machine's optics/scanning section, rather than any of the printing components.

If the lines appear when you are copying or scanning from the document feeder, but not when you place the original on the glass, then the problem is most likely dirt on the slit glass. The slit glass is the small strip of glass located next to the larger platen glass. Depending on your copier model, the slit glass may be located to the left or right of the platen glass.

For most copiers, you can clean the slit glass with alcohol and a lint-free rag, but check your device's manual first. If alcohol cannot be used, a dry lint-free rag will often remove the offending dirt. The slit glass gets dirty easily -- from paper dust, other dust in the air, or (not uncommonly) correction fluid (i.e. Wite-Out).

More often than not, cleaning the slit glass will remove the lines. (It may take a couple of passes with the rag.) If after cleaning the slit glass the lines remain, there are two likely sources of the problem:

• The underside of the slit glass (the side you can't get to without removing the glass) is dirty.
• There is dust on one of the mirrors, or somewhere else in the optics section.

For either of those problems, it's recommended to call a trained service technician. Exposing or adjusting the optics section can cause other issues.

How to get into service mode on a Ricoh Aficio copier or printer

NOTE: Before entering service mode, be very careful not to adjust any values that you are not familiar with.  You can take down the whole copier just by changing a few numbers or settings.  It's best to have a Ricoh-trained technician adjust any service mode settings.


For most modern Ricoh copiers (i.e. Aficio MP 6003):

To enter service mode, press the yellow Reset button, then 8-0-6-1-8-2.  Then hold down the red Clear/Stop button for about 5 seconds.  The screen will shift to a menu.  Select the first option in the menu: System/Copy SP Mode.


For most Ricoh copiers older than an "03" model (i.e. Aficio MP 4002):

To enter service mode, press the yellow Clear button, then 1-0-7.  Then hold down the red Stop button for about 5 seconds.  The screen will shift to a menu.  Select the first option in the menu: System/Copy SP Mode.


For most Ricoh printers without a number pad (i.e. SP 4310):

To enter service mode, hold down the up and down arrow buttons at the same time, for about 5 or 6 seconds, then release them and press the Enter button.

How to save a file to the Document Server on a Ricoh copier

The Document Server on a Ricoh copier allows you to save files directly to the copier's hard drive.  This feature can be handy for things that you have to print out often, such as forms or cover sheets.

To save a document to the Document Server on a Ricoh copier or multifunction printer:

- Press the Document Server button
- Select Go to Scanning Screen
- Place your document on the glass or in the document feeder
- Choose any settings that you want to change (color, two-sided, etc.)
- Press the Start button

Before storing a document, make sure that the Auto Delete function has been disabled; otherwise, your document will be deleted after a certain number of days.  This easy guide will show you how to check the Auto Delete function and turn it off if it's not off already:

- How to disable the Auto Delete function on a Ricoh copier’s Document Server

How to view the IP address for a Konica Minolta bizhub 224e / 284e / 364e / 454e / 554e copier

To see the IP address for a Konica Minolta bizhub 224e, 284e, 364e, 454e, or 554e multifunction printer that's connected to a network:

- Tap Utility on the home screen (near the bottom)
- Tap Device Information

The IP address (IPv4 and/or IPv6) will be displayed on-screen.

How to color calibrate a Sharp MX series MFP

On a color copier, making sure that the colors are calibrated correctly can go a long way toward maintaining or increasing print quality.  The process for calibrating color copiers varies greatly, but on many of the Sharp MX series color copiers, it is an easy task to complete, and it can mitigate or prevent poor color density.

There are two parts to color-calibrating a Sharp MX series copier or multifunction printer.  There is the color calibration process for the copier and the color calibration setting for the printer engine.  Both should be done to complete the calibration procedure.  (The exact steps may vary by model.)

Ledger-sized paper (11" x 17") will be required to run the calibration check, one sheet for each calibration.

Copier Color Calibration:
- Press the System Settings button
- Tap Copy Settings
- Tap Color Adjustments
- Tap Auto Color Calibration
- Tap Execute

The following message will be displayed: "Please Wait. Print quality is being automatically adjusted."

The calibration page will print out.  Place it on the scanner glass.  (If you orient it incorrectly, the machine will let you know.)  Tap Execute.  A message will be displayed to let you know whether the calibration process completed successfully.

Printer Color Calibration:
- Press the System Settings button
- Scroll down to Printer Settings and tap it
- Select Auto Color Calibration
- Tap Execute

The following message will be displayed: "Please Wait. Print quality is being automatically adjusted."

The calibration page will print out.  Place it on the scanner glass.  (If you orient it incorrectly, the machine will let you know.)  Tap Execute.  A message will be displayed to let you know whether the calibration process completed successfully.


If you are asked for an administrator password after pressing the System Settings button, contact your machine administrator.

The date of the last successful color calibration is stored in the machine, and can be checked by printing out a configuration page.

How to avoid the Load Extra Paper error on a Sharp MX series copier

If you're printing to a Sharp MX series copier and you're seeing the "Load Extra Paper" error (the exact wording varies on some models; it may say "Load A4 Paper") it's not because the copier is out of paper.  The document you are trying to print is either sized incorrectly, or its size does not match the size of any paper that's currently loaded in the copier.

To avoid this error, you can check document size before you print and make sure that you have the correct size paper loaded in the copier.  However, sometimes a document will be sized incorrectly, such as 8.5" x 11.35" instead of 8.5" x 11", so it won't match any standard paper sizes.  This often happens with documents emailed from other people or documents downloaded from the Internet.

In these cases, you can "force" the copier to print your document on paper that's a similar size by using the "Fit to Page" option.  The "Fit to Page" option tells the copier to scale the document down (or up) so that it fits onto a paper size that is currently in use by the copier, so the document can print out without generating an error message.

To enable "Fit to Page" on a Windows computer using the Sharp PCL6 print driver:

- When you choose the option to print your document, select Printer Properties (or Preferences on some computers) in the print dialog box
- Click on the Paper tab
- Select Fit to Page
- Select OK
- Select Print

Before enabling "Fit to Page" if you get the "Load Extra Paper" error, you can either manually choose a paper size to print on, or you can delete the current print job, enable "Fit to Page", and print the document again.  To cancel the current print job:

- Select Job Status
- Select the print job to cancel, if there are multiple jobs listed
- Select Stop/Delete
- Select Yes

How to optimize the hard drive for a Sharp MX series copier

Like computers, copiers and printers have internal hard drives to store data.  Over time, these hard drives get cluttered and need to be cleaned up to perform at optimum levels.  On a Sharp copier, you can defragment the hard drive by using the "optimization" feature.

Follow the steps below to optimize the hard drive for a Sharp MX series copier.  You won't lose any stored data when you optimize the hard drive, but any current or pending jobs will be deleted.

- Press the System Settings button.  (If admin controls are enabled, you may need an administrative password to get into the system settings.)
- Tap Device Control.
- Tap Other Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Execute next to "Optimization of a Hard Disk."
- Tap Yes.

The process will typically take just a couple of minutes, but may take longer if the hard drive is extremely fragmented.  Upon completion, the copier will automatically reboot.

The steps above were written specifically for the MX-M283N / MX-M363N / MX-M453N / MX-M503N family.  The wording will be similar, if not identical, for other copiers in the MX series.  Some MX copiers won't have the Other Settings menu, for example; the hard drive optimization option will be directly under the Device Control menu.

How to cancel a print job or copy job on a Sharp MX-M550N / MX-M620N / MX-M700N multifunction printer

Sometimes when you are copying or printing, you may need to cancel the current job, or a pending job.  For print jobs, you can often cancel them from your computer (depending on whether or not the job has already been sent to the printer) but for copy jobs you typically have to cancel them directly from the device itself.  Below are instructions for canceling a copy or print job from a Sharp MX-M550N, MX-M620N, or MX-M700N multifunction copier.

- Press the Job Status button
- Select the job you wish to cancel
- Select Stop/Delete on the touch screen
- Select Yes to confirm your choice