ITB Cleaning Blade Not Properly Latched (Can Also Cause 59.AO Error) or Nicked

59 = Printer detects a motor that has failed to turn at speed.

A = ITB motor rotation error

0 = no color

Often a 59.A0 error can be caused by incorrect seating of the cleaning blade, which causes the ITB (intermediate transfer belt) to bind and stall the ITB motor. With the 59.A0 error indicating the ITB motor stall, suspect the motor, the linkage, the drive assembly to the ITB, the ITB itself, or the blade seating. The ITB lift mechanism and the T2 assembly should be considered as well. The problem will be with one of these components, but most often so far, the problem is resolved by reseating the ITB cleaning blade by lowering and then raising the green ITB lever.

If the ITB cleaning blade is not latched properly, it is possible for it to cause enough drag on the ITB to generate a 59.A0 error (ITB motor error).

An ITB cleaning blade or ITB that has been used considerably past life recommendations can cause 59.A0 errors. The ITB cleaning blade can get bent into a backward "J" shape as the ITB runs underneath it. It then creates enough drag to possibly cause a Registration Roller Motor, or ITB Motor Abnormal error. (Also, see 59.A0 notes in service manual.) Blade tucks seem to be more common when image drums, cleaning blade, and ITB are all new. Also, they are more common at 30C/80% Relative Humidity (high temperature/high humidity). Some blade tuck events cause a 59.A0 error before a page is printed (new printer). In this case, check the image on the ITB. The following three figures are examples of print quality defects from the ITB cleaning blade not being latched properly.

Figure 1: ITB cleaning blade nicked or unlatched

Figure 2: ITB cleaning blade not properly latched

Figure 3: Another example of ITB cleaner not latched

Print Quality Defect descriptions

Can appear as brown or dark streaks of toner in feed direction. May repeat, but not on every page (ITB variable frequency). Sometimes worse at start of job.

Can appear as a faint ghost image or streaks across the whole page. If the printer calibrates, the calibration patches are apparent on printed pages as shown in the above examples.

The last two examples shown above have calibration marks that were not cleaned off due to the ITB cleaner not being latched properly.

Open the front-left door.

Remove the toner collection bottle without moving the handle. If the blade is not latched correctly, it will fall slightly when the bottle is removed. Check for this movement to determine if the blade was latched correctly.

Lower the blade, remove and reinstall it in the printer.

To correctly latch the blade in place, lift the blade up with your right hand and then push it to the right with your left hand. When installed correctly:

The blade should make a click sound when it is installed

The blue handle on the blade will be parallel with the blue handles for the print cartridges (toner-cartridges).

The toner collection bottle will fit over the blade's blue handle without holding the blade in place.

Reinstall the toner collection bottle and shut the printer's front door.

Print the PQ Troubleshooting pages to verify the issue is resolved. It may take several pages to clean the ITB before the images printed are clear.

In rare cases, a new ITB (intermediate transfer belt) will be needed to resolve the issue.

ITB Cleaner Assembly

RG5-6041-000CN

ITB (Intermediate Transfer Belt) *

RG5-6180-030CN*

Repair and replacement instructions

Open the front-left door.

Remove the toner collection bottle without moving the handle. If the blade is not latched correctly, it will fall slightly when the bottle is removed. Check for this movement to determine if the blade was latched correctly.

Lower the blade, remove and reinstall it in the printer.

To correctly latch the blade in place, lift the blade up with your right hand and then push it to the right with your left hand. When installed correctly:

The blade should make a click sound when it is installed

The blue handle on the blade will be parallel with the blue handles for the print cartridges (toner cartridges).

The toner collection bottle will fit over the blade's blue handle without holding the blade in place.

Reinstall the toner collection bottle and shut the printer's front door.

Print the PQ Troubleshooting pages to verify the issue is resolved. It may take several pages to clean the ITB before the images printed are clear.

If the above troubleshooting has not resolved the issue, then replace the ITB cleaning blade with a new one.

In rare cases, a new ITB (intermediate transfer belt) will be needed to resolve the issue.

© 2005 Hewlett-Packard