Ink Supply Control - Ricoh C231 Service Manual

DRUM

2.5.5 INK SUPPLY CONTROL

The ink detecting pins [A] work like the electrode of a capacitor and detect the
capacitance between the detection pins and the ink [B] located on top of the doctor
[C] roller. The capacitance is different when the ink level is high and the pins touch
ink, compared to when the ink level is low and the pins do not touch ink. By
detecting the capacitance, the ink supply motor is controlled to keep the ink level
constant.
If the pins detect an insufficient amount of ink after activating the ink pump motor
for 40 seconds, a "no ink condition" is detected. The add ink indicator on the
operation panel will light.
NOTE: There is an ink supply mode, which is useful when installing a new drum.
When the "Economy Mode" key is pressed while holding down the "0" key,
the drum turns 40 rotations, to supply ink inside the drum.
The ink roller blades [D] located on both ends of the ink roller are used to scrape
off the built-up ink on the ends of the ink roller.
C231/C237/C238
[C]
[B]
2-32
C231D542.WMF
[D]
[A]
SM