Copier
Color Calibration procedures
For
MX2300/MX2700/MX4501
Color Imagers
Courtesy of the Sharp Technical
competency center.
Preparation
The following conditions must be met before
performing color calibration:
ADJ5 (ID Sensor/Registration Sensor) Simulation 4413 Using Jig, and Simulation 44-2 (No Jig required).
ADJ6 (LSU Skew) Simulation 61-04.
ADJ7 (Drum Phase/Image Registration) Simulation
50-22 (Select ALL, SM, page 6-11)
User Color Balance set to default (Special Modes).
46-1,46-2 set to default. (SM, page 7-65)
44-1 all settings set to default (SM, page 7-51)
Materials Needed
MX-2300/2700, or MX-4501 Service Manual.
Sharp Test Chart UKOG-0283FCZZ
Sharp SIT Chart UKOG-0280FCZ1 (Recommended)
Hammermill Color Copy Paper 11” x 17” (28lb, 96
Brightness)
Hammermill Color Copy Paper 8 ½ x 11” (28lb, 96
Brightness)
Confirm User Color balance set to default.
Select “Special Modes”.
Scroll to page 3
Select “Color Adjustments”.
Select “Color Balance”.
Select “Cancel”.
Initial Calibration
Run forced process control using simulation 44-6
Run halftone image correction 44-26
Confirm calibration using Sharp test chart UKOG0283FCZZ
If acceptable, calibration is complete. If
unacceptable, continue calibration.
At Install/PM/Firmware Upgrade/Process parts
replaced, always perform Auto Color Calibration
(Simulation 46-24).
CCD calibration
Performing Auto Color Calibration involves scanning test
prints off the glass. For best results, make sure that
the following conditions are met before performing
calibration.
White reference is clean and correctly installed.
All optics cleaned.
Calibrate CCD
Use Simulation 63-03 using the SIT Chart UKOG0280FCZ1 (For best results)
If SIT chart is unavailable, perform Simulation 63-05
(default)
Initial Calibration (Continued)
Perform TC-63-08 (matches Service Target to Factory
Target)
Perform Simulation 46-24 Auto Color Calibration
(Select “Factory”)
Confirm calibration using Sharp test chart UKOG0283FCZZ
If acceptable, calibration is complete. If unacceptable,
continue calibration.
At Installation/PM/Firmware Upgrade/Process parts
replaced, always perform Auto Color Calibration
(Simulation 46-24).
Simulations 63-08, 46-24
Auto Color Calibration
In Simulation 63-11, you can choose one of 3 color
balance targets.
DEF1 Red (default)
DEF2 centered
DEF3 Cyan
Simulation 63-11
Simulation 63-11
Simulation 63-11 is used to select a new Factory
default reference.
Simulation 63-11 cannot register a new default
into memory.
After choosing a new default using Simulation
63-11, you must perform Simulation 46-24 to
register the new default into memory.
Simulation 46-24
Simulation 46-24 has two menu options
available, FACTORY and SERVICE.
At Installation or after Preventive Maintenance is
performed, it is recommended to select
FACTORY
At a routine maintenance call, between PM
intervals, it is recommended to select SERVICE.
If an Image Quality issue cannot be resolved,
select FACTORY.
Simulation 46-24
Simulation 46-24
Thin lines to the left. (as shown)
This differs from previous models.
Place 46-24 Test Print on glass
Place 5 blank 11 x 17” pages…
Press Execute…
The following test print is output. This is an
example of a normal printout. All four colors
printout evenly, No error messages on the display.
This page is for reference, and is not to be placed
on the glass for scanning.
Simulation 46-24
Select REPEAT, then EXECUTE.
Place the new test print on the glass and place 5
sheets of blank paper over it.
Select EXECUTE to scan the new test page.
At the completion of scanning, select OK. The
new calibration information will be registered into
memory.
When “please quit this mode” is displayed,
select the SYSTEM SETTINGS key and exit
simulation mode.
Simulation 46-24
At the completion of Simulation 46-24, make a
copy of the Sharp color test chart.
Have the customer make test copies to confirm
they are satisfied with color copy quality.
If OK, calibration is complete. If not, repeat
procedure using the other two defaults available
in Simulation 63-11.
If this does not satisfy the customers
requirements, you will have to do manual
service calibration. In most cases, this will not be
necessary.
Simulation 46-21
(Manual Calibration)
There are no “short-cuts”.
If done incorrectly, it will cause the machine to lose
calibration.
If performing Auto Color Calibration cannot achieve
acceptable color copy quality, Manual Calibration
must be performed.
Process black row is now printed on opposite side
of page from previous models.
Enter Simulation 46-21, and select “Execute”.
A test page will be output.
Please note process black gamut is at top.
Label the process black row from left to right
Max, O,N,M,L,K,J,I,H,G,F,E,D,C,B,A.
Adjust Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black
using the up/down arrows to adjust the entire
row at the same time.
Adjust each color gamut to drop off at same step. (In
this example, row G) This ensures better color
balance.
Now adjust the Process Black “Gamut”.
The objective is to adjust the process black gamut
to match the actual black gamut by adjusting the
individual color blocks in Cyan, Magenta, and
Yellow. In this example, H,I,J,K and L are shifted
toward Magenta.
When balancing color on the process black gamut,
refer to the color wheel on the test chart.
(UKOG-0283FCZZ) If one of the segments favors
Magenta, you can either reduce the Magenta
value, or increase Yellow and Cyan.
The color wheel demonstrates opposites.
Red is the opposite of Cyan, Magenta is the
opposite of Green, Blue is the opposite of Yellow. If
one of the segments is Red, add Cyan. If Green,
add Magenta, if Blue, add Yellow.
After you have adjusted the process black Gamut
to match actual black Gamut, Place the balanced
test chart on the exposure glass.
Please note that the lighter density goes to the left.
This differs from previous models.
Place 5 blank 11 x 17” pages on top of it. Close the
cover or document feeder.
In Simulation 63-07, Select SETUP, then select
EXECUTE.
Note: 63-07 only needs to be run once.
When complete, You can view the values for each
color by selecting “K”, “C”, “M”, or “Y”. If values
appear normal, select “OK”. Manual calibration is
now complete.
Summary:
Factory Target / Service Target
Default factory Target is DEF1.
Simulation 63-11 is used to select DEF1,
DEF2, or DEF3.
Simulation 46-24 Auto Calibration must be
run to “load” default selected in Simulation
63-11.
Simulation 63-08 matches Service Target
to Factory Target. (clears Service Target)
User calibration employs the Service
Target as it’s reference.
User Target
When the customer performs the System
Settings/Copy Settings user color calibration, it
refers to the Service Target, not the Factory Target.
If the Service Target is incorrect or corrupted for any
reason, performing user color calibration will cause
unsatisfactory results.
Perform Simulation 63-08 to “match” Service Target
to Factory Target.
Factory Target will always be set to one of three
Defaults, either DEF1, DEF2, or DEF3
Troubleshooting
Always confirm user color balance is set to
default before calibrating.
Always ask customer if problems began
after performing user auto calibration.
Perform simulation 44-06, followed by 4426. If this does not correct problem,
perform simulation 63-08.
Perform auto color calibration 46-24.
Troubleshooting
ID sensor errors will affect color balance.
Errors may occur when performing process
control simulations (44-06, 44-26, 46-24, etc.)
If Color Calibration shifts for no apparent
reason, there may be a problem preventing the
ID sensor from reading toner patches on the
belt accurately.
Troubleshooting
To confirm if the ID sensor is affecting
calibration, use simulation 64-02.
In setting “B”, select 1, select Execute.
(PROC ADJ: NO) A test page will be
output.
In setting “B”, select 2, select Execute.
(PROC ADJ: YES) A test page will be
output.
Simulation 64-02
Fold each page in half and compare the
two pages,
if the ID sensor is reading OK, both pages
will be identical.
Troubleshooting
If 64-02 reveals an ID sensor problem,
check the following:
Check/Clean/Replace ID sensor and
shutter. Recalibrate.
Check/Clean/Replace Primary Transfer
Belt Unit. (cleaning blade/rollers/belt).
Drum Units/DV units (may not be making
good patches).
This concludes the Sharp Technical
Competency Center presentation
of
Color Calibration procedures
For
MX2300/MX2700/MX4501
Color Imagers