Brother MFC-9600, photocopy is broken, I don't understand

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I have a brother MFC-9600 Printer/Scanner/Photocopier/Fax comobo unit.
Recently I found out the photocopy doesn't work right. It would
produce a very light print out similar to a unit very low on toner.

The unit has plenty of toner left and the laser printing unit is in
perfect order as it makes good, black prints when I send a print job to
it from my computer.

The scanner also produces good contrast when I scan to computer from
the unit.

I checked copy settings such as "document type" and "contrast" from
maximum to minimum, but the unit continues to produce very light
prints. Since the scanning and printing units are both in good working
order, I don't understand why photocopier function won't work
correctly.

Any clue?

you would have to open it up, and inside are some lenticular mirrors the
image bounces off of when its scanned. The mirrors likely have a mild dust
buildup on them, which results in 'filtering' the image to a very light
impression.


wrote in message
oups.com...
| X-No-Archive: Yes
|
| I have a brother MFC-9600 Printer/Scanner/Photocopier/Fax comobo unit.
| Recently I found out the photocopy doesn't work right. It would
| produce a very light print out similar to a unit very low on toner.
|
| The unit has plenty of toner left and the laser printing unit is in
| perfect order as it makes good, black prints when I send a print job to
| it from my computer.
|
| The scanner also produces good contrast when I scan to computer from
| the unit.
|
| I checked copy settings such as "document type" and "contrast" from
| maximum to minimum, but the unit continues to produce very light
| prints. Since the scanning and printing units are both in good working
| order, I don't understand why photocopier function won't work
| correctly.
|
| Any clue?
|

X-No-Archive: Yes

That doesn't make sense. The scanner gives solid black image when I
scan in greyscale mode with the lid open. Photocopying with the lid
open gives mild grey printout.

If the issue was with the scanning, I would suspect problems in scanned
images too.

Not at work so I can't be sure about this model. Does it have a sheet feeder on
the scanner. (ie can you scan from the flat bed OR through a sheet feeder).
If so, try copying both ways and see if there is a difference.
The sheet feeder usually has a seperate window (narrow window the width of the
page) through which the scanner unit "sees" the paper, if the sheet feeder
fails but the flat bed works then this window may need cleaning (dry cloth is
best, denatured alcohol or gentle household cleaner if necessary). Another
thought, the internal mirrors may be used differently between sheet feed and
flat bed, there could be a clue there and maybe cleaning the mirrors would be
needed but only if one method of copying works and the other one fails.
There has to be a difference in the way the internal electronics operate when
scanning versus copying (different signal paths are opened up). If the results
are the same from sheet feeder and flat bed then I would change the scanner
bulb (sounds silly????, could be that it is on the edge of failure and the
difference in logic between scanning and copying is enough to make the
difference).
I assume it is not under warranty? If so then call your friendly local Brother
agent. You may want to call them anyway but I guess it will cost something to
do so.
Tony

wrote:
X-No-Archive: Yes

I have a brother MFC-9600 Printer/Scanner/Photocopier/Fax comobo unit.
Recently I found out the photocopy doesn't work right. It would
produce a very light print out similar to a unit very low on toner.

The unit has plenty of toner left and the laser printing unit is in
perfect order as it makes good, black prints when I send a print job to
it from my computer.

The scanner also produces good contrast when I scan to computer from
the unit.

I checked copy settings such as "document type" and "contrast" from
maximum to minimum, but the unit continues to produce very light
prints. Since the scanning and printing units are both in good working
order, I don't understand why photocopier function won't work
correctly.

Any clue?

"Cobalt" wrote in message
...
you would have to open it up, and inside are some lenticular mirrors the
image bounces off of when its scanned. The mirrors likely have a mild dust
buildup on them, which results in 'filtering' the image to a very light
impression.


wrote in message
oups.com...
| X-No-Archive: Yes
|
| I have a brother MFC-9600 Printer/Scanner/Photocopier/Fax comobo unit.
| Recently I found out the photocopy doesn't work right. It would
| produce a very light print out similar to a unit very low on toner.
|
| The unit has plenty of toner left and the laser printing unit is in
| perfect order as it makes good, black prints when I send a print job to
| it from my computer.
|
| The scanner also produces good contrast when I scan to computer from
| the unit.
|
| I checked copy settings such as "document type" and "contrast" from
| maximum to minimum, but the unit continues to produce very light
| prints. Since the scanning and printing units are both in good working
| order, I don't understand why photocopier function won't work
| correctly.
|
| Any clue?
|



Dirty optics leads to less light getting to the latent white
areas on the OPC, to neutralise the charge, and so toner
stays on the OPC leading to grey instead of white on the
paper.

Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse
Copier repair hints
http://www.divdev.fsnet.co.uk/copiers.htm

N cook wrote: "Dirty optics leads to less light getting to the latent
white
areas on the OPC, to neutralise the charge, and so toner
stays on the OPC leading to grey instead of white on the
paper. "

This is a digital copier by the way. Scanner scans it first, stores it
in memory, then, image is drawn onto the imaging drum with a laser
beam.