Product

• Lotem™ 800 (S-speed)
• Lotem™ 800 (F-speed)
• Lotem™ 800 Quantum
• Lotem™ 800 with Spectrum

Symptoms

Plate loading appears to proceed without problems. Then, either before or after processing, scratches (thin, white lines on negative plates, thin black lines on positive plates) appear in the emulsion.

Solution

This section includes a detailed troubleshooting procedure. If at any point you feel that you have found the source of the problem, you can either process several plates to verify that the problem has been resolved, or you can continue to the end of the procedure.

1. Keep the scratched plates for inspection.
2. Review all generic questions with the customer.
3. Verify whether the customer's machine is a Local 2 machine. If it is, verify whether:
   1. Software patch #3 has been installed and
   2. FCO 28061 has been performed.

   If they have not been, install software patch #3 and perform FCO 28061.

4. Inspect the following elements of both the X and Y motor assemblies for conditions that can cause motor drifting:
• Belt.
• Motor housing securing screws.
• Motor shaft ball bearing.
5. Use a spirit level to verify that the machine is properly leveled. If it is not, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative, perform machine leveling.
6. Inspect the damaged plate(s). Verify the appearance and direction of the scratches, and proceed as follows:
   • If scratches are found running from side to side over the full width of the plate, proceed to Horizontal scratches.
   • If random scratches are found leading from the leading edge to the tail edge of the plate, proceed to Random vertical scratches.
   • If random scratches are found leading, in general, from side to side, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative.
     1. Check the centering motor sprocket assembly and verify whether it includes a 2 millimeter dowel pin, as described in FCO 27343. If it does not, perform FCO 27343.
     2. Verify that the plate is not moved too far to either the left or right by the centering system during centering. If it is:
        • Rearrange the spacers on the right and left of the cassette entrance on the front of the machine.
        • Reinsert the cassette.
        • Perform plate loading to verify that the problem has been resolved.

        Note: Perform plate loading with each cassette that the customer uses with this machine and verify that each works properly before leaving the site, as described in the last step in this document.

Horizontal scratches

If scratches are found running from side to side over the full width of the plate:

1. Check the following elements of the processor:
   • Chemicals
   • Entrance rollers
2. Load, expose and unload at least one plate and inspect it before processing.
   • If scratches are found, return to step 1 in the previous section.
   • If no scratches are found, process the plate. If the problem persists, contact the service representative for your processor.

Random vertical scratches

If random scratches are found leading from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the plate:

1. Remove the cassette from the machine and open it.
2. If the scratches appeared only on the last plate in the cassette, verify that there is a piece of protective cardboard on the bottom of the cassette. If there is not, place a piece of protective cardboard on the bottom of the cassette, then load and process several plates. If the problem persists, proceed to the next step.
3. Visually inspect the cassette exit rollers along the line of the scratches. Look for:
   1. Foreign objects. If found:
      • Remove the foreign objects.
      • Seal the cassette by installing a cassette seal cover (p/n 510P1P231) and,
      • Install the cassette seal cover holder by performing FCO 27885.
   2. Dirt and/or debris. If found:
      • Remove the dirt and/or debris and,
      • Clean the rollers using a lint-free cloth, as required.
   3. Broken or missing parts and/or restricted roller movement. If any of the rollers are missing, damaged or not turning freely, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative, repair or replace the cassette exit rollers, as required.
4. Inspect the XY bar suction cups for:
1. Damage of any kind. If found, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative, replace the damaged XY bar suction cup(s).

   Note: Verify that the correct number of spacers are installed for each suction cup.

2. Debris and/or dirt. If found, clean the XY bar suction cups using a clean, lint-free cloth.

   Note: This indicates that preventive maintenance is not being properly and/or regularly performed.

5. Inspect the XY bar paper clips. Look for:
   1. Dirt. If found, clean them using a lint-free cloth.
   2. Damage and/or deformation. If they are in any way damaged or deformed, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative, install new paper clips. Do not attempt to bend or otherwise adapt them.
6. Place the plate on the disposal rollers (emulsion side up, leading edge toward cassette), and visually follow the line of the scratches toward the drum, beyond the plate edge. Along the line of the scratches, inspect the plate support rollers for:
   1. Foreign objects. If found, remove the foreign objects.
   2. Dirt and/or debris. If found:
      • Remove the dirt and/or debris and,
      • Clean the rollers using a lint-free cloth, as required.
   3. Bent securing screws, broken or missing parts and/or restricted roller movement (turn each roller with your finger.) If any of the rollers are missing, damaged or not turning freely, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative, repair or replace the plate support rollers, as required.
7. Along the line of the scratches, visually inspect the punch for protruding edges of plastic ties. If found, gently turn the plastic tie until the edge points downward.
8. Along the line of the scratches, visually inspect the plate leading rollers for:
   1. Foreign objects. If found, remove the foreign objects.
   2. Dirt and/or debris. If found:
      • Remove the dirt and/or debris and,
      • Clean the rollers using a lint-free cloth, as required.
   3. Broken or missing parts and/or restricted roller movement (turn each roller with your finger.) If any of the rollers are missing, damaged or not turning freely, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative, repair or replace the plate leading rollers, as required.
9. Check the date on which the drum was last cleaned. Then, inspect the drum for debris or dirt. If either are found:
   • Remove debris, as required.
   • Clean the drum using a lint-free cloth.

   Note: This indicates that preventive maintenance is not being properly and/or regularly performed.

10. Inspect the unload rollers.
    Note: This is especially important if plate fly-off has occurred.
    Look for:
    1. Foreign objects. If found, remove the foreign objects.
    2. Dirt and/or debris. If found:
       • Remove the dirt and/or debris.
       • Clean the rollers using a lint-free cloth, as required.
    3. Broken or missing parts (including springs) and/or restricted roller movement (turn each roller with your finger.) If any of the rollers are missing, damaged or not turning freely, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then, contact your service representative, replace the unload rollers and/or springs, as required.
11. Remove the lower rollers assembly and inspect the load rollers.
    Note: This is especially important if plate fly-off has occurred.
    Look for:

    1. Foreign objects. If found, remove the foreign objects.

    2. Dirt and/or debris. If found:

       • Remove the dirt and/or debris and,

       • Clean the rollers using a lint-free cloth, as required.

    3. Broken or missing parts (including springs) and/or restricted roller movement (turn each roller with your finger.) If any of the rollers are missing, damaged or not turning freely, replace the load rollers and/or springs, as required.

12. Close all doors and load, expose and process one or more plates. If the problem persists, answer all generic troubleshooting questions and then contact your service representative.
13. Regardless of the type and direction of the scratches, insert the open cassette into the machine, leave the front door open and, using a cheater, perform plate loading.

    Note: If the customer is using a dual cassette, be sure to redefine the cassette as dual loading before leaving the site.

14. Watch the plate as it is loaded and verify that, when the plate is resting on the disposal rollers and is re-secured by the suction cups, the XY bar does not press downward on the plate so hard that scratches appear in the emulsion. If it does, adjust the value for the following parameter, as required:
    Utilities>Hardware\Loading System\Loading System\Load Plate\From Cassette to Punch Entry Stage\"Y Down After Punch"
15. Perform the steps described in, "Before You Finish".

Technical contact(s)

Itai Peperovich

Submitted by

Boris Gendlesman

Date submitted

15 Apr 2002