Hi,

I have several laser printers (TI Microlaser pro 600) and a pile of brand new
consumables for said printers. The printers are unusable because the pick-up
rollers for the upper and lower paper trays, in all of the printers, either
misses the paper entirely or jams at the input. Otherwise, the printers are in
fine condition and worked with no problems until they were retired.

Acetone is supposed to restore marginal rubber as a temporary fix, but these
rollers are very difficult to access, so a temporary fix would be more trouble
than it's worth.

I am having an unusual amount of trouble locating parts for these printers.
TI/Genicom never replied to my email request. Fixyourownprinter.com carries an
*exit* roller, but it just happens to be an exact equivalent to an exit roller
that another manufacturer supplies. I can't find anyone who will sell me
pickup rollers. So if anyone knows of a supplier for this part, please let me
know.

Another thought I had is that perhaps the rollers can be re-lined with fresh
rubber in a generic fashion. But I don't know what such a process would be
called, and am even more skeptical that it would be economical in single digit
quantities. (I have six bad rollers in all.) However, if someone could
manufacture a replacement based on a few failed samples, I'm certain it could
be stocked in quantity by at least one vendor.

I *hate* to throw these printers away especially with all the brand new toner
that came with them. But if replacements for whatever rubber parts are in it
are not available, I guess there's very little choice with any machine, isn't
there?

A new corollary to the electrolytic capacitor axiom.

Ryan Underwood wrote:

Hi,

I have several laser printers (TI Microlaser pro 600) and a pile of brand new
consumables for said printers. The printers are unusable because the pick-up
rollers for the upper and lower paper trays, in all of the printers, either
misses the paper entirely or jams at the input. Otherwise, the printers are in
fine condition and worked with no problems until they were retired.

Acetone is supposed to restore marginal rubber as a temporary fix, but these
rollers are very difficult to access, so a temporary fix would be more trouble
than it's worth.

I am having an unusual amount of trouble locating parts for these printers.
TI/Genicom never replied to my email request. Fixyourownprinter.com carries an
*exit* roller, but it just happens to be an exact equivalent to an exit roller
that another manufacturer supplies. I can't find anyone who will sell me
pickup rollers. So if anyone knows of a supplier for this part, please let me
know.

Another thought I had is that perhaps the rollers can be re-lined with fresh
rubber in a generic fashion. But I don't know what such a process would be
called, and am even more skeptical that it would be economical in single digit
quantities. (I have six bad rollers in all.) However, if someone could
manufacture a replacement based on a few failed samples, I'm certain it could
be stocked in quantity by at least one vendor.

I *hate* to throw these printers away especially with all the brand new toner
that came with them. But if replacements for whatever rubber parts are in it
are not available, I guess there's very little choice with any machine, isn't
there?

A new corollary to the electrolytic capacitor axiom.

Hi...

I wouldn't consider this except as the very last resort,
immediately before hauling them to the dump, but...

I've had a bit of luck with old irreplacable capstan idlers
(old ampex reel to reel stuff) giving them just the
gentlest of sanding with a fine grit sandpaper.

Remove just enough to take away the glaze and discoloured
rubber, and expose nice fresh black stuff.

It seems that removing the outermost "dead" layer of rubber
exposes new, better stuff underneath.

Take care.

Ken

Ryan Underwood wrote:
Hi,

I have several laser printers (TI Microlaser pro 600) and a pile of brand new
consumables for said printers. The printers are unusable because the pick-up
rollers for the upper and lower paper trays, in all of the printers, either
misses the paper entirely or jams at the input. Otherwise, the printers are in
fine condition and worked with no problems until they were retired.

Acetone is supposed to restore marginal rubber as a temporary fix, but these
rollers are very difficult to access, so a temporary fix would be more trouble
than it's worth.

I am having an unusual amount of trouble locating parts for these printers.
TI/Genicom never replied to my email request. Fixyourownprinter.com carries an
*exit* roller, but it just happens to be an exact equivalent to an exit roller
that another manufacturer supplies. I can't find anyone who will sell me
pickup rollers. So if anyone knows of a supplier for this part, please let me
know.

Another thought I had is that perhaps the rollers can be re-lined with fresh
rubber in a generic fashion. But I don't know what such a process would be
called, and am even more skeptical that it would be economical in single digit
quantities. (I have six bad rollers in all.) However, if someone could
manufacture a replacement based on a few failed samples, I'm certain it could
be stocked in quantity by at least one vendor.

I *hate* to throw these printers away especially with all the brand new toner
that came with them. But if replacements for whatever rubber parts are in it
are not available, I guess there's very little choice with any machine, isn't
there?

A new corollary to the electrolytic capacitor axiom.


Have you tried wetting the rollers with a damp soapy cloth? When I
encounter a problem with HP printers failing to grab a sheet of paper, I
wet a small cloth and apply dish soap to it. Pressing the line feed
button to make the roller move while holding the soapy cloth so that the
roller surface gets wet, will solve that problem. You might try it on
your printers.

On Sat, 03 Sep 2005 19:10:14 -0500, Ryan Underwood
wrote:

Hi,

I have several laser printers (TI Microlaser pro 600) and a pile of brand new
consumables for said printers. The printers are unusable because the pick-up
rollers for the upper and lower paper trays, in all of the printers, either
misses the paper entirely or jams at the input. Otherwise, the printers are in
fine condition and worked with no problems until they were retired.

Acetone is supposed to restore marginal rubber as a temporary fix, but these
rollers are very difficult to access, so a temporary fix would be more trouble
than it's worth.

I am having an unusual amount of trouble locating parts for these printers.
TI/Genicom never replied to my email request. Fixyourownprinter.com carries an
*exit* roller, but it just happens to be an exact equivalent to an exit roller
that another manufacturer supplies. I can't find anyone who will sell me
pickup rollers. So if anyone knows of a supplier for this part, please let me
know.

Another thought I had is that perhaps the rollers can be re-lined with fresh
rubber in a generic fashion. But I don't know what such a process would be
called, and am even more skeptical that it would be economical in single digit
quantities. (I have six bad rollers in all.) However, if someone could
manufacture a replacement based on a few failed samples, I'm certain it could
be stocked in quantity by at least one vendor.

I *hate* to throw these printers away especially with all the brand new toner
that came with them. But if replacements for whatever rubber parts are in it
are not available, I guess there's very little choice with any machine, isn't
there?

Long ago, in the days of the VCR, I had need of a substance/liquid
which would restore the myriad of rollers inside a VCR. Just so
happens that the local electronics shop carried a kit, which included
a 1 oz bottle of "Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer" and several foam tipped
applicators on long plastic sticks, with applicators on both ends,
angled differently to get into difficult places. I was skeptical, but
tried it, and it worked great. It also works great on my HP pickup
rollers ... anything rubber. The label on it says:

PRB Line
Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer
Part # RCR-21
Manufactured for Projector Recorder Belt
Whitewater, Wisconsin

Caution: irritating vapor .. use with ventilation. Harmful if
swallowed


Not a chemist, so can't tell you what's in it, but perhaps you might
be able to find something like this. I got this stuff ages ago, so
doubt its still being made (do they make VCRs anymore?)

Bill, KB8EB

Sometimes it's not the pickup rollers but the paper tray springs loose the
oomph! remove the tray, if you can and stretch those springs so they push
that paper UP

"Ryan Underwood" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have several laser printers (TI Microlaser pro 600) and a pile of brand
new
consumables for said printers. The printers are unusable because the
pick-up
rollers for the upper and lower paper trays, in all of the printers,
either
misses the paper entirely or jams at the input. Otherwise, the printers
are in
fine condition and worked with no problems until they were retired.

Acetone is supposed to restore marginal rubber as a temporary fix, but
these
rollers are very difficult to access, so a temporary fix would be more
trouble
than it's worth.

I am having an unusual amount of trouble locating parts for these
printers.
TI/Genicom never replied to my email request. Fixyourownprinter.com
carries an
*exit* roller, but it just happens to be an exact equivalent to an exit
roller
that another manufacturer supplies. I can't find anyone who will sell me
pickup rollers. So if anyone knows of a supplier for this part, please
let me
know.

Another thought I had is that perhaps the rollers can be re-lined with
fresh
rubber in a generic fashion. But I don't know what such a process would
be
called, and am even more skeptical that it would be economical in single
digit
quantities. (I have six bad rollers in all.) However, if someone could
manufacture a replacement based on a few failed samples, I'm certain it
could
be stocked in quantity by at least one vendor.

I *hate* to throw these printers away especially with all the brand new
toner
that came with them. But if replacements for whatever rubber parts are in
it
are not available, I guess there's very little choice with any machine,
isn't
there?

A new corollary to the electrolytic capacitor axiom.

In article , Darmok
wrote:
Long ago, in the days of the VCR, I had need of a substance/liquid
which would restore the myriad of rollers inside a VCR. Just so
happens that the local electronics shop carried a kit, which included
a 1 oz bottle of "Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer" and several foam tipped
applicators on long plastic sticks, with applicators on both ends,
angled differently to get into difficult places. I was skeptical, but
tried it, and it worked great. It also works great on my HP pickup
rollers ... anything rubber. The label on it says:

PRB Line
Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer
Part # RCR-21
Manufactured for Projector Recorder Belt
Whitewater, Wisconsin

Bill-

Check out http://www.russellind.com/index1.htm and click on PRB Line. It
appears to still be available in their downloadable catalog's chemicals
section.

PRB apparently stands for Projector Recorder Belt Co.

Fred

Fred McKenzie wrote:
In article , Darmok
wrote:

Long ago, in the days of the VCR, I had need of a substance/liquid
which would restore the myriad of rollers inside a VCR. Just so
happens that the local electronics shop carried a kit, which included
a 1 oz bottle of "Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer" and several foam tipped
applicators on long plastic sticks, with applicators on both ends,
angled differently to get into difficult places. I was skeptical, but
tried it, and it worked great. It also works great on my HP pickup
rollers ... anything rubber. The label on it says:

PRB Line
Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer
Part # RCR-21
Manufactured for Projector Recorder Belt
Whitewater, Wisconsin


Bill-

Check out http://www.russellind.com/index1.htm and click on PRB Line. It
appears to still be available in their downloadable catalog's chemicals
section.

PRB apparently stands for Projector Recorder Belt Co.

Fred

That sounds like some useful stuff.

To the OP: if you're going to try some solvent on the rollers, the
easiest way to get it on them will be to put some on a piece of paper
and send it through. If you want to try sanding them, send a piece of
pretty fine sandpaper in and hold it so the rollers spin on it a little,
then pull it back out. I'd not use anything coarser than about a 120
grit, maybe a little finer than that.

John

JohnM writes:

That sounds like some useful stuff.

To the OP: if you're going to try some solvent on the rollers, the
easiest way to get it on them will be to put some on a piece of paper
and send it through. If you want to try sanding them, send a piece of
pretty fine sandpaper in and hold it so the rollers spin on it a little,
then pull it back out. I'd not use anything coarser than about a 120
grit, maybe a little finer than that.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Hopefully a solution (no pun intended) will
come out of this discussion.

JohnM wrote:
Fred McKenzie wrote:

In article , Darmok
wrote:

Long ago, in the days of the VCR, I had need of a substance/liquid
which would restore the myriad of rollers inside a VCR. Just so
happens that the local electronics shop carried a kit, which included
a 1 oz bottle of "Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer" and several foam tipped
applicators on long plastic sticks, with applicators on both ends,
angled differently to get into difficult places. I was skeptical, but
tried it, and it worked great. It also works great on my HP pickup
rollers ... anything rubber. The label on it says:

PRB Line
Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer
Part # RCR-21
Manufactured for Projector Recorder Belt
Whitewater, Wisconsin



Bill-

Check out http://www.russellind.com/index1.htm and click on PRB Line. It
appears to still be available in their downloadable catalog's chemicals
section.

PRB apparently stands for Projector Recorder Belt Co.

Fred


That sounds like some useful stuff.

To the OP: if you're going to try some solvent on the rollers, the
easiest way to get it on them will be to put some on a piece of paper
and send it through. If you want to try sanding them, send a piece of
pretty fine sandpaper in and hold it so the rollers spin on it a little,
then pull it back out. I'd not use anything coarser than about a 120
grit, maybe a little finer than that.

John


Hi John...

Given that the "sanding" suggestion originally came from me,
I'd respectfully suggest re-thinking sanding the rollers
while they're still in place in the machine.

I'd be wondering where any grains of sand from the paper
might end up... along with any tiny bits of removed dead
rubber might go...

For my nickel, I'd much rather remove the roller first,
clean it thoroughly before re-installing it.

Just a thought...

Ken

Ryan Underwood wrote:
[TI Microlaser Pro 600 bad pickup rollers]
Another thought I had is that perhaps the rollers can be re-lined with
fresh rubber in a generic fashion.

All tape machines have a pinch roller somewhere in the tape path. (On
8-tracks it's in the cartridges instead of the machine, but it's there.)
These are a common replacement part. Depending on how big the rubber
areas on the printer rollers are, perhaps you could substitute the "skin"
of a new pinch roller. Places with VCR parts (MCM Electronics?) might
be the best place to look for replacement pinch rollers.

If you can find sheet rubber of the right consistency, you might be able
to cut strips of it and wrap it around the pickup roller, securing it
with glue. This might cause problems if the seam catches the edge of a
piece of paper, though.

Matt Roberds

I am curious if you tried calling the authorized TI repair servicers
for the parts?
Most times with business equipment, you cannot buy from the manufacture
direct, but have to call a business products dealer/servicer.

Darmok wrote:


Long ago, in the days of the VCR, I had need of a substance/liquid
which would restore the myriad of rollers inside a VCR. Just so
happens that the local electronics shop carried a kit, which included
a 1 oz bottle of "Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer" and several foam tipped
applicators on long plastic sticks, with applicators on both ends,
angled differently to get into difficult places. I was skeptical, but
tried it, and it worked great. It also works great on my HP pickup
rollers ... anything rubber. The label on it says:

PRB Line
Rubber Cleaner Revitalizer
Part # RCR-21
Manufactured for Projector Recorder Belt
Whitewater, Wisconsin

Caution: irritating vapor .. use with ventilation. Harmful if
swallowed


Not a chemist, so can't tell you what's in it, but perhaps you might
be able to find something like this. I got this stuff ages ago, so
doubt its still being made (do they make VCRs anymore?)

Bill, KB8EB

I used to have a bottle of 'rubber belt rejuvenator', It worked very
well on vcr pinchrollers and the like. The wholesalers stopped selling
it as they said it was classed as hazardous.
At the time my next door neighbour was a chemist, he took a sniff and
pronounced it xylene, Hazardous when inhaled, and disolves many plastics.

Ron (UK)

--
Lune Valley Audio
Public address system
Hire, Sales, Repairs
www.lunevalleyaudio.com

" writes:

I am curious if you tried calling the authorized TI repair servicers
for the parts?
Most times with business equipment, you cannot buy from the manufacture
direct, but have to call a business products dealer/servicer.

No, I didn't know that was the case. I guess I'll look around for one that has
an online presence then.

"Ron(UK)" writes:

I used to have a bottle of 'rubber belt rejuvenator', It worked very
well on vcr pinchrollers and the like. The wholesalers stopped selling
it as they said it was classed as hazardous.
At the time my next door neighbour was a chemist, he took a sniff and
pronounced it xylene, Hazardous when inhaled, and disolves many plastics.

Hmm, so "rubber rejuvenator" simply dissolves crap that is making the rubber
surface slick? Or does it react with the rubber in some way to reverse its
drying?

Ryan Underwood ) writes:
"Ron(UK)" writes:

I used to have a bottle of 'rubber belt rejuvenator', It worked very
well on vcr pinchrollers and the like. The wholesalers stopped selling
it as they said it was classed as hazardous.
At the time my next door neighbour was a chemist, he took a sniff and
pronounced it xylene, Hazardous when inhaled, and disolves many plastics.

Hmm, so "rubber rejuvenator" simply dissolves crap that is making the rubber
surface slick? Or does it react with the rubber in some way to reverse its
drying?


I was under the impression it softens the rubber.

With time, rubber such as this gets hard, and that's a problem. They'd
have these mixtures to soften it.

From what I've read, the same sort of thing applied to the platens of
typewriters, and the stuff was available for that, too.

Michael

(Michael Black) writes:

Hmm, so "rubber rejuvenator" simply dissolves crap that is making the rubber
surface slick? Or does it react with the rubber in some way to reverse its
drying?


I was under the impression it softens the rubber.

With time, rubber such as this gets hard, and that's a problem. They'd
have these mixtures to soften it.

Right, but xylene is a rather typical solvent. Which is why I was wondering if
it reacts with rubber in a particular way to soften it up, or if any old
solvent (such as toluene, isopropanol, MEK, acetone, etc) would do the trick.

Maybe the real question I'm asking here is what is the mechanism by which
rubber hardens with age? (And I'm assuming it is age and not dirt we are
addressing here.) With knowledge of that, the reason for using a solvent might
come right out.

Ryan Underwood wrote:
"Ron(UK)" writes:


I used to have a bottle of 'rubber belt rejuvenator', It worked very
well on vcr pinchrollers and the like. The wholesalers stopped selling
it as they said it was classed as hazardous.
At the time my next door neighbour was a chemist, he took a sniff and
pronounced it xylene, Hazardous when inhaled, and disolves many plastics.


Hmm, so "rubber rejuvenator" simply dissolves crap that is making the rubber
surface slick? Or does it react with the rubber in some way to reverse its
drying?

xylene seems to make the surface more 'grabby' it seems to kind of etch
it slightly, it doesn`t work with really hardened rubber like those
Philips pinch rollers.

Ron

--
Lune Valley Audio
Public address system
Hire, Sales, Repairs
www.lunevalleyaudio.com

On Wed, 07 Sep 2005 11:08:47 +0000, Ron(UK) wrote:

Ryan Underwood wrote:
"Ron(UK)" writes:


I used to have a bottle of 'rubber belt rejuvenator', It worked very
well on vcr pinchrollers and the like. The wholesalers stopped selling
it as they said it was classed as hazardous.
At the time my next door neighbour was a chemist, he took a sniff and
pronounced it xylene, Hazardous when inhaled, and disolves many plastics.


Hmm, so "rubber rejuvenator" simply dissolves crap that is making the rubber
surface slick? Or does it react with the rubber in some way to reverse its
drying?

xylene seems to make the surface more 'grabby' it seems to kind of etch
it slightly, it doesn`t work with really hardened rubber like those
Philips pinch rollers.

On a related note, my father used to do offset litho printing - one of the
substances used in that was sold as "blanket rejuvenator" by some
companies - the blanket of the machine is made of rubber - and under its
chemical name by others - MEK, otherwise known as butanone! That's good
provided it doesn't attack what you're working on, but it is noted to be
highly flammable and extremely volatile, so great care would be needed if
you tried that.

We also had some "blanket reviver" which was 1,1,1-trichloroethane. It
didn't prove that useful.

--
Phil Reynolds
mail: (though I'd prefer followups on group)
Web: http://www.tinsleyviaduct.com/phil/
Waltham 67, Emley Moor 69, Droitwich 79, Windows 95

Ryan Underwood wrote:
(Michael Black) writes:


Hmm, so "rubber rejuvenator" simply dissolves crap that is making the rubber
surface slick? Or does it react with the rubber in some way to reverse its
drying?



I was under the impression it softens the rubber.


With time, rubber such as this gets hard, and that's a problem. They'd
have these mixtures to soften it.


Right, but xylene is a rather typical solvent. Which is why I was wondering if
it reacts with rubber in a particular way to soften it up, or if any old
solvent (such as toluene, isopropanol, MEK, acetone, etc) would do the trick.

Maybe the real question I'm asking here is what is the mechanism by which
rubber hardens with age? (And I'm assuming it is age and not dirt we are
addressing here.) With knowledge of that, the reason for using a solvent might
come right out.

I would guess whatever plasticiser is used to keep the rubber pliable
leaches out eventually - that`s presuming it`s not just pure rubber -
even neophrene belts and rollers dry out eventually.

VCR pinch rollers get a hard shiny layer of oxide from the tape, which
is usually easily removed.

I once 'resurfaced' a pick up roller for an old Gestetner rotary copying
machine by rolling some thin rubber tubing onto the original roller-
bicycle innertube actually. Tho the tolerances weren`t so great as a
computer printer, it worked a treat.


Ron (UK)
--
Lune Valley Audio
Public address system
Hire, Sales, Repairs
www.lunevalleyaudio.com

In article , "Ron(UK)"
wrote:

I would guess whatever plasticiser is used to keep the rubber pliable
leaches out eventually - that`s presuming it`s not just pure rubber -
even neophrene belts and rollers dry out eventually.

Ron-

That is my understanding of how the rollers stop working. The plasticizer
is absorbed by the paper.

Another approach is to apply a plasticizer to the rollers, replacing that
which has leached out. Some chemicals used to restore plastic dashboards
and seat covers in cars, as well as to shine-up tires, may be such a
plasticizer, and should work to rejuvenate printer rollers.

Fred

(Fred McKenzie) writes:

Another approach is to apply a plasticizer to the rollers, replacing that
which has leached out. Some chemicals used to restore plastic dashboards
and seat covers in cars, as well as to shine-up tires, may be such a
plasticizer, and should work to rejuvenate printer rollers.

You mean something like Armor All or Son Of A Gun works to restore rubber
rollers? I'll be damned. I love this group.