If you are noticing small marks, smudges, or repeating track marks running down your prints—often referred to as pizza wheel marks—it may be necessary to clean the printer's Exit Guide, also known as the Feed Assist Plate. These marks can occur when ink residue builds up on the small wheels located on the Exit Guide and is transferred onto the printed media as it exits the printer.
This article outlines two methods for resolving the issue. The first involves removing and manually cleaning the Exit Guide / Feed Assist Plate, while the second uses the printer's built-in De-condensation function to feed blank sheets through the printer and remove any accumulated ink from the wheels. The De-condensation process can also help resolve certain printer errors, including SC 57000 / 570-00.
For VersiFlex users, it may be necessary to remove the Feed Assist Plate entirely if roller marks continue to appear after cleaning or performing a De-condensation cycle. This is because certain media types can be more susceptible to marking as they pass beneath the Exit Guide wheels.
Method 1: Removing and Cleaning the Exit Guide/Feed Assist Plate.
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Method 2: Performing a De-condensation
Performing a de-condensation using plain copy paper can help with pizza wheel marks but also help clear an SC 57000/570-00 error.
- Press the [Menu] button.
- Press the [▲] or [▼] button to display [Maintenance], and then press the [OK] button.
- Press the [▲] or [▼] button to display [De-condensation], and then press the [OK] button.
- Press the selection button for [OK].
Three sheets are fed through the machine without anything being printed on them
- Press the selection button for [Exit].
- Turn the machine off, and then turn it on again.