Dell 1600n ADF Problem

There are two possible fixes.

Download the latest firmware update by CLICKING HERE

The following is provided by courtesy of Lexmark:
Problem Vertical lines; Auto document feeder scan anomaly; ADF scanning problem; Scan issue; Scanner issue; Visible line; Streaks show on page; solid line down the page; Top to bottom line; Smudge runs down the page; Opaque line; Broken line; Bar all the way down the page Solution Overview

This article provides the self-diagnostic steps necessary to evaluate top-to-bottom streaks that appear when copying or scanning.

Important! This is seldom a scanner hardware failure.

The main reason for this anomaly is debris or marks on the scanner glass that is used for Auto document feeder (ADF) page scans.

Printed or Scanned Page Illustration

Who should consider this article?

Any user of an MFP or All-In-One printer experiencing the following symptoms:

• -Vertical lines only when using the Autodocument Feeder (ADF).
• -Observed with any type of scan job (e-mail, ftp, solutions, fax).
• -However, normal expected output when the page is scanned from the scanner flatbed.

ADF scan behavior

Think of it this way:

• -The page is pulled from the ADF.
• -The moving page slides across an ADF-designated portion of glass.
• -The image sensor, which is located under the glass, reads and interprets the moving page's contents.
• -Contamination on this ADF glass is seen by the image sensor for the entire length of the page.
• -The image processor interprets the image sensor's repeated capture of this contamination as a vertical solid line.
• -Any ADF scan function now exhibits a vertical line.

Suggested Diagnosis and Fix

Step Action 1 Locate the portion of the glass designated for ADF scans.
HINT: The glass location differs by model. This area is often separate from the scanner flatbed. Please reference User's Guide for more information if you are having a difficult time locating this designated area.
2 Perform a visual inspection for any of the following recurring culprits:

• -Clear adhesive tape
• -Glue
• -Ink pen
• -Paper
• -Marker
• -White out
• -Staples
• -Environmental dust or dirt

HINT: Ink marks can be especially hard to see and almost translucent at first sight. However, the image sensor (CCD) registers them as a mark. 3 Use a clean, soft, moistened cloth to thoroughly clean and remove any marks or debris. 4 Inspect the underbelly or underside of the ADF for any marks or debris. 5 Perform another scan to see if cleaning the glass alleviated the issue. 6 Repeat the procedure if a vertical line still appears.
Remember! Printing and scanning from the scanner flatbed work fine.
7 This time, place an intentional mark on a blank sheet of paper and take note of its location. Now place that sheet of paper in the ADF and make a copy.
8 Evaluate the distance of the vertical line to the your mark. 9 Inspect that area of the glass for further debris or marks and clean as necessary.

Other Possibilities


If... Then... Vertical lines appear only when printing... Consider other printer-related topics such as toner cartridge, charge roll, photoconductor, transfer roll, or fuser. Contact Lexmark Technical Support. Vertical lines appear when you lay the page on the flatbed... Consider other printer-related topics such as toner cartridge, charge roll, photoconductor, transfer roll, or fuser. Contact Lexmark Technical Support. Vertical lines appear on ADF-fed printed copies, but they do not appear on scan-to-network [e-mail, FTP, folder (PC), solutions]... Consider other printer-related topics such as toner cartridge, charge roll, photoconductor, transfer roll, or fuser. Contact Lexmark Technical Support.

Clean ADF scan module

Hi,

Check both the Fuser Unit and the Cartridge for lines . In any of the rollers are found with a line that means it needs to be replaced.

I have the exact same problem. It was there since I first bought the MFC-7840W.
Vertical line appears in scans using the automatic document feeder (ADF).
Vertical line does not appear when scanning single page (placing it directly on the glass -- i.e. not using the ADF).
Cleaning the glass strip for the ADF (or the white pressure bar overhead) does not solve the problem.
The problem does not occur with copies using the ADF (using the COPY button which is basically a scan and print). This would suggest that dust and dirt is not to blame because that would also appear on the copies.
But since I believe a copy is basically a scan plus print, they should be using the same electronics -- a hardware problem on the scan would likely appear on a copy also -- there is some difference between how they accomplish this.
It's definitely not a software issue since it occurs on all versions of Windows and Mac OS X (and multiple computers). It also does not matter whether I "push" the scan to the computer by using the scan button on the MFC... or "pull" the scan from the MFC using the Brother Control Center software.

turn off ECM (error correction).
then if problem persists, slow down the fax speed to 9600 bps.
this problem always occurs with a digital or VOIP line.

Clean the small glass, even the slightest dot, it will interpet as a line.

The Automatic Document Feed (ADF) has a white rubber pad that wears out. You can find it by opening the ADF cover and removing the roller bar. Under that is the white rubber pad. Pinch the sides together and the assembley comes out. Contact Dell for the replacement. You may also refer to the Dell 1600n Owners Manual for instructions.

Clean the small glass strip on the left side of the scanner. There is probably some dirt there and will only show up when using the ADF.

There are 2 seperate glass areas on the top, the large one is for when you lift the cover to scan or copy, the little narrow one is when you use the ADF. If there is a dot or a spec on the narrow part, it will leave the streak on the page, Clean the narrow part really well. I use a foaming window cleaner, and a razor blade.
You may also want to check to see if there are any small scratches on that glass. That will cause the same thing to happen.

Any difference between using the document feeder and just the flat bed?