Minolta RP-600Z,
RP-603Z, RP-605Z, RP606Z, RP-607Z, RP609Z Microfilm Reader Printers
- A brief technical
perspective
Written by Evis Beaton –
Microfilmworld.com
Between 1989
and 1994, Minolta released a new line of microfilm reader printers that were
robust, quality products that became industry standards for many years. Canon
did compete well with this Minolta line-up, having their own formidable units
in the PC-80, MP-60, MP-90 and high production NP-880/980 units. Kodak also had
the IMT-350 which was actually borrowed Minolta’s RP-505 successful print
engine (Minolta EP-450Z) along with a sophisticated Kodak roll film transport
system. Bell & Howell was also selling units at this time branded with
their name but were actually private labeled Minolta and Canon units. Alos Micrographics also sold systems made by
Minolta including the Z-40 which was actually the Minolta RP-600Z and the Z-43
which was the RP-603Z.
The first of
the new Minolta series to hit the market was the RP605Z around 1989. This was a
phenomenal unit. The RP-605Z was taller than the RP-505 but was on a permanent
stand base with casters making it easy to move around. It was also about a
third of the weight of an RP-505 and offered a slightly faster print engine as
well as new options not available on previous models like auto image masking,
and motorized image rotation. The RP605Z now discontinued, borrowed the Minolta
EP2100 copier print engine. Most of the transport, image development and fusing
system came from that photo copier.
The RP-605Z
was a successful system and did gain the loyalty of Minolta RP-505 users once
they demoed the system and had a chance to see its productivity. The RP-605Z
had great image quality (when the imaging system was working in top form) and
overall provided a long service life for users. Service intervals were at 30
and 60k and consisted of replacing the fuser rollers, drum cleaning blade,
starter (developer) and the drum. The paper take up roller generally lasted
more than 60k prints but did require changing at 75-80k. The main technical
issues from the start was the dual developer system, fusing system jams and paper
wrinkling as well as copy quality issues. Systems that did have bi-mode capability had
two DV units each with its own specific developer powder and toner feed
mechanisms. The PP system was fed by a toner hopper while the NP system by
toner tubes.
As with the
RP503 and 603Z series machine, toner replenishment was an issue that
technicians confronted daily. The bulk of the problem was that if users did not
zoom the projected image to its full size on-screen and printed with border
consistently, the machine simply could not keep up with the replenishment of
that constant black border around the image. Eventually, the images would get
lighter and lighter until a service call was made. The solution was twofold. One
was the release of the image masking option which could be retrofitted onto
existing systems. This masking kit would illuminate the border during printing
allowing for a more consistent replenishment to the DV unit. The other was the
use of the “drum dry” mode activated by a small pinhole button on the front
control panel that would replenish the DV unit for a cycle of 3 minutes when
depressed. When customers noticed image
quality dropping off, they could try toner replenishment via “drum dry” to
correct. If toner levels dropped off too much, developer and toner would then
be used up during printing and eventually a tech would need to intervene and
add new developer to the system.
The paper take
up roller and separation pad also had to be replaced periodically to reduce P1
and double feed jams. The take-up, transport and synch rollers were activated
by electro-mechanical clutches that tended to get dirty with toner and require
cleaning and replacement periodically. The drum cleaning blade was rated at 30k
or so but would fail even if few prints were made since over time, the silicon
based cleaning blade would degrade and become stiffer causing image ghosting
and streaking.
About 1990,
the RP600Z and RP606Z were released. The RP600Z was intended to replace the
aging RP-502 and RP-503 systems while the RP606Z was more difficult to place.
The RP600Z was mechanically almost identical to the RP-503 except for the
optics section and electronics. The paper take-up, transport, imaging section
and fuser were almost identical.
The RP606Z
offered a few advantages over the RP-605Z like motorized image rotation (which
later became an option on the RP-605Z) and it could print on legal (8.5x14)
paper which the RP605Z could not do. Other than those differences they looked
almost identical and were technically twins except for the CPU and screen frame
(maybe a few more bits).
The RP-607Z
was released around 1992 and technicians generally thought it was designed to
compete with the Canon NP880/980 which was having some success in the market,
especially at title companies, banks and county recorders offices. The RP-607Z
had dual paper cassettes, dual DV units and toner hoppers and was a huge
machine, much like its predecessor the RP-507. Although a good many of them
were sold into the Southern California market place, they quickly became a
source of concern for technicians. The RP-607Z although robust and formidable,
did not deviate much from the design of the RP-507. It still retained the
vertical paper feed, dual dv systems and dual paper cassettes. The same issues
that plagued the RP-507 (paper jams, copy quality, toner replenishment)
continued on with the RP-607Z because the design was little improved from the
technicians point of view.
The RP609Z
was released about 1994 and was intended to replace the RP-509. This was the
engineering model, designed to print as large as 18-x24” on bond paper rolls or
vellum from Aperture Cards or 35mm Roll Film. The RP-609Z did offer a motorized
roll film carrier and also and auto AP card feeder both of which were
completely new and an improvement over the RP-509. Copy quality on the RP-609Z
was very good and it generally was not a problematic machine from a
technician’s point of view. Selling to mainly aerospace, military and
engineering applications, it was not sold in the same numbers as others in the
Minolta line since these markets have always been much smaller than the 16mm
microfilm and microfiche markets.
The RP-603Z
as also released about 1994 and retained the same Minolta EP-50 copier engine
the Minolta RP-502, RP-503, RP504 and RP-600Z used, although it introduced a
series of zoom lenses, an electronic mage rotation feature, auto image masking
and a host of motorized film carriers that were available to the RP605Z, it was
not sold in large numbers in our area.
Its market
was believed to fit those users that could not justify the top of the line
RP-605Z but also had needs the RP-600Z could not meet. It was a successful system
and made improvements to the previous models, especially in the fuser system
which was more reliable. The RP-603Z was built on a table top chassis, so it
was much more compact than the RP-605Z. This same RP-603Z chassis was used for
the next series of Microfilm Reader Scanners like the MS-2000, MicroSP 2000 and
the eventual superstar of the industry, the Minolta MS-6000 & MS-6000 MKii.
Please feel
free to contact me regarding Micrographic solutions or for technical support on
these or other Micrographic Systems. Evis Beaton evis@microfilmworld.com
Evis
Beaton is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Microfilmworld.com and has over
25 years of experience in the Microfilm Industry working as a field service
technician, technical specialist and service manager for Minolta’s then largest
microfilm dealer in the USA. Evis has an ASEET (Electronic Engineering
Technology) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis on
e-commerce organizations.
© Evis Beaton All Rights Reserved