Durst Printo - what is this part for?

I recently acquired a Printo, and it came with these thin stainless steel strips, which were not installed. They have slots which match the set of screws shown in the attached picture. Does anyone know what they're for and which way they should be installed? It looks like the previous owner didn't use them, so they can't be too critical to the function of the unit...

Thanks,

Jim

Jim, this could be correct, bit hard to figure out from the additional sheet attached to the manual.

I think this is a "skimmer plate".

On my unit, which I bought almost as soon as they came out, so it's an early one, these plates are attached.

The additional sheet goes like this:-

"Quote

Cleaning the components
Water with differing degrees of hardness may be the cause of wear on the bottom squeegee roller. In order to prevent this from happening, we suggest to remove the skimmer plate from the rack whenever a Printo tank is being used as a rinse module. This will increase the roller's working life substantially, whilst print quality is going to be the same.

The skimmer plate is not to be removed if Printo tanks are used as processing or fix bath modules. In these cases there won't be any wear on the roller because of the chemistry's effect as a lubricant.

Note: Starting with serial No. A 6173 the skimmer plate is no longer available.

Unquote"

Looking at your picture I can tell that the rack is upside down. The stainless steel plate comes off and you attach the skimmer plate inside, with the stainless plate outside.

If you turn the skimmer plate in your picture around 180 degrees, then place the screw holes over the screw holes of the stainless plate, then it should go in. The skimmer plate curves inwards.

According to the manual to do this you need to loosen the screws holding the squeegee rollers and remove the lower roller to allow enough room. Looking at my rack I think it may be doable without removing a squeegee roller, maybe!

Mick.

Jim, I hope that your squeegee rollers are being kept apart by either the correct plastic spacer, or some other handy bit of plastic at either end.

If you don't, then you will be up for a set of squeegee rollers pronto!

Mick.

Thanks, Mick, that makes sense. When I got it, there were no spacers on the squeegees :rolleyes:, but I managed to pry the rollers apart without too much damage and have since used pieces of plastic as you suggested. At least the unit I'm using for the developer has squeegees in better shape than the blix ones, which are missing a couple of chunks here and there.

According to my manual, the squeegee rollers are subject to wear. Replacement rollers are available - order code AD52.113

Whether they are available, could be an interesting point these days!

I've had my unit for close to 19 years now, I bought it new and I've never had to change anything. It has done a lot of work, but cleaning it after each processing session, colour or B&W, is probably the reason it's still alright.

Do you have a manual?

Mick.

No manual - took me a while to clue in that the paper goes in emulsion down

I might approach a local firm that can recover rubber rollers and see what they'd charge to redo a set in Nitrile or EPDM...

The English part of the manual is nine pages plus the extra additional page makes ten A4 sheets.

I can photocopy them down a bit, possibly scan them, then send them to you, I think.

Or fax them.

Mick.

Thanks for the offer, Mick. I found a French version online, and I think I've gleaned what I need to know from that.

Cheers,

Jim

Mick Fagan said:

According to my manual, the squeegee rollers are subject to wear. Replacement rollers are available - order code AD52.113

Whether they are available, could be an interesting point these days!
Mick.

Click to expand...

I spoke to the UK Durst service agents / parts suppliers recently and apparently these are stock items for them.....expensive though, something like £89 / pair, if I remember rightly. Northern Photo:


www.northernphoto.co.uk