Ricoh DD4450 false "add ink"

I have set up and installed 2 of these in the past 3 months, and both have in recent weeks called in with "add ink"

It seems that they don't like standing as this was shortly after the new school year started.

Has anyone else come across this?

The problem is that the ink supply path has changed, so that it is not straight into the drum as before, but around a corner, so one cannot (like in the past) insert a long screwdriver to clear the ink path.

Any ideas??