Minolta copier problem?

I have a minolta di 351f. I cannot get the network to connect to it. When I try to ping the copier's network card (I have a static address set that is within the correct range for my switch and router) only rarely does the copier answer, usually it "times out" When I look at the network switch, the light over the place where the printer communicates with the switch blinks continually, day and night without regard to what we are doing with the copier. We cannot send print jobs over the network. The "network guy" from the copier company came over and said that the port on the switch was bad. However, no matter which port I plug the cable into, the light flickers continually. Also, whatever I plug into the "bad" ports works perfectly. In short, I don't think the switch is bad. I am almost completely a rookie about these things, but I am wondering if the network card in the copier is bad

Would really appreciate any help.