Hello Guy, > Or the drum isn't getting charged in the first place, before light > exposure then toner dusting. > A way to check this: while the machine is in mid-copy, cut the power > then open it up and look at the drum. > Is there a toner image adhered to the drum section between where the > surface is image-exposed then dusted, and where it rolls against the > paper?
As I alluded to in my OP I did do this test. When I looked at the drum after I start getting normal prints there is an image. However, at Grant's suggestion I also looked at it when the printer was first turned on. At this point there is very minimal toner adhering to the drum. As I print more and more an appropriate amount of toner seems to adhere to the drum explaining the improving picture. What I am trying to determine is now if this is a problem with a component in the cartridge (drum, corona wire, etc.) or is it with the HV supply board. > Btw, if the fuser roller isn't heated enough, the symptom is that the > paper comes out with a normal image, except > the toner wipes off with finger swipe. Since it's just sitting on the > paper not stuck to it. It is definitely not doing that. The toner is stuck on nice and tight - once it eventually gets there. > > Old toner cartridges should be given a strong end-to-end shaking before > being put into use. Toner can settle in > lumps and block the path to the duster. I have done this multiple times. However, the problem reappears. > While you have the machine apart, always clean all the optical path > lens surfaces. Dust greatly reduces the print contrast. And because > most machines use fan-blown air, dust gets everywhere that isn't > absolutely airtight sealed. I have done that as well. However, given that the quality improves with repeated printing and then falls back to none after 5 to 10 minutes of cooling I don't think dust is an issue. > One other tip that might be useful. Very commonly with old photocopiers > and laser printers the rubber pick-up and paper feed rollers lose their > 'tack' and slip on the paper. I found that briefly soaking them in > teatree oil restores the 'tack' quite well. It soaks in and seems to > have the right spread of rubber-soluble oils to keep the surface a > little tacky. > Anyone else found other solvent/oils with similar effect? I have never tried the oil/solvent trick. However, I did replace all the rollers on this printer due to a paper jam issue so I don't think that is the problem. Thanks for the input and the suggestions. -Ali -Ali
