Charging roller. Troubleshooting Charge Rollers

When refilling and restoring laser printer cartridges, the most important step in the work is cleaning the cartridges from old toner and various other contaminants. The print quality of a refilled / remanufactured cartridge largely depends on how carefully and with the observance of technology the cleaning procedure was carried out. As in any business, a lot here depends on the tool used in the work, auxiliary equipment and materials. So let's discuss what needs to be done and what needs to be used to clean the cartridges.

Cleansing Basics

Today, the market offers hundreds of a wide variety of cleaning products, the manufacturers of which, without stinting on big words, promise to increase productivity, restore and increase the life of the components that they are designed to clean. However, studies conducted by laboratories have shown that, nevertheless, the use of such an agent as dry ionized filtered compressed air, which can be considered the main (basic) cleaning device, provides the best results.

In addition, studies, as well as thousands of practical experiments, have confirmed the opinion that the less you work on cartridge components, the better, since their "native" properties in this case do not undergo any kind of changes. A cartridge is a complex system of interconnected components, so it is important to maintain the original balance of the entire system and the properties of its individual components for as long as possible. An unsuccessful exposure or rough cleaning can backfire and adversely affect the entire system. The key to effective cleaning is preventing breakdowns and maintaining the balance of the entire system.

If you carry out regular procedures for cleaning the cartridge, and do it according to a well-established scheme (i.e., according to a proven technology), there is no need for extreme measures. Cleaning with dry ionized filtered compressed air is recommended for all types of cartridges, as does not have a chemical and constructive effect, unless, of course, the cleaning is carried out correctly. Cleaning agents can accumulate or leave a residue that is harmful to the cartridge as a whole and to its individual components. An example is the use of solvents to clean squeegees. Certain chemicals can leave a film on the squeegee, which can later be transferred to both the photoconductor and the PCR (Primary Charge Roller - often referred to as the charge corotron).

It is forbidden to use various cleaning, impregnating and covering agents in your work. Alcohol-based cleaners, for example, will damage the surface of the photoconductor, magnetic roller, cleaning blade, doctor blade, and the surface of some types of PCR (including OEM PCR). The individual components of the cartridge, having a direct relationship with the overall image formation process, can affect the quality of the print as a whole. Therefore, a change in the properties of the surfaces of individual components, due to chemical or mechanical effects, as a rule, significantly degrades the quality of subsequent printing.

Dry ionized compressed air

Compressed air is the most efficient and effective method for cleaning all cartridge components, as requires a minimum of time due to the fact that you cover a larger area with a cleaning nozzle than with a vacuum cleaner (vacuum cleaning). In addition, it is possible to direct air into narrow openings, which is not possible with vacuum cleaning. Fragile parts and materials such as foam and felt are difficult to clean without harming them.

However, the mere presence of compressed air is not a sufficient condition for high-quality cleaning. Oil and water contained in the air streams can be transferred to other parts of the cartridge and can significantly increase the chance of printing problems. Static electricity can cause dust and toner to stick to the surface of the cartridge, from where they, being transferred from one part to another, will contaminate the entire cartridge, and it will be extremely problematic to remove this toner and dust. By using dry, ionized compressed air, coupled with a suitable dust control system, cleaning efficiency can be greatly improved. However, appropriate attachments and protective equipment must be used, as as recommended OSHA - Health and Safety Administration (Standard 29, CFR 1910.242, paragraphs A And b) when using compressed air, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment, in particular, nozzles that regulate air pressure up to 2 bar (maximum).

Isopropyl alcohol

When cleaning cartridges, alcohol can be both good and bad. Harmless alcohol can be considered for electrical contacts and the PCR saddle. But the following can be damaged by alcohol: magnetic roller, photoconductor, PCR roller, polyurethane and silicone, from which the dosing doctor blade and cleaning blade are made. Under no circumstances should alcohol be used to clean the listed components. It is necessary to avoid getting alcohol on all kinds of proplastic gaskets and seals, as well as on felt seals: alcohol can destroy the adhesive layer and the material will “move away” from the cartridge, thereby causing printing defects and toner spillage. For best results, only 91-99% isopropyl alcohol should be used. Alcohol with a high water content, i.e. alcohol solution with a low concentration of alcohol, requires much more time to spray and leaves the surface wet for a long time. Every time you use alcohol, you need to make sure that the surface of the parts of the cartridge is dry, and this must be done before pouring the toner and assembling the cartridge. 99% alcohol is purchased from distributors of chemical products.

Vacuum cleaner

The vacuum cleaner is an alternative to dry ionized compressed air. When cleaning the cartridge with a vacuum cleaner, it is necessary to use brush attachments and special attachments for cleaning narrow crevices. During cleaning, avoid touching the surface of the drum, magnetic roller, and PCR with the nozzles. But the vacuum cleaner has one significant drawback - when using it, it is easy to damage the fragile and sensitive components of the cartridge - various seals and gaskets, a returnable squeegee film, you can tear off and push out pieces of felt seals. In addition, when using a vacuum cleaner, the electrical contacts of the cartridge can also be damaged.

Applying too much pressure to the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner while cleaning the toner hopper through the hopper can easily bend the toner sensor rod or the axis of the toner mixing paddles. If the toner sensor rod (antenna) is bent away from the magnetic shaft, this will lead to a premature display of the low toner message (Low Toner).

Lint-free cloths and brushes

Soft, lint-free wipes and cotton lint-free brushes (tampons) are great for cleaning cartridge components. The so-called "Toner Wipes" are impregnated with mineral oil, which can contaminate cartridge components and should not be used to clean the inside of the cartridge. To avoid absorption of chemical cleaners, oil and cotton fibers into cartridge components, use only dry, non-cotton cloth. "Toner wipes" can only be used to clean the outer surfaces of a fully assembled cartridge. Lint-free materials are very good for cleaning with alcohol or applying a conductive lubricant, but should not be reused afterwards.

Lubricating powder «KYNAR»

Domestic specialists often call lubricating powders talc, i.e. "talc for photodrums". These lubricating powders are produced by various manufacturers, but one of the most famous is KYNAR lubricating powder.

KYNAR is a fluorinated polymer used to "lubricate" the cleaning squeegee in remanufactured cartridges. By dusting (sprinkling) the new drum unit and the new cleaning squeegee with lubricating powder before inserting them into the cartridge, you reduce the friction between them during the first rotations. Under no circumstances should lubricating powder be allowed to come into contact with the PCR. this may cause defects in the printed image. Even a small dot of lubricating powder on the surface of the PCR will not allow the photoconductor to be charged at that location, causing the “repeated black dots” defect to occur.

Primary charge roller - PCR

PCR is one of the most important elements affecting print quality. To clean it, you must use lint-free wipes moistened with water (after wetting, the wipes should be very well wrung out and should not leave drops of water on the wiped surface). Alcohol should not be used to clean the PCR as it will alcohol can damage the PCR roller coating. The determining factors in the use of PCR are its design and dimensions. Various cleaners and polishes (including those based on wax) can make the roller shine and clean, but do not improve its properties, and can even damage the roller and other components of the cartridge.

Organic photoconductors - OPC

Dry, ionized compressed air is the best cleaning tool for imaging drums, taking care not to touch the surface of the imaging drum with your fingers. Before installing the photoconductor in the cartridge, it must be placed in a place protected from light and carefully examine the surface for possible damage. Cleaning solutions and coatings can damage the image drum, and through the image drum and the PCR roller and cleaning doctor blade. Therefore, the use of various chemicals for cleaning is undesirable.

Cleaning squeegee and dosing squeegee

The surface of the cleaning blade is a cut with a precision of less than 0.25 mm, so any abrasive action on the edge of the blade, such as contact with cleaning wipes, can dull the cut of the blade and lead to deterioration of its properties. Cleaning squeegees work best if they are not cleaned, polished or treated at all, as all this will not prolong their service life, but, on the contrary, will cause numerous problems (formation of a film on the surface of the photoconductor and on the surface of the PCR, an increase in the gap between the squeegee and the squeegee and, as a result, deterioration in the cleaning of the squeegee, inversion of the squeegee, etc.). The use of pastes, various coating agents for drums and various impregnating compounds can lead to the accumulation of these agents on the surface of the squeegee and the impossibility of removing them even with compressed air, i.e. to the impossibility of further use of the squeegee. Therefore, it is better not to use them.

The same applies to alcohol, which, by the way, is often included in the above funds. Numerous tests show that polyurethane squeegees absorb alcohol and become softer. As a result, any abrasive (cleaning) effect on the softened squeegee damages its working surface (cut). Alcohol absorbed into the squeegee can also affect the photoconductor, so you should avoid alcohol exposure to the squeegee and clean it only with dry compressed ionized air.

When installing a new squeegee, its surface must be treated either with a lubricating powder (talc), for example, KYNAR "ohm (see above), or with a high-quality toner, which will reduce the friction force between the squeegee and the photodrum. To lubricate the squeegee, it is necessary to immerse its working edge (cut ) into the lubricant and do not smear the lubricant on the surface of the doctor blade, so as not to create an abrasive effect.After installing the drum unit and doctor blade, rotate the drum (about 6 revolutions in the direction of normal rotation of the drum) until the lubricant settles into the waste toner box .

Magnetic shaft

It is best to use dry, ionized compressed air to clean the magnetic roller. Hold the shaft by the axle or use clean latex gloves. Touching the surface of the magnetic roller with your fingers can leave greasy spots on it, which may cause printing defects (background defects or blurry image defects that repeat with the circumference of the magnetic roller). It is not recommended to use chemical cleaners and coatings to clean the magnetic roller. Studies have shown that liquid cleaners used on magnetic rollers can cause poor print quality, and cleaner-treated magnetic rollers show noticeably poorer print quality than untreated magnetic rollers.

The presence of a solvent layer on the surface of the magnetic roller can cause the following image defects:

- pale print;

- blurry image all over the sheet;

- too bold characters;

- background image.

It may also cause the toner to spill out of the cartridge.

Electrical contacts

When refilling the cartridge, make sure that all electrical contacts are free of dirt and toner. Dirt on the cartridge contacts can cause the magnetic roller and photoconductor to charge poorly. Contact cleaning is best done with 91-99% isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth. Then a thin layer of conductive grease must be applied to the places where it was originally applied by the manufacturer.

Conductive Cartridge Grease

A conductive lubricant is used in most cartridges to reduce friction at electrical contact points. When using conductive grease, the following basic rule must be followed: "Use grease only where it was originally applied by the manufacturer."

Lubricant application is different for each cartridge. For detailed information on the use of conductive grease, refer to cartridge refilling instructions, which are sometimes issued by major manufacturers of compatible consumables. When refilling the cartridge, it is necessary to remove the old lubricant with a brush or cloth that does not contain cotton fibers. Only then should a new lubricant be applied to the same surface. If a cartridge element is being replaced that has been lubricated, then a portion of the lubricant must be applied to the new element on the same surface as on the previous element.

Apply lubricant very carefully. Lubrication should be applied in a thin layer, the thickness of which is comparable to the thickness of a notebook sheet. A wooden brush tip can be used to apply a metered coat of lubricant. More lubricant can spread to other surfaces, i.e. stain adjacent parts of the cartridge, which will adversely affect print quality.

The conductive lubricant must be retained on the lubricated surface and must "work" during the full cycle of the cartridge, i.e. until the next reboot.

Despite the fact that the main purpose of the lubricant is to provide better conductivity, it, nevertheless, should not increase the friction force, i.e. its use should not increase the resistance of rubbing parts.

Adding a conductive lubricant in the hope of increasing the charge on the magnetic roller or photoconductor does not work, although there are known attempts to do so in the event of a defect such as dark printing. There is an opinion among a certain circle of experts that if a “dark print” defect occurs, lubricating the contacts of the magnetic roller, PCR and the ground contact of the photoconductor will solve the problem and get rid of the dark background and dark image. But actually it is not.

As a conclusion of this review, we present to your attention a summary table (Table 1), which provides recommendations on the use of various means, materials and devices for cleaning various elements of laser printer cartridges.

Table 1. Recommendations for the use of tools and methods for cleaning cartridge elements

What is a laser cartridge charge roller. And what is it for.

Should I change it when refilling the cartridge?

E Another important component of almost any laser cartridge is charge roller (Primary Charge Roller (PCR)). Its work is directly related to the work of the photodrum, because it charges the drum with negative particles and also cleans its glossy photoconductive surface from the afterimage.

Externally, the charge roller is a metal rod with a rubberized conductive surface (foam rubber or rubber) filled with a porous filler.

As a consumable the charge roller is also subject to constant wear, and since its work is directly related to, its service life, as a rule, is much less than that of all other consumable parts of the cartridge, and given that the same cartridge models, but with an increased volume, make twice as many passes, then the service of this element in this case is halved.

When , it is possible to understand that the problem of poor printing is precisely in the charge roller by the stripes, dots, spots or other defects that appear on the sheet. However Not all cases require replacement.. Sometimes it is enough just to gently wipe the roller with a soft cloth, thereby cleaning its surface from contamination. This is best done with distilled water or a soapy solution, as other means can dry out the rubber surface, and the roller may become unusable.

But, if simple cleaning does not help, the roller will have to be replaced anyway. When worn, cracks, scratches, dents (if foreign objects get in) may appear on the surface of the roller, the rubberized layer may also peel off or electrical contact may disappear.
One of the most common problems with the charge roller is ghosting on the sheet and periodic repetition of different traces along the sheet. But in this case it is not always possible to be sure that this is a video. If the repetition of doubling is equal to the diameter of the drum circle - there is no doubt - this is absolutely the charge roller.

This defect indicates that the surface of the roller is either dirty (in this case, simple cleaning will help), or this problem is related to the roller itself. Here, at best, cleaning will help, at worst, the roller will have to be replaced.

Not infrequently, among the defects of the charge roller, there is a dark background along the sheet, or a completely black sheet. As a rule, there is a problem with insufficient charge on the surface of the drum. Just like in the previous case, the first step is to try to clean the surfaces of the elements, but if this does not help, then you will have to resort to replacement.

But where a simple clean will definitely not help - this is the delamination of the rubberized surface of the roller, or if the surface filler began to crumble. There are no options here - only a replacement.
But is it worth changing the charge roller, or is it much cheaper to buy a new cartridge? Definitely worth it if you only need to replace the roller itself. If, when refilling your cartridge, the master discovered that not only the roller was out of order, but also several other elements, you will most likely have to think about buying a new cartridge, which will be much more cost-effective than replacing the constituent elements of the cartridge.

If you have problems with the cartridge, it starts to print faintly, smudge paper or print any other defects, come to . Our qualified craftsmen will always help, doing everything in the best possible way!

One of the most important parts and at the same time the main consumable in a laser printer is its cartridge. Structurally, a laser printer cartridge is not such a simple device as it seems at first.

It usually consists of the following parts: photo roller, squeegee, magnetic roller, doctor blade and charge roller. In addition, not all cartridges are similar to each other, the fact is that Brother Samsung and Xerox consumables, unlike HP and Canon, use non-magnetic toner, and instead of a magnetic shaft, they are equipped with a rubber dosing shaft. It should also be added that the consumables of these three companies do not have a mining hopper and the dosage blade in them is made of metal.

Such a detail of cartridges as a squeegee is a metal frame, the edge of which is equipped with a special cleaning element with good elasticity. The main purpose of this part is to remove the toner that remains after transferring the image to a sheet of paper.

It should be noted that the squeegee has approximately the same service life as the photoconductor. Consequently, the squeegee is changed, as a rule, simultaneously with the photoshaft. This part has a felt toner seal, thanks to which the toner does not spill out of the waste bin.

Samsung cartridges deserve special attention. The fact is that, as a rule, there is no squeegee in them - instead of it, the so-called. primary charge roller, which is cleaned with a special brush.

Mining bunker

A part such as a waste toner box is a part of a cartridge designed to store waste toner. The latter gets there after cleaning from the photoconductor. At each refill, this container must be cleaned.

Photoreceptor

First you need to answer the following question: what is a photoconductor? A part of this type for cartridges is an ultra-sensitive "heart", which is a hollow cylinder, for the manufacture of which aluminum is used. From above this product is covered with a dielectric layer.

The photoreceptor can be located both in the printer itself and in its cartridge. On some devices, for example, on Brother equipment, the cartridge consists of two parts - toner and drums. One part contains the drum unit and the other part contains the toner. They change independently of each other - as they wear out.

The function of photodrums is as follows: after sending a sheet of paper for printing, the primary charge shaft, pressed against the photo shaft, transfers a charge with a minus sign to it and, at the same time, the ability to repel toner particles (powder in the cartridge). All those areas that were marked with a laser beam change their charge to positive, as a result of which they attract toner to themselves. Thus, the photo shaft forms a visible imprint of the image sent for printing.

At the finish, paper with toner stuck to its surface passes through a high-temperature oven, which makes it possible to securely fix the toner on the sheet. In general, a photo shaft is the most capricious, but at the same time an expensive part of a laser printer of any model. As a rule, it should not be touched, as this can lead to a sharp deterioration in the quality of subsequent printing.

Corotron

The corotron is a thin wire to which a high voltage is applied. The purpose of this part is to transfer charge, resulting in the release of some ozone. With the help of a coronator, the surface of the photodrum is electrified, on the surface of which, in turn, a primary charge appears. Corotrons in the form of wire were used in almost all analog copiers, but now they are used much less often than before. Many manufacturers have switched to using charge rollers. But even today, wire coronators are installed in Brother printers and MFPs.

Infecting Roller

The charge shaft is a product consisting of a metal core enclosed in a rubber sheath. The main task of this part is to charge the photoconductor with particles with a negative charge. In addition, the primary charge roller in Samsung cartridges also serves to clean the photoconductors from all kinds of debris.

Photoshaft shutter

This part of the cartridge is for protection purposes so that the photoconductor inside the cartridge is not damaged during shipping. It protects it from dust and other negative factors. When the cartridge is installed in the printer, the shutter opens and allows the device's laser to charge the photoreceptor unhindered. Therefore, in order to gain access to the phototube when you remove the cartridge from the device, you must first move this protective shutter.

This element of the cartridge is designed to uniformly transfer toner microparticles to the surface of the photo shaft. The magnetic shaft is made, as a rule, in the form of a hollow tube containing a magnetic core. At the same time, in Samsung's consumables, the magnetic roller is called the "Developer Roller" and consists of a composition that resembles high-quality rubber in its properties. There is also a so-called. magnetic roller bushings, which are plastic bushings that set the gap between the magnetic roller and the photoreceptor.

Dosing Blade

A part called the dispense blade is designed to create an even layer of toner on the magnetic roller. For its manufacture, metal or plastic is used, which has good elasticity. In addition to mechanical wear, the doctor blade is also susceptible to dirt. For this reason, it must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned of any foreign particles. In addition, the doctor blade has a smooth surface, which is necessary in order to ensure even distribution of the colorant.

Chip

Such an important part of a laser printer as a cartridge chip is able to read the number of printed sheets of paper. By itself, it is a small flash memory that is filled with information related to the operation of this consumable. For example, the chip contains information about the serial number of the cartridge, as well as its type and date of manufacture. Thus, the chip on the cartridge is a kind of its "passport", especially since it can warn the user that the toner has run out.

And on Xerox and Samsung printers, the chip can completely block the further operation of the device if the chip tells it that the toner has run out. And in order to refill a cartridge with such a chip, you will either need to change it or reflash the device itself. Users of HP and Canon printers are deprived of such problems - the device will tell them that the consumable has run out, but the chip will not stop the device.

Therefore, the device of the laser model printer cartridge is rather complicated. The main thing is not to forget that the photoconductor for the cartridge in this case is its main element, and therefore, when refilling, it should be handled with extreme care. An important difference between cartridges designed for a laser printer and an inkjet is that they are easier to refill and, if necessary, any part can be changed in them. And this, despite the fact that they are not intended by the manufacturer either for disassembly or for refueling. At the same time, with a competent and responsible approach, you can disassemble such a cartridge yourself, without resorting to the help of craftsmen.

There are two main compartments in the cartridge - the waste compartment and the toner compartment.

The main components of the mining compartment:

1 - Organic Photo Conductor(OPC) Drum, Drum (OPC, Drum, Photoreceptor). It is an aluminum cylinder coated with an organic light-sensitive and photoconductive material that is able to preserve the image applied by a laser beam.

2 - Primary Charge Roller PCR (charge roller, primary charge roller). Provides uniform negative drum charge.

3 - Wiperblade Viper (Cleaning Blade, squeegee, cleaning blade). Cleans the drum of toner residue that has not been transferred to the paper. Structurally made in the form of a metal frame (Stamping) with a polyurethane plate (Blade) at the end.

4 - recovery blade. Covers the area between the drum and the mining bin. The Recovery Blade lets the toner left on the drum inside the hopper, preventing the toner from leaking in the opposite direction (from the hopper to the paper).

TONER COMPARTMENT

The main components of the toner compartment:

1 - Magnetic Developer Roller Magnetic shaft (Mag Roller, Developer Roller). It is made in the form of a rotating metal tube, inside of which there is a fixed magnetic core. Toner is attracted to the magnetic roller, which, before being fed to the drum, acquires a negative charge under the action of a constant / alternating voltage.

2 - Doctor Blade Doctor (Metering Blade). Provides even distribution of a thin layer of toner on the magnetic roller. Structurally made in the form of a metal frame (Stamping) with a flexible plate (Blade) at the end.

3 - Mag Roller Sealing Blade A thin plate similar in function to the Recovery Blade. Covers the area between the magnetic roller and the toner supply compartment. The Mag Roller Sealing Blade allows the toner remaining on the magnetic roller to enter the compartment, preventing toner from leaking in the opposite direction (from the compartment to the outside).

4 - Toner Reservoir Toner hopper. Inside this hopper is the "working" toner, that is, the one that will be transferred to the paper during the printing process. In addition, the Toner Agitator Bar is built into the hopper - a wire frame designed to mix the toner.

5 - Seal Seal. In a new cartridge, the toner hopper is covered with a special seal, which prevents toner from spilling while transporting the cartridge. This seal is removed prior to use.

The principle of laser printing

The figure below shows the cartridge in section. When you turn on the printer, all components of the cartridge begin to move - the cartridge is being prepared for printing. This process is similar to the printing process, but the laser beam is not applied to the drum and no image is formed. Then the components of the cartridge stop - the printer enters the Ready state (ready to print).

When you send an image to print, the following processes take place in the cartridge:

1. Drum charging

The PCR evenly coats the surface of the rotating drum with a negative charge.

2. Exposure

The negatively charged surface of the drum passes under the laser beam. The beam is focused on the drum and is activated only in those places where toner is to be applied in the future. Under the action of a laser, the photosensitive surface of the drum partially loses its negative charge. Thus, the laser inflicts on the drum an image prototype in the form of a weakened negative charge.

3. Applying toner

At this stage, the prototype image on the drum is converted into a visible toner image, which will then be transferred to paper. The toner located near the magnetic roller is attracted to its surface under the action of a permanent magnet, from which the core of the roller is made. When the magnetic shaft rotates, the toner on its surface passes through a narrow slot formed by the doctor and the shaft. As a result, the toner on the magnetic roller is electrified, acquiring a negative charge. Negatively charged toner sticks to areas of the drum that have been exposed to light. The doctor also ensures the uniformity of the toner layer on the magnetic roller.

4. Transferring toner to paper

By continuing to rotate, the drum, on which the toner image has already been applied, is in contact with the paper. On the reverse side, the paper is in contact with the Transfer Roller, which carries a positive charge. As a result, negatively charged toner particles are attracted to the paper. It turns out the image “poured” with toner on paper.

5. Pinning an image

The paper with the "poured" toner image moves further to the fusing mechanism. This mechanism consists of two adjoining shafts between which the paper passes. The lower shaft (Lower Pressure Roller) presses the paper against the upper shaft (Upper Fuser Roller). The top roller is heated, and upon contact with it, the toner particles are melted and baked onto the paper.

6. Drum cleaning

Some of the toner does not transfer to the paper and remains on the drum. The drum must be cleaned of toner residue. This function is performed by the viper. All the toner remaining on the drum is scraped off by the wiper into the waste bin. At the same time, Recovery closes the area between the drum and waste bin, preventing toner from spilling onto the paper.

7. "Erasing" an image

At this stage, the prototype of the image applied by the laser beam is “erased” from the surface of the drum. PCR uniformly covers the surface of the drum with a negative charge, restoring the charge in those places where it was reduced under the influence of a laser. Any of the known cartridges includes several different blades, each of which performs an important and necessary function. The cleaning of the photoconductor, the dosing of the toner, the sealing of the cartridge bins depend on the blades. During operation, any defect in any of the blades, whether it be the OPC Cleaning Squeegee Blade, Toner Dispense Blade, or Magnetic Roll Sealing Blade, can damage the cartridge.

Image drum cleaning blade (Wiper blade)

The cleaning blade is used to clean the drum unit of residual toner that has not been transferred to the paper during the image transfer process. The surface quality of the cleaning blade, the sharpness of the edges and the exact dimensions are very important for the normal operation of the cartridge.

Toner dispensing blade (Doctor blade)

The polyurethane doctor blade regulates the amount of toner that enters the magnetic roller and participates in the process of triboelectric charging of the toner to ensure accurate image transfer to the drum unit. The surface finish of the dispensing blade, hardness and dimensional accuracy are important for the normal operation of the cartridge.

Magnetic shaft sealing blade

The magnetic roller seal blade seals the toner hopper and prevents toner from spilling onto the paper. The magnetic roller sealing blade is easily damaged during cartridge remanufacturing and must be replaced in this case.

OPC Drum Sealing Blade

The drum seal blade is used as a seal between the OPC drum unit and the waste toner box to prevent toner from spilling onto the paper, creating a "splatter" effect when printing. The structure of the material, accurate and correct dimensions, as well as the quality of the blade point are important for the normal operation of the cartridge.

Primary Charge Roller (PCR)

The primary charge roller is used to charge the drum unit with a uniform negative charge, while erasing the old charge.

Magnetic Roll (MagRoll)

The pickup roller, together with the toner dispensing blade, charges the toner with a negative charge and transfers it to the photoconductor, thus playing an essential role in the imaging process. If the toner is unevenly charged or deposited unevenly on the surface of the magnetic roller, the result will be a light print and a change in print density. Constant wear of the magnetic roll is one of the biggest problems for remanufacturers. The magnetic roller is the basis for overall print quality and thus has a major impact on the overall performance of the cartridge.

The laser printer cartridge is a rather complicated device, consisting of many components. In general, it consists of: a toner compartment, a waste toner compartment (otkhodnik), body elements and parts that are involved in transferring an image to a sheet of paper. The toner box is the hopper that contains the toner used in printing. It also contains a built-in part (activator) designed to agitate the toner so that it, in turn, is evenly distributed inside the hopper.

All components of the replacement cassette are subject to wear, especially with intensive use. In our article about remanufactured cartridges, we discussed some points regarding the replacement of components that have failed. It is necessary to change not only the photo shaft, but also other spare parts that contribute to the transfer of the image. Let's talk about them in more detail.

OPC Drum (Organic Photo Conductor (OPC) Drum)
This component is rightfully the most expensive part of a laser cartridge. Since it is she who is the most complex element in its design. The base of the photo shaft is an aluminum cylinder on which several layers of a special coating are based. The first of which is made of a light-conducting material (dielectric), followed by layers that generate and transfer charge. Previously, the photosensitive layer was made from various selenium compounds, but nowadays this is a rarity. Amorphous flint is the basis of organic compounds that are used today. By the way, it is worth noting that one of the main differences between photoconductors lies in their diameter. The larger the volume of the cartridge, the larger, of course, the diameter of the photo shaft.

The torque of the photoshaft is realized by means of a gear transmission. Accordingly, different models of cartridges use different gears. Thus, the photoconductor is a unique component, despite the fact that they are all very similar.Due to the different structure, the principle of operation may differ, but the basic processes remain the same. Let's consider the most common of them.

With the help of an optical-mechanical system of lenses and mirrors, the laser is directed to the photo shaft and outlines (illuminates) the future image on it with a weakly negative charge. After that, toner is transferred from the magnetic roller to the exposed areas, forming a print that will be transferred to paper. It is desirable that the paper is of high quality, as even the smallest particles of dust can damage the drum and it will not last long.

Store the refilled cartridge in a soft and opaque container. As a rule, after every 3-4 refills, the photosensitive layer is already heavily worn out, and the print becomes faint, even if the cartridge is refilled. In order to return the former brightness - replacement of the photoconductor is simply necessary.

Primary charge roller (PCR - Primary Charge Roller)

The primary charge shaft is a part that no laser cartridge can do without. This component charges the photo shaft with a negative and uniform charge. The design of the primary shaft is very simple - it is a metal core enclosed in a rubber sheath. Sometimes, for example, in Samsung cartridges, the charging roller also serves as a cleaner of the photo roller from toner residues, paper dust or other debris. It also removes the residual charge that remains on the photosensitive layer. If this component is damaged, printing errors such as duplicate text may occur. The reason for this is that a damaged charge roller does not completely erase the residual charge from the photoconductor. Breakage of this part is a very rare case. But, nevertheless, it is simply necessary to thoroughly clean this shaft, as it is subject to constant contamination with paper dust and toner.

Magnetic Shaft (Mag Roller)

The purpose of the magnetic roller is to transfer the right amount of toner to the photocell. The structure of this component can be very diverse depending on the manufacturer of the cartridge. Very often, in Hp or Canon cassettes, the magnet is a metal shaft, on top of which a special layer is applied. It is worth noting that the magnetic shafts of these manufacturers are very sensitive to mechanical damage. But this component in Samsung replaceable cassettes is made of a special rubber material, the service life of which is determined not only by its contamination, but also, of course, by the quality of the toner used. Since this part performs a very important function, both the print quality and the operation of the entire cartridge as a whole depend on its work. Regular care of the magnetic roller will ensure trouble-free operation of the laser cartridge and good printing. But only under the following conditions: the use of high-quality toner, the avoidance of mechanical damage and the implementation of all refilling and restoration procedures by an experienced specialist who knows the technology for performing these works.

Squeegee (Wiper Blade)

The squeegee is the part that removes toner residue from the photoconductor. The design of the squeegee consists of two parts: metal - with which it is attached to the body of the replaceable cassette, and a polyurethane blade - which is pressed against the photo shaft and performs the main cleaning function. The polyurethane part is sufficiently elastic, which allows it to be pressed tightly against the photocell without causing any damage to it. The correct operation of all components of the cartridge, especially the photoconductor, depends on the condition of the blade itself. Since they are always in contact, any damage to the squeegee will immediately be reflected in the state of the photocell. If the laser cartridge is restored, then this component must be changed to a new one. After all, after the photoconductor, it is the second in terms of wear rate.
Separately, it is worth noting that there are replaceable cassettes in which there is no waste toner compartment, respectively, and there is no squeegee either. Usually these are models of the brands Brother, Samsung, Xerox, etc. The toner that remains on the photoconductor is cleaned off by the charge roller. And the charge shaft is cleaned with a special dust collector brush.

Doctor Blade

The doctor blade is used to evenly distribute the toner along the magnetic roller. Most often, the dispenser is made of elastic plastic (on HP, Canon cartridges) or metal (Samsung, Xerox). In order for the toner to be distributed evenly, the surface of the doctor blade must be smooth, without mechanical damage. Those blades that are made of plastic, as a rule, last a very long time, as they do not experience heavy loads. Such parts wear out most often due to poor quality toner. But it is worth noting that these components on Samsung and Xerox laser cartridges wear out quite quickly, as they are made of metal, which, in turn, simply grinds off. The process of cleaning the doctor blade must be timely and, most importantly, of high quality, as this greatly affects the print quality and the condition of other components of the cartridge.

Felt seals (Felt Shet)

Felt seals of the magnetic shaft, squeegee, as well as other components of the laser cartridge are designed to isolate the working mechanisms of the cartridge from the body parts. One of the main tasks of such seals is to seal the toner compartment and the housing as a whole. They are also used in other cartridge assemblies that need sealing. The shape, size and materials from which they are made can be very diverse, depending on the purpose for which they are used. Due to their sealing function, the toner does not spill out from under various components. If the felt seal is worn out, this may cause toner to spill inside the printer, which may subsequently cause damage to the printer. It follows from this that it is very important to monitor their condition. And it is even more important to change them in time to increase the life of all printer components. In the process of remanufacturing cartridges, seals, of course, are replaced with new ones.