Re: Laser printer image ghosting

The problem I have seen quite often, and obviously moreso with printers which do not replace the drum when the toner cartridge runs out, is that the wiper blade tends to degrade. They seem to be made from a type of silcone-like plastic/rubber, which has a sharp cut edge which is used to rub against the drum to remove the excess toner. However, I have seen a number of problems develop with them.

1) They warp from the heat of the machine, and this causes them to pull away or apply uneven pressure across the surface of the drum.

2) the material hardens over time. I have successfully removed the wiper blade, flexed and bent in in each direction numerous times until it becomes flexible again, and then glued it back into place with high tack double sided tape of heat resistant glues.

3) It detaches from the anchor edge and over flexes so the edge doesn't make proper contact with the drum.

This part of the laser printing system seems to be the area which has been more highly problematic in what is usually otherwise a pretty reliable process. I haven't looked at very recent machines, but those I have dissected over the past 10-15 years seem to use similar designs in this area. I would think they could come up with a better material and attachment method to avoid this, but I suspect, since most units now use an all in one cartridge/drum unit, the manufacturers prefer the unit fail early to discourage refilling.

It's pretty environmentally wasteful, IMHO.

Happy "Live Earth" Day.

Art

Barry Watzman wrote:

I think I'd modify your comment that "Ghosting is common to all laser printers" to "Ghosting is potentially possible all laser printers". I was in the printer industry for 2 decades, and I rarely saw this problem ... only once or twice. Yes, it can happen if the drum isn't cleaned (or if toner sticks to the fuser rollers .... which isn't supposed to happen), but in fact it's rare. Possible, but rare.


Tony wrote:

Geri <Geri@xxxxxxx> wrote:

Barry,

I’m talking about horizontal images 3 inches apart. In other words, the words “printer option” would be repeated 3 inches lower on the page. Also, the problem is common in my case, twice. That's why my question, is it a HP or all laser printers problem. Should I pitch the printer and buy another or try a third cartridge?


Barry Watzman wrote:

It's not a common problem with EITHER HP or laser printers, but it can happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There are three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:

-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic scraper)

-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge

-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire

[We could be talking about different things, I'm talking about a "ghost image" vertically down the page 1 to 4 inches from the primary image. It would help to see the page.]


Geri wrote:

On my HP Laserjet 1300 I’m getting "image ghosting" (duplicating images on the same page). HP’s general answer is to replace the toner cartridge. OK, I did that the first time although the toner was only half used. Everything was like new, but now the replacement cartridge is doing the same thing with 63% of the toner remaining.

Is this a common problem with all laser printers or only HP? I’m willing to trash this HP printer just like I did with the HP Inkjet that was eating ink cartridges.

Comments and/or suggestions please.

BTW, I’m using HP’s recommended toner and paper.

Thanks, Geri


Geri
If the exact vertical distance from the start of the real image and the start of the ghost is 2.94 inches (75.4mm) then this is a toner cartridge problem. If it is 2.47 inches (62.8mm) then it is a fuser problem.
Both cartridges and fusers can cause ghosting but 95% of the time it is a toner cartridge.
Ghosting is common to all laser printers but should only occur when the cartridge is at the end of its life but usually does not occur at all.
Try to get the cartridge replaced under warranty.
Good luck.

Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

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