Printer Troubleshooting Guide to Fixing Common Problems and Getting the Most Out of Them

A very common frustration among many users is that floating powder (unfused toner) will appear on their printed sheet, so that the image is easily smeared or will come off when touched.

• Temperature & Pressure - If the fuser unit (fuser is the last part of the printing process where the toner attaches to the paper) doesn’t get to the proper temperature or doesn’t provide enough pressure, the toner can’t stick to the paper.
• Using a Different Kind of Toner - If you buy a low-quality toner that doesn’t melt at the right temperature for the fuser, it will not stick to the paper.
• Media Quality - Thick Paper Sometimes, thick paper does not give off enough heat to fuse the toner properly. Some papers are slightly damp, which can absorb heat and, therefore, won’t allow for proper fusing of the toner.
• Component Aging - The heat roller or pressure roller will naturally wear out over time, which decreases their thermal efficiency.

We recommend only using high-quality performance compatible toner cartridges engineered specifically for use in the following printers: Xerox WorkCentre 3335, Xerox B405, Versant 180 / 2100, HP M402 / M405/HP M428/M477/M577, and Ricoh Office Printers-Ricoh MP5055, IM4500, IMC3000- to maintain the output quality you are producing. Also, in order to ensure accurate results, it is important to regularly maintain a current fuser maintenance kit. Monitoring Key components: Fuser Assembly, Heat Roller, Pressure Rollers, Fuser Belt, Heating Element, Thermistor, and Fuser Cleaning Web. A good Fuser Unit or Fuser Film Sleeve is one way to continue to get what you expect out of your Xerox VersaLink or HP LaserJet by using professional fusing quality.

If you experience prints that are light, blurry, or inconsistent, the issue usually lies within the Imaging System.

• OPC Drum Deplete- The photo-sensitive coating on the drum has worn off and has lost the ability to maintain an electrical charge.
• Low Toner- Low toner levels or unevenly distributed within a cartridge.
• Developer Aging- The developer agent has lost its magnetic properties, causing a lack of Toner Transfer.
• Charging System Fatigue- A dirty or worn Primary Charge Roller (PCR) creates a weak charge, leading to weak images.

Solution: High volume users (Kyocera & Konica Minolta) such as Kyocera M2540dn, Kyocera M2640idw, Kyocera P2040dn, Kyocera TASKalfa 2553ci, Kyocera TASKalfa 3252ci, bizhub C258, bizhub C308, bizhub C368, bizhub 450i, bizhub C360i should proactively replace the Drum Unit and Developer Unit. Having a stock of selling drums, developer powder, and magnetic rollers (Mag Roller) will keep you working consistently. Focus on high-quality Imaging Units, Primary Charge Rollers (PCR), Doctor Blades, Cleaning Blades, and Drum Rebuild Kits for your Konica Minolta bizhub or Kyocera ECOSYS. Using an excellent Toner Chip & Developer Assembly will return your printed documents to their original sharpness and contrast.

Paper jams are the main cause of device downtime and will almost always occur due to normal wear and tear of the physical components along the paper's path.

• Pickup Roller Wear - As the rubber in the rollers gets worn, the rollers lose grip, which results in "misfeeds" or roller slippage.
• Separation Pad Aging - If the separation pad loses its friction, it will not be able to stop the multiple sheets of paper from going into the paper path at the same time.
• Media Environment - Paper that is damp or of low quality (dusty) will also create greater-than-normal prints, creating friction and static electricity.
• Debris Obstruction - Bits of torn paper and bits of staples can get stuck in the machine, blocking sensors and rollers.

Best Practice Solution: Routine replacement of the Pickup Roller & the Separation Pad is the best way to ensure smooth paper feed operations. We also supply specialized Paper Feed Kits & Feed Rollers for Xerox & HP equipment that will be very durable & help improve the paper feed. Essential replacement parts include the Separation Roller, the Cassette Pickup Roller, the Bypass Feed Roller, the Transfer Roller, the Registration Roller & the Paper Exit Sensors. The very busy HP LaserJet Enterprise or Xerox WorkCentre models will realise a lot of benefit from having a New Roller Replacement Kit & a Solenoid Check completed to maintain the precise timing & paper separation.

The Honhai Team has several "Best Practices" that can assist you in achieving the longest life possible from your printables as well as reduce your long-term operating costs.

• Match Your Consumables: Always make sure you are only using Compatible Parts & Consumables that exactly match the Device being used to prevent ongoing technical issues.
• Monitor Wear Cycles: Do not wait until catastrophic failures occur. Periodically inspect Wear Parts, such as rollers and blades, in accordance with their rated page yield.
• Environment Control: Store all paper products in a cool, dry location. Paper that is damp will be a major cause of fusing problems and cause paper jams.
• Avoid Overloading: Operate within the recommended monthly duty cycles. Oversupply and Excessive Continued demands will cause accelerated wear and tear on the Fuser Unit & Power Supply.

If you establish an aggressive commitment to using only high-quality components, starting from your Toner cartridge through to your Fusing Belt, your operations will be able to sustain a consistently high yield and meet the expectations of your global customers.