Toner cartridge

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Toner cartridge for laser printers from Hewlett-Packard

A toner cartridge is a component of electrophotography devices such as laser printers , copiers or laser fax machines . It contains the toner , some components for the printing process and a container for the excess toner.

construction

Schematic cross section of a toner cartridge

The toner mixing shaft ( English agitator bar ) transports the toner to the magnetic roll and prevents compression of the toner.

In the developing station ( English development station ) of the toner is transferred to the photoconductor drum.

The regulatory wiper ( English doctor blade ) regulates the amount of toner and supported together with the magnetic roller to charge buildup of the toner.

The drum flap ( English drum shutter ) protects the photoconductor drum from damage when the toner cartridge is not installed in the device.

The laser shaft ( English laser port ) is an opening through which the laser is directed onto the photoconductor drum.

The lower press roll ( English lower pressure roller ) produces together with the upper heating roller pressure on the paper with the fused toner.

The magnetic roller ( English magnetic developer roller is) a coated aluminum tube which rotates about a stationary magnetic core. Together with the regulating wiper, it ensures the charge build-up of the toner.

The photoconductor drum ( English OPC drum , English organic photo conductor drum ) is an aluminum tube coated with an amorphous organic semiconductor, amorphous silicon or arsenic triselenide. The coating makes it non-conductive in the dark, but conductive when exposed to light. The magnetic toner particles adhere to the unexposed and therefore charged areas of the photoconductor drum.

The loading roller ( English primary charge roller ) charges the photoconductor drum negative and eliminates any remaining positive charges.

The toner retaining sheet ( English recovery blade ) (a bopet prevented) that excess toner falls from the waste toner tank.

In the seal channel ( English seal channel ) is located at the unused toner cartridge, a sealing film, which prevents the leakage of toner.

In the toner tank ( English toner hopper ) is the unused toner. The toner tank is never completely filled to prevent the toner from compaction.

The toner sensor ( English toner low sensor bar ) is a magnetic field sensor for detecting that the toner tank is too low.

The transfer roller ( English transfer roller ) is an electrically charged roller, which charge attracts the toner particles from the photoconductor drum to the paper.

The upper heating roller ( English upper fuser roller ) heated the toner to above the melting point, so that it constantly adhering to the paper.

In the waste toner tank ( English waste bin ) the excess toner is collected.

The drum cleaning blade ( English wiper blade ) removes excess toner and attracted by the Eletrostatik dirt from the photoconductor drum.

Cartridge types

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In the trade, a distinction is made between original cartridges, compatible cartridges and rebuilt and refill toner cartridges resulting from recycled cartridges. In the case of the coloring powder of the toner cartridge - the so-called toner - a distinction is made between one-component toners, two-component toners and liquid toners. The construction and production of toner cartridges must comply with the relevant regulations, as toner powder is classified as harmful.

Rebuilt toner

With rebuild toners, the plastic housing of the toner is primarily recycled. Toner residues are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner during the recycling process. After cleaning the residues of the old toner powder, the other components, such as the exposure drum, loading roller, drum scraper and magnetic roller are replaced with new parts.

Refill toner

With so-called refill toners - refilled toner cartridges - wearing parts are not exchanged for new parts as with rebuilt toners. The existing toner cartridge is completely recycled and filled with new toner powder.

Environmental aspects

As a result of the Recycling Act , which is intended to promote the recycling of reusable waste against the background of the conservation of natural resources, recycled variants are offered in addition to original cartridges.

For every 100,000 of the millions of toner cartridges disposed of with household waste every year, 9,599 kilograms of aluminum, 40 tons of plastic and 1,000,000 liters of crude oil are destroyed. Recycled toner cartridges now account for around 40% of the market share in specialist retailers.

Standards for toner cartridges

DIN 33870 defines minimum requirements for rebuild and refill cartridges (recycling cartridges). However, very few suppliers of recycling cartridges manufacture products that conform to standards. Only standard-compliant recycling products can be objectively compared. For all other products you have to rely on the statements of the providers.

Since around 2004, some large OEM manufacturers such as Brother , Hewlett-Packard , Canon , Lexmark , Epson etc. have been supporting a new international standard: ISO / IEC 19752 (LSA letter) . This test method determines the printing performance of toner cartridges in monochrome (b / w) laser printers. It places high quality requirements on the consumables. Here is a summary of the test criteria for ISO / IEC 19752:

  • Use of a standard page (LSA letter) printed in a controlled environment with standard printer settings.
  • At least nine pieces of each cartridge are tested until they are recognized as empty by the printer (toner low message). As a result, an average value of the printing performance to be expected can be formed.
  • The cartridges and printers used come from the free market and are not special test cartridges.
  • Print quality measurements that establish an end-of-use criterion.
  • At least three cartridges are tested on three different devices in order to rule out influences due to hardware differences.
  • The printing environment is kept constant in a controlled manner as temperature and humidity fluctuations affect printing performance.
  • The test criteria represent an objective standard due to the global and industry-wide participation.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Risk factor toner dust? In: LUBW State Institute for Environment, Measurements and Nature Conservation Baden-Württemberg. July 8, 2011, accessed November 8, 2015 .
  2. ↑ Act to promote the circular economy and ensure environmentally friendly waste management http://www.bmub.bund.de/themen/wasser-abfall-boden/abfallwirtschaft/abfallpolitik/kreislaufwirtschaft/