How to Clean Printer Drum Cartridges
View PDF | Print View
by: mark_andrews
Total views: 16
Word Count: 582
Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 Time: 10:50 PM
In some instances, printouts in the office have lines or blotches in different areas of the paper, resulting in messy documents. These are not acceptable, particularly when reports to management and potential investors are being printed. When this happens, users need to remove Brother ink cartridges and printer drum assembly for cleaning. Cleaning printer drums can be risky and can cause damage when performed incorrectly. To prevent printing problems, clean the drum unit by first turning off the printer. Open the printer cover to reveal the drum unit assembly, hold the handle and pull the item out of the device. Release the lever found on the left side of the printer to completely pull the component out of the printer. Place the assembly on a flat surface with newspaper or scrap paper. Separate drum units and Brother ink cartridges by holding the handle of the cartridge out of the drum unit. Inspect the drum for any damage and replace when damage is seen. If no damage is observed, identify the color of blotches printed on the paper to identify which drum is producing stains. If the blotch is magenta, the sample print must be placed in front of the magenta drum to locate the area where stain is located. Look into the area and find the mark causing the stain. Wipe the surface gently until the stain comes off. Remove remaining toner spots on all drums with cotton buds. Be careful not to scratch the surfaces to avoid damage. Carefully wipe the drum unit to remove toner and dirt particles. Reinstall all Brother ink cartridges to their original location. Return the component back to the printing device and perform a test print.
When printed pages have lines and excess blotches, it is time to perform cleaning on Brother ink cartridges and printer drum assembly. Regular cleaning is important to maintain clean prints and prevent damage. Users must not attempt to clean these components if they are not familiar with assembly parts. This is a potential risk causing damage to the printing device. Users must consult the owner’s manual prior to handling these components for specific cleaning instructions. Users must never use cleaning materials which may cause fire or electrical shock when the component is placed back to the device. Laser toners depend on electricity to transfer toners to paper, and using materials containing flammable substances can cause accidents. Never touch electrodes and hold the component through the handles. Never hold the sides of the unit to avoid damage. When cleaning drum units, carefully remove the Brother ink cartridges from the drum units and place them on disposable paper to avoid spills and stains. If toner spills on surfaces and clothes, immediately wipe the substance off with cold water. When cleaning these parts, never use sharp objects such as tweezers and pliers. Cleaning surfaces of photosensitive drums with pointed items can easily damage the component. Use soft materials such as cotton buds to get rid of toner residue. Printer drums are also photosensitive and therefore must not be overexposed to light. It is best to stay in enclosed and dim locations when cleaning these items to avoid overexposure. Photoreceptor drums are also prone to scratches; thus, fingers must never touch the surface. Oils and sweat from fingers are also acidic and could affect drum functioning. Finger acid residue may interfere with performance and result in defects. Reinstall the components back to the printing device and resume printing.
About the Author
When cleaning is done, immediately reassemble the printer drums and Brother ink cartridges.
