Performing a Half Self-Test and Drum Rotation

This document assists in the performance of both a half self-test functional check and a drum rotation functional check.

The electrophotographic process can be subdivided into the following stages:

Cleaning (removes excess toner from the drum surface)

Conditioning (places a uniform electrical charge on the drum)

Writing (the laser strikes the surface of the drum to create an electrostatic image)

Developing (forms the toner image on the drum)

Transferring (charges transfer the image to the print media)

Fusing (heat and pressure produces a permanent image)

The purpose of the half self-test check is to determine which process is malfunctioning. Perform the test as follows:

Print a configuration page using the following steps:

Press MENU until INFORMATION MENU appears.

Press ITEM until PRINT CONFIGURATION appears.

Press SELECT to print the configuration page.

Open the top cover after the paper advances halfway through the printer (about five seconds after the main motor begins rotation). The leading edge of the paper should have advanced past the print cartridge.

Remove the print cartridge.

Open the print cartridge's drum shield to view the drum?s surface.

If a dark and distinct toner image is present on the drum's surface, assume that the first four functions of the electrophotographic process are functioning (cleaning, conditioning, writing, and developing), and troubleshoot the failure as a transfer or fusing problem.

If no image is present on the photosensitive drum, perform the drum rotation described in the section below.

Drum rotation functional check

The photosensitive drum, located in the print cartridge, must rotate for the print process to work. The photosensitive drum receives its drive from the main gear assembly. Follow the steps below to determine whether the drum is rotating.

Open the top cover.

Remove the print cartridge.

Mark the cartridge's drive gear with a felt-tipped marker. Note the position of the mark.

Install the print cartridge and close the top cover. The start-up sequence should rotate the drum enough to move the mark.

Open the printer and inspect the gear that was marked in step 3. Verify that the mark moved. If the mark did not move, inspect the main gear assembly to make sure that it meshes with the print cartridge gears. If the drive gears function, and the drum does not move, replace the print cartridge.

NOTE: This test is especially important if refilled print cartridges are in use.