Image System Troubleshooting
Half Self Test Functional Check
The electrophotographic process can be subdivided into the following stages:
•Cleaning (removing excess toner from drum surface)
•Conditioning (placing a uniform electrical charge on drum)
•Writing (laser strikes surface of drum to create latent image)
•Development (formation of the toner image on drum)
•Transfer (charge to transfer the image to paper)
•Fusing (heat and pressure to produce a permanent image)
The purpose of the Half Self Test Check is to determine which process is
malfunctioning. Perform the test as follows:
1Print a PCL Configuration Page from the Control Panel Test Menu.
2Open the top cover after the paper advances half-way through the printer
(about five seconds after the Main Motor begins rotation). The leading edge
of the paper should have advanced past the toner cartridge.
3Remove the toner cartridge.
4Open the toner 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 - see Chapter 5),
and troubleshoot the failure as a transfer or fusing problem.
If NO image is present on the photosensitive drum, perform the functional
checks on the following pages:
7-74