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:
1 Print a PCL Configuration Page from the Control Panel Test Menu.
2 Open 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.
3 Remove the toner cartridge.
4 Open 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
