Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
enough fi lters, so the toner particles can pass through them and get into the air where they
become a health hazard to breathe.
Several specifi c parts of a laser printer can accumulate toner, making them less effective
over time. Depending on the age and model of the printer, though, these parts may or may
not reachable. Consult the manual that came with the printer to fi nd out what you can do
to clean your laser printer.
Consumables
is another name for the ink or toner cartridges in a printer, the paper, and
any other parts that regularly must be replaced, such as a felt cleaning pad on some models
of laser printers.
When considering what printer to buy, it is prudent to look at the
TCO
, or
total cost of ownership
. This includes not only the initial cost of the printer,
but the cost of the consumables.
Each printer has a specifi c procedure for replacing consumables; follow the instructions
for your model. Here are some general tips, though:
Inkjet Tips
On an inkjet printer, the printer will tell you when it's low on ink or completely out.
You may also notice degradation in image quality or a missing, faded, or striped color
on some printouts.
The printer may have a sequence of buttons you have to press to bring the ink cartridge
into view where it's accessible, or the cartridge may move into an accessible position
when you open the lid.
There is usually a lever or button you press to release the old cartridge. Then it slides
out of a groove or socket.
Unwrap the new cartridge, and remove the piece of tape that is covering the metal
contacts on the bottom of the cartridge. Insert it fi rmly into the socket in the same
orientation as the one you removed. Then close the printer.
The printer may ask you to print a test page, or to clean or align the print heads. Do
whatever it suggests. Check the manual as needed.
Laser Tips
On a laser printer, the printer will indicate when it's getting low on toner. At this
point, you may be able to get a bit of extra life out of the cartridge by taking it out and
shaking it gently from side to side. Don't turn it upside down or tilt it, or toner may fall
out. Handle it very gently.
A new toner cartridge may have multiple pieces of tape or plastic guards on it to
prevent toner leakage. Make sure you remove them all before inserting the cartridge.
The printer may recognize the new toner cartridge immediately, or you may have to
use the printer's menu system to let it know that it has new toner.
