A ton of printing problems arise from your printer’s toner powder. We review some of them in this guide, backed with their solutions.
You will be able to figure out what to do whenever you face such problems. You will also learn some strategies to prevent these printing issues. ;
Let’s dive right in:
Problem 1: Toner Running Out Way Too Fast
Running out of the toner is not a problem. The issue is when you empty it way too fast.
This brings us to one question:
Are you getting fewer pages than what is indicated in the page yield?
That is where the problem arises. Remember that page yield is not simply the number of pages you can get. It depends on what you are printing.
Toner cartridge manufacturers state their page yield based on 5% coverage of a page. That is roughly six lines in A4 size of paper. Your toner will yield fewer pages if your designs occupy more than 5% of the page.
Less say the toner page yield is 3000 pages. It means that it will print 3000 pages when the design occupies 5% of a page. If your design takes up 50% of a page, you will get ten times less yield. That is 300 pages. If you don’t understand the page yield concept, you will consider this a problem. You might think that your suppliers don’t offer what they promise.
Still, there is a possibility that your printer warns of low toner when it’s not entirely emptied. Or, indeed, you might be finishing your toner way too fast. The good thing is there are strategies to get more from your cartridges. Let’s explore those strategies.
Solutions:
1. ;Remove and Shake the Cartridge
Don’t dispose of your toner cartridge immediately after getting the low-toner warning. The accuracy of the printer toner monitor differs from printer to printer. Ensure that indeed there is no more toner before removing the cartridge.
Remove the toner and shake gently or pump it against your palm. The toner might have formed lumps inside the toner. Pumping against your harm will loosen the toner inside the cartridge. It will also help redistribute the toner. Reinsert it into your printer, and you might get some extra pages.
Only change your cartridge when you finally get faded prints. Until then, keep using that toner to the last piece.
2. ;Minimize Color Printing
Black toner tends to last longer than the color cartridge. Even more interesting is that black toner is cheaper. You will quickly run out of toner if you keep printing in color. This will increase your cost of printing. It would help to only print in color only when necessary.
3. ;Consider High-Yield Cartridges
High-yield cartridges cost slightly higher but come with reduced printing cost per page. Resort to these if ordinary cartridges seem not to work for you.
Problem 2: Blemished Prints Such as Blurring, Streaking, or Banding
Your poor prints could be linked to the toner you are using. You might be using defective toner not subjected to the correct manufacturing process. It will often result in blurring or streaking, among other common toner problems.
Solutions:
Solving these problems requires some trial and error. Note that the problem is not always related to the toner. Other issues with the printer’s internal components could also cause such problems. The solutions highlighted in this section are only specific to issues with the toner.
Let’s explore some specific problems and their solutions.
1. ;Solutions to Blank Spots
Blank spots on a printed page could arise from the toner that doesn’t melt correctly in the fuser unit. It could also arise when the fuser is not working correctly. If the fuser is in good shape, then you might be using the wrong toner. Changing your toner cartridge might solve the problem.
You might want to change the supplier if those spots arise while printing in both color and black. You might be using the wrong toner, which is not compatible with your printer.
2. ;Solutions to Lines Occurring Across the Page
Defective toner might also result in frustrating lines on the printed page. Remove the cartridge and shake it to redistribute the toner inside. Change to a new cartridge if the problem persists.
3. ;Solutions to Smudges on the Page
Your prints could also result in smudges on the page. Printing several blank pages could solve the problem. Print multiple of them continuously and see how it goes.
4. ;Solutions to Color Traces on Black Printouts
Toner problems could also extend to getting colored traces while printing in black. It could happen when your printer is dirty. It can also occur following color toner leaks.
You’d need to clean your printer to correct the mess. Also, ensure that your cartridges are not leaking. You’d need to buy new cartridges if the ones you have are leaking. Change your supplier if the problem has been perpetual.
Problem 3: Toner Leaks onto the Page
Toner leaks are one of the most frustrating problems. It is one reason why your toners don’t last as long as you’d expect.
Causes and Solutions:
Solution 1: Damaged Toner Cartridge
The leading cause of toner leakages is damaged cartridges. A cartridge is a complicated component of the printer prone to mechanical issues. Any issues with the moving parts will affect the cartridge’s functionality.
Damages could arise when the cartridge is transported under unfavorable conditions. It will eventually result in toner streaks in your prints. ;
Replace your cartridges if some sections are damaged. Repairing them is hardly possible.
Solution 2: Damaged Drum Unit
Your drum unit could be the reason your toner ever leaks in your printer. Faulty or damaged drums will affect your printer’s functionality. Your photoconductor drum might have also exhausted its useful life. Drums last roughly four rounds of the toner cartridges. You need to replace them if you can find some scratches on its surface. There is no need to replace the whole drum unit. You can only buy the photoconductor drum matching your printer’s specifications. A competent technician can help you replace it, and your printer can get back to its quality prints.
Solution 3: Damaged Recovery Blade
Some toner tends to remain after a print job. The printer is fitted with a recovery blade that helps push the remnants into the waste toner bottle. Toner will accumulate on the rollers if the blade is malfunctioning. It will lead to random dots on your prints.
The toner will accumulate on the blades after each print. Over time, the excess toner would start leaking. You’d need a qualified technician to repair the recovery blade.
Solution 4: Empty the Waste Toner Bottle
The waste toner is usually deposited into the waste toner bottle. You will have to discard the waste once the bottle is full. If not discarded, the waste will tend to leak into your prints. It will smear them, affecting the print quality.
Conclusion
As you can see, most of these errors can be avoided by working with quality cartridges. That is what our toner cartridge manufacturing company can promise. Consider us for your next order and never have to worry about these quality issues.
We also offer factory pricing for our products. This allows you to print more affordably, with a hassle-free experience.