1. How to Replace Your Toner Cartridge
Wiper Blade and Avoid Print Ghosting
and Streaking
By Jeric O. Tero
The 'all in one' HP toner cartridge is a sophisticated piece of printing accessory that is technically engineered to
deliver hassle-free printing. As such, each major component of the toner cartridge is expected to last theoretically
three to four times more than the amount of toner loaded to the cartridge. To streamline the electro-photographic
printing process, each component is aided with recovery or wiper bladesto sweep or clean excess toner, which is
devised intentionally of softer materials to lessen surface wear as each component rotates on its axis.
Considering the design material, the 'all in one' HP toner cartridge particularly the type that prints over 5,000 pages,
may suffer irregularities in its life cycles. The reason as mentioned above is that the cleaning blades can never outlast
any of the major toner cartridge components. Thus, when print irregularities start to appear, the user is obliged to
troubleshoot and replace all of the minor cartridge parts such as the wiper blades, which have worn out ahead of the
major component to experience hassle-free printing continuously.
How does a wiper blade work? It is similar to wiper blades in cars that sweep dust, rain, and snow on the
windshield to maintain the driver's road visibility. In laser printers, wiper blades attached to the OPC (organic
photoconductive) Drum does the same function as it cleans or sweep the OPC Drum surface of excess toner. Thus,
when the wiper blade is efficient, it prevents ghosting or streaking from ever happening on the printouts. However,
this happens only to toner cartridges subjected in high volume printing and seldom manifests in average printing
frequencies.
Replacement of the wiper blade is a part of the normal HP toner cartridge maintenance protocol, since supplies of
OEM parts are readily available. The following procedures will guide you on how to replace the damaged wiper
blade.
1. Unload the 'all in one' toner cartridge from the printer and gently place it over a flat sturdy surface with the OPC
Drum up.
2. Separate the two halves by pushing the stainless steel pins out and slightly tapping it with a punch from the
inside part of the cartridge.

2. 3. The wiper blade should now be visible; remove the blade by loosening out the two screws that hold it together.
Take out the new replacement wiper bladefrom the kit and lightly coat it with Kynar drum padding powder
before mounting it to the cartridge.
4. Check the physical status of the recovery blade just beside it since it is made from Mylar and could easily
distort after long use; replace it as well if extensively damaged.
5. Reassemble the loose parts together, reload the cartridge to the printer, and commence printing.
Remember that the technically advanced 'all in one' HP toner cartridge has its own share of maintenance problems,
which could easily be remedied to lessen printing down time.
Next time streaking and ghosting appear in the printouts, initiate maintenance by replacing the wiper blade to
continue the hassle-free printing experience.
Jeric O. Tero supplies web content for Laser Tek Services, Inc. Looking for the highest quality HP toner
cartridges available at factory direct prices? Visit our website today.
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