1. HP 2100 Toner Cartridge - Assessing
Defects to Determine the Need for
Maintenance
By Jeric O. Tero
The HP LaserJet 2100 toner cartridge is designed for hassle-free printing operation up to the expected print coverage
of 5,000 pages based on the industry's 5% standard. However, if printing frequency is intermittent and far in between,
printing 5,000 pages will take eons to complete. Thus, print defects may manifest along the way, which usually is an
HP printer maintenance problem rather than complex component problems that necessitate replacement of the
cartridge.
What contributes to print irregularities? Defects that appear on the printout dictate the source of the irregularity. In
addition, since the HP LaserJet 2100 toner cartridge is an "all in one", defects can be caused by any of the following:
 Bad OPC (organic photo-receptive) Drum
 Damaged PCR
 Malfunctioning developer roller, wiper, recovery and doctor blades
All of these components contribute to the overall hassle-free performance of the cartridge.
How to differentiate between HP printer maintenance, cleaning problems, and component
breakdown? Hereunder are instances that thoroughly suggest how the experienced print defect just needs HP
printer maintenance.
Vertical gray streaks down the printouts (gray background) that manifest 'ghosting' or part of a previously
printed document. This defect is typically associated with the toner cartridge PCR (primary charge roller) which has
developed some form of defects or is just plain dirty and needs proper cleaning. However, most of the time, the latter
will come out as the cause because PCRs are designed to really last long even over five to ten times the expected
print coverage of the cartridge.
Horizontal dark black bars across printouts (or shading throughout the printed page) suggest that the PCR
connection is dirty and needs to be cleaned. Both ends of the PCR have stainless steel or silver contacts that keep
continuous supply of electrical potential. Once the supply of power is disrupted, print defects happen because the
PCR can no longer deliver the precise electrical charges needed by the different components to operate flawlessly.

2. 3mm thick gray line or shading across the printed page could only come from a damaged wiper blade, as it fails
to rid the Drum surface thoroughly of toner so that a film of toner is left after each printing sequence. HP LaserJet
2100 toner cartridge straight out of the box are precisely built with enough tolerances to scrape off whatever toner is
left on the Drum surface. Failure of the wiper blade is possible because it is manufactured of soft materials so as not
to damage the more expensive OPC Drum. Therefore, always be attentive and easily decipher whatever print defects
may occur because conducting periodic cleaning and maintenance is entirely more practical from having to replace
the entire toner cartridge.
Remember that for hassle-free printing, the HP LaserJet 2100 toner cartridge can deliver satisfactory results.
Jeric O. Tero supplies web content for Laser Tek Services, Inc. Looking for the highest quality HP LaserJet 2100
toner cartridges available at factory direct prices? Visit our website today.
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