Remanufacturing the QMS (Konica Minolta) 2300 Black and Color Toner Cartridges
First released in September 2002, the QMS Magicolor 2300 series of machines are based on a 16-ppm black and 4-ppm color print engine. The 2300 series has a base resolution of 600 by 600 dpi and an enhanced resolution of 2,400 by 600 dpi. In January 2003, the 2350 printer was released. While basically the same, it is a
slightly better version of the 2300 that is a little faster and has better resolution. The 2350 is rated for 18 ppm black, 4 ppm color, and the enhanced resolution is 9,600 by 600 dpi. And while the 2300 is host-based, the 2350 has printer emulations (PCL6, PostScript) built in, which also makes it print faster.
A QMS 2300 magenta toner cartridge.
One interesting thing with these machines is that there is a humidity/temperature sensor that feeds information to the main PCB. This information is used to help determine what the DC bias voltages should be for optimum printing.
The machine is reset by setting the gears and track in the “In” position. No chips are used in these cartridges. (The reset position will be shown at the end of the article). There is also a piece of mirrored tape on the top left side
of the cartridge. This tape is used to detect the presence of the cartridge. If this tape is removed, the printer will not detect the cartridge.
Since these machines were released, QMS was bought out by Minolta. Minolta was then bought out by Konica. The company name at this point is Konica Minolta, and most supply catalogs now only list Konica Minolta.
There are high-yield cartridges as well as low-yield cartridges available. In addition to the toner cartridges, there is also a separate drum unit as well as a waste box. The cartridges used by these machines are as follows:
QMS Magicolor 2300/2350
- 1710517-005 black (HY) 4,500 pages at 5 percent $84.99 list*
- 1710517-008 cyan (HY) 4,500 pages at 5 percent $129.99 list
- 1710517-007 yellow (HY) 4,500 pages at 5 percent $129.99 list
- 1710517-006 magenta (HY) 4,500 pages at 5 percent $129.99 list
- 1710517-004 cyan (LY) 1,500 pages at 5 percent $69.99 list
- 1710517-003 yellow (LY) 1,500 pages at 5 percent $69.99 list
- 1710517-002 magenta (LY) 1,500 pages at 5 percent $69.99 list
- 1710520-001 drum 45,000 pages black, 11,250 color $149 list
- 1710522-001 waste box 25,000 pages $19 list
* The pricing on all cartridges is current as of June 2005.
The machines that use these cartridges are as follows:
- Magicolor 2300DL
- Magicolor 2300W
- Magicolor 2350EN
They may be listed as QMS, Minolta-QMS, or Konica Minolta, depending on when the list was made. For the most part, the QMS name has been let go.
These machines are based on a carousel-type color engine. While they are similar to the HP 4500 and 1500, there are differences.
The carousel system is much less expensive to manufacture than the single-pass systems (HP 4600). One of the main reasons for this is that the single-pass systems have a separate laser-scanner unit and all the associated circuitry
for each color cartridge. The carousel system has one for all of them. Because of these differences, we will again go into the printer theory. While this system is not as complicated as a single pass, there is still quite a bit going on that has to happen in a very precise way.
QMS 2300 Color Printing Theory
The QMS 2300 color printing process is best explained as a series of stages. (Figure 1 shows a breakdown of most of the critical printer components in the machine.)
Figure 1.
In the first stage, a comb-type corona electrode and its associated grid place a uniform negative DC voltage on the OPC drum surface. The amount of the negative DC voltage placed on the drum is controlled by the printer’s intensity
setting. This comb/mesh system reduces the amount of ozone created. See Figure 2.
Figure 2.
In the second stage, the laser beam is fired onto a rotating mirror (called the scanner). As the mirror rotates, the beam is reflected into a set of focusing lenses. The beam then strikes the drum’s surface, neutralizing the negative charge and leaving a latent electrostatic image on the drum. The areas where the laser did not strike the drum will retain the negative charge.
The third or developing stage (see Figures 3 and 4) is where the toner is developed on the drum by the developing section (or supply chamber), which contains the toner particles. As the toner agitating plate turns inside the hopper it pushes the toner toward the toner transport roller. The friction from this process causes a negative potential to develop on the toner. The toner will start to coat the developer roller. At the same time, a negative DC bias voltage is applied to the developer roller. This voltage is controlled by the printer’s intensity setting, and causes either more or less toner to be attracted by the developer roller. This in turn will either increase or decrease the print density. The final amount of toner on the developer roller is controlled by the doctor blade(s) or first and second regulator blades as QMS calls them, which uses pressure and a second DC bias voltage to keep the amount of toner on the roller constant.
Figure 3.
Figure 4.
As the laser-exposed areas of the OPC drum approach the developer roller, the toner particles are attracted to the drum’s surface due to the opposite voltage potentials of the toner, and laser-exposed areas of the OPC drum.
The fourth stage is the primary transfer stage. This is where there are some large differences from monochrome printers and even other color systems (see Figure 5). The first step in the primary transfer stage is where the first transfer roller places a positive charge on the back side of the transfer belt. The negatively charged toner on the drum is then transferred to the positively charged transfer belt. This process is repeated for each color. The positive DC bias voltage is increased for each successive color to make sure that all the toners stay in place on the belt.
Figure 5.
The fifth stage is the secondary transfer stage. As the paper reaches the transfer belt, it also runs by the secondary transfer roller. This roller places a positive charge onto the paper and causes the toner to transfer from the belt to the paper. After the transfer process is complete, another DC bias voltage is placed
on the charge neutralizer to remove any residual charges on the paper. After the secondary transfer, the second transfer roller has a DC bias voltage placed on it to repel any remaining toner to the transfer belt. This toner is removed by the cleaning blade. The second transfer roller is then retracted from the transfer belt by a cam mechanism to allow the print cycle to start again (see Figure 6).
Figure 6.
The paper separates from the transfer belt with the help of the static charge
eliminator and the stiffness of the paper.
In the sixth stage, the image is fused onto the paper by the fuser assembly, which is comprised of the upper fuser roller and lower pressure roller. The lower pressure roller presses the page up into the upper fuser roller which then melts the toner into the paper. The upper heating assembly consists of a hard Teflon-coated upper roller and a halogen bulb inside. This is basically the old style of fuser that has been used for years.
The seventh stage is where the transfer belt is cleaned. The cleaning blade is also cam activated, and moves in for the cleaning cycle. The waste toner is moved into the waste bottle by a coil. After the cleaning cycle, the cleaning
blade moves away from the transfer belt to help prevent excess wear to the transfer belt.
Printer Calibration
At the start of all this is the calibration cycle. The printer will calibrate itself whenever the printer is turned on, when a new toner or drum cartridge is installed and at specific page intervals determined by the total number of
pages printed. Calibration consists of a solid block and halftone of each color being printed to the transfer belt. As the printed areas get to the top of the belt, a sensor will detect them, measure the density and adjust the printer accordingly
Taking test prints, cartridge troubleshooting as well as minor printer troubleshooting will be covered at the end of this article.
Tools Needed
- Toner-approved vacuum or toner-approved dust collector system.
- A small, common screwdriver.
- A Phillips-head screwdriver.
- Needle-nose pliers.
- Jewelers screwdriver set.
Supplies Needed
- 2300 dedicated toner.
- Shipping cover.
- Lint-free cloths.
- Conductive grease.
Remanufacturing Instructions
1) On the gear side of the cartridge, remove the three silver screws from the end cap. See Figure 7.
2) Remove the small black screw from the underside contact. See Figure 8.
Figure 7.
Figure 8.
3) Gently pry up the contact. Remove the end cap. See Figure 9.
4) Remove the black reset gear train. See Figure 10.
5) Remove the larger drive gear and the two smaller gears next to it. Leave the mixing blade gear in place. See Figure 11.
Figure 9.
Figure 10.
Figure 11.
6) Remove the color cover screw and end cap. See Figure 12.
7) Remove the fill plug, and dump out any remaining toner. See Figure 13.
8) Remove the small white bushing from the gear side. See Figure 14.
Figure 12.
Figure 13.
Figure 14.
9) Remove the white bushing from the non-gear side by prying up the center tab and rotating the bushing clockwise until it stops. Pry the bushing off the developer roller shaft. See Figure 15.
10) Remove the doctor blade cover by prying up the three tabs as indicated. Remove the cover. See Figure 16.
11) Remove the developer roller. See Figure 17.
Figure 15.
Figure 16.
Figure 17.
12) Remove the two screws from the “first” doctor blade. (The second doctor blade is located under the feed roller.) Remove the doctor blade. See Figure 18.
13) Remove the three screws on the sealing blade assembly. See Figure 19.
14) Remove the copper contact. See Figure 20.
Figure 18.
Figure 19.
Figure 20.
15) Pry up the sealing blade assembly and lift off. The entire foam seal assembly will come off with it. Be careful not to tear the seals. See Figure 21.
16) Clean out any remaining toner from the hopper and the feed roller. See Figure
22.
17) Remove the small screw from the feed roller contact plate, remove the plate.
See Figure 23.
Figure 21.
Figure 22.
Figure 23.
18) Check to ensure that the contact to the feed roller is clean, and that the two gears are clean and greased. If not, clean them and regrease the gears with white lithium grease. See Figure 24.
19) Reinstall the feed roller contact plate and screw. See Figure 25.
20) Install the cleaned sealing blade assembly, seals, contact and three screws.
Make sure the foam aligns with the plastic pins. See Figure 26.
Figure 24.
Figure 25.
Figure 26.
21) Install the first doctor blade and two screws. See Figure 27.
22) Install the developer roller assembly. See Figure 28.
23) Install the small bushing on the developer roller shaft. Note the two small
alignment tabs on the bushing. See Figure 29.
Figure 27.
Figure 28.
Figure 29.
24) Install the large white bushing, tab up, and rotate counterclockwise to lock in place. See Figures 30 and 31.
25) Install the three gears from smallest to largest. See Figure 32.
Figure 30.
Figure 31.
Figure 32.
26) Install the black reset assembly so the gears mesh and the U-shaped section of the assembly is against the round post. If the assembly is set further out, the printer will not be reset. See Figure 33.
27) Install the black end cap on the gear side. Press the contact in place, and install the small black screw. Install the three silver screws. See Figure 34.
Figure 33.
Figure 34.
28) Install the DB cover. Rotate so the tabs are aligned and snap in place. This will take a bit of force to fit properly. See Figure 35.
29) Fill with the appropriate QMS 2300 color toner. Replace the fill plug. See Figure 36.
Figure 35.
Figure 36.
30) Install the color cover and screw. This cover should be able to move. The screw does not lock it down tight. See Figure 37.
31) Install the developer roller cover. See Figure 38.
Figure 37.
Figure 38.
Taking Test Prints
- With the printer ready, press the MENU SELECT button once.
- Press the left or right arrow until QUALITY MENU appears on the display.
- Press the MENU SELECT button.
- Press the left or right arrow until TEST PAGE 1 or TEST PAGE 2 appears on the display.
- Test Page 1 prints out five pages, one of each color. Test Page 2 is a black/grayscale page.
- Press the MENU SELECT button.
Cartridge Troubleshooting
- A dirty corona wire (electrode) and/or grid will cause random streaks of toner vertically down the page.
- A scratched drum will show up as a very thin, perfectly straight line that runs from the top to the bottom of the test page.
- A chipped drum will result in a dot or series of dots that repeat three times per page.
- A damaged developer roller will either leave a mark or a blank spot (depending on the type of damage).
- A light-damaged drum will show up as a shaded area on the test print that
should be white. Again, this will repeat three times per page.
- A bad wiper blade will result in vertical shaded lines down the page, or as shading across the entire page. In either case there will be a film of toner on the drum surface.
Some of the More Common Printer Error Messages
- Most error codes are self-explanatory, but a few are numeric. We have included some of the more common ones here.
- Fatal Error 08H Main motor not rotating
- Fatal Error 0BH Fan motor not rotating
- Fatal Error 0EH Fuser fan not rotating
- Fatal Error 10H Scanner motor error
- Fatal Error 16H Transfer belt not rotating
- Fatal Error 17H Toner cartridge rack not rotating
- Fatal Error 18H Fuser assembly heat error
- Fatal Error 19H Fuser assembly heat error
- Fatal Error 1AH Fuser assembly heat error
- Fatal Error 1BH Fuser assembly heat error
Contact Mike Josiah and the technical staff of Summit Technologies at (631) 218-8376, fax (631) 218-3285 or visit www.summitechnologies.com.
This article originally appeared in the August 2005 issue of Recharger.