To refill cartridges, most laser printer owners turn to specialized workshops. This option is reliable, but not very profitable - the cost of refueling work is several times higher than the cost of the filled toner. Therefore, many computer users have a natural desire to learn how to refill cartridges themselves.
It is necessary
Toner, pliers, screwdriver
Instructions
Step 1
An indication that a cartridge is low on toner is when vertical white streaks appear on the printed page. If you shake the cartridge and reinsert it into the printer, the remaining toner will last for another ten sheets, but this procedure will not be able to be carried out more than two or three times.
Step 2
Note that refilling the cartridge is not limited to toner refilling. It is necessary to remove debris, clean the cartridge mechanism from spilled toner. If the cartridge is almost new and is being refilled for the first time, it is permissible to do without cleaning it and just add toner. You just need to remember that this should not become a habit and the cartridge mechanism needs to be cleaned approximately every two refills.
Step 3
Consider the option of refilling a cartridge for a common HP Laser Jet 6L printer. There is a somewhat barbaric, but simple and reliable way to refill such a cartridge: open the printer cover, carefully pull the cartridge out by the handle. Just behind your fingers on the handle of the cartridge is the toner compartment. Take a sharp knife and carefully poke a 1-inch hole in the top of the toner compartment. Make sure that no shavings get into the compartment!
Step 4
After punching the hole, make a small funnel of paper and pour toner into the hole through it. If toner jams, push it in with something long and thin, such as a fountain pen refill. Be careful to avoid spilling toner. Shake the cartridge occasionally to distribute the toner evenly. After refueling, wipe the cartridge with a soft cloth and cover the hole with tape. Refueling is complete.
Step 5
If you don’t want to drill the cartridge or it needs cleaning, you will have to disassemble it. First you need to remove the drum unit. Gently pull out the axles holding it with pliers, lift the protective flap, spread the spring-loaded parts of the cartridge and remove the drum unit by the gear, in no case touching its working surface. Wrap the removed drum unit in a clean cloth and place in a dark place.
Step 6
Remove, gently prying the axle with a screwdriver, the charge shaft - a long black roller. Set it aside on a piece of cloth. Now you need to clean the hopper, which is collecting debris and toner residues. Carefully turn the cartridge over and empty the contents of the hopper through the narrow gap between the squeegee and the body onto a sheet of newspaper. A lot of toner can spill out with the trash - do not feel sorry for it, it contains a lot of dust and fluff from the paper. Then carefully roll the newspaper with the rubbish and throw it away.
Step 7
Now fill the cartridge with new toner. Remove the side cover from the side opposite the gears, for this you will have to pull out the pivot shaft with pliers. If you cannot grasp it, carefully cut the plastic around the axis with a knife or gently push it with a screwdriver from the other side. Then use a cross screwdriver to unscrew the screw in the center of the cover. Do not forget to hold the toner roller, it should not fall out. Remove the cover, you will see the filler hole closed with a plastic stopper. Hook it up with a screwdriver and pull it out.
Step 8
Carefully pour toner into the open filler opening, then replace the plug and reassemble the cartridge in the reverse order. Carefully sweep the toner off the parts during assembly. After assembling the cartridge, check if you have any unnecessary parts, as well as the ease of rotation of the drum unit. It is best to estimate the amount of force required to do this before disassembling the cartridge.
Step 9
Note that as the cartridge wears out, its print quality will deteriorate. To restore normal quality, you will need to replace the drum unit and squeegee. They should be changed in pairs. When refilling toner, do not wash your dirty hands with hot water - the toner will set in very hard. The same goes for stained clothing; wash it in cold water. It is recommended to use a respirator when refilling the cartridge, as toner is very volatile and you will hardly be able to avoid inhaling it.
