Printing Process; Summary Of Printing Process - Minolta Magicolor 3100 Series Service Manual

1. Printing Process

1.1 Summary of Printing Process

This printer is a "Full-color laser printer" which applies the principal of an electrophotographic recording
system. The tandem system comprising a drum and developing unit respectively for each color of yellow,
magenta, cyan and black (Y, M, C and K) places toner image of each color on paper producing full-color
prints finally through 3 intermediate transfer units (IDT 1: 2, IDT 2: 1).
Printing processes of this printer is composed of the basic steps as follows.
(1) Charging with electricity:Drum surface is charged with electricity.
(2) Exposure: ......................... Image unit is exposed to laser beams.
(3) Development: ................... Image is developed with toner.
(4) Primary transfer:Toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer unit (IDT 1).
(5) Secondary transfer:Toner image on the intermediate transfer (IDT 1) is transferred to the
intermediate transfer unit (IDT 2).
(6) Cleaning:The intermediate transfer (IDT 1) is cleaned.
(7) Tertiary transfer:Four-color finished toner image on the intermediate transfer unit
(IDT 2) is transferred onto the paper.
(8) Cleaning:Intermediate transfer unit (IDT 2) is cleaned.
(9) Static elimination:Electric charge of the paper is eliminated.
(10) Fixing:Toner on the paper is fixed by heat and pressure.
(11) Cleaning:Remaining toner on the drum and intermediate transfer units are collected.
Drum Y
Charged
(1) with (1)
electricity
(2)
(2)
Exposure
Develop-
(3) (3)
ment
Primary transfer
(4)
(Drum IDT1)
Intermediate
Cleaning
(6)
transfer unit
( IDT1)
( IDT1)
(5)
Secondary transfer
( IDT1
Intermediate
transfer unit
( IDT2)
(7)
( IDT2
Paper
(10) Fixing
Drum M Drum C
Charged Charged
with (1) with
electricity electricity
(2)
Exposure Exposure
Develop- Develop-
(3)
ment ment
(4)
Intermediate
transfer unit
( IDT1)
IDT2)
(8)
Cleaning ( IDT2)
Tertiary transfer Cleaning
(11)
(general)
Paper)
(9) Static elimination
Chapter 6 Principles of Operation
Drum K
Charged
(1) with
electricity
(2)
Exposure
Develop-
(3)
ment
Primary transfer
(Drum IDT1)
Cleaning
(6)
( IDT1)
BTR
engine principle0001FA
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