Ink Loader - Xerox Phaser 8400 Service Manual

Ink Loader

The ink loader consists of four parallel channels with an ink melting element at the
end of each channel. Coil springs exert pressure on four ink sticks to load one unique
color in each channel. When the printhead requires ink, the melting element of the
appropriate color melts the end of the ink stick. The melted ink drips into the ink
reservoirs of the printhead underneath. Sensors in the ink loader alert the customer to
install more ink sticks before the printer completely consumes the current sticks.
If the ink level sensors inside the printhead detect that the printhead has run out of ink,
but the ink low/out sensors are not activated, the Control Panel reports an "Ink Jam"
error. The Phaser 8400 features a single Ink-Out sensor, which activates when there is
no ink stick in any of the four ink channels. This condition activates the sensor flag.
The 8500/8550 features an Ink-Out sensor in each ink stick channel. Each sensor
determines if the individual channel is empty. The sensors also determine the count of
the ink sticks as they pass by the Ink-Out sensor flag.
Ink Loader Door
Ink Stick
Ink Low Sensor (1 Sensor for 8400)
Ink Melt Units
Ink Out Sensors (4 Sensors, One For Each Color
For 8500/8550)
Printhead
s8500-011
2-6 Phaser 8400/8500/8550 Color Printer