It's not a common problem with EITHER HP orlaserprinters, but it can
happen. It happens when the drum is not cleaned completely. There are
three aspects to drum cleaning that occur:
-Excess toner is physically removed by a "cleaning blade" (plastic scraper)
-The drum is discharged by a lamp inside the toner cartridge
-The drum is "recharged" by a corona wire
Hi Barry
Most printers do not use a corona wires any more, they use a
PCR (primary charge roller). This part is the most common cause
of ghosting in the cases that I've seem. It is rarely the scrapper.
The drum will normally have a thin layer of toner. This is normal.
Don't try to clean this off.
The problem with the PCR is when the printer doesn't have much
useage. It is made of rubber and will oxidize over time. When this
happens, it gets sticky. It will aquire a layer toner that will
insulate
it from the main drum. It will not be able to bring the drum to
the same charge level as the toner and new toner will stick to the
drum on the old spots that had the previous image. Those spots have
a specific charge on them. Other places may have toner on them but
won't
transfer to the paper because they have the wrong charge. That is
why the thin layer of toner on the drum isn't an issue.
I've found out that rebuilders replace or clean these rollers.
I have a 4SI that uses the NX engine. There are several sources
that sell the PCR for about $8. I suspect that whatever toner
cartridge you have, there will be someone you can get this part from.
A careful search will usually show places that also show how
to open the cartridge and get to the PCR.
A high useage printer may have the wiper fail but that is unlikely
for a low useage printer. Even so, this part can be had for around
$3. The only problem is that you also have to get some padding
powder to keep the drum from sticking to the new wipper. A
wiper failure will also tend to cause general graying or blobs
but not ghosting. This is because the wiper has nothing to
do with removing the image. That is controlled by the charge
on the drum.
This is also why I don't recommend trying to clean the drum.
As I said before, there is normally a thin film of toner on the drum
and this keeps the wiper from sticking to the surface of the drum.
If you remove this layer, and don't dust with what is called padding
powder, you can damage the drum and or the wiper.
One does need to get deep inside the toner cartradge to get to
the PCR. I'm told one can clean these with deionize water and
there are special cleaning solutions but the cost is cheap and
I've just replaced them.
If you want to try cleaning the PCR, you don't have much to lose.
Try if first. If the ghosting goes away and then comes back after
a few more pages, you'll know to just purchase a new PCR.
The point is that the cartridge is repairable. If it still has a good
drum and toner, other parts can be replaced.
Dwight