What Is a Transfer Unit on Minolta Copiers?
Minolta copier transfer units apply the toner to the paper and heat it to make it adhere. Also called a fusing unit for some copiers, it takes the image from the toner and imaging units and finishes it for output. It's important to replace the unit when it becomes worn, since the image quality will deteriorate. For most copiers, this replacement is easy and does not require the services of a technician. Copiers will display a message when it is time to replace the unit.
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Function
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Copiers scan the image of the page on the copy glass and transfer it to a drum coated with toner. For color copiers, four separate drums hold the black, magenta, cyan and yellow components of the image. The drums deposit the colors on a sheet of paper and a heated drum melts the toner. The function of the transfer unit is to transfer the toner from the individual toner drums onto the sheet of paper and to heat the toner.
Operation, Belt-Type
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Minolta copiers have transfer units of varying design, some with transfer belts or drums and some with a drum to heat the toner. In all cases, the transfer unit receives the toner from the different toner drums.
For transfer units with a belt, the toner drums deposit the toner on the belt to form the image, made up of the different colors of toner. The belt is pressed against a sheet of paper, transferring the toner to the paper. A separate roller heats the toner.
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Operation, Drum-Type
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For other Minolta copiers, instead of a belt, the transfer unit has a drum with a film. The toner drums deposit the image on the transfer unit drum and It rolls the full-color image made up of toner onto a sheet of paper. A waste toner bottle collects excess toner. A separate roller heats the toner to bond it to the paper, creating a permanent image.
Replacement
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Minolta copiers track the use of the transfer unit and, when the time to replace the unit approaches, display a message asking to "replace the image transfer or fusing unit(s) soon." Replacement parts are available online or from the supplier of the copier. The message will sometimes indicate which panel to open to replace the unit; the instruction manual, available online from konicaminolta.com, also contains the information. If the image output quality is still acceptable, some copiers allow you to reset the tracking to continue printing. Eventually the transfer unit belt or drum will become so worn that the transferred image quality is poor.
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References
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