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            Optimizing Print Quality on HP LaserJet Printers
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There are several ways to optimize print quality on the HP LaserJet II,
IID, III, and IIID printers, involving cleaning, paper selection, and
cartridge preparation.  The instructions below reference page numbers in
the LJIII User's Manual -- similar instructions can be found in the
Cleaning and Maintenance sections of your LaserJet printer User's Manual.

Start by cleaning the following:

 1. Clean the printer with a damp cloth as described on page 6-15 of the
    User's Manual.

 2. Clean the Transfer Corona Assembly as per page 6-13.  Note that the
    Transfer Corona Wire is located below the nylon diagonal wires that
    cover the Transfer Corona Assembly (see illustration on page 6-14).

 3. Clean the static discharge pins that are adjacent to the Transfer
    Corona Assembly, using the brush end of the green cleaning tool (see
    page 6-18 of the User's Manual or the installation manual that came
    with the toner cartridge).

 4. Set the Print Density dial to 5.

 5. Clean the Primary Corona Wire (located in the toner cartridge) as per
    page 6-16 of the User's Manual or see the cleaning instructions below.

Paper quality and consistency has a profound influence on print quality.
Obtain a a fresh ream of quality photocopier paper (ie Xerox 4024 or
equivalent) and load the tray with just the quantity of paper you will
print in one day.  Paper left sitting in a tray or an open ream will take
on the humidity of the surrounding environment and give inconsistant
printing.

Finally, distribute the toner by vigorously rocking the toner cartridge.
First, rock it 15 times _end to end_ by turning the cartridge to a 90
degree position and back.  Then rock it 15 times side to side.  This is
especially important with new cartridges as there is not much head space in
the toner cavity so it is more difficult to distribute the toner evenly.

To further optimize print quality, try printing the same page 2-3 times or
print 4-5 totally black pages prior to the desired page.  The high rate of
coverage involved in printing a black page refreshes the toner development
system and usually results in greatly improved consistency and print
quality.  To print a black page, send the following commands to the
printer:

    <Esc>&l0E                 ;set top margin to 0
    <Esc>&l0L                 ;disable perforation skip
    <Esc>*p0x0Y               ;cursor position to top left corner
    <Esc>*c2400a3300B         ;width and height for rectangle fill
    <Esc>*c0P                 ;fill area with solid black
    <Esc>E                    ;eject page, reset printer

You can send these commands from a programming language like Basic, or you
can create a file in Edlin with these commands and copy the file to the
printer.


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                    Cleaning the Primary Corona Wire
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The primary corona wire is located inside the toner cartridge and can be
cleaned quickly and easily. Please see the "EP-S Cartridge Installation
Manual" that comes with every new toner cartridge or the maintenance
section of your LaserJet printer User's Manual for the cleaning procedure.
If you have difficulties, you can call the Personal Peripherals Assist Line
(PPA) at (208) 323-2551 and ask someone to walk you through the procedure.

The easiest way to clean the primary corona wire is to follow the
instructions in the toner cartridge installation manual (it has
illustrations), If you can't locate the manual and can't call PPA, the
procedure is listed below.


                  Primary Corona Wire Cleaning Procedure

Note: The primary corona wire is fragile and should only be cleaned as
required.

 1) Remove the toner cartridge and the green cleaning brush from the printer.

 2) Place the cartridge in front of you so that it's oriented so you can read
    the instruction label on the cartridge. Note that at either end of the
    label there are green arrows, the arrows should be facing AWAY from
    you.

 3) On the right side of the cartridge there are two levers that operate two
    plastic shutters. In between the shutters there is a slot with a black
    plastic film in it--inside that slot is where the primary corona wire
    resides.

 4) Hold the green cleaning brush in a vertical position with the bristle end
    up and the felt end down. Note that as you hold the brush in this
    vertical position that you can turn it four ways--that is, the felt pad
    can be facing you, facing your left or right, or facing away from you.

 5) Turn the brush so that the felt pad is facing AWAY from you, and insert
    the felt end in the right end of the slot. The black plastic film will
    slide away and the felt end will disappear completely into the slot.

 6) Slide the brush back and forth the length of the slot 2-3 times. As you
    slide the brush you should hear a high pitched squeak. The squeak is
    very important:
    - it shows you have made contact with the primary corona wire and that
      the wire is being cleaned
    - it sets up a vibration in the wire which will help slough off the
      excess toner

 7) Slide the brush back to the right end of the slot, remove the brush and
    reinstall the cartridge and brush in the printer.
