Printing the last pages with the low toner status on.

nimzov · 9th May 2006, 01:33 PM

Hi.

My laser printer Brother HL-1435 will not print anymore because the low toner leds are flashing.

The last pages printed were fine. So maybe I have enough toner for another 20-30 pages.

I have rocked the cartridge to move the toner inside

Is there any way of forcing the printer to print even if the low toner status is activated ? I have to wait a week for the replacement cartridge.

Thanks

nimzo

xenxabar · 9th May 2006, 09:50 PM

My experience with laser printers is just as you have described. If you shake the the toner cartridge (after removing it from the printer), the printer may no longer recognize it as being low. But it sounds like you may have already tried that method.

These days ink jet printers are absurdly cheap. So much so that some almost cost less than cartridges that they include in the box. Purchasing the most inexpensive one would be a temporary solution although more costly, if you really need to keep printing.

richardm · 10th May 2006, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by xenxabar

If you shake the the toner cartridge (after removing it from the printer), the printer may no longer recognize it as being low.

Some fandangled printers may have sensors that detect the amount of toner, but most have a counter that keeps track of how much printing has been done and flags the cartridge as empty when it thinks it is. Depending on the printer, it may be possible to reset or disable the counter. Check your manual to see if this is possible. Some printers keep the counter on the cartridge, in which case you're stuck.

Edit:

Perhaps it is sensors after all - this guy has some suggestions.

ChristineR · 10th May 2006, 10:19 AM

I used to work for a printer company. The answer is, it depends. Some have sensors in the cartridge, which you can override by shaking the cartridge and getting ink on the sensor. Some have software counters which are reset simply by removing the cartridge for 15 or 30 seconds. In my experience the sensors are not light sensors, but electrical switches whose circuit is completed by the toner. And all of this is actually driven by the printer software, which can ignore the sensors if it so chooses.

You might be able to get a hint from your owners manual. For example, if they warn you to leave the door open for 15 seconds after you replace a cartridge, then you know what the printer is up to.

nimzov · 10th May 2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by richardm

Perhaps it is sensors after all - this guy has some suggestions.

Hi.

Great link, this works perfect! I don't know how many extra pages I can get; maybe 25-50 ?

Thanks Richard and xenxabar

nimzo

jimlintott · 10th May 2006, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by richardm

Some fandangled printers may have sensors that detect the amount of toner, but most have a counter that keeps track of how much printing has been done and flags the cartridge as empty when it thinks it is. Depending on the printer, it may be possible to reset or disable the counter. Check your manual to see if this is possible. Some printers keep the counter on the cartridge, in which case you're stuck.

Edit:

Perhaps it is sensors after all - this guy has some suggestions.

This looks like it should work. At the end of this link's article it lists the cartridges and the 430 and 460 are both there. Try it and buy a new cartridge for when it really does run out. Get a 460 it is the high yield and a much better buy. It's the same cartridge as a 430 only with more toner in it.

I have the same little laser printer and it has been a fraction of the cost to operate compared to the Epson 820 photo inkjet printer I also have. It doesn't print really nice colour photos though.

nimzov · 30th July 2006, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by nimzov

Hi.

Great link, this works perfect! I don't know how many extra pages I can get; maybe 25-50 ?

Thanks Richard and xenxabar

nimzo

I'm still printing with that "empty" cartridge. I got an extra 150-200 pages from it. These low toner level indicators are a scam.

nimzo

Raphael · 30th July 2006, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by nimzov

I'm still printing with that "empty" cartridge. I got an extra 150-200 pages from it. These low toner level indicators are a scam.

nimzo

I have a Canon C2100 colour laser. Each of the four colour toner cartridges is upward of $200 to replace. I've learned how to first shake the cartridges, and then turn the machine off and on to fool it into thinking there is sufficient toner remaining...which in fact there is- because I get 50 to 100 copies after the initial "toner low change cartridge" message disables the printer.

Does anyone know if this can damage the machine?

Rat · 30th July 2006, 07:15 PM

People always ring me (IT support) when the HP5000 Lasetjets and 5100s come up with "Toner low" messages. I almost always tell them to ring me back when they actually start printing badly. Changing a cartridge is a 30-second job, but when you can get another couple of hundred pages out, the pain when it does go is worth it.

Cheers,
Rat.

nimzov · 30th July 2006, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Raphael

IDoes anyone know if this can damage the machine?

I don't know. But I use to own a LaserJet IIP and I would print till some character would not to show on the printed page.

It did not damage the printer. But with new technologies you never know.

nimzo

webfusion · 2nd August 2006, 11:14 PM

My printer actually exploded when I ignored the warning --

http://orangecow.org/pythonet/pics/o...0Exploding.jpg

richardm · 3rd August 2006, 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by Raphael

Does anyone know if this can damage the machine?

Thinking about the way laser printers work, I don't really see how it could. It's not like an inkjet where running it without ink can damage the printhead. I wouldn't take my word for it though

9th May 2006, 01:33 PM	#1
nimzov Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Montréal Posts: 556	Printing the last pages with the low toner status on. Hi. My laser printer Brother HL-1435 will not print anymore because the low toner leds are flashing. The last pages printed were fine. So maybe I have enough toner for another 20-30 pages. I have rocked the cartridge to move the toner inside Is there any way of forcing the printer to print even if the low toner status is activated ? I have to wait a week for the replacement cartridge. Thanks nimzo
	Last edited by nimzov; 9th May 2006 at 02:10 PM.

10th May 2006, 09:37 AM	#3
richardm Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,477	Originally Posted by xenxabar If you shake the the toner cartridge (after removing it from the printer), the printer may no longer recognize it as being low. Some fandangled printers may have sensors that detect the amount of toner, but most have a counter that keeps track of how much printing has been done and flags the cartridge as empty when it thinks it is. Depending on the printer, it may be possible to reset or disable the counter. Check your manual to see if this is possible. Some printers keep the counter on the cartridge, in which case you're stuck. Edit: Perhaps it is sensors after all - this guy has some suggestions.
richardm Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,477	__________________ Rimmer: Look at her! Magnificent woman! Very prim, very proper, almost austere. Some people took her for cold, thought she was aloof. Not a bit of it. She just despised fools. Quite tragic, really, because otherwise I think we'd have got on famously. Last edited by richardm; 10th May 2006 at 09:43 AM.

10th May 2006, 10:19 AM	#4
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	I used to work for a printer company. The answer is, it depends. Some have sensors in the cartridge, which you can override by shaking the cartridge and getting ink on the sensor. Some have software counters which are reset simply by removing the cartridge for 15 or 30 seconds. In my experience the sensors are not light sensors, but electrical switches whose circuit is completed by the toner. And all of this is actually driven by the printer software, which can ignore the sensors if it so chooses. You might be able to get a hint from your owners manual. For example, if they warn you to leave the door open for 15 seconds after you replace a cartridge, then you know what the printer is up to.
ChristineR Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,071	__________________ Avatar (c) Neopets.com

10th May 2006, 10:24 AM	#6
jimlintott Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 2,894	Originally Posted by richardm Some fandangled printers may have sensors that detect the amount of toner, but most have a counter that keeps track of how much printing has been done and flags the cartridge as empty when it thinks it is. Depending on the printer, it may be possible to reset or disable the counter. Check your manual to see if this is possible. Some printers keep the counter on the cartridge, in which case you're stuck. Edit: Perhaps it is sensors after all - this guy has some suggestions. This looks like it should work. At the end of this link's article it lists the cartridges and the 430 and 460 are both there. Try it and buy a new cartridge for when it really does run out. Get a 460 it is the high yield and a much better buy. It's the same cartridge as a 430 only with more toner in it. I have the same little laser printer and it has been a fraction of the cost to operate compared to the Epson 820 photo inkjet printer I also have. It doesn't print really nice colour photos though.
	__________________ If you are going to throw caution to the wind, make sure you are standing upwind.

30th July 2006, 06:29 PM	#8
Raphael disheveled cell cluster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 1,778	Originally Posted by nimzov I'm still printing with that "empty" cartridge. I got an extra 150-200 pages from it. These low toner level indicators are a scam. nimzo I have a Canon C2100 colour laser. Each of the four colour toner cartridges is upward of $200 to replace. I've learned how to first shake the cartridges, and then turn the machine off and on to fool it into thinking there is sufficient toner remaining...which in fact there is- because I get 50 to 100 copies after the initial "toner low change cartridge" message disables the printer. Does anyone know if this can damage the machine?
	__________________

9th May 2006, 09:50 PM	#2
xenxabar bacon chocolate tacos Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,254	My experience with laser printers is just as you have described. If you shake the the toner cartridge (after removing it from the printer), the printer may no longer recognize it as being low. But it sounds like you may have already tried that method. These days ink jet printers are absurdly cheap. So much so that some almost cost less than cartridges that they include in the box. Purchasing the most inexpensive one would be a temporary solution although more costly, if you really need to keep printing.

10th May 2006, 10:22 AM	#5
nimzov Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Montréal Posts: 556	Originally Posted by richardm Perhaps it is sensors after all - this guy has some suggestions. Hi. Great link, this works perfect! I don't know how many extra pages I can get; maybe 25-50 ? Thanks Richard and xenxabar nimzo

30th July 2006, 04:58 PM	#7
nimzov Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Montréal Posts: 556	Originally Posted by nimzov Hi. Great link, this works perfect! I don't know how many extra pages I can get; maybe 25-50 ? Thanks Richard and xenxabar nimzo I'm still printing with that "empty" cartridge. I got an extra 150-200 pages from it. These low toner level indicators are a scam. nimzo

30th July 2006, 07:15 PM	#9
Rat Not bored. Never bored. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leicester, UK Posts: 3,531	People always ring me (IT support) when the HP5000 Lasetjets and 5100s come up with "Toner low" messages. I almost always tell them to ring me back when they actually start printing badly. Changing a cartridge is a 30-second job, but when you can get another couple of hundred pages out, the pain when it does go is worth it. Cheers, Rat.
	__________________ "Man muß den Menschen vor allem nach seinen Lastern beurteilen. Tugenden können vorgetäuscht sein. Laster sind echt." - Klaus Kinski UKLS 1988-? orking till the cows come home... Sitting on the fence throwing stones at both sides.

30th July 2006, 07:18 PM	#10
nimzov Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Montréal Posts: 556	Originally Posted by Raphael IDoes anyone know if this can damage the machine? I don't know. But I use to own a LaserJet IIP and I would print till some character would not to show on the printed page. It did not damage the printer. But with new technologies you never know. nimzo

2nd August 2006, 11:14 PM	#11
webfusion Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Near I-95 Posts: 6,179	My printer actually exploded when I ignored the warning -- http://orangecow.org/pythonet/pics/o...0Exploding.jpg

3rd August 2006, 05:16 AM	#12
richardm Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,477	Originally Posted by Raphael Does anyone know if this can damage the machine? Thinking about the way laser printers work, I don't really see how it could. It's not like an inkjet where running it without ink can damage the printhead. I wouldn't take my word for it though
richardm Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,477	__________________ Rimmer: Look at her! Magnificent woman! Very prim, very proper, almost austere. Some people took her for cold, thought she was aloof. Not a bit of it. She just despised fools. Quite tragic, really, because otherwise I think we'd have got on famously.