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Information on Toner Cartridges |
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The late 1980’s brought Toner cartridge based copiers to the market. (Canon PC10/20/24/25) Low copy volume applications (below 500 copies per month) were the focus of the cartridge based machines. Canon invented much of this technology and brought it to the market. Initially the machines sold for over $1000.00. The cartridges would yield about 2000 copies and the cost per copy was 129.00 per 2000 copies or 6.45 cents per copy. The cartridge based machines offered new solutions in that they were small and reliable. Reliability increased but was offset by the high cost per copy. The toner cartridge included some of the main parts that caused copy quality problems (drum, developer unit, cleaning station). When the cartridge was replaced, a lot of the parts relating to copy quality were replaced. |
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Machines today sold at a lot of the office super stores are generally cartridge based machines. The manufacturers have dropped their prices of the equipment in order to remain competitive and make their profits on the sale of the cartridges or supplies. |
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This same technology revolutionized the laser printer business with the HP laser jet being a clone of the canon Pc-25 copier. The engine was very similar and Canon continued to make the engines and the cartridges for HP laser printers for years. The laser printer wrote the image electronically whereas the copier used a lens and mirrors to reflect the image down to the toner cartridge. |
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New machines from the super stores often include “starter” cartridges that give the customer a minimum yield. The customer will have to buy more cartridges very soon. |
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Jumbo or High yield remanufactured cartridges |
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OEM cartridges (they could have filled them) |
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Toner level In cartridge |
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Toner level In cartridge |
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Toner level In cartridge |