The printouts from a high-use office laser printer have started to show repetitive marks at regular intervals down the page. The printer has not had any maintenance for over a year. What should the technician consider replacing first to resolve this issue?
When a laser printer starts producing printouts with repetitive marks, it often signifies that the imaging drum or another component in the imaging unit has been damaged or has reached the end of its life cycle. Imaging drums have a finite lifespan and can cause repeating defects on printouts when they wear out. Since the printer has not been maintained for an extended period, the imaging drum is likely the culprit, especially given its pivotal role in the imaging process. In contrast, replacing only the toner cartridge might not resolve the issue if the defect is caused by damage to the imaging drum. Applying a maintenance kit might be necessary eventually, but it might not include an imaging drum or may be premature if this particular component is responsible for the quality issue.
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