220-1102 Question 167
Single answerPrintersA small office reports that a networked laser printer is producing pages with repeating black marks at regular intervals down the page. Replacing the toner cartridge did not resolve the issue. The printer has no error messages, and print jobs complete normally. Which component should the technician inspect next?
- A
Fuser assembly
- B
Pickup rollers
- C
Transfer belt
- D
Duplexing unit
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests practical printer troubleshooting rather than simple memorization. In laser printers, defects that repeat at regular distances down the page usually point to a damaged or dirty component that rotates as the page moves through the print path. Since the toner cartridge was already replaced, the next logical component to inspect is the fuser assembly. A+ candidates should recognize the difference between paper handling parts, such as pickup rollers and duplexers, and image-forming or heat/pressure components, such as toner cartridges and fusers. Manufacturer service documentation for laser printers commonly recommends correlating repeating defects with consumables and roller assemblies in the print path when isolating image-quality issues.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Repeating marks at consistent intervals on a laser printer often indicate a problem with a rotating internal component. If replacing the toner cartridge does not fix the defect, the fuser assembly is a strong next suspect because damaged or contaminated fuser rollers can repeatedly mark the page as paper passes through. This is a common real-world troubleshooting step for laser printers with repeating image defects.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Pickup rollers are responsible for feeding paper from the tray into the printer. When they fail, common symptoms include paper jams, misfeeds, or failure to pick up paper, not repeating black marks at regular intervals on otherwise successfully printed pages.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A transfer belt can cause image quality problems in some color laser printers, such as poor color registration or transfer issues, but regular repeating black marks after a toner replacement more directly suggest a roller-related imaging path issue such as the fuser. This option is plausible because transfer components do affect print quality, but it is less likely in this scenario.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. The duplexing unit is used to turn or route paper for double-sided printing. Problems with the duplexer typically cause jams during two-sided printing or issues with page routing, not repeating black marks at fixed intervals on every page.