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From: dpm@cs.cmu.edu (David Maynard)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.printers
Subject: Re: Texas Instruments Microlaser
Message-ID: <1991Apr10.040605.28078@fs7.ece.cmu.edu>
Date: 10 Apr 91 04:06:05 GMT
References: <9275@rsiatl.Dixie.Com> <1991Apr8.025658.4251@wsrcc.com>
Sender: news@fs7.ece.cmu.edu (USENET News System)
Organization: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Lines: 31

>jgd@Dixie.Com (John G. DeArmond) writes [about the TI MicroLaser P35
>PostScript printer]
>>There is a small DIN-style fuse embedded in the side of the spent toner 
>>tank.  When the printer thinks it's time for new toner, it blows this 
>>fuse!  This happens at about 3000 sheets.  This is designed to 
>>force you to replace the toner kit and not use refills.  One can pop
>>the fuse out and replace it with one from Radio Shack but it IS 
>>a real pisser that they do this sneaky trick.

Actually, this isn't quite accurate.  The printer blows the fuse as soon as
you install a new consumable.  When it blows the fuse, it restarts its
counters on how long that consumable should last.  I found this out when I
first bought my microLaser.  Apparently some of the cartridges have "tough"
fuses that the microLaser can't burn.  My printer wouldn't work becuase it
couldn't burn the fuse on the OPC drum.  TI tech support told me to use a 9V
battery to manually blow the fuse and then gave me a magic button sequence
(which I've forgotten) to reset the internal fuse flags.  After that, the
printer worked great.

I doubt that TI intended the feature as a method of preventing you from
using refilled cartridges, but I guess they could have.  I see it more as a
nice feature that reminds me when I need to change supplies (and clean
things, etc).  I'm sure you could perform some combination of magic if you
really wanted to use refills.

-David
-- 
 David P. Maynard (dpm@cs.cmu.edu)
 Dependable Solutions & CMU ECE
 Pittsburgh, PA  15213
--