Laser printer process stages: During the transfer stage of electrophotographic (laser) printing, what action occurs between the drum and the printed sheet?

Introduction / Context:
Laser printers use an electrophotographic process with distinct stages: charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing, and cleaning. Knowing what happens at each stage helps with troubleshooting symptoms like faint prints, smearing, or ghosting.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are focusing specifically on the transfer stage.
• The photoconductor drum holds a toner image created during develop.
• Paper passes near or against the drum before fusing.

Concept / Approach:

In the transfer stage, a transfer roller or corona applies charge to the back of the paper, attracting the toner particles from the drum onto the paper. This places the developed toner image onto the sheet in preparation for heat/pressure fusing.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Service manuals describe transfer as moving toner to paper via transfer roller/corona; test prints showing unfused toner that can be wiped off indicate transfer succeeded but fusing failed.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Residual toner to waste: this is part of cleaning, not transfer.
• Laser transfers image: the laser only exposes the drum; it does not move toner to paper.
• Negative charge applied to drum: this is the primary charging step, not transfer.
• None of the above: incorrect because transfer is drum → paper toner movement.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing the expose stage with transfer, or assuming poor adhesion is always a transfer issue when it may be fuser-related.

Final Answer:

The toner image is transferred from the drum to the paper