Reinitialization of toner page counter chips

[johnspeth]

Hi everybody-

I'm a frustrated owner of a Konica-Minolta PagePro 1350W laser printer
because it reports the toner is low after only 6 months of not-so-much
use. I discovered that it demands a new toner cart regardless of how
much toner is left - instead it simply counts pages. It's printing
just fine.

A necessary part of toner replenishment is to replace the cartridge
page counter chip. I'm an electrical engineer and it seems like it
should be easy to reprogram the chip myself. I know I could do it if I
knew the details.

Before I attempt the reverse engineer the chip, does anyone know of any
information anywhere that describes how to reset the chip without
replacing it? I'll take answers for any printer and not just the 1350W
because I think many printer vendors use the same or similar devices.

Thanks, JJS

 

[Tony]

Hi everybody-

I'm a frustrated owner of a Konica-Minolta PagePro 1350W laser printer
because it reports the toner is low after only 6 months of not-so-much
use. I discovered that it demands a new toner cart regardless of how
much toner is left - instead it simply counts pages. It's printing
just fine.

A necessary part of toner replenishment is to replace the cartridge
page counter chip. I'm an electrical engineer and it seems like it
should be easy to reprogram the chip myself. I know I could do it if I
knew the details.

Before I attempt the reverse engineer the chip, does anyone know of any
information anywhere that describes how to reset the chip without
replacing it? I'll take answers for any printer and not just the 1350W
because I think many printer vendors use the same or similar devices.

Thanks, JJS

I'm not sure whether this chip can be reset but try
http://www.oliser-international.com/supplies/laser/chips.htm, they seem to have
a chip that can replace the original (about 8 euros). There are several other
places that offer solutions google "pagepro 1350w chip reset".
Tony

 

[measekite]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

REMEMBER HE IS IN DA BUSINESS AND SELLS AFTERMARKET INK

 

[Tony]

REMEMBER HE IS IN DA BUSINESS

Which might be why I know something about laser printers and like I should be
ashamed or something?

AND SELLS AFTERMARKET INK

which is irrelevant, this is a laser printer thread and ink doesn't work in
Lasers. There you are, now you have learnt your very first fact about printers.
<snip>

Tony

 

[measekite]

<snip>




Which might be why I know something about laser printers and like I should be
ashamed or something?

AND SELLS AFTERMARKET INK

which is irrelevant, this is a laser printer thread and ink doesn't work in
Lasers. There you are, now you have learnt your very first fact about printers.



<snip>

Tony

IT IS A BASE HIT GOING GOING GONE ITS A HOME RUN

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I have also read that refilling the K-M 1350W cartridge will lead to it
operating much more slowly, perhaps with extra cleaning cycles between
each copy.

Art

 

[johnspeth]

I don't think the refilling is what causes the slower print cycle.
It's the page counter. Once the counter exceeds some magic count
number, the printer slows down. It's that simple. You either need to
reset the memory of the embedded counter or install a new one.

My rant: Printer companies should be ashamed of themselves for this
practice. It will certainly backfire on them in the long run. I will
never buy a K-M pinter or any other printer that penalizes the user for
not buying a new factory toner cart.

JJS

 

[measekite]

YOU REALLY CANNOT BLAMED THEM

I have also read that refilling the K-M 1350W cartridge will lead to
it operating much more slowly, perhaps with extra cleaning cycles
between each copy.

Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I fully agree with your sentiment. Obviously, at least for now, they
make more than they lose by doing so. Keep in mind the profit is in the
consumables, not the printers, so they likely aren't targeting you as a
client, or any of us that refill with 3rd party product.

Art

 

[Davy]

Anonymouswrote
quote="Anonymous"]I don't think the refilling is what causes th
slower print cycle

It's the page counter. Once the counter exceeds some magic coun
number, the printer slows down. It's that simple. You either nee t
reset the memory of the embedded counter or install a new one

That sounds more like it, there is no way of saying to this printer,
toner's just had a refill...lets slow down.! So it does boil down t
something 'flagging' the printers cpu, and that would be th
counter, don't forget the waste compartment as well, after the dru
has been cleaned of any remaining toner

I filled my El' cheapo Samsung 2 or 3 times without any ill effect
or slow downs but this is a different model

Dav

 

[johnspeth]

I'm not sure whether this chip can be reset but try

After some digging around, your statement is probably right on. The
page count storage device is a DS2432 from Dallas Semiconductor. Data
security using a "secret" known only to the manufacturer goes a long
way in preventing data manipulation. Read all about the device at

http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/2914

I have no doubt that K-M chose that chip for the security. Hacking at
it would be a waste of effort considering $10 replacement chips are
available.

I wonder how the replacement chip people do it?

JJS

 

[Tony]

After some digging around, your statement is probably right on. The
page count storage device is a DS2432 from Dallas Semiconductor. Data
security using a "secret" known only to the manufacturer goes a long
way in preventing data manipulation. Read all about the device at

http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/2914

I have no doubt that K-M chose that chip for the security. Hacking at
it would be a waste of effort considering $10 replacement chips are
available.

I wonder how the replacement chip people do it?

JJS

Reverse engineering of some sort I guess.
Tony

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Actually, I never mentioned or made a statement about the method the
printer used to get there. Who knows, it could be a fusible link that
gets burned or chip is written to on the cartridge when the printer
recognizes the toner cartridge is reading "empty".

All I stated was that the printer runs at a slower speed when a refilled
cartridge is used.

I suspect that there is a chip on the toner cartridge that is written to
in some manner that the printer reads.

Art

Anonymouswrote:

quote="Anonymous"]I don't think the refilling is what causes the
slower print cycle.

It's the page counter. Once the counter exceeds some magic count
number, the printer slows down. It's that simple. You either need
to

reset the memory of the embedded counter or install a new one.

That sounds more like it, there is no way of saying to this printer,
toner's just had a refill...lets slow down.! So it does boil down to
something 'flagging' the printers cpu, and that would be the
counter, don't forget the waste compartment as well, after the drum
has been cleaned of any remaining toner.

I filled my El' cheapo Samsung 2 or 3 times without any ill effects
or slow downs but this is a different model.

Davy