Xerox 8500DN Service Manual - Page 38

Theory of Operation Ink Loader The Ink Loader consists of four parallel channels with an ink melting element at the end of each channel. Coil springs exert pressure on four ink sticks to load one unique color in each channel. When the Printhead requires ink, the melting element of the appropriate color melts the end of the ink stick. The melted ink drips into the Printhead ink reservoirs. Sensors in the Ink Loader alert the customer to install more ink sticks before the printer completely consumes the current sticks. If the ink level sensors inside the Printhead detect that the Printhead has run out of ink, but the ink low/out sensors are not activated, the Control Panel reports an "Ink Jam" error. The Phaser 8400 features a single Ink-Out sensor, which activates when there is no ink stick in any of the four ink channels. This condition activates the sensor flag. The 8500/8550/8560 features an Ink-Out sensor in each ink stick channel. Each sensor determines if the individual channel is empty. The sensors also determine the count of the ink sticks as they pass by the Ink-Out sensor flag. Ink Loader Door Ink Stick Ink Melt Units Ink Low Sensor Ink Out Sensor Printhead s8500-011 2-6 Phaser 8400/8500/8550/8560 Color Printer Service Manual