Printer Toner Waste Box or Hopper

[555555Lisa]

I have read other answers to this question that seem vague and unhelpful. I am reading that laser jet printers are supposed to have a waste box for excess toner to go. According to the help in this forum from Dell persons they are claiming there isn’t one for many models including my own.

I have a MFP 277dw. If there is not a waste box where exactly is this excess toner going and how does one go about cleaning it out?

Please do not send me instructions about unplugging it, plugging it back in, resetting it, or printing cleaning pages and what not. This far surpasses any of those troubleshooting steps. Over months and years the excess toner build up would be a far larger quantity than a cleaning page would be able to resolve and this makes no sense.

The excess toner has to be going somewhere. Where is that place please so that I can dump it out if necessary. It can just magically disappear, the excess toner is somewhere inside this printer so if it doesn’t have a dumping box what is catching it for years?

I am seeing large blocks of toner dumped onto the transfer belt. I have already troubleshot everything that there is to trouble shoot.

[Raj_05]

Hi @555555Lisa,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

The HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M277dw does indeed have a waste toner area, although it's not always referred to as a "waste toner box" like in some other models. Here's a more detailed breakdown of how waste toner is managed in your printer and how to access it for maintenance.

Waste Toner Management in the M277dw

Waste Toner Container:

• The M277dw has a built-in waste toner container (sometimes referred to as a waste toner hopper) that collects excess toner during printing. This is located inside the printer and isn't as easily accessible as external waste toner boxes.

Location:

• To access the waste toner area, you typically need to open the front cover of the printer, remove the toner cartridges, and then remove the imaging drum. The waste toner will be collected in a compartment that is usually positioned below the imaging drum or behind it.

Cleaning the Waste Toner Area:

• Once you locate the waste toner compartment, you can use a soft cloth or a vacuum designed for toner (a specialized vacuum for electronic components) to clean out the excess toner. Avoid using a regular household vacuum as it can release toner dust back into the air.
• After cleaning, replace the imaging drum and toner cartridges, and close the front cover of the printer.

Dealing with Toner Build-Up:

• If you notice large blocks of toner building up on the transfer belt or elsewhere, it's essential to clean them off gently. The transfer belt is a sensitive component, so be cautious when cleaning it to avoid damage.
• If excessive toner build-up continues to be a problem, it could indicate a malfunction with the printer, such as issues with the imaging drum or the toner cartridges themselves.

Note:

In summary, while the HP M277dw doesn’t have a user-replaceable waste toner box, it does have an internal mechanism to collect excess toner. Regular cleaning of the waste toner area is crucial to maintain optimal printer function and prevent excess toner from leaking into other areas of the printer 

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support