Elsys Laser Systems - Research & Development

Research and Development (R&D) is an essential part of ELSYS's strategy to remain competitive and innovative in the cartridge remanufacturing industry.

The inconsistent quality of component parts, supplied by vendors, provided the original impetus for Elsys to develop a R&D program. We are convinced of the advantages associated with the development of new and improved technological products and processes and we continue to invest in both.

Technological Advancements

The proper selection of components in laser cartridges eliminates pinhole defects caused by bubbles formed in the coating and, as such, allows for an accurate re-manufacturing process which also improves on wear and tear and therefore results in the use of quality re-manufactured cartridges. These cartridges also extend cycle use and perform as well or better than OEM's.

The development of this technological method combined with the best combination of supplier components assures constant quality through usage of the drums and PCRs and thus extends the production cycle. We can therefore build a (?) system based on the types of cartridges we produce.

Experimental Work Performed

- The experimental design is 3X3X3 repeated measures design rendering 27 experimental conditions with no control conditions for statistical comparison on ANOVAs. The dependent variables were smudging, adhesion, voids, and yield testing.
- We re-manufactured 162 cartridges in total for experimental testing of the new combination.
- Each cartridge brand is assembled using three different models and three combination types. Beta (Power) was calculated in order to determine the appropriate number of cartridges required for each cell to obtain significant statistical results. Based on the Power assessment for this research design, it was determined that 162 cartridges or 6 cartridges per experimental cell were required to undergo statistical analysis.
- The technician tested the cartridges in continuous mode with 25% page overage for maximum page yield. When the first "toner low" or image-fade occurred, the cartridge was removed, shaken and replaced. This was repeated at the second "toner low" or image fade. When the cartridge stopped or image faded for the third consecutive time, the cartridge was considered to be empty and the final page count was recorded at that juncture.
- When all cartridges had completed print testing the first cycle, the technician inspected the printers for toner leakage, general serviceability, and cleaned and maintained them before the next batch of cartridges was tested. This ensured that all cartridges were tested under identical conditions. All of the cartridges were run through multiple life cycle tests to a maximum of three cycles.

Elsys has released over 50 products with this R&D and Methods to CGSB* standards.

*Canadian General Standards Board