HP: One of The Top Brand-Producing Laser Fusers

In a Hewlett Packard laser printer, the fuser is responsible for creating a permanent bond between the toner and the paper; heat and pressure are applied by rollers.

If you have noticed, some printers have an energy-saving or "sleep" mode after a period of time that the printer is not used or left idle.

You then have to wait for the HP fuser to heat to the proper temperature once again before you can use if for printing purposes.

So, how does the entire printing process actually take place? The drum in the laser printer transfers toner electrostatically to the paper. At this point, the toner is sitting on the paper, which then passes between the heat and pressure rollers in the fuser.

This process melts the toner, which is plastic based, into the sheet of paper which is pressed in firmly by the pressure roller. The heat roller, which is coated with a material like Teflon, comes directly in to contact with the paper. This non-stick material prevents the heat roller from sticking to the paper.

This device is largely responsible for printed materials and documents being more permanent than the results you often see with other methods of printing. Photocopiers also use this fusing method to create clear documents that are long lasting and resist smears.

Unfortunately, this is the component that often requires repair or causes problems, due to the dust from paper and excess toner that may accumulate causing scratched areas on the roller.

Replacing the fuser is usually not a difficult process, but always be certain to allow the old one to cool completely before attempting to remove or replace it.

The fuser you choose for your equipment and the cost depend upon the model you have, but it's always best to use what is recommended to protect your printer and make certain you continue to get clear, professional print quality on all of your documents.