The Brother MFC-7460DN is a handy all-in-one multifunctional printer that can print, scan, copy and fax. This printer is sure to keep busy especially if you’re using it for business. It can print pretty fast and gives out great quality. It’s also easy to maintain as it makes use of a drum unit and a Brother TN-450/TN-420 toner cartridge duo. Replacing one or the other should be very easy and simple when you run out of ink. However, the replacement process can be a little stressful for some, considering the cost of OEM toner cartridges and the worry of hurting the printer. However, there are compatible cartridges available to save the day! Compatible cartridges are more affordable to buy in bulk and are designed to produce high-quality prints as well as a high page yield similar to, if not more than, OEM Brother cartridges. They are easy to install and guarantee you non-stop printing when you need it.
Still, many people have reported issues with the compatible toner cartridge. But don't worry, there are some things you can do to fix them! Are you experiencing problems with your Brother MFC-7460DN printer? Perhaps you can try some of these solutions to your issues. What most people don’t realize is that even the simplest tricks can help your printer and compatible cartridges go a long way.
‘Toner low’ and ‘Replace toner’ messages. So you’ve run out of your OEM TN-450/TN-420 toner for your MFC-7460DN and you have already put in a replacement compatible toner cartridge, but you still get the ‘Toner low’ error. Even if you continue to attempt to print, it pops up again a while later. This can get pretty annoying, but the compatible toner cartridge has yet to be proven empty! Your printer may simply not automatically recognize that the old toner cartridge has been replaced.
You can bypass this message through a manual reset. You may have to do this whenever you replace your cartridge to avoid the error in the future. To do this, restart your printer by first shutting it down and turning it back on. Open the front access panel and press the ‘Clear’ or ‘Back’ button on the printer. The ‘Replace drum?’ prompt will appear on the LCD. Ignore it and type ‘*12’ on the keypad. You may also reset the toner counter by following the same steps above but typing ‘*00’ instead.
Smeared or distorted printing. This can happen sometimes when the toner powder slips out of the cartridge. To avoid this issue, the replacement cartridge should be installed properly. It is also best to regularly maintain and clean the printer to ensure that toner dust doesn’t get in the way of printing. Below is a step-by-step guide to correctly installing a new cartridge on your MFC-7460DN.
- Turn on the printer.
- Open the front cover and leave it to cool down for around 10 minutes.
- Take out the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly. You may recognize the drum unit as the “carrier” for the cartridge.
- Press the small lever on the side of the drum unit to release the old toner cartridge. Place it somewhere safe or easy to clean up such as a few sheets of used paper on a table.
- Take out the new compatible cartridge from the box. Shake or rock it gently side-to-side to redistribute the toner inside. This lets your printer use up all the toner in the cartridge and make it last longer.
- Take off the protective seal from the new cartridge and put it in the drum unit.
- Clean the corona wire in the drum unit. A sliding tab behind the drum can be used to swipe along the corona wire and remove any debris or excess toner.
- Put the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly back into the printer.
- Close the front cover.
It’s important to constantly clean the drum unit whenever you’re replacing the toner cartridge. Toner build-up on the corona wire can affect print quality, causing smudging or prints with either a block of color or no color at all. If the dirt on the corona wire cannot be removed by the sliding tab, you may use a q-tip soaked in isopropyl alcohol to clean the wire. If the corona wire is broken or snapped, you will have to replace the drum unit itself.
If some toner spilled from the new toner cartridge, it would be best to clean it first before putting the cartridge in the drum. You can use a q-tip with isopropyl alcohol to wipe the cartridge hole. Make sure that everything has dried after using isopropyl alcohol before returning everything to the printer.
Some compatible toner cartridges may not latch onto the drum unit as an OEM normally would, but rest assured that the friction fit is enough to support the cartridge in the drum. As long as you don’t shake your printer aggressively, it should be safe. In case of a paper jam, remove the drum unit before moving your printer if you want to try dislodging the paper by shaking the printer.
Toner drying up. This can be a common problem when using compatible toner cartridges and it happens when the toner powder gets clumped up inside the cartridge. The best way to fix this is to give your new cartridge a good shake before installing it in the printer. This will help redistribute the toner powder and smooth out any clumps. You may have to do this more than a few times.
Disposing and recycling compatible toner cartridges. Brother provides a recycling program for Brother-branded cartridges to be recycled and reused. For other compatible cartridges, it is best to check with your local recycling centers on how to properly recycle them. Do not just throw them away in the trash as toner cartridges can be harmful to the environment.
You might want to try refilling the toner yourself before you dispose of the cartridge. Laser Tek Services offer drum units, TN-450/TN-420 compatible toner cartridges as well as toner refill kits! You can save more and also make the most out of your cartridges. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully so as not to damage your printer. When in doubt, it is always best to seek professional help to avoid any more problems with your printer.
Brother MFC-7460DN printer is one of the popular models in Brother’s line of multifunctional printers. These models are known for their reliability and print quality, but like any other printer, they are not without their issues. One of the most common problems users face is compatible toner cartridges. They may be less expensive but issues with them often lead consumers to question their cost-effectiveness. Luckily, most of these issues can be easily fixed with a few simple steps. So, before you throw out what could be a perfectly good compatible toner cartridge, try these tips first! Should you have any concerns, Laser Tek Services is always ready to help.
