Disassembling an HP Color laserjet 4550

So, as some of you may have seen in one of my earlier posts this week, I picked up quite a bit of electronics over the weekend. Among the items I picked up was an HP Color laserjet 4550. Now, I've already made the mistake once this week of taking apart something I probably should have just attempted to sell online for more money. However, I broke a large part of the printer's plastic frame in transport, and to be honest, I just want to take this thing apart for the hell of it. This thing weighs somewhere between 50-70 pounds, so I'm thinking that there will be a good bit of metal scrap in it. I'll be posting pictures as I go along, if any of you guys are interested in following.

Ok, here's what I have so far:

Before disassembly
001_zpsce96df2b.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

With plastic casing removed
002_zps396409ec.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Cartridges:
003_zps76475361.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

I believe that one of the cartridges in the last photo is the toner cartridge. I've already removed the ink cartridges as well, but was smart enough to put them straight into a trash bag to keep the ink from staining everything it touches. It is interesting to note that the cartridges in the picture all have some substantial weight to them, indicating the presence of tin and/or other metals. However, I'm not sure if it is a good idea to disassemble any of them until I can identify which one is the toner cartridge. Any suggestions?

cool! did you try it first ? it might of still printed a couple books

Now put all the plastic weight back on and sell it for shred! Lol

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Originally Posted by Bear

cool! did you try it first ? it might of still printed a couple books

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No, I didn't. To be honest, I didn't want to spend two hours searching the internet for software to install on my laptop to make the thing work.... Well, that, and I was just itching to take it apart. :D

So far, I've managed to remove about a hundred or so screws, and several large components, but I've barely made a dent in this thing....

Progress:
006_zps8b0ab17e.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Laser still in housing, two small boards, and a nifty little brush that was attached to the frame:
004_zps65f0d62f.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Copper leads, wire, and some intact small plastic components:
005_zps39220355.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CGsEnterprises

Now put all the plastic weight back on and sell it for shred! Lol

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If y'all don't mind me asking, what exactly is shred??? I've assumed so far that it refers to tin and plastic containing components that just aren't worth breaking down. Is this correct?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CGsEnterprises

Now put all the plastic weight back on and sell it for shred! Lol

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By the way, CGsEnterprises, I noticed that you're in Columbia. I grew up in that neck of the woods. Are you affiliated with one of the local scrap businesses?

Yes that is correct...and many here smash them in the shred pile and grab the board or two and memory if it has in it and move on. It's good that your learning what's in what tho.

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Originally Posted by KZBell

Yes that is correct...and many here smash them in the shred pile and grab the board or two and memory if it has in it and move on. It's good that your learning what's in what tho.

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Ok.. But wouldn't a yard pay you a little better, even for the tin, if you went ahead and removed all of the plastic components?

I don't understand why someone would throw a printer like that in the shred pile. First of all the yards by me won't take them as shred. Second you would be wasting money by not taking it apart, wires,mid grade boards, electric motors toner cartridges and steel. Just my .02 Pitcher#4 the thing on the bottom next to your foot is the toner cartridges.

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Originally Posted by Bamcis

Ok.. But wouldn't a yard pay you a little better, even for the tin, if you went ahead and removed all of the plastic components?

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No. In this case tin=thin metal and not actual real tin. Appliances and many things you find on the curb go in the shred pile and a small % of non-metal is acceptable.

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Originally Posted by happyscraper

I don't understand why someone would throw a printer like that in the shred pile. First of all the yards by me won't take them as shred. Second you would be wasting money by not taking it apart, wires,mid grade boards, electric motors toner cartreges and steel. Just my .02

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I agree, primarily for the reason that it's just fun to take things apart. I've already noticed several motors and boards that I have yet to reach on the carcass of this thing. Also, there are numerous large copper leads connected to several of the metal components.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by happyscraper

I don't understand why someone would throw a printer like that in the shred pile. First of all the yards by me won't take them as shred. Second you would be wasting money by not taking it apart, wires,mid grade boards, electric motors toner cartridges and steel. Just my .02 Pitcher#4 the thing on the bottom next to your foot is the toner cartridges.

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Ok, but what about the other two cartridge looking things? Are they just part of the roller assembly or are they something more?

My yard would subtract so much weight for the plastic it wouldn't be worth it to bring it in whole.

The one with the yellow stripe looks like it would be the thing that draws the paper threw the copyer and I'm not sure what the other thing is. It's hard to tell from the pic.

Yards here accept a better percentage of plastic than I first realized. I was taking every little piece of plastic off, and accumulating a size-able pile of it, with nowhere to take it to. I later began leaving more substantial amounts, even tossing whole printers and keyboards etc in there sometimes. Haven't had em reject any part of it yet.

Early laser jet printers many times will work using Windows native drivers, or simple ones from their website, simply plug-n-play

Quote:

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Originally Posted by happyscraper

The one with the yellow stripe looks like it would be the thing that draws the paper threw the copyer and I'm not sure what the other thing is. It's hard to tell from the pic.

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Ok, well I peaked into them with a flashlight and spotted a whole lot of tin, plastic gears, some copper leads, and a few stray wires... I think they're worth disassembling.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bear

Yards here accept a better percentage of plastic than I first realized. I was taking every little piece of plastic off, and accumulating a size-able pile of it, with nowhere to take it to. I later began leaving more substantial amounts, even tossing whole printers and keyboards etc in there sometimes. Haven't had em reject any part of it yet.

Early laser jet printers many times will work using Windows native drivers, or simple ones from their website, simply plug-n-play

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Regarding the plastic scrap, I generally bag it up, and throw it out with the rest of my trash. However, if I were ever able to accumulate so much that doing so would be impractical, I have access to dumpsters at work where I could dispose of it as well. However, another option would be to possibly take it to the recycling center on the base I work on. I already know that they'll take CRT tubes. I'm sure that if I ask, the guy that runs the place would accept it.

Well, I've come to a stopping point for the night, and I've made quite a bit of progress. Below are some photos.

Primary board with RAM
007_zpsea3566ee.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket
008_zpsa492766a.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket
009_zps78c2e649.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

Low grade boards including one loaded with copper and transformers
011_zps07295fd1.jpg picture by Eadiot - Photobucket

On the carts...top left is the fuser, image drum on the right, toner cart is on the bottom.

I took apart a 2550 color awhile back, it's an experience. LOL

Watch the leftover toner on the image drum, powder stuff gets everywhere if you're not careful.