A user reports that when printing to an impact printer that the carbon copies are legible but the top copy is blank. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

The correct answer is D. Replace the ribbon. Impact printers work by striking a ribbon against the paper to transfer ink. If the carbon copies (which rely on pressure transfer through the paper stack) are legible but the top copy is blank, the ribbon has lost its ink. The mechanical impact is still occurring - otherwise…

Hardware and network troubleshooting

Question

Options

AReplace the printer data cable
BReinstall the print drivers
CReplace the printer head
DReplace the ribbon

How the community answered

(25 responses)

A
4% (1)
C
8% (2)
D
88% (22)

Explanation

Impact printers work by striking a ribbon against the paper to transfer ink. If the carbon copies (which rely on pressure transfer through the paper stack) are legible but the top copy is blank, the ribbon has lost its ink. The mechanical impact is still occurring - otherwise the carbon copies would also be blank - but the ribbon is depleted and no longer transferring ink to the top sheet. Replacing the ribbon restores ink transfer. A bad data cable or print driver would affect all output, and replacing the print head would not resolve an ink-depletion issue.

Topics

#impact printer#ribbon replacement#carbon copies#blank output

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