Brother QL-500 User Manual 2

A guide to getting

the most from your

Brother purchase

Thank you...

For best results,we
recommend you only buy
Brother genuine consumables.

Benefit from Brother
Research and Development

All genuine Brother consumables are
designed as part of an entire printing system,
and tested to ensure optimum performance
and component protection.

Our extensive experience in the research and
development of toner and ink technologies
allows us to achieve specifically tailored
ink and toner compositions that adhere to
the delicate specifications and operational
design requirements of your Brother product.

“you wouldn’t put
sunflower oil in your
car would you?

recommend genuine

Brother consumables.”

...that’s why we

for choosing Brother.

Where do I buy genuine
Brother consumables?

Genuine Brother consumables can be
purchased from any authorised Brother
reseller. If you would like information on your
closest authorised Brother reseller, please
contact your State’s local Brother Sales Office
(see the back of this Brochure for details).

What could happen if I use
imitation consumables?

The use of non-genuine or the refilling of
Brother consumables may at first seem
like a cost-effective choice. The reality is,
it could adversely impact the performance
of your Brother product and potentially cause
damage to your machine. T his damage will
not be covered by your Brother warranty.

Inkjet printing

Genuine Brother ink jet
cartridges offer better print
quality product protection
and performance.

Genuine Brother ink is the result of extensive
Research & Development of over 100
different elements. Combined, in the right
quantity and variation, these elements
ensure reliable operation and protection
of your machine and it’s long life print head.
Benefits include:

Correct colour matching

Your Brother product uses a predetermined
method of calculating the appropriate mixture of
inks in order to create vibrant colours. This
calculation in based upon Brothers’ ink formula.

Even ink delivery and distribution

The viscosity of genuine Brother ink is
designed to flow through critical points of the
print head with ease and on demand.

Anti-smearing & anti-clogging qualities

To prevent pages from smearing during the
printing process, genuine Brother ink penetrates
and dries on the paper in optimum time with
your Brother product. Delay between page
prints is based on Brother ink drying time
specification. To help prevent the print head
from clogging, genuine Brother ink contains
carefully selected dyes, penetrates, water and
other materials that specifically meet the
specifications of your Brother product, ensuring
smooth and reliable operation of the print head.

Inkjet printing process

Electric current
passes through
manifold causing
it to vibrate

Ink pushed
out when the
manifold vibrates

Nozzles

Ceramic Actuator

Ink drops

1. The Brother print head

has four ink-jet elements
servicing four colour inks.
Each inkjet element consists
of nozzles and channels
covered with a piezoelectric
ceramic actuator and filter.

2. Ink is sprayed through

microscopic nozzles in the
print head onto the paper
using piezoelectric ceramic

technology. A controlled
electric charge to the
piezoelectric ceramic produces
a pumping action, forming
and ejecting ink-droplets.

3. The print head assembly

on the carriage, with
connecting ink cartridges,
moves back and forth across
the paper to produce the
desired image.

4. A stepper motor drives

gears and rollers designed
to advance the paper with
precision each time the print
head assembly is ready for
another pass across the
paper. The paper is then
ejected once the printed
image is complete.

CAUTION:

BROTHER DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE REFILLING OF
EMPTY BROTHER INK CARTRIDGES DUE TO POSSIBLE
RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE LONG LIFE PRINT HEAD.

New (full)
Ink Cartridge

Main Ink Tank

with Foam

Ink Chamber

Air chamber

Seal

Filter

Used (empty)
Ink Cartridge

Air InkAir Ink

Any air introduced
into the ink
chamber during
refill could clog
and damage the
print head.

Refilled
Ink Cartridge

Ink

Air Ink

Actuator damage Nozzle damage

Ink droplet is either deformed
or ink flow onto paper via the
nozzle is prevented.

Nozzle obstruction by
particles from the
damaged actuator.

Laser printing

Genuine Brother laser toner
cartridges wor k best with
our system design

Each component of a Brother Laser
product is designed to work with the other.
Here are the benefits of using Brother
laser toners over imitations:

Print Resolution and Image Quality

Toner particle size, shape and colour
pigmentation all have a direct impact on the
sharpness and graininess of the printed
image. Genuine Brother toner is formulated
to meet high-quality resolution, grey scale
and solid fill images, in line with the product
design specifications.

Gloss finish

Toner particles are combined with a polymeric
binder that holds the toner pigment in place
in the final image. The binder also provides
gloss to images. Genuine Brother toner is
delicately balanced to provide even flow and
toner distribution onto the paper.

Bonding of toner to paper

Toner particles must be heated above
their melting point in order for them to
flow onto the paper, cool and become
solid. Each Brother laser product is
designed to reach a pre-set heating
temperature based on the genuine Brother
toner formula. The preset temperature
may differ from model to model, due to
the product design specifications.

Laser printing process

Laser Unit Photosensitive Drum

Drum Unit

Heat
Roller

Pressure
Roller

Paper Tray
Paper

Charger Transfer Roller

1. The drum surface is

positively charged while the
drum rotates.

2. A laser beam emits light

onto the drum surface
during rotation. The area
exposed to the laser beam
forms an electrostatic
image to be printed.

3. Charged toner particles are

attracted to the electrostatic
image on the drum.

4. Paper passes the drum

where a negative charge is
applied to it causing the
toner to be drawn away from
the drum surface and deposit
onto the paper surface.

Prevent the toner from clogging
the drum unit

Genuine Brother toner is designed and
developed with “anti-clogging” qualities.
Clogging prevents the flow of toner onto
the drum surface during printing which
can cause damage to the drum unit.

Ensure optimal operation from your
Brother product

The use of non-genuine Brother toner
may damage mechanical and electrical
components. Genuine Brother toner is
manufactured to exacting specifications
to ensure that the operation of your
Brother Laser product is compatible with
the original product design specifications

Supply
Roller

Paper
Feed
Rollers

Paper
Path

5. The image transferred to

the paper by static electricity
is fixed by heat and pressure
through the heat roller and
pressure roller within the
fuser assembly.

6. The printed document

exits the printer.

BROTHER DOES NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF
NON-GENUINE TONER IN BROTHER PRODUCTS
AS IT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE MACHINE
OR LONG LIFE DRUM.

Protecting...

Using non-genuine Brother
consumables and non-authorised
service centres could affect
your warranty

The use of non-genuine consumables or an
unauthorised service company can be a
risk. Brother does not cover under warranty
any damage or malfunction specifically
caused by improper use or unauthorised
service. We strongly recommend that you
send your product for service and repair
to a Brother Authorised Ser vice Centre.

Using non-genuine Brother
consumables could be
an occupational health
and safety risk

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
describe the chemical and physical
properties of a material and provides
advice on safe handling and use of the
material. The product manufacturer
generally publishes these documents.

Therefore, Brother provides MSDS for
genuine Brother consumables and not
for non-genuine consumables.

your investment.

Brother passes environmental
standards as well.

Brother was the first printer manufacturer
to receive TCO’99 certification, which means
we passed stringent testing criteria governing
product safety and design, the workplace, and
ecological and environmental management.

Our products are Energy Star compliant –
so they use less electricity. Brother is also
committed to using extra long-life drum and
toner consumables and is working with
Planet Ark to recycle spent ink and toner
cartridges with the aim of achieving zero
waste to landfill.

Shelly Craft – Planet Ark Support

Servicing...

Brother Authorised Service
Centres and repairers know
our products best

Brother Authorised Service Centres can
perform both in and out of warranty service
on Brother products.

The use of such centres provides the added
confidence that any maintenance issue will
be diagnosed and serviced by technical
personnel who have access to Brother
training resources, repair information and
genuine Brother spare parts.

Only Brother Authorised Service Centres are
authorised to perform warranty related repairs
to Brother products during the warranty period.
Benefits include:

• Approved locations for in, and out of

warranty repair service to Brother products.

• Technical personnel have access

to Brother technical training and
information aiding their efficiency
and effectiveness with fault diagnosis
and quality of remedial service.

• Access to genuine Brother spare parts.

• Added confidence that the point of

service is suppor ted by the product
manufacturer, Brother.

your investment.

Locating Authorised Brother
Service Centres and Resellers
of Genuine Brother Consumables

The established network of Brother
Authorised Service Centres and Authorised
Resellers is ever increasing within Australia.
If you would like information on your closest
authorised Brother reseller, please contact
your State’s local Brother Sales Office (see
the back of this Brochure for details).

NSW/ ACT

7 Khartoum Rd,

North Ryde NSW 2113

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

VIC

1/733 Whitehorse Rd,

Mont Albert VIC 3127

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

QLD / NT

245 Riverside Drive,
West End QLD 4101
Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

SA / TAS

Unit 4, 13 King William Rd,

Unley SA 5061

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

WA

117 Great Eastern Highway,

Belmont WA 6104

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

www.brother.com.au