hacking a desktop laser copier

[divxdude]

i still have a new Sharp AL800 laser copier nobody seems to want..

seems like its something that should be a mod'able.
a copier is just a scanner and printer combined..no?

so what kind of sharp printer is it in there and where do i tap it?

 

[wseyller]

I don't get what you are trying to do. Tap What?

 

[wedi42]

he wants to try to make into a printer

time to take it apart and look for a usb header
maybe you could solder in a usb port and controller chip
however i doubt it would be worth your time.

 

[wseyller]

Not likely to happen. You need an interface, a compatible controller card which would not easily integrate into the existing electronics and also you would need a device driver and probably a slew of other things. Not pratical at all.

 

[sdifox]

A copier is not a scanner and a printer. A copier is a copier. There is no way you can create a signal that you can somehow patch into the imager so it can expose it onto the drum in order to transfer to paper.

 

[Bassyhead]

Originally posted by: sdifox
A copier is not a scanner and a printer. A copier is a copier. There is no way you can create a signal that you can somehow patch into the imager so it can expose it onto the drum in order to transfer to paper.

Many small copiers/fax machines (multifunction units) are just a combination unit of a scanner and a laser copier. These devices typically have memory that allows them to scan a page or several pages and print these multiple times without having to scan the page(s) again. This is also useful if several different pages to be copied need to be collated. The memory also allows the storage of fax messages. Keep in mind that a copier and a laser printer are pretty much the same thing with the exception of how the image gets on the imaging drum.

The question of intercepting/injecting data somewhere between the scanner and the printer is the question here. It's not going to be easily done otherwise the manufacturer would have already done this, allowing the product to also be marketed as a scanner/printer like typical all-in-one units.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: sdifox
A copier is not a scanner and a printer. A copier is a copier. There is no way you can create a signal that you can somehow patch into the imager so it can expose it onto the drum in order to transfer to paper.

Depends.

A lot of newer computerized copiers basically are a scanner and a laser printer tied together -- but most of the ones that are built like that also expose the 'printer' functionality. If they're just 'hiding' the printer functionality of this device (likely if there are other models in the same line that can print and copy), something like a firmware upgrade could potentially turn it into a more functional printer/copier, assuming you have some way to hook it up to a computer (like a USB or Ethernet port built into the device). If they actually left out the communication hardware, you're probably SOL.

Of course, if this is a 'dumb' copier, then yes, there's no practical way for you to turn it into a printer.

 

[oynaz]

"Of course, if this is a 'dumb' copier, then yes, there's no practical way for you to turn it into a printer."

- though it might make an interesting project.

 

[divxdude]

almost need the schematic tho.
wouldnt it be cool if it was already using USB communication...

makes sense to use hardware they already have manufactured and developed anyway..

since its not too old seems more likely they would adapt a current usb printer as a copier
rather than build a whole new animal.

 

[divxdude]

i might have hit the nail..

http://www99.shopping.com/xGS-20164892~NS-1

the sharp al840 is identical in the photo but its a laser printer.

 

[divxdude]

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