HP Color LaserJet CP3525, CP4025, CP4525 and CM3530 MFP Product Series - Toner Collection Unit (TCU)

The TCU is a toner collection unit housed within the Color LaserJet CP3525, CP4025/4525 printers and CM3530 MFP that collects paper debris and un-transferred toner generated during the operation of the printer. The TCU is an easy-to-replace, high-yield HP supply designed to reduce user intervention rates. The printer control panel will provide a proactive alert when the TCU is approaching the end of life and you need to Order a replacement. The alert provides the product number to order for replacement. The user must replace the TCU when the alert is at Replace. If printing continues after the Replace alert, the printer will display an error message 59.B0 on the printer’s control panel and will stop printing until the TCU is replaced to prevent damage to the printer.

The replacement product numbers for the TCU are:

• CE254A for the CP3525 and the CM3530mfp
• CE265A for the CP4025/4525

The majority of laser printers and copiers in the market, whether sold by HP or another manufacturer, have some sort of mechanism to keep the print path free of any debris that might accumulate internally. Because of the way electro photographic technology works, some toner does not get transferred to the paper during printing. The toner needs to be removed from the print path before the next page can be printed. It is also necessary to collect paper fibers and dust that are introduced into the printer by the paper being used for printing. The print quality delivered by the printer is dependent in part on making sure that the internal workings of the imaging system are clean and free of dust and other debris to ensure the best print quality possible.

In Intermediate Transfer Belt (ITB) systems, toner is not transferred perfectly from the ITB to the paper. Some toner and paper fibers remain on the ITB and must be cleaned off prior to developing the next image. This residual toner and paper fibers are swept off by a cleaning blade and collected in the TCU. This process ensures the ITB is clear of any debris before printing the next image.

The stated capacity of the TCU is 36,000 pages. However, the customer’s experience may vary considerably based on images printed, the type of paper used, environmental conditions and other factors.

HP utilizes several different product designs to collect un-transferred toner, paper fibers and dust within the imaging system. Some TCU’s are built into our all-in-one cartridges; others are physically incorporated into a long life consumable or packaged separately with a maintenance kit. The TCU for the CP3525, CP4025/4525 printers and the CM3530 MFP series was designed as a stand-alone consumable that is relatively inexpensive and easy for customers to access and replace.