QMS® Magicolor® 6100

Reference Info
In November 1999, QMS® introduced the magicolor® 6100 series of color printers, the 6100N, 6100GN, 6100EN and 6100DP. The same engine was used in all four models, and was based on a new Hitachi® B-size engine. Each model differs from the others in the series only by standard memory configurations and preinstalled options.

With a speed of six pages per minute (ppm) in full color and 24 ppm in monochrome, the 6100 printers look like and operate like the magicolor 2, only faster and larger. One obvious change is that the 6100 handles 13” x 19” paper, allowing the printing of “full-bleed” 11” x 17” images. The A4 paper feeds long-edge first, rather than short-edge.

The imaging system of the 6100 is basically identical to that in the magicolor 2 by design. It uses the same number of consumables - cyan, magenta, yellow and black toner cartridges, an OPC belt, a fuser bottle, a fuser cleaning roller, and a toner waste bottle.

Minor improvements over the magicolor 2 engine include the addition of a “fine mode” for higher quality images, a heavier transfer drum for smoother rotation, and an optical toner sensor. The optical sensor replaced the rocker switch in the magicolor 2 that signaled when the waste bin was full. The sensor is expected to be more reliable than the mechanical switch.

Although the cartridges look alike, there are a few minor differences between the magicolor 2 and the 6100. For example, the doctor blade has been moved from above the developer roller assembly bracket to beneath the bracket and the doctor blade upper support has been completely eliminated.