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The newer units use an IBT (Intermediate Belt Transfer) process. This has numerous advantages. The way it works is the printer has 4 color developers (Magenta, Yellow, Cyan, & Black). As the print is made the 4 different colors are developed to the drum or print cartridge one at a time then passed on to the IBT. As each color is developed it too is passed on to the IBT. Finally you end up with all 4 colors on the IBT, the paper is fed, and the whole image is transfered to the paper (all 4 colors) at once.
The advantages are:
The IBT being flat allows for a straight paper path in the transfer area. The older printers had to attach the paper to a transfer cylinder and cycle 4 times to pick up each color. There were problems with heavier stock (like 163 gsm) lifting off the cylinder because of its stiffness. This caused copy quality problems and jams.
The IBT process is somewhat quicker. One pass and all 4 colors are transfered.
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