Which component applies a charge to create an image on the paper in a laser printer?

The imaging drum is the component in a laser printer that applies a charge to create an image on the paper. It works by using a photoconductive surface that gets charged by a laser beam, which writes the image onto the drum. The areas of the drum that are struck by the laser lose their charge, while the unshaken areas retain their charge. After this process, toner is applied to the drum, adhering only to the areas that were not hit by the laser, forming a latent image that is later transferred onto the paper.

This process is essential to the functioning of laser printers, as it allows for the precise application of toner to create high-quality, sharp printed images. The imaging drum is a critical part of the printer's imaging process, while components like the transfer roller and fuser assembly perform their own respective roles, such as moving the toner from the drum to the paper and bonding it to the paper, respectively. The duplex assembly relates to double-sided printing and does not involve the imaging process.