In most desktop copiers, the copier is opened like a clam shell (meaning it opens on a hinge system.) There are a few newer systems that open via an access door on the side of the copier. The fuser or fixing assembly is located on the left side of the copier, where the printer copy comes out.

There are several types of jams:

• The paper feed jam, which is caused by dirty or worn paper feed tires or the incorrect type of paper. Always make sure your copier can support the type of paper you have in the paper tray. Twenty pound paper is generally the best type. If you still can’t get the paper to be picked up from the tray, take a cotton swab with a little rubbing alcohol and wipe the paper feed tires where you can. This may help to clean off any dirt. If this still doesn’t work, you will need service.


• Another type of jam is the registration jam. The registration area is located in the center of the copier underneath the copy cartridge. Make sure there are no obstructions or loose toner on the registration rollers. Loose toner can usually be removed by spraying some compressed air in the center of the copier.


• The third most common paper jam in desktop copiers is the fuser jam. The fuser fuses the dry toner to your paper via a high intensity lamp or a rapid fuser film system, which takes little or no time to warm up. Never stick a foreign object into the fuser to try and remove a piece of paper. This causes scratches or tears on the Teflon coating of the fuser rollers. First slowly pull what you can see of the jammed paper out of the copier. If a piece tears off or you cannot see the paper jam at all, call for service.

• Stains are usually caused by poor quality toner cartridges, a defective or worn out drum unit (which is sometimes separate from the toner cartridge), a fuser unit that is worn out or damaged.


• Faded print is likely caused by bad or empty toners, worn out drum units, voltage problems or dirty optics.


• Loose toner that rubs off the printed copy is usually a sign of a defective fuser unit or a power supply issue. The heat is not reaching optimum temperature in the fuser unit, so the toner is not fused to the paper.


• Blank pages are caused by a missing toner cartridge or drum, broken corona charge wires, or a faulty circuit board. Black pages are caused by a faulty copy lamp or scanner, voltage or power supply problem or a defective toner or drum cartridge.

Your operator panel or display screen helps you navigate the menus or just select your copy quantity or quality. If your buttons don’t respond, in most cases, the button has just been worn out. Sometimes the control panel has been dosed with a liquid substance (for example, coffee). In either case, you will need service.

If your display screen is blank or you can’t clearly read all of the screen, it usually means the screen is damaged and needs replacement.

Error codes are also displayed on your screen. If an error code cannot be resolved by removing jammed paper or resetting the power, you will need to call for service.

 

• If you don’t shake the cartridge when you first get it, you might get light pages.


• If you insert the cartridge poorly, you might get blank pages.


• If you have loose or leaking toner, it most likely means that the toner seal in the cartridge is broken; in that case, you should blow out or vacuum the loose toner and replace the cartridge.


• Sometimes loose toner is caused by a worn out drum cartridge that also holds the waste toner. If the waste container inside the drum becomes full, it will start to dump toner onto the page or inside the copier.

• Use paper that is recommended for copying.


• Use paper that is 4 to 6 percent humidity by weight.


• Do not use paper that is too thick or too thin.


• Do not use plastic window envelopes.


• Do not use letterhead with a wax-based logo.


• Eliminate static electricity in the paper by fanning the paper before placing it in the paper cassette.