How to fix your own photocopier or printer
A First Fix Copiers guide to making sure that your printer or photocopier keeps working, so that your business can as well.
Having been in the industry for 25 years, I can safely say, the majority of my work is fixing the same things over and over again. Many issues can be resolved easily if you just take the time to work out why the machine isn’t working and then use this guide to put that issue right. It’s easy to save down time and money. If this doesn’t work, you can call First Fix Copiers on 01279897827 or text 07921815546 or email firstfixcopiers@gmail.com. Website www.firstfixcopiers.com
Part 1 : Paper Jams
Paper jams and poor copy quality are the things I’m most frequently asked to resolve. Here are a few pointers so that you can try to fix the issue yourself:
1. Firstly, cycle the machine off and on at the wall. New photocopiers are essentially PCs at heart and sometimes they go a little bit mad, so it doesn’t hurt to try turning them off and on. Make sure to shut down using the soft switch on the control panel, just as you would a home PC.
2. Remove all of the paper trays and check behind them for squashed paper. Most trays will come out but there are the odd exceptions, so don’t pull too hard. If you do find some paper, it may be worth cycling the machine off and on before trying again, as some trays will lock down after failing to lift a number of times.
3. Try and establish if one tray/port in particular is not working correctly. Many times I am asked to look at a machine with four trays, three of which are working perfectly, but the customer hasn’t tried to use a different tray, which could tide them over until I can get there to fix the one that’s misbehaving. If this applies to you, work from a different tray and call ( 01279897827 ), text ( 07921815546 ) or email ( firstfixcopiers@gmail.com) First Fix Copiers to sort out the tray with the issue.
4. Remove the old stock and re-load the machine with fresh paper making sure to not over-fill it (There is generally a marker showing the max fill level on a cassette). Damp paper is a big cause of jamming, especially when there is a change in ambient temperature. You can tell if your paper is damp as it will be curled as it exits the machine.
5. Make sure that the paper tray’s adjustable guides are set correctly. They should butt up neatly against the stack, but not so tightly that the paper arches. Also, if the machine has a paper size slider or wheel, make sure that it is set correctly. If you have A4 paper in the tray, and the machine is set to A3, it will just stop printing.
6. Different paper types can cause all sorts of problems for photocopiers. Anything thick or shiny should really go into the fold down tray on the side (the one most people see and think “I wonder what thats for”). You will, most likely, need to set the paper size and also the paper type. For example, when you tell the machine that you are using headed paper, it will reduce the speed when copying and also increase the fuser temperature to give the toner the best chance of adhering to the page. If you don’t set the paper type correctly, you can expect jams and toner rubbing off from the page after printing.
So, hopefully you’re now giving the machine half a chance at working. If you are still having problems, read on. If not, bookmark this page and save my number ( 07921815546 ) for next time! That’s great! 🙂
7. If the paper is still jamming, try to run a single sheet through to see where it stops. More often than not it will get stuck in the fusing unit (hot rollers) . If it’s a concertina jam (folded like a fan), and the paper is good (having followed the guide above), then there’s a good chance the machine needs a new fuser unit. If the paper gets stuck on the numerous pointy claws that rest on the hot rollers then check to see if all of the claws are set in the same position. It is quite common for one or more of the claws to become dislodged after over zealous jam removal. If this is the case, it is often possible to push them back into position, but be careful not to force them! They can be quite brittle.
8. Does the machine only jam when double siding? If it does, I’m afraid there’s not much you will be able to do yourself, but give me a call at First Fix Copiers on 01279897827 or text 07921815546 or email firstfixcopiers@gmail.com. Website www.firstfixcopiers.com.
9. If the machine jams on a run at intermittent intervals, I’m afraid it’s also time to call First Fix Copiers on 01279897827 or text 07921815546 or email firstfixcopiers@gmail.com. Website www.firstfixcopiers.com.
10. Document feeder jams! If I had a pound for every time I have attended a document feeder jamming call and removed a staple, piece of blue tack or a paperclip, I would be rich! Run a single sheet through and note where it gets stuck. There is often a tell tale dent in the leading edge of the sheet that could well indicate where a rogue piece of stationery has ended up. Also, if you are copying hole punched paper through the feeder, copy it upside down because the document feeder will not like the holes on the lead edge as it tries to pull the sheet through. Lastly, be aware that the feeder will have a marker showing how many sheets it is capable of dealing with. If the machine is new, sure, fill it to the top, but if the machine is getting on in years, going to the max fill level is asking a little too much of it. As with the cassettes, make sure the guides are set tight to the stack, but not so tight as to cause the paper to arch.
So that pretty much sums up jamming! If you have any problems get in contact. As you will see from my website, rates are very reasonable:-
First Fix Copiers on 01279897827 or text 07921815546
email firstfixcopiers@gmail.com.
Website www.firstfixcopiers.com
My next guide will be fixing poor copy quality, watch this space …