Hi there,
Does it actually get jammed or does the printer indicate a jam when
their is none?
The most common causes of real paper jams are:
1) something is blocking the paper path, like a paper clip, piece of
torn paper , etc, and that needs to be removed before anything can work
correctly. It requires a good flashlight and careful examination. I do
NOT recommend turning the printer over and shaking, because you can end
up with a LOT of ink pouring onto you, your clothing, your desk, your
carpet and the inside of the printer. So look, and maybe even use a
telescopic tool with a magnetic tip and fish around a bit.
2) The paper skews to one side and jams up and crumbles. This can also
be something blocking one side of the paper chute, but more likely is
caused by glazed paper transport wheels that aren't pushing the paper
through evenly (see below for more)
3) Paper is not going through in the right timing to reach the sensor
before printing and printer indicates paper jam. This can also be the
result of glazed transport wheels, which slip on both sides.
For either case, get some artist watercolor paper or other heavier
absorbent paper and spray with either isopropyl alcohol or ammoniated
window cleaner just enough on one side to dampen the paper but not to
make it limp. Then run the paper through the machine using the
load/eject buttons. If the paper jams too much to so this, use foam
cosmetic wands (like cotton swabs bit with a foam tip) and using one of
the two solvents (alcohol is likely better) clean the wheels that you
see down the paper chute. They are usually grey or black rubber. Clean
well the parts that are accessible, and then try the paper approach
again. Once the paper will feed, run it damp several times through the
printer, turning the paper around and such to help it to remove the
glazing off the wheels. Once done, run some clean uncoated bond paper
through until it is dry and not sticking to the wheels at all before
using any good coated stock, or you will simply melt the coating back
onto the pick up transport wheels.
4) Lastly, should none of this work, the "paper out" sensor may have
become dislodged or moved and is no longer reading the presence of the
paper. The most common type is a small switch with a long lever on it
which is moved by the paper toward the middle of the carriage position.
It can get knocked out of position from a major paper jam or too thick
a stock going through (or trying to).
Art
