Every machine comes with problems and copiers are no
different. Some can be minor teething problems when first installed, but even
the best photocopier will run into some issues after some heavy usage.
When they do, there’s no need to kick,
scream and shout at the copier because in all likelihood, it’s a common
problem with an easy solution either by yourself or someone in the tech
department.
Common problems with office MFPs and simple ways to fix
them
1. It takes ages to print
No matter how fast machines are, we always
want them to do the job just that little
bit faster. There are times however, when the print speed really does beg
belief. If you find your print jobs are taking far longer than your patience
can handle: Try these tips for size:
·
Lower the print quality – it’s
the fastest way to speed any print job up, but it only really works if you can
afford to sacrifice some print quality or you may not like the printouts.
·
Use duplex print in conjunction
with document formatting to fit more content per page.
·
For networked printers, hook
the Ethernet cable in. Wireless signals are affected by distance and interference.
The most reliable way to connect a networked printer to a server is directly
with an Ethernet cable to guarantee the fastest connection speed possible.
·
Simplify web prints by
disabling images. Images are the most costly of print materials because they
are nearly always in colour and most information printed only requires mono.
When printing a web page, use browser features to disable images. In IE – use the
tools, click on advanced, select multimedia, deselect show pictures, reload the
page and then go to print.
·
Memory matters too, so if
you’re still struggling to get speedy prints, open your printer driver folder,
select the properties and see how much memory your printer has. Printers
resemble computers more than you may realise and just as you can add some RAM
to boost PC performance, you can do the same with MFPs. Buy
some memory and improve its performance.
2. The toner costs too much
Depending who you complain about this to,
you’ll get one of two answers. It’s the cost of doing business, but if you ask
me, I’ll tell you that any toner less than a 2000 page yield, isn’t worth your
money. Higher page
yield always.
3. Windows Updated and I
can’t print to the right printer
Any upgrades to an OS can change the
settings on the network, including altering the designated default printer. Just
go into the printer folder and re-select the printer you want to designate your
jobs to be sent to by default.
Another thing that seems to happen
frequently on Windows is networked printers showing as offline, when they’re
not. Robin
Wilson explains this is Windows using SNMP to connect to the network and
not all printers use the same.
4. Prints are coming out
looking wet and wrinkled
Meet the occasion when palm meets face.
Head slap when this one comes up and you won’t
be the first to have come across this problem. It happens when you use the
wrong type of paper for a laser printer and if you have experienced this, count
your blessings the fuser
rollers aren’t damaged. Inkjet paper is coated for ink to absorb. That same
coating prevents toner from sticking to the paper and that’s why it comes out
wet looking and wrinkled. The heat is too much for it.
It’s confusing when it happens because
naturally toner is dry, so the logical thing to do is inspect the unit for
signs of a spillage, like a co-worker accidentally spilling coffee or cola into
the unit, running away and pretending it never happened. You could spend ages and
even call out a repair service and you’d be slapping yourself when you find out
you’ve loaded up the wrong paper type.
The lesson there is to read the label on
the paper before you put it into the printer.
On that same issue, another common paper
related problem is dampness. Printer paper is best kept stored in the wrapper
until it’s time to load the printer. Otherwise, you’ll likely to encounter some
fuzzy prints.
5. Paper misfeeds
One reason this can happen is the paper
type being too thin, or too heavy for the printer to feed it. It can happen
with the right paper type too though, and if it does, you’re best to fan the
paper because it may be more than one sheet stuck together confusing the
printer into thinking it’s too thick to feed.
The feed tray
could also be the problem though, because some are spring loaded. Those can
become weak over time and the springs and rollers may need replacing.
This is one reason you should inspect any
MFP before you buy or lease it, because even some of the largest copier
manufacturers have been known to release models with flimsy paper trays. If
they feel slack, they won’t last. Instead, you’ll be adding to the cost of
consumables and increasing the TCO of the unit because you’ll have to keep
replacing the springs, rollers, or the feed trays.
Inspect before you buy!
6. Image problems
Any deterioration to print quality will be
related to the drum and the rollers. Start your troubleshooting there by
opening the shutter protecting the image subsystem. Be careful when accessing this
because the drum is sensitive to light.
What you’re looking for is scrapes and
scratches because any of those on the drum will transfer to the printed
material.
7. Warning sound’s going
nuts!
When the toner is running at critically low
levels, some MFPs have sound alerts that can be quite loud. You can go into the sound settings
in most and change the alerts to a low volume, however, if you’re flat out of toner and awaiting the
arrival of new stock, in the meantime you can remove the toner cartridge, give
it a shake to loosen some of the toner and it should get you by for another few
prints. You’re best to do that anyway to get every last drop of toner in each
cartridge used. Over the year, the savings add up.
Some problems, like the above, are fairly
easy to remedy. Some can be as simple as a few tweaks here and there, whereas
others may require some inspection and tweaking inside the unit. Some parts may
need replacing, and others just some routine maintenance to get your printing
going again. If you find a technical issue unsolvable in your office and your
IT dept. can’t get it up and running, you can call our support line on 020 8901
4700 and find out if we can talk you through a fix over the phone.
For more problematic issues with your
printer, we can provide a fixed fee laserprinter repair service. All our engineers are manufacturer trained to
support major copier brands such as Kyocera, Konica Minolta, Ricoh and Lexmark.
To find out if you’re located within our service area, see our map here
or give our support team a quick call.
