Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!mcvax!ukc!dcl-cs!bath63!pes
From: pes@ux63.bath.ac.uk (Smee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: How often does a typical laser printer Jam?
Message-ID: <2885@bath63.ux63.bath.ac.uk>
Date: 4 Aug 88 09:46:25 GMT
References: <880730235558.057992@HIS-PHOENIX-MULTICS.ARPA> <1097@atari.UUCP>
Reply-To: pes@ux63.bath.ac.uk (Smee)
Organization: AUCC c/o University of Bath
Lines: 29


Occasionally you find a rogue laser printer (or photocopier, which uses the
same sort of feed mechanism).  However, usually (very usually) the problem
is 'user error'.  The beasts are fussy about how their paper is loaded.
Not surprisingly -- the mechanism required to pick 1 *one* 1 exactly sheet
of paper from a stack time after time is very fiddly.  So, follow the
loading instructions exactly.  Square up the paper stack neatly.  Anything
that needs to be slid against one edge or the other should be, as precisely
as you can manage but without forcing it.

Other hints:

1) Don't mix paper.  Run it until it is empty and then put in a new full
stack.  If you want to refill it before it is empty, throw out (or save for
later) the remnants of the old stack.  Adding new paper to an old stack is
asking for trouble.

2) While us humans might not notice the difference, printer feeders often
care which side of the paper is up.  (I think this is related to which way
it was curled on the roll before it was cut into sheets and packaged.)
Paper-making technology is such that if you stick with one brand of paper,
it will be consistently packaged at least -- so once you've worked out which
is the right way up relative to the top of the box, or the seam side of the
wrapper, or whatever, stick with that.  If you find a stack giving real
trouble, try unloading it and putting it in other side up.

3) Paper dimensions vary with humidity by a surprising amount, so try to
find somewhere for your printer which provides as stable an environment as
possible.