HP4000TN - Wants to print from Tray1 randomly

[gavm99]

Hi all,

I have a problem with a 4000TN Printer. It keeps randomly asking for paper to be loaded into Tray1 which is the drop down tray on the front. There is paper in Tray2 and Tray3 but it will still not take paper from here. It seems to happen when the paper has been added into Tray2 or Tray3. I have tried replacing both of these Trays from another 4000TN but it did not resolve the problem. I have also tried to get round it by forcing the printer to use Tray2 in the driver settings but still no joy.

I think the problem is with a sensor somewhere on the printer that tells it Tray2 and Tray3 are present and loaded with paper.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can try to get it working as normal?

Thanks.

Gavin.

 

[TCouch]

I know I've said this in regards to others, but I'll say it again. Have you tried a cold reset on this printer. Sometimes the settings look like everything are correct and it still wants to pull from tray 1. To perform a cold reset on the 4000/4100 series. Turn off the printer, hold down the "Go" button (green button) while you turn on the printer. When the display reads cold reset, you can release the button. If you have a Jetdirect installed into the printer, remove it before doing the cold reset.

Timothy N. Couch
A1 Printech
Anchorage, AK

 

[gavm99]

Hi there,

I have tried this and printed a the information page ok (after changing the paper size to A4).

Now though I put back in the JetDirect card and sent it a print job and it is telling me:

Output bin full

Clear paper from standard outbin

Any ideas please?

Thanks.

Gavin.

 

[gavm99]

Hi again,

My problem with Output bin was just continence.

I sorted this by cleaning the bar on the exit of the printer as the plastic sensors were not dropping back down.

The printer is now running fine (touch wood) and is back with the users.

Gavin.

 

[gavm99]

Hi people,

I know I reported this as being sorted but it has come back to haunt me.

Once again this printer is randomly asking for Tray 1 to loaded with paper even though Tray 2 and 3 are loaded with paper and the job themselves are simply sent to auto source selection.

Please heeeeelp!! Causing me sever ear ache from users!!

Thanks.

Gavin.

 

[Sweg]

Hi!

Check the paper handling option from the printer menu.

Determine how the printer will use tray 1:

FIRST: If paper is loaded in tray 1, the printer will pull paper from that tray first.

CASSETTE: A paper size must be assigned to tray 1 using the
TRAY 1 SIZE option (the next item in this menu when TRAY 1
MODE=CASSETTE). This allows Tray 1 to be used as a reserved tray.

You could also try to remove tray 1 when choosing "not available" in the driver.

 

[BadFrog]

If tray to gets set to something other than "plain" then it will prompt for tray1 to be loaded. Happens here all the time, some user decides to get happy with the printer control panel and sets tray2 to to, "pre-printed" then every job sent wants a manual feed. If the printer didn't detect the tray it would tell you exactly that. I think it is most likely a mis-match between what the user is requesting being printed verses what the printer thinks is actually loaded in the paper tray.

Hope that helps.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein

 

[DTracy]

Also, sometimes a user will try to print on envelopes or legal and if tray two or three is not configured for that, tray one is the default--Bimbo, please insert correct form into tray one please...

 

[gavm99]

Hi Sweg,

I had already tried your suggestions but I did check once again.

The paper used in this printer is only ever A4 Plain Paper so nothing has changed on that front.

It seems to me like the printer can't detect Tray 2 or 3 and also doesn't know what configuration is for these trays.

I think it could be a sensor or the main board which is faulty - would this make sense?

Thanks.

Gavin.

 

[Sweg]

If you print a configuration page from the information menu..tray 2 and 3 should be detected on this page with papersizes assigned.

Have you removed and checked tray 2/3 so that they are set to A4 and not to custom?

There are four photo-interrupters (PS102, PS103, PS106, S501) in the paper path that detect the presence of paper. If the paper does not reach or pass these sensors within a prescribed time interval, the microprocessor on the engine controller Board notifies the formatter (main board) of a paper jam.

I guess that there could be a sensor or even the formatter that can cause this issue, but check the configuration page and the tray settings first.

 

[gavm99]

Hi,

I have had a printer specalist look at the printer and I have been told that the sensors need replacing or possible the board.