The Don’ts when operating a printer

Don’t use paper that is unsuitable for laser printers. Check that the weight and the texture of the paper are within the printer’s specifications. Refer to the specifications in the User Manual.

Don’t overfill the input paper trays. Refer to the maximum mark on the side of the input paper tray. Using excessive force to push an over-filled paper tray into the printer can break the paper pick-up assembly

Don’t use paper with folded or damaged edges as it may jam in the printer.

Don’t use paper that has oil or grease spilt on its surface. This will damage the transfer roller and result in poor quality prints. Don’t touch the surface of the transfer roller for the same reason.

Don’t open the paper input trays while the printer is operating. This can cause a paper jam, especially if you are using a duplexer. Use the Job Cancel button on a HP or the Right menu button followed by Select button on a Lexmark to stop a print job. Refer to the User Manual.

Don’t place lightweight cardstock in the 250 or 500 sheet paper feed trays. Use the multi-purpose feeder in the front of the printer and open the back of the printer to provide a straight through paper path. Use the menu buttons to set the paper type to ’cardstock’ before printing. Reset when finished. Follow the instructions in the User Manual.

Don’t use transparencies that are not rated for use in laser printers. They will melt in the fuser and you will likely need to replace the fuser. Use the menu buttons to set the paper type to ?transparency? before printing to reduce the operating temperature of the fuser. Reset the paper type when you have finished. Refer to the User Manual for more information.

Don’t use gum-backed labels that are not rated for use in laser printers. The glue will melt in the fuser and you will likely need to replace the fuser. Set the paper type to ?labels? before printing to reduce the operating temperature of the fuser. Reset when you have finished. Don’t use a sheet of labels with one or more labels missing and the glue surface exposed.

Don’t feed dirty or gritty paper, staples, paper clips, etc through the printer. This will scratch the Teflon coated hot roller (Lexmark printers) or tear the plastic fixing film sleeve (HP printers) in the fuser section of the printer. A damaged hot roller or fixing film will result in black marks being printed on every page.

Don’t continue to use a toner cartridge that is leaking toner. Toner will spread all through the printer and damage its components, especially the fuser.

Don’t use excessive force to close the top of the printer or you may break the top or damage the LCD panel. If the top does not close easily, check that the toner cartridge is correctly seated.

Don’t use excessive force to remove any sheets of paper that may jam in the printer. Look for levers to release the pressure on the rollers holding the paper. Pull gently on each sheet - try to remove it in one piece. Yanking the paper out may damage the printer. Never use pliers, tweezers, or screwdrivers to remove paper caught between the fuser rollers.

Don’t block the air vents in the sides of the printer by stacking books against it. Don’t block the fan vents on the top of the printer by placing papers on top of it. This will cause the printer to overheat and damage its components, especially the fuser. The fuser operates at 185°C.

If you use the printer infrequently, do not keep the printer in ready mode for hours on end. Set the power save option to 5 minutes rather than 90 minutes. This will reduce the possibility of flat spots developing on the pressure roller. It will also extend the life of the toner.