Office equipment is not always happy with stable operation; when working with devices, users encounter various failures and errors . So, many owners of printers or MFPs encounter a problem when the equipment reports a paper jam, when in reality there is no jam. If, in the case of a real jamming of sheets by a printing device, it is at least clear that the fact takes place and the paper needs to be removed, then with only one notification without a visible jam, users do not know what caused such a reaction of the equipment and what to do to eliminate the trouble.
First you need to check if there are actually any paper residues in the device, these may be small scraps that are not immediately noticeable, but interfere with the full functioning of the equipment. If so, we read how to solve the paper jam problem with the printer. If the actual jam does not occur, consider other solutions depending on the cause of the hardware error.
You can try restarting printing, or you can restart the machine and then try to print the document again. In some cases, the failure is one-time, but if the problem remains, you need to find out the cause and eliminate the error. Consider what can provoke this phenomenon and how to deal with it.
Why does the printer give a “Paper Jam” error?
When a paper jam occurs, the device stops printing and signals a problem to the user, but sometimes it also happens that the equipment gives an erroneous message. This indicates a malfunction of the system and software, which can be caused by various reasons.
If the printer writes “Paper Jam”, although there is no actual jam, most often the problem is caused by the following factors:
- The paper size specified in the print settings does not match the actual one.
- Wrong thickness of sheets.
- Ingress of foreign objects.
- The paper feed roller is dirty.
- Blocking carriage movement.
- Too tight or sagging cable.
- Paper remnants or small parts of the device that got inside when the sheet was removed.
- Damage to the paper present sensor.
The paper size in the settings does not match the actual
The “Paper Jam” error can occur both in an Epson printer and any other brand, regardless of the functionality and cost of the equipment. A frequent cause of the problem is precisely the paper, which may be of poor quality, insufficient or excessive density, etc., as well as the discrepancy between the format indicated in the print settings and the actual one. For example, if 10×15 is selected and there are A4 sheets in the tray, the machine will not print and may instead display a jam error. Correcting the situation is easy. You should set the correct print settings (we perform the actions in the application that is used), then start the process again.
Foreign objects have fallen under the carriage
Another reason why the printer gives the “Paper Jam” error is foreign objects getting under the carriage. This could have happened when the cover of the machine was opened, for example when replacing cartridges. If foreign objects get in, they block the movement of the carriage, as a result of which it does not move from the parking lot and the printer will not be able to print and will give an error. You need to open the cover of the device to check for foreign objects and remove them if found.
Foreign objects have entered the paper tray
Along with the sheet, other objects that have nothing to do with the printing process and interfere with the operation of the machine may accidentally fall into the tray. It can be paper clips, buttons or other small items, which are in abundance in every office. If they fall into the tray, Epson, Canon, or other equipment will stop printing and may report a paper jam error. To solve the problem, remove the stack of sheets from the tray and check for foreign objects in the machine. A flashlight can be used to carefully examine the equipment.
Pieces of paper or printer parts got inside when removing a jammed sheet
The sheet could really be chewed up by the device and not completely removed, which is why the device writes “Paper Jam”. The user must know how and what to do in this case, since inaccurate removal can lead to damage to the mechanism. If the sheet was removed jerkily, the fragile plastic elements of the device could also break off, which became an obstacle, as a result of which the printer gives an error.
We open the lid and carefully examine its “inner world” for the presence of small paper pieces or details. If your search fails, or if you are unable to remove the interfering objects yourself, you may need specialist assistance. In the case when the user is not at all familiar with the structure of the printer, it is better to immediately entrust the matter to professionals.
The carriage gets stuck due to an incorrectly tensioned CISS cable
When using the CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) on an Epson, Canon, HP, Kyosera, or other printer, the problem is often the ribbon cable, which may be tight or sag, making it difficult to move the carriage. The equipment detects interference and signals its presence, giving the error “Paper Jam”. It is necessary to de-energize the printer, open it and check the cable. We check, by manually moving the carriage, whether the movement of the element is hindered.
Encoder raster tape is not read correctly
An encoder tape, also called an encoder, a raster tape, etc., is a translucent hatched tape and serves as a navigator in the printer. The strokes are read by a screen sensor in the carriage, which determines the position of the print head. So, if the encoder is damaged, severe wear or the presence of dirt, ink on its surface, the positioning of the print head is lost. The equipment does not understand where the carriage is at the current moment, and it can rest against the wall and not move, which is regarded as an obstacle. Therefore, the printer does not print, giving a jam error.
The solution is to clean the encoder bitmap. It must be wiped with a dry textile cloth, in case of severe contamination – with moistened water, while it will be necessary to wipe the encoder dry after removing the dirt. Service liquid for cleaning the encoder strip must not be used, as this can damage the strokes applied to it, which are necessary for the operation of the element. In case of damage, cleaning will no longer help and you will have to contact the service.
Feed roller does not pick up paper
The roller that feeds the sheet, although made of wear-resistant rubber, is exposed to paper, toner and household dust over time, which causes it to become clogged and lose elasticity. In this case, the printer stops picking up sheets from the tray, as a result of which a false jam can be observed, which the printer reports. The roller can fail on any equipment, be it Canon, Epson or Samsung. At the same time, the element does not always require replacement, often it is enough just to clean it with a detergent. Usually, after cleaning the roller, its performance returns.
Damaged paper present sensor
Another reason why the printer writes “Paper Jam” is damage to the paper presence sensor. So, the error appears due to the inconsistency of the control system of the mechanism that ensures the movement of the sheet in the printer with the paper presence sensor. The printer takes the paper for printing, but does not see the process of movement, as a result, it concludes that the sheet is jammed inside, while in reality there is no jam.
If the previous solutions did not work, it is most likely a paper presence sensor, a malfunction could occur, for example, due to ink spills. If, after self-cleaning the internal space of the printer, it was not possible to correct the error, you should seek help from service specialists.
