Office equipment is not always happy with stable functioning; when working with devices, users encounter various failures and errors . So, many owners of printers or MFPs face a problem when the equipment reports a paper jam, while in reality there is no jam. If, in the case of a real jamming of sheets by a printing device, it is even clear that the fact is taking 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 paper residues in the device, it may be small scraps that are invisible at once, but interfere with the full functioning of the equipment. If so, here’s how to fix the printer paper jam problem. If the actual jam does not occur, you should consider other solutions depending on the cause of the hardware error.
You can try restarting printing, or restarting the machine and then trying to print the document again. In some cases, the failure is a one-time, but if the problem persists, you need to deal with the cause and elimination of 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 issues an erroneous message. This indicates malfunctions in the system and software, which can be caused by various reasons.
If the printer says “Paper Jam”, although there is actually no 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.
- Inappropriate sheet density.
- Ingress of foreign objects.
- Dirty paper feed roller.
- Blocking the movement of the carriage.
- Loose or too tight train.
- Paper debris or small parts of the device that got inside when removing the sheet.
- Damage to the paper present sensor.
The paper size in the settings does not match the actual
The “Paper Jam” error can occur with either an Epson printer or any other brand, regardless of the functionality and cost of the equipment. A common cause of the problem is precisely paper, which may be of poor quality, insufficient or too heavy, etc., as well as a mismatch between the size indicated in the print settings and the actual one. So, if the selected size is 10×15, and there are A4 sheets in the tray, the machine will not print and instead may display an error indicating a jam. Correcting the situation is not difficult. 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 printing device generates the “Paper Jam” error is foreign objects falling under the carriage. This could happen when the cover of the machine was opened, for example, when replacing cartridges. If foreign objects enter, they block the movement of the carriage, as a result of which it does not move out of the parking lot and the printer will not be able to print and will generate an error. You need to open the cover of the device to check for foreign objects and remove them if found.
Foreign objects are caught in the paper tray
Together 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. These can be paper clips, buttons or other small items, which are abundant in every office. If they enter the tray, an Epson, Canon, or other machine will stop printing and may report a paper jam error. To solve the problem, remove the stack of sheets from the tray and check if any foreign objects have entered the product. A flashlight can be used to thoroughly examine the equipment.
Pieces of paper or printer parts are caught while removing a jammed sheet
The sheet could have really been chewed by the device and not completely removed, so the device writes “Paper jam”. The user must know how and what to do in such a case, since inaccurate removal can lead to damage to the mechanism. If the sheet was removed with jerks, the fragile plastic elements of the device could also break off, which became an obstacle, as a result of which the printer generates an error.
We open the lid and carefully examine its “inner world” for the presence of small pieces of paper or parts. If your searches do not return any results, or if you were unable to retrieve the interfering objects yourself, you may need the help of a specialist. 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 is stuck due to an incorrectly stretched CISS cable
When using a CISS (continuous ink supply system) on an Epson, Canon, HP, Kyosera or other printer, it is not uncommon for the problem to be a loop that may be pulled or sagged, which makes it difficult for the carriage to move. The equipment detects and signals interference with a paper jam error. It is necessary to de-energize the printer, open it and check the loop. We check, manually moving the carriage, whether the movement of the element is impeded.
Encoder raster tape is not read correctly
An encoder tape, also called an encoder, a raster tape, etc., is a translucent streak tape and serves as a navigator in the printer. The strokes are read by a raster 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 gets confused. 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 raster tape. It must be wiped with a dry textile cloth, in case of severe contamination – moistened with water, while it will be necessary to wipe the encoder dry after removing the dirt. Service liquid must not be used for cleaning the encoder strip, 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, over time is exposed to paper, toner and household dust, due to which it becomes greasy and loses elasticity. In this case, the printing device stops picking up sheets from the tray, as a result of which you can observe a false jam, which is reported by the printer. The video can fail on any equipment, be it Canon, Epson or Samsung. At the same time, the element does not always need to be replaced; often it is enough just to clean it with a detergent. Usually, after cleaning the roller, its performance returns.
Damaged paper sensor
Another reason why the printer says “Paper jam” is damage to the paper present 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 picks up the paper for printing, but does not see the movement process, as a result, concluding that the sheet is jammed inside, while in reality there is no jam.
If the previous solutions did not work, most likely the matter is in the paper presence sensor, a malfunction could arise, for example, due to an ink spill. If, after self-cleaning the internal space of the printer, the error cannot be corrected, you should contact the service specialists for help.
