HP LaserJet Printers - Cleaning the Print

Cartridge Area
The print cartridge area does not need to be cleaned often. However, cleaning this area
can improve the quality of printed sheets. Follow the steps below to clean the print
cartridge area:
1. Before cleaning the printer, disconnect it from the power source and wait for the
printer to cool.
Figure 1: Power cord

2. Open the print cartridge door and remove the print cartridge.
Figure 2: print cartridge door

CAUTION:To prevent damage, do not expose the print cartridge to light. Cover the
print cartridge if necessary. Also, do not touch the black sponge transfer
roller inside the printer. Touching it can damage the printer.
3. Wipe the media path area and the print cartridge cavity with a dry, lint-free cloth.
Figure 3: Media path area and print cartridge cavity

CAUTION:Use only a dry, lint-free cloth to remove dust and toner. Using a vacuum
or other device to clean inside the product can damage it.
4. Replace the print cartridge, and close the print cartridge door.
5. Plug the power cord back into the printer.
HP LaserJet Series Printers - Toner from
the Text of Documents Stored in a Plastic
Binder Adheres or Sticks to the Surface of
the Binder
Introduction
Solving the problem

Introduction
Documents printed using an HP LaserJet family printer are placed in a plastic (vinyl)
binder (notebook) for storage. Over time, toner particles (from documents that come
directly into contact with the surface of the binder) will adhere to the binder covers. The
plastic (vinyl) that the binder is manufactured from contains "plasticizers" to aid in
flexibility. These substances are volatile and tend to evaporate and migrate over time.
They also act as a solvent when in contact with toner on a document. The toner particles
are softened and become sticky. When the document comes into contact with the binder
cover a portion of the soft toner particles tend to stick to it.
Solving the problem
Place a blank sheet of paper between the printed page and the cover of the binder. This
will drastically reduce or eliminate toner adhesion because it allows air space between the
document and the binder cover. This will help to disperse the plasticizers before they are
allowed to come into contact with the document.
HP Color LaserJet and LaserJet Series
Printers - Print Quality Defect When
Manual Duplexing
Print quality defect, smudging, when manual duplexing
When duplexing a job on an HP Color LaserJet or LaserJet series printer, the leading
edge of the second page appears smudged along the leading edge when multiple pages
are duplexed. This is the result of toner from the first image being wiped onto the
separation pad when picking the page to print the second image. This arises if the first
image has toner in the pick area (the area of the page that stops between the pick roller
and separation pad). The pick process causes some of the toner from the first image to be
deposited onto the separation pad. When the next page is picked, some of that toner from
the separation pad gets deposited onto the first image creating the image defect. The first
image does not have the defect since there is no toner on the separation pad when it is
picked from the tray. The defect may or may not be seen on later pages when the second
image is printed depending on the job. For example, multiple copies of a single page
versus a job with unique images on each side of each page.
Figure 1: Manual duplex PQ defect

Perform the following steps to troubleshoot this issue:

• Change the fuser temperature by changing the paper type. The greatest success
has been with the heavy media type; however, other media types may resolve the
issue
• Try changing the Optimize settings in the HP Toolbox or printer driver.
Settings such as High Humidity may resolve the issue.
• Try alternate paper from a fresh, unopened ream. Try a different type of paper that
may have a more smooth texture.
• Check the environment to determine if the unit is positioned under a window or
near a vent. Try moving the printer to another room to determined if the issue is
caused by environment.
• Remove the unit from any power strips or UPS devices and plug directly into the
wall.
• If the printer has a 250-sheet tray (or other tray), print the first page from that tray
then turn the page over and print from the manual feed tray. The pick roller from
the 250-sheet tray (and other trays) has a lower pick force than the manual feed
tray.
• If possible, try lowering the image on the page. If the image has to have toner in
the pick area, try to print those images second on the page.
HP LaserJet 1000 Product Family -
Clearing Printer Media Jams
Typical media jam locations
Removing a jammed page

Occasionally, media becomes jammed during a print job. Some of the causes of media
jams include the following:
• The input tray is loaded improperly or it is too full.
• The media does not meet HP specifications.
NOTE: When adding new media, remove all of the media from the input tray and
straighten it together with the stack of new media. Do not fan media. Instead
bend the stack of media in a horseshoe shape to break the ream. This helps
prevent multiple sheets of media from feeding through the printer at one time,
reducing media jams.
A media jam is indicated by software error messages and control panel light patterns.
Typical media jam locations
• Input tray area: If the page is sticking out of the input tray, try to remove it gently
without tearing the page. If there is any resistance, see "Removing a jammed
page" below.
Figure 1: Input tray jam

• Output path: If the page is sticking out of the output bin, try to remove it gently
without tearing the page. If there is any resistance, see "Removing a jammed
page" below.
Figure 2: Output path jam
 • print cartridge area: See "Removing a jammed page" below.
NOTE: There might be loose toner in the printer after a media jam. This toner cleans up
after printing a few sheets.
Removing a jammed page
CAUTION:Media jams might result in loose toner on the page. If toner gets on
clothing, wipe the toner off with a dry cloth and wash the clothing in
cold water. Hot water will permanently set the toner into the fabric.
1. Open the toner door and the straight-through output door.
Figure 3: Toner/straight-through output doors

2. Rotate the media jam release levers downward.

Figure 4: Media Jam release levers

CAUTION:To prevent damage to the print cartridge, do not expose it to light.

3. Remove the print cartridge and set it aside.
Figure 5: Removing print cartridge
4. With both hands, grasp the side of the media that is most visible (this includes the
middle), and carefully pull it free from the printer. Make sure to check for jams in
the print cartridge area (1) and the straight-through output path (2).
Figure 6: Removing jam

1 - print cartridge area

2 - Straight-through output path
5. When the jammed media has been removed, replace the print cartridge, and close
the toner door and the straight-through output door.
Figure 7: Replacing print cartridge and closing doors

NOTE: The media jam release levers automatically close when the straight-through
output door is closed.
6. Reseat the Mylar in the top of the input tray area to avoid wrinkled pages.
Reposition the black Mylar light shields back into the proper position by
performing the following:
WARNING Failure to unplug the power cord from the printer could result in
: electric shock.
a. Unplug the power cord from the printer.
b. Remove the paper and paper input tray.
c. Insert hands, palms side up, into the paper input tray cavity (see Figure 3)
until the end of the cavity is felt.
 d. Bend fingers up to push the black Mylar light shields back into place. The
proper position of the black Mylar light shield will be flat.
e. Reconnect the power cord.
f. Print a self-test/configuration page to verify printer is functioning
correctly.
Figure 8: Paper Tray Cavity

NOTE: There are two black Mylar light shields, approximately 3.5 inches long, in the
pickup assembly area of the printer. They are located on both sides of the pickup
roller under the pickup roller rod. One or both of theses black Mylar shields can
get tucked under, or partially bent when removing a paper jam from the paper
input tray slot.
After clearing a media jam, it might be necessary to unplug the printer and plug it back in
again. If the printer is still in an error state, contact HP Service and Support.