Why won't the printer pick up the paper, and what should I do?

It is difficult to do without printing technology in modern life. Printers have become a necessity not only in the office, but also at home. That is why when there is a failure in their work, it always causes a lot of inconvenience. One of the most common causes of poor printer performance is the inability to pick up paper from the tray. There may be several reasons for the malfunction, so you should understand them before repairing.

The reasons for the printer's failure to pick up paper can be varied.

• Some foreign object has got into the loading tray, for example: a paper clip, a button. The printer does not take paper because it prevents him from doing it. The problem is more relevant for a technique that has a vertical type of paper loading. Even a sticker glued to a piece of paper can damage it.

• The cause of the problem may be hidden in the paper itself. The printer does not pick up paper due to poor quality or inappropriate paper weight. Another problem with paper is wrinkled sheets, for example, they may have bent corners.

• Software failure. Regardless of the model and manufacturer, any printer is controlled by electronics, the actions of which are sometimes unpredictable. Failure can occur at any time, and as a result, the printer simply does not see the paper. In this case, the corresponding entry is displayed on the device display or on the computer screen: "Load tray" or "Out of paper". This can happen with both inkjet and laser devices.

• The pick rollers are not working properly - this is a fairly common internal problem. The rollers often get dirty during the operation of the device. This happens for two reasons: ink build-up and the use of inadequate paper.

There are other reasons why the printer has stopped picking up paper for printing. Any detail can fail. In this case, the malfunction can only be detected in the service.

It is quite possible to cope with some malfunctions on your own. If the cause of the problem is identified and it does not lie in the breakdown of parts, then you can try to correct the situation.

If the message "Error" appears on the screen, then you must try to reset the current settings. The procedure is simple, but it is performed in several stages.

1. You must turn off and then turn on the printer. Wait until the inscription "Ready to work" is displayed (if any).
2. Disconnect the power cord. On most models, this connector can be found on the back of the device.
3. The printer must be left in this state for 15–20 seconds. Then you can reconnect the printer.
4. If the printer has two pick-up trays (upper and lower), then the best way to get them working is to reinstall the drivers.

If there is an assumption that the whole thing is in the paper itself, then it is necessary to check its quality. First, it is better to make sure that the sheets are the same size. If that's okay, you need to make sure the tray is loaded properly. The sheets should be folded in an even bundle of 15–25 pieces.

Pay attention to the weight of the paper. Conventional printers are good at capturing paper weighing 80 g / m2. If this indicator is less, then the paper may simply not be caught by the rollers, and if it is more, then the printer simply does not tighten it.Not all printers accept heavy and glossy photo paper. If there is a need to print on such sheets, you should buy a special model designed for printing photographs, or set the appropriate settings on an existing printer.

You should not exclude the possibility of falling into the paper tray of any foreign object. If, when trying to print, the printer does not pull on the paper and at the same time crackles, you need to visually inspect the loading tray. If there really is some foreign object in the tray, such as a paper clip or sticker, you can try to remove it yourself. To do this, you need to arm yourself with tweezers. If you still cannot remove the obstruction, you can unplug the printer, tilt the tray down and shake it gently. After such actions, the foreign body can fly out on its own.

You will need to remove the ink cartridge to remove the foreign object from the laser printer. It should be carefully inspected for any small pieces of paper jammed. If necessary, remove them and put the cartridge back.

If the pick rollers are dirty (this can even be seen visually), they need to be cleaned. To do this, you need to prepare:

• cotton buds;
• a small piece of soft, lint-free material;
• distilled water.

But if possible, the rollers can be cleaned with the Kopikliner liquid intended for cleaning rubber surfaces.

The procedure must be performed in a certain way.

1. Disconnect the printer from power. In no case should the procedure be carried out on the included equipment.
2. The prepared piece of cloth should be moistened with purified water or "Kopikliner".
3. Wipe the surface of the rollers until black ink marks stop appearing on the fabric.
4. In hard-to-reach places, cleaning is best done with cotton swabs.

If the rollers have been cleaned well and the printer still cannot pick up the paper, you should check them to make sure they are working properly. The fact is that the rollers tend to wear out during operation. Of course, it is much easier to replace them with new ones. But if this is not possible, then you can try to establish the operation of the device by restoring the old ones.

1. You need to move the roller a little by turning it around its axis. As a result, the worn part should be swapped with the one that is in good condition.
2. Alternatively, you can remove the roller and wrap it with a small piece of electrical tape. In this case, the diameter should increase by no more than 1 mm.
3. Install the roller back.

This thickening can extend the life of the roller.

Some models have a feature called manual paper loading. The printer may not pick up sheets just because it has been activated. This can often happen with new printers, when manual loading was initially selected when installing the drivers.

To prevent the printer from breaking down, during its operation, you need to adhere to some rules. Following simple recommendations, you can do without repairs for more than one year.

1. Load the tray with paper of the same size and weight. It is better to choose some trusted manufacturer and buy only such paper.If you need to print on photo paper, you need to adjust the printer tray to the desired size and density (most modern models have this function). And only then insert the paper and let the images be printed.
2. If the printer suddenly "chews" one or more sheets of paper, do not try to pull them out forcibly. You need to unplug the printer from the mains, get out the cartridge and try to carefully remove the jammed sheets without damaging the printer.
3. Before sending sheets to the tray, you should check them for foreign objects: paper clips, stickers, staples from the stapler.
4. If water accidentally gets into the paper tray, be sure to wipe and dry thoroughly before printing.
5. Clean the printer promptly without using aggressive chemicals.
6. Monitor the condition of the rollers, which are primarily responsible for picking up paper from the tray.

Preventive measures for the good operation of the printer should also include: regular ventilation of the room in which it is located, and wet cleaning. The equipment should be turned off correctly: the computer is turned off first, and only then the printer is turned off with a button on the case and from the power supply. It should also be remembered that if it is not possible to eliminate the cause of the breakdown on your own, then it is better not to carry out repairs, but to take the printer to a service. This rule applies unconditionally if the equipment is still under the seller's warranty.

See the next video for what to do if the printer does not pick up paper.