What You Need to Know About Paper Jams

A photocopier is an indispensable tool in many Las Vegas office environments. In addition to reproducing documents, these pieces of equipment often double as printers, scanners and fax machines. One of the most frustrating of all copier problems is the paper jam. Fortunately, it’s one that can often be fixed without having to take your machine in for copier repairs in Las Vegas.

What Causes Paper Jams?

Paper jams are one of the most common of all copier issues. They’re caused when the equipment’s rollers fail to move the paper waiting to be imprinted correctly. Sometimes the culprit is an overloaded paper tray, and sometimes it’s low-quality paper. Other times, your problem may be related to damaged rollers or the use of inferior ink cartridges. Still other times, the issue may be related to a buildup of dust within the copier.

How To Fix a Paper Jam

When a copier starts flashing the message, “paper jam,” most people’s first reaction is to yank the offending piece of paper out as quickly as possible. This is actually the worst thing you can do. It’s very easy to rip the paper, and if that paper shred ends up somewhere you can’t see it, you’ll have a hard time removing it. Photocopiers are sensitive pieces of equipment, and they won’t operate if the tiniest shred of misaligned paper is still somewhere in the machine. Instead, follow the instructions on the control panel to remove the paper. The control panel should give you step-by-step directions. Most copiers also contain a release mechanism that will make the removal process easier.

When Is It Time to Call Copier Repair?

If you aren’t able to resolve the paper jam yourself, it’s time to call a copier repair expert. It’s never a good idea to take a copier apart on your own since it’s a fairly complex machine. A copier repair expert is someone who’s been trained in how to disassemble and reassemble copying equipment. If paper jams become a common occurrence, you may also want to contact a repair expert since something may be off-balance in your copier.