Copier

For the copier to work as expected there are several fundamentals that must align for everyone to be happy, and yes please replace the toner and the paper when empty.

  1. The copier must be filled with the correct size paper, in the correct orientation, and the copier must recognize it.

  2. You asked to print on the aforementioned correct size paper

  3. The toner(s) must NOT be empty

  4. Give your print jobs time to reach the copier (yes it may be minutes for pages with graphics)

Please continue below to learn to see the symptoms of these issues so you can recognize them and solve them

  1. Paper mismatch in the copier

What we see

The trays all appear to be filled with paper, matching the orientation on the label on the drawer, LT (Letter 8.5x11 Paper in a PORTRAIT Orientation), LT-R (Letter 8.5x11 in a LANDSCAPE orientation) the bottom-most tray can handle paper on both side of the tray, the other 2 trays cannot.

What the copier sees

Login to the copier --> Access Device --> Job Status --> Supplies screen is showing that the copier has misidentified both paper quantities and sizes, this will interrupt current print jobs and future print jobs.

The FIX

Open all drawers and adjust the paper guides to match the size and orientation of the paper the drawer has been programmed for and yes the copier can be very picky about this adjustment. Make sure the drawers are all closed properly. You will know you complete this task successfully when paper size, orientation, and approximate quantity match what is shown on the drawers and supplies screen.

2. Paper mismatch in your print job

What we see

We printed as we always do, but this print job didn't come out??

What the copier sees

A setting changed in our print screen (and no you didn't do anything), some common causes of this are...

  • We obtained a document from some other source that was designed for a different size paper. In this case, someone asked to print on A5-R paper the copier will not do this.

  • A scan from somewhere was missized and you need to wrangle it in!

The FIX

Most all programs have some version of this screen among the other controls the important ones for this exercise are:

  • Paper size; this should almost always be set to US Letter

  • Scale / Scale to Fit / Resize etc... should almost always be set the option that most closely resembles "Fit it on the page" this option will resize the content to fit on 8.5x11 US Letter paper.

3. The toner must not be empty, the paper must not be empty, and the waste toner must not be full

What we see

There was a message on the screen at some point, it was most likely ignored and left for the next unsuspecting victim, all print jobs from that copier will cease until it is addressed. You (and I) have now been "pre-shamed" for committing this minor 21st century infraction of ignoring the copiers' cry for help.

What the copiers sees

Everything, they have a lot of sensors that keep track of all comings and goings...

The FIX

Login to the copier --> Access Device --> Job Status --> Toner is showing the current toner levels, if any are 0% they need to be replaced. On-screen directions can be followed (Replace toner cartridge button) to complete this task, supplies are in the academic center closet, and get help if it's your first time doing this. Most any user-serviceable issue is fixed by opening a door, removing the old, and inserting the new. There is no need to push or pull hard on anything, if you find yourself doing that stop immediately and get help.

4. Give you print jobs time to complete

What we see

Our class is coming down the hallway RIGHT NOW!! they are back from their special (ALREADY!!) and the 24 page, front and back, full color, stapled activity I have planned is on my screen and not in my hand!!

What the copier sees

It was about to take an electricity-saving power nap but you've woken it up (again) and it's working on it, not as fast as you want it to, but it is.

The Fix

Patience, sorry : / but you can check the status of the print job when it's traveling to the copier by clicking the small printer icon on the dock after it appears. The print job won't show up on the copier until it has disappeared from this screen. Don't close your laptop screen, and if for some reason the print job never leaves this screen it won't ever make it to the printer, come find me.

Final thoughts: Yes these Toshiba copiers seem to be pickier than our older ones but all and all they work well given a chance... and yes there are problems that aren't addressed on this page but those normally require a call to the copier company to fix. The anomalies I have noticed that may be fixable are...

  • Once a job starts to print from one particular tray it seems to want to finish ONLY from that tray, if that tray becomes empty during the print job it will just stop until that tray is refilled.

  • The paper size and orientation adjustments need to be almost perfect, sometimes I try 3-4 times before the copier will recognize them.

  • The sheet-fed scanner is apt to jam up with any paper that is less than perfect.

  • More to come??