Thread: How to resolve a paper jam

I use an ink jet printer and use it quite rarely to print work related 'documents and letters. ,On one such occasion, while printing a document the paper got jammed. I tried yanking the part of it that was out and to some extent it did work. The rollers released a part of it but the rest tore and remained inside. I had to call the maintenance person and that cost me a lot. How do I overcome the problem of paper jams myself?

Paper jams are quite a common problem faced by printer users. Firstly, yanking or tugging at the paper that has been jammed should be avoided by all means. Every time a line is printed the cartridge moves from its home position, across the printer and back to its home position. Tugging at the paper causes the rollers to turn, thus causing the cartridge to move within the printer. This causes the paper to be crushed or to tear.

Shutting off the printer and later restarting it can also cause the cartridge to move thus resulting in the tearing of your paper. Hence it is highly recommended that, in case of a paper jam, you leave your printer and computer on.

To remove a paper that's jammed, simply turn your printer around and look for the rear access door. This is mostly covered by a longish, horizontal flap that can be flipped open. You will find the jammed paper the moment you open the door. Some legacy printers have a rotating knob that turns the rollers so as to remove the jammed paper to the rear. This looks quite similar to the knob you find on a typewriter. However, newer printers don't have such knobs anymore. You will find the jammed paper placed in the back of the printer. Gently pull it out without affecting the rollers or touching any of the internal machinery. Avoid pulling the paper out with too much force. The paper should smoothly slide out. If it doesn't or if it is torn in many smaller parts then it means that the paper has been crushed. If this is the case then use a brush to gently move the paper that's caught in the rollers. The brush can also be used to clear away the smaller scraps of paper that are scattered in the innards of the printer. Make sure that you avoid touching the roller and the inner components while doing so.