How to Avoid Paper Jams Caused by Recycled Paper
Paper jams caused by recycled paper used to be a popular complaint, but modern recycled papers are just as reliable as "virgin" papers. Avoiding jams in copiers and printers with any paper involves regular machine maintenance and periodic service, but starts with proper everyday paper handling and storage tactics. The single most common cause of paper jams is the paper itself. Paper must be stored in humidity-controlled environments, remain in its original wrapper and stored flat until used.
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Instructions
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Locate the label on the unopened ream of paper, and look for a printed arrow or directional marking with the words "Print Side Up" or similar verbiage. If no marking or wording is evident, either side of the paper may be used. The print-side of paper is aligned with the curl and grain of paper during manufacture.
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Open the package carefully and remove the paper, noting the print-side from the label if one is found.
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Fan the paper by holding it firmly in one hand while thumbing the opposite edge with your thumb. Fanning, or a related method used by printers called "jogging," introduces air between the sheets, allowing machines to better grip and pull individual sheets. If a ream is too much to handle, the ream can be separated into two or more sections called "lifts," which will be fanned separately.
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Identify the paper path of your machine. Some copiers and printers require paper to be loaded print-side down or up, which will vary from machine to machine.
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Load the ream or smaller lifts of paper into the paper tray, with the print side of the paper corresponding to the required print side loading instructions for the machine. Ensure that the paper guides are properly adjusted and are not too tight against the paper. Do not press the paper flat, or the air provided from fanning will be pushed out, and do not load the tray above the paper indicator mark printed on the machine tray.
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Tips & Warnings
Many professional high-speed copy machine operators remove and recycle the top and bottom sheets from each ream, as a safeguard against spots of potential packaging glue on the paper from entering and contaminating machine parts.
Donate old or humidity-damaged paper to local schools, use for scrap paper or have a printer convert it into handy notepads.
Rotate paper stock, using older paper first. Write purchase dates on packages or cartons to help identify older paper stock.
Don't open the package with scissors or other sharp objects, as the paper may be accidentally damaged and cause jams or misprinted areas.
Don't load creased, folded or damaged paper into machines.
Don't use pre-printed or previously copied paper back into copiers or laser printers, especially raised printing, unless the machine is designed to handle it. Copiers and laser printers use heat to fuse the toner during printing, which can re-melt raised ink and pre-printed toner. Printing presses also use a light powder coating applied to the printed sheet to assist in ink drying or transfer to other sheets. This powder can get into copier and printer parts, causing print and paper movement problems.
