MFP M277dw won't feed Tray 1

[vghtttt]

My HP Printer stopped printing in Tray 1.

I open Word.

Select envelopes

Print to any of the following:

-Default tray (printer auto select)

-Printer auto select

-Manual Feed

-Tray 1

An envelope has been loaded into Tray 1. The printer recognizes that something has been loaded (I can feel the resistance of the rollers, and the printer makes noises like it is trying to feed the envelope)

When I click print, the printer then makes noise like it is trying to feed the envelope through Tray 1, but nothing happens.

The printer then gives me an error "manual feed. Envelope, Env #10. OK/Cancel"

I've removed Tray 1 & cleaned the rollers in the tray, and what I believe are the feed rollers in the printer body.

I've checked for firmware updates & none are available.

I've changed the paper settings via the M277 touchscreen (from plain paper any size, to envelope #10)

Really frustrating.

[davidzuts]

You need to recheck the configuration of your printer. I could be wrong but Tray 1 is the manual feed slot in the front and not an acutal paper tray. You need to feed the envelope into the slot. The tray in the printer which comes out is considered tray 2. I could be wrong but that is the way most hp printers are configured. If you are feeding in the priority feed slot, then you may need to replace the assembly. It is part number RM2-5866-000CN and it is user replaceable.

[vghtttt]

Thanks for the quick reply, I just reset the printer to factory settings (still not printing via Tray 1), but will follow the instructions in the manual to set up Tray 1 printing.      

You're correct; Tray 1 is the manual feed slot (with adjustable width guides)  above Tray 2 (standard tray which holds normal paper)

What I did was remove that 'tray' (Tray 1, RM2-5865-000CN), and clean the rollers in that tray (a hard, plastic type), and clean the rollers in the printer  body that were hidden above the tray (a softer rubber type)

I've been feeding envelopes (and also tried the printer self-clean feature with 8.5x11 letter paper) manually into Tray 1, but it does not suck them into it. It recognizes there is a paper there, makes noise like it is attempting to feed,  but the paper/envelope never moves (it is never sucked into the printer).

I can feel resistance when I manually push the paper into the Tray 1. I asuume the feed rollers are tensioned correctly,  I am guessing a gear is broken somewhere, or not aligned, or something of the sort- & is not driving the feed rollers

[vghtttt · Accepted solution]

Solution:

Open/close rear door multiple times, checking for feed operation after each open/close.

I  opened the manual & started trying to figure out why the feed wasn't working. All of a sudden, as I was removing trays & checking for jams, it started to work again.

It is somehow related to the rear door (or the secondary door/cover located behind this door).

After opening/closing this door, the Tray 1 feed started engaging & working again.

I moved the printer back to its default location on a desk & it stopped working.

I'm guessing there's flex or something in the chassis which misaligns the gears behind the rear door.

After opening & closing the rear door a few times it started working again. (Note- it doesn't always work after the first open/close. I had to open/close it a few times & tried varying how hard I 'slammed' it)

Hope it can help someone in the future.

[rhurley73]

Much to my amazement - this worked like a charm.  thank you!

[vghtttt]

I ended up having the problem come back after a few months (I rarely use Tray 1, mainly just to print envelopes/shipping labels maybe once a month)

Another thought is there's some more info out there about a solenoid that can become stuck, which leads to Tray 1 feed errors. I guess the solenoid is responsible for engaging/disengaging the Tray 1 gears. I am not 100% sure if the solenoid issue effects the m277dw or a different line of HP printers.

Basically, the solenoid has a piece of adhesive foam on it, which can degrade over time, and (the adhesive) foul/jam the solenoid. All that needs to be done is to clean that adhesive foam tape off, and replace it with (I think electrical tape, or similar).

The problem with that fix is that it's extremely hard to get to on the m277dw; it's behind the right side (side opposite of control panel) panel- you need to remove the plastic panel, which isn't hard. Butt then you need to remove the metal cover behind that (which has a lot of gears on the backside). I was of the opinion that I was going to FUBAR my machine if I attempted that, so left it alone.

I think that an inspection hole could be drilled into the metal side panel & any sticky foam cleaned off via the access. I thought of that after putting it back together & didn't try it. It seems easy enough to drill/cut a 3/8-1" hole and stick a pick, solvent, or whatever back there to clean it out. If that's even the problem.

If anyone tries that, take your toner cartridges out before moving the printer around in 3D space to avoid some smeared prints immediately afterward. I think there's a fairly detailed manual with disassembly pictures (maybe over on manualslib website), and googling 'hp solenoid foam sticking' etc., will give some more insight into that issue.

Again, not 100% sure it's even a problem on the m277 product line