Printer crumpling and and leaving ink splothces

[pccconfections]

Hi everyone,

I’m having some trouble with my HP printer and could use some help. When printing on regular paper, the bottom right corner often comes out crumpled, and there are ink splotches along the right side of the page. I’ve attached an image of the issue. When printing on regular paper you can hear that there is something "scraping" the page when the paper is printing out. The paper often will get jammed and comes out askew. clearly something is happening within the printer and pulling the page to one side.

Interestingly, there doesn’t seem to be any problem when printing on label paper, which has me a bit confused.

I spent some time yesterday cleaning the printer and noticed that the colored ink cartridge was spilling a bit. I replaced it, but the issue persists.

Has anyone experienced something similar, or does anyone have advice on what I should try next?

Thanks in advance for your help!

---

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @pccconfections,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP ENVY Photo 7855 printer might have a combination of hardware and alignment issues causing the crumpling, ink splotches, and scraping noises. Here are some troubleshooting steps to help you diagnose and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Check for Paper Path Obstructions

• Open the printer's paper path and check for any debris, small bits of torn paper, or ink buildup on the rollers.
• Pay special attention to the right side, where the issues are occurring.
• Use a flashlight if necessary to ensure nothing is stuck.

2. Clean the Rollers

• If the rollers are dirty or ink-covered, they might cause the paper to slip and crumple.
• Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water to clean the rollers. Rotate the rollers gently to clean their entire surface.
• Let the rollers dry completely before attempting to print again.

3. Inspect and Clean the Ink Cartridge Area

• Open the printer's access door and inspect the area around the ink cartridges.
• Remove both cartridges and clean the surrounding area with a lint-free cloth.
• Ensure the cartridges are seated properly in their slots and there are no ink spills.

4. Check Paper Quality and Type

• Ensure you are using paper within the printer's specifications (e.g., weight, thickness).
• Check that the paper isn’t curled, bent, or damp, as this can cause jams and crumpling.
• Try using a fresh stack of paper and fan the pages before loading them into the tray.

5. Adjust Paper Guides

• Verify that the paper guides in the input tray are snug but not overly tight against the paper.
• Misaligned guides can cause the paper to skew as it feeds through the printer.

6. Align the Printheads

• Ink splotches and crumpling can be related to misaligned printheads.
• From the printer's control panel or HP Smart app, run the "Align Printhead" utility.

7. Run a Printer Diagnostic

• Use the printer’s built-in diagnostic tools to check for hardware issues:
  • Go to the printer's settings and locate the "Tools" or "Diagnostics" menu.
  • Run the paper feed and print quality diagnostic tests.

8. Test with Different Paper Types

• Since the issue doesn’t occur with label paper, test printing on heavier paper types (e.g., cardstock).
• This might help determine if the problem is related to paper thickness or feed pressure.

9. Check for Firmware Updates Update the firmware on an HP printer

• Outdated firmware can sometimes cause strange behavior.
• Use the HP Smart app or visit the HP website to ensure your printer is running the latest firmware.

Refer to this document: HP ENVY Photo 7100, 7800 printers - Color or black ink not printing, other print quality issues

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @pccconfections,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you are facing an issue with your HP ENVY Photo 7855 printer might have a combination of hardware and alignment issues causing the crumpling, ink splotches, and scraping noises. Here are some troubleshooting steps to help you diagnose and potentially resolve the issue:

1. Check for Paper Path Obstructions

• Open the printer's paper path and check for any debris, small bits of torn paper, or ink buildup on the rollers.
• Pay special attention to the right side, where the issues are occurring.
• Use a flashlight if necessary to ensure nothing is stuck.

2. Clean the Rollers

• If the rollers are dirty or ink-covered, they might cause the paper to slip and crumple.
• Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water to clean the rollers. Rotate the rollers gently to clean their entire surface.
• Let the rollers dry completely before attempting to print again.

3. Inspect and Clean the Ink Cartridge Area

• Open the printer's access door and inspect the area around the ink cartridges.
• Remove both cartridges and clean the surrounding area with a lint-free cloth.
• Ensure the cartridges are seated properly in their slots and there are no ink spills.

4. Check Paper Quality and Type

• Ensure you are using paper within the printer's specifications (e.g., weight, thickness).
• Check that the paper isn’t curled, bent, or damp, as this can cause jams and crumpling.
• Try using a fresh stack of paper and fan the pages before loading them into the tray.

5. Adjust Paper Guides

• Verify that the paper guides in the input tray are snug but not overly tight against the paper.
• Misaligned guides can cause the paper to skew as it feeds through the printer.

6. Align the Printheads

• Ink splotches and crumpling can be related to misaligned printheads.
• From the printer's control panel or HP Smart app, run the "Align Printhead" utility.

7. Run a Printer Diagnostic

• Use the printer’s built-in diagnostic tools to check for hardware issues:
  • Go to the printer's settings and locate the "Tools" or "Diagnostics" menu.
  • Run the paper feed and print quality diagnostic tests.

8. Test with Different Paper Types

• Since the issue doesn’t occur with label paper, test printing on heavier paper types (e.g., cardstock).
• This might help determine if the problem is related to paper thickness or feed pressure.

9. Check for Firmware Updates Update the firmware on an HP printer

• Outdated firmware can sometimes cause strange behavior.
• Use the HP Smart app or visit the HP website to ensure your printer is running the latest firmware.

Refer to this document: HP ENVY Photo 7100, 7800 printers - Color or black ink not printing, other print quality issues

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!