HP 600 M603 smears on blank check stock

[HP600check]

Accounting dept sends out checks that use MICR toner, and when it is 10 check stock pages, no problem. Any more than that, the middle of the check run the checks are unusable, as the lettering ink gets smeared to the point of unreadable. Maintenance kit is at 100%, and I dont want to spend $400+ to find out that is not the issue. A cleaning cycle is always run before the batch of thicker stock is sent thru, but then has to be shredded when they are unusable.

Experts, help!

Dave

[Ask-Me]

Please help use to know if toner cartridge used is normal genuine HP toner cartrdige or MICR toner cartridge and also share an image of page showing the print quality issue for better understanding.

It is always good to set correct paper type and size from device control panel (tray configuration) when paper is loaded in desired input tray to avoid issues or errors while printing.  Selecting the same paper size and type from application and printer driver is also required as these settings would override the hardware settings.

[strmcsr]

MICR toner can be a problem but it can also be related how hot the fuser temp is.  You might try the changing the Paper Type setting which varies the fuser temp to see if this improves things.  As it seems to happen in the middle of print jobs, this may help.

Identify if the Paper type for “Plain” paper is set to “Normal”

How to check and change Paper Type “Plain” from “Light” to “Normal”

NOTE: This can be done at the printer’s control panel or through EWS (Embedded Web Server)

• Using printer’s control panel:

  With the printer turned on, press the following buttons:

  1. Press the Home button on the control panel that looks like a little house.

  2. Press the down button until “Admin” is reached, then press “OK”.

  3. Select “General Settings” then press “OK”.

  4. Select “Print Quality” then press “OK”.

  5. Select “Adjust Paper Types” then press “OK”.

  6. Select “Plain” then press “OK”.

  7. Select “Print Mode” then press “OK”.

  8. Select “Normal” then press “OK”.

  9. The new setting is now saved and you can now press the Home (Little house) button to return to main screen.

  10. Turn the printer off then back on again and you can start printing again.

• Using EWS (Embedded Web Server:

  1. Select “General tab”.

  2. “Control Panel Administration Menu".

  3. “Administration”.

  4. “General Settings".

  5. “Print Quality”.

  6. “Adjust Paper Types”.

  7. Click on “Go to Primary Setup Page”.

  8. Select “Plain”.

  9. Click on “Modify” at bottom of page.

  10. In the Print mode box if it says “Normal” then no change is needed If it says “Light Mode” then select the drop down arrow and select “Normal” and then click on “Apply”.