HP P3005 jamming between fuser and exit roller

[elqueso666]

Hi, I've an issue with a HP P3005 which is baffling me. The paper is jamming with the lead edge about an inch from the exit roller. I've changed the fuser and drive gears, feed rollers(in case they were slipping) and the 2 sensors located to the right of the exit roller(when looking from the front of the printer.) It doesn't happen everytime but when it does jam it's exactly the same place. When the rear cover door is open the paper feeds out fine with no jams. I was wondering if the rear cover door could be causing the issue? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. My client is using normal A4 copy paper. I've tried a different paper just in case and the paper they use works fine in all there other copy/print equipment.

[davidzuts]

Where is the back edge of the paper. Is it past the registration sensor and is there another sheet of paper starting up the path. Also is there any print on the page or is it blank. Sometimes if the registration sensor is not read as the paper activating the printer thinks there is a jam and stops the printing. If it is the registration sensor odds are there will be no print on the paper. Sometimes just using a can of compressed air into the sensor cavity will correct the issue as it is a case of toner dust preventing the sensor light from being received by the receptor. Also what is the error message on the printer.

[elqueso666]

Thanks David for your quick reply, yes there is print on the copies following the jammed paper. The error code which appears in the display is 13.31. The manual indicates this error is to do with the 2 sensors I replaced next to the exit roller. I was thinking whether the reg sensor masy be causing the issue. I cleaned the sensor with an air duster and checked the actuator arm for wear but it seemed ok. Is the sensor part of the HVPS or does it sit seperate?

[davidzuts]

Sensor rarely go bad. I can only think of 2 hp sensors I have seen bad in over 15 years of working on these printers. As strange as it seams the first thing I would do is replace the pickup roller in tray 2. Sometimes jams occur when the paper is not picked up from the tray and after 3 tries it times out and you get the error. That said not sure where the paper that was in front of the failed pickup will be located but it is possible it will jam in the same place each time since shutdown of the path is a timed action after the last try of picking up the paper. I know you replaced the pickup roller but you may also want to check the tension of the springs in the paper tray. To test just put a stack of paper on the manual feeder and open tray 2 and see if it still jams.

[elqueso666]

Thanks again for your response David. The printer has an optional tray 3 and is jamming from that tray as well so i'm ruling out an issue with the tray itself. I will go back to site and try feeding from tray 1 but I'm still wondering if the rear cover may be the issue as when the rear door is open and not using the exit roller assy no jams occur at all.

[davidzuts]

I missed the back cover open in your original post and yes that makes a big difference. If it never jams with the back cover open that would indicate that something with the cover or that black plastic piece that sits behind the fuser which you have to remove when replacing the fuser. Make sure that black piece is sitting secure where it does not move. If it has any play that could effect paper movement when the cover is closed. Also physically look at the back cover inside to make sure everything is smooth with the paper path going up. Also make sure that the middle part of the back cover is fully seated at the top and there are no gaps. It is very easy to put the back cover on and not have it fully seated at the top but it will still work.

[elqueso666]

Thanks David for taking the time to help me out with this issue, it's much appreciated this end. When I return to site later next week to test from tray 1 and possibly try replacing the back cover I'll let you know if it cured the problem.