HP P3015 printer printing blank pages

[Arizona1997]

Hello,  I have an HP P3015 printer that started printing blank pages.  Pressing the control panel menus "Information->Demo Page" or "Information->Configuration Page" prints blank pages. Pressing the engine test button prints blank pages.  Tweaking and aligning the toner cartridge contacts inside the printer prints blank pages.  Swapping to a new HP toner cartridge prints blank pages.   I did a half-page test ... the cartridge drum does not show any images inscribed by the laser/scanner so I replaced the laser/scanner assembly.  It still prints blank pages.   This seems more a mechanical problem than an electrical problem because the control panel functions and the diagnostics show everything is OK and is "Ready."    By the way, every time the printer prints a page, the printer always eat two pages, the second page jammed inside the printer.     Any clues how to diagnose any further the blank page condition?     Formatter problem? 

Perplexed.  

[davidzuts]

You are probably having a registration assembly sensor/flag issue. When the print process begins the paper is fed and trips the registration sensor to say here I am and now you can lay the image down on the paper. If the printer does not sense the leading edge of the paper and then the exit sensor of the fuser tells the printer that something as tripped it, it then shuts down the printer with a jam message. The second sheet is just the continuation of paper movement since the printer did not register as the paper having tripped the sensor and stops when the printer thinks there is a jam. That is the first place I would check.

[Ask-Me]

I believe that you are trying to print from Tray 2 only.

Try printing from other tray (Tray 1) while Tray 2 should be kept empty.

[Arizona1997]

Thank you for your assessment. I believe your assessment is excellent but I am not able to confirm, yet.  I ran a control-panel menu option "diagonostic->paper path test" and observed the result.  The A sensor (TOP) never changed from 0 to 1 but the B and the D sensors did.  It looks like the A sensor is at fault.   I looked in the P3015 service manual and it says the TOP sensor need to be replaced. The service manual does not say how to get to the TOP sensor nor which assembly the TOP sensor is a part of to remove.  Could you explain which assembly the TOP sensor is part of or, at least, specifically, how to get to and how to replace the TOP sensor? I hate to take out these paper feed assemblies without worrying I could put them out of alignment.  I need to examine the TOP sensor closely to make sure it is broken (loose spring or something) before I order a replacement.   By the way, you are correct I am using Tray 2.  I had tried both trays earlier, 1 and 2, and the problem is still the same for both trays . . . two blank pages, and the second sheet jamming.   There is no tray 3.

[davidzuts]

Page 140 in the service manual shows you the location of the TOP sensor which is the registration sensor I mentioned. Rarely does a sensor go bad. Most times the flag breaks or you get so much excess toner that covers the sensor lens so light that is supposed to shine across does not. First thing would be to get a can of compressed air and spay it into the sensor opening which you see on page 140. If that does not help, then first use the instructions in the manual to remove the registration assembly to give better access to the sensor and flag.

[SD-86]

Hello,

Blank pages can be caused by a bent/displaced Cartridge contact spring.  Please check the cartridge contact spring as shon in the attached image and also from the post link below.

I work for HP.

/t5/Printers-LaserJet/LaserJet-P3015-prints-blank-pages-only/m-p/2326561/highlight/true#M191903

[davidzuts]

DaveK,

Read his first post and his response to my post. Nothing to do with contact spring. The issue is the registration sensor since he gets the second page. Second page tells us the printer does not see the leading edge hitting the registration (top) sensor so it keeps feeding until the fuser sensor indicates there is a jam or feed issue.

[Arizona1997]

Hello.   That fin was the first thing I checked, twiddling the fin this way and that way and changing toner cartridges before deciding it was not the answer before I posted to HP my question.   I still think it is the registration (TOP) sensor problem because the fin won't explain why I keep getting two pages, the second page jamming.

I was able to remove the registration assembly to get a better look at the registration (TOP) sensor.  I flipped it a few times (spring is still intact) and blew compressed air into it to clean out dust and excess toner.  I couldn't figure out how to get under the plate to look at the main sensor body.   I put the registration assembly back in and still got the same blank pages.    

The main registration sensor assembly is mounted UNDER the plate where the registration sensor toggle pokes its flapper through the plate hole where the registration assembly sits on.  I am not sure how to get at under the plate to look at the wires and trace where the wires goes so I can check if there is a loose disconnection with the PC board.  Does this mean I have to remove the duplexer assembly?

MJI

[SD-86]

DavidZuts,

The reason I posted the cartridge contact as a possible cause is because it is the most common cause for blank pages on the P3015, I wanted to link in that cause in for persons who view the post.

Thanks for providing the excellent detail and consultation in your post for this particular cause.  Keep up the good work.

Regards,

DaveK

I work for HP.

[davidzuts]

The next item to try would be to use the instructions in the manual to access the engine control unit and remove all wire connectors to the unit and reinsert. If you look at the wiring diagram in the manual it lists the TOP sensor connection next to the duplex sensor. One leg is about 3 volts. I have never had to access that sensor so I am afraid I can not help you in getting to the actual sensor.