LaserJet 1320 Envelopes

[lillyma]

I inherited a LaserJet 1320n which I am currently trying to set up.   The machine prints fine from the main tray (Tray 2) but for the life of me, I cannot get it to print ink on any paper fed from the Manual Tray.   The paper gets sucked in every time but nothing ever prints.  It seems like some mechancial switch is incorrect when using the Manual Tray since there is no problem at all with the Main Tray.   I am trying to use this device primarily as an envelope printer and hence the need to print from the Manual Tray.  Does anyone have any ideas?

[dansdaduk]

I can't see how feeding from different trays would allow or inhibit laying toner on the media.

Perhaps your application and/or printer driver settings are such that the page (or the area of the page on which you have text) does not coincide with the physical sheet? Check size & orientation settings.

Or perhaps you are not loading the envelopes (only one at a time allowed) correctly in the drop-down tray?

The manual instructs:

• Before loading the envelope, open the single-sheet priority input slot (Tray 1), and adjust the media guides to the width of the envelope.
• Place the envelope with the side to be printed facing up and the top edge along the left media guide. Feed the envelope into the slot. The envelope will partially feed into the printer, and the printer will pause.

[dansdaduk]

... and what happens if you try to print on A4 (or Letter, depending on locale) using media from tray 1?

[lillyma]

If I put an 8.5x11 sheet of paper in Tray 1 and then print a Test Page, nothing prints on the paper after I hit the Go button.  This is not printer missing the media issue.    One hint may be that the printer seems to realize it printed nothing on the paper because if I don't put another sheet of paper in Tray 1, I get a successful Test print from Tray 2. The confounding thing is that the printer prints fine from Tray 2.  I spent several hours yersterday afternoon doing Google searches and nobody else seems to have had this problem with the 1320.

[davidzuts]

What happens if you leave tray 2 open and print a self test and if you get a blank sheet of paper you then put another sheet in the tray 1 slot.  Does it also print blank or does it print ok.  Also with tray 2 open if you do not print another sheet do you get any lights flashing on the panel after the sheet drops into the top bin.

[lillyma]

Son of a gun, if I pull Tray 2 out and print a Test Page, the printer actually prints from the sheet I put in Tray 1.   What does that mean and how do I fix it?   Obviously, I should not have to pull Tray 2 out to print from Tray 1.

[davidzuts]

Here is what I think may be happening.  There are two solenoids used for paper pickup actions.  One for tray 2 and 1 for tray 1.  What may have happened is the "L" arm which prevents the pickup roller from turning for each tray as come loose on the tray 1 solenoid.  It is held in place by locking into the sides of the assembly with a spring which keeps it in the open position until a charge is sent to move it towards the center releasing the gear cam.  The problem is there are no instructions in the service manual for the removal of the solenoid.  You could download the service manual (google search) and look for the instructions for the tray 2 solenoid since I believe once you have access to the tray 2 solenoid, the tray 1 solenoid will be above it.  To test my theory turn the printer off and put a sheet of paper in the manual slot (tray 1).  Now turn on the printer and since the motors will now turn it should grab the sheet of paper and feed in into the printer.  If it does then that is the issue.  When you send a print job the solenoid for the tray which is supposed to be used activates to release the pickup roller to draw the paper.  Without the "L" arm on the tray 1 solenoid the paper is drawn in before the printing cycle is ready for it.  I could be 100% wrong on this but doing the test will confirm. 

[lillyma]

If I turn the printer off and put a sheet of paper in Tray 1, the paper is immediately drawn into the printer when I turn the printer on.   Thus, your theory is borne out.  However, I am a little confused that you stated that the "L arm has come loose on the Tray 1 solenoid".   That leads me to believe that a device connected to the Tray 1 solenoid is broken rather than the actual solenoid itself.

I found a new Tray 1 solenoid (RK2-0420) on eBay for $8.88.   You are correct, the service manual instructions do not specify how to replace the Tray 1 solenoid.   I guess I will have to figure it after following the instructions for removing the Tray 2 solenoid and hopefully, I can get the Tray 1 solenoid replaced.

[davidzuts]

Usually when this happens the spring and the "L" arm will be lying at the bottom when you remove the gear assembly.

[lillyma]

So are you saying that the solenoid for Tray 2 is probably good and that the mechanism that the solenoid controls has become disconnected?   Of course, since the section pertaining to the feeder mechanism for Tray 1 is missing from the service manual, I most likely will have my work cut out for me to try to figure out how to reconnect the L arm and the spring.