HP ENVY 4520 - Automated Output Tray Extender (arm) doesn’t come out

[marc-levin]

HP ENVY 4520 - Automated Output Tray Extender (arm) doesn’t come out

I've had this impressive printer/scanner for around 8 months and it has functioned fine after the setup.

Recently, however, when I print, the Automated Output Tray Extender (arm) doesn't come out after printing or copying.

The printer has not been moved, damaged or abused in anyway and besides this problem it still works fine.

There are no error notices.  I've tried shutting off the machine, disconnecting it for around 40 seconds, printing an alignment page (one forum tip was to try that).  The arm did come out once, but not after that.

I can also see that this is NOT an arm that can deploy manually so I have not tried that.

I hope you can help and look forward to your response (I have many, many pages to print in the next days and the paper would be easier to manage if it were collated on the extender arm, rather than on the floor.

I look forward to your response and thank you in advance.

[DavidSMP]

@marc-levin,

Good Day.  Thanks for engaging in the HP community.  I will be glad to assist you and let’s get right to it. Terrific observations and great diagnosis of the issue. It is amply appreciated.

Let me gather some information for better clarity to assist you correctly:

• Did this occur after a power outage or surge?
• Did you update the drivers from the HP support site?

I will be providing a roadmap with some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue. Let us try these steps:

• This looks like a hardware issue with the printer. I am being honest about it by keeping your best interest in mind without beating around the bush.

Nevertheless, please try these steps:

• Please perform a hard reset on the printer from this link: https://support.hp.com/in-en/product/hp-envy-4520-all-in-one-printer-series/5447920/document/c004898...  by following instructions from the section “Step 1: Reset the printer” (do the hard reset again)
• Then update the printer’s firmware from this link: https://support.hp.com/bg-en/document/c02919168

This should fix the issue if the printer has no hardware issues. Otherwise, it needs to be replaced. I am being honest about it by keeping your best interest in mind.

I will send you a private message to assist you with the next course of action. Check your forum private message box in the upper right corner next to the bell icon for instructions.

Good luck and keep me posted about the developments. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue and give the post a Kudos for my efforts to help. Thank you and have a great week ahead. 🙂

[agb24]

I have the exact same issue. Bought my HP Envy 4520 in March, 2018. It operated fine until a few weeks ago. Usually, the extender arm does not come out at all. Periodically, it comes out at the END of the printing cycle, after my papers have fallen on the floor.  I did the hard reset, rebooted, turned it off and on...nothing works. I like the printer, but I DO NOT like my papers going on the floor. What can be done to solve the problem? It seems that many others have the same problem.

[A4Apollo]

Hey there! @agb24, Thanks for stopping by the HP Support Forums! 

I understand the paper tray extender arm never emerges while printing from your printer.

Don't worry I'd like to help you out.

Did you make any changes to your printer?

Please share the operating system you are running on your PC to assist you better.

Try the steps recommended below.

Check for obstructions that prevent the input tray from closing

Remove any paper or other obstructions from underneath the printer and inside the gap where the input tray slides into.

As you have tried performing a Hard reset on the printer and you still have issues with the tray extender. Unfortunately, there is no lock as I did check the specifications and it should automatically come out.

Try updating the printer firmware and check if it helps.

Update the printer firmware and check if it helps. Click Here

Refer this article to further troubleshoot A paper jam issues with your printer.

If the issue still persists after trying out the steps.

It is a hardware issue with your printer. I will share you few details in a private message. 

Please watch your inbox for more information.

Let me know if this helps! 
Have a pleasant day ahead! 🙂

Please click “Accept as 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!

[agb24]

I am running Windows 10. None of your suggested solutions helped. Firmware is up-to-date. I know the arm is not obstructed. Sometimes it does not come out at all. Sometimes it comes out when the printing is finished. For the first 5 or 6 months, it operated the right way. This problem started a few weeks ago. The arm is somehow "out of sync," but I don't know the cause.

[A4Apollo]

@agb24, thanks for your quick response.

I appriciate your efforts for writing back to us again.

As you mentioned the issue still persists after trying out the steps.

As I suggested in my previous thread. It could be a hardware issue with your printer.

Please follow guidelines suggested from my private message for more assistance.

Have a great day ahead!

Take Care! 🙂

[LisaRob76]

Mine has the identical issue of the arm not coming out. This printer is only a year old and rarely used. Did this reset fix the issue?

[agb24]

Yes and no.  The initial problem was fixed, but new ones were created, to the extent that I am getting rid of the Envy 4520 when I use up the ink I have. I will buy a different brand. From 2000 to 2018, I had one, and then another HP printer that were real workhorses and served me well. That is why I bought another HP. But now I will change brands. I have lost confidence in HP.

This will be a slightly lengthy reply, but there are many details to share. The short story: this printer was still within warranty when all the trouble started. I bought it in March, 2018. I thought I could live with the erratic "extender arm," but then I thought, no, that's NOT what I paid for. Here is the recap I wrote up as notes for myself on Dec. 31, 2018:

"Background: in Nov. 2018, I accepted a replacement, refurbished printer for the 4520 I bought in March 2018, after I had to get a new computer. Previous printer was old, although it had a lot of functions I like and was easy for me to manage.
Refurbished printer was fine EXCEPT it did not have the automatic 2-sided printing feature. Seemed to me that it had older software with it. After a lengthy, in-person conversation with an HP rep outside the US, and my letting him take control of the printer, he somehow modified the software to allow the auto 2-sided printing. It was a workaround, but I decided to live with it since I had all the features I needed.

Today, even though “wireless” shows as default, it is offline. When I open Printer Assistant, it opens to “network” with the old options (no auto 2-sided) and I can’t set preferences from the Assistant.

What I want: “wireless” to be the default, ONLINE, with auto 2-sided printing. HP update says my updates are current. Next step is to call HP and have them fix this…or I am getting a different brand of printer. Phone number for tech support is in my binder. Ignore all options and wait for a human to come online."

I did call HP again. A rep fixed it so my printer would work, but it's the one named "network." The software "network" accesses will not let me set any preferences, such as changing to color if I want to print a photo. I get an error message. AND, I cannot print auto 2-sided. I have to do it manually. This is not what I bought. For the first few months in ealy 2018, the 4520 had an arm that worked properly (although I much prefer a manual, rather than automatic, arm), AND I had auto 2-sided printing, which I really really like.  The printer I have now is truly messed up. But, I guess if I look on the bright side, the extender arm works beautifully. 😒 Also, the HP reps were all very patient, knowledgable, and truly wanted to fix the problem. The support personnel were very good. The hardware is not. Good luck. I gave up.

Below is the error message I receive:Jan 2019 error message

[marc-levin]

To Agb24, 

Spoiler

The extender Arm now works after a hardware replacement and with a lot of help from HP Support

 Dear Agb24, 
In some ways it seems that your situation is different from mine in that 1) you've had good experiences with HP products 2) I'm in Denmark using local HP support and 3) from the looks of your screenshot, I believe you're a Windows user, while I'm a Mac user. 

1) Many, many years ago I got an HP 3in1 printer that was quite advanced and expensive and it worked horribly!  The supporters admitted indirectly that they didn't know much about Apple computers and didn't even have one at their support station.  They said that my best solution was to buy an even more expensive one!  After complaining to some bosses, I got them to buy the unit back at full price and then got a Canon that served me wonderfully, regarding hardware, software, and support.  

When I worked in Malaysia for several years, I bought a Canon printer again, enjoying the same positive experience.

After resettling in Denmark my friend bought me a new HP 4526 printer on sale and I was very skeptical.  It was very reasonably priced, had double-sided printing and many other good features that just worked fine.  However, as mentioned in my earlier comment after about eight months the automatic extender arm failed to deploy.

I tried the workarounds that I could find here and on other support websites, but none of them worked.  I then called HP Danish support and, after trying a few more workarounds, they decided to send me a new machine.  It worked right out of the box and continues to do so now, around seven months later.  I took the machine totally online, also joining the HP ink program where they gave me an additional three months of start-up ink for the new machine and direct online setup could be a factor in the stability I've enjoyed until now, including the deployment of the automatic arm, though I agree with you that manual deployment can be better, as was the case with the Canon, where you had both possibilities.

So, if your frustrations with HP continue, assuming that the standard will be the same where you are, then you might want to consider Canon as a choice, though, as I write now, my HP 4524 is working well, thanks to the support service in Denmark.

I hope that you find a good solution, so you can get on with working, rather than dealing with these annoyances.

The best from here, 

Marc

[GApeach1]

I have been interested in this conversation. The tray extender arm on my HP dose not work either. Obviously a common problem. What I can't figure out is why I can't manually pull it out. I have tried but to no avail. I like the printer and would be happy to just pull it out and leave it out.  Mine actually happened before when I pushed it in. Did not come out for a while then worked again. I pushed it in again to keep it from being knocked and now it won't come out at all.