Strange problem with paper tray on HP LJ 4600

[sidewinder]

We have a Laserjet 4600 as the colour printer in our ICT suite. All of a sudden yesterday it kept asking for paper to be inserted, the teacher managed to get documents to print by taking out and re-inserting tray 2 for each sheet.

 

I had a look later, expecting it to be a driver setting or the wrong paper size, something standard. But it isnt. Even if you print a menu map or supplies page, it still asks you to put A4 in tray 1 and does nothing when you press the button to use another tray.

 

I powered it off for a while today then put it back on and did a supplies page again, and it came out of tray 2 straight away. But then the problem started again.

 

So it doesnt sound like there is anything physically wrong with the tray, it just seems to refuse to try to use it. When you print, with it set to A4 in tray 2, it doesnt even try to print from tray 2 and instantly just says insert A4 into tray 1 again

 

Any ideas?

[round2it]

might not be related but our hp3550 paper tray did the same and it was the the clip at the back of the tray that had broken away (only a tiny piece had broken away)popping a little hot glue to it fixed the problem, even though the tray looked like it was correct the end of the tray moved every time a piece of paper was picked up,the printer is probably going to tray 1 because it thinks you have no paper in tray 2.

 

 

2 pence worth

Edited January 11, 2012 by round2it

[Oaktech]

might not be related but our hp3550 paper tray did the same and it was the the clip at the back of the tray that had broken away popping a little hot glue fixed the problem, even though the tray looked like it was correct the end of the tray moved every time a piece of paper was picked up,the printer is probably going to tray 1 because it thinks you have no paper in tray 2.

 

 

2 pence worth

 

we have a 3005 that has done this, so i'd look there first too!

[round2it]

 

i had to glue at this end(picture is of a 3550) but is a good example of where to glue

 

 

from looking at the picture of yours on the internet it looks like that could be the problem as without the glue ours said paper out

Edited January 11, 2012 by round2it

[sidewinder]

Ah thanks, will have a look then. The tray does look very similar to that, so hopefully that is the problem. Will report back

[Oaktech]

i've just tried moving the 'back stop' on the paper tray up by one click and lo and behold, the paper fits but it won't print complaining the paper is the wrong size!

 

If its not that, i'll eat a post it note!

[round2it]

very odd this problem but the trays do take some hammer from the kids

[sidewinder]

Just realised I forgot to reply to this - I tried and tried and tried that fix but it just wouldn't work whichever position I had the 'back stop' in the paper tray in. Just had to give up in the end as it was fruitless

 

As it's 9 years old I think we're going to go for a new one, which is a shame