[cz_image id=”cz_70204″ image=”14614″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_61153″ cz_title=””]You will experience misfeeds with any copier on occasion. The key is knowing what to do when it happens. Clearing copier misfeeds can be very simple if you know what to do. In this article, we’ll walk you through a few of the ways you can address a misfeed, without having to call in the professionals.

 

There are several places inside of your copier where paper can become jammed. On your Sharp Copier, the touchscreen will show you an illustration of the machine’s paper paths, and where the misfeed has occurred. You can also tap the “check how to remove misfeeds” button on the screen for more detailed instructions on how to proceed.

 

CLEARING THE DOCUMENT FEEDER

This type of misfeed is usually very simple to clear. You should first lift the lid to check for any sign of paper near the edge of the lid. There is a roller you can spin to manually get the paper to roll out of that part of the lid. There is also a release button on the inside of the lid, which will release the bottom of the lid to expose the upper scanner. If you are unable to see the paper in the underside of the lid, there is a small compartment on the top of the lid you can check. It is accessible by a handle. Pull on the handle and the compartment will open up, allowing you to see any paper stuck inside. Once you have found the paper, removed it from the paper path, and closed the lid, your misfeed error should be cleared.[/cz_title][cz_image id=”cz_91944″ image=”14618″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”]

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CLEARING THE RIGHT SIDE

If a misfeed has occurred on the right side of your machine, near the bypass tray, you can easily open up the right side of your copier to clear the page. Simply find the release lever and pull directly out. Once you have a view of the inside, you can look for the paper causing the issue. If you see the paper, but aren’t able to get it loose, you can feed it further through the paper path by manually turning the gear or lever to free the paper. Once the door is closed again, you should be able to pick back up where you left off with your copy/print job. One word of caution though, the fusing unit is located on this side of the copier. It can be very hot, so be careful not to touch it.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”]

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MORE AREAS TO CHECK

If a page misfeeds further along in a print job, there are a number of other areas you can look. Watch the video below to see where you can find and how to open the various compartments on your Sharp copier.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”]

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TIPS TO PREVENT MISFEEDS

Fan the Paper

If you fan your paper before loading it, it prevents multiple sheets from becoming stuck to each other. If multiple sheets feed through at once, this can cause a misfeed.

Gently Close the Paper Trays

Slowly, but firmly close the paper tray when loading your paper. When you forcefully close the trays, it can cause the paper to skew, which can make it misfeed.

Use the Correct Settings

If you load a different type of paper from what was previously in the tray, be sure to check your settings and adjust them to account for the change in paper. Having the wrong paper weight or size for the settings can cause misfeeds.

Clean the Bypass Feed Roller

If paper misfeeds frequently occur when feeding envelopes or heavy paper through the bypass tray, wipe the surface of the feed roller with a clean soft cloth moistened with water or a neutral detergent.

Use the Right Paper

Though there are many types of commercially-available paper, the use of non-recommended paper in your machine can result in misfeeds, poor image quality, and even damage to your device. Check your user manual for specific paper recommendations.[/cz_title]

[cz_image id=”cz_12767″ image=”13788″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_42955″]Les Olson Company has once again achieved AAA Platinum Service Provider status from Sharp. Sharp created their service rating program to distinguish service providers that don’t just meet, but exceed performance benchmarks and the implementation of industry best practices. The AAA Platinum Service Provider rating is a reflection of a dealer’s commitment to best practices in the following critical areas of service delivery:

 

• Using genuine Sharp parts and supplies to deliver consistent performance and quality
• Commitment to rigorous ongoing training of service technicians
• Using remote diagnostic technology
• Implement procedures to ensure timely updating of service call tracking tickets

Les Olson Company is one of only 12 dealers in the country to achieve AAA Platinum Service Provider status, and we owe it to our team of expert technicians. They do an amazing job every day, and consistently go above and beyond for our clients. We’re proud to be a long-time partner of Sharp Electronics, and honored to receive this distinguished recognition.

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The copier’s error message says it’s out of paper, but there’s clearly paper in the tray. What gives?

 

It’s one of the most common frustrations when using an office copier: the dreaded “Out of Paper” error. You have paper in the trays, but the message has not gone away. And now you can’t run your print job. It can be frustrating and time-consuming, but luckily, it is typically just a case of “user error” and therefore, an easy fix.

 

The first thing you should know is that “Out of Paper” is a somewhat generic error message that could mean several things:

 

• The machine is indeed out of paper.
• You have run out of paper in one tray and the wrong type of paper is loaded in the tray set as a backup paper tray.
• You have the wrong kind of paper loaded for your print job.

If you are experiencing one of these things, easy fix! Read on for some additional information, tips, and how-to’s.

 

Often times, people will have letterhead or colored paper loaded in the copier, but then they send the machine a print job that is asking for plain paper, 8.5″ x 11″. Modern copiers can tell what type of paper is loaded in their trays. So, they can sense that the pre-loaded letterhead or colored paper is the wrong type of paper for a standard print job. When this happens, it will send out that same dreaded “Out of Paper” error message.

 

The same is true if you ask the copier to print on a specialty paper, but the copier is loaded with standard paper. Modern copy machines may be smart, but they have a limited vocabulary. By displaying the message “Out of Paper” or “Load Paper” the machine is saying that the paper you have selected for the print job is not in the tray.

 

Another common scenario plays out when you have specialty papers loaded in the paper trays below a tray loaded with standard paper. If the tray of standard paper runs out in the middle of a standard print job, the copier will attempt to load the specialty paper below to continue the print job. Since the copier knows these are the wrong paper types, it will also display the message “Out of Paper.”

 

Offices that print a lot of spreadsheets might be familiar with the next common reason copy machines display the “Out of Paper” error, especially if you commonly adjust the margins on your spreadsheets. When you tinker with your spreadsheet margins, it is easy to accidentally set them just slightly over the default margins set for 8.5 in. by 11 in. standard paper.

 

This accidental margin adjustment enlarges the paper size for the print job and therefore your copy machine doesn’t think the right paper is loaded in the tray. Even if this margin is pushed by just a hair, a copy machine will assume the print job should be on specialty paper. For instance, a margin setting of 8.55 inches wide instead of the standard 8.5 inches will trigger an error. Be sure to double-check the margins on your spreadsheet print jobs to make sure the copier is printing to the correct size paper.

 

A less common reason for the error, but one you should be aware of especially if you work in the medical field, has to do with A4 size paper. A4 is a European size of paper that is very close in size to the American standard of 8.5 in. by 11 in. paper. When print jobs are set to A4, but you have loaded the machine with 8.5 in. by 11 in. paper, your copy machine will think it is the wrong type of paper for the print job you have selected.

 

This is often confusing because these two types of paper are so similar in size. However, even though the contents of the print job “look” like they should fit on standard paper, the copier will look for A4 paper in the tray, only to discover that it is not there. When it doesn’t find it, guess what happens. That’s right! You will see the “Out of Paper” display.

 

So, if you encounter this type of error a lot, or your print jobs often are set to A4, thankfully there is an override available that allows your copier to ignore the A4 margins and go ahead and print on 8.5 in. by 11 in. paper. A service call is all you need to get the override loaded onto your machine!

 

If you have any questions about error messages, what types of paper to use in your copier or anything else about how your copy machine works, always feel free to contact our service department. Our friendly experts love helping our customers problem-solve these types of error messages and find solutions that are best for your business’ specific needs. We are always happy to help![/cz_title][cz_gap height=”30px” id=”cz_62034″]

[cz_image id=”cz_81267″ image=”12557″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_42723″ cz_title=””]Are your documents sending the wrong message? After all, as the saying goes, presentation is everything. If your copies are marred with unprofessional-looking lines or dots, it might reflect poorly on your business. Avoid this mistake by making sure your documents are sending a clear message, free from any unintended distractions.

 

When those lines appear, it can be frustrating and even seem like a bigger problem than it actually is. However, rest assured, there is no need to check the toner or tinker with your copier’s settings; the source of this common copier fail is simple. Ninety percent of the time, it’s just dust. And, the even better news is that you can fix it with an equally simple hack, by using a common cleaner all offices will have on hand.

 

But first, let’s take a closer look at how your copier works and why those annoying lines or dots show up on your copies in the first place. Dust is inevitable, yet it is crucial for your copier to be dust-free in order to work properly. And this is especially true when it comes to the glass surface of a copier’s scanner.

 

While a dust particle is typically so small it’s hardly visible to the naked eye, it is big enough to actually cast a shadow as your copier scans your documents. That explains the dots, but what about the streaks? How can dust cause such a big shadow?

 

This is where it is important to be familiar with how your copier works. There are actually two scanning surfaces for documents. A common mistake is to look for dust on the larger glass scanning area on the copier. But this isn’t where this particular streaking problem originates.

 

Streaks happen not from dust on the larger glass scanning surface, but on the smaller scanner that reads your documents as they are fed into the copier. When dust gets on the thin slit of glass that scans copies as your original document slides through, a single dust particle can cause a huge line streak. What happens is that the particle casts a shadow that will streak all the way across the paper as it slides through the scanner mechanism.

 

Most of the time the streaks are dark, but occasionally they could be a different color, maybe yellow or blue. Why does this happen? It is the same culprit: dust. The copy machine is simply trying to read the image and these different colors appear based on how the light is refracting around the dust particles.

 

The location of the dust is important to note, because you need to know where to clean to rid your documents from these blemishes. Now that you’ve identified the source, you can get down to business, and get rid of those streaks and dots for good. But how?

 

What you use to clean up this dust might come as a surprise, but it is something your office will have in abundance, especially during cold and flu season. The solution to this simple but annoying speckled-and-streaky problem is hand sanitizer. Well, hand sanitizer, a clean cloth and a little bit of elbow grease.

 

Because you are looking at cleaning a glass surface, it seems logical that a glass cleaner, like Windex, would do the best job. However, while glass cleaners are good at removing dirt, dust requires a different approach.

 

Hand sanitizer’s active ingredient is typically some type of antiseptic solvent like ethyl alcohol. While known for its antiseptic properties, ethyl alcohol is also a drying agent that works well as a surface cleaner, breaking the bonds that adhere dust to a surface. This is how hand sanitizer kills germs: it dries them out.

 

This drying property is why hand sanitizer is recommended by cleaning experts to dust other surfaces. Try it on your eyeglasses or even to revive delicate home decor items, like old candles.

 

Hand sanitizer is something that is typically kept in abundance in offices, so it should be readily available should your copier’s scanners need cleaning. (And if you are out, run—don’t walk—to the store and get some more!) But if, for some reason, your office is out of hand sanitizer and your copies are coming out streaked or dotted, you can try glass cleaner. It just won’t work as well as hand sanitizer. Also, whichever one you choose to use, rest assured that neither hand sanitizer nor glass cleaner will harm your copier.

 

How can you avoid getting the streaks on your copies in the first place? Since ninety percent of streaks on copies are from dust particles, and most of which come from pen ink and white-out, make sure you send clean documents through your copier. If your original documents have pen or ink marks, it will save you a headache if you take the extra step to make these changes to your electronic copy in a word processor before you send them through your copier.

 

Still have lines? Contact our service department, we can help![/cz_title][cz_gap height=”60px”]

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[cz_title id=”cz_64985″]Do you ever get a copier error message? If you do, your first instinct is probably to call for service. But in many cases, there is an easier solution. When your computer gives you trouble, the first thing you should try is rebooting. Similarly, error codes on your copier can often times be resolved simply by turning your copier off and back on again. While it’s quite possible that your machine actually needs maintenance, in a lot of cases, this will reset your copier, resolving the a wide array of error codes without needing to call for service.

 

You might easily solve your copier error message by doing this:

Most Sharp copiers have two ways to turn off the power. The first is a button on the front panel of the machine.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”]

[cz_image id=”cz_38959″ image=”9372″][/cz_image][cz_title id=”cz_28258″ cz_title=””]Use this button to turn off the machine on a regular basis. For example, use it, when leaving the office for the night or when you don’t expect to use it for a few hours at a time.

 

The second is the Main Power Switch, usually located inside of the front cover of your device, or on the back or side, depending on the model. When trying to reboot your copier, be sure to turn off the Main Power Switch, not just the button on top of the machine.

 

With both hands, gently pull on the sides of the front cover to pop it open.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_image id=”cz_95365″ image=”9375″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_102941″ cz_title=””]Once the front cover is open, you will see a switch somewhere under the cover that says “main power.” The placement of the switch varies from copier to copier, but on newer machines it is generally located on the bottom left side.

 

Once you’ve switched the power off, let it sit for a couple of minutes and switch back on. Wasn’t that easy? If you reboot your copier and still get an error code, it’s time to call for service – but don’t worry, service is what we do best. Rest assured, we’ll have you back up and running in no time.[/cz_title]

[cz_image id=”cz_59527″ image=”9495″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_25594″ cz_title=””]Have you ever noticed the toner flaking off of your copies or prints? It’s a frustrating issue, but the solutions is actually quite simple. Keep reading to find out how to easily fix flaking toner.

 

HOW YOUR COPIER WORKS

Your copier works by using heat to fuse toner to paper. The amount of heat needed to effectively fuse the toner to the page will vary depending on the thickness of the paper.

 

WHAT CAUSES TONER TO FLAKE OFF?

Toner flaking off paper? You’re probably using a heavier stock of paper. The heavier the paper, the more heat is needed to fuse the toner to the page. Your copier can’t automatically sense the type of paper that’s loaded so it thinks it’s printing to regular paper, which is usually the default setting.

 

HOW TO RESOLVE

Let your copier know you’re printing on heavier paper (anything over 28 lb.) by specifying the paper type in your print driver and at the copier panel.

 

To change your settings in the print driver:

This will vary depending on your brand of copier but should be basically the same. Below are instructions for changing your settings in a Sharp print driver.

1. Open your Printer Properties panel
2. Click the Paper tab and select the tray you’ll be printing from
3. Under Paper Type, select Heavy Paper 1 for anything thicker than 28 lb., or Heavy Paper 2 for anything thicker than 90 lb.

To change your settings on the copier:

This will vary depending on your brand and model of copier. Below are instructions for most Sharp MFPs.

1. Open your copier’s Tray Settings
2. Select the tray you’ll be printing to
3. Select your paper type

Want more tips, tricks and answers to your questions?
Visit our Copier Training Video Library.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”30px” id=”cz_62034″]

[cz_image id=”cz_72375″ image=”11431″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_36493″ cz_title=””]Many of you probably remember watching the movie Ghostbusters growing up. Chances are, you remember being TERRIFIED of Gozer, the female ghost famous for zapping the Ghostbusters with lightning and transforming into the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man to terrorize the city of New York.

 

While it is highly unlikely that a ghost that shoots lightning from her hands will come and wreak actual havoc anytime soon, there is something equally as electrifying that could cause significant damage to businesses and equipment all over. Power surges can cause thousands of dollars of damage to equipment, so we want to help your company be prepared in case of an emergency.

 

It’s fairly simple. When there is a power surge, the voltage will spike at a level that, if your computer is unprotected, will cause the full force of the voltage to enter the computer system, causing it to fry the hardware and ruin thousands of dollars of equipment. A surge protector serves as a shield for the equipment, blocking or grounding the spike in voltage so that your equipment remains unharmed.

 

Take this example shared by Aaron Mehrley, our Corporate Vice President of Service here at Les Olson Company. Recently, he emailed us to share an experience one of our great clients in the St. George area had when their equipment was saved by one of the Advanced ESP surge protectors we provide with every new device installation.

 

Mehrley states, “Jeff Olsen, one of our Senior Technicians, was called onsite to repair a device that had experienced a terrible power surge. Fortunately, the device was connected to an ESP Digital QC surge protector, which saved their machine! After having done its job remarkably well, Jeff replaced the surge protector with a new one, and the MFP worked perfectly. No circuit boards, fuses or parts needed to be replaced. Without an advanced surge suppressor in place, this could have been a very costly repair and could have led to the necessity of replacing the machine.”

 

The images below show the surge protector that the company was using. If the equipment was simply plugged into a power strip, it would not have been protected. Without these surge protectors, this could have been their equipment![/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”]

[cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_98853″ cz_title=””]Now, there is a difference between a regular power strip and a surge protector. Power strips simply serve as an extension of a wall outlet, so they serve little to no protection when power spikes occur. Surge protectors like the one shown above protect the circuits based on the number of joules or units of energy they can resist. As mentioned above, they serve as a wall or a shield, protecting your equipment from significant damage. Thousands of dollars can be saved by simply hooking your equipment up to a surge protector.

 

All equipment purchased from Les Olson Company comes standard with a surge protector. We believe strongly in protecting the equipment that we sell so that you can be at ease when these surges occur. We also sell surge protectors to people with different brands of equipment so that you can feel protected as well. Les Olson Company is not just your vendor–we are your partner in equipment protection and a Sharp Platinum Service Provider.

 

For more information, or to request a surge protector for your machine, fill out the form below. We look forward to working with your business.[/cz_title]

[cz_image id=”cz_59191″ image=”11478″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_101353″ cz_title=””]Taking a lesson from Doctor Emmett Brown, power is crucial to achieving our goals. For him, precisely 1.21 gigawatts of power was needed to energize the flux capacitor in a 1982 DeLorean to achieve time travel. For us, we need power on a much smaller scale; like running a plethora of business devices. In comparison, Doc Brown’s 1.21 gigawatts is 1,210,000,000 watts; that would run the average Multi-function copier at full capacity for 287 years!

 

Smartly, you wouldn’t want to provide 1.21 gigawatts all at once to any of your printers and copy machines. You would fry all of your office technology, Ouch! On the other end of the scale,you wouldn’t want your machines running on too low of a power which could lead to tripped breakers, poor print quality, and damage to the machine itself.

 

So how much power does my copier require?

Smaller copy machines will usually take a standard 120 volt, 15 amp circuit with the familiar looking outlet you are accustomed to seeing. Larger copiers are going to require more power to run properly. These machines typically require a 120 volt, 20 amp circuit with a dedicated line. This means that this circuit cannot be shared with any other electronics. No power strips that are shared by multiple devices should be used here. Plug that coffee pot in elsewhere!

 

A good way to find out how much power your device needs is to check the guidelines provided by the manufacturer. It makes sense doesn’t it, for those who created the product to know what’s needed for it to run proficiently? Additionally, your product manual should list guidelines for power supply, consumption and energy saving measures. All of which can help your device become more efficient.

 

Please be aware that some manufacturers will create systems that run on a 15 amp power source because they don’t want the customer to worry about having a new line brought in. Many of these machines require a 20 amp circuit to perform properly, but the manufacturers feel that requiring a customer to install these new lines would be a stumbling block in eventually making the sale. Be sure to purchase from reputable manufacturers like Sharp who are more interested in providing a good customer experience, rather than making a quick sale. Although it may be a bit more work in the beginning, having the correct power source will ensure your machine performs to the best of its capabilities.

 

Check which type of power supply you need here!

 

Warning Signs

Still not sure if you’re currently using the correct power? Consider a few of these warning signs:

• Your printer has sporadic on/off times.
• There is ghosting or shadowing behind the letters.
• You experience smearing or flaking of toner due to a low temperature error on your
• Multi-function printer.
• Jamming or misfiring of machine.
• Constant need for repairs.

These are all issues that may be occurring due to an incorrect power supply, or they may just be signs that your current machine has come to the end of its functional life. Take a look here at the Top 3 Signs You Need a New Copier. After all, your office equipment is an integral part of your business; and any downtime is surely costing you money.

 

If you are having problems with any of these signs, double check that the product guidelines and the outlet wattage match up. Or better yet, reach out to us! We have the products and experts to help keep your business running smooth and efficient.[/cz_title]

[cz_image id=”cz_34725″ image=”11614″][/cz_image][cz_gap height=”25px”][cz_title id=”cz_85211″ cz_title=””]Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America (SIICA), a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, announced that it has recognized Les Olson Company as a Sharp AAA Platinum Service Provider for their high level of achievement in critical areas of service delivery. The Sharp program was designed to distinguish service organizations that not only meet, but also exceed performance benchmarks and the implementation of industry best practices in this area.

 

To qualify for the program and be eligible to receive the Platinum Level Service Provider Award, an organization must meet several criteria that demonstrate excellent training, education, service support, and customer satisfaction. The recognized companies must show commitment to training by having archived certification on all current models, as well as a certification in a Network discipline. In addition, the organization needs to have written service escalation processes ensuring their commitment to customer satisfaction. They must also follow all preventive maintenance guidelines and practice written total call procedures to maximize copies between visits.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”25px”]

[cz_title id=”cz_78797″ cz_title=””]While only 17 of the 429 Sharp dealers in the United States were recognized by Sharp as Platinum Level Service Providers, Les Olson Company is one of only 7 dealers (the only in the Western region of the U.S.) to achieve the elevated AAA status.

 

Richard Klug, Associate Director, Western Svc Support at Sharp Electronics said while presenting Les Olson Company with the award, “It was with the greatest of pleasure that we were able to present the Les Olson Company team with our coveted Platinum Level Servicer Award. Your years of dedication to your customers, along with outstanding levels of training, professionalism, customer service and teamwork are certainly reflected in this award.”

 

As a Platinum Level Service Provider, Les Olson Company has demonstrated superior customer support by ensuring that all reasonable efforts have been made before opening a support ticket with Sharp’s technical hotline, timely updating tickets, and leveraging remote diagnostic technologies. In addition, Les Olson Company has delivered consistent performance and quality by only using genuine Sharp parts and supplies.[/cz_title]

[cz_gap height=”30px” id=”cz_62034″][cz_title id=”cz_72061″ cz_title=””]It is an honor for Les Olson Company to receive the Sharp Platinum Level Service Providers Award, and they are proud to be a long-time partner of Sharp Electronics. Les Olson Company is dedicated to providing an unprecedented level of customer service with best-in-class technicians and knowledgeable sales personnel who ensure each piece of Sharp equipment purchased from Les Olson Company perfectly fits the client’s needs.[/cz_title][cz_gap height=”30px” id=”cz_62034″]