Let's Learn What Causes Paper Jam on Photocopy Machine and How to Handle It

For those of you who have a photocopy business, maybe you've experienced paper stuck in the machine. The term is Paper Jam. In that case, there are some causes of Paper Jam that you should know, so you won’t need to worry if this happens.

Well, the paper jam or paper stuck in the photocopy machine is something natural. And actually, you don't have to call a repairman to come. It's not a difficult matter to deal with.

It's better for you to know what causes the paper jam, so you will know what to do to overcome it.

And it would be better if you also knew how to anticipate. So, your photocopy service will not be disrupted because you already know how to prevent a paper jam.

Things That Cause Paper Jams

Maybe you've heard that a photocopy machine often experiences paper jams because of age. The machine is old. It’s like the machine is tired, so when it is used to copy something in a substantial amount, the machine cannot handle it.

It makes sense somehow. However, you also need to know that new photocopy machine or a year-old machine can also experience paper jam. So, the cause of paper jam is not how old the copier is.

There are at least three primary factors that cause paper jams in photocopy machines:

1. Damp paper

From now on, you have to pay attention to the paper you use for photocopy. Make sure it’s not damp.

Maybe you've kept the paper in the paper bags from the factory. However, it’s useless when the room you use is damp. Especially in the wet season. Paper gets damp easily. So, when the damp paper is used, the photocopy machine can experience paper jam.

2.  The rubber rolls that are not functioning optimally.

Inside the photocopy machine, the rubber rolls generate the paper from inside the machine. When the rolls are not functioning properly, they don’t generate the paper, which can cause the jam.

Maybe this is what makes people believe that the cause of paper jam is the photocopy machine’s age. Actually, it’s only the rubber rolls. However, this doesn’t mean that new photocopy machines have good rubber rolls. This has nothing to do with age. It’s more of the usage. If a photocopy machine is often used, then most likely, the rubber rolls will be worn out. And this is what causes the paper jam.

3.  Paper Thickness

Well, this one is often unknown to most people. One of the most common causes of the Paper Jam is the paper thickness. Use paper with suitable thickness for photocopy machines.

Well, those are the three factors that cause paper jams in the photocopy machine. Which one causes more paper jams on your photocopy machine? You may need time to investigate to determine what causes the jam in your machine. You can start looking at the rubber rolls if your photocopy machine has been working extra lately.  

What To Do with a Paper Jam?

Now you know what causes the paper jam. So, what should you do?

Actually, you can already guess once you know what causes the paper jam in your photocopy machine. But of course you don’t have to do everything. There are at least two things you can do.

First, check the paper rolls. If you don't know, you can ask for the photocopy service. If the rolls are worn out, you can ask the service official to replace the rolls with new ones.

Second, pay attention to the thickness of the paper you use. Oftentimes people ignore this because paper thickness is important. However, in reality, it is very important as it can affect the paper jam, and in the end damage the machine. The service to customers can be hindered. And we don’t want that to happen, do we?

So, to assure the quality of the paper you use, you can use paper from SiDU. SiDU provides quality paper with various sizes such as A4, F4, etc., which you can choose according to your needs. SiDU paper has the right thickness so it will not cause paper jams.  

So, those two things are important. Those tips can also be a way to prevent damages in your photocopy machine.

Now you know the causes of paper jam and how to prevent them from happening. Avoid those factors that can cause paper jams. Furthermore, maintenance is also important. Regular checkups at least once or twice a year is important to make sure that your photocopy machine can operate properly. This is the most effective way so that you won’t have to spend too much money for maintenance and repair, so you can secure more profit from your photocopy business.