Tragedy has struck, I need help!

[Mowerman90]

I own a small business and yesterday was printing my monthly customer statements in hopes of getting them done before the mailman arrived. As luck would have it what could go wrong did go wrong and a statement got jamed in my MP640. instead of pulling the machine out from the spot it sits in and removing the paper from behind, I was able to grasp it from the front after pulling out the cassette tray. I thought I was home free but both corners of the paper were torn off (2 trangular pieces aproximately 2inx3in in size) and left in the bowels of my printer. After some head scratching I was able to get one to be ejected with another sheet of paper. Unfortunately, the second piece is still in the machine and results in a "paper jamed" error that I cannot eliminate. I've taken the back piece off the printer and tried to see into it from all angles, both front and back but cannot see the torn piece anywhere. What can I do? Fortunately I had a spare MP640 sitting unopened and unused that I broke out and finished my work with. I was too late for the mailman but my main problem is how to take the jammed printer apart to remove that little piece of paper. I'm open for suggestions, anyone have any experience with this?

 

[fotofreek]

I don't know the answer to your problem, but I do want to commend you on the excellent decision to have a good backup printer on hand! You've covered yourself for any number of Murphy's laws about what and when things can go wrong.

 

[Redbrickman]

There is a guy on your side of the big pond that does service manuals, with step by step instructions for Canon printers.

He does not have the Mp640 but has the 610 which probably has most of the same case fittings etc. I am sure I found his email address in the forum, but if you want you can PM me and I'll send you the email address rather than make it available to the spammers!

He charges 18$ and provides email support if you are stuck. I have a sample of the type of repair manual he creates and it is first class. I was going to buy it but it probably costs as much to ship the CD to UK

I would get a torch and a small dental type mirror and really have a good look in the compartment where the carts are. You may just get lucky and find the offending piece of paper.


Good Luck.

 

[Osage]

I don't know the answer to your problem, but I do want to commend you on the excellent decision to have a good backup printer on hand! You've covered yourself for any number of Murphy's laws about what and when things can go wrong.

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I totally agree with fotofreek on this point, but I suggest there are better ways to do it. I may not have a home business but I network my wife's computer together with mine. My wife is not only a printaholic, she demands color too. So I keep her happy by refilling her Canon pixma IP4000.

As for me, I seldom print, but I have needs in terms of fax, scan and copy and a few occasional printed pages. So I bought a used all in one B/W
laser printer dirt cheap, on arrival the toner cartridge was half depleted, and three years later I have yet to need to buy a replacement. I don't even turn it on until I need to use it, so it consumes no electricity to feed it. But I network both printers so either me or my wife can use either from either computer. So if I need to print, I am better off using my wife's printer because it can print black for a 1/3 of a cents in consumables, while my laser lags at a cent and a half. But one time my wife needed 50 copies fast fast fast, and my laser was finished in the time it would take an inkjet to print five pages.

But the point is, Mowerman has now lost his prior redundancy, and may not be able to fix his broken MP640. So he might look for a cheap $50.00
single function laser to tide him over. Why debate which is better, color ink jet or black and white laser? When you can have both, you can choose the right tool for the right job.

 

[fotofreek]

Osage - I print lots of photos and also many business documents. On my desk I have both an inkjet for color prints and a laser printer for speedy black printing. In addition, should my own color printer become a problem, my backup for color prints is on my wife's inkjet. She has the same "needs" to print color as your wife. If Mowerman can't solve the paper jam problem he can certainly buy another backup printer - either laser or inkjet.

Hopefully, someone can come up with a tip to help Mowerman solve the primary problem which is the bit of paper signaling a paper jam.

 

[Mowerman90]

Thank all of you for your help. This is what makes this forum great! I'm happy to report that I found the culprit wrapped around some of the gears that drive the rollers and was able to remove it. I'll now box up my oringinal MP640 and set it asside for any future mishaps.

Osage,
If you'll look in my signature you'll see that I already have a mono laser printer. It's a Brother HL2140. Paid $50 on sale at Office Depot. Great investment for text only pages.

 

[l_d_allan]

I'll now box up my oringinal MP640 and set it asside for any future mishaps.

Glad to hear you found the source of the problem.

Just to check ... you will be using what was the backup MP640 as your "primary"? ... and the original MP640 will be its backup?

Something I'm wondering ... is the original MP640 print-head in a clean condition (the one that is being set aside)? I'm a relative inkjet newbie, but I would think you'd want to take some precautions to diminish the chance of dried ink while it is in storage. But perhaps you have done that?

 

[fish]

Thank all of you for your help. This is what makes this forum great! I'm happy to report that I found the culprit wrapped around some of the gears that drive the rollers and was able to remove it. I'll now box up my oringinal MP640 and set it asside for any future mishaps.

Osage,
If you'll look in my signature you'll see that I already have a mono laser printer. It's a Brother HL2140. Paid $50 on sale at Office Depot. Great investment for text only pages.

Mowerman90,
Since you refill your cartridges, the Brother HL2140 should be a snap to refill the toner. I also refill my Canons (MX850 and 9000) with Image Specialist inks from Mikling and toner for my Brother 2170 (wireless version of your printer). Great results so far.

 

[Mowerman90]

I'll now box up my oringinal MP640 and set it asside for any future mishaps.

Glad to hear you found the source of the problem.

Just to check ... you will be using what was the backup MP640 as your "primary"? ... and the original MP640 will be its backup?

Something I'm wondering ... is the original MP640 print-head in a clean condition (the one that is being set aside)? I'm a relative inkjet newbie, but I would think you'd want to take some precautions to diminish the chance of dried ink while it is in storage. But perhaps you have done that?

Yes, you are correct. The original will now be the new backup and the backup will be the new original. I simply moved the original printhead to the backup and still have the backups printhead in it's unopened foil pouch.

Fish,
I don't refill toner carts as I can get rebuilt ones from http://www.supermediastore.com/ for $24.99 with free shipping and so far they've worked perfectly for me.