HP Laserjet 8000 Envelope Printing Problem

[whatsinaname]

We have an HP8000 printer that is moving the text down approximately 3/4" when printing an envelope. Instead of the return address being at the top left corner and the address being in the middle of the envelope, they both are moved down(when looking at the envelope) approximately 3/4". Since the envelopes are fed sideways, the printer is moving the print to the left side (when facing tray 1) of the printer. This happens regardless of what PC the envelope is printed from. If it was a feed problem, I'd expect the data to be unreadable or skewed in some way, but it's not.

 

[TCouch]

And I'm assuming you have tray 1 paper size set to Com10?

One thing you can try is to feed a standard sheet of paper, and send an envelope print to that. See if the image is where it should be on the letter size paper. Because lead edge, is lead edge, on both the paper and envelope. So, in theory, the print should be the same on both letter paper, and the envelope. If there is a feed problem with the envelope, and not the paper. ie the envelope is thicker, since its folded, it may feed into the printer late, but not late enough to cause a jam message or skew problem at the registration assy.

Timothy N. Couch
A1 Printech
Anchorage, AK

 

[whatsinaname]

Tray 1 paper size is set to COM10. This is shown on the display panel when the envelope prints. I fed a sheet of paper instead of an envelope, and the text prints in the same location as on the envelope. I'm thinking of resetting the printer to factory defaults and seeing if the text prints in the proper location. Using JetAdmin, everything looks OK.

 

[TCouch]

The other option you have is to do a cold reset. The only thing you need to do is remove the JetDirect card if you have one in the printer. You perform this by powering off the printer. Holding the green Go Button, and power on the printer. Sometimes, the Restore Factory Defaults from the menus do a good enough job. I always do Cold Resets if I need to restore original settings.

Have you checked the registration? What does the print out on other paper look like? Is the image lower than it should be, or is it correct? It may not be a registration or printer issue if normal paper prints fine (not talking about your envelope test on regular paper). Put some letter paper in tray 1 and print a configuration page. The Config page has a line border. If this border is square to the edges of the page, and close to being centered on the page, I would think it's not a printer issue.

Timothy N. Couch
A1 Printech
Anchorage, AK

 

[whatsinaname]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll try them in the morning and get back to you.

 

[whatsinaname]

I reset the printer, and the envelopes still have their test shifted down by about 3/4". I also printed out the configuration page, and the border is almost perfectly centered. It looks like you're right about it not being a printer issue. Why this printer has a problem with printing envelopes from Word, and our other 8100's don't is beyond me. Thanks for your all of your help. I'm going to look into Word and see if there are any instances of this happening.

 

[TCouch]

I couldn't image that the printers registration rollers would allow paper into the printer at the correct time, but allow the envelopes to enter early. (because you said the images are down lower than they should be, which indicates the paper is at the transfer roller too soon) I am still suspecting that it's not a printer issue, but more of a setting in word that you're most likely not seeing. Probably going to be one of those settings that when you find it, you know that it's the cause.

But still, on the off hand it could be the registration roller, have you removed the registration assy and looked at the rollers?

I've been working on an 8100 and it's having it's own envelope printing issues. The 8100 I'm working on will feen regular paper from tray 1 just fine, and print looks great. But it's skewing the envelopes feed, and by the time it makes it to the fuser, its moved skewed enough to wrinkle the envelope and cause some areas not to fuse. So, I'm replacing the Reg Assy on that one.

Timothy N. Couch
A1 Printech
Anchorage, AK


Timothy N. Couch

 

[whatsinaname]

I'll check the registration assembly and get back to you.

Thanks!