tiny black spots on paper

[Pam Jensen]

We are getting black spots along the left side of our print copies. It is random and not on every copy. It seems to happen when we use the feeder to print.

[DavidZuts]

You do not tell us the model so I do not know what you mean by feeder.

[razzer]

also,are they random scattered dots,or uniform equal distant?

[Pam Jensen]

Sorry about that. It is HP Laserjet 4240/n.
From what I can tell it looks like the dots maybe on the area where the paper goes through a roller.
I did do a cleaning twice but it didn't help.
The markings are 1/2 way down the page and 1/4 way down the page on thel left side of the paper. And always when we run it through the feeder.
It also seems to happen more when we use our letterhead paper which is a higher quality then the plain paper.

Thanks for any assistance.

[razzer]

if it was a cartridge or fyser,then i would think that it would happen when printing from any tray.if you mean that it only happens when printing from tray 1/manual feed.

there is'nt a long run from the tray 1 feed path to where it shares the rest of the components with the path from the rest of the trays.mainly the tray 1 pickup roller.though the other tray paths come up from underneath when entering the registration.

being on the left side there,it almost sounds like something that can occur when a pickup roller pulls on it a bit to the side if it is worn or the paper is a bit out of skew.does the tray 1 pickup roller look worn?i assume you tried to clean it,though have you tried to replace it?it could be that the paper is sometimes hitting something on the way in ,causing it to go out of skew a bit and the registration rollers are catching it while straightening it out.or possibly it is not set straight sometimes when loaded in tray 1.also the paper properties and moisture level may be affecting it.

if you use the higher quality paper from the lower trays;it is ok?

[Pam Jensen]

Paper comes out through the lower tray with out any spots. I did the type of cleaning where it runs a blank piece of paper through. I have not tried to open and clean any parts.

I will try to do that next.
Thank you for the quick response.

[razzer]

you probably would want to clean it some by hand.the general paper path,the pickup roller,and registration rollers.use maybe some pure water;or some soapy water on the rollers.

[Pam Jensen]

Thanks. I did clean with a cleaning cloth we have for our copier and it came back very dirty. I opened section 4 & 5 to clean a black roller and white roller.

The spots and smudges n the paper were worse after that. It is now showing spots on the paper coming through tray 2.

I will use water and/or soapy water. Is there a manual on this website that I can pull up on how to remove the rollers and clean them? I looked for instructions and could not find.

[razzer · Accepted solution]

from what you are saying ,that it got worse after some cleaning,then it sounds like there is some excess toner in the path for sure.probably toward the registration inlet area.since the tray 1 pickup roller is in center.

though if you open the tray 1 door and pop off the envelope feeder accessory cover ,then you can get good access to the tray 1 pickup roller.

the registration would be a bit of a process to get out,so generally you would take out the cartridge and just lift the registration guide underneath it and clean it out as best as you can.on the sides in there also.afterward ,run some prints and give it a bit of time to clear up.it can be a bit tedious wiping around in the tight spaces.

[Pam Jensen]

problem fixed! thankyou.