Help! There are noises coming from my printer!

Help! There are noises coming from my printer!

(Submitted by Tim Shiver)

There are several types of noises that may come from your printer or copier from time to time, most of which will need to be addressed by a professional. Keep in mind that some of these noises may only occur while using certain functions of your device such as when scanning, making two-sided copies, using the hole punch, stapling, or when using paper from a particular paper source (bypass, top cassette, or bottom cassette). Sometimes possibly even the type of paper can cause your device to make a sound that is not usual.

Whenever you experience these unusual noises, make sure that when you place a service call you let your technical professional know the functions involved when the sound was heard. This added information will prepare them to better service your printer or copier when they arrive. Also, until the problem is resolved, it is best to limit your use of the affected functions.

Let’s explore some of the types of noises and how to address them:

  • Grinding noises are the worst for your device’s health as this type of noise is caused by parts that are going bad and will need to be replaced as soon as possible. Because damage to your printer or copier can result, you should limit use of the device until this problem can be resolved by a technical professional.
  • Moaning noises are caused by parts that are typically made of rubber or nylon, which have become dried out. The affected parts will require the application of a lubricating powder or grease, which a technical professional will need to take care of for you.
  • Rattling noises are usually caused by parts or panels that are not secured properly. This may be a panel that is not fully closed or screws that have come loose due to the normal vibrations of your printer or copier during the day-to-day copying and printing processes. First, check your device to make sure that all the access doors are fully closed. If your device is still making noise after this step, please contact your technical professional for further diagnostics and/or possible service.
  • Squeaking noises are much like moaning noises in that they are caused by parts that require the application of lubrication. In this case, however, instead of rubber or nylon parts, the squeaking results from metal parts rubbing against each other. A technical professional will need to be called to resolve this issue, either to lubricate the affected parts or, depending on the amount of wear, to replace them.
  • Thumping noises are caused by parts which have developed “dead spots” in them. “Dead spots” are particularly worn-out areas of a part. This means that, as the part is rotating for its function, every time the dead spot comes in contact with its counterpart, then you will hear the thumping noise. The part that is worn will need to be replaced to resolve this issue. Therefore, a call to your technical professional will be necessary.

Hopefully this information was helpful in explaining some of the noises your printer or copier may produce and how to address them.

Share This Page

What are the top 5 copier features to save you time and money in your business?

What are the top 5 copier features to save you time and money in your business?

(Submitted by Wayne Parrish)

This week’s blog is going to focus on the top (5) copier features that will help you to save time and money in your business.

Those features are:

  1. Customizable User Interface
  2. Staple-less Stapling & Offline Stapling
  3. Enhanced Edit Preview
  4. Walk-up Proxy Sensor
  5. Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

 

  1. Customizable User Interface

With this feature, you can create a custom look as well as customized workflow buttons directly on the touchscreen interface on the copier!

Sharp multifunction devices have touchscreen user interfaces that are not only simple and intuitive to use, but also offers the ability for customers to create a custom background design with their logo or any other graphic that they choose. Additionally, the display has the flexibility to enable businesses to set up a custom menu which is configured specifically to the user’s document workflow. By including on this custom menu the buttons that correspond to the customer’s most commonly used functions, the user enjoys an expedited experience, saving time and thereby allowing the user to be more efficient in their workflow.

Finally, if there are certain functions that are repeatedly used in the customer’s document workflow, such as a complex scanning process or a specific copy/print function, then a custom button can be created for that purpose and named whatever the customer desires, such as “Nancy’s Receipt Scanning Process,” for example. The options are almost unlimited for this feature!

 

  1. Stapleless Stapling and Offline Stapling

Some multifunction devices include a finishing feature that is capable of a stapling method which uses pressure, instead of a metal staple, to bind pages together, up to 10 sheets at a time! The benefits include:

  • No need to remove staples for shredding
  • Cost-savings (since the customer doesn’t have to purchase staples)
  • Ecological benefits (no metal to worry about recycling)
  • Increased safety (For educational or other settings, there are no metal staples to cause injury or get snagged on.)

Other finishers for the multifunction device are also available which offer walk-up offline stapling. This allows a user to walk up to a machine, documents in hand, and staple on the fly without having to set a copy job that has the staple function included.

 

  1. Enhanced Edit Preview

With Sharp’s real-time scan preview and edit functions, you can save time and help reduce waste by correctly executing your copy or scan job the first time. Quickly rotate or delete pages, insert blank sheets, remove artifacts, change the color mode, even check the staple position before executing your job. 

The best part of this feature is that you can use it to quickly and easily redact a document that is being scanned or copied, and then send a copy of that redacted document to your email. No more whiting out or putting a blank page on top of the document to redact!

 

  1. Walk-up Proxy Sensor

Create an enhanced workflow experience with an integrated walk-up sensor that wakes up the multifunction device when it senses a user approaching. With a fast warm up time—less than 18 seconds—this feature saves not only time but also energy as the machine is in a low-power mode when not in use.

 

  1. Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

With this feature, users can either convert a scanned document into an editable document in popular Microsoft Office formats or create a variety of PDF formats from the scan.

Once a document is scanned, the copier can convert the scan into an editable document in either Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, or Excel formats.

In terms of PDF formats, scans can be used to create Searchable PDFs, Encrypted PDFs, Compact PDFs, and others.

A user can also directly print these same file types from a thumb drive, cloud applications, and mobile devices. (This function is enabled via DirectOfficeTM technology. With this much flexibility, you can speed through your workflow tasks faster than ever!

 

Want to learn even more about Sharp MFD features? We would be happy to assist you! Contact us to schedule a personalized demo with a member of our sales team.

Share This Page

How much energy does my copier use?

How much energy does my copier use?

(Submitted by Chip Turner)

The answer to the question of how much energy a copier uses is determined by so many variables but there are six basic costs that make up the electricity costs for operating a copier. The information provided in this blog post is based on a newer BP-70C45 (45 page per minute) Sharp color copier. However, these costs would likely be similar to other comparable ENERYSTAR 3 compliant copiers.

6 Basic Copier Energy Costs:

  1. The power costs when in use = 1500 watts
    (This refers to the copier’s maximum power consumption when it is producing copies and prints, with the fusing unit energized.)
  2. The power cost when in ready mode = 95 watts
    (This refers to when the start key on the copier is green indicating that the device is ready for use. This current power usage represents a nearly 70% reduction when compared to the MX-4071 model.)
  3. The power cost when in pre-heat mode = 53 watts
    (At this point, the fusing temperature is lowered putting the device in a low-consumption state).
  4. The power cost in sleep mode = .20 watts
    (In sleep mode, typically the device’s touchscreen panel will be turned off or will be darkened and the fuser heating will be minimized or shut off.)
  5. The power cost while the device is plugged into an outlet, but turned off = .20 watts
  6. The final power cost
    (This final cost is determined by the affect of the heat generated by the device(s) on the customers AC system. For more detailed data, a customer may wish to contact an HVAC professional to conduct a heat load calculation for their office space.)

To our clients, we recommend maximizing the adjustable energy-save settings on their device(s) while still making their office efficient. Although there is little that can be done by the end-user to save energy when the copier is in use and making copies, the real energy savings can be capitalized on by shifting how swiftly the machine can go into preheat and sleep modes and the duration of the recovery from the sleep mode. From a power savings perspective, having the device set to fall asleep the quickest and then elongating the recovery time will maximize power savings. These settings are customizable based on the customer’s preferences.

Another desirable power-saving feature that some copiers have is what is sometimes referred to as a “walk-up” or human sensor. This sensor will begin the warmup process as soon as it detects someone walking up to the copier. On the BP-70C45 Sharp device, the maximum recovery time is 18 seconds. With the human sensor, that time shrinks as the user walks up as opposed to the device having to wait for a user to strike a key to wake.

The final power savings can come from the reduced amount of heat produced by the device. Many newer devices have reformulated toner that has a much lower melt temperature and, along with redesigned fusing methods that allow for a much faster temperature recovery, produce much less heat that previously possible. Because of the lower melting point of the toner, all modes from ready to sleep mode have significantly less heat generated which equates to less demand on the customers air conditioning system.  As a secondary benefit, the reduced heat improves reliability and extends part life.

All these little changes can save you money and have a positive environmental impact. Feel free to ask your service representative what your options are and together you can come up with the perfect balance between costs savings and office efficiency.

RITE Technology is committed to providing products that support our customer’s environmental sustainability goals. Download this informative PDF to learn more about how Sharp products not only save you money by being more energy-efficient, but also help to preserve the environment.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Share This Page

What additional costs could I expect to see on my copier contract? (Part 2)

What additional costs could I expect to see on my copier contract? (Part 2)

(Submitted by Gareth Stevenson) In last week’s blog we covered the (5) additional costs of administrative fees, transitional billing, property tax, toner shipping fees, and insurance costs. In this week’s blog, we are going to cover (5) additional costs that you may see on your contract when leasing a copier or multifunction device (MFD). Those additional charges may include:
  1. Contract Overages
  2. Name Change Fee
  3. Remote Support Billing
  4. Staples
  5. Additional Billing for Service
1. Contract Overages Typically, when you agree to a contract for a copier, this contract includes a service proviso for the leased or purchased device and includes a contracted base amount of copies, either monochrome, color, or both. When you exceed this contracted base amount, then you can expect to pay overages. The overage charges can vary dependent on the age of your device, promotional deals, etc. There are ways to use rules and reporting to assist with managing overages, such as:
  • Account Codes – These codes can be used to limit the amount of color prints allowed or to provide reporting of prints, whether color or monochrome.
  • 3rd Party Print Management Tools – Ex. Papercut.
2. Name Change Fee Some leasing providers charge a small fee for any business name changes. This fee can range from free up to $100.00. 3. Remote Support Billing Remote support for assistance with print drivers, scanning issues, etc. is more often than not included in your contract, but could have yearly limits on use. If you don’t have remote support included in your contract, then you will receive an additional bill with a per-hour charge for any service calls that you place. The per-hour charges can vary from $150.00 – $250 per hour, depending on the provider. 4. Staples Staples are not typically included in most contracts, apart from some government contracts. In commercial contracts, if they are not included in the contract, then they are added as a chargeable item. In those cases, the price for this add-on can vary from $50.00 – $100.00 per box of 10,000 staples. 5. Additional Billing for Service Some organizations offer different types of service contracts, but the most common contract is an “All-Inclusive Contract” that includes everything except the paper and staples. Other contracts, like those listed below, may incur additional charges to the customer.
  • A. Basic Contract:
    • Includes parts and supplies only
    • No toner, developer, or drum included
    • Other additional charges may apply
  • B. Mono Toner:
    • Monochromatic toner and all monochromatic toner parts and supplies are included
    • Additional charges for color toner
  • C. No Service Contract:
    • Service calls are billed on a per-call basis with charges ranging from $150 per hour plus the cost of parts, labor, and travel time
If you have any additional questions regarding contract charges, please let us know. We would be happy to assist you!

Share This Page

How do I print envelopes on my copier?

How do I print envelopes on my copier?

(Submitted by Scott Sawyer)

Most copiers are designed to print on a wide variety of media, including envelopes. However, because envelopes can come in different thicknesses and paper types, it is important to ensure that the machine knows what type of envelopes you are loading into the machine.

The following directions are for how to print envelopes on a Sharp copier:
Loading the envelopes into the machine:

  • Envelopes can be loaded up to 50 sheets or the height of the indicator line in Tray 1.
  • Load the paper with the copy and print side facing up.
  • The maximum number of sheets (50) may not exceed the indicator line.
  • Envelopes with triangular flaps cannot be used in tray 1.
  • Within the continental United States, the standard envelope sizes are A4, A5, and Comm 6-14. Depending on where you live, other envelope sizes may be available.

Cautions when placing envelopes:

  • Remove curling
  • Ensure envelopes are flat, containing no air
  • Ensure the four folded edges are pressed flat (for items with flaps, three edges)
  • Align on a flat surface

To check the type and size of paper:

  • Select [Tray Settings] in the home screen
  • -OR- in [Settings], select [Status] → [Machine Identification] → [Paper Input Tray Status].

To set the type and size of paper:

  • Set this in [Tray Settings] in the home screen
  • -OR- in [Settings] → [System Settings] → [Common Settings] → [Paper Settings] → [Paper Tray Settings].
  • Additionally, you can use the bypass tray for printing on envelopes 20 sheets at a time.

Important points when using envelopes:

  • Do not print the rear surface (the side with adhesive) of the envelope. This may result in misfeeds or poor print quality.
  • Some operating environments may cause creasing, smudging, misfeeds, poor toner fusing, or machine failure.
  • Fold the flap of the envelope and make a sharp crease at the fold. A misfeed may occur if the flap is up.
  • When placing multiple envelopes, if the print surface is not fed flat, but is instead being fed on an angle, then the envelopes may not feed properly.
  • Items that have 4 or more sheets in the envelope to be adhered cannot be fed.
  • Feeding of thick envelopes may not be possible.
  • Feeding of envelopes with uneven surfaces may not be possible.
  • Feeding of the following types of envelopes is not recommended:
    • Envelopes with a metal piece, a plastic hook, or a ribbon hook
    • Envelopes that use a string for closing
    • Envelopes with a window*
    • Envelopes with a lining*
    • Envelopes with an uneven surface or those finished with titling or embossing
    • Hand-made envelopes
    • Envelopes containing air inside
    • Envelopes damaged with a crease, fold mark, or tear
    • Envelopes for which the surface has deteriorated or deformed due to prolonged storage or moisture absorption

(*Use of lined envelopes and envelopes that use adhesives or other composites for sealing are not advised as the heat from the fusing unit may cause these linings, adhesives, or other composite substances to melt, possibly damaging the device.)

Restrictions may apply to the use of additional types of envelopes. For more information, please consult a qualified service technician before printing.

Share This Page

What is AV and how can it help my business?

What is AV and how can it help my business?

(Submitted by Lamar Brantley)

At RITE Technology we are embracing digital transformation by offering a wide range of Professional A/V (Audio Visual) solutions so that we can best serve the evolving needs of our clients.

Although we have many years of experience selling interactive displays, like many other Sharp dealers, AQUOS BOARD® display systems are only a small component in an effective A/V strategy.  Remote meetings have become widely accepted as a method of communication across most industries. As such, the needs of many customers have grown far beyond simple displays or interactive whiteboards. Here at RITE Technology, we have chosen to invest into this area of digital technology by constructing a client experience center as well as sourcing the technical expertise to drive the success of this division. We have discovered ways to help our customers use A/V technology to not only increase productivity in their workplace, but also to enhance their company culture.  A display that has a primary purpose of hosting virtual meetings can serve a multitude of additional functions. For example, the use of digital signage solutions will allow our clients to announce birthdays, work anniversaries, or even play new employee welcome videos.

In the video you will see that we have a variety of types and sizes of displays in our Client Experience Center. We have a large format DVLED that we can drive content to from multiple platforms or sources. This capability includes screen-sharing hardware, cameras, digital signage, as well as content from a PC. We have two AQUOS BOARD® interactive displays setup so that they can be used either as (1) one contiguous screen using a SHUTTLE PC or they can be used as (2) two separate displays showing individual content being sent either through our control system in-house. We also have a HUDDLE station that is setup with both screen-casting gear as well as an all-in-one camera/mic/speaker bar for doing quick and easy remote meetings. You’ll also notice in the video that we have a PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera on our wall that can be used for virtual meetings on any of the displays. Speaking of company culture, our Client Experience Center includes the RITE Technology golf simulator. Believe me when I say it is one of the highlights of the room for all of us duffers around here.

Our experience center has paved the way for us to earn several opportunities from both current our customers and prospects. One of the opportunities is an A/V solution that we created for a large athletic facility that will include multiple displays and a sound system, all of which will be supported by a control system that will provide the customer the ability to send any video source in their system to any display throughout the facility.  This opportunity for the first location has now expanded to include 15 additional locations all around the state of Florida. 

An additional aspect of our own RITE Technology facility design was to include two separate conference areas that each incorporate different A/V solutions. These configurations allow us to host virtual meetings between these areas so that when our clients visit us in-house, they can compare the various levels of product experience between the two rooms. By allowing our clients to experience the various levels of hardware and software before they make a buying decision, we can have more intelligent and fact-based dialogue on which of our solutions will be the best for each customer’s individual needs. These customer experiences also enable us to overcome some of the pricing objections that would otherwise have been subjective.  Lastly, the experience center aids us in setting clear expectations for the video and sound quality that the customer will experience post-install.

One aspect of our business that A/V has changed is the presence of “emotion” for the buyer. We often engage the client in conversation that causes them to view their business differently.  Our goal is to expand the customer’s point of view about what can be done digitally to enhance their businesses.  From this initial strategy meeting in our experience center, we then design and engineer a solution that accommodates the customer’s current and future plans as businesses continue to evolve in this post-pandemic era.

Bottom line for RITE is that this endeavor has opened a multitude of opportunities to earn new business in AV and our other core business offerings!

Share This Page