How do I access and download the Operation Guide from my copier’s panel screen?

How do I access and download the Operation Guide from my copier’s panel screen?

(Submitted by Scott Sawyer)

Many copiers and printers are no longer delivered with a hardcopy paper operation guide or user guide. Manufacturers have chosen not to include this documentation with their machines for a variety of reasons, some being environmental impact or cost savings. Sharp has made it very easy for users to get the answers to any operational questions that they may have by providing access to the operation guide directly through the panel of the machine.

To display the operation guide, begin by pressing the “Operation Guide” key in the home screen on the touch panel. (Figure 1.0)


Figure 1.0

The “About this manual” button of the operation guide provides a choice of options: either how to use the manual or explanations of common functions on the machine, such as how to load the paper properly. (Figures 2.0 – 2.3)


Figure 2.0


Figure 2.1


Figure 2.2


Figure 2.3

The “TOP” button in the operation guide provides access to brief explanations of how to use the machine. (Figure 3.0)


Figure 3.0

You can use the “By view” button to access a touch screen where you can select various parts of the machine to view an explanation of that part. (Figure 4.0)


Figure 4.0

Touching the “By use” button will bring up the following screen where you can choose to learn more about specific functions of the machine based on common uses. (Figure 5.0)


Figure 5.0

The “Loading paper” button is a quicker alternative to using the “Explanations” menu under the “About” button. Here you can learn about the types and sizes of paper that can be used in your machine, as well as how to properly load the paper into the machine so as to prevent jamming. (Figure 6.0)


Figure 6.0

The “Maintenance” button offers a few options to learn about common maintenance procedures that you may need to perform on the machine, unless you have a service contract which would handle those needs for you. (Figure 7.0)


Figure 7.0

Lastly, if you would like to have a copy of the Operation Guide on your computer, then you can press the “Downloading and printing manuals” button in the upper right-hand corner of the touchscreen which will bring you to the following screen. (Figure 8.0) From here, you may choose to download additional manuals, such as the Quick Start Guide, or download the Operation Guide. (Figures 8.1 – 8.2)


Figure 8.0


Figure 8.1


Figure 8.2

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What is a print driver and what does it do?

What is a print driver and what does it do?

(Submitted by Joe Sanchez)

Have you ever wondered what exactly IS a print driver? A print driver is software that allows your computer to interact with your printer. The driver translates instructions sent from your operating system or application software so that your printer can understand them, allowing the printer to respond properly—i.e., print your jobs correctly.

There are many different types of operating systems such as Windows, DOS, and iOS, for example. There is also a wide variety of printers such as Sharp, Ricoh, and HP, to name a few. To allow such a vast array of software and hardware to communicate, there needs to be a translator between the two. The print driver serves this purpose.

Technically, the print driver converts your document into a Page Description Language (PDL) that your printer can read. These languages describe the content on a page and how that content is arranged. Therefore, when your page is printed, it looks the same as it did in the application that you created it in.

 

Another task that the print driver handles is the print settings. This is a setting, or a group of settings, that you have selected as a preferred default for all your documents. For example, if you only want to print in black and white versus in color, or if you want to print on both sides of the paper versus one-sided. By pre-selecting these settings, you ensure that all your documents will be printed the way that you want every time. However, these default print settings can still be easily changed with each individual print job just in case you are working on something that needs to be printed in a different format.

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of print drivers and their purpose. If you have further questions, feel free to contact us using the form on our Contact Us page.

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As a customer, when I place a service call, what can I expect?

As a customer, when I place a service call, what can I expect?

(Submitted by Wayne Parrish)

During the normal course of business, it may be necessary to place a service call with your office technology provider. When placing that service call, it is important that the service call be placed with the service company and not with the sales account executive. Although your sales account executive would like to be available for ALL your business needs, there are times when they may be otherwise occupied, either assisting another client or performing a demo with a prospective new client. We would not want your service need to be delayed based on a sales account executive not being able to take or place a service call for you in a timely fashion.

Once the service call is placed, typically either via a phone call or a submittal through a web portal, it is reviewed by a service or helpdesk team member. At that point, the team member determines if the use of a remote call might be able to address the issue for the client faster than sending a technician onsite to their business. If, however, a remote call is not advisable, and a technician is needed onsite, then the service request is placed in a queue to expedite the service need as quickly as possible.

In most cases, a technician should arrive onsite within a 2–4-hour timeframe of the service call being placed, or at least the same day, depending on the severity of the call and the service team’s number of calls ahead of yours.

When the technician arrives at your place of business, before they begin inspecting the device, you should expect some sort of communication between them and a member of your team regarding the service need. After the technician has discussed the service need with your team member, then they will begin to inspect and run diagnostics on the device to determine the cause of the issue and possible courses of action.

Generally, technicians should carry a decent number of parts in their vehicles and should be able to address the service needs on the first call. Although, there are times that a rare part is needed and will have to be ordered and replaced at a later date.

After the call has been completely resolved, some dealerships may send out a survey to the client requesting feedback on the service call so that the service provider may know how the call went and if there are any additional issues that need to be addressed.

Please be aware that many companies record all service calls. Finally, customers should have the option to request a service history report or business review of their account that should show important items including the following:

  • Average service call response time for their account and any calls placed
  • Average first call fix percentage
  • Uptime percentages for their system or fleet of systems
  • Number of service tickets per device
  • Surveys that their company may have filled out

Still have questions about service calls? Feel free to reach out and we would be more than happy to answer any further questions that you may have.

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What is causing these lines on my pages?

What is causing these lines on my pages?

(Submitted by Tim Shiver)

If you have ever experienced lines on the pages that you have printed or copied from your copier, then you know the frustration that comes from not knowing the cause of those devious lines.

There are a few factors that can cause lines on your copy or print jobs. In the case of copy jobs, one of the most common causes for lines on the printout is the presence of dirt or other debris on the originals that are being scanned. For example, ink that has not yet dried on your pages, white out debris, or even paper dust can result in unwanted lines on the completed print. Lines resulting from these causes can be resolved by user maintenance to clear the scanning bed of any loose debris as well as waiting until the ink has completely dried on your original before proceeding to make additional copies.

Another reason that you may be seeing lines is because additional maintenance may need to be performed on your copier or printer. Examples of this kind of maintenance could include replacement of worn drums, fuser rollers, or any other dirty or worn parts in the machine that may need to be cleaned or replaced by a trained service professional.

If you are not certain as to the cause of your issue, then a quick troubleshooting tip to try is to print something from your computer. If you see lines, then it’s time to call in the service professional to perform routine maintenance. During that maintenance, the technician should be able to diagnose and resolve the problem by either thorough cleaning or replacing any parts that have worn out due to normal wear-and-tear.

If your printouts from your computer do not contain any lines, then the next step would be to either scan something to your computer (if your printer has that ability) or make a copy of an original from the multi-page scanner on your device. If your copies have lines here, then a closer inspection of your original and the scanning bed are needed. At this point, you may be able to determine the cause of the problem and be able to resolve it without needing to place a service call.

If you determine that the cause is a dirty scanning bed, please follow the steps below to thoroughly clean the scanning bed without damaging it:

Step 1: Lift your multi-page scanner (as if to make a single page copy from the copier’s glass option). Once open you will notice two different pieces of glass: one of them large and one that is about 1”-2” wide which runs the length of the copier from front to back.

Step 2: Clean the thin strip of glass by first spraying some Windex on a soft cloth material and then wiping the glass with the cloth. Additionally, sometimes an alcohol wipe will be needed to remove any stubborn debris. After a thorough cleaning, the lines should be resolved or at least improved. If they only improved, then attempt the cleaning again until the desired results are achieved.

Hopefully the tips provided in this blog post will increase your productivity by helping you to keep your valuable equipment in top-running condition.

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I’m experiencing paper jams. What could be causing it and is there anything I can do to avoid it?

I’m experiencing paper jams. What could be causing it and is there anything I can do to avoid it?

(Submitted by Jeff Ziel)

Primary causes of paper jamming:

  1. Paper Quality:

    One of the reasons for paper jamming in a copy machine could be caused by the paper itself. Low-quality paper can cause jams due to static buildup, excessive paper curl, or low-quality materials used to make the paper. We recommend using a high-quality paper brand such as Hammermill or Boise to cut back on paper jams.

  2. Paper setting and improper loading*:

    In this case, the paper in your multifunction device will jam if any of the following apply:

    • not loaded or secured properly
    • overfilled capacity
    • paper type setting does not match the actual paper type (i.e.., cardstock, labels, envelope, glossy

      *NOTE:       Most copiers have an auto size-detect feature for paper SIZE ONLY. This tells the copier what size of paper is in the tray. If this feature is not available and the size or orientation of the paper is incorrect, then jamming may also occur. No copier can detect the TYPE of paper being used. This must be changed manually by the user under the paper settings.

     

  3. Worn or dirty rollers:

    In both cases a factory-certified technician will need to inspect and determine if cleaning or replacement of the roller is needed. As part of RITE Technology’s preventative maintenance checklist and to minimize paper jamming, our technicians inspect, clean, or replace rollers on every service visit regardless of the original problem.

  4. Obstructions in paper path*:

    During the process of removing a paper jam, it is important to remove the entire sheet of paper. Any ripped pieces that remain in the machine will certainly obstruct the flow of paper and cause it to jam. Other common obstructions found are paper clips and staples. These are typically found in the top document feeder and should always be removed from the copier so that they do not fall inside the machine.

    *NOTE: Obstructions and paper should ONLY be removed by hand. The use of tools to assist (such as a letter opener) could cause severe damage to delicate parts inside the machine.

  5. Defective or dirty components:

    This would include sensors, motors, clutches, bearings, belts, circuit board, or gears. A factory-certified technician will need to inspect and assess which component has failed. Then the technician would either clean or replace the failed component. After the part has been replaced, a thorough test run would be executed to ensure that the jamming issue has been resolved.

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