HP printer envelope jam

cinque8 · 12 Mar 2021

Hello,

I have a HP Officejet 4500 Desktop printer. My printer prints letter size paper with no problems. But if I vertically insert an envelope into the paper tray, the envelope jams. Previously, my printer would print envelopes with no problems. I have looked inside the front and the back of the printer, but I do not see any paper jams. I have run HP Print and Scan Doctor, but that doesn't solve the problem. I have turned the printer off and back on, but that doesn't work either. Can anyone tell me why my envelopes are jamming? I am running Windows 10.

Thank you

PenPusher · 12 Mar 2021

Are you feeding it in long edge or short edge? I always use short edge as it gives the drive belts plenty to grip on to.
Have you cleaned the drive belts? they get quite dusty therefore losing grip during transport.

cinque8 · 12 Mar 2021

I think I use the short edge. I insert the envelope vertically. What is the best way to clean the drive belts. Are we talking about those rubber rollers?

Thank you

PenPusher · 12 Mar 2021

Use plain water using lint free cloth, carefully wiping a bit at a time.

Berton · 12 Mar 2021

I have an HP LaserJet M148dw and an HP OfficeJet Pro 8620, both have the trays marked as to insert envelopes end first and to adjust the guides. Both are exhibiting the jamming and I think it's because the last shorter/standard envelopes [versus the larger size] I acquired at a super store are somewhat thinner/lighter than what I had previously gotten from an office store. Also occasionally noted on the LaserJet with 2 or more envelopes stacked in the tray it would pull 2 through at the same time.

PenPusher · 12 Mar 2021

Having worked in the printing trade (Offset Litho) for 35yrs and in pre-press (Apple Macs), I can safely say the worst thing you can put in any home printer would be recycled paper. It's very dusty/metal shards and this gets on all the transport rollers causing them to slip (not Gripping), so I regularly wipe all tapes and rubber rollers with just distilled water (best) or boiled tap water (if you cant get the former). I use Hp or Canon paper.. ok it's expensive but at least it's dust free.

If you're getting more than 1 sheet/Envelope being pulled through then you need to get new "Separators" fitted/installed as these get worn down.

cinque8 · 12 Mar 2021

Thank you for the information PenPusher and Berton.

I will certainly give this a try!

Try3 · 12 Mar 2021

And, whilst TenForums is fantastic, do have a nose around or post in the HP forums
- There's a link on HP support pages
- HP forums search page

In your case I'd suggest two sets of searches
- HP Officejet 4500 jam
- envelope jam

Best of luck,
Denis

cinque8 · 12 Mar 2021

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ! ! !

I have had this problem for over a year. My printer is so old, that I was going to toss it and buy a new one. But as a very last resort, I decided to try your suggestions. And to my utter surprise, it printed the envelope.

I now feel like a HP printer technician!

I had previously posted this question in the HP Community forum, but if they gave me the answer, I missed it.

Thank you again,

And be safe!

Try3 · 12 Mar 2021

cinque8 said:

But as a very last resort, I decided to try your suggestions. And to my utter surprise, it printed the envelope.

Please would you post exactly what you did so other users landing on this thread in the future can understand what it was that worked.

cinque8 said:

I had previously posted this question in the HP Community forum, but if they gave me the answer, I missed it.

I get email notifications when HP forum questions have replies.
I did add HP.com to my [online] email account's safe sender's list so it would not get ditched as junk mail.

All the best,
Denis

TenForumsTutorialIndex is worth bookmarking.