[comp.sys.apple2] Imagewriter II tractor feed

ART100@psuvm.psu.edu (Andy Tefft) (11/21/90)

Has anyone figured out how to deal with the surprisingly lousy
tractor feed mechanism on the IWII? Mine jams up on me if I print
a few pages in draft mode. The paper tends to hang up on the
left side of the platen where the paper detect switch is.
If I use heaver paper it happens less often. I also am constantly
adjusting the alignment to make sure the paper is feeding evenly
and smoothly. I used to have the tractors spread to kind of
keep the paper taut between the spools but apparently that isn't
helping. I'm trying to have the tractors closer together now
to see if that helps. I also have noticed that when loading
the paper it helps to have the tractor/friction feed lever
halfway between the two settings till the paper gets under the paper
bail.

The problem seems to be worse now than it used to be, although
it has always been touchy. Is there anything else that might
help besides using heavier paper (I have a big box of really cheap
thin paper which is much more economical tor printing out rough
stuff; I use nice single-sheet paper for important stuff with
no problems.

gwyn@smoke.brl.mil (Doug Gwyn) (11/21/90)

In article <90324.132804ART100@psuvm.psu.edu> ART100@psuvm.psu.edu (Andy Tefft) writes:
>Has anyone figured out how to deal with the surprisingly lousy
>tractor feed mechanism on the IWII? Mine jams up ...

I haven't had any problems EXECPT when the paper supply is under excessive
tension (like, caught on something) or if I stupidly forget to put the
platen pressure roller lever (on the back of the right platen knob area)
in the free-wheeling position.

jeff@pro-avalon.cts.com (Jeff Jungblut) (11/22/90)

In-Reply-To: message from ART100@psuvm.psu.edu

Check and see that the bar with rollers that goes across the platen is pushed
down and back against the paper.  If it's not snugly against the platen, it
jams up in the back all the time.

-- jeff@pro-avalon

UUCP: crash!pro-avalon!jeff
ARPA: crash!pro-avalon!jeff@nosc.mil
INET: jeff@pro-avalon.cts.com

daveharv@pro-novapple.cts.com (Dave Harvey (SysAdmin)) (11/27/90)

In-Reply-To: message from ART100@psuvm.psu.edu

There's a free upgrade from your Apple Dealer to correct this problem.  You
must have one of the earlier models that used a mechanical paper sensor.  The
new IWII's use an optical paper sensor and if you take your printer back to
your Apple dealer he will replace the mechanical sensor with the optical one.
 
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