220-1101 Question 348
Single answerMultipart paperA warehouse uses a dot-matrix printer to print 3-part shipping forms so the customer, driver, and accounting office each receive a copy. Users report that only the top sheet is readable while the lower copies are too faint. The printer feeds the forms correctly and the ribbon was replaced last week. Which action should the technician take FIRST to improve print quality on all copies?
- A
Increase the printer's paper thickness or platen gap setting for multipart forms
- B
Replace the transfer roller because multipart paper requires laser-printing pressure
- C
Switch the printer to simplex mode so it prints each copy separately
- D
Change the paper source to the manual feed tray to reduce ribbon drag
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Multipart paper is typically used with impact printers such as dot-matrix models because the print head physically strikes the ribbon and paper, allowing text to appear on multiple layers. When the top sheet is acceptable but lower copies are faint, technicians should first verify printer settings for multipart forms, such as paper thickness, print-head gap, or platen adjustment, depending on the model. This aligns with standard manufacturer guidance for impact printers: match the print mechanism to the media thickness before replacing additional parts. Ribbon condition matters, but in this scenario it was already replaced, making the media/thickness setting the most appropriate first step.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Dot-matrix printers are commonly used with multipart paper because their impact mechanism can strike through multiple layers. If lower copies are too faint even after ribbon replacement, the first adjustment should be the paper thickness, head gap, or platen setting so the print head is configured for thicker multipart media. This is a standard operational adjustment for impact printers handling carbon or carbonless multi-part forms.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A transfer roller is a laser printer component and is not relevant to a dot-matrix printer. Multipart forms are typically handled by impact printers, not by laser printers using transfer rollers. This distractor targets confusion between printer technologies.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Simplex mode refers to single-sided printing versus duplex printing and does not address faint impressions on lower sheets of multipart paper. The issue is print impact through multiple layers, not whether both sides of a page are printed.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Manual feed may help with unusual paper sizes or special media alignment, but it does not directly increase impact force or improve legibility on lower copies of multipart forms. The reported symptom points to thickness/head-gap configuration rather than feed source.