220-1101 Question 461
Single answerMultipage misfeedA user reports that a laser printer frequently pulls two or three sheets at a time from the main paper tray, causing paper jams and skewed print jobs. The paper is the correct size and type for the tray, and the printer works normally once a single sheet is fed manually. After verifying the paper guides are adjusted correctly, which component should the technician inspect and replace first?
- A
Transfer roller
- B
Pickup roller
- C
Fuser assembly
- D
Print head
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
This scenario describes a classic multipage misfeed: the printer is pulling several sheets from the tray at once. In A+ Core 1 troubleshooting, the most likely cause is a worn or contaminated pickup mechanism, especially the pickup roller, and in some models the separation pad as well. Since the question asks which component to inspect and replace first after ruling out paper size, type, and guide issues, the pickup roller is the most appropriate answer. Manufacturer service documentation for laser printers commonly identifies worn feed rollers and separation components as primary causes of multi-sheet feeding, while transfer rollers and fusers relate to image transfer and toner bonding rather than initial paper pickup.
- A. Incorrect.
The transfer roller is responsible for helping move toner from the drum to the paper in many laser printers. Problems with the transfer roller can cause print quality issues such as light or uneven output, but it does not typically cause the printer to grab multiple sheets from the input tray.
- B. Correct.
The pickup roller is the best answer. A worn or dirty pickup roller can lose proper traction and separation performance, allowing multiple sheets to feed at once from the tray. In real-world printer troubleshooting, multipage misfeeds are commonly associated with worn pickup rollers or separation pads, and replacing the pickup roller is a standard first corrective step after confirming paper and tray setup are correct.
- C. Incorrect.
The fuser assembly uses heat and pressure to bond toner to the page after the paper has already been fed through the printer. Fuser problems usually appear as smearing, toner not adhering, wrinkles, or repeated jams near the exit path, not as multiple sheets being pulled from the tray at the start of the paper path.
- D. Incorrect.
A print head is associated with inkjet printers, not standard laser printer paper pickup problems. Even on devices that use print heads, this component affects image formation rather than the mechanical issue of multiple sheets feeding at the same time.