Zebra KR403 paper jam with idle status and communication error. Diagnosis, safe solutions, and preventative maintenance for retail card terminals.
Temperature and humidity can influence the paper and ESD.
USB hubs can sometimes introduce communication problems.
Driver issues are a common cause of communication errors.
Paper jam sensors operate via optical or mechanical flags, influencing internal logic. A false 'idle' status while jammed suggests sensor malfunction or firmware error. Communication errors can stem from incorrect baud rates, cable attenuation (voltage drop), or electrostatic discharge (ESD) impacting serial data transmission. Low voltage can lead to intermittent operational errors. Corrupted firmware can affect paper jam sensor interpretation and communication protocols.
Regularly clean the printer's exterior with a dry, lint-free cloth to remove dust and debris.,Ensure proper cable management to prevent strain or damage to communication cables.,Implement grounding strategies to minimize electrostatic discharge (ESD), especially during dry winter months.,Use only recommended paper types to avoid paper jams.,Periodically inspect and reseat cable connections.
Some Zebra printers have a self-test function accessible through a specific button combination during power-up. Consult the user manual for instructions. This diagnostic routine can help identify hardware failures without requiring communication with a host system. Check the voltage of the power brick using a multimeter if communication errors are still happening after completing all steps.