CEC

Making Posters

How to change the paper roll on the Ptolemy printer

Last revision April 17, 2012

You can easily put in a new roll of paper on the ptolemy printer. Follow these instructions.

  • Pull the printer away from the wall so you can get at the back side. If it does not roll easily, check to see if one or more casters are locked.

  • Remove the spent roll. Grasp the empty cardboard roll and pull the entire spindle assembly up and towards you. Pull off the blue spindle end and discard the empty cardboard roll in the paper recycling bin.

  • Find a new roll of paper in the back corner of the lab. We normally use 42 inch wide rolls. They come in long cardboard boxes that are stacked against the wall. There are some narrower paper rolls (24 inch and 36 inch) that you can use for special purposes, but be sure to put back a standard 42 inch roll when you are done.

  • Prepare the new roll of paper. To remove the small strips of tape that secure the loose end of the roll without tearing the paper, pull carefully from both ends of the tape towards the middle, as shown in the photo to the right:
     
     
     
     

  • Put new roll on spindle. The paper must come off the roll from the top once it is put back in the printer, so you must put the roll on the spindle so that the paper is wound clockwise when viewed from the open (blue) spindle end, as shown in the photo to the right:

    Push the blue spindle end back on until the roll is snug on the spindle.

  • Bring up the Paper menu on the front control panel. If not already shown, use the up and down arrows to select the Paper menu. Then press the OK key to enter this menu. Use the up and down arrows again as needed to select the "Load Roll" item. Press the OK button to start the roll loading process.

  • Ptolemy will ask you to specify the paper type. All our paper is "HP HW Coated". That type should be preselected already. If the roll type shows some other value, use the up and down arrow keys to select "HP HW Coated". Then press the OK button.

  • A message on the ptolemy control panel will ask you to feed paper into the back slot. Now is the time to load the new roll. Place the spindle ends into the slots on the back side of the printer, black end to the left (as viewed from the back), and blue end to the right. The paper should come off the top of the roll. Push it into the slot until the printer "catches" it and then starts to automatically feed it.

  • Ptolemy will now run the paper back and forth to align it. If there is a problem, it may ask you to lift the gray lever on the left side (viewed from the front). When done, it will tell you to lower the gray lever.

  • When the control panel finally shows a "Ready" message, you are done. Roll the printer back against the wall. Clean up. Toss plastic spacers and bags in the trash. Fold up the empty paper roll box and put it into the paper recycling bin.