A printer bypass tray is a special input tray on a printer designed to handle paper or other media that the standard paper trays can't easily accommodate. It's also often called a multi-purpose tray or a general-purpose tray.
Here's a breakdown of its purpose and function:
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Purpose: The primary purpose of the bypass tray is to allow you to feed specialized media through the printer without having to unload and reconfigure the main paper trays. This is particularly useful for one-off print jobs or for small quantities of specialized materials.
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Functionality:
- Handles Special Media: It’s ideal for printing on materials like:
- Envelopes
- Labels
- Transparencies (OHP)
- Card stock
- Thick paper
- Paper of unusual sizes or weights
- Bypasses Standard Paper Path: The "bypass" designation refers to the fact that paper fed through this tray often follows a straighter, simpler paper path than paper from the main trays. This helps prevent jamming when using thicker or more delicate materials.
- Manual Feed Option: In many cases, the bypass tray requires manual feeding of the paper, one sheet at a time, allowing for precise control over the printing process.
- Settings Adjustment: You'll typically need to specify in your printer settings that you're using the bypass tray and indicate the type of media you are printing on. This allows the printer to adjust its settings (e.g., fuser temperature) for optimal results.
- Handles Special Media: It’s ideal for printing on materials like:
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Benefits:
- Convenience: Avoids the need to reconfigure main paper trays for small or specialized print jobs.
- Flexibility: Enables printing on a wider range of media types and sizes.
- Reduced Jamming: Straighter paper path minimizes the risk of jams with thicker or more delicate materials.
- Cost-Effective: Allows you to print small quantities of specialty items in-house, rather than outsourcing them.
In essence, the printer bypass tray is a valuable tool for enhancing a printer's versatility and handling diverse printing needs.
