Storing Paper; Using Recycled Paper And Other Office Papers - Lexmark M5150 Service Manual

Preprinted papers such as letterhead must be able to withstand temperatures up to 190°C (374°F) without melting or
releasing hazardous emissions.

Storing paper

Use these paper storage guidelines to help avoid jams and uneven print quality:
•
For best results, store paper where the temperature is 21°C (70°F) and the relative humidity is 40 percent. Most
label manufacturers recommend printing in a temperature range of 18–24°C (65–75°F) with relative humidity
between 40 and 60 percent.
•
Store paper in cartons, on a pallet or shelf, rather than on the floor.
• Store individual packages on a flat surface.
•
Do not store anything on top of individual paper packages.
•
Take paper out of the carton or wrapper only when you are ready to load it in the printer. The carton and wrapper
help keep the paper clean, dry, and flat.

Using recycled paper and other office papers

As an environmentally conscientious company, Lexmark supports the use of recycled paper produced specifically for
use in laser (electrophotographic) printers.
While no blanket statement can be made that all recycled paper will feed well, Lexmark consistently tests papers that
represent recycled cut size copier papers available on the global market. This scientific testing is conducted with rigor
and discipline. Many factors are taken into consideration both separately and as a whole, including the following:
•
Amount of post-consumer waste (Lexmark tests up to 100% post-consumer waste content.)
• Temperature and humidity conditions (Testing chambers simulate climates from all over the world.)
•
Moisture content (Business papers should have low moisture: 4–5%.)
•
Bending resistance and proper stiffness means optimum feeding through the printer.
•
Thickness (impacts how much can be loaded into a tray)
• Surface roughness (measured in Sheffield units, impacts print clarity and how well toner fuses to the paper)
•
Surface friction (determines how easily sheets can be separated)
•
Grain and formation (impacts curling, which also influences the mechanics of how the paper behaves as it moves
through the printer)
• Brightness and texture (look and feel)
Recycled papers are better than ever; however, the amount of recycled content in a paper affects the degree of control
over foreign matter. And while recycled papers are one good path to printing in an environmentally responsible manner,
they are not perfect. The energy required to de-ink and deal with additives such as colorants and "glue" often generates
more carbon emissions than does normal paper production. However, using recycled papers enables better resource
management overall.
Lexmark concerns itself with the responsible use of paper in general based on life cycle assessments of its products. To
gain a better understanding of the impact of printers on the environment, the company commissioned a number of
life cycle assessments and found that paper was identified as the primary contributor (up to 80%) of carbon emissions
caused throughout the entire life of a device (from design to end-of-life). This is due to the energy-intensive
manufacturing processes required to make paper.
Thus, Lexmark seeks to educate customers and partners on minimizing the impact of paper. Using recycled paper is
one way. Eliminating excessive and unnecessary paper consumption is another. Lexmark is well-equipped to help
General information
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