HP 1012 paper coming out creased. ?something stuck to drum or roller

A crease is usually caused by two issues. 1 ) paper is hitting something on the way to the fuser causing a skew. This type of problem would be repeatable every page as well as causing the image to be off centre. The 2) reason is the more likely cause. A bearing on the lower (pressure roller) is beginning to seize. Causing paper not to feed straight through the fuser. This cause a wrinkle from from to back on the sheet of paper. This wrinkle although repeatable generally the wrinkle position up or down on the sheet. This gives the impression of something that is getting in the way of the sheet. If you can change your lower pressure bearings you should be ok again.

Download this manual >> http://www.mediafire.com/?i0y9iqnqu79ppcj Go to page #203(6-15) Paper Feeding problems (wrinkles or creases) and follow the troubleshooting steps.
Note: PDF manuals require the Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing and printing. http://get.adobe.com/reader/

If the paper under the crease has print and the fold is "glued down", it is most likely to be a problem with the fuser. Try removing it and look for evidence of warping in the pressure roller. If the fuser looks clean and tidy, go to the other end at check over the paper tray and paper feed mechanisim. It is possible the paper is catching on something at the start of the process. This is most likely if there is print over the crease but not under the fold.

If the printed image is smudged, as well as creased, you might have a torn Fuser fixing film.
You will need a technician to fix that.
If it is just a crease, just check that
1. Your paper is not damp. Try a fresh packet of paper
2. The paper input tray guides are set to the width of the apaer, to prevent the paper skewing as it feeds.

Good luck.

The fuser is shot....this is the unit that uses heat and pressure to fuse the toner to the page. It is primarily when the pressure roller wears that you get crinkling and bad fusing, but I'm sure the upper sleeve has seen better days as well.
These days it is (sadly) cheaper to replace this printer with a new little HP -only around $100 or so.


*please rate me :)

There sounds like there is somthing in the path of the printhead. Using a flash light, remove back cover of machine and look for a small piece of paper,etc. Be careful not to jam anything in to th machine. It may take running a thick piece of paper through manually with your hands to remove the object.

if paper comes out straight, and lines in paper are not straight then there is problem wit laser unit, its not installed corrrectly, also you can check drum unit and transfer belt for correct installation.

There is likely a problem with your fixing unit (also called a Fuser).

This is a device at the exit of the printer that squeezes the paper between a pressure roller and a heat roller. The heat is what "fixes" the toner onto the paper.

Either your paper is being fed crooked, or there is a problem in the fixing unit itself.

Remove your drum/toner cartridge. Look into the empty chamber of the printer and see if you can see any objects or bits of paper. Clean it out as best you can.
If your toner and drum are separate cartridges, separate them and make sure they don't have any bits of paper stuck between them. If they are both contained in one cartridge, then skip that last step.
Remove your paper tray and make sure the tabs are set correctly. There should be a tab at the back to snug tha paper length wise, and one at the side to snug the width. Setting these correctly will help prevent crooked feeding.
If you can see your paper pickup roller just over top of where the tray fits, make sure it is clean and not too badly worn.

Try printing something but turn the printer off about 1/2 way through the print cycle. Open the door and remove the drum. The sheet of paper should be stuck inside the drum. Examine it and see if it was feeding crooked. After examining it, remove it carefully and throw it in the trash. Don't touch the type as it is not fixed and will dirty your hands or clothes.

If the paper in the drum was straight, then there is a problem with your fixing unit. If the paper was crooked, then there is a pickup/feed problem.

The rollers may be worn so it is not getting picked up evenly. Also, be sure that your paper tray in aligned properlyand guides are keeping the paper straight. If both of these seems to be good then there may be something in the paper path.

most likely there is paper or something stuck in that corner
use a flash-light an carefully inspect the area

hope this helps
thanks for rating