Fastback PowisPrinter: How to Fix Jams and Replace the Foil Cartridge

If you have a Fastback P31 PowisPrinter and you use it on a regular basis you will inevitably need to replace a foil cartridge or fix a strip jam. This simple article is designed to give you a basic set of instructions for completing these tasks. It will identify the different types of jams that can happen with the PowisPrinter and will give you instructions for clearing them. It will also provide detailed instructions for changing the foil cartridge on the P31.

Fixing a Strip Jam on the PowisPrinter

The printer can jam a strip in four places – the feed chute, the hatch, the front door, and the Binder Exit. There are different procedures to clear jams in each of these locations. If you can’t tell where the jam has occurred, you may need to check all four places. You will notice the words “carefully”, “gently” and “slowly” in these instructions. It is important that you do not use excessive force or go too quickly when removing a jammed strip from your machine. Using too much force can damage sensors and other internal components and may result in the need for a costly repair.

1.Feed Chute Jams:To fix a jam in the feed chute you need to slowly pull the strip out of the feed entry or feed exit.

2.Hatch Jams: To fix a hatch jam you need to open the top hatch and locate the jammed strip. Gently and carefully pull the strip out of the machine. It may help to open the Front Door to give easier access and or visibility. Close the top hatch.

3.Front Door Jams: Open the front door of the PowisPrinter and located the jammed strip. Gently and carefully pull the strip out of the machine. It may help to open the Top Hatch to give easier access and visibility. Close the front door.

4.Binder Exit Jams: If something obstructs the binder exit, a Binderstrip can jam here. To fix this, first open the front door. With the door open, remove the Binderstrip from the binder exit. It should remove easily. Then close the front door.

It is always a good idea to inspect each strip before you feed it into your PowisPrinter. Sometimes during the manufacturing, Binderstrip fragments stick to the Binderstrips. These fragments – if inserted into the PowisPrinter – can smear the foil, jam the machine, or even break the foil cartridge. You can avoid such mishaps by inspecting your Binderstrip each time you’re about to print. If you notice any scraps or fragments, simply brush them off the strip, then insert the strip as usual.

Changing a PowisPrinter Foil Cartridge

You will need to change the foil cartridge on your PowisPrinter whenever you wish to change the color or when the cartridge is empty. Here are the instructions for changing your PowisPrinter foil cartridge.

1.The PowisPrinter(TM) will automatically detect when it is time to change the foil cartridge. The screen will display: Cartridge Empty – Please Insert A New One.

2.Make sure that a Binderstrip is not in the machine. If one is, close the door, and the strip should eject.

3.Open the Front Door

4.Grasp the foil cartridge at the top and the bottom and pull it straight out of the machine.

5.Take out a new foil cartridge. Remove the orange shipping tab.

6.Look at the cartridge. Does the foil balloon out? If it does, turn the purple wheel on the cartridge
clockwise, so the foil tightens up. The foil should have no slack.

7.Now insert the foil cartridge, carefully fitting it over the printhead. The foil should slide in the gap between the drum and the printhead. Listen for a click that tells you the cartridge is snugly in place.

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