Is your Brother label printer experiencing frustrating tape jams? A jammed label tape can halt your workflow and cause unnecessary delays. Fortunately, many tape jam issues with Brother label printers are easily resolvable at home or in the office. This guide provides a step-by-step troubleshooting process to get your Brother label printer back up and running smoothly, ensuring you can continue creating crisp, clear labels without interruption using your Brother Label Printer Tape.
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Inspect and Remove the Tape Cassette
First, ensure your safety by turning off and unplugging your Brother label printer. Then, carefully open the back cover of your printer and gently remove the brother label printer tape cassette.
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Examine the Tape Feed and Guide
Once the cassette is removed, closely inspect the end of the brother label printer tape. Verify that the tape is correctly fed underneath the tape guide on the cassette. If the tape has slipped out or wasn’t initially positioned correctly, it can feed in the wrong direction, leading to jams. Attempt to carefully re-insert the tape beneath the guide. Remember to also check the clear and color ink ribbon, ensuring they are also correctly positioned under their separate guide within the cassette.
Alt text: Brother label printer tape guide detail, showing correct feeding path for label tape to prevent jams.
Note: If you observe that the color ink ribbon (located behind the clear film ribbon) has adhered to the backing tape, specifically if it has become lodged between the clear and backing tapes, it indicates internal cassette damage. In such cases, the entire brother label printer tape cassette will likely need replacement.
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Check the Cutter Blade for Dullness or Obstructions
A dull or obstructed cutter blade can be a significant cause of tape jams. If the label is not cleanly cut from the brother label printer tape cassette, attempting to pull it out can cause the color ink ribbon to stick to the tape backing. This, in turn, often leads to subsequent labels jamming. Inspect the cutter area for any label residue or foreign debris that might be hindering its performance.
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Clear the Tape Exit Area and Rollers
Carefully examine the area around the two black rollers and the tape exit slot of your Brother label printer. Look for and remove any fragments of brother label printer tape, label pieces, or any foreign objects that might be lodged inside and causing obstruction.
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Verify Cutter Unit Placement
Locate the cutter unit, typically identified by two green plastic components near the tape exit slot. Ensure that this cutter unit is correctly in place. If one of these green plastic pieces is missing or misaligned, it can disrupt the tape feeding mechanism, causing the brother label printer tape to feed incorrectly and jam.
Alt text: Brother P-Touch label printer cutter unit, green plastic parts correctly positioned for jam-free operation.
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Test the Cutter Lever
Check if the cutter lever is jammed. Gently press the cutter lever down. It should move approximately 3/4 of an inch. Upon release, it should spring back to its original position.
Note: The cutter lever mechanism is designed as a safety feature and will not operate if the back cover of your Brother label printer is not completely closed.
- If you find the cutter lever is jammed, try removing the cutter unit and then carefully reinstalling it. Ensure it is pushed straight down into the printer without twisting.
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Reinstall the Tape Cassette
After completing the above checks, reinstall the brother label printer tape cassette back into your Brother label printer. Press down firmly on the top of the cassette to ensure it is securely seated. Then, close the back cover completely.
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Re-test the Cutter Lever and Print
Re-test the movement of the cutter lever to confirm it is now operating freely. If it moves smoothly, attempt to print a test label to see if the jam issue is resolved.
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Try a New Brother Label Printer Tape Cassette
If the problem persists, the issue might be with the brother label printer tape cassette itself. Try using a new, genuine Brother tape cassette to rule out a faulty tape cartridge as the source of the jam.
Brother strongly recommends using genuine Brother brand tapes and rolls with your Brother label printer. Using non-Brother supplies may negatively impact your printer’s performance, print quality, and overall reliability. Please note that the Brother limited warranty does not cover issues caused by the use of unauthorized third-party tapes or label rolls.
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Seek Professional Service
If you have followed all these troubleshooting steps and your Brother label printer continues to experience tape jams, it may require professional service.
Your Brother label printer is typically covered by a one-year limited exchange warranty. You can locate a Brother-authorized service center in your area via the Brother Authorized Service Center Locator. Alternatively, you can contact Brother Customer Support for further assistance and warranty options.
Alt text: Important note icon, highlighting crucial information for Brother label printer tape usage and maintenance.
