5 Tell-Tale Signs You Should Replace Your Scanner's Roller Kit
If your scanner is jamming, creating crooked scans, or pulling multiple sheets at once, you might think it’s time to get rid of it, but really, it could just be a simple fix with your scanner’s roller kit.
Scanner rollers keep documents feeding smoothly, but like most things, they don’t last forever. Over time, they’ll wear down, which leads to errors and a reduction in your productivity.
The good thing is, you might not need to replace your entire scanner. A simple roller kit replacement can get things running smoothly again.
In this guide, we cover five signs your scanner’s roller kit needs replacing, how often to change your rollers, and where to find the right replacement parts for your machine.
Why do scanner rollers wear out?
Feed rollers use friction to get a single sheet of paper scanned away from the rest of stack. The rollers are made from soft materials that naturally wear away over time.
This is what causes them to get worn out:
- Constant friction: Each scanning session, the feed roller is exposed to continuous friction to separate the pages. This leads to erosion on the surface of the roller.
- Paper dust and debris: Sheets of paper might seem clean enough, but there are microparticles that’ll eventually build up in the scanner and give rollers a slippery surface.
- Different paper types: Scanning a variety of papers forces the scanner to work harder.
- Natural chemical breakdown: Even if the scanner doesn’t get used daily, rubber hardens, dries out and degrades over time.
5 warning signs it’s time for a new roller kit
So, how do you know when your scanner rollers have reached the end of their lifespan? Look out for a few telltale signs.
-
Frequent paper jams and misfeeds
Nothing’s more frustrating than stopping a scanning job halfway through because of yet another paper jam. While the occasional jam shouldn’t worry you, frequent jams and misfeeds could mean your scanner rollers are wearing out.
Rollers will lose their grip over time, struggling to pick up paper and move them through the scanner. This means paper might get stuck, feed unevenly or not even go through the scanner.
If you’re constantly opening your scanner to remove jammed documents, it might be time to invest in a replacement roller kit.
-
The dreaded multi-feed (pulling multiple pages)
When multiple pages are pulled through together, it’s called multi-feed, another common sign that your scanner rollers are worn.
Your scanner’s separation mechanism is designed to make just one piece of paper pass through. Once they’re worn, they might struggle to separate documents effectively, which means multiple sheets will pass through together.
-
Skewed or crooked scans
Are your documents coming out at odd angles, even though you've loaded them perfectly straight? This could also mean your scanner rollers are past their best.
When rollers are worn down, they can pull one side of the paper through faster than the other. With this you get crooked scans that need redoing. With this, don’t just jump to replacing your rollers. Make sure the paper guides are correct first, and clean the roller too.
If your scans still come out wonky, your rollers likely need replacing.
-
Strange noises during operation
Scanners will make noise whilst they’re working, but any unusual sounds should be checked.
If you've noticed squeaking, clicking, grinding, or repeated attempts to pick up paper, something might not be working properly.
Worn or dirty rollers can sometimes squeak or slip as they struggle to grip documents properly.
If your scanner suddenly sounds different, stop scanning and check it. If the noises continue after cleaning and inspecting the rollers, you might need a replacement roller kit.
-
Visible physical wear
Looking at your scanner’s rollers is one of the easiest ways to determine whether they’re still in good enough condition. Over time, the rubber surface can smoothen, crack or harden, which makes it difficult for them to grip the paper.
While they might just sometimes need a little clean, if the rubber is damaged or worn, it’s time to get in the replacement roller kit.
How often should you replace your scanner’s rollers?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. How often you should replace your scanner rollers depends on the model, how frequently you use it and types of documents you’re scanning.
Manufacturers typically recommend replacement after a certain number of scans or give you a time frame. Some Ricoh fi-series scanners have a recommended replacement after 200,000 sheets or one year, whichever comes first.
If you’re scanning hundreds of documents every day, you’ll naturally reach these limits sooner than someone who is only using their scanner occasionally.
Some newer scanners have maintenance alerts which’ll tell you when your rollers are approaching the end of their expected lifespan too.
But remember, not every feeding problem means your rollers need replacing. Sometimes, a simple clean is enough to get things moving again. Regular maintenance will help you extend their lifespan too, and helps prevent unnecessary replacements.
Where to find the right replacement roller kit
If you’ve spotted one or more of these warning signs, it might be time to invest in a new scanner roller kit. But before ordering, make sure you’re buying the right one for your machine.
Each scanner will have its own roller kit, so check your scanner’s make and model to find the right one.
At The Scanner Shop, we stock a wide range of scanner roller kits and consumables from Canon, Epson, Brother, Fujitsu, Ricoh and more.
Replacing worn rollers is an easy and more cost-effective way to extend the life of your scanner, especially when the rest of the machine is working well.
Browse our range of scanner consumables and replacement roller kits or get in touch with the team for advice on keeping your scanner in its best condition.
