Printers are generally easy to move from place to place, especially if your printer is no larger than a big box of cereals. Just pick it up, carry it and put it in a new location. That’s about it. That is the beauty of having small printers. Most small printers are designed for portability so moving them around will be no problem at all. The smallest printer available in the world can even fit inside your pocket.
However, there are some precautions that you need keep in mind when moving printers from place to place. For purposes of discussion, we will limit the size of a small printer to a size, which you can carry by yourself and not those types where you need to be assisted. Moving these small printers around the house is as simple as stated before. Pick, carry and place. However, if you’re planning to take the printer somewhere else aside from your home, you might want to do the following checks.
First and foremost, disconnect the plug before lifting the printer. A common mistake for some people is that they pick up the printer before disconnecting. Usually it is just that they completely forgot that it was plugged in. If the printer isn’t properly grounded, there is a possibility that you will encounter a shocking experience. Better safe than sorry.
Second, remove the ink or toner cartridges. These parts, although inside the printer, are not exactly secured. Ink cartridges are better off removed since sudden movements might occur while the printer is being transported. Internal pressure may build up due to the movement and some droplets might fall off on the roller. This is very undesirable since it would cause blotting or smudging on the back of the page. Cleaning the roller may entail you to dismantle the printing mechanism entirely. If you happen to have the smallest printer like the PrintStik, you don’t need to worry because it uses thermal printing technology.
Third, make sure that all movable parts are secured. Make sure that trays are not moving and lids are secured tight. For those printers with flat type scanners, if the lids don’t have a lock, make sure to hold the lid down with a tape or a band. When printers are being transported, movable parts have a tendency to move as well. Unless your printer has its own case where everything can be secured, it would be a good idea by securing them with a tape.
Similar to handling computers, make sure to keep them away from magnetic devices. All printers have their own internal circuitry, which may be damaged if exposed to strong magnetic fields. In the same way, never expose them to direct sunlight or leave them inside the car. The temperature inside cars, especially when left under the sun, can rise up to as high as 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Not all electronic devices have the capacity to withstand higher temperatures.
These are just a few pointers to keep your printer safe while moving from place to place. If you wish to get on with the details, every printer has a manual, which provides information on proper handling.