What a large capacity tray does on a busy office copier
Quick definition
A large capacity tray (LCT) is an optional paper input module that holds 1,500-4,000 sheets — far above the 250-500 sheet capacity of standard cassettes. The LCT sits alongside or below the MFP and feeds paper into the same registration assembly as the standard trays. The benefit is long unattended print runs without paper reload interruption.
Why offices add an LCT
Offices producing high-volume runs (statement printing, exam materials, marketing batches, training manuals) benefit substantially from LCT capacity. A 50,000-page month split across daily 500-sheet reloads requires 100 manual reload events. The same volume on an LCT with 3,000-sheet capacity requires roughly 17 reload events — dramatically less interruption to operations.
Capacity tiers
LCT capacity varies by device tier. Office-class LCTs typically hold 1,500-2,000 sheets. Production-class LCTs hold 3,000-5,000 sheets. Some production environments add multiple LCTs in series for even higher capacity. The choice depends on the office's actual print volume and acceptable reload frequency.
How LCTs integrate with the MFP
The LCT connects mechanically to the MFP and uses an elevator mechanism to lift paper to feed height as the stack depletes. The MFP treats the LCT as one of its paper sources, selectable in print driver or copy menu. Some LCTs feed only one paper size (typically A4) for the highest capacity; others support multiple sizes at reduced capacity.
When LCTs do not justify the cost
For offices printing under 20,000 pages monthly with reasonable reload tolerance, the LCT investment is not justified. Standard cassette capacity suffices. LCTs make economic sense above 30,000-40,000 pages monthly where the reload time savings produce measurable productivity gains.