When I first saw this question I wondered why a folding machine operator would even ask it. It goes something like, “When I load my folder, where should the guide and gripper edges go?” Or, “Does it matter which way I load paper into a folding machine?” I reminded myself there is a first time for any question, especially learning a complicated subject like bindery work.
This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get from folding machine operators. One Bindery Success™ reader told us she had been doing a regular mix of jobs without any problems for a long time. One day a bent corner (also called “dog ear”) appears. To answer the question we first need to determine which type of bent corner we’re dealing with.
If you’re new to running 16-page signatures, you might feel a bit overwhelmed with the workload, even with an automatic stacker on a new folding machine. I know I did. Folding 16 page signatures, or any signatures for that matter, requires a lot of effort and attention to detail. There is a lot of stuff going on that you have to keep an eye on. You’ll be doing quality control for multiple folds, loading and unloading, and stacking it all neatly on a skid for the next guy in the production process.
In a previous Bindery Success Blog article we talked about using jigs with bindery equipment. Today we’re going to show you how easy it is to dramatically reduce setup times on nearly any folding machine by using jigs, or templates. Even if you have a brand new, fully automated folder, stick around. This technique can help you nearly as much as it does those who run older machines.
One baffling problem encountered by many folding machine operators was recently brought to our attention by a Bindery Success™ reader. Here’s the scenario. First, you set the fold rollers pressure (roller gap) for the job you’re running, just as you’ve successfully done a thousand times before. At some point during the run, the fold starts to vary, or perhaps the trim or perforation starts to move around. You double check the fold roller pressures only to find one or more of them too loose, as if the folder were changing fold roller pressure on its own.
There are some advantages to learning to operate folding machines on an obsolete model. Yes, I know youngsters in print finishing would be horrified at the thought of an education on anything less than a fully automated machine. But the experience gave me bindery troubleshooting skills and machine knowledge by forcing me to learn how everything worked.
It may sound like a crazy idea, but to veteran saddle stitcher operators it’s nothing new. They already know their saddle stitcher cover feeder is a good alternative to the folding machine for certain types of jobs. Here are three ways you might not have thought about, especially if you’re still learning your way around saddle stitching equipment.
This week we have another simple thing to check to get better results fast on tabletop folding machines or on small rotary scoring or perforating machines. As with last week’s bindery video, I’m referring to the type of scoring or folding machines that don’t have a register table.
Last week we talked about how improperly trimmed or seriously curled paper will hurt the quality of the finished product coming off these machines. Of course poor paper will worsen finishing quality on any machine, even the most sophisticated. But on more complex equipment there are ways to compensate for poorly trimmed paper. With direct feed machines it’s almost impossible to compensate for bad cutting.
Bindery equipment operators, especially newcomers, sometimes mistakenly blame the machine for a problem. Yet there is one important but frequently overlooked item which, when handled correctly, will fix a variety of common ‘problems’ with direct-feed scoring, folding and perforating machines.
We are regularly asked if it’s possible to crease and fold cover stocks two-up on a buckle folding machine. The short answer is, “Yes, it's possible and in fact it’s done all the time.” The more detailed answer is, “Yes, but there are a few things to consider.” Since we are all in the business of getting more productivity from the bindery equipment we have to work with, it is well worth taking a few minutes to review these possible ‘gotchas’.