| The purpose of this article is to guide you | | | | |
| on how to properly bind a document using a | | | | - Remember, it is the binding edge of the |
| thermal binding machine. If you have access | | | | sheets which must be evenly jogged for a |
| to 5 or 6 thermal binding covers, follow | | | | secure bind. |
| through these binding instructions. If not, | | | | |
| read through the material and try binding | | | | 2. Place the thermal binding cover in your |
| some documents later. | | | | left hand (if you are right handed), and |
| | | | allow it to slightly fall open to create what |
| After ensuring that your machine is plugged | | | | looks like a wide V. Insert the fanned sheets |
| in and turned on select a smaller thermal | | | | into your scored thermal binding cover (make |
| binding cover i.e. 1/16", 1/8" or 1/4" and | | | | sure that you grasp the sheets tightly to |
| the approximate amount of paper needed to fit | | | | maintain the uniform jogged edge). The sheets |
| into the cover. In normal use, the operator | | | | should be centered within the cover and |
| will have a document of "x" number of sheets, | | | | placed on the adhesive backbone. Close the |
| which will then determine the proper size of | | | | cover around the sheets. The first and last |
| thermal cover to use. The easiest way to do | | | | sheets should not stick up higher than the |
| this is to place the paper, indexes, etc. to | | | | other pages. If you have uneven pages, take |
| be bound flat on a table and measure the | | | | all the sheets out of the cover, rejog them |
| thickness of the stack with a ruler. Choose a | | | | and insert them back into the cover. |
| cover that meets that measurement. i.e. if | | | | |
| you have a 1/4" stack of paper, you would use | | | | 3. Next, place the document (spine side down) |
| a 1/4" thermal binding cover. If you are in | | | | so the edge of the thermal cover is at the |
| between sizes, go to the next largest size. | | | | right hand side of the binding slot. The |
| | | | binding machine should automatically start |
| 1. To reduce static electricity that builds | | | | and depending on the size of your document |
| up between sheets run off a copier, the paper | | | | should determine the length of the bind time. |
| to be bound needs to be fanned. Take a stack | | | | |
| of paper, and practice fanning using the | | | | 4. When you remove the bound document, tap |
| following technique: | | | | the backbone on the table to help set the |
| | | | adhesive, and set the document(s) on the |
| - Grasp the sheets on both sides, holding | | | | cooling stand to maintain the square backbone |
| them fairly loose. | | | | during curing. Make sure the document(s) are |
| | | | placed squarely on the cooling stand so that |
| - Bend the sheets as in the following | | | | the backbone remains square during the curing |
| diagram. While bent, exert pressure on the | | | | process. This will provide the most |
| paper with your thumbs and fingers to gain a | | | | professional looking finished product. |
| firm grip where the sheets cannot move. | | | | |
| | | | 5. The document must cool before it can be |
| - While maintaining pressure on the sheets, | | | | used. It should remain on the stand for 3 to |
| straighten out the stack of paper. This will | | | | 5 minues. This time period varies depending |
| bow the sheets so that there is air space | | | | on the thickness of the thermal binding |
| between sheets. After air has been allowed | | | | cover. Obviously, a 1/16" thick document will |
| into the sheets, release your grasp on the | | | | cool faster than a 2" document. Ultimately, |
| sheets as you jog them onto a flat, level | | | | any thermal cover, regardless of size, will |
| surface. This is called fanning the paper. It | | | | have reached full binding strength once the |
| is usually not necessary unless the paper has | | | | backbone is cool to the touch (approximately |
| just come off a copier, where the pages | | | | 15 minutes). |
| contain a large amount of static electricity. | | | | |