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Understanding the Different Parts of your Paper Folding Machine

Posted on Sep 22, 2011
Author: Jeff McRitchie

If you have a paper folding machine or are considering buying one, it is extremely helpful to have an understanding of how a paper folder works and the parts that are involved. By understanding the different parts used in the folding process it is easier to troubleshoot problems and properly set up your paper folding machine. This article will provide a quick overview of five components that are common to almost all paper folders and will explain their role in the paper folding process.

1. Input Tray: The first part that you will use in the paper folding process is the input tray. This is where you stack the sheets that you are going to need to fold. Depending on your folder the input tray may hold a few sheets or may hold a few hundred sheets. Almost all paper folder input trays have a skew adjustment to help you make sure that you are feeding your sheets squarely into the document. If your folded documents are not coming out square this is one possible place to make an adjustment.

2. Pickup Roller: The first part of the paper folding machine to touch your documents is the pickup feed roller or rollers. This set of rollers is often larger than the other rollers used in your paper folder. These rubber rollers are used to pick up the sheets of paper from the input tray and feed them into the folder. Almost all desktop folding equipment uses friction feed rollers. However, some more expensive commercial grade paper folders will use either air feed or suction feed to assist in feeding thicker stocks.

3. Fold Rollers: After the document is picked up by the pickup roller it is passed along to the fold rollers inside the paper folding machine. These rollers help to keep the documents moving in a straight path inside the machine. These rubber rollers are usually smaller than the pickup roller and can wear out over time. These rollers can also become less effective over time with the buildup of paper dust. A simple solution of gentile soap and water can do wonders to renew these rollers if they become covered in dust.

4. Fold Plates: Every paper folder will have one, two or more fold plates depending on the types of folds that the folding machine is capable of producing. The paper will be fed into these fold plates and it will hit a stop at the end of the plate that will turn the paper around and cause the paper to fold. Cheaper folding machines require you to manually adjust the stop at the end of these fold plates. If you have a folder with this type of configuration it is essential to get the plate absolutely square for your fold to be straight. If you have a more expensive folding machine the movement of the paper stops might be automated or controlled by a simple knob. This makes the setup of the paper folding machine much easier.

5. Output Tray: After the document has traveled through the folder and through all of the fold plates the folded document will be spit out of your folding machine into the output tray. Depending on the model of folding machine you have, the output tray may act like a conveyor belt or a bin. Conveyor belt style folders tend to take up more room but are easier to use. Bin style paper folding machines take up less room but on larger jobs your documents can end up pushed inside of each other which can take time to correct.

Hopefully after reading this article you have a better understanding of how your paper folder works and the parts that go into folding your documents. Next time you go to use your paper folder or your folder has problems hopefully you will be better equipped to understand what is happening and what part of the folder might need to be adjusted.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/presentation-articles/understanding-the-different-parts-of-your-paper-folding-machine-312980.html

About the Author

Jeff McRitchie is the director of marketing for MyBinding.com. He writes extensively on topics related to Binding Machines, Binding Covers,Paper Folding Machines, Binders, Index Tabs, Laminators, Laminating Supplies and more.

How to Choose a Paper Folding Machine

Posted on Aug 22, 2011
Author: Jeff McRitchie

Unless you're already an expert on paper folding machines, you're probably looking for a little advice when it comes to selecting the right variety for your home or business. This article outlines some key things to look for when purchasing just the right paper folding machine.

First and foremost, think about the sizes of paper you will need to fold. Paper folding machines come in a range of sizes, so you should have no problem finding one to fit the size of documents you will be folding most.

Secondly, consider the type of fold you would like your paper folding machine to make. Tri-folds, half-folds, and a-z folds are very common, and you will not have a problem finding a good machine to make these folds for you. Some machines will also perform right angle folds, gate-folds and church-folds. If you need a paper folding machine that can do specialty and customized folds, do not purchase a low-end machine, as you probably will not be satisfied with its output.

For some businesses, one fold just isn't enough. If you need a machine that can make multiple folds, be sure you look into how manageable the process is for setting up the machine. Some equipment (especially the lower-priced folding machines) are difficult to change from one pattern to another. If you know you will be using a lot of different configurations, you should look into a machine that offers digital fold plate adjustment. If that is not an option, machines that have the fold plate set up at a ninety degree angle to the paper's path are easier to manage than other types requiring more adjustments and attention to detail during fold change and set up.

Another factor to think about is the thickness and type of paper you need to fold. The majority of cheaper paper folding machines (those retailing for under $5000) experience some problems when folding heavier weights of paper (like index stock or cardstock) unless it is pre-scored. Additionally, these lower end paper folders will also mishandle slick finish or glossy paper. You can forward a sample of your paper to have it tested on various machines to see which will provide the best fold for your paper weight and finish.

Simply put, people who know they will be folding a few hundred pieces of paper per month should not be looking at the same paper folding machines as those who will be folding a few thousand. Those who fold more paper need a better quality machine. Investing in the right product can mean the difference between productivity and frustration.

Try not to think cheap when it's time to invest in a paper folding machine. You should buy the best paper folder you can instead of trying to get away with something as inexpensive as possible. A quality paper folder (such as those manufactured by Formax, Intimus and MBM) can be an important investment in your business by saving you time, money, and headaches.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/presentation-articles/how-to-choose-a-paper-folding-machine-325718.html

About the Author

Jeff McRitchie is the director of marketing for MyBinding.com. He writes extensively on topics related to Binding Machines, Binding Supplies, Paper Folders, Binders, Index Tabs, Report Covers, Laminating Supplies, and more.

Martin Yale Rapidfold P7200 Automatic Desktop Paper Folding Machine Review

Posted on Mar 17, 2011
Author: Jeff McRitchie

Overview:


  • The Martin Yale Rapidfold P7200 automatic desktop paper folder is ideal for small to medium sized mailrooms and offices.

  • The small and compact design of the P7200 means that it doesn't take a lot of space in your office or mailroom and makes it convenient to place the machine beside your postage meter or desktop printer.

  • This light volume paper folding machine is great for organizations that occasionally need to fold letter, statements, invoices, flyers, bulletins and correspondence.


Strengths / Features:

  • The Martin Yale Rapidfold P7200 is designed to take letter sized (8.5" x 11") sheets and fold them in half or into a letter-fold for insertion into a standard number ten envelope.

  • The P7200 is a step up from a small desktop letter folder that needs to be fed by hand, one document at a time. You can add a stack of paper up to 1/2" thick onto the feed tray of the P7200 and it will conveniently feed each sheet and eject the stacked sheets into the stacking tray.

  • The Rapidfold P7200 also has a manual bypass slot that allows you to fold up to 3 sheets at a time including stapled sets by hand feeding them one set at a time.


Weaknesses / Limitations:

  • The Martin Yale Rapidfold P7200 is an excellent personal paper folding machine that is designed for folding folding letters, statements or invoices. However, it is not designed for folding thick paper stocks, glossy papers or coated sheets. It is specifically designed for folding sheets that are between 16lb and 28lb bond.

  • This machine is only designed to fold letter sized 8.5" x 11" sheets. The slightly larger Rapidfold P7400 will handle both letter and legal sized sheets. However, users who need to fold custom sheet sizes should probably consider moving up to either the 1501x or the 1601 paper folding machines.

  • The Martin Yale P7200 is only designed to perform two folding patterns. It can fold sheets in half and it can fold sheets into a letter. If you need to fold sheets into other patterns such as a z-fold, church-fold, gate-fold or baronial fold you will need a larger more feature rich folding machine.

  • This machine is what is commonly referred to as a manual setup paper folder. This simply means that you need to manually adjust the paper stops on the fold plates to the correct positions in order to change folding patterns. Adjusting the fold plates can be a little bit tricky especially for inexperienced users. For this reason, the P7200 is probably best suited for organizations that do not need to switch folding patterns on a regular basis. Larger auto setup folding machines can simplify the movement of the folding plates but also cost considerably more than the P7200.


Recommendation:

  • The Martin Yale P7200 Rapidfold paper folder is great for organizations that need to fold a few hundred documents per week or are looking for a convenient folding solution to fold a few dozen sheets at a time.

  • For organizations that need to fold more documents than this, need to create a number of different folding patterns or need to use paper sizes other than 8.5" x 11" the features and construction of the P7200 are probably not going to meet your needs.

  • Still, this paper folder is an excellent choice for users who are looking for a small folding machine to place beside their printer, copier or postage meter for on demand production of letters, statements, invoices and mailers.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/martin-yale-rapidfold-p7200-automatic-desktop-paper-folding-machine-review-374475.html

About the Author

If you need more information or would like to purchase the Martin Yale RapidFold P7200 Automatic Desktop Paper Folding Machine or any of the other Paper Folders that we carry please feel to visit our site or contact us with your questions.

This review was written by Jeff McRitchie who is the director of marketing for Mybinding.com. Jeff has written more than three hundred articles and more than two hundred reviews on Binding Machines, Binding Supplies, Report Covers, 3-Ring Binders, Index Tabs, Laminators, Laminating Supplies, Paper Shredders and Paper Handling Equipment.

Choosing a Paper Folder: Why the Martin Yale 1611 Ease-of-Use AutoFold Paper Folder is the Right Choice

Posted on Oct 24, 2010
Author: Spiral Man

Purchasing a paper folder is an investment to be considered by all businesses looking to increase productivity and save money. Before choosing a paper folding machine, it is important to consider the following: 1) Volume: How often do you plan on using the machine? 2) Fold Types: What types of folds do you need this machine to perform? 3) Paper Types: What kind of paper do you plan to fold? 4) Programmable Memory: Will you have multiple recurring folding jobs? Programmable Memory makes it possible to record or "program" the details of any given job, therefore, reducing future set-up time and improving overall efficiency.

In addition, you will need to decide whether your work load requires a friction fed paper folder or an air fed paper folder. A Friction Fed Paper Folder uses rubber rollers to grab and insert the paper into the folding machine. This is the most commonly used type of feeding system, and works great for offices and production facilities / print shops. One of the most popular friction-fed paper folding machines is the Martin Yale 1611 Ease-of-Use AutoFold Paper Folder, which is perfect for large mailrooms and offices in need of high output rates in a short amount of time.

The Martin Yale 1611 Ease-of-Use AutoFold Paper Folder can handle a variety of your paper folding needs. The 1611 Folder is a high speed machine that automatically feeds and folds documents that are 8 1/2" x 14" in size and the feed tray can hold between 16 to 70 pounds of paper. This machine can create five standard folds: letter fold, half fold, z-fold, double parallel fold, and right-angle fold. There is no fanning needed when you use the Martin Yale 1611 AutoFolder all you have to do is put the paper in the machine and it automatically folds to the desired fold type. The conveyor exit table makes it convenient and easy to handle folded stacks. The 1611 Paper Folder features automatic jam detection as well as an automatic shut-off for operator protection, which will extend the longevity of the machine. It measures only 17-1/5"H x 20-3/5"W x 14-1/5"D, so it can fit on almost any desk or work space.

The Martin Yale 1611 Ease-of-Use AutoFolder Paper Folder can fold as many as 9,000 sheets per hour and it is the ideal paper folding machine for large mailrooms and offices where production speed is important. This paper folder comes standard with a one year manufacturer's warranty on all of the parts.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/choosing-a-paper-folder-why-the-martin-yale-1611-ease-of-use-autofold-paper-folder-is-the-right-choice-4873102.html

About the Author

If you have any questions or are interested in purchasing the 1611 Ease-of-Use Paper Folding Machine, visit Spiral Man at SpiralBinding.com. They have great pricing on a full line of Paper Folders. Call us at 1-800-631-3572 for more information.

Martin Yale Intimus 2020vs Variable Speed Heavy Duty Paper Folder Product Review

Posted on Sep 26, 2010
Author: Jeff McRitchie

Overview:


  • The Martin Yale 2020VS paper folder takes the great features of the 1217a Autofolder and builds on them by adding a variable speed control.

  • It is designed for folding a huge variety of paper sizes including letter, legal, 11" x 17", A4 and A3 sized paper. It can even fold many heavy duty cover stocks and index weight papers that will jam if you attempt to run them through other paper folding machines.

  • These features make the Martin Yale 2020VS an excellent choice for medium to large mailrooms, professional print shops, churches and large organizations.


Strengths / Features:

  • The Martin Yale 2020VS is capable of handling a huge variety of paper sizes. It can be set up to fold custom sized paper that is as small as 4" x 4" and can fold large documents printed on 11" x 17" and A3 sized sheets. This provides a huge amount of flexibility for producing almost any type of project imaginable with the 2020VS folder.

  • For organizations that are looking to fold heavy cover weight paper and index stocks the 2020VS is one of the best folders available on the market. This machine has the same great heavy duty feed rollers as are included on the 1217a. These rollers help to ensure that heavy paper stocks feed smoothly through the folder. This allows the 2020vs to deal with stocks as thick as: 90lb cover, 135lb index and 165lb offset. The variable speed control and the large feed rollers also make the 2020vs better suited for handling coated stocks and glossy papers. If you need to run coated or glossy stocks with the 2020vs you will want to turn down the speed to reduce the chance of slippage and paper jams.

  • Like the 1217a, the Martin Yale 2020vs has a maximum speed of 10,300 letter sized sheets per hour. However, the variable speed control allows you to slow the folder down to a speed of just 3000 sheets per hour when dealing with specialty papers. At top speed, the 1217a is perfect for high volume folding applications. However, it is nice to have the flexibility to slow things down when needed.

  • The Martin Yale 2020-VS can also produce a huge selection of folding patterns. It can be used to produce a letter-fold, z-fold, half-fold, double parallel fold, cross-fold and baronial fold. Or it can be set up to produce custom sized paper folds if needed.


Weaknesses / Limitations:

  • In order to feed paper into the 2020vs variable speed paper folder you need to fan out the paper so that the stack of paper feeds into the machine on an angle. Fanning the paper can be a little bit tricky. If you fan the paper too much you may have feeding problems and if you don't fan it enough then you may end up with double feeds. After fanning the paper a few times you should get the hang of it.

  • The Martin Yale 2020vs is a manual setup paper folding machine. This means that you will need to manually adjust the fold plates into the correct positions to change folding patterns. This can be a little bit difficult especially if you are looking for perfect flush and square folds. If the fold plates are even slightly out of alignment the paper may fold crooked or the folds may be either short or long. If you will need to regularly change folding patterns and your operators are not mechanically inclined, it may be a good idea to look at a larger electronic setup folder such as the Martin Yale 2051.

  • Unfortunately, the 2020vs does not offer the ability to score or perforate sheets as part of the folding process. For this type of capability it is necessary to look at the larger 959 or 959af paper folding machines.


Recommendation:

  • The 2020vs paper folder is ideal for professional print shops, churches, schools and mailrooms that are looking for a machine to handle all of their folding needs.

  • This machine can handle heavy weight paper stocks, glossy and coated papers as well as large sheet sizes. This makes it ideal for production use and for organizations that demand versatility from their equipment.

  • The only drawbacks to this machine are that it requires fanned paper, manual setup and cannot be used to perforate or score. If you can live with these minor limitations, then the Intimus 2020vs is for you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/martin-yale-intimus-2020vs-variable-speed-heavy-duty-paper-folder-product-review-374465.html

About the Author

If you need more information or would like to purchase the Martin Yale Intimus 2020VS Variable Speed Heavy Duty Paper Folder or any of the other Paper Folders that we carry please feel to visit our site or contact us with your questions.

This review was written by Jeff McRitchie who is the director of marketing for Mybinding.com. Jeff has written more than three hundred articles and more than two hundred reviews on Binding Machines, Binding Supplies, Report Covers, 3-Ring Binders, Index Tabs, Laminators, Laminating Supplies, Paper Shredders and Paper Handling Equipment