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