GBC 5031TS
OPERATION MANUAL
© 2006 General Binding Corporation
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5. Align the sheet to the suction cup holes on the table so that the sheet is centered as much as
possible, utilizing the maximum amount of suckers.
6. Fan the sheets in small segments about one to two inches thick and stack them on top of the sheet
used to align the suction cups.
7. Use blocks of wood to tamp the edges side to side to keep straight.
8. Use blocks of wood to tamp the back edge of sheets to keep straight against the front paper stops.
9. Keep adding sheets to the stack alternating fanning and tamping until the feeder stack is full.
10. Press TABLE UP to raise the table for running.
11. Adjust the height of the stack so that the top is about half way up the air blast holes. Use the Pile
Height Adjustment Knob to make this adjustment.
12. Slide sides guides against the stack so that they just touch. Note: Do not pinch the sheets as this will
cause miss-feeds.
13. Insert the rear stops and slide them forward until they just touch the stack. Note: Do not pinch the
sheets.
14. Check for alignment with the suctions cups and make adjustments if necessary. Note: Do not allow
any of the suction cups to hang off the edge of the sheet as this will create a loss of vacuum causing
miss-feeds.
WARNING:
Do not stack anything on the Feed Table other than the sheets intended to be laminated.
Make sure the sheets are directly under the Pile Height box before turning on the laminator.
TIPS ON PAPER GRAIN AND FEEDER PERFORMANCE
DETECTING GRAIN DIRECTION
The direction in which the sheets are fed is very important for the performance of the feeder. The direction of
the paper grain can enhance or hinder its performance. Paper comes as either Long Grain where the grain
runs in the longest direction of the sheet, or Short Grain where the grain runs in the shortest direction of the
sheet.
There are several basic ways to determine the direction of the grain:
1. Fold the sheet in both directions. The cleaner or less cracked fold shows the direction of the grain.
2. Tear the sheet in both directions. The cleaner, straighter tear shows the direction of the grain.
3. Moisten the sheet with tap water. The sheet will roll up into a tube and the direction of the tube shows
the grain direction.
FEEDER PERFORMANCE:
1. Thinner sheets such as 20 lb. bond, generally feed better when the paper grain is in the direction of
the web path, perpendicular to the nip rollers.
2. Thicker sheets such as 8 pt. cover stock, feed better when the paper grain is run side-to-side, parallel
to the nip rollers.
3. If the suction cups are lifting the sheets off the stack but dropping them before they clear the Separator
Bar, the paper grain is probably running in the same direction as the web path. The strength of the
paper grain is too strong for the suction cups to lift it over the separator bar. Turn the stack 90
degrees and feed it in the opposite direction.
4. If the suction cups come up and the sheets are curl under the separator causing the sheets to fold
under when they enter the feed tires, the sheets are too weak. In this case the grain direction is
running perpendicular to the web direction. Turn the stack 90 degrees and feed it that way.
5. If the sheets just buckle or don’t move at all when the suction cups try to lift them, the pile height is set
too high and the sheets are being pinched under the separator bar. Press STOP then TABLE DOWN
and lower the table about one inch. Adjust the PILE HEIGHT knob down and press TABLE UP.
Restart the system and check the feeder operation.
6. If the suction cups do not touch the top of the stack, adjust the Pile Height Knob up.
