ABC Office Educator Laminator User Manual
Contents
1. JOHS WH NADHS ALO 262 52271 1VSH NMOHS Z ALO NADHS 090 0050 3540 SOLOW 401 280 5211 30 5 401 131 8 1 090 5231 210 5271 1104 NMOS 2 ALO 190 0050 530 5 Y43409 2111 15 3019 31891 0334 NADHS Z ALO 5 450 5820 5 Ol NMOHS 2 ALO SO 013 1332 8 0731 5 1 301N9 318 1 0333 134 5 OB 5820 60 5820 1 01180 SONY 0333 NADHS 2 ALD 111394 1703 Q BONY 318 1 0333 AddNS 0 1 5 Z ALB 660 5820 1331 30109 318 1 0334 1 460 5820 Q 3181 0333 960 0050 1397 113348 397051 5820 0731 ALIAS 9710 0050 9 5 7708 74405 og LSVHS 1108 AlddNS 10 0050 1108 114405 420 5820 5 9 1345 NMOHS 900 7105 14405 Z ALO 920 5820 610 5820 AT WASSY 7709 YaldvOV 7709 5 200 0050 9 144 20 5820 1709 5 WOLLO8 85 200 0050 31 74 NOILIIa4 NAOHS TS AdS 401 715 200 0050 ALB 520 S820 7 531188355 7708 AlddMS 31314802 310 1108 14408 9 13 8 134 8 318 1 0334 EDUCATOR 120 VAC WIRING DIAGRAM PRM229 MOLON GEARMOTOR2. HEAT CONTROL 11 12 13 iE gt 53 100 811 817
3. Trademark of 3M pad which may be purchased in the household section of your grocery store the green pads are too abrasive Use mildly soapy water to clean the rollers Rub firmly but do not scrub the rollers vigorously as this might mar the surface Do not use sharp metal objects or steel wool as these will also mar the rollers The pull rollers should also be cleaned in the same manner TURN OFF and UNPLUG THE MACHINE and turn the rollers by hand The pull rollers are easier to clean because they are more accessible and because they should not have any adhesive on them Be sure to reposition and secure the upper heat shoe before beginning to laminate 7 5 Lubrication DRIVE CHAIN The Drive Chain and sprockets on all models should receive a light coat of gear lube or heavy grease preferably lithium grease after each 1000 hours of operation QNISMOH 3015 1 018 1333 _HILIAS 5231 ve 0 13877 211 5 INIS 158 1 5237 HOLIMS 1V3H 11589 2 1 1 821434 dav 21384 070 ISMA MB 921 944 X08 5 106144 BONA 7 2 78877 343315 Z ALO ava 38755344 88 5271 ONIddS 39155380 22 0333 01108 860 5237 I ALG 0 5237 13 8 109 1 3 31891 0333 ONIHSN d NS E1Z Jad 901 17 860 523
4. coated paper a good X test will pull up ink only The film should not come up easily When laminating material that is not glossy uncoated the paper is often more fibrous and a good X test will yield ink and paper fibers coming up with the film 1 6 Laminating Film Most thermal laminating film consists of two layers a base of polyester and an adhesive layer of polyethylene The polyester layer forms the harder outer surface of the film and does not melt at laminating temperature It provides rigidity and protection for your laminated items The greater the polyester content the higher the level of protection rigidity and luster The polyethylene layer melts at laminating temperature and bonds the film onto the subject material under the pressure of the laminating rollers As an X test demonstrates the adhesive is pressed into the paper and fills irregularities in the surface The proportion of polyester and polyethylene in a film is usually described with numbers For example a 1 2 film consists of one mil of polyester and two mils of polyethylene The first number refers to the base layer The second number refers to the adhesive layer A mil is 1 1000 of an inch Since polyester is the more costly of the two types of plastic generally used in laminating film a 3 2 film will cost more than a 2 3 film Both 5 mil films but the 3 2 version will seem a little thicker on a piece of laminated material because
5. etc e Parts that are not manufactured Ledco Inc If the individual manufacture warrants these items their warranty is in turn passed on to the original purchaser of the laminator Ledco Inc does not incur any obligation or liability as a result of the warranties that are the sole responsibility of the appropriate individual manufacturer Any laminator that provides defective during the warranty period may be returned to Ledco Inc unless it is decided that the necessary repairs can be made during a service call Notice of the defect should be submitted in writing or by phone to Ledco before any steps are taken to repair or return the machine Phone 716 367 2392 Fax 716 367 2978 If the machine is returned the following should accompany it e Customer name address and phone number e Written particulars regarding the malfunction Date of installation Serial number of machine All returns must have a return authorization number on the outside of the shipping container Send all returned equipment freight PREPAID to Ledco Inc 4265 North Main Street Hemlock NY 14466 Tel 716 367 2392 Fax 716 367 2978 Email ledco ledcoin com If your machine needs servicing after the warranty has expired please contact your dealer Ledco Inc does offer technical support if your dealer is unable to assist This warranty is expressly in lieu of all other warranties expressed or implied including the warranties of Merchantability and Fitn
6. operating and maintenance procedures described in this manual Safety Shield Feed Tray Core Grippers Supply Roll Mandrels Upper Stabilizer Bar Upper Heat Shoe Lower Heat Shoe Bottom Idler Bar Accessory Mounting Holes Laminating Rollers Wrap Around Guard Pull Rollers are located beneath wrap around guard Top Film Supply Roll Tension Control Knob Right Housing Bottom Film Supply Roll Drive Switch Heat Power Switch 4 1 Safety Precautions DANGER 1 High temperatures are present and care should be exercised in operating and maintaining the laminator Even after the machine has been turned off it will remain hot for an extended period of time Contact with hot surfaces may cause burns 2 Always make sure the power cord is not placed under the laminator where it might get overheated from proximity to the bottom heat shoe DANGER 3 The safety shield must remain attached to the machine and in position any time there is power to the machine You may tip the safety shield down while loading the film Always make sure the rollers are NOT turning when the safety shield is flipped down DANGER 4 Never operate the laminator with neckties jewelry or lose clothing Tie back long hair These items can be caught and be pulled in by the laminator causing serious injury 5 1 Setup amp Operation With the laminator on an unobstructed level surface perform the following checkout before threa
7. or the supply roll tension The film is not shrinking so much as it is being stretched by excess heat and tension causing the web to get narrower as it is pulled over the shoes Problem No power is getting to the laminator Solution Make sure there is power at the electrical outlet being used and make sure both ends of the power cord are firmly engaged There are fuses inside the laminator but dead out lets and loose power cord connections are the most common causes of this problem Problem Wavy or rippled sections in the laminate especially toward the center of the web Solution These heat wrinkles are cause by excess temperature and or speed for the film being used Slow down the motor and or use a lower appropriate temperature for that particular film Problem General haziness or cloudiness in the film after lamination Solution Increase the temperature That cloudiness is a function of incomplete adhesion On variable speed machine loaded with thicker film it may be that the film is being run too fast and is not getting enough time on the heat shoes Problem Bubbles in the center of the web and or film not sticking to the center of an item Solution This problem can be caused by excessive laminating roll pressure Putting too much pressure on the laminating rollers actually decreases pressure in the center of the web The other likely cause of this symptom is worn rollers For example if hundreds of thousand
8. over the two heat shoes push one edge of the threading card between the heat shoes so that the film is firmly positioned against the laminating rollers If a threading card is not available any piece of card stock or poster board will work Make sure there is still enough slack in the web Turn the drive switch to FORWARD permitting the film and feed board to pass through both sets of rubber rollers Carefully monitor initial threading to be sure the web reaches and passes trough the pull back rollers When the threading card has cleared the back of the machine move the drive switch to the center position off Whenever you want to remove the film and or laminated material from the back of the machine use the Zippy cutting toll provided with the laminator Slide the feed tray into position If the machine has the slitter option make sure the slitters are disengaged blades in the raised position and moved all the way to either side of the machine Film tension adjustments can be made at this time Refer to section 5 4 for instruction CAUTION The laminator is designed to be run with the operator directly facing the control panel and feed tray not at an angle or from the side of the machine For operator safety the safety shield must be in position over the upper heat shoe when the machine is ON or when the drive switch is in the forward position 5 3 Film Threading Diagram Upper Stabilizer Bar Dull Side of
9. to be laminated This serves other purposes besides ensuring the front edge of the piece will be properly sealed It gives the machine a chance to take up the slack that develops in the film whenever the machine is stopped and it prevents the following problem as well Problem laminated item comes with a large oily spot near the leading edge Solution It s not oil that causes this effect but excess adhesive When a machine is left heated but idle for a few minutes or longer the adhesive from the film over the shoes can form droplets if material is put in immediately This excess adhesive saturates an area of paper creating what looks like an oily spot The solution as mentioned above is just to let a few inches of film go through before feeding in your work Anytime you are laminating unfamiliar or costly items it is a good idea to start with an expendable sample or test piece Laminating a test piece first gives you an indication of the results you will get and also takes care of any pooled adhesive Problem A milky hazy line about an inch wide appears periodically across the width of the web immediately after initial warm up Solution The rollers are not evenly heated and the cold side of the rollers is preventing the adhesive from melting When warming up the machine keep the rollers open and keep the forward drive on low speed Problem The machine produces a continuous squealing noise when laminatin
10. 1 7ON NOD LYJH HJLIMS 5 NYWXINNI WIS 1 cl Sad y 223 2410 BIELad 31 14 13 5 TANYd 3015 18913 ONI8 38 37 060 5237 2 ALO 87 5231 TANVd 3015 SATA VEBOJAd 760 5820 1 ANT ONTIIANNOI 3 1300088 1108 1525444 ONIX t ALO 79161 5820 19 3015 1337 17 060 5231 39 18 aav 033 ALA 870888 4 5221 133348 318 1 0334 WOLL08 860 5211 13 30845 1109 1925944 4V39 NADHS ALB ONTAV3B 344315 ALO 9 1845 55 I ALD 5621 1 133 5 5211 1 32 NVWASNNT Z ALO 2 010 NOTOW IVA 021 G22Wad S30 10H ONTadS I ALO 6221 AVE JaNSS38d 1 ALO 5231 TANVd 3015 1431 83 02 A0LOW E60 9211 312 143238 0902 5 NMOHS 2440 97110 5221 38N 43701 800 5221 090 318 811284 83101 ALO 00 5221 805435 5012284 1331 832 45 5 1 5 ALO 1 2 65221 JOHS 801108 8 090 52271 2 802 111394 021384 911334 AOZI 1380 LHOIA
11. Dealer where purchased Installation Date Serial back of the laminator WARNING High temperatures are present and care should be exercised operating the laminator The laminator should not be operated without the plexiglass safety shield Ledco Inc Fax 716 367 2978 4265 North Main Street Phone 716 367 2392 Hemlock NY 14466 Email ledco ledcoinc com Web ledcoinc com 1 2 Features amp Benefits Your new laminator has several standard features that set it apart from other models e The clear safety shield keeps fingers away from the head shoes and laminating rollers while allowing you to see your work e The easily accessible heat control permits the use of many different types of thermal laminating film from 1 5 to 5 mil thick e Ease of cleaning The silicone rubber rollers and the Teflon coated heat shoes of the laminator should be cleaned regularly Tension control knobs built into both supply roll mandrels so that wrinkles and curling in the film can be elimated Ease of maintenance The Educator is made to last however some items a laminator do wear out Even the high quality silicone rubber used in the rollers will lose flexibility over Extensive use may wear out the rollers an operator may cut a roller by accident Rollers and other key parts can be changed quickly without disassembling the frame e Reverse can be invaluable at times to help avoid problems or clear misfee
12. Film Shiny Side of Film Heat Shoe Pull Rollers Dull Side Of Film NL Shiny Side of Film Right Side View 5 4 Laminating 1 Turn the heat power switch to ON The heater light will come The laminator will be ready to operate in about 10 minutes The heat indicating light will turn off when the machine has reached the correct temperature Allow about 20 minutes for warm up the first few times the machine is used WARNING Never permit the temperature to exceed 310 F while film is threaded and the laminator is not running The film could disintegrate and require cleaning and rethreading of the machine When it is necessary to laminate at temperatures in excess of 3109 F such as for poster board or when using 1 5 mil film pull some excess film off the film supply rolls to provide slack so the film is not tight against the heat shoes while the machine is heating This will keep the film from melting when the laminator is not advancing film When the heat indicating light is on it means the thermostat is calling for more heat to maintain the laminating temperature During normal operation the light will go on and off periodically After initial warm up but not before there is enough heat for laminating to continue normally even if the light is on The heat drop during lamination is too slight to affect operation 2 Position the feed guide for the work to be performed Adjust by loosening the black knob s
13. abcoffices hen You Need More Than Staples TOLL FREE 800 658 8788 OUTSIDE US 801 927 3020 Educator Laminator Operation Manual June 1999 Read all precautions amp instructions carefully before operating laminator Setup Instruction Operation Lamination Maintenance IMPORTANT Don t laminate one of a kind documents unless you are sure of your laminating skills and can afford to damage or ruin the document Don t laminate valuable items such as stamps baseball cards autographs or other collectables because the value of such items can be destroyed by lamination Collectors generally value these kinds of items only in their original state Remember that you cannot laminate thermal paper such as typical fax paper because it is activated by heat and will turn black Also remove paper clips and staples because they can damage the rubber rollers Be careful about laminating anything that will be affected by heat For example the colors in crayon drawings may run together or be smeared especially if the crayon layer is heavy Light crayon drawings may not be affected but test an expendable sample of any item that may not laminate well Table of Contents 1 1 Introduction 1 2 Features and benefits 1 3 Options 1 4 Characteristics 1 5 Principles of operation 1 6 Laminating film 1 7 Warranty 2 1 Unpacking and Inventory 3 1 Product Illustrations amp Names of Parts 4 1 Safety Precautions 5 1 Setup amp Operat
14. achine Use extreme caution to avoid pinch points at the nip of rubber rollers NEVER have rubber rollers turning while performing maintenance to your machine NEVER wear loose clothing ties or jewelry which may become entangled in gears or rubber rollers while operating or performing maintenance on your machine 7 2 General Cleaning Cleaning the laminator daily or weekly will help prevent dirt or adhesive build up on the rubber rollers and heat shoes and will improve the performance of the unit especially if you have a dusty work environment 7 3 Cleaning the Heat Shoes During normal use excess adhesive from the film will often cling to the heat shoes especially near the edges Film coating powders can also build up on the shoes and will tend to increase friction between the film and the shoes This type of build up may not be visible and it may adversely affect lamination in a number of ways Film squealing loudly as it passes over the shoe can sometimes be a symptom of this problem TURN OFF and UNPLUG THE MACHINE Using a clean soft dry cloth gently rub the adhesive or other contaminants off the shoes Never use any abrasive material or rub too hard on the shoes because you may remove the Teflon coating You may dampen your cleaning cloth with soapy water or a mild water based cleaning solution but make sure you carefully insulate your hands from possible steam burns if you do this The steam formed when water hits the hot
15. ce of shipment The carrier then assumes full responsibility for the shipment 1 Notify Ledco IMMEDIATELY 2 Hold damaged goods with container and packing for inspection by the examining agent Ledco will arrange the inspection 3 DO NOT RETURN ANY GOODS TO LEDCO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION BY LEDCO 4 Submit a copy of the inspector s report to Ledco Ledco will file the clatm with the carrier Ledco will replace your machinery if necessary You will be credited for the damaged machinery when the claim is processed Shortage 1 Check the packing list notations The apparent shortage may have been marked as an intentional short shipped back ordered item 2 Reinspect the container and packing material particularly for smaller items 3 Make certain that unauthorized personnel prior to complete unpacking did not remove the item and inventory 4 Call us and send immediate written notification of the shortage Incorrect Shipment 1 Ifthe material you receive does not correspond with your order notify Ledco immediately Include the order number and item s 2 Hold item s until return instructions are received Returns DO NOT RETURN DAMAGED OR INCORRECT ITEMS UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS AND AN AUTHORIZATION NUMBER FROM LEDCO 3 1 Product Illustrations amp Names of Parts The photos below and on the following pages identify major components and operating controls Refer to them as you study the installation
16. chine clean while not in use 1 4 Specifications Laminating Width Speed Maximum Film Roll Diameter Maximum Film Gauge Maximum laminating thickness Dimensions Shipping Dimensions Weight Shipping Weight Electrical up to 25 5 FPM 6 5 Mil 1 8 37Lx11Hx16 W 37Lx17Hx18W 76 84 Ib 110 V 220 optional 1560 watts 15 amps Specifications are subject to change without notice 1 5 Principles of Operation The laminator operates by pulling film with a thermally activated adhesive over a heat source and into a set of laminating rollers Film from a supply roll passes over heat shoes to activate a polyethylene adhesive layer on the film It then passes through rubber rollers to apply pressure and bond the film to the item being laminated The film s adhesive is pressed into the ink and fibers on the surface of the paper The strength of the lamination bond can be checked by cutting a large on the surface of a laminated sample with a sharp blade Use the tip of the blade to pry up one corner of the X Grab that corner and pull up the film Ink and or paper fibers coming up with the layer of film indicates a good adhesive bond If the film comes up too easily with no ink or paper the lamination was probably done at too low a temperature Check the instructions that may have come with your laminating film and or the lamination chart in section 5 5 Please note that when doing X test on glossy
17. ding the machine with film Warning Make sure the power cord is clear of the underside of the machine prior to operation to avoid overheating the cord 1 Remove all packing straps rubber bands tape and plastic ties from the machine Remove the protective paper from the safety shield 2 Turn the heat power switch to the Off position Move the drive switch to the middle Off position 3 Plug the machine into a working outlet of at least 15 amps Plugging in the machine does not power on any control unless a switch has been left on 4 Turn the heat power switch to the ON position The heat indicator lamp in the heat switch will come on It will stay on until the machine has reached set temperature 5 Once the heat is turned on it will stay on until the switch is manually turned off There is no automatic shutoff on this machine except in the case of a blown fuse 6 Turn the heat power switch on the ON position The heat indicating light will go on 7 Turn the drive switch to FORWARD position The pull rollers and the laminating rollers should rotate The fans will operate while the drive motor is ON 8 Turn the drive switch to the OFF position 9 Turn the heat power switch to the OFF position unless you going to proceed 5 2 with threading and laminating Unplug the machine Threading the Laminator Remove the supply roll mandrels and the feed tray The supply roll mandrels are now ready to accept loading of t
18. ds e Silicone rubber laminating rollers are flexible enough to provide good edge seal and firm enough to offer a good surface seal A high silicone content insures a much longer average roller life They can accommodate poster board or other materials up to 1 8 thick Very strong steel cores prevent roller flexing and insure uniform pressure across the width of the laminate giving you the best quality lamination available in medium duty commercial machine e Zippy safety cutter is shipped with the laminator to allow quick and easy cutting and trimming of the lamination web e Removable power cord prevents unauthorized usage without locking away the whole machine 100 made in the U S A 1 3 Options There are several options available to make the Educator more versatile e Footage counter This device can be reset to measure film usage in feet Also available in a metric version The footage counter and slitters will not fit on the machine together Slitters can automatically cut away side scrap which can greatly reduce the amount of time needed to trim your work Most Educator class laminators do not have slitters available The slitter knives can be completely retracted into their holders when not in use e Right side feed guide to go with the standard left side guide and feed on sheet at a time with greater accuracy or feed two sheets at a time in alignment with each other dust cover will help keep the ma
19. ess For Use and of all other obligation or liabilities of Ledco Inc Said company neither assumes nor authorizes any other person to assume it for any other obligation or liability in connection with the sale of this laminator except as provided for above Further this warranty will not apply to any machine or part thereof which has been damaged as a result of an accident or as a result of the abuse misuse or neglect of the machine The warranty is also void if the laminator has been altered or repaired by any other than an authorized repair facility or dealer 2 1 Unpacking and Inventory Except for the supply roll mandrels and feed tray the laminator is assembled at the factory Upon arrival inspect the unit immediately and thoroughly using the packaging list that accompanies the shipment Please follow these steps to correct any problem with your shipment Ledco Inc cannot accept any responsibility for damage or loss unless you notify us within ten days of receipt of shipment and follow these procedures Breakage or Damage It is imperative that any shipping damage is reported and a claim is filed with the delivering carrier immediately upon receipt of damaged shipment The procedure for reporting damage depends on the method of shipment Please note damage on the bill of landing Freight Express or Truck Delivery According to the contract terms and conditions of the carrier the responsibility of the shipper ends at the time and pla
20. film being run at too low a temperature Check the heat setting on the laminator If the film is not sticking to the item it is likely that more heat is required If you are using 1 5mil film this problem can occur if you are running the machine too slowly Because 1 5 mil film is thin and therefore loses heat easily it can cool off too much between the heat shoes and the roller nip if it is run too slowly If you are running thicker films you may have the problem if you are going to fast In this case the thicker film may not have enough time on the heat shoes to reach its adhesive melt temperature Thicker films may be run at lower speeds with no problem When laminating posters or other thicker material with 1 5 mil film the paper itself can absorb enough of the heat from the film to drop the adhesive below its melt temperature The film may start to come off immediately or it may start to fall off after a few days The solution here is to run the work at a higher temperature About 320 F to 240 F will usually do the job Sometimes you may see film detach from an item along one edge the edge that was put in first This happens when the material is put all the way into the nip before the machine is started The area of film between the shoes and the nip can cool off too much while the machine is idle The adhesive may not be hot enough to stick The way to prevent this is to let a few inches of film go through before putting in sheets
21. g Solution To a certain extent it is normal for some laminating film to squeal as it is pulled over the heat shoes under tension This noise is produced via the same principles that make a violin squeal Some of the compounds put on film to keep it from sticking to itself seem to act like resin on the bow of the violin they enhance the noise To minimize squealing run the laminator with the least amount of supply roll tension that will do the job of removing wrinkles from the web of film Make sure you are not using a higher temperature than needed and clean the heat shoes periodically If the noise gets really objectionable use a different type or different brand of film Problem The laminated material seems to have a pitted surface or irregular surface that does not match the texture of the paper being coated Solution This is usually caused by adhesive build up or dirt on the rubber rollers but may be caused by any matter stuck to the rollers such as a piece of paper Inspect the rubber rollers and if they need cleaning refer to the owner s manual Cuts or other damage to the rubber rollers especially the laminating rollers can also cause irregularities in the surface of the film The pull rollers are identical to the laminating rollers and could be substituted if still in good condition Problem The film shrinks as it passes over the heat shoe known as necking in the laminating trade Solution Reduce the heat and
22. g edges away from the rubber to avoid damaging the roller Then clean the rollers per the instructions in the manual Problem Not noticing that the rolls of film are almost used up one roll of film always runs out before the other WARNING If the film is run through the laminator without being matched to an opposing film the adhesive exposed to the rubber rollers will stick to the laminating rollers and create world class wraparound This type of wraparound is difficult to clear because the film adheres to the roller and to itself for the entire length of the accumulated film on the roller It s best to clear this right away before the adhesive hardens Follow the steps above to clear Solution To avoid this problem stop the laminator before either roll runs out cut the webs of film and remove the two near empty rolls of film and then rethread new rolls When putting film on a laminator always use two rolls of matched length and width Experienced users may leave the pieces of film remaining over the shoes and in the rollers to help thread the new film When the machine is warm the ends of the new rolls can be easily tacked to the already threaded pieces because the adhesive layer facing outwards will be sticky Be careful not to burn yourself on the heat shoes Problem Film is not properly adhered or starts to come off sometime after lamination Solution Unless there is something wrong with the film this problem comes from
23. he film rolls wound with the polyester shiny side out When viewed from the front of the machine the core grippers on both top and bottom supply roll mandrels should point toward the heat shoes and toward each other The tension control knobs should be positioned on the right Notice the knobs are labeled Right and Bottom Right If you have rolls of film on which the material is wound in the opposite direction adhesive or dull side out exchange the top and bottom supply roll mandrels so the core gripper positions are reversed Slide a roll of film onto the top supply roll mandrel turning the roll slightly to slide the gripper inside the core Make sure the dull side of the film is facing up and the shiny side is facing the heat shoe during the threading Scored marks on the supply roll mandrels provide a guide for proper alignment of the two rolls of film to each other NOTE The pointed metal piece protruding from the center of the supply roll mandrels grips the cardboard core of the film supply roll to prevent slippage When placing a roll of film supply on the mandrel twist the film supply roll on the direction away from the point on the gripper or the gripper may break or become dislodged from its mounting With the roll aligned with the scored line on the right side of the mandrel place it in the top bracket Place the left side of the shaft in its slot first then place the right side of the shaft in its sl
24. hieve good results 4 When laminating heavy posters or other thick items with 1 5 mil to 1 8 mil films some additional heat may be required to get a permanent bond Never exceed 340 F 5 While offset printed materials may be laminated at the lower ends of the above ranges inkjet and other output from digital printers may require the upper end of the range in order to get a good bond 6 See 1 6 Laminating Film for more information NOTE It is possible that variances from recommended temperature settings may be necessary due to material thickness ambient temperature humidity or the quality or thickness of the materials being laminated Please note the wide range of temperatures listed especially for heavier films This does not mean any film that thick can be run anywhere within the given range These are standard or high temperature and low melt or low temperature versions of all film thickness Some low melt films work at lower temperatures than others do It is important you buy your film from a vendor who can tell you the following additional information about any film you choose thickness e clarity Suggested melt temperature range e Polyester polyethylene content How well the adhesive will stick to the kinds of images you ll be protecting and enhancing Temperatures may exceed 310 F when laminating poster board or other thick items with 1 5 mil film in a continuous basis When the machine is s
25. ion 5 2 Threading the laminator 5 3 Threading diagram 5 4 Laminating 5 5 Recommended temperature settings 5 6 Preventing and solving problems 6 1 Instructions for Options 6 2 Footage counter 6 3 Slitters 7 1 Maintenance 7 2 Cleaning the heat shoes 7 3 Cleaning the rubber rollers 7 4 Lubrication 1 1 Introduction This laminator is designed to provide quality lamination of a wide range of papers and materials up to 1 8 thick using film up to 5 mil thick Common applications include but are not limited to maps digital imaging packaging posters instructional aids signs presentation materials photographs copies B amp W or color prints flyers promotional sheets and many other items Options include footage counter and a roll feed To assure the best performance from your new laminator please follow the safety installation operation and maintenance instructions in this manual Read the manual before using the laminator keep the manual with the machine and periodically review the instructions The manual also contains warranty and parts information The international warning symbol will be placed on the appropriate areas of each laminator We take this opportunity to thank you for selecting the laminator and to assure you of our commitment to your satisfaction with our products As you unpack your new laminator please complete the following information Always have this information ready when calling
26. it will be slightly stiffer Thermal laminating films are available in many different base adhesive combinations Five mil film for example 1 4 2 3 3 2 and 4 1 combinations In the US laminating trade the generally accepted practice is to describe two sided lamination or encapsulation by the thickness of one layer of film For example 3 mil lamination should refer to lamination with two layers of 3 mil film If you are buying selling lamination film or lamination service please make sure both parties understand the film descriptions being used There is a huge variety of thermal laminating films available to suit many different kinds of application Here are some of the more commonly used special film types or film additives Film with low melt adhesives also known as co polymer films these often have better clarity and are less likely to curl or ripple e Matte films to eliminate glare or to accept printing or accept printing or writing many suppliers offer films with glossy and matte non glare finishes Rolls of film may be purchased in different widths The size of the laminator is the only limitation to the width of the film rolls you can use The Educator can use 4 12 18 or 25 inch rolls Make sure the upper and lower roll widths are the same and are aligned with each other Rolls are also produced with different lengths of film on a roll 250 500 1000 The Educator will easily accommoda
27. liding the guide to the desired position and tightening the knob 3 Check the tension on the film supply rolls to see if the top roll and the bottom roll have approximately the same tension This may be done by gently rotating the rolls back and fourth If a roll moves too freely it is too loose If a roll is difficult to move the tension will need to be decreased 4 Once the machine has come up to temperature as indicated by the heat indicating light going out for the first time you are ready to laminate Check the heat setting dial to make sure the machine is at the right temperature for the film you re using Making sure that the safety shield is in the operating position up move the drive switch to the forward position Film will begin to pass through the laminating rollers Once you start the film watch the film as it passes over the heat shoes to let the wrinkling disappear before inserting material to be laminated Each time you stop the film slack will form in the web of film It will take a few inches to get the slack and the resulting wrinkles past the shoes 5 Slide items over the feed tray positioning them against the guide and into the laminating rollers 6 Examine the film as it exits the machine If bubbles or wrinkles appear in the film this means there is not enough tension to draw the film tight and smooth over the heat shoes Turn the tension control knobs clockwise to increase the tension If the film is tigh
28. measured by an X test Remember there are low temperature films that should run at much lower temperatures than those cited in this example see the chart on film operating temperatures Rolls of film are sometimes spliced Most film suppliers will mark a splice with colored tape This way you can see the splice as a dash of color on either end of the roll If you spot a spliced roll in advance you can put it on the top supply roll mandrel in order to see the splice coming more easily avoid putting material under the splice Or you could put it on the bottom roll if you plan to be laminating items that will never be seen from the back side 1 7 Warranty This laminator is guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for a period of two years after date of shipment Defective parts will be replaced without cost within the warranty period provided the laminator has not been abused altered or operated contrary to instructions Ledco Inc Shall not be liable for any alterations or repairs except those made with its written consent This obligation under warranty shall not extend to the following e The adjustment or replacement of parts which are the normal responsibility of the owner For example rubber rollers heat shoe coatings scratched or chipped paint loose fasteners screws nuts etc or other items that show wear under normal use i e normal wear parts Normal operating adjustments to heat speed tension
29. ng this attachment Always remove the blades when attaching or detaching the slitter Always retract the blades when they are not in use or when you are adjusting their position Installation Remove the cutting blades from the plastic blade holders This is done to prevent accidentally slicing the rubber rollers during installation of the slitter and for operator safety e Turn the heat power switch and the drive switch to the OFF position Remove the top supply roll mandrel from the laminator e Locate the two accessory mounting holes on the inside of each housing These are located above the wrap around guard Lower the slitter into position between the housings blade holders toward the front of the laminator e Fasten the slitter between the housings using the four screws provided Slide the blade holders into the desired position by loosening the black plastic knobs Replace the blades in the plastic blade holders with the knife edge facing the FRONT of the machine 7 1 Maintenance There are no user serviceable parts inside the machine Please refer internal maintenance to qualified personnel DANGER Always use extreme caution when performing maintenance on your machine Always make sure the machine is unplugged and that there is NO power to the machine when working on or cleaning any part of the unit Use extreme caution to avoid hot surfaces which may remain hot for a period of time even if there is NO POWER to your m
30. ot turning it as needed FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED LOADING PROCEDURES CAREFULLY WHEN THREADING FILM IN THE LAMINATOR ACCURATE ALIGNMENT OF ROLLS WILL MINIMIZE WASTE AND HELP KEEP THE LAMINATOR CLEAN While the machine is still cold review the threading diagram With the bottom roll of film centered on the mandrel and the shiny side facing down run the film under the bottom idler bar and pull towards you Refer to the threading diagram The top roll of film should run under the silver stabilizer bar and over the front of the top heat shoe Remember the shiny side of the film must always go against the shoe The dull adhesive side must face away from the shoe Make sure the two rolls are aligned with each other before going to the next step Turn the machine on and heat to the desired temperature With both rolls threaded and installed in their respective brackets unwind enough film from the top roll to reach the bottom of the bottom heat shoe Next unwind enough film from the bottom roll to reach the top of the top heat shoe 10 11 12 13 Now drape the film from the bottom roll against the top shoe If the laminator is hot the exposed adhesive on the top web will hold the bottom web and make it easy to stick the two rolls together If you are threading the machine while it is cold use tape to stick the bottom web against the top web Tip the safety shield down into the laminating position With the film draped
31. s of 18 inch wide sheets are laminated on a 38 inch machine the center of the rollers can get worn down more than the ends of the rollers In this situation the laminating rollers should be replaced The rollers worn in this way are not suitable for use as pull rollers For problems not listed here contact your Ledco Dealer If the Dealer doesn t know the answer please ask the dealer to contact Ledco and get back to you You are also welcome to contact us directly with any problem at 716 367 2392 Because of the potential volume of support calls we do encourage the use of the dealer network as much as possible 6 1 Instructions for Options NOTE The footage counter and slitter cannot be installed together 6 2 Footage Counter Measures film usage in feet also available in a metric version To measure the use of film with the footage counter Set the wheel of the counter against the roll of film e Press the reset button located next to the digital read out e The counter will continue to measure the number of feet of film used unless the wheel is lifted off the roll of film 6 3 Slitters The slitter allows you to quickly cut a laminated item or group of items which maintain a constant vertical arrangement For example a series of identically sized posters may be cut as they exit the machine by positioning the blades on each side of the posters WARNING The blades of the slitter are very sharp Use extreme caution when usi
32. surface can penetrate both the cleaning cloth and your gloves 7 4 Cleaning the Rubber Rollers Both the laminating rollers and the pull rollers need regular cleaning Collectively these are referred to as the rubber rollers The upper heat shoe on the laminator swings away in seconds making it easy to clean the laminating rollers To clean the laminating rollers 1 TURN OFF AND UNPLUG THE MACHINE 2 Loosen the four thumbscrews located on the heat shoe brackets 3 Lift the top heat shoe and secure it in the raised position by tightening both thumbscrews in the upper set of holes in the side panels Lower the bottom heat shoe This will expose the rollers so that you may clean them more easily 4 Use the REVERSE switch to slightly reposition the laminating rollers so that you can clean the entire surface on each roller by sections The REVERSE switch is a momentary switch The rollers will stop as soon as you take your finger off the button Don t try to clean the rollers while they are turning Never operate the rollers with your hands near the nip WARNING NEVER CLEAN THE ROLLERS WHILE THEY ARE TURNING The rollers may catch your fingers and cause injury or they may catch your cleaning materials and damage the laminator UNPLUG THE POWER CORD WHILE CLEANING THE ROLLERS OR PERFORMING OTHER MAINTENANCE ON THE MACHINE TURN THE ROLLERS BY HAND Clean the rubber rollers with a mildly abrasive cleaning pad such as a white Scotch Brite
33. t If wrap around does occur while the laminator is cold you can easily correct it by reversing the direction of the rubber rolls permitting the laminator to release the film from the rolls Problem Film gets wrapped around the laminating rollers while the machine is hot Solution Leave the heat on so that the adhesive does not harden and follow the following steps WARNING Be very careful not to touch the heat shoes with the machine is hot 1 Remove the feed tray 2 Cut the film on the top and bottom just in front of the idle bars 3 Loosen the film from the heat shoes and grip the two loose ends holding them together Turn the drive switch to the reverse position Turn on the drive at a very slow speed and allow the laminator to back out the film that is wrapped around the rolls Pull the film off the roller WARNING Keeping the machine in reverse may cause reverse wrap around id the film is not getting pulled off the roller You may need to pull on the film with a lot of force while stopping and starting the drive WARNING Do not try to cut the plastic off the roller with a knife or other sharp instrument You will end up cutting the rubber rollers and turn an inconvenience into a major repair bill not covered by warranty If this method does not work let the machine fully cool Remove the heat shoes and cut the wrap around off the roller with a small pair of scissors working the point and the cuttin
34. t appearance Because the rollers are being held apart by the paper or cardboard they cannot pull equally on the plastic around the paper This creates wrinkles that tend to look like the bow waves of a boat radiating out through the clear part of the web from the sheet of material Problem When two pieces of material are laminated side by side the plastic adheres to one piece but not the other Solution To get maximum efficiency from the film rolls you can feed several items into the laminator side by side However wrinkling can occur if these items are of unequal thickness because the laminating rollers are lifted off the thinner items by the thicker items When laminating items side by side it is important to arrange them so that the thickness is the same Problem Wrinkling of the plastic on a laminated piece of material Solutions Make sure you have enough supply roll tension to take the wrinkles out of the film before it gets past the heat shoes see 5 4 laminating Make sure the film is threaded properly see 5 2 Threading the Laminator Problem Film gets wrapped around the pull rollers Solution Wile threading a laminator when the shoes are cold the loose ends of the unlaminated web are particularly susceptible to wrap around on the rear rollers To minimize this possibility pull the threading card after it emerges from the pull rollers until the film clears Stop the web and trim the film from the back of the uni
35. t and smooth as it goes over the heat shoes but then draws in towards the center of the machine or squeals there may be too much tension on the supply roll mandrels This can be corrected by turning the tension control knobs counterclockwise to decrease the tension Film that is 1 5 mil thickness requires very little tension REMEMBER TO TURN BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM TENSION CONTROL KNOBS THE SAME AMOUNT TO KEEP TENSION THE SAME ON TOP AND BOTTOM ROLLS If the film curls up or down after it leaves the machine read the above section on supply roll tension again and readjust the supply tension on both rolls 7 When starting the machine to begin lamination let at least 10 inches of film go through the rollers before inserting the items to be laminated This takes out the slack in the film and removes the cooler strip of film that forms just in front of the nip when the laminator is hot but film is not being advanced This also removes any areas of film with excess adhesive that may have pooled just beneath the shoes 8 Ifthe tension appears balanced but you notice waves or ripples toward the center of the web of film as it comes out the back the temperature may be too high or the lamination speed may be too high for that film These waves in the film are called heat wrinkles These heat wrinkles are formed when the film has not cooled enough before coming out the back of the machine For the best results the film should be cooled below mel
36. t temperature while it is pulled tight and perfectly flat between the laminating rollers and the pull rollers If it gets out the back of the machine while still at or above melt temperature heat wrinkles can form The major reason for fans on a laminator is to cool the film not to cool the machine 5 5 Recommended Temperature Settings The recommended temperature setting for low temperature 1 5 mil film is 240 F If you are laminating with a different thickness of film refer to the following table for recommended temperature settings Your first source of information about recommended film application temperatures and operating characteristics should be your film suppliers If you do not know the source of your film or if the supplier cannot provide the information please use the table as a guide Film Melt Temperature Chart Fahrenheit Film Type Film Thickness 1548 eee Ae ee Monopolymer 310 320 280 290 270 280 2 1 212111 11 1 1 1 Low temp copolymer 300 310 220 270 180 260 Ultra low Temperature 230 280 180 270 180 260 Several important notes about this chart 1 Your film vendor must have the primary responsibility for providing information about the film that you are using 2 This chart is to serve as a general guide when better data is not available 3 If your film vendor cannot provide this and other information about the film you are using it may be difficult to ac
37. te film rolls up to 6 diameter When installing film always center the rolls if film on the supply roll mandrels so the core grippers engage the cardboard core Look for the score marks around the supply rill mandrels to aid in aligning the top and bottom rolls We recommend 3 mil film for the most common applications including posters signs or instructional aids The 3 mil film provides better protection more rigidity and a more lustrous appearance than 1 5 mil film Five mil film is suggested for those applications that need the most protection and rigidity Lamination with 1 5 mil film can sometimes present problems because the film is so thin it loses heat easily It sounds backwards but 1 5 mil film has to be run at a higher temperature than a 3 mil film with the same adhesive The higher temperature compensates for the faster rate of heat loss during lamination A standard 3 mil film is applied at 280 F while a standard 1 5 mil film must be applied at 310 F Even when applied at 310 F a 1 5 mil film is still more likely to delaminate later If the item being laminated is fairly thick it will pull heat from the film This will lower the temperature of the 1 5 mil film and prevent it from sticking properly When laminating thick items with standard 1 5 mil film it may be necessary to raise the temperature to 330 F or 340 F Do not use any higher temperature for any film than is needed to get an acceptable degree of adhesion as
38. topped turn the heat off if the setting is in excess of 310 F Never set the heat above 350 with film in the laminator Temperatures over 300 F not needed except with 1 5 mil film Film that is 3 mil or thicker is generally run at 280 F or less 5 6 Preventing and Solving Problems Please read this section before you have a problem Problem Wrinkling of the material as it goes into the laminating rollers This problem usually occurs when laminating an item that has been folded rolled bent or wrinkled Solutions Make sure the leading edge of the item being laminated is laying flat and is inserted parallel to the laminating rollers It is sometimes essential to smooth out an item as it passes over the feed table and through the rollers to ensure an even lamination without wrinkles Smooth from the center of the item back toward the trailing edges Once the item starts to feed you may also pull back and to the sides on the corners of the trailing edge If material has been rolled up take the curl out of it on a table edge before laminating If some curl remains it may be helpful to insert the item with the curl down so the leading edge is pressed against the feed tray until just before the nip Problem Wrinkling of the film around the material being laminated Solution This is normal and inevitable on any laminator especially with thicker material These wrinkles will be trimmed away with the scrap so they do not affec
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search