Pouch laminators are very popular these days
because they make it easy for people to laminate important documents
without leaving the home or office. Here are some tips
on how to prevent jams from occurring as well as how to fix them....
Pouch laminators are very popular these days
because they make it easy for people to laminate important documents
without leaving the home or office. These devices offer simple operation
but there is a chance of experiencing a pouch jam. Here are some tips
on how to prevent jams from occurring as well as how to fix them....
The
best way to deal with a jam is by preventing them in the first place.
You can do so by using a carrier, for one thing. The carrier prevents
melted adhesive from causing problems with the machine's gears. Another
thing that can help is by never laminating metallic items and
three-dimensional objects. These items can damage the rollers, leading
to jams. Using the proper temperature and speed settings will also help,
as well using pouches that your device can handle.
If a pouch
jam does occur, it's not the end of the world. Before you do anything
else, turn off (or unplug) your laminator so the motor doesn't burn out.
You can then take a look at things and try to determine what's causing
the problem. Chances are good that the pouch has become wrapped around
the machine's rollers. If that's the case, there are a few things you
can do to try to fix the problem:
If your
laminator has a reverse mode, turn the device back on and give this a
try. If the pouch starts coming out, be sure you don't pull on it too
hard. This can make the problem worse and could possibly damage the
interior of the machine.
Your machine might
have a pouch jam lever. If it does, try using this feature to solve your
problem.Some laminators are designed much like fax machines in that
they can be opened up. If your device is designed in such a way, go
ahead and open it up when the power is off. (Make sure you let the
device cool off beforehand so you don't burn yourself.) You should be
able to remove the pouch pretty easily. If you need to cut the pouch in
order to remove it, make sure your cutting tool doesn't touch the
rollers. They can be easily damaged by sharp utensils.
As
a last resort, you could try dismantling the device to fix things.
However, this shouldn't be done unless you really know what you're
doing.
Finally, if you can't get the pouch out,
you may want to consider calling in a professional. (This is especially
true if you own a high-end device.) Trying to fix a complex problem on
your own could possibly void the machine's warranty which is
inconvenient to say the least. If the pouch is totally jammed and your
laminator wasn't particularly expensive to begin with, you might just
want to get a new one. It will save you time and it's often cheaper than
getting professional help.
Preventing and
clearing a pouch jam are two things you need to know how to do when you
own a laminator. These tips should help you out as you laminate, so be
sure to give them a try.
Jeff McRitchie is the Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More
than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of
locations on the Internet. If you're looking for information about pouch laminators his articles are a great place to start.
