Collators are machines that procedure stacks of paper , organize them into piles. Collators could perform in-line as part of complete finishing system only with stackers, bookletmakers, , trimmers.
When working in-line, users simply have to attach machines and program their desired settings; this then becomes fully automated process. Collators could also attach to copiers, laser printers, and digital duplicators. Very often, collators are expandable; more bins can be added to double or triple capacity.
Speed, sheet capacity, bin size, compatibility with other machines, and excellency of documents determine which collator is best for a particular operation. Another main consideration is the choice between suction (air) or friction collators. Friction-feed collators are better dedicated to one- or two-color jobs, where speed is a priority. Suction-feed collators are better dedicated to heavier, or coated, stocks.
You could expect to spend anywhere between $5,000 & $14,000 on a collating machine.
Higher-end models have greater bin capacity, greater speed, more controls, higher levels of automation, expandability, , are easily attachable to some other finishing equipment.
Friction collators use a rotating friction wheel to feed individual sheets only from station to a transport conveyor. A separator pad or corner separator then separates the sheets that are from remainder of pile: user can control system speed, overlap detection, , feed-wheel pressure. Adding extra bins is relatively easy only with friction feeders. Because friction-feed collators are required to feed sheets printed with ink, edges of sheets could occasionally get marked with traces of ink. This is one reason why friction feeders aren_t as expensive as suction feeders.
Suction feeders use air blasts to transport & separate individual sheets of paper. They rarely mark sheets only with ink , are better equipped dedicated to handling difficult paper stocks, such as coated & textured paper:
- How many sets need to be produced per hour?
The amount of sets per hour varies from business appliance to machine. Higher-end in-line models can collate up to 3,900 booklets per hour, while less expensive in-line machinary usually produce up to 1,500 booklets per hour. Desktop machinary handle much less paper, where production would depend on operator.
- What capacity (bin size) is most suitable?
Friction collators tend to fit about 200 sheets per bin, while suction collators fit close to 450 sheets per bin. Desktop equipment fit between 100 & 175 sheets per bin. Bin capacity is especially critical only for larger volume jobs; collators only with larger bin capacities produce more sets per hour.
- Can business appliance be expanded by adding some other bins to it?
Some collators are expandable in that they can attach usually 8, 10, or 16 additional bins.
This can double or triple output , is a significant factor in deciding what collator is best dedicated to you. - How compatible is the collator just with other finishing machines?
Very frequently collators are combined to work "on-line/in-line" just with stackers, bookletmakers, , trimmers. Higher-end business appliance are compatible just with high greatness finishing machinary that can handle a wide variety of paper types, sheets sizes, , weights. Compatibility only with some other finishing business appliance allows only for incredible efficiency, as well as high output levels.
- What kind of paper stocks are going to be used?
The kind of paper stock used could make a difference when it comes length in time to decide what collator is best. Suction feed collators are better at handling difficult paper stocks such as coated & textured paper. If standard-weight 8.5" x 11" paper is going to be predominantly used, then paper stock is a secondary consideration.
- Bookletmaker: assembles individual sheets into petite document sets by stapling and/or folding them together
- Collator: a machine just with trays to stack, store, , transport documents sets
- Feed-wheel pressure: the rate at which friction feed system operates; directly related to speed
- Friction feed: rotating friction wheel feeds individual sheets into the equipment where sheets are then separated that are from the remainder of the pile
- In-line/On-line: production is under automatic control of the machine, in which the collator is connected to stackers, bookletmakers, & trimmers, working "in-line" just with them
- Offset stacking: document sets are stacked in alternating style so that every other stack sticks out making it easy to differentiate between sets
- Overlap Detection: this system recognizes when two sheets have been fed into exact set that should have been fed into different sets, & notifies the user
- Receiving trays: trays on end of the business appliance where collated documents rest long after they_ve been processed
- Paper stock: the physical properties of the paper (material, texture, color, etc.) that may determine certain handling needs
- Straight stacking: document sets are stacked on top of one another
- Suction (air) feed: air blasts are used to feed and separate individual sheets of paper
- Trimmer: equipment that would cut or trim any undesired margins that are from document