A decollator  saves duration & effort in handling multi-part forms by separating (decollating) the  forms multiple layers,  stacking them  separately. Decollator models range from basic tabletop/desktop  or floor  standing models dedicated to the needs  of petite office to multi-feature  heavy-duty,  industrial  floor  standing models dedicated to  heavy volume  24/7/365 user.

• What type of  forms will the decollator be  handling?

Decollators process continuous forms, although do not action cut  sheet forms: Different models handle forms of varying lengths,  dimension of width , weight: A critical  factor dedicated to most purchasers is the  quantity of parts per form  that decollator could process.  Equally  important is  whether you intend to action non-carbon forms  or carbon interleaved forms;  Note that the weight  of  paper being processed is determinative of the quantity  of parts you need to be processed. Whether you intend to process two-up or two-side forms  (side  by side forms) may be important.


• What modifications are you going to make to forms?
  Trimming: Trimmers  are used to trim margins, including the removal of pinhole  tractor  feed  margin edging. In selecting margin trimmers you have the option of  choosing a machine just with trimmers that are "fixed" or "adjustable".  in case you need adjustable trimmers, consider adjustment  range of trimmers only for the various forms you are going  to process. If you  foresee that a lot  of trim  is going to be generated, how the  waste will be discarded may  directly influence your decision. Consider adding a base/stand to  contain trimmings. A margin trimmer chopper  could be used to compact trimmings going into the base/stand. 

  Slitting/splitting: Center slitters can  slit two-wide forms  and double capacity. Specialty cuts can also be made with an adjustable  center  slitter.

• How fast do you have to  action forms?

Speed is measured in feet  per  minute or forms per hour , can either be fixed or variable. fastest equipment action up to  475 feet of forms  per hour:

• What is  the  volume of forms you could be processing?

The size of job, how frequently decollator is going  to be  used and the  quantity or types of forms that  need to be  processed  are all crucial  when selecting  decollator: Factor in whether your needs  are light,  which will be up  to one-half  box of forms, (or approximately 2500 forms  per eight hour day) or heavy  duty , industrial which would be up to six boxes of forms (or approximately  30,000  forms  per eight hour day). in case  your business , volume of accomplish  are  growing  a decollator with the option  of adding stations may be way to go.


• What are your paper processing & paper flow needs?

Forms have to be  fed into decollator. This is done using either in-feed  tray or hopper,  which come in  different sizes  & load  capacities. Be sure the hopper you pick meets your  processing needs. small number of  business appliance could allow you to  feed continuous forms directly in  that are from box.

The mechanism dedicated to running &  processing  forms  through  decollator can be by  either friction  feed or  pin tractor feed. Use pin tractor feed in case you are going to  use heavy stock  or where precise alignment  is  necessary, e.g. trimming  checks.

Forms could be  fed  that are from burster into receiving tray, or conveyor/stacker that keep forms  in  neatly aligned, sequential order.
in case you are considering utilizing a stacker, consider the capacity you require, i.e.  size of the stacker. in case processing high quantity of forms, you  may  need a deep  and/or power drop stacker: Other options could be added to  the output side of a  burster  such  as decollator or a recollator.

Forms could  be fed that are from decollator into receiving trays or  stations. Another option that could  be added to the output side  of  a decollator is recollator, which will  put the forms  back  together.


• What is your budget?

Expensive models usually come with added features or options on  basic models. In  most instances,  manufacturers will  accept custom orders to  suit the  specifically needs of a  customer.  Expensive models usually procedure forms  faster, have more stations to separate additional "parts" of  forms, allow dedicated to more modifications only with adjustable margin trimmers, split forms and/or make specialty cuts because they have  adjustable center slitter, , are  equipped just with either a fork or spindle to wind  carbons. Basic models, while economical and  suitable dedicated to the requirements of most  users, will have limitations  on speed, variety of forms that can be  handled , modifications  that could be made to forms during processing.


• Do you might want  to make adjustments manually or automatically? Do you  might want to program the adjustments?

More expensive decollators come along equipped just with electronic control panels to  monitor operation,  self-diagnostics, pre-programmable features such as settings only for form length  & margins. 

• What are your safety concerns?

Safety features such as safety  interlocks & safety covers prevent &  minimize the risk of  injury to users.

• Do you have size, space &  placement considerations?

Size, space & placement are determining factors  when deciding which decollator to  choose. Desktop and  tabletop  models allow you to economize on space.

• What features do you need to make paper handling & maintenance easier?

To maintain  neatness you may might want to add base/cabinet only with trim  bucket to  hold  trimmings,  margin  trim  chopper  to compact waste  trimmings, & carbon rewind to organize used carbon.  counter,  jam detector, a jog switch  to  aid  form alignment, or  a paper control bar  could accomodate paper flow when  separating carbonless paper,  power switches,  , static eliminators or  brushes to reduce  paper  clumping or jamming:

• What type of feeder do you need?

Forms can  be fed into a decollator utilizing either friction or pin tractor. Pin tractors  feed like a  sprocket  with teeth, projecting through perforations  in  the margins to align forms more  precisely , consistently during a  form run. A pin tractor feed  is better  dedicated to holding multi-part forms  or  when trimming critical  documents, such  as checks  or when using heavy  stock.

Desktop & Tabletop Decollators

Small & compact  models  suitable for  home or  tiny  office. 

Floor Standing  Decollators

Require more space  & generally are required to meet heavy-duty industrial  needs.

• Continuous Form Feed Pre-printed forms that are connected  , perforated  where  they are to  be separated. A continuous form feed decollator that handles continuous forms  contrasts only with a cut  sheet  decollator that handles cut  sheets, which are separate, non-attached stuff of  paper such as  8-1/2" x 11" typing or copy  paper
• Cut Sheet: separate, non-attached thing  of paper such as  8-1/2" x  11" typing or  copy paper.
  cut sheet decollator  handles cut sheets  as opposed to continuous  form decollator that handles  continuous forms. cut sheet  decollator can be used only for checks,  coupons, tickets,  notices, labels, etc.
• Decollator: separates parts of forms: Parts of forms are plies or  layers
• Hopper: holds  the forms being fed into machinary long before processing.
  term "in-feed pan" is  used  interchangeably just with term "hopper"
• Hopper Capacity:  quantity of forms  or the weight of  the  forms that a hopper or in-feed pan could hold
• Infeed Pan  or  Infeed Tray:  interchangeable with term "hopper"
• Jog Switch: allow the  user  to "jog", i.e.  move paper  in  steps, through  the machine
• Margin Trim Chopper: chops & shreds margin trimmings  allowing compact storage of waste;  Makes  disposal of  trimmings easy & less frequent 
• Paper Control Rod: aids in aligning & controlling the flow of  carbonless  forms through decollator &  into stations during processing
• Parts: just with decollators this  term is used to describe number of layers or plies that a  pre-printed form  has. Some manufacturers  in their specifications only for decollators  count carbon interleaves  as parts. Most manufactures do not. The manufacturers that do not count the carbon interleaves as parts make a distinction between forms only with  &  without carbon
• Recollator: puts layers of form that have been  separated by  a decollator back  together again
• Static Brush: eliminates static in high static conditions & with laser printing
• Tractor Feed: tractor feed ensures accurate registration only for  multi-part set bursting,  imprinting  & trimming of critical documents such  as checks. Allows handling of heavier stock
• Trimmers: cutters used to  trim the  correct , left  side margins of forms being processed through  a burster: Margin trimmers may be  adjustable or fixed in position. The  term "trimmers" is  sometimes used interchangeably  with term "slitters"