How to Load Laminating Film on your Laminator Without a Threading Card

Jeff McRitchie asked:

If you are looking to load new laminating film onto your laminator and still have a little bit of film left, there is a way to use the remaining film to help you load new laminate onto your machine. This article describes how to use the existing film that is already loaded on your roll laminator in place of a laminating film threading card. This procedure requires your laminator to be hot and that the existing laminate be tacky or liquefied (be careful not to burn yourself on the heat rollers). Follow these instructions for replacing your film.

1. Preheat the laminator and remove the feed tray.

2. Cut the remaining top and bottom film webs between the supply rolls and heat rollers.

3. Raise the safety shield to the upright position.

4. Do not allow the adhesive side of the film to contact the heat or pull rollers. Liquefied or tacky adhesive deposited on heat rollers will require the rollers to be cleaned.

5. Remove the bottom film supply roll from the laminator and lower the bottom film guide.

6. Remove the bottom roll of laminating film by sliding the right to release it from the hex shaped brake hub. Loosen the locking ***** on the left retaining collar of the film supply shaft and slide the collar off. Pull the shaft partially out of the film tube and then push it back in to knock out the left core. Pull out the shaft all the way out of the tube and remove the remaining core adapter.

7. Slide one core adapter into the right side of the new roll of film ensuring that the film will unroll properly (from the bottom). Slide the film shaft into the core adapter and tube from the right side. Place the other core adapter on the shaft protruding from the left side then replace the retaining collar. Tighten the locking *****.

8. Unroll enough film from the bottom roll of the film to slide under the bottom idler bar and tack to the existing film. Slide the bottom idler back into place and replace the supply roll shaft.

9. Replace the top supply roll and unroll enough film to tack to the existing roll of film.

10. Install the feed table and lower the safety shield.

11. Run the laminator on the slowest speed setting to begin pulling the laminate through the rollers.

12. Observe the film being pulled through the laminator to assure that the remaining existing film and the new film are advancing correctly. Any separation between the films will require stopping the motor immediately and correcting the situation.

13. Stop the laminator after the newly threaded film has completely exited the laminator.

This method for loading laminating film onto your laminator is an excellent choice if you don’t have a laminating threading card or want to save some time. However, it does take some practice and can be a little bit tough to get the hang of. Try it a few times on your laminator and you should be able to master this technique and save yourself some time when changing laminating film in the future.

Loading Film on School Laminators

Jeff McRitchie asked:

Using a school laminator is pretty simple, but loading the film so you can use the laminator can be somewhat tricky. The most popular reason for laminator repair calls is improperly loaded film. Service calls can be costly, so learning to load film correctly is important. Incorrectly loaded film can deposits film on the rollers and if you are not careful can ruin your machine. If adhesive gets on the rollers, the machine will not work until the film residue is cleaned off. Four common ways to end up with glue on your rollers include:

*Laminating when only one roll has been loaded on the laminator

*Trying to use two mismatched widths of film together

*Loading film upside down so that the adhesive faces the roller (Keep in mind that the shiny side of the laminating film faces the rollers, and the adhesive side faces out.)

*One roll of film runs out while the other one continues to run.

Replace both rolls of laminating film at once using the following steps.

1)Turn the main power switch on. If your machine is already hot, turn it off and let it cool before continuing.

2)Look at both rolls of laminate that are mounted on the laminator by removing the feed table.

3)Find what is left of the top and bottom film webs (by looking between the heated rollers and the supply rolls) and cut them. Pay attention so that you don’t accidentally cut the rollers, as this can damage them.

4)Lift the shield into an upright position and pull down the top piece of film.

5)Take the film out of the laminator. You can do this by running the machine slowly backward. Pay attention as you do this so that you don’t accidentally touch the adhesive to the rollers and make a mess. To do this, you may have to put the feed table back in place. Be sure to remove the feed table when you’re finished removing film.

6)Slide the bottom roll of laminating film to the right to release it from the hexagonal brake hub. Look on the left side of the film supply cylinder and loosen the ***** on the left collar. Pull the cylinder out a bit then slide it in to loosen the left core. Pull the cylinder out of the tube entirely to remove the core adapter.

7)Check to be sure the film is properly positioned to unroll the right way, then slide one of the core adapters into the right side of a new film roll. Working from the right, slide the shaft of the film into the tube and the core adapter. Put the remaining core adapter onto the left side’s core adapter. Put the retaining collar back where it goes and tighten the *****.

8)Lower the bottom idle bar, then get ready by unrolling two feet of laminating film and pushing the idle bar into position. Lay the laminating film over the bottom of the roll. Put the lower roll of laminating film back in the round hole on the frame and put the left side into the hexagonal brake hub.

9)Repeat steps 6-7 after removing the upper film supply roll. Check to make sure the film unrolls from the bottom after you have loaded it onto the laminator.

10)Unroll about two feet of laminating film and lay it over the upper idle bar and over both of the rollers.

11)Push the feed tray into position under the lower film web currently lying on top of the lower roll of film. Reposition the feed table, positioning the lower film on the tray.

12)Between the laminating film and the feed tray, slide the threading card into place by gently pushing it into the heat roller’s nip area. The card is now properly positioned to guide the film rolls into the rollers.

13)After lowering the shield, press RUN. Carefully monitor the threading card to ensure the leading edge is properly taken into the laminating machine. When the threading card comes out the back of the laminating machine, press STOP.