How Do I Bind Books with the Coverbind Personal Binding Machine?

The Coverbind Personal Binding Machine is a compact, manually-operated thermal binding system that creates professional-looking books in just seconds. Using covers that have adhesive-lined spines, the Coverbind Personal Binder securely binds up to five books per cycle – ranging in thickness from 1/16″ to 1/2″ – with no punching or gluing necessary.

Below are step-by-step instructions for binding a book with the Coverbind Personal Binding Machine:

  1. Use the built-in cover size selector located on the upper right corner of the machine to measure the thickness of your book.
  2. Select a thermal binding cover that has the spine width indicated by the cover size selector and place the pages of your document inside. Jog the pages by tapping the spine of the book against the table to ensure proper alignment.
  3. Place the cover into the binding channel with the spine side down. Depending on the thickness of each book, you can place up to five books into the binder.
  4. Press the red button on the lower right corner of the machine to start the binding cycle. The red indicator light will be illuminated while the cycle is in progress and will turn off automatically when the cycle is completed (approximately 60 seconds).
  5. Remove each book from the binding channel and tap the spine against the table in order to ensure that the pages settle into the adhesive while it is still warm.
  6. Place the books into the cooling rack with the spine side down, leaving them to cool for at least two minutes before opening them. Once cool, the binding process is complete.

How Do I Bind Books with the TB-C20A Comb Binding Machine?

The TruBind TB-C20A Comb Binding Machine is a budget-friendly comb binder that is both easy-to-use and durable. The fully-disengageable punching mechanism is capable of punching up to 20 sheets at a time (based on 20 lb. paper), and can accommodate documents up to 11.81″ in length. The TB-C20A comb binder has a built-in comb opener that works with standard, 19-ring plastic combs. With a three-position adjustable depth margin, this model can bind books up to 2″ thick (approximately 425 pages).

Below is a step-by-step guide for binding a book with the TB-C20A binding machine:

  1. Begin by setting the depth margin of the punch based on the size of the book that is being bound. The depth margin can be placed in three positions – 2.5mm, 4.5mm, and 6.5mm – using the sliding bar on the left side of the machine. As a general rule, thicker books require a greater punching depth margin than thinner books.
  2. Set the side guide to match the sheet size of your document. To adjust the side guide, loosen the black knob that holds it in place and slide the guide to the desired position. Once the guide is in place, tighten the black knob to secure it.
  3. Disengage pins as necessary to prevent any partially-punched holes. To disengage a die, pull the corresponding silver lever straight out from the machine until it stops. If you need to re-engage a previously disengaged die, push the silver lever back into the machine until it stops.
  4. Insert up to 20 sheets (based on 20 lb. paper) into the punching slot, aligning them to the side guide and the back of the punching throat.
  5. Pull the handle toward the front of the machine to punch the pages, then return it to its starting position to complete the punching process.
  6. Continue punching your document in sets of up to 20 sheets until all pages have been punched.
  7. Place a plastic binding comb into the comb opener with the open side facing up.
  8. Gently push the machine handle away from you to open the comb, stopping when the comb is open enough to insert your punched pages.
  9. Insert the punched pages of your document onto the open comb, starting with the front cover and working back.
  10. Once all of the pages have been placed onto the comb, pull the handle forward to close the comb. To remove the book from the comb opener, lift it straight up from the machine.

How Do I Clear a Jam in My Rhin-O-Tuff OD4012 Modular Binding Machine?

The Rhin-O-Tuff OD4012 Modular Binding Machine offers comb, coil, and wire punching capabilities using the E-Z Change Die System. This model features fully-disengageable pins on all dies, with an open throat and a robust 30-page punching capacity. The OD4012 is efficient and user-friendly, requiring minimal settings and adjustments for any project.

While the OD4012 rarely jams when used correctly, it has a built-in reverse function that automatically lifts the pusher bar and punch pins to their starting positions if the punching cycle is not completed within a preset amount of time. The most frequent cause for this type of jam is attempting to punch too many sheets at once. If the reverse function engages, allow the machine to attempt to return to its starting position before removing the jammed sheets. Once the pins have been retracted, turn the machine off and begin removing the jammed paper. The easiest way to release the jammed pages is to pull one or two sheets at a time from the bottom of the stack.

If the punch is unable to reset itself automatically, you will need to perform a manual reverse using the included reversing tool. Below is a step-by-step guide to performing a manual reverse on the Rhin-O-Tuff OD4012:

  1. Turn the machine off and unplug the power cord from the wall.
  2. Locate the silver plug on the left side panel of the machine (located to the rear of the panel). Gently remove the plug by prying it out with a small, flat tool.
  3. Insert the end of the reversing tool into the open hole until it aligns with the end of the motor shaft.
  4. Rotate the tool 5-10 counterclockwise turns, until the punch pins have been fully retracted.
  5. Remove the jammed pages from within the punching throat, pulling 1-2 pages at a time from the bottom of the stack until all pages have been cleared.
  6. Pull the reversing tool out of the machine and replace the silver plug.
  7. Plug the machine into an outlet and turn it on.
  8. Test the punching mechanism by attempting to run a punch cycle without any paper in the machine.
  9. Once you have verified that the pins successfully returned to their starting position at the end of the cycle, continue punching your document (slightly reducing the number of inserted pages).

How Do I Edit Books Using the Fastback 15xs Binding Machine?

The Powis Parker Fastback 15xs binding system creates durable softcover and hardcover books that can stand up to 50 lbs. of pull per page. In addition to being strong, books bound with the Fastback 15xs are also easy to edit. Below is a step-by-step guide to editing books with the Fastback 15xs thermal binder:

  1. Verify that the binder is in the “READY TO BIND” mode.
  2. Fold the corner of the page that you want to remove, then insert the page that you want to replace it with immediately behind. Ensure that the sheet is straight and positioned as close to the glue as possible, then close the book.
  3. Place your book into the binding channel, then press the “EDIT” button. The edit cycle will begin. The display screen will read “EDIT PREP,” the book clamps will close and the book will be moved toward the back of the machine.
  4. While the adhesive is being melted, pinch the front and back sections of the book so that the sheet with the folded page is left free. When the book clamps open and the display reads “EDIT NOW,” immediately pull the folded page out of the book. Tap the new page until it makes contact with the glue and is flush with the rest of the document.
  5. Lift your edited book out of the binding channel and place it into the cooling rack. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before opening it to ensure that the glue has set.

Note: If the page that you are removing does not lift out easily after the first editing cycle, run it through a second cycle.

How Do I Set the Bind Time on the Fastback 15xs Binding Machine?

The Fastback 15xs thermal binding machine from Powis Parker is a feature-packed, easy-to-use binding system that is ideal for office use. In just seconds, the Fastback 15xs takes your reports and presentations and transforms them into professionally-bound softcover or hardcover books. Though this model is designed to require almost no manual adjustments to bind most documents, it does offer the ability to easily make precise changes to the binding process in order to ensure a quality bind on even specialty paper types. The Bind Time setting allows you to increase the length of the binding cycle by up to 15 seconds to accommodate hard-to-bind paper (or even decrease the binding cycle length by up to five seconds when necessary). Below are step-by-step instructions for setting the bind time on the Fastback 15xs binding machine:

  1. Press the “OPEN” and “EDIT” buttons simultaneously to enter the Special Functions Menu. You can access this menu with or without a document in the binder.
  2. Push the “EDIT” button to advance through the menu; push the “OPEN” button to cycle through the menu in reverse.
  3. Select the “BIND TIME” option, then press the “BIND” button to confirm.
  4. The default message of “+00 SECONDS” will display on the screen. You can now adjust the bind time in five-second increments. Add time by pressing the “EDIT” button; reduce the length of the binding cycle by pressing the “OPEN” button.
  5. Once you have finished adjusting the bind time as desired, press “BIND” to confirm.
  6. Place your document into the machine, then press the “BIND” button. When prompted, insert the indicated Super Strip size and the Fastback 15xs will bind your document in the specified amount of time. During the binding cycle, the screen will briefly display the revised bind time.

Note: Unless a certain weight or type of paper is found to be particularly difficult to bind, changing the length of the binding cycle is not recommended.

How Do I Bind Books with the Fastback 15xs Binding Machine?

The Fastback 15xs binding system from Powis Parker is an innovative and dynamic thermal binding machine that is designed for large office use. It uses Fastback Super Strips to create both softcover and hardcover books with ease – without the need for messy gluing or time-consuming punching. Below is a step-by-step guide to binding a book using the Fastback 15xs binding machine:

  1. Turn the power switch to the “ON” position. The power switch is located on the lower left corner of the front of the machine. Once the machine is on, it will take approximately nine minutes to warm up. When it has reached its operating temperature, the display will read “READY TO BIND.”
  2. The book clamps will automatically open to a narrow width. If your document is thicker than the opening, press the “OPEN” button to create a larger gap for your book.
  3. Jog the pages of your book by tapping the binding edge against a flat surface a few times. This will help to ensure that they are properly aligned before binding. Place your jogged document into the Fastback 15xs, sliding it so that it is flush against the right side of the opening. Tap the pages again to make sure that they are aligned.
  4. Press the green “BIND” button. This will engage the book clamps and close them around your document.
  5. The display screen will indicate the correct Super Strip width based on the thickness of your book. Select a Super Strip of the indicated width, ensuring that the length of the strip matches the length of the binding edge of your document. Note: If you notice that some or all of your sheets have become misaligned, press the “OPEN” button to unclamp your document and realign your pages as necessary. Once the pages have been straightened, press the “BIND” button to continue the binding process.
  6. Insert the Super Strip into the guide on the right side of the machine, with the adhesive side up. Note: It is very important to ensure that the binding strip is inserted with the adhesive side up. If it is inserted upside-down, the glue will melt onto the surfaces of the binder and your document will not be bound.
  7. The binding cycle will begin automatically once the strip is inserted. When the binding cycle has been completed, the clamps will automatically open to release the document and the display screen will read “REMOVE BOOK.”
  8. Remove your bound document from the binding channel and place it into the cooling rack with the spine side down for a few minutes. Allowing your book to cool properly before using it will give the adhesive an opportunity to set and results in a durable, long-lasting bind.

How Do I Remove a Jammed Strip from my Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

The Fastback 20 thermal binding system from Powis Parker uses convenient, adhesive-lined binding strips to turn reports and presentations into attractive bound books. Using Fastback binding strips is very easy – simply insert a strip into the machine when indicated, and the machine does the rest. While binding with the Fastback Model 20 is nearly error-proof, you will likely experience a jam at one point or another. Below is a step-by-step guide to removing a jammed binding strip from your Fastback 20:

  1. Turn the power switch to the “Off” position and remove any books that are sitting on the Cooling Rack.
  2. Open the machine by inserting the eraser end of a pencil (or other similar object) through the hole in the lower right corner of the machine until the machine cover pops open slightly.
  3. Lift the cover until the latch engages and the cover remains in the upright position.
  4. Raise the heater platen assembly until it catches the magnetic stop. Locate the jammed strip at the bottom of the binder – it may be located in the feed slot or stuck to the heating platen itself.
  5. Use the included tongs to remove the strip.
  6. Remove any adhesive residue that remains on the platens. (See “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?” for cleaning instructions.)
  7. Pull the heater platen assembly toward you to disengage it from the magnet, then gently place it into its original position.
  8. Close the machine by releasing the left rear lever and pressing down on both sides of the cover. Once the latch clicks and the cover locks in position, the machine is ready to use again.

Troubleshooting Your Fastback 20 Binding System

The Fastback 20 thermal binder from Powis Parker is a user-friendly way to achieve professional-quality binding results in as little as 15 seconds. Designed with ease-of-use in mind, the Fastback 20 requires minimal user input in order to bind – simply place your book into the binding channel, insert the indicated Fastback binding strip, and the machine takes care of the rest. As with any piece of equipment, you will occasionally encounter errors that you will need to troubleshoot when using the Fastback Model 20.

If you receive an error message, begin by turning the power switch to the “Off” position. Open the machine by inserting the eraser side of a pencil (or similar object) into the hole located on the lower right corner of the face of the machine until the cover pops open slightly. Lift the cover until it locks in place, then do a quick visual inspection to ensure that there is not excessive adhesive residue, a jammed strip, or other foreign matter that may be causing the error. Close the cover, then turn the power switch back to the “On” position. If the error condition persists, refer to the list below for troubleshooting advice.

Problem:

  • The machine doesn’t have power.

Possible Solutions:

  • Ensure that the power cable is firmly inserted into both the machine and the power outlet.
  • Check the fuse to see if it has blown. If it has, replace it with a new fuse.
  • Verify that the power switch is in the “On” position.

Problem:

  • The machine is on, but no message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

  • This generally indicates a program error. Turn the power off, then back on to reset the system.

Problem:

  • Binding strips cannot be inserted into the machine.

Possible Solutions:

  • The Fastback 20 will only accept strips if the book clamp has been closed. Press the “BIND” button to close the book clamp around your document.
  • Verify that you are inserting the correct strip width. The display screen will indicate the correct strip width once the book clamp has measured the thickness of the document – only use the listed strip width.

Problem:

  • After the binding cycle has been completed, the book is not bound and no binding strip is present.

Possible Solutions:

  • The strip may have been fed with the adhesive side down. Check for misfed strip inside of the machine and clean away any adhesive residue that may have been left behind. Always insert Fastback binding strips with the adhesive side up.
  • The binding strip may have become twisted or damaged and jammed inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove the jammed strip, cleaning any remaining adhesive residue as is necessary.

Problem:

  • After binding, the strip is not aligned to the edge of the book.

Possible Solutions:

  • The wrong strip length may have been used. Fastback binding strips are offered in 8-1/2″ and 11″ lengths (14″ strips are available as a special order). Always use the strip that corresponds to the length of the binding edge of your document. To bind documents with other dimensions, see “Can I Bind Books with Unusual Dimensions Using the Fastback 20 Binding System?“
  • The strip that was used may have been damaged. Try binding with a new strip.
  • The binding strip end may need to be adjusted. Adjust using the “Strip End” setting on the Main Menu.

Problem:

  • After binding, the strip is extremely askew or only partially bound to book.

Possible Solutions:

  • The strip that was used may have been damaged. Try again with a new binding strip.
  • There may be adhesive residue on the binding surfaces that is interfering with the binding process. Clean any adhesive residue, following steps shown on the “Cleaning” animation on the display screen.

Problem:

  • The “Strip Jammed” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

Problem:

  • The “Detection Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

  • The machine was unable to detect a valid pattern on the strip being used. Ensure that you are using a genuine Fastback binding strip that has a valid pattern on the adhesive side.

Problem:

  • The “Book Too Thick” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solution:

  • The book is too large to be bound. Remove some pages from the book or consider breaking it into two separate books, then re-initiate the binding process.

Problem:

  • The “Carriage Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

Problem:

  • The “T2 T3 Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

Problem:

  • The “Sensor T3 Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

Problem:

  • The “Motor T3 Error” message appears on the display screen.

Possible Solutions:

  • Adhesive residue may have built up inside the machine. Remove the adhesive residue, following the instructions provided at “How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?“
  • A binding strip or foreign matter may be lodged inside of the machine. Open the machine and remove lodged objects as necessary.

How Do I Edit Books Using the Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

The Powis Parker Fastback 20 binding machine turns your printed reports and presentations into sleek and durable bound books using innovative Fastback binding strips. While books bound with Fastback strips are permanent, you do have the ability to make minor edits to books that you have previously bound using the Fastback 20. Below is a step-by-step guide to editing bound documents with the Fastback Model 20:

Begin by selecting the “Edit” option on the Main Menu. You will be guided through the following prompts:

  1. Insert New Page. Open your book flat and fold down the corner of the sheet that you want to replace. Insert the sheet that you want to add to the book immediately behind the sheet it is replacing, positioning it as close to the adhesive as possible (but not completely flush).
  2. Push Bind Button. Place your document into the binding channel, aligning it to the right side. Press the “BIND” button.
  3. Pinch Page Sections. During binding, pinch the front and back sections of the book so that the page with the folded corner is free.
  4. Remove Page. When the book clams open, immediately remove the folded page. With the document still in the binder, grab the folded corner and apply firm, uniform pressure as you peel it away from the spine working from left to right.
  5. Tap Down New Page. Tap along the top edge of the replacement page to ensure that it is even with the rest of the sheets in your document.
  6. Put Book in Cooling Rack. Lift the edited book out of the binding channel and place it into the Cooling Rack with the spine side down. Allow the book to cool for 2 – 3 minutes before removing it from the Cooling Rack, then allow it to cool for an additional 2 – 3 minutes before opening it.

Note: If the page that you are removing does not lift out easily on the first attempt, repeat steps 2 – 6.

How Do I Maintain My Fastback 20 Binding Machine?

Known for its ease of use, the Fastback 20 binding machine from Powis Parker is one of the most popular professional thermal binding systems on the market today. In addition to its user-friendly operation, the Fastback Model 20 is also very easy to maintain. Generally, you will only need to perform maintenance when adhesive build-up is visible on an operating part or when a strip has become jammed inside the machine. In this post, we’ll cover the steps for basic maintenance on the Fastback 20.

Cleaning the Two Red Heat Platens

Note: In the Main Menu, navigate to Instructions, then Cleaning. The display screen will then guide you through the steps for cleaning the platens and back-up bars.

  1. Turn the power switch to the Off position and allow the machine to cool for five minutes before cleaning.
  2. Remove any books that are in the Cooling Rack.
  3. Open the cover of the machine by pushing the eraser end of a pencil (or another similar object) through the hole located on the lower right corner of the machine until the cover pops open slightly.
  4. Lift the cover until the latch engages and the cover is held in the upright position. Note: Use caution when the cover is open, as other internal parts aside from the platens may be very hot.
  5. While wearing the included heat-protective glove, wipe the top side of the heating platens with a clean, dry, cotton cloth that has been dampened with the cleaning solution provided in your Accessory Pack. The surfaces should be wiped lengthwise until they are clean. If there is a large amount of adhesive build-up, you can also remove it by peeling it away from the cooled platen using a wooden ice cream stick. Do not use anything abrasive or made of metal to clean the platens, as they would scratch the coated red surfaces.
  6. Move the right rear belt to raise the front platen until it is level with the stationary rear platen. Rotate the large black gear located on the left until the underside of the platen is exposed. Following the same technique described in step 5, clean all exposed red surfaces along with the silver deflector plate that is attached at the bottom of the front platen.
  7. After you have finished cleaning the front platen, return it to its original position.
  8. Close the machine by releasing the left real lever and pressing down on both sides of the cover until the latch clicks and the cover locks in position.

Cleaning the Back-up Bars

Note: The back-up bars are positioned under the top cover and may, over time, accumulate adhesive. Use caution when cleaning the bars as they may be hot; wear the heat-protective glove that was included with your machine if necessary.

  1. Set the power switch to the “Off” position and wait five minutes to allow the machine to cool.
  2. Remove any books that are sitting in the Cooling Rack.
  3. To open the machine, push the eraser end of a pencil (or other similar object) into the hole located on the lower right corner of the machine until the cover pops open slightly.
  4. Lift the cover up until the latch engages and the cover is held open. Note: Use caution while the cover is open as internal parts may be very hot.
  5. To clean the front back-up bar, pull it toward you while simultaneously pushing back on the rear bar. While wearing the heat-protective glove, wipe the surfaces of the bar with a clean, soft cloth that has been dampened with the Cleaning Solution that was included in your Accessory Pack.
  6. To clean the rear back-up bar, pull the bar toward you while simultaneously pushing back on the front bar. Clean rear bar using the same technique described in step 5.
  7. Close the machine by releasing the rear lever and pressing down on both sides of the cover. Once the latch has clicked and the cover is locked in position, the machine is ready for use.