Preventative Maintenance - Cleaning

We recommend regular cleaning of most machines to help extend their life and help prevent more frequent, costly parts replacement.  This can be done by a professional, or often, you may be able to do this yourself.  This page contains information to help clean PaperFolder Co. folders and folder/inserter machines. Also, there are some tips about paper jams below.

Why Should You Clean?

Over time, Folding machines and Folder/Inserter Machines gather toner, ink, dust, and fiber buildup on the rollers from use.  This debris causes the rollers to become slick and not perform properly. When you clean them, you remove the glaze build up.  The rollers are consumable parts and will need to be replaced.  However, cleaning them before they need to be replaced, helps extend their life.

What You Need - The Cleaning Product

The most important and frequently used product you need to clean a folder or folder/inserter is a can of roller cleaner.  There are many brands you may use.  Here is one we trust and is not expensive: Rubber Roller Cleaner

You will also want to invest in some lint-free cloths.

Before You Clean

•  Always make sure your machine is turned off and unplugged before you begin to clean it.

•  Make sure all paper has been removed from the machine and trays.

•  Have the roller cleaner with you.

•  Have the lint-free cloths with you.

•  Each machine has a path to gain access to the rollers.  Please follow the machine's operator manual to identify the rollers and access any parts you have the knowledge to clean.

How To Clean

Follow both the rubber roller cleaner guide on the package and the manufacturer's instructions in the manual.  In short, you will apply the roller cleaner to the lint-free cloth and wipe down the rollers.  You will want to use several cloths.  You will see that the cloths will quickly turn black with debris.  You will also want a dry lin-free cloth handy to wipe the rollers after they have been cleaned.

After You Clean

Run 20 or 30 sheets of blank paper through your machine. Any excess cleaner reside will come off on the blank sheets. The frequency in which your rollers will need cleaning will depend on the volume and condition/print on the sheets running through the machine.

Clearing Jams

Removing Jams

Refer to your machine's operator manual for instructions on how to remove a jam from your folder or folder/inserter.  Please know that for any jam removal, you should not separate the rollers too much.  The consequence of doing so is that you could incidentally stretch the springs that hold the rollers together on one or both sides.  This will cause the paper to be skewed or not enter the machine properly.