PJD Customer  tips and information

We’ll list some of the basic terms and properties of paper which may help you pick the right type for your copying needs. However, be aware that your copier must be able to handle the paper you want to use. Only use paper that is designed for your brand and model of copier.

• Paper Weight
  Paper weight varies as it can be as light as newsprint and as heavy as cardboard. Paper weight is described in pounds and most standard business papers range from 20 to 24 lbs. For example, greeting cards are made out of paper that weighs between 60 to 79 lbs and photocopier bond paper is usually a 40 pound stock.
  
• Thickness
  The thickness of the paper affects its handling characteristics and is an important point in photo paper. Thicker paper is stiffer and harder to tear and crease. Paper thickness is usually referred to in "mil" or .001 inch.
  
• Size
  Paper is referred to by its dimensions and the ISO has set a standard for paper however it may vary from country to country with numerous additions. The most common sizes in America are letter (8.5 x 11 inches), legal (8.5 x 14 inches) and tabloid (11 x 17 inches).
  
• Brightness
  The brightness of paper refers to the amount of light that is reflected from its surface. The more light reflected means the higher the brightness value is. A higher brightness will give you crisper text and more vivid images because of a brighter background, especially in color.
  
• Opacity
  The opacity refers to how well the paper can block the passage of light. The more opaque a piece of paper is, the less it will show through what has been printed on the other side of it. Opacity is important if you’re copying pages to make things such as brochures, newsletters, calendars and two sided documents.
• Finish
  The paper’s finish refers to its surface. There are many types of finishes such as matte, glossy, semi-gloss, soft-gloss and satin-gloss. The paper’s finish will have an effect on how the copy will look. For example, a high gloss finish will produce a shiny, mirror-like finish, while matte is a duller type of finish.
• Smoothness

The smoothness describes how text and images appear on the copied page. The smoother a paper's finish is, the sharper and crisper the text and images will appear to be.

Most copy papers are specially moisture balanced so they will work without problems in copiers. Paper jams are often blamed on the paper, but the performance of copy paper can be affected by improper storage and handling.

Some paper tips include:

• Fan the paper before loading it into the copier to reduce static. This way the paper won’t stick together.
• Look for the arrow on the package label to find out which side of the paper should face up.
• Don’t store copy paper on the floor and in humid areas. Keep the wrapper on it until needed as the wrapper has a plastic moisture barrier layer to keep out humidity.
• Keep the paper flat as much as possible.

Laser and ink jet papers are marketed for those types of copiers, however most copy and bond papers will work fine. Many papers are marketed as dual purpose or multi purpose, to meet the needs for bond, copy, laser, and ink jet papers. Imaging papers are generally used for copying images and color designs. Make sure the paper you use for copying is rated for copier use, especially if you have a high-speed copier.

Because millions of copies are made around the world each year, copy paper has become somewhat of environmental issue as paper leads to the destruction of trees. This has brought about the increased usage of recycled copier paper which is virtually indistinguishable from non-recycled or virgin paper as it has similar performance, color and cost. Office equipment warrantees now permit the use of recycled copy paper and some manufacturers such as Xerox and Hewlettt Packard even sell recycled-content papers under their own brand names.

Copier Maintenance

Troubleshooting your copier

It doesn’t really matter if you have a small inexpensive discount copier or a top of the line color digital model, you will still have to do some routine maintenance on it to keep it running properly. Even if you have a service agreement there are little things you should do yourself. These are a few tips that may help keep your copier in good working order. Remember these are preventative maintenance suggestions and not repairs.

• You can help reduce paper jams by fanning the copier paper by hand before putting it in the copier because the rollers may try to pull more than one sheet through and cause a paper jam.

• When taking out jammed paper, try to avoid tearing it off and leaving a piece inside.
• Check your original document paper for curls and wrinkles before putting them into the copier as small creases can cause a jam.
• Clean the glass everyday to remove dirt. This will help reduce electrostatic charge and helps the paper to slide through the copier.
• Keep all paper clips, staplers and elastic bands away from the copier as they can cause serious damage if they get into the housing or drum.
• When changing cartridges make sure to clean up any toner that spills as the toner particles collect inside the copier and may settle on a sensor which will preventing the copier from working.
• Never use sharp objects to remove a paper jam. Scissors, knives and pens can cause damage to belts and rollers.
• If you’re having a problem with your copier read the troubleshooting section of the owner’s manual for an explanation and follow the instructions.
• Make sure that all employees are trained on proper use of the copier.
• Keep your copier 6 to 12 inches from the wall to make sure it’s properly ventilated as air needs to circulate around the electronic circuit boards inside of it.
• If possible, keep the copier in an air conditioned room to reduce humidity as humid air can cause paper to stick together.