Glossary

Ever wonder what a mandrel is?  How about a tacking iron or a triplet lens?  Does the term gripper dog have you puzzled? Below you can find the answer to these questions and many others.  Can't find what you need? Call or email our Customer Service and Technical Support staff. They are ready to help you!

BANNER MATERIALS AND SUBSTRATES

Aqueous

Water-based.  One type of printing ink.  Various banner materials and substrates are characterized by their acceptance of aqueous inks.

Solvent

One type of printing ink (versus Aqueous). Various banner materials and printing substrates are classified by their acceptance of solvent-based inks.

BINDING

A4 (21 Holes)

Punch and bind wire where 21 holes are punched per inch.

2:1

Double loop 21-hole wire binding type where two holes are punched per inch.  21 total holes punched along the 11" side of a paper.

3:1

Double loop 32-hole wire binding type where three holes are punched per inch.  32 total holes punched along the 11” side of a paper.

4:1

Binding style where four holes are punched per inch.

5:1

Binding style where five holes are punched per inch.

19 ring wire

19 ring wire is double loop wire that has been made to fit through holes made by a plastic comb binding machine.  Also known as Spiral-O wire.

Binder Type or Binding Element

The type of supply used to bind your document such as Plastic combdouble loop wire, plastic coilvelo (book binding), or thermal cover.

Crimping Pliers

Used with coil binding, crimping pliers cut off and bend the excess coil after the coil has been inserted.

Die

The part of the binding machine that punches the paper.

Disengaging Die

The ability with some binding machines to fully control which holes are punched or not.  This feature is NOT available on most binding machines. Disengaging dies are not to be confused with interchangeable dies – see definition below.

Electric Punch

Punch paper with the touch of a button or foot pedal.

Interchangeable Die

Interchangeable dies are dies that can be completely removed from the machine and be replaced with a new die.

Legal (24 Holes)

Punch-and-bind wire designed for 24 holes on the 14” side of an 8-1/2" x 14" sheet of paper.

Legal-Size

Documents that are 8-1/2" x 14".  24 holes are punched on 14” side of paper.

Letter-Size

Documents that are 8-1/2" x 11".  19 holes are punched on 11” side of paper.

Mandrel

A cylinder looking unit that is used with coil binding machines with a coil inserter. The coil winds around the mandrel before being inserted into the punched document. The size of the mandrel depends on the size of coil being used.

Manual Punch

Pull a handle to punch holes in paper.

Margin Depth

How close holes are punched to the edge of the paper. There are usually 3 positions.  Binding machines can have either fixed or adjustable margin depth.

Margin Guide

Paper adjustment for accurate hole pattern.

Maximum Comb Size

The largest number of pages a comb will hold. Example: 2" comb will accommodate 425 sheets of paper.

Max Comb Size

The largest number of pages a comb will hold. Example: 2" comb will accommodate 425 sheets of paper.

Nipper Clamp

The part of the paper binding machine that squares off the book cover and wraps it neatly around the bound document.  If the book cover is not cut prior to binding, an additional paper cutter may be needed to cut of any excess paper.

Oversized Covers

19 holes. 8-3/4" x 11-1/4"

Pitch

The style of holes punched by a binding machine.  Hole spacing depends on the pitch of your binding machine.

Preset Punching Dies

Fixed punching pattern only punches letter-size documents. Some units also do legal-size documents.

Punch Capacity

The number of sheets of paper a machine punches at a time.

Selectable Dies

Punches between 2 and 21 holes, providing a pattern that will work for any size document.

Spiral-O Wire

19 ring wire that is double looped and has been made to fit through holes made by a plastic comb binding machine.

Waste or Catch Tray

The part of the machine that catches the punched out pieces of paper created during the paper punching process.

COLD / TAPE LAMINATING

Adhesive Transfer

Tacking adhesive on back of document with a release liner.

Built-In Corner Rounder

Rounds the corners of a document.

Cartridge

Holds rolls of tape.

Dual Laminate

Laminate on both sides (encapsulated).

Laminate / Adhesive Transfer

Laminate on top with adhesive on back.

Laminate / Magnetic Back

Laminate on top, magnet on back.

Refills

Rolls of tape that must be placed into cartridge.

Release Liner

Paper backing peels away to expose a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Single Sided Laminate

Laminate only on image side of document.

Tape Lamination

Non-heat activated film process, permanently tacky film fed from a film cartridge.

CUTTERS & TRIMMERS

Block-Style

Guide Bar Ensures the blade is constantly cutting a smooth, straight edge along document.

Clamping Bar

Keeps board from moving.

Electric Cutters

Utilize a pushbutton or foot-pedal control for hands-free operation.

Foot-Activated Control

For high production or larger banners that require both hands to align the document.

Heavy Duty Trimmer

Uses a 2-bar stabilizer system that prevents sway during the cut. For light- to heavyweight laminates and materials.

Industrial-Strength Trimmer

Uses the 2-bar and block stabilizer system when trimming. Also handles board stock.

Light-Duty Trimmer

Uses a single stabilizer bar for lighter weight materials.

Rotary Blade

A circular blade that rolls across the document.

Rotary Cutters

Use a circular blade. Most rotary cutters cut in both directions.

Self-Sharpening Blade

No need for sharpening, sharpens itself during use.

Straight Blade

Cuts cleanly through foam board products of various thickness without crushing or tearing.

Substrate Trimmer

Used to cut foam board, gator board, polystyrene, glass, and acrylic.

Substrate Cutters

Utilize a straightedge knife-style blade that cuts across the substrate in 1 direction.

DRY MOUNT

Colormount® Tissue

Permanent heat-activated tissue for mounting resin-coated photos.

Dry Mount Tissue

Permanent heat-activated adhesive for mounting porous papers or resin-coated photos.

Platen

Teflon®-coated plate provides consistent uniform pressure.

Pressure-Adjustment Knobs

Adjusts uniform pressure onto documents.

Release Paper

Reusable, protective overlay made of smooth, silicone-coated paper. Protects the inside of the machine.

Sponge Pad

Yellow pad located in base of dry-mount press.

Tacking Iron

Tacks document into position when dry mounting. Prevents shifting during the mounting process.

LAMINATING FILM

Acid-Free

The adhesive and plastic are free from acidity, which can damage photos and other acid-sensitive documents.

Adhesive Resin

Bonds to the document.

Butterfly

Film folded in half resulting in a border-free pouch. This type of pouch is intended for laser-ready plastic and other inserts. There are no sealed edges.

Copolymer Adhesive

Premium-grade adhesive resin, requiring a lower bonding temperature. Used for photographs, color copier papers and clay-coated surfaces. The adhesive will stick to some plastics, vinyl and metals.

Crystal Matte

Reduces reflected light for easy viewing.

Deep Crystal

Durable matte finish with a granular sand like texture. Reduces incidental scratches.

Foam Board

Substrate for mounting documents.

Glossy

Glass-like appearance.

Low-Density Adhesive

An economical adhesive that requires a higher laminating temperature in order to melt or bond the film. Used with porous papers.

Matte

Slightly granular texture. Write-on capabilities accept pencil, pen or marker.

Mil Weight

A thickness of lamination film. The higher the mil number, the thicker the film.

Mylar

Type of laminating film.

Polyester

Type of laminating film.

Poly Out

The term “Poly” is a reference to the adhesive side of the laminate film.  For 1" core and 3" core roll films, the film is wound Poly In.

Poly Out

The term “Poly” is a reference to the adhesive side of the laminate film.  For 2-1/4" core roll laminating films, the film is wound Poly Out.

Polyolefin Shrink Wrap

The 75-gauge removable film is FDA-approved for sealing food. Used with shrink-wrap packaging systems.

Pouch

A layer of polyester base and a layer of adhesive resin hinged at one side.

Pouch Board - A foam board that has a heat-activated mounting adhesive and a laminating film overlay. Used for 1-step mounting and laminating.

A foam board that has a heat-activated mounting adhesive and a laminating film overlay. Used for 1-step mounting and laminating.

Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive

Clear film coated with 2 adhesives. One side of the adhesive adheres to a specific print media while the other adheres to a specific surface. All cold adhesives come with release liners that keep film from adhering before desired time.

Pressure-Sensitive Laminating Film

Cold film requires no heat or very limited amount of heat. This type of film has a paper or clear release liner, which needs a take-up mandrel on the roll laminator.

Pressure-Sensitive Pouch

A self-stick adhesive layer on the back of a laminating pouch. After lamination, the protective release liner is removed and the document is affixed in the desired position.

Ratio

Used to express the film and adhesive composition. Example: 3/2 which is 5 mil. The first number represents the polyester base film, and the second represents the adhesive.
 

Regular

Two sheets of film held together by a 1/8" seal on the leading edge. The seal makes it easy to align document.

Rounded Corners

Corners of pouch are rounded.

Satin

Soft glare-free look.

Self-Adhesive Board

Substrate for mounting documents. This substrate has a pressure-sensitive adhesive, protected by a paper release liner.
 

Shrink Wrap

75-gauge film for sealing packages use with shrink wrap packaging systems.

Single-Sided

One side has laminate, back has cardboard mount backing. Only visible through one side.
 

Slot

Pre-cut slot in pouch which can be horizontal or vertical.
 

Splice

Film splices are the point where two pieces of laminating film are joined together on the same roll.  Splices are not common, but do occasionally appear.

Square Corners

Corners of pouch are square.

Thermal

Heat activated.
 

Tru Crystal

Crystallized matte finish for inkjet prints and digital graphics.

Ultraviolet

UVA and UVB blockers act as screens, protecting documents from fading.

Vinyl

Film with more elasticity than polyester films. They are softer and more flexible.

OVERHEAD PROJECTORS

Closed Head

The closed head stays dust free, requires less cleaning, and keeps fingerprints from the lens surface and mirrors.
 

Doublet Lens

Projects a 50" x 50" image at a distance of 6´6" since the image is projected through 2 lenses instead of 1.

Electronic Projection

Accomplished with the use of either LCD panels or multimedia projectors.

EVW, ENX, EVD, FXL, ENG

Types of overhead projection lamps.
 

Lamp

Light source projected through transparency film or LCD panel then passed through a series of lenses and mirrors to illuminate image on a screen or wall.

Lamp Change Feature

Spare back-up lamp in case of a bulb failure.

LCD Panels

PC or laptop is plugged into the LCD panel. Images that appears on the PC monitor are then projected onto the wall or screen.
 

Lumens

Light output (2000 lumens is adequate in a dark conference room).

Open Head

Easier to fold down for storage and easier to adjust the head/mirror angle to the screen.
 

Reflective

Transmits light from the projector head down onto the stage glass and reflects back up through the transparency.

Roller Attachment

Accommodates standard-size write-on rolls. Easy mounting for front-to-back or side-to-side operation.
 

Screen Size

Dictates magnification possible from projector to screen.
 

Singlet Lens

Projects a 50" x 50" image at a distance of 5´6" and provides a good quality center image.
 

Transmissive

The light source is in the base of the projector. The light is transmitted up through the stage glass, through the transparency film or LCD panel then to the projector head.

Triplet Lens

Projects a 50" x 50" image at a distance of 6´2" and provides the best clarity.
 

PHOTO ID CAMERAS

2-Shot Camera

Primarily used for passport photography that requires a 2" x 2" photo. Takes photos of 1 or 2 subjects.

4-Shot Camera

Takes 1 or 2 photos of an individual at a time. Take 1, 2 or 4 subjects.

Aiming Light

Position beam of light on subject's chin for centered placement.

Face Brightener

Improves subject's contrast with the background by highlighting skin tones.

LCD Panel

Liquid crystal display panel that displays words and characters providing instructions regarding the photo taking process.

LED Panel

Panel of indicator lights showing progress through each step of the photo taking process.

Point-and-Shoot Camera

Point aiming lights and shoot picture.
 

Pull Film Indicator

Alerts user that film is ready to be pulled from the camera.
 

Selection Control

Allows the operator to select number of shots on an individual sheet of film.

Timer Feature

Calculate the exact time required to properly develop the film.

POUCH LAMINATORS

Back Rollers

Finishing rollers (4-roller machine).

Carrier

Protective sleeve for pouch.

Clouding Effect

Film is not clear after lamination which means not enough heat is used.

Cooling Tray

A flat surface for exiting lamination to cool down and prevent curling.

Front Rollers

Feed rollers (4-roller machine).

Orange-Peel Effect

Using too much heat.
 

Platens

Heat source.

Pouch

Precut lamination film sealed on one edge.

Spring-Loaded Rollers

Allow for the ability to laminate and mount.

Stitched Carrier

Carrier with special stitched leading edge used with 2-roller pouch machines.

ROLL LAMINATORS

Bottom Mandrel

Holds bottom roll of film.

Color Code System

Helps easily match up the correct side of the roll laminating film to the correct mandrel on a roll laminator.

Cooling Fans

Located at rear of machine to cool film and prevent curling.
 

Dual Temperature Control

Adjusts temperature of each individual shoe or roller.

Electric Reverse

Pushbutton that reverses the drive of the rollers when depressed.

Feed Guide

Helps guide document into laminator.

Feed Table

Used to set document on before feeding into laminator.

Friction Stud

Located on upper/lower right side housing that mandrels fit into (ARL, CSL, MiniKote).

Gripper Dog

Metal tooth protruding from mandrel surface that grips cardboard film core located on upper/lower mandrel.

Heat Guard

Protects hands from hot heat shoe when feeding document into laminator.

Heated Roller

A laminating roller that also heats up. A heated roller melts the adhesive of the laminating film and applies pressure at the same time (HRL).

Heat Shoe

A stationary aluminum heater that melts the adhesive of the laminating film prior to entering the laminating rollers (ARL, CSL,CRL, MRL).

Idler Bar

Film passes behind idler when loading film. There is an upper/lower idler bar.

Manual Reverse

Free floating hand crank that will reverse rollers when depressed and turned.
 

Pressure Adjustment

Lever lock rotates by hand to adjust roller pressure for board mounting (CRL42 Plus, MRL 42, HRL).
 

Pressure-Sensitive Take-Up Mandrel

Mandrel peels away the release liner and rolls it up for easy discard.
 

Single Temperature Control

Adjusts both heat shoes at the same time.

Slitters

Cutting device used to automatically trim 1 or 2 sides of the exiting laminated document.

Threading Board

Used to push film into laminator when loading film.

Upper Mandrel

Holds top roll of film.

TRANSPARENCY FILM

Black Image On Clear Background

Black writing on clear transparency film.

Computer Graphics

Create text or image on computer, then print out transparency on printer.

High Heat

Preshrunk and stabilized film used in copiers that use extreme heat to fuse the toner.

Infrared

Film is notched to remind user that there is a preferred imaging side to the film.
 

Laser Printer Film

Coated on both sides with a customized coating that is designed to accept the dry toners from laser printers.

No Stripe

Films for copiers not requiring a sensing stripe.

Paper Backed

Paper is attached to back of film to streamline the feeding process into copier.

Plain-Paper Copier Film

Coated on both sides with a customized coating that is designed to accept the dry toner used in all copiers.

Plain-Paper Copier Machines

Replace normal paper with a special PPC transparency film and make a copy as normal.
 

Printed Stripe

Films for copiers requiring a sensing stripe. Stripe is printed on film.

Removable Stripe

Films for copiers requiring a sensing stripe. Stripe can be removed from film.

Write-On Film

Write or draw directly on a sheet or roll of film using marking pens.