ASTRO ATS-12 User manual

ASTRO
ATS-12 TABBER
OPERATOR MANUAL

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
THIS EQUIPMENT PRESENTS NO PROBLEM WHEN USED PROPERLY.
OBSERVE SAFETY RULES WHEN OPERATING THE ATS-12 TABBER.
BEFORE USING TABBER, READ MANUAL CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW
RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES, SAFETY WARNINGS, AND INSTRUCTIONS:
9 Keep hands, hair, and clothing clear of rollers and other moving parts.
9 Avoid touching moving parts or materials while the machine is in use. Before clearing a jam, be
sure machine mechanisms come to a stop.
9 Always turn machine OFF before making adjustments, cleaning the machine, or performing any
maintenance covered in this manual.
9 Plug the power cord supplied into a properly grounded, easily accessible wall outlet located
near the machine. Failure to properly ground the machine can result in severe personal injury
and/or fire.
9 Power cord and wall plug is the primary means of disconnecting machine from power supply.
9 DO NOT use an adapter plug on the line cord or wall outlet.
9 DO NOT remove the ground pin from the line cord.
9 DO NOT route the power cord over sharp edges or trap it between furniture.
9 Avoid using wall outlets that are controlled by wall switches, or shared with other equipment.
9 Make sure there is no strain on the power cord caused by jamming it between equipment, walls
or furniture.
9 DO NOT remove Covers. Covers enclose hazardous parts that should only be accessed by a
qualified service representative. Report any cover damage to your service representative.
9 This machine requires periodic maintenance. Contact your authorized service representative for
required service schedules.
9 Use this equipment only for its intended purpose.
In addition, follow any specific occupational safety and health standards for your workplace or area.
This manual is intended solely for the use and information of Astro Machine Corp., its designated
agents, customers, and their employees. The information in this guide was obtained from several
different sources that are deemed reliable by all industry standards. To the best of our
knowledge, that information is accurate in all respects. However, neither Astro Machine Corp. nor
any of its agents or employees shall be responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 – Getting Acquainted 1
Section 2 – Assembly and Installation 3
Assembly 3
Installation 4
Section 3 – Operating Tabber 5
Loading Tabs: 5
Tab Sensitivity Adjustment 6
Adjusting Metering Bracket and Guides 7
Media Supports and Side Guide Adjustment 8
Feeding and Tabbing Media 9
Troubleshooting 9
Section 4 - Maintenance 11
Cleaning 11
Feed Rollers and Forwarding Rollers 11
Cleaning Sensors 11
Appendix - Specifications 13
Index 14

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ii
NOTES
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GETTING ACQUAINTED
1
Section 1 –Getting Acquainted
General: ATS-12 Tabber is a desktop tabbing machine designed for moderate volume
users. Handles documents ranging from 3" x 5" card stock to 11" x 11" booklets
up to 5/32" thick.
Tabber processes a range of “Tabs” in most colors, either round or square, from 5/8" to
1-1/4" in length and width.
Front View
1.
Tab Sensor and Guide Assembly
–
Keeps tab aligned, allows Sensor to sense tab.
2.
Tab Roll Side Guide
– Holds tab roll in place on Tab Roll Support.
3.
Reel Brake Assembly
–
Prevents tab roll from unwinding when it is not being fed.
4.
Tab Take-up Reel
–
Winds up the tab backing material.
5.
Metering Bracket Assembly
– Separates media so only one piece feeds at a time.
6.
Tracking Rollers
– Guide media through Tabber.
7.
Tab Positioning Adjustment Knob
–
Adjusts position of tab on media.
8.
Tab Pressure Knob
– Puts pressure on tab to hold it against Tab Advance Roller.
9.
Tab Advance Knob
– Attached to Tab Advance Roller that feeds tabs.
10.
Exit Roller
–
Applies pressure to tab to help it stick to media.

GETTING ACQUAINTED
2
Rear View
1.
Media Support
–
Supports media during feeding.
2.
Media Side Guides
–
Help maintain position of media in relation to tabs.
3.
Tab Roll Support
– Tab Roll mounts here.
4.
Media Counter
–
Tracks number of pieces fed. Resettable.
5.
Tab Feed Switch – Feeds tabs by depressing this switch while
Media Switch is depressed.
6.
Media Feed Switch
– Pressing switch causes media to feed.
7.
Tab Sensitivity Adjustment Knob – Different tabs have different densities.
This adjustment compensates for different types of tabs.
8.
Main Power Switch
– Controls power to Tabber.
9.
Fuse
– Protects motor and electronics.
10
Power Inlet
–
Power cord plugs in here.
Theory of operation:
Stand-alone Tabber can process media into a stacker or tray. It processes various sizes of media and places
a single “tab” on the lead edge of the media. Media length: 3.6" to 11". Thickness: from a C-folded sheet
of 20# bond paper to a booklet 5/32" thick. Process media at speeds up to 12,000 pieces per hour
(depending on operator skill, media length (depth) and type of material).
When media is fed, a Media Sensor detects lead edge of media and feeds a tab into position. Media contacts
tab and Exit Roller presses tab to media and carries media out of Tabber. At the same time, tab feed stops
until another piece of media is seen by Media Sensor. Sensitivity of Tab Sensor is adjusted by Tab Sensor
Adjustment on rear of Tabber for different types of tabs.

ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION
3
Section 2 –Assembly and Installation
Assembly
Follow steps below to assemble Tabber:
Step 1: Remove all components
from carton.
Step 2: Attach two Media Support Guides
using two thumbscrews provided. Pin on
Guide fits into lower hole. Secure Guide
with thumbscrew as shown.
Step 3: Install two Side Guides over
Metering Bracket Support Bar.
Tighten thumbscrew.
Step 4: Loosen thumbscrew.
Place slot on Tab Roll Support over stud
and slide it down until it reaches
thumbscrew. Tighten thumbscrew.

ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION
4
Installation
Place Tabber on a flat surface away from
windows or heat sources and near an
electrical outlet. Plug power cord into
receptacle on side of Tabber and then plug
it into wall outlet.
CAUTION
DO NOT USE AN ADAPTER PLUG OR EXTENSION CORD TO
CONNECT TABBER TO WALL RECEPTACLE.
DO NOT USE OUTLETS CONTROLLED BY WALL SWITCHES.
DO NOT USE AN OUTLET THAT SHARES SAME CIRCUIT WITH
LARGE ELECTRICAL MACHINES OR APPLIANCES.

OPERATING TABBER
5
Section 3 –Operating Tabber
Six steps required to set-up ATS-12 Tabber to apply tabs to your media:
Step 1: Load a roll of tabs on Tabber. (Page 5)
Step 2: Set sensitivity of Tab Sensor. (Page 6)
Step 3: Adjust Metering Bracket Assembly to media. (Page 7)
Step 4: Adjust Media Supports and Media Side Guides to media. (Page 8)
Step 5: Adjust Tab Position. (Page 8)
Step 6: Load media on Tabber and turn Main Power Switch ON.
Activate Tab Switch, then press Feed Switch to start Feed Rollers.
Loading Tabs:
1. Remove Exit Roller, then remove
Tab Roll Side Guide by pulling it
away from Tab Roll Support.
2. Mount Tab Roll with tab leader
coming off roll on exit side of
Tabber. Reinstall Tab Roll
Side Guide.
3. Unwind approximately 12 inches
of tabs and remove first 12 tabs
from backing material.
4. Thread Tab Roll leader behind
Reel Brake Assembly and then in
front of Idler Roller. Then thread
leader through Tab Sensor Guide
Assembly. This can be done by
pulling leader down past Sensor
Guide Assembly and then sliding
strip into slot on Guide from side.
5. Thread leader through metal lip
and up between Abrasive Roller and Pressure Roller. It helps to release pressure
on Pressure Roller during this process. Release Pressure Roller.
6. Turn Tab Advance Knob counterclockwise and feed 2" to 3" through center of
Tab Take-up Reel pins.
7. Center paper backing in black plastic Tab Guide and Sensor Assembly.

OPERATING TABBER
6
Note: Turning Tab Pressure knob to OFF helps with alignment.
Turn Pressure Knob back ON after centering.
8. Set Tab Side Guide to confine, but
not bind tab backing. Adjust Tab
Guide and Sensor Assembly so
that Red centerline is in
approximate center of tab.
9. Replace Exit Roller by pushing it
back into its Holder.
Tab Sensitivity Adjustment
Tabber can use two types of tabs:
Type 1: Paper tab with plain
paper backing.
Type 2: Clear plastic or translucent paper
tab with black or brown backing behind
tab and a white stripe between tabs.
DO NOT use clear tabs that have white
backing behind tab and a black line
between tabs.
1. Remove Exit Roller.
2. With tab exposed under Sensor, turn Main Power Switch ON.
3. Turn Tab Sensitivity Adjustment Knob fully counterclockwise. Then turn it
clockwise until Red LED above Adjusting Knob lights.
4. Turn Tab Pressure Knob OFF and roll tabs backwards until Red LED turns OFF.
Turn Tab Sensitivity Knob clockwise until Red LED lights again.
(Example: LED illuminates at position 4 with tab under Sensor and at position
10 with backing or white line under Sensor. Difference between the two positions
is six clicks.) Turn Tab Sensitivity Knob counterclockwise to position 7, which is
halfway between 3 and 10.