Paper Weights

More Paper & Printing Tables

Paper

Bond Paper, the most common paper used in copiers, includes xerographic, laser and DP (Dual Purpose).

• Xerographic paper is manufactured specifically to work well in copiers. It has a very smooth surface that allows for reliable paper feed, good solid area fill and complete fusing. There is a minimum of paper dust and fuser contamination. Copier specifications are written based on 20 lb. Xerographic paper.
• Laser paper is similar to xerographic, but is even smoother so that originals created on a laser printer have better quality.
• DP (Dual Purpose) paper is a cross between xerographic paper and book paper is designed to run well in both

Book Paper, also known as Offset or Text paper, is designed to work well on offset presses and digital duplicators (Priport).

• More porous surface allows for better absorption of liquid ink.
• Runs well in xerographic copiers, however solid area fill and fusing may not be as good.

Index or Card Stock, is an uncoated heavier paper generally used for covers and dividers.

• Solid area fill is usually good due to the smooth surface.
• Can cause feeding and fusing problems in some copiers.

The feed system must be in excellent condition to feed the stiffer paper, and its heavier weight takes more heat in the fusing area to completely fuse the image to the paper.

Cover Stock, similar to card stock but is available in coated or uncoated varieties. It has a more finished or glossy appearance but does not run well in copiers because its slick surface makes it difficult to transport the paper reliably.

Bristol Stock, a board grade of paper used in applications such as packaging which require folding, embossing or stamping. This paper has a softer surface than index paper. It is not usually used in copiers.

How Paper Weight Is Determined

Paper weight is determined by weighing 500 full sheets of paper. The size of a full sheet of paper is different for the different types of paper.

The Paper Weight Conversion Chart lists the full sheet size for each paper type.

A full sheet of Bond paper is 17" x 22" inches (the equivalent of four sheets of letter size paper). Four reams of 20lb letter size bond paper should weigh 20 pounds.

A full sheet of Book Paper is larger, 25" x 38" inches. Therefore, 500 full sheets of Book paper that is the equivalent weight of 20lb. Bond paper, will weigh more (50lb.).

The chart shows that 20lb. Bond paper is on the same line as 50lb. Book paper. That means the equivalent weight of the paper is the same and they would be about the same thickness.

Copier specifications for paper weights are written in Bond weights. If a copier can run 14 to 42lb. Bond paper, and you know the equivalent weights of Book paper, you can determine that it will accept from 40 to 100lb. Book paper.

Recycled Paper

A Brief History

While recycling may seem like a recent trend, it has been around in the paper industry for quite some time. According to the Paper Information Center, American Paper Institute, Inc. in Washington, DC, the American paper industry began with a small recycling mill in Colonial Pennsylvania 300 years ago. That mill made writing papers from cloth rags.

The October, 1993 issue of Office Systems 93 states "Although many buyers have been unaware, paper has always been recycled. The scraps from newly manufactured paper are routinely gathered up from paper-mill floors and dumped back into the processor. Now these scraps are officially called ‘pre-consumer waste.’ "

In the 1070’s, there was a move towards recycled paper that did not last very long. It was motivated in large part to reduce the amount of trees cut down to manufacture paper. Recycled paper, however, did not have a very good reputation in the copying and printing industries at that time. It had many problems, including misfeeding, poor copy quality, falling apart on the presses and difficulty achieving proper registration. According to International Paper Company, this was probably the result of an improper fiber mix. A noble idea, but without a market due to poor quality.

The quality of recycled paper has improved dramatically. Some grades of recycled paper are difficult to tell from virgin paper. Although you will still come across recycled paper that looks and feels recycled, it is usually produced that way intentionally for customers who want a "recycled" look.

In the United States we have been using different paper sizes than the rest of the world. That puts paper sizes into two main categories:

1. American paper, measured in inches.

2. Metric paper, measured in millimeters.

As you can see, A4 paper is very close in size to letter size paper. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as "European Letter".

Recycled Paper

Paper can be made from virgin fibers, pre-consumer waste, post-consumer waste or any combination of the three. The amount of each is measured in percentages. The symbol of three "chasing" arrows is used to identify the recycled content in a paper product. Under the symbol will be an indication of the amount of each type of recovered fiber. Recovered fiber can include both pre- and post-consumer waste.

20% Post Consumer Waste

The definition of recycled paper has changed. It was 10% post-consumer waste, 40% pre-consumer waste and 50% virgin fiber. The February 1996 issue of In-Plant Printer says "Today the definition tends toward 20% post-consumer and 80% virgin. This meets the criteria for the Executive Order for papers purchased by the government."

Today recycling is back to stay! We still want to reduce the amount of trees cut down, but now we have an even more pressing issue: the landfills are filling up. Many have closed and few new ones are being opened. Couple that with new federal. State and local government regulations, the willingness of businesses to collect used paper, a paper industry committed to producing quality recycled paper and having the technology to produce it and you have all the ingredients necessary to increase the amount of paper being recycled.

Recycled Paper

Definition Of Terms

Deinking (pronounced dee-ink-ing) – process in which fibers from printed waste paper are recovered with heat, chemicals and mechanical treatments that remove ink, toner, coating and fillers plus other contaminants and undesirable materials from waste paper.

Fiber – strands in the pulp used for paper making. This includes cellulose fibers recovered from waste paper as well as virgin fibers chemically produced from wood.

Mill Broke – any paper waste generated in a paper mill before the completion of the paper making process. It is generally returned directly to the pulping process and reused in paper making. Mill Broke is not dry paper waste and, therefore, does not qualify as recovered fiber suitable for recycled paper.

Post-Consumer Waste – paper that has passed through its end use in offices, stores, homes and other areas. These materials usually require deinking before they can be reused in the paper making process.

Pre-Consumer Waste – manufacturing waste such as dry paper generated after the paper making process (butt rolls, rejected unused stock, roll converting shavings, envelope cuttings, etc.). Also includes printer overruns and other printed paper that has not reached the consumer.

Pulp – cellulose fibers from which paper is produced. This includes reclaimed paper as well as wood and natural plant materials such as cotton.

Recycled Paper – paper that meets minimum reclaimed content standards established by federal, state and local governments, and the paper industry. Fiber content usually consists of post-consumer and pre-consumer reclaimed fiber plus virgin pulp.

Recycling Symbol – three "chasing" arrows forming a connecting circle and enclosed within an outside circle. Arrows superimposed on a dark background indicate that the product is made with recycled material. Arrows superimposed on a white or light background indicate the product can be recycled.

Virgin Fiber – is wood and other cellulose fibers that have never been used in the paper making process.

Reduction & Enlargement

Ricoh Business Solutions, Pac West offers our customers a variety of ways to reduce or enlarge their documents.

Preset Ratios. Commonly used reduction and enlargement ratios are available to the user at the touch of a key. Some common ones are:

• 50% Reduces ledger size to statement size.
• 65% Reduces ledger size to letter size or letter to statement.
• 74% Reduces 11x15 (computer form) to letter.
• 77% Reduces legal to letter.
• 85% Reduces 8.5x13 to letter or 10x14 to legal.
• 93% Reduces A4 paper to letter or Creates a margin.
• 121% Enlarges legal to ledger.
• 129% Enlarges letter to ledger or statement to letter.
• 155% Enlarges statement to legal.
• 200% Enlarges statement to ledger.

Analog copiers typically have a range of 50% to 200%. Digital copiers typically have a range of 25% to 400%.

Auto Reduce & Enlarge. The system reads the size of the original using the same technology used in Auto Paper Select. The original is then reduced or enlarged to the correct magnification ratio so that it will fit properly onto the paper size selected by the operator.

Zoom. If the user needs a magnification ratio other than one of the Preset ratios, the ‘plus’ or ‘minus’ keys can be used to scroll to the desired ratio.

10-Key Zoom. Minimizes the key strokes used in Zoom. After selecting 10-Key Zoom, the operator simply enters the desired magnification ratio using the number keys. The system will go directly to the selected ratio.

Feeding Transparencies And Adhesive Labels In Ricoh Copiers

The use of transparency film (overhead transparencies, or OHP) and adhesive labels in Ricoh copiers requires care and judgment to ensure proper results. Transparency film of the wrong type can melt within the system in high-temperature areas. Adhesive labels fed improperly can cause serious and expensive damage to the copier. Proper feeding requires the use of the by-pass tray for both transparencies and sheets of adhesive labels. Under no circumstances should adhesive labels be loaded into one of the paper trays. It is imperative that adhesive labels be fed into the by-pass tray. Similarly, unless the copier’s operating manual specifically states that transparencies can be loaded into a designated paper tray (generally only in specific high-speed copiers), the by-pass tray must also be used to feed transparencies.

Transparency Film

There are a number of transparency films that are designed for use in plain paper copiers. Selection of the proper type for your system will ensure high-quality imaging while ensuring that the transparency will feed properly. Material that is too thin will readily melt. Transparencies with a removable stripe, when fed improperly, can cause misfeeds and jams.

Several brands of transparency film have been found to operate satisfactorily in Ricoh copiers. Ideally, the transparency will not have the removable stripe, as it is not required with Ricoh feed systems. However, if that type of transparency is used, the stripe can be easily removed before feeding. If fed with the removable stripe, the stripe should be positioned towards the feed station, and should be on the underside (non-imaging side) of the transparency.

The transparencies that have proven satisfactory for use in Ricoh copiers are:

Arkwright #’s 69400 and 68400

Adhesive Labels

Adhesive labels must be fed from the By-pass Tray, rather than from a Paper Tray. When a sheet of labels is fed from a paper tray, the backing easily turns corners, but the labels do not, and generally continue on in a straight line. Consequently, the unsecured labels readily adhere to internal system parts. Correcting the damage to the copier can be quite expensive.

On the other hand, feeding a sheet of recommended labels through the by-pass tray ensures a straight path to follow, free of any corners to turn. The sheets of labels should be fed into the by-pass tray face up and one sheet at a time.

The following labels have proven satisfactory for use in Ricoh copiers:

Avery #’s 5332, 5334, 5354 and 5551 (All are 2 ¾" labels)

Technical Perspective

The following is an article provided by Industry Analysts Technical Services Division (IATSD), located in Fairfield, New Jersey. Industry Analysts Technical Services Division provides office equipment vendors with comprehensive, confidential product testing for office imaging, network products and related supplies. Terry Wirth, Director of IATSD, wrote the article.

Paper: An Often Overlooked Factor In Office Imaging

The quality of paper used with an office-imaging device, such as a copier or laser printer, can drastically affect the device’s overall performance. Paper directly affects image quality. Furthermore, inferior paper quality may also cause misfeeding.

For instance, Industry Analysts Technical Services Division (IATSD) recently tested a new Segment 5 copier. According to Terry Wirth, director of IATSD, the misfeed rate of this Segment 5 unit when copying on Georgia-Pacific Spectrum DP was 0.011 misfeeds per thousand copies. However, when various brands of recycled paper were used with the same Segment 5 copier, misfeed rates changed from 0.150 to 1.772 misfeeds per thousand copies, an increase exceeding 1,000 percent!

Additionally, the role of paper loading, handling and storing is often overlooked, even though it is critical if the imaging device is to perform at its best.

How Paper Quality Affects Image Quality And Misfeed Rates

The quality of paper greatly influences image quality. Following are the paper characteristics that help determine image quality:

• Paper with a high degree of brightness provides better print contrast, so that, for instance, text is easier to read. Bright, white paper makes black text appear "blacker." Paper with a low degree of brightness exhibits inferior print contrast. Black text, for instance, does not appear as black.

• The degree of the paper’s opacity affects density by preventing "back-lighting." Some inferior papers have a low degree of opacity; when held up to the light, they can be easily seen through. The result will be that black text and images will appear grayer and lighter.

The quality of paper…or lack of it…also has a direct effect on the number of misfeeds and paper-feeding problems that occur. Following are the ways in which inferior paper may cause misfeeding:

• The condition of the paper’s ream wrappers may affect the paper’s feeding performance; burst or torn ream wrappers will allow moisture to reach the paper. This will result in a moisture imbalance between the two sides of the sheet. Excessive paper curl may then result after the sheet has passed through the imaging device’s fuser. The resulting paper curl may then cause feeding problems.

• During shipping, the corners of substandard paper and inferior paper cartons may become crushed. The result is that the paper’s corners may become "dog-eared" with undesirable results (see below).

• Paper that displays "dog-ears" is not only undesirable in and of itself, but typically will not be able to feed well, because the bent dog-ears may be more easily caught on mechanisms within the copier or printer.

• The cut of the paper is also important. Poorly cut paper will result in sheets becoming stuck together, so that two sheets will be fed at once (see "double-feeding").

• Some papers shed excessive amounts of paper dust. Excessive paper dust will contaminate the imaging device’s sensors, cleaning and developing units, and feed rollers. The contamination of these parts by excessive paper dust will eventually result in misfeeding and /or poor image quality.

• The finish of the paper is problematic. On one hand, the paper must be sufficiently smooth in order to provide optimum image quality. However, the paper finish must be sufficiently rough in order to facilitate paper feeding, as the imaging device’s feed rollers must have something rough to "grab".

Proper Paper Loading Is Essential

While loading a stack of paper hardly seems a difficult task, performing it correctly is critical if optimum results are to be achieved.

• Paper should be loaded in the direction of the ream wrapper so that the copier or printer will image on the smoothest side of the paper first (and thus achieve the best image quality).

• Paper should be handled and stored correctly:

• First, it should be kept in its ream wrapper until it is used (protecting it from adverse environmental conditions, such as heat, cold and humidity).

• Second, paper should be stored in the operating environment with the copier or printer for at least 24 hours. This prevents the paper from becoming too hot or cold (which typically occurs if the paper is stored in a warehouse). Cold or hot paper may not perform well, as it may be either too stiff (if stored in a cold environment), or too limp (if stored in a hot, humid environment).

• Third, paper should not remain in the copier or printer over the weekend, since air conditioning or heating is commonly turned down (or off). The result is that paper is exposed to cold or heat and humidity, and may become too limp or stiff to perform properly. Although it may not be possible all the time, the best strategy is to consume all paper by the end of the week.

• Assign one person the task of loading the copier or printer with paper each morning. This way, the person can become experienced in correct paper loading. Assigning one person with this task also prevents other less-experienced persons from incorrectly loading paper.

Don’t expect miracles from the imaging device on a Monday morning, as the paper may have been affected by excessive cold, heat and/or humidity over the weekend.

Copying Laser-Printer Originals

A common application in today’s office is to make copies of originals produced by laser printers. The user prints a document on a laser printer, then makes multiple copies of the document with an office copier.

Unfortunately, copiers of laser-printer originals often display inferior image quality, such as smeared toner and unacceptably light image quality. Additionally, making copies of laser-printer originals may sometimes result in contamination of the copier’s document feeder by excessive toner shed by the laser-printer original. This may eventually cause the originals to misfeed. Why do these problems occur?

• First, the density of laser-printer originals is generally higher than that of copiers. IATSD’s testing shows that, on a scale of 0 to 2.5, with 2.5 being the darkest density possible, the density of laser-printer originals averages 1.5+, while the density of copies produced with copiers averages 1.4. Laser printers typically produce darker images that copiers because they tend to lay a thicker layer of toner on the paper (due to the fact that the "pile height" of the toner they use tends to be higher then that of copiers). However, the thicker the layer of toner, the more likely it is that it will not fuse properly, and thus not adhere properly to the paper. Because toner is not likely to adhere to the paper well, it is more likely to rub off…for instance, when run through a copier in order to make copies. The result? As the laser-printer original becomes lighter (since toner is rubbing off), copies will become lighter.

• Laser printers tend to have tiny fuser rollers with tiny contact patches. They do not retain heat well, which results in inferior image fusing compared to copiers. The result: toner will not adhere well and is likely to rub off…for instance, when the laser-printer original is run through a copier. The result? Again, as the laser-printer original becomes lighter (since toner is rubbing off), copies will become lighter.

• The tendency of laser printers to deposit thick layers of toner on paper, combined with their tendency to fuse toner poorly to paper, means the toner fused on the laser-original original is more likely to smear when run through copiers. This means that the excess toner shed by the laser-printer original will contaminate the document feeder’s paper guides and rollers. The result? The system is likely to misfeed.

For these reasons, IATSD recommends that, when producing long RDH copy jobs from laser-printer originals, use "make-ready" originals. That is, make one set of the laser-printer originals using the copier (making one set per 30 copies), then use these copies to make additional copies. This will prevent smeared copies with light image quality, as well as contamination of the copier’s RDH as explained above.