The 10/60 replaced the DC10,000S and was targeted at high-volume commercial printers that required a larger paper size capability of up to 350x500mm.
Launched in 1999, the DC-10/60 was capable of feeding both digital and litho stock. Wafer claims that some of its main strengths were a versatile substrate range from 50-300gsm, connectivity to all existing and current booklet-makers, as well as digital-feed devices, plus a set-up time of just 20 seconds. “There was no need for expensive compressors, because the machine uses Air Management System to allow for consistent mark-free feeding,” he adds.
Unique feeding
With a 10-bin station on each tower, each of the feed bins in each tower had a unique air/vacuum feeding system. “Two separate silent fans on each bin lift and separate the top of the paper stack and then deliver them into the conveyor, which is secured by eight drive belts,” explains Wafer.
Individual air controls on each bin ensured that paper stocks from 50-300gsm could be fed through with no adjustments, while a 60mm-bin capacity allowed for less loading and more production. “There is no need to remove any attachments, as the towers are bi-directional, which means that when one or more towers are connected, they can exit to either the left or the right,” adds Wafer.
Once the infeed height has been set, the collator can effectively run as a one-touch operation. Compared to its predecessor, the machine also had improved error detection. Incorrect sets were diverted to the left and right of the system when a fault was detected. The incorrect set was then ‘deleted’ without stopping the machine, thus maintaining constant productivity.
The vertical collator was designed to fit into a variety of Duplo bookletmaking systems and could collate up to 10,000 sets per hour, depending on what devices were connected and the number of bins in use.
Optional extras included a 400STR/L Stacker, DC-12JR Jogger, Document Integrity System and Intelligent Multi-bin Feeding System. Automated features such as automatic bin selection, left or right exit selection and a versatile substrate range made the 10/60 one of Duplo’s popular collators, with more than 4,500 installations worldwide.
Duplo will take an old model as part exchange and sells 10/60s directly. It has 18 engineers and 10 technical staff based at its UK headquarters in Esher. There are three service options on offer: Comfort, where you are covered for repair; Optimum, with two preventative visits a year and free spare parts; and Excellence, which offers three preventative visits a year, extra training and the loan of equipment for one-off jobs. A used 2002 model will cost £8,000.
Read the original article at www.printweek.com.
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