Gathering/Stitching/Gluing problems: causes and fixes
10 Gathering/Stitching/Gluing problems in offset printing and finishing: symptoms, probable causes, step-by-step fixes and prevention.
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-237
Missing, duplicated or out-of-order signature
Books with skipped or duplicated pages; client complaints
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-238
Double signature fed from one station
Thicker blocks; double mark in the spine staircase; stitcher jams
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-239
Signature not opening at the center on the saddle
Signatures dropping closed or off-center onto the chain; stitching off the fold
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-240
Loose, deformed or badly closed staples
Staples not holding, raised legs scratching or cutting, magazine shedding pages
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-242
Uncompensated creep
Inner margins 'growing' toward the center signature; text or folios trimmed off
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-245
Side glue insufficient or excessive
Insufficient: cover swinging open like a door. Excessive: visible glue staining first/last page
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-241
Staple tearing the spine
Paper tearing at the staple; booklets loosening in use
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-243
Crooked or variable trimming (trimmer)
Magazines with uneven margins; off-square head/foot/front cuts
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-244
Spine hotmelt wicking between pages
Center pages stuck near the spine; book won't open flat in places
Gathering/Stitching/Gluing · TPG-246
Deformed spine or uneven block at gluing
Wavy, rhomboid or stepped spine; cover won't seat