S
PECIFICATIONS
A.
6
Ideally, the printer and paper storage environment should be
at or near room temperature, and not too dry or humid.
Remember that paper is hygroscopic; it absorbs and loses
moisture rapidly.
Heat works with humidity to damage paper. Heat causes the
moisture in paper to evaporate, while cold causes it to
condense on the sheets. Heating systems and air conditioners
remove most of the humidity from a room. As paper is opened
and used, it loses moisture, causing streaks and smudging.
Humid weather or water coolers can cause the humidity to
increase in a room. As paper is opened and used it absorbs
any excess moisture, causing light print and dropouts. Also, as
paper loses and gains moisture it can distort. This can cause
paper jams.
As a result, paper storage and handling are as important as
the paper-making process itself. Paper storage environmental
conditions directly affect the feed operation.
Care should be taken not to purchase more paper than can be
easily used in a short time (about 3 months). Paper stored for
long periods may experience heat and moisture extremes,
which can cause damage. Planning is important to prevent
damage to large supply of paper.
Unopened paper in sealed reams can remain stable for several
months before use. Opened packages of paper have more
potential for environment damage, especially if they are not
wrapped with a moisture-proof barrier.
The paper storage environment should be properly maintained
to ensure optimum printer performance. The required condition
is 20 ° to 24 °C (68° to 75 °F), with a relative humidity of
45 % to 55 %. The following guidelines should be helpful when
evaluating the paper’s storage environment:
• Paper should be stored at or near room temperature.
• The air should not be too dry or too humid (due to the
hygroscopic properties of paper).
• The best way to store an opened ream of paper is to rewrap it
tightly in its moisture-proof wrapping. If the printer
environment is subject to extremes, unwrap only the amount
of paper to be used during the day’s operation to prevent
unwanted moisture changes.
Paper Specifications
Printer and Paper Storage Environment
