US3804404A

US3804404A - Method of controlling operations of a book binding machine

Info

Publication number: US3804404A
Application number: US00190454A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Bosshard
Original assignee: Martini Buchbindereimaschinenfabrik AG
Current assignee: Mueller Martini Druckverarbeitungs Systeme AG
Priority date: 1971-12-13
Filing date: 1971-12-13
Publication date: 1974-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-16

Abstract

A series of printed sheet, which together constitute a bookblock segment are advanced in a predetermined path. The sheets are scanned for a triggering characteristic which is present only once in the series, and upon detection of this characteristic a control signal is originated.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,804,404 Bosshard Apr. 16, 1974 [54] METHOD OF CONTROLLING OPERATIONS 3,652,828 3/ 1972 Sather et a1 235/61.6 1 X ()F A B BINDING M ACHINE 3,520,404 7/1970 Pine 209/ I 1 1.7 X 3,021,950 2/1962 Quinn et a1. 209/1117 X [75] Inventor: Fritz Bosshard, Kaltenbach,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Martini Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunik Buchbindereima hi f b ik Ag, Assistant Examiner-Bruce I-I. Stoner, Jr.

F f ld, S i l d Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 190,454

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 271/57, 250/219 D, 270/58 [51] Int. Cl B65h 7/02 A series of printed s which t g constitute a [58] Field of Search 235/61.6 J, 61.11 E; book-block gmen r vanc in a prede ermined 270/58; 93/93 C, 93 M, 93 R; 271/57, 64, path. The sheets are scanned for a triggering charac- 47; 250/219 D, 219 DC; 209/ 1 1 1.7; 112/130 teristic which is present only once in the series, and

upon detection of this characteristic a control signal is [56] v References Cited originated.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,302,539 2/1967 Moffet 93/93 R 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures METHOD OF CONTROLLING OPERATIONS OF A BOOK BINDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the art of book binding, and more particularly to a method of controlling the operations of a book binding machine.

In book binding machines, in which a series of sheets are connected by threads, staples or the like to form one section of a book block with the sections subsequently being united to form the book block itself, automatic operation is not only known but very important in terms of manufacturing economy. In such automatically operating machines, it is already known to provide a program control unit which controls and initiates the various operations of the machine in the appropriate sequence and at the appropriate time. This includes, for instance, the advancing of the gauze, the application of adhesive to the first and last sheets in aseries, and the severing of the thread or threads if such are used for connecting the sheets by stitching. The program control device is in turn acted upon by a counter which is advanced mechanically every time it detects a sheet of the series and which supplies a signal initiating the operation of the program control device after the number of sheets which together constitute the series has been counted.

This method of controlling the operations of a book binding machine has, however, the disadvantage that if an error occurs that is, if for instance a sheet in the series is missing, all book block sections will continue to be bound with this error incorporated until such time as the differential is detected and remedial action taken by an operator.

The problem has of course been realized before, and an attempt has been made to overcome it. Thus, German allowed US. Pat. application DAS No. 1,536,452 proposes the electronic scanning of the respective first or last sheet of a series and to use the signals derived for directly initiating the operation of a program control device. This proposal has the advantage that only a single book block can incorporate an error before the conditions leading to the error are rectified. In addition, it omits the use of a counter and thusmakes the construction simpler and less expensive, aside from the fact that operation is more reliable.

That proposal however, has its own disadvantage, namely the fact that suitable markings must be provided on the first or last sheets in order to be detected on electronic scanning, because otherwise no signal would be derived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to further simplify the controlling of the operations of a book binding machine.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of effecting such control, in that the necessity ,for providing special markings on one or more sheets of a series of a book block is unnecessary.

In pursuance of the above objects and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a method of controlling the operations of a book binding machine which, briefly stated, comprises the steps of successively advancing a series of printed sheets which together constitute a book-block segment in a predetermined path. The

sheets are scanned for a triggering characteristic which is present only once in the series, and a control signal is initiated in response to detection of such characteristic.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principle of operation of the present method according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a further embodiment;

F IG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating another embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating still an additional embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before entering into a detailed description of the drawing, it should be emphasized that no attempt has been made to show or describe in this disclosure the technical means by which the present invention that is the novel method can be carried out. Such means are completely within the skill of those conversant with the art, utilizing only devices and components which are conventionally used in this field, for such purposes, for instance, in the aforementioned US; Pat. No. DAS 1536,425. Even absent the specific disclosure of the technical components involved, however, the present invention will be entirely clear to those having ordinary skill in the art and there is not thought to be any possibility of misunderstanding or lack of understanding, those having skill in the art being well able to practice the present method from the disclosure herein.

With the above comments in mind, and discussing firstly FIG. 1, it will be seen that reference numeral 1 identifies a printed sheet, the outer or exposed side of which is provided with printing 2. The printing 2 leaves an unprinted area 3. Sheet 1 is one sheet of a series which together make up a section of a book block, or a book block as such. If on the other sheets of the series, the area 3 (which on the illustrated sheet is not printed) is in fact, printed over, then the unprinted area 3 of the illustrated sheet can be utilized as the triggering characteristic whichinitiates or triggers an impulse or signal for initiating the program. control device of a book binding machine.

I have diagrammatically illustrated a detector D for scanning the sheets to detect. the area 3, for instance such a detector D can be in form of a light source with an associated photoelectric cell, which are well known to those skilled in the art and which will of course be located along the path of movement of the sheet (see the directional arrow) which is identified with reference numeral 4, upstream of the operating station or stations, whose operation is to be controlled by a signal derived upon detection of the area.

In the event that the area 3 is unprinted on two or more sheets of a book block or a book block segment, then the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 may be utilized.

Thus, FIG. 2 shows that for instance three

consecutive sheets

6, 7 and 8 may each be provided on the side being scanned with an

unprinted area

5, 5', or 5", respectively. This means that these three unprinted areas constitute the characteristic which is scanned and is used for triggering the desired impulse, and of course each of the

sheets

6, 7 and 8 carries a part of this characteristic. Again, a light source and photoelectric relay are utilized, being identified diagrammatically as a detector D. Here, however, a known relay arrangement is associated with the detector D and will supply an impulse to the machine or machine component to be controlled only after the detector D has supplied three signals, one upon detecting the area 5", one upon detecting the area 5, and one upon detecting the area 5. After receiving the third of these impulses, the relay arrangement R supplies the triggering impulse. The path of movement, in which the detector D is located, is identified with reference numeral 9.

In the FIG. 3 embodiment it is assumed that two

successive sheets

10 and 11 are each provided with an

unprinted area

12 and 13, respectively. If, now, on the sides of these sheets which are subjected to scanning,

the

areas

12 and 13 are present more than once, then these areas alone cannot constitute the triggering characteristic. However, if the

areas

12 and 13 are each present only once on each of two successive sheets 11 and 12 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) then they can be utilized for the purposes of the present invention. However, if they are not located at identical positions on the respective sheets, as shown, then it is necessary to pro vide two ofthe detectors D of one which will be located on the line 14, and the other on the line 15 so that each can detect the respectively associated

area

12 and 13, respectively. The detectors are identified with reference numerals D' and D" respectively.

Coming, finally to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be seen that here is shown a printed sheet 16 which has both a printed area 17 and an unprinted area 18. If this dual characteristic is provided on the side of the sheet 16 which is to be scanned, only once, then two of the photoelectric detectors D and D" (located on the line 19) can be utilized so that they will simultaneously scann the sheets. On detecting the

areas

17 and 18 on the sheet 16, the impulse for controlling the book binding machine is initiated when the one detector detects the area 17 and the other detector detects the area 18.

Ifa book block includes in the series of sheets one or more sheets which have a format different from those of the others, then mechanical or pneumatic detectors may also be used, for example in place of the photoelectric detectors for detecting the triggering characteristic which, of course, here is the differential format. Also, if the characteristic is in form of one or more printed areas, then they can of course be printed with any desired color or combinations of colors.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of applications, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method of controlling the operations of a book binding machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired'to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of controlling operations of a bookbinding machine, comprising the steps of advancing a series of printed sheets which together constitute a book-block segment, in a predetermined path; scanning said sheets for a triggering characteristic which is present only once in the series but is provided in part on at least two successive ones of said sheets; and initiating a control signal in response to detection of all parts of said triggering characteristic.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said parts on the respective sheets are similar to one another.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said parts onthe respective sheets are dissimilar from one another.

Claims

1. A method of controlling operations of a book-binding machine, comprising the steps of advancing a series of printed sheets which together constitute a book-block segment, in a predetermined path; scanning said sheets for a triggering characteristiC which is present only once in the series but is provided in part on at least two successive ones of said sheets; and initiating a control signal in response to detection of all parts of said triggering characteristic.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said parts on the respective sheets are dissimilar from one another.