AU6830000A

AU6830000A - Punching and binding machine

Info

Publication number: AU6830000A
Application number: AU68300/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Horst Hild
Original assignee: Esselte NV
Current assignee: Esselte NV
Priority date: 1999-09-30
Filing date: 2000-07-27
Publication date: 2001-04-30
Also published as: HK1043568A1; EP1419899A3; EP1216158A1; CN1376117A; EP1419899A2; DE19947257A1; WO2001023192A1

Description

PUNCHING AND BINDING MACHINE Description The invention concerns a punching and binding machine for a stack of sheets, comprising a punching mechanism which includes an insertion gap limited on one side by a punch matrix and preferably with adjustable depth and/or lateral limit stops for the sheets of the stack of sheets to be provided with a row of binding holes near one edge, and which includes a number of punch blades arranged in defined separation from each other along the insertion gap and moveable via an actuating mechanism perpendicularly through the insertion gap and the punch matrix, wherein preferably individual punch blades can be decoupled from the remaining punch blades as selectable blades, and with a binding mechanism for binding the stack of sheets by means of an elastic binder spine engaging through the binder holes, which binder mechanism includes two spreader bodies for spreading apart the binder spine, which are moveable relative to each other by means of second actuating mechanism and preferably limited in motion by an adjustable limit stop. Combined punching and binding machines of this type (EP-A-727327, EP-A-864441) include different adjusting mechanisms for the depth limit and the lateral limit stop of the punching mechanism and for the limiting of the spreader body of the binder mechanism, all of which are respectively manually operated separately from each other. The punching mechanism includes an operating lever, of which the rotational movement is converted into a translational movement of the punch blades. In order to produce different patterns of holes, individual punch blades provided on a blade carrier can be selectively disengaged by hand. Further included is a binding mechanism with two spreader bodies, which include a plurality of hook elements for engagement of the binder spine, and which spreader bodies can be spread apart from each other with the aid of an actuating mechanism formed as an operating lever, spreading apart the hooked in binder spine. In conformance with the size of the selected binder spine the width to which the spreader bodies are spread apart can be limited by a manually adjustable limit stop. It is considered to be a disadvantage with the known punching and binding devices that the many -1adjustments, which must be carried out prior to a punching and binding process, are time consuming and not verifiable and thus easily can lead to errors or defects. Beginning herewith the present invention is concerned with the task of improving the above-described punching and binding machines according to the state of the art in such a manner, that the adjustment or set up process is simplified and the likelihood of errors or defects is substantially avoided. For the solution of this task the combination of characteristics set forth in Claims 1, 15, 17, 19 and 28 is proposed. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims. The inventive solution is based upon the recognition that the different adjustments to be applied to the punching and binding machine, for any given selected sheet format and stack dimension, partially correspond with each other. In the application of this principle in accordance with the invention, multiple adjustment mechanisms are so coupled with each other that for each change in size of the material being punched and bound only a few, easily carried out adjustments are necessary. In order to accomplish this, an adjustment means for simultaneous operation of an adjustment mechanism for the lateral limit stop and a coupling mechanism for the selectable blades is proposed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention proposed. By means, it is possible to provide in a stack of sheets with a predetermined sheet size with a symmetric pattern of holes with reference to the upper or lower edge and at the same time to ensure that with the format setting that no prohibited edge perforations result. According to a preferred design of the invention the adjustment mechanism displays multiple setting positions, preferably defined by a scale and/or engagement or detent positions, with predetermined association of the lateral limit stop and the coupling/uncoupling condition of the selectable blades. The adjustment mechanism for the lateral limit stops thereby preferably exhibits a ram which is displaceable in -2the insertion gap in the longitudinal direction via the adjusting means and which carries on its end an abutment or limit stop element. The adjustment means, preferably in the form of a rotating knob, is preferably operably associated with a curve wheel, which exhibits an adjustment curve for receiving a sliding-block fixed to the ram. In order to make possible a supplemental adjustment or calibration of the lateral limit stop, which would be necessary for example in the case of use of over sized cover pages or protective covers, the adjustment means in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention exhibits a calibration means for the fine adjustment of the lateral limit stop in each adjustment position of the adjustment means. The fine adjustment can technically be accomplished thereby, that the curve wheel is connected fixed against rotation and axially slideably with the rotating knob, while the adjustment means is limitedly rotatable with respect to the rotating knob and engages with at least one slide-block in a preferably screw-shaped fine adjustment curve of the curve wheel. For improvement of the precision during the calibration process the curve wheel exhibits at least two, preferably three identical fine adjustment curves angularly separated from each other for receiving a corresponding number of slide-blocks provided on the adjustment means in angular separation from each other. It is envisioned in accordance with a further advantageous embodiment of the invention that the coupling mechanism for the selectable blades comprises a camshaft coupled fixed against rotation with the rotating knob adjustment means, with one cam curve associated respectively with each of the selectable blades, as well as a locking means radially adjustable via the associated cam curve. The punch blades, inclusive of the selectable blades, are therein preferably associated with a blade shaft concentric with the camshaft and exhibit a curved punch part radially spaced apart from the outer surface of the blade shaft and coaxial thereto, so that this is operated when initiating a punch process by the rotation of the blade shaft. Preferably the selectable blades and the blade shaft are axially not displaceable relative to each other and are rotatable relative to each other about the common axis of rotation. The locking means formed as a locking pin extends through a radial borehole in the blade shaft, wherein in the locking position the concerned cam curve -3urges the locking pin into an open radial borehole of the selectable blade and in the disengaged position the locking pin is forced out of the radial borehole of the selectable blade in the direction of the blade shaft and thereby frees the blade for relative rotation between the selectable blades and the blade shaft. The disengaged selectable blade is however taken along during rotation of the blade shaft under the influence of contact friction until abutment against the stack of sheets. During further rotation of the blade shaft the frictional engagement however does not suffice, due to lack of form-locking coupling, for the carrying out of a punching process. The locking means is urged in the direction of the camshaft by a spring, so that it is ensured in the disengaged position, that the locking means is completely forced out of the radial borehole of the selectable blades. The operation of the blade shaft can either occur by hand using an actuating lever connected fixed against rotation therewith or using and electric motor controlled by a switch. In accordance. with a further advantageous or alternative embodiment of the invention a measurement means is provided for determining the thickness of the stack of sheets to be processed, which is coupled with a device for adjusting the boundary limit stop of the binder mechanism and/or a device for adjusting the depth limit stop in the insertion gap of the punch mechanism and/or with a device for displaying the selectable binder spine size according to the measured dimensions of the thickness of the stack of sheets. Preferably the measuring device includes a measuring chamber for receiving the stack of sheets to be processed as well as a measuring device which engages in the measuring chamber, which measuring means is coupled with the adjustment device for the boundary limit stop and/or the depth limit stop and/or with the display device for the binder spine size. Preferably the measuring chamber includes a floor for establishing or setting up one of the edges as well as a abutment surface (back wall) oriented perpendicularly -4upwards from the floor for the backward facing broadside of the stack of sheets, while the measuring means includes an arm which abuts or contacts the stack of sheets against the front broadside. It has been found to be particularly advantageous when the measuring means is rotatable about an axis parallel to the surface upon which the stack of sheets is laid and engages with its arm in the measuring chamber. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is envisioned that one of the two spreader bodies is displaceable with an operating means in the form of a slider relative to the other spreader body to the boundary limit stop. Thereby one of the two spreader bodies can exhibit straight and the other angularly bent spreader elements. It has been found to be advantageous when the spreader body with the straight spreader elements is displaceable and the other spreader body is fixed. Depending upon the selection of the binder spine size, more or less thick stacks of sheets can be bound using the binder mechanism. With the present punching mechanism however only a limited number of sheets can be punched. When binding thick stacks of sheets it is thus necessary to extract more slender stacks of sheets for punching and after the punching to assemble them in the binder mechanism. In order to facilitate the extraction of suitable stack segments, it is envisioned in accordance with a preferred or alternative embodiment of the invention that a measuring chamber or a sheet stack magazine is provided for receiving respectively one of the stacks of sheets to be bound, with a floor for setting up one of the stacked edges as well as a perpendicular to the floor and upwardly directed contact surface for one of the broadside surfaces or the stack of sheets, wherein the floor exhibits graduated steps relative to the contact surface. The breadth of the steps is selected to be smaller than the width of the insertion gap of the punching mechanism. By this means it is achieved, that partial stacks of suitable thickness project stepwise over the measuring chamber or the magazine stack, so that they can be sequentially picked up or extracted, introduced into the punching mechanism and then laid into the binder mechanism. -5- In the following the invention will be described in greater detail on the basis of the illustrative embodiments shown in the figures. There is shown Fig. 1a and b a perspective representation of a combined punching and binding machine in opened and closed positions; Fig. 2a a perspective representation of the binding machine according to Fig. la and b with removed adjustment wheel for the formatting adjustment; Fig. 2b and c a longitudinal section through the punching and binding machine according to Fig. 2a in perspective representation with and without blade shaft; Fig. 2d a longitudinal section through the punching and binding machine according to Fig. 2a; Fig. 3a a perspective exploded representation of the adjustment mechanism for the lateral limit stop with camshaft for the selectable blades; Fig. 3b a side view of the adjustment mechanism according to Fig. 3a in assembled condition in partial sectional representation; Fig. 4a a perspective exploded representation of the blade shaft with punch blades and camshaft for the control of the selectable blades; Fig. 4b a perspective view of the blade shaft in assembled condition; Fig. 5a a side face view of the blade shaft with camshaft and selectable blades; -6- Fig. 5b and c a section through the blade shaft with coupled and decoupled selectable blades; Fig. 6 a perspective representation of the measurement means for the determination of the thickness of the stack and the therewith coupled adjustment mechanism for setting the depth in the insertion gap and for the adjustment of the boundary limit stops for the binder mechanism. The punching and binding machine shown in the figures is designed for the punching and binding of stacks of sheets of various thickness and with various sheet sizes. The punching and binding machine includes a punch mechanism 10 with an insertion gap 12 for sheets 14 to be provided with a row of binder holes along an edge, a binder mechanism 16 for binding the stack of sheets in the area of their binder holes by means of a not shown elastically spreadable binder spine, a sheet magazine 20 with measuring chamber 22 pivotable with respect to the machine housing 18 between a work position (Fig. 1a) and a rest position (Fig. 1b), and a measuring means 24 engaging in the measuring chamber of the sheet magazine 20 for measuring the thickness of the stack of sheets (not shown) introduced in the measuring chamber. Further provided is a device 26 for the adjustment or selection of the format, an operating lever 30 coupled with the blade shaft 28 for the operation of the punch blades 46, 56 provided on the blade shaft of the punch mechanism 10 and an actuating means 34 formed as a ram or pusher for the spreading apart relative to each other of the spreader bodies 36, 38 forming the binder mechanism 16. As can be seen from Figs. 2d and 4b, the blade shaft has, on its end 40 coupleable with the operating lever 30, over a part of the length of the blade shaft, radially projecting receiving ribs 42 for the punch bodies 44. The punch bodies 44 exhibit multiple punch blades 46 arranged in axial separation from each other and projecting in the circumference direction over the receiving ribs 42, which punch blade 46 are -7provided on their front surfaces with a punch cutting edge 48. In the assembled condition the punch bodies 44 with the punch blades 46 are curved coaxial to the axis 50 of the blade shaft 28. The individual punch blades 46 of the punch body 44 are of different length in the circumference direction so that they come into effect at different angular positions of the operating lever during the punch process. Thereby the punch forces to be overcome are staggered and reduced. The punch bodies 44 are fixed against displacement in the circumference direction and in the axial direction using pins - not shown - in the boreholes 52 of the receiving ribs 42. In the shown embodiment three selectable blades 54 are additionally provided upon the blade shaft 28, situated in different axial positions, which exhibit curved punch blades 56 projecting in the circumference direction and which are form-lockingly coupleable with the blade shaft 28 selectively via a camshaft 58. The insertion gap 12 is bordered, on the side opposite to the cutting edges 48 of the punch blades 46 and 56, by a punch matrix 60, which exhibits through-holes 62 for the punch blades 46, 56 equally spaced apart from each other and which communicate, on their side opposite to the insertion gap 12, in a receiving container 64 for the punched-out residue. During the punch process the operating lever 30 is pivoted from an upwardly directed starting position into the end position shown in Fig. 1a. Thereby the punch blades 46, 56 enter with their cutting edges 48 sequentially into the insertion gap 12 and the through hole 62 of the punch matrix 60 and produce in this manner the binder holes along the edge of the sheets 14 situated in the insertion gap. In order to correctly position the binder holes along the edge of the sheets 14, various adjustments or settings need to be undertaken prior to the punching process. For this there is used, on the one hand, the device 26 for the selection of the sheet format and, on the other hand, the measuring device 24 for determining the thickness of the stack and for adjustment of the setting parameters dependent therefrom. -8- With the aid of the device 26 for the setting up of the format there is adjusted within the insertion gap 12 the limit stop 66 for the sheets 14 to be punched. Besides this, thereby the selectable blades 54 are engaged or disengaged depending upon the dimensions of the predetermined format. Therewith a symmetric arrangement of holes is provided along the punched edge and at the same time it is avoided that the side edges are punched through. The lateral limit stop 66 is situated on one end of the ram 68, which on its other end engages via a slide-block 70 into an adjustment curve 72 of the curve wheel 74. The curve wheel 74 is mounted fixed against rotation and axially displaceable on a rotation knob 76, which for its part is mounted, fixed against axial displacement, in a rotation mount of the machine housing 18. On the rotation knob there is additionally mounted a fine adjustment knob 78 fixed against axial displacement. This engages with three arms 80, provided in equal angular separation from each other, through arc-shaped slits 82 in the rotation knob 76. On the free ends of the arms 80 there are slide-blocks 84, which engage in three, angularly spaced apart from each other, identically screw shaped adjustment curves 86 of the curve wheel 74. Therewith via the fine adjustment knob 78 the curve wheel 74 and therewith the lateral limit stop 66 can be slid or displaced relative to the rotation knob 76 and the insertion gap 12. Further a camshaft 58 is connected, fixed against rotation and axial displacement, with the rotation knob 76. The camshaft 58 engages in a central borehole 90 of the blade shaft 28 open towards the side of the rotation knob 76, and exhibits one cam curve 92 rotatable about the axis 50 at the respective axial positions of the selectable blades 54 provided on the blade shaft 28. As can be seen from Fig. 5a through c, a radial blocking pin 96 is positioned in a radial through hole 94 of the blade shaft 28 via the cam curve 92 of the camshaft 58. The locking pin 96 is urged against the cam curve 92 by a spring 98 supported in the selectable blade 54. Depending upon the rotation position of the respective cam curve 92 the locking pin 96 engages in one open blind hole 100 of the blade shaft 28, or is withdrawn therefrom. In the engagement position of the locking pin there is produced a form locking connection of the concerned selectable blade 54 with the blade shaft 28, while in the extracted or disengaged position there is a loss of form locking and the -9selectable blade 54 is rotatable in a circumference groove 102 of the blade shaft 28 coaxial to the axis 50. The rotation knob 76 exhibits on its circumference a scale 103, via which the sheet size can be input or setup. By this adjustment, simultaneously the lateral limit stop 66 is input and the associated selectable blades 54 are selected. In order to take into consideration deviations from standard formats, for example in the case of a cover page for the stack of sheets to be bound, the fine adjustment knob 78 can be used for adjusting the lateral limit stop 66 without changing the settings of the selectable blades 54. The thickness of the stack of sheets can be determined using the measuring means 24. For this purpose the stack of sheets is inserted into the measuring chamber 22 of the sheet magazine 20 and with its backward facing broad side surface is brought against the wall 106 projecting from the floor 104 of the measuring chamber 22 perpendicularly upwards. The measuring device 24 includes a rotation knob 108 and/or a lever 110, which engage into the inside of the measuring chamber 22 via an arm 111. By adjusting the rotation knob 108 with a lever 110 the arm strikes against the front broad side of the stack of sheets. Thereby there results from the rotation position of the rotation knob 108 or the lever 110 a measurement for the thickness of the stack sheets. The rotation position of the rotation knob 108 or the lever 110 is also used for positioning a depth limit stop 112 within the insertion gap 12 as well as a breadth limit stop 114 for the operating means 34. As the stack of sheets to be bound is increasingly thick, so the breadth of the hole edge to be selected must be increasingly broad. This occurs using a depth limit stop 112. Besides this, for different thicknesses of sheet stacks there are to be selected in stages binder spines of different sizes, so that the spreader body 36, 38 of the binder mechanism 16 must be spread apart to different degrees. This occurs by the automatic adjustment of the breadth limit stop 114. Besides this, in a display 116 the binder spine size associated with a measured stack thickness is indicated. Instead of measuring the thickness, the size of the binder spine can be selected using the the display 116 on the rotation - 10 knob 108 or the lever 110 and via this size selection the depth limit stop 112 and the boundary limit stop 114 can be adjusted. As can be seen from Fig. 2b through d, the floor 104 of the measuring chamber 22 exhibits a number of steps 118, which descend towards the back wall 106. By this arrangement of steps it is possible to subdivide a thick stack of sheets in such a manner that the partial stacks are easily picked up along their upper edge steps. The steps 118 are thereby so selected, that the individual partial stacks (or upper edge steps) fit in the insertion gap 12. Thereby the punching and binding of thick sheet stacks, which could not be punched all at once, is facilitated. In summary the following can be concluded: The invention relates to a punching and binding machine for stacks of sheets. The machine comprises a punching mechanism 10 which has an insertion gap 12 with adjustable low and lateral stops 112, 66 for the sheets to be punched as well a number of punching blades 45, 56. Individual punching blades 56 are part of the selectable blade 54 which can be decoupled from the remaining punching blades. The inventive machine is also provided with a binding mechanism 16 for binding the stack of sheets by using an elastically expandable binding back or spine. In order to simplify the operability of the machine, a setting element is provided for simultaneously actuating an adjusting mechanism for the lateral stop 66, and a coupling mechanism is provided for the selectable blade 54. In addition, a measuring device 24 is provided for determining the thickness of the stack of sheets to be found, and a device which is coupled to said measuring device is provided for adjusting the delimiting stop for the binding mechanism 16 as well as for adjusting the depth stop 112 in the insertion gap for the punching mechanism 10 in accordance with the measured thickness of the stack of sheets. - 11 -

Claims

1. Punching and binding machine for a stack of sheets, comprising a punching mechanism which includes an insertion gap limited on one side by a punch matrix and preferably with adjustable depth and/or lateral limit stops for the sheets of the stack of sheets to be provided with a row of binding holes near one edge, and which includes a number of punch blades arranged in defined separation from each other along the insertion gap and moveable via an actuating mechanism perpendicularly through the insertion gap and the punch matrix, wherein preferably individual punch blades can be decoupled from the remaining punch blades as selectable blades, and with a binding mechanism for binding the stack of sheets by means of an elastic binder spine engaging through the binder holes, which binder mechanism includes two spreader bodies for spreading apart the binder spine, which bodies are moveable relative to each other by means of second actuating mechanism and preferably limited in motion by an adjustable limit stop, characterized by a adjustment means (76, 78) for simultanteously operating an adjustment mechanism (68, 70, 72, 74) for the lateral limit stop (66) and a coupling mechanism (88, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100) for the selectable blades (54).

2. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 1, thereby characterized, that the adjustment means (76, 78) includes multiple adjustment positions, preferably defined by a scale (103) and/or detent positions, with predetermined association of the lateral limit stop (66) and the coupling/decoupling condition of the selectable blades (54).

3. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 1 or 2, thereby characterized, that the adjusting mechanism for the lateral limit stop (66) includes a ram (68) slideable in the longitudinal direction of the insertion gap (12) and carrying on one end the lateral limit stop (66), and adjustable via the adjustment means (76, 78). - 12-

4. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 3, thereby characterized, that the adjustment means is a rotation knob (76) coupled with a curve wheel (74), which exhibits an adjustment curve (72) for receiving a slide-block (70) fixed to the ram.

5. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 2 through 4, thereby characterized, that the adjustment means (76, 78) includes a calibration or adjusting element (78) for the fine adjustment of the lateral limit stop (66) in any adjustment position.

6. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 5, thereby characterized, that the curve wheel (74) is connected with the rotation knob (76) fixed against rotation and axially displaceable, and that the calibration means (78) is limitedly rotatable relative to the rotation knob and engages via a slide-block (74) in a preferably screw shaped fine adjustment curve (76) of the curve wheel (74).

7. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 6, thereby characterized, that the curve wheel (74) includes at least two, preferably three equal, angularly spaced apart from each other, fine adjustment curves (86) for receiving a corresponding number of slide-blocks (84) provided on the adjustment means (78) in angular separation from each other.

8. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 1 through 7, thereby characterized, that the coupling mechanism for the selectable blades (54) includes a camshaft (88) coupled fixed against rotation with the adjusting means in the form of the rotation knob (76) with respectively one cam curve associated with each of the individual selectable blades (54) as well as respectively one locking means (96) radially adjustable via the associated cam curve (92). -13-

9. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 8, thereby characterized, that the punching blades (46) inclusive of the selectable blades (54) are provided on a blade shaft (28) concentric to the camshaft (88) and respectively exhibit one punch part spaced radially apart from the outer surface of the blade shaft (28) and curved coaxially thereto, so that by rotation of the blade shaft (28) the punch operation can be carried out.

10. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 9, thereby characterized, that selectable blades (54) and the blade shaft (28) are axially not displaceable relative to each other and are rotatable relative to each other about a common rotation axis (54) and that the locking means (96) extends through a radial through hole (94) in the blade shaft (28), wherein in the locking position the locking means engages under the influence of the cam curve (92) in a radial borehole (100) of the selectable blade (54), which borehole is opened radially inwardly towards the blade shaft (28), and in the disengaged position is extracted from the radial borehole (100) of the selectable blade in the direction of the blade shaft (28).

11. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 10, thereby characterized, that the locking means (96) is urged in the direction of the camshaft (88) by the influence of a spring (98) supported in the selectable blade (54).

12. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 9 through 11, thereby characterized, that blade shaft (28) is connected fixed against rotation with an operating lever (30).

13. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 9 through 12, thereby characterized, that blade shaft (28) is motor driven.

14. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 1 through 11, characterized by a measuring device (26) for determining the thickness of the stack of sheets to be bound as well as with a device coupled to the measuring - 14 - device (24) for adjusting the border limit stops (34) of the binding mechanism (16) depending upon the dimensions of the measured sheet stack thickness.

15. Punching and binding machine for a stack of sheets, comprising a punching mechanism which includes an insertion gap limited on one side by a punch matrix and preferably with adjustable depth and/or lateral limit stops for the sheets of the stack of sheets to be provided with a row of binding holes near one edge, and which includes a number of punch blades arranged in defined separation from each other along the insertion gap and moveable via an actuating mechanism perpendicularly through the insertion gap and the punch matrix, wherein preferably individual punch blades can be decoupled from the remaining punch blades as selectable blades, and with a binding mechanism for binding the stack of sheets by means of an elastic binder spine engaging through the binder holes, which binder mechanism includes two spreader bodies for spreading apart the binder spine, which bodies are moveable relative to each other by means of second actuating mechanism and preferably limited in motion by an adjustable limit stop, characterized by a measuring device (26) for determining the thickness of the stack of sheets to be bound as well as with a device coupled to the measuring device (24) for adjusting the border limit stops (34) of the binding mechanism (16) depending upon the dimensions of the measured sheet stack thickness.

16. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 14 or 15, characterized by a device coupled with the measuring device for adjusting the depth limit stop (112) in the insertion gap (12) of the punching mechanism (10) according to the dimension of the measured sheet stack thickness.

17. Punching and binding machine for a stack of sheets, comprising a punching mechanism which includes an insertion gap limited on one side by a punch matrix and preferably with adjustable depth and/or lateral limit stops for the sheets of the stack of sheets to be provided with a row of binding holes near one edge, and which includes a number of punch blades arranged in defined - 15 - separation from each other along the insertion gap and moveable via an actuating mechanism perpendicularly through the insertion gap and the punch matrix, wherein preferably individual punch blades can be decoupled from the remaining punch blades as selectable blades, and with a binding mechanism for binding the stack of sheets by means of an elastic binder spine engaging through the binder holes, which binder mechanism includes two spreader bodies for spreading apart the binder spine, which bodies are moveable relative to each other by means of second actuating mechanism and preferably limited in motion by an adjustable limit stop, characterized by a device coupled with the measuring device for adjusting the depth limit stop (112) in the insertion gap (12) of the punching mechanism (10) according to the dimension of the measured sheet stack thickness.

18. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 14 through 17, characterized by an adjusting device (116) coupled with the measuring device (24) for displaying the selected binder spine size according to the measurement of the measured sheet stack thickness.

19. Punching and binding machine for a stack of sheets, comprising a punching mechanism which includes an insertion gap limited on one side by a punch matrix and preferably with adjustable depth and/or lateral limit stops for the sheets of the stack of sheets to be provided with a row of binding holes near one edge, and which includes a number of punch blades arranged in defined separation from each other along the insertion gap and moveable via an actuating mechanism perpendicularly through the insertion gap and the punch matrix, wherein preferably individual punch blades can be decoupled from the remaining punch blades as selectable blades, and with a binding mechanism for binding the stack of sheets by means of an elastic binder spine engaging through the binder holes, which binder mechanism includes two spreader bodies for spreading apart the binder spine, which bodies are moveable relative to each other by means of second actuating mechanism and preferably limited in motion by an adjustable limit stop, characterized by a - 16- measuring device (24) for determining the thickness of the stack of sheets to be bound as well as an adjusting device (116) coupled with the measuring device (24) for displaying the selected binder spine size according to the measurement of the measured sheet stack thickness.

20. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 14 through 19, thereby characterized, that the measuring device (24) includes a measuring chamber (22) for receiving the stack of sheets to be bound as well a measuring means (108, 110) engaging in the measuring chamber (22) and coupled with the adjusting device for the border limit stop (114) and/or the depth limit stop (118) and/or with the display device (116).

21. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 20, thereby characterized, that the measuring chamber (22) includes a floor (104) for setting up one of the edges of the stack of sheets as well as a contact surface (106) projecting upwardly from the floor for the back broad side of the stack of sheets, and that the measuring means (108, 110) includes an arm for striking against the front broad side of the stack of sheets.

22. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 21, thereby characterized, that the measuring means (108, 110) is rotatable about an axis parallel to the contact surface (106) and extends with its arm into the measuring chamber (22).

23. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 20 through 22, thereby characterized, that floor (104) of the measuring chamber (22) exhibits multiple steps (118) preferably stepping down towards the contact surface (106).

24. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 23, thereby characterized, that the breadth of the steps (118) is smaller than the width of the insertion gap (12) of the punching mechanism (10). - 17-

25. Punching and binding machine according to one of Claims 1 through 24, thereby characterized, that one or both spreader bodies (36) is limitedly moveable relative to the other spreader body (38) by means of an operating means (34) formed as a ram or pusher.

26. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 25, thereby characterized, that one of the two spreader bodies (36) is straight and the other comprises angle-forming bent spreader elements.

27. Punching and binding machine according to Claim 26, thereby characterized, that spreader body (36) with the straight spreader elements is slideable.

28. Punching and binding machine for a stack of sheets, comprising a punching mechanism which includes an insertion gap limited on one side by a punch matrix and preferably with adjustable depth and/or lateral limit stops for the sheets of the stack of sheets to be provided with a row of binding holes near one edge, and which includes a number of punch blades arranged in defined separation from each other along the insertion gap and moveable via an actuating mechanism perpendicularly through the insertion gap and the punch matrix, wherein preferably individual punch blades can be decoupled from the remaining punch blades as selectable blades, and with a binding mechanism for binding the stack of sheets by means of an elastic binder spine engaging through the binder holes, which binder mechanism includes two spreader bodies for spreading apart the binder spine, which bodies are moveable relative to each other by means of second actuating mechanism and preferably limited in motion by an adjustable limit stop, characterized by a punch magazine (20) for receiving a respectively one of the stack of sheets to be bound, which includes a floor (104) for setting up one of the edges of the stack as well as a contact surface (106) projecting at an incline upwards from the floor for one of the broad side surfaces of the stack of sheets, wherein the - 18- floor exhibits multiple steps decending towards the inclined contact surface (106).

29. Punching and binding machine according to claim 28, thereby characterized, that that the breadth of the steps (118) is smaller than the width of the insertion gap (12) of the punching mechanism (10). - 19 -