CA1083030A - Apparatus for binding books - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract:

Apparatus for use with a pair of thermo-plastic strips of the type illustrated in Abildgaard Laboratories United States Patent No. 3,608,117 dated September 28, 1971 wherein one strip is formed with studs longitudinally spaced at intervals and a second strip apertured and counterbored at the same intervals is used to bind sheets apertured at the same intervals at locations spaced inward from one marginal edge is described. A pressure bar is first manually moved to operative position and a handle compresses the strips together by exerting a controlled force on the pressure bar. The handle then initiates movement of a sup-port for a knife consisting of a length of metallic ribbon material having spaced horizontal stretches in horizontal align-ment with excess stud lengths of the first strip projecting through the second strip, the ribbon being under tension to hold such stretches taut. As the support moves toward the studs a current is passed through the ribbon, heating it so that the ribbon functions to cut off the excess stud length slightly below the second strip. The current then is terminated as the support moves upward forming heads on the stud stubs filling the counter-bores in the second strip. By this time, the ribbon has cooled and functions to cool and harden the heads. Retraction of the handle returns the support to initial position and releases the pressure bar. The handle also actuates a punch for the apertures in the sheets, the punch being located at a different station in the machine from the binding mechanisms.

Description

~83~3~
This application is a divisional of our copending appli-cation Serial NoO 264,166, filed October 26, 1976, which relatesto an improvement in binding machines such as those shown in our UOSo Patent NoO 3,756,625 dated September 4, 1973 and NoO
3,811,146 dated May 21, 19740 The i~provement consists in the provision of a relatively inexpensive~ manually operable machine to compress binding strips with a predetermined pressure with apertured paper between the strips, the studs on one strip fit-ting through holes in the sheets of paper and through the apertur-ed second plastic stripO The machine also has capability ofbeing used as a punch to form the apertures in the sheets of paperO The thermo-plastic material strips used in connection ;.
with this invention are adequateLy described in the aforementioned patents, as in the book which is producedO The invention of the :~ present appl~ ation relates to an improvement in the apparatus previously patented.
According to the pre~ent invention there is provided a cutting apparatus means for use with a plurality of thermoplastic members comprising lo~ating means fo.r said members, a knife formed of a thin narrow ribbon of metal, electrical means for heating said knife by resistance, a support for said knife, a frame, guide means on said frame for guiding movement of said support from a first position remote from said members to a second position at which said knife cuts through said members, and support actuating means ko move said support from first position to a second position and back to irst position, said electrical ~ .
means h~ving a first switch to pass current through said knifa as said support leaves f.irst position and a second switch to cut off currant to said }cnife when said support has heated said : - 1- .~" .' . .: : , . . . ~ .

83~
knife sufficiently to cut said members as said support reaches second position, said guide means having a third position in a direct~on relative to said second position at a right angle to the direction of movement of said support from first to second ~ :
position whereby said knife first forms heads on stubs of cut material of said members and then cools said heads~
Other features of the invention reside in the simplicity of manufacture and assembly of the machine; and accordingly, its low cost as compared with previous machines to perform the same :~
10 functionO ~:
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, :
one embodimsnt bhereof will now be described, by way of example~ ~ .
with reference to the accompanying dxawings, in which similar -reference characters represent correspondiny parts in each of the several viewsD
In the drawings: -Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a machine in accor-.. .... .
dance with the present inventionO
Fig. 2 is a sida elevational view thereof showing the handle in retracted position in full lines and in dot-and-dash lines in full forward position~
FigO 3 is a side elevat~onal view with the side of the housing of the machine removed taken subs~-antially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the handle in retracted positionO
FigO 4 is a view similar to FigO 3 with certain parts re-moved for simplicity o illustration showing the handle in full forward position and completion of performance of the punch functionO
; FigO 4A is a fragmentary view of a portion of the mechanism

- 2 - :
,","

3~:133~

behind that shown in Fig. 40 FigO 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with certain additional parts removed to reveal underlying structure showing the structure prior to commencement of the binding functionO
FigO 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the structure of FigO 5 showing the pressure bar manually placed in position for commencement of the binding functionO
FigO 7 is a view of a portion of the structure of Fig. 6 showing completion of the compression of the bindiny stripsO
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of FigO lo FigO 9 is a partial plan view of the knife support mechanism of FigO 80 FigO 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10-10 of FigO 90 FigO 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a poxtion of the ~tructure of FigO 9 viewed from the right in FigO 90 FigO 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 12~12 of ~igO 9 at the beginning of the binding cycleO
FigO 12A is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantial- -ly along line 12A-12A of FigO 9 Fig. 13 is a view similar to FigO 12 sh~wing the knife at the end of the cutting operationO
igO 14 is a view similar to FigO 12 showing the knife at the end of the h~ading operation Figs. 15-17 are views of the binding strip elements and associated machine structure at the positions in the cycle of operation corresponding to FigsO 12-14, respectivelyO
~igO 18 i9 a fragmentary sectional view through the com-30 pleted book along line 18-18 of FigO 170 ~ ~3~3~D

FigO 19 (on same sheet as FigsO 10, 11 and 12) is a schematic wiring diagram of the knife heating circuitry.
FigO 20 is a front elevational view of the punch as viewed substantially along the line 20-20 of FigO 2, partially broken away to show additional structureO
FigO 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 21-21 of FigO 20~
FigO 22 is a fragmentary elevational view taken substantial-ly along the line 22-22 of FigO 210 Fig, 23 is a fragmentary view similar to FigO 22 of a modified punch constructionO
FigO 24 is an end elevational view of the structure of FigO 230 FigO 25 i5 an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of ~ FigO 23.
; As shown in FigsO 15-18 and as described in greater detail in the U.S. Patent NoO 3,756~6259 dated September 4, 1973, the apparatus hereinafter described preferably employs for its use a first thermo-plastic strip 21 which is rect~ngular in cross ~0 section and has spaces at 1" or similar intervals along its length depe~ding from one side face thereof studs 22 formed with points ~:
23 at their lower ends. Strip 21 as well as second strip 24 is .
preferably formed of a theLmo-plastic material such as polyvinyl chloxideO Second strlp 24 is also rectangular in cross section and is of the same length as strip 21, which is preferably the length of the book to be boundO At intervals complementary to ~:
studs 22 are first apertures 26 having counterbores 27 on their lower sur~aresO The sheet~ 28 to be bound are formed with second apertures 29 adjacent one marginal edge, the spacing between

- 4 -.

: : ,.- -,~
.

3~,3a3 ap~rtures 29 being the same as that between the studs 22 and first apertures 260 Operation of the apparatus, hereinafter de-scribed, applies a downward pressure on the top of first strip 21, the studs 22 of which have been in~arted through the aper-tures 29 and the apertures 26 so that there are projecting portions 31 of studs 22, the extent of projection depending upon the thickness of the sheets 280 The apparatus cuts the projecting portions 31 at a level slightly below the bottom of strip 24 leaving short stubs which are melted by a knife and moved to form heads 32 filling the counterbores 27 of the second stripO After the thermoplastic material forming the heads 32 has cooled sufficiently, the pressure against the first strip 21 is removed and a completed book has been produced. The foregoing descrip-tion of the strips, sheets and method are similar to that of the ; operation and of the supplies used with the machines of our U.S
Patent No. 3~756,625 dated September 4, 1973 and ~oO 3,811,146 clated May 21, lg74~ and the book completed therebyO
The apparatus of the present invention has a casing 41, preferably molded of a plastic material having a front 42 formed adjacent the bottom with a punching opening 43 into which papers ; are inserted for punching of apertures therein. The casing 41 has a top 44 which also functions as a platen, as hereinafter ex-plainedO There is a punch edge guide 46 adjacent to the punch opening 43 and a binding edge guide 47 on the top 44 which are adjustably positioned to be engaged by one side edge of the sheets to be punched or bound respectively. An inverted ~-shaped handle 48 has spindle~ 49 which extend through the sides of casing 41 adjacent the rear thereofO The handle is pulled manually from the solid line retracted position of Fig. 2 to the dot-and-dash

- 5 -':

.

~8~

line forward position which indicates the end of ei-ther the punching or the binding position of the handle 48. A drawer 51 for scrap paper punched from the sheets by the punching function or severed ends of the plastic studs cut during the binding por-tion is provided. Said drawer 51 is slid forwardly for dumping of the debris when it has accumulated.
Extending along either side of the machine inside the sides of casing 41 are vertical side plates 52 suitably spaced apart and rigidly attached by mounting means 55. Extending be-tween the side plates 52 are horizontal punch platen 53 on the lower and forward end of the machine and binding platen 54 on the top and rear of the machine. Binding platen 54 is formed with a transversely extending shallow recess 56 to receive second -~
~;trip 24 and there is an opening 57 below recess 56 through which project the portions 31 of studs 22 below strip 24. As best shown in Fig. 8, there is a transverse sub~;tantially vertical rear edge stop 58 for the rear edge of the sheets supported on platen 54 which squares said edge~ with the rear edge of strip 24 when the latter is in recess 56. Stop 58 is flexibly supported by support 59. Certain of the strips 21, 24 may be wider than the others for certain types of binding functions, and to accommodate su~h strips the stop 58 may move rearward when the wider strips are inserted in the recess 56. Support 59 is attaàhed to 9 ide posts 64 which extend up above the level of top 44 ad]acent the rear of each side of the machine. Extending between the posts 64 is a transverse pressure bar 61 which applies downward pressure to first strip 21. At each end of pressure bar 61 are pins 62, the upper pin 62 fitting into a horizontal slot in the inward facing surfaces of post 64 and then being movable into an elongated ~33~:33~

vertical slot 66 in the inward face of side posts 6ll0 When the upper pin 62 is in horizontal slot 63 and pushed rParwardly thereof, the pressure bar 61 is retracted from its operative position and is tilted upwardly-rearwardly out of the way of the insertion of the sheets 28 and first strip 21. When the bar 61 is moved manually forwardly and downwardly, the pins 62 slide in vertical slots 660 Upper pin 62 is pivotally connected to link 67 which extends below top 44 and lies Lmmediately outside plate 52. The lower end of link 67 is pivotally connected by means of pin 70 to crank arm 68, the opposite end of which turns the non-circular portion of transverse horizontal shaft 690 Also turning with shaft 69 is a piece carrying a ratchet segment 710 Plate 52 is formed with an arcuate slot 72 concentric with shaft 69 and pin 73 in crank arm 68 oscillate~ in slot 720 Directing attention now to FigO 3, in a position outqide of the path of movement of crank arm 68 is a shaft extension 76 and surroundlng the ~ame and oscillatable relative thereto is a bushing 77 which receives connecting pins 78 attached to the handle 48 so that the bushing 77 oscillates about the center of shaft extension 76 as the handle 48 is moved from its retracted to full forward positionO Turning with bushing 77 is an irregu-larly sllaped crank 79 which is pivotally connected at its lef~
rear as viewed in FigO 3 by means of pivot 82 to a longitudinally forwardly extending link 8~o Adjacent the forward end of the machine is a punch crank 83 which is pivoted to plate 52 by punch pivot 840 ~he punch mechaniRm is hereinafter described;
the purpose of the mention of crank 83 and pivot 84 at this point is msrely to show positive location of the forward end of link 81 which is connected to crank 83 by pivot 86~ Intermediate pivots 30 82 and 86 is an upward extension 87 of link 81 formed with an :~

- ~83~19;3~

angularly shaped slot 88 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 40 Direct-ing attention now to FigO 5~ fittin~ within slot 88 is pin 92 relative to which pivots pawl 91 shaped to engage the ratchet segment 710 Pin 92 pivotally connects pawl 91 to a link 93, the forward-downward end of which carries a pin 94 connPcted to fit-ting 98 bearing against the upper end of compression spring 96 which is held in an aperture 99 in plate 52 by support 970 When the handle 48 i9 pivoted from retracted position to forward position, if the pressure bar 61 has been moved forwardly and 10 downwardly so that the ratchet segment 71 is partially turned ~
from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of FigO 6, as the ~ :
handle 48 moves the link 81 is moved rearwardly and down-wardly from the position o~ FigO 3 to the position of FigO 4 and the pin 92 slides from its up position in slot 88 of FigO
3 to its down position of FigO 4 causing the pawl 91 to move f'rom the position of FigO 5 to the position of FigO 7 which turns the xatched segment 71 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FigO 7 until the spring 96 compresses under a pre-detarmined application of force whereupon movement of the pawl 91 terminatesO As the ratchet segment 71 is turned clockwise by the pawl 91, crank 68 axerts a downward pressure on link 67 and thus on pre~sure bar 61 so that a predetermined compressive force is applied by the pressure bar 61 on tha first strip 21. By reaAon of the shape of slot 88, when pin 92 enters the middle of 8 lot 88 link 93 moves clockwise and pawl 91 becomes practically aligned therewithO Therefore the upward pr2ssure exerted on pressure bar 61 by reason of the compression of papars 28 below bar 61 does not return the part~ to initial positionO As best shown in FigsO 4 and 7, when the pawl 91 is exerting turning " ~ ~
'. ~ ' ~83~3~

force on segment 71 pins 92, 94 and pawl 91 are almost in astraight lineO Pin 9~ bears against the top edge of the middle of slot 88 and segment 71 is locked in placeO Slot 88 is long enough to permit full forward movement of handle 480 Springl96 functions as an overload mechanism, retaining fitting 98 and pivot pin 94 in a fixed position until such time as the resistance of compressed strips 21 and 24 with interposed paper 28 forces spring 96 to begin to compress, allowing fitting 98 and pin 94 to mov~ within aperture 99 in plate 52~ preventing over-compression of the bound book or damage to the machineO It also functions to ensure a predetermined pressure being applied to the book while it is being madeO Spring 96 al~o accommodates variations in operator technique of in~erting strips and lowering the pres~ure bar 610 Still further, the spring 96 accommodates different kinds of paper which may be used and particularly the ~.
effect of air between the shsets, which varies with different types of paperO When the binding operation is completed9 handle 48 i~ returned to r~arward position and this returns the link 81 to its forward position shown in FigO 30 The preqsure bar 61 may be raised manually because return of link 81 to forward position disengagas the pawl 91 from the ratche~ segment 710 As shown in FigsO 3 and 8-10, there is a lobe 101 on crank 79 which fits into an enlarged opening 102 in plate 52. : :~
Mounted for horizontal reciprocation between side plate 52 : -and below the level of platen 54 is horizontal transverse knife support 106~ the ends of which are connected to drive plates 107 :
which reciprocate immediately within plateq 520 Horizontally :~
elongated slot 108 is fonmed in plate 107 for passage of shaft 69 ~o that plate 107 and support 106 may reciprocate above the _ g _ . ~

:~83~3~

level of shaft 690 Furthex, horizontally elongated slot 110 is formed in plate 107 to receive enlaxged head rivet 114 (see FigO 8) fixed to plate 52 so as to retain plate 107 in close sliding contact with plate 520 Plate 107 is also formed with a slot having a surface 109 which is non-circular relative to shaft 690 The lobe 101 projecting through plate 52 fits into the opening in plate 107 and at the upper end of its movement (when the handle 48 is in retracted position), bears against surface 109 to prevent movemen~ of plate 107 when handle 48 is upO Lobe 101 also functions when handle 48 is returned to re-tracted position to return plate 107 to initial position by mov-ing plate 107 and support 106 to the left as viewed in FigO 80 When the handle 48 is in foxward position, the lobe 101 moves downwardly out of contact with the surface 109~ (See dotted line position in FigD lO)o Horizontal tension springslll are fastened a~ their rear to a rear stationay anchor 112 inter-connecting opposite plates 52 and at their forward ends are fastened to an ear 113 attached to plate 1O7D Hence the plates 107 are ~iased rearwardly by spring 111 from the knife re-trac~ed position shown in FigO 8 to cutting position and this movement i5 permitted when the lobe 101 is in down position.
When the handle ifi returned from forward position to retracted position, the lobe 101 engages the surface 109 as the handle approaches retracted position and moves the plate 107 and hence the knife support 106 to the left as viewed in FigO 8. :~
Plate 107 at its right-hand end immediately above slot 108 is formed with a shoulder 1030 When pin 73 is elevated (iOe~ in the po~ition shown in FigsO 10 and 12), it engages shoulder 103 and prevents movement of plate 107 to the rightO Hence, .. '. '. ' ' '.' . ~ . .
.
': . , ' . :. . ..

~3~
when the pressure bar 61 is elevated and pushed rearwardly (iOeO, when there is no binding function to be performed), the pin 73 prevents movement of plate 107 despite the oscillation of crank 79 and the fact that lobe 101 is not in engag~ment with cam surface lO9o As shown in FigO 13, with the pin 73 out of engage-ment with shoulder 103 there is no obstacle to movement of the support 106 ~o the right so that the knife 122 may perform its cutting functionO
Above knife support 106 is a removable knife support 116 10 which can be replaced when the knife hereinafter described has .
heen damagedO The removable support 116 is connected to the support 106 by spring clips 117 which hold the two parts together as viewed in FigO 120 By pulling the clips 117 in a counter- ::
clockwise direction, the upper right end of spring 117 is brought ; out of engagement with the horizontal portion 118 of support ` ~ :
1169 permitting removal of support 11.6 and the parts assembled l:heretoO
Removable support 1169 as best shown in FigsO 9 and 11, at its rearward end has spaced vertical ribbon supports 121 which support knife 1220 As has been mentioned, knife 122 i5 a :
continuou~ ribbon of spring steel preferably plated with a non-corrosive metal such as nickel then coated with Teflon so that the plastic stud 31 matsrial does not cling theretoO A horizon- :
:: :
tal stretch 123 of ribbon 122 is tightly stretched between each ~-pair of supports 121 and the spacing of horizontal stretches 123 coincides with the position of the stud material 310 Be- !.
tween horizontal stretches 123 and thus between the pairs of supports 121 ths ribbon 122 slants downwardly in angular stretches 124 meeting at a point where they are engaged by -~
- 11- .~ .
': .
, ~ .

... . .. . . . . . . . .
, i ~33~3~
hold-down springs 126 which are irregularly shaped members as best shown in Fig. 12 and slide in grooves 127 on the und~rside of portion 118 of removable support 1160 Thus the springs 126 tension the ribbon 122 and cause th~e horizontal portions 123 to be stretched taut between the supports 121 so as to perform the cutting and heading functionO The ends of ribbon 122 are bent around end posts 128 at opposite ends of support 116.
Drive plate 107 is provided with a pair of upwardly-rearwardly slanted slots 1410 The opposite ends of support 106 10 are provided with a pair of pins 142 which fit into slots 141.
When the support 106 has moved to the full right position (con-trast FigsO 12 with FigO 13~, it engages a stationary abutment 143 fixed to the rame o~ the machineO It will be noted that the -underside of platen 54 i9 formed with an undercut 1443 immediate-ly to the left of recess 560 As springs 111 pull the support 106 to the right5 when the support 106 engages abutment 143, further spring tension causes the pins 142 to move u~wardly in the 910t9 141 until the position of :FigO 14 i~ attainedO A
spring 146 depending from support 106 and resiliently engaging 20 the top of shaft 69 biases support 106 upwardly to the position of FigO 140 Integral with and depending from housing 54 and in hori-zontal alignment with the straight stretches 123 of knife 122 are vertical ribs 147 the lower ends of which are supported by sup-ports 148 which are joined to abutment 1430 The first time the knife is actuated, the hot horizontal stretches 123 cut horizon-tal lots 149 in ribs 147~ the vertical height of said slots being about equal to the thickness of material of stretche~ 1230 Thereafter, each tLme the hot knife is actuated it moves rear- ~ :

: ' , - , . ~ ~ , :
-:
- -33~rearwardly through the slots 149 and when it retracts the margins of slots 149 wipe from the stretches 123 any plastic material which has adhered thereto when the studs 31 were cuto As shown in FigO 19, the electrical system for control of the heating and cooling of the ribbon 122 is relatively simpleO
A transformer 131 is provided inside the casing 410 The secon-dary coil of the transformer 131 is connected to the opposite ends of the ribbon 122 which is heated by resistance when current passes ~-hrough transformer 1310 The circuitry which controls energiza-tion of the primary coil of transformer 131 is rélatively simpleas is shown in FigO l9o When pressure bar 61 is moved from the position of FigO 5 to Fig. 6~ switch 132 is closeclO When support 106 moves rearwardly from he position of FigO 12 toward FigO 13, witch 133 is closed and this energizes the coil of relay 134 and heats knife 122. Relay 134 has a pair of contacts which are ~ :
held closed for an approximately seven second delayO Signal light 138 is energized during the timed second delay; and when the relay ;~
contacts open after the timed delay, the lamp 138 is de-energized notifying the operator that it is proper to replace the handle 48 20 from forward po~ition to retracted po~itionO Meanwhile, when .
support 106 has reached the position of FigO 13, switch 137 is opened, de-energizing the primary coil of transformer 131 and ~ :
allowing knife 122 to begin to coolO At the end of the timed delay, knife 122 has cooled sufficiently to cool the heads 32 as shown in FigO 14 ~ ~;
BINDING OPERATION :- .
The binding function of the apparatus is a~ follows: :
The operator, with the handle 48 in upward-rearward position shown in FigO 3, manually in~erts the strip 24 in recess 560 A . :
: - 13 -: . .
',, ~ ,`'' . ',, ;. . ~ , . .

3~3~3 plurality of sheets 28, suitably formed with holes 29, is placed over the strip 24, one edge of the sheets being in contact with stop 47 and another with stop 580 Thereupon, the studs 22 of strip 21 are inserted through the holes 29 in sheets 28 and through the holes 26 in strip 240 The position of the parts is then substantially as in Fig. 150 Thereupon, the operator pulls pressure bar 61 forwardly and downwardly from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of FigO 6 so that the pressure bar rests upon the top of strip 21 and partially compresses the sheets 28 This closes switch 132 and segment 71 moves to the position of FigO 60 Thereupon9 the handle 48 is pulled forwardly, causing the .
link 81 to move rearwardly from the pO8 ition of FigO 3 to the position of FigO 40 The sliding motion of pin 92 in the initial upward-rearwardly slanted portion of slot 88 causes the pawl 91 to engage one of the teeth of ratchet segment 710 Further move-ment of the handle 48 causes the pawl 91 to push ratchet segment 71 in a further clockwise rotation to move from the dot-and-dash position of FigO 6 to the position of FigO 7 until the spring 96 compresses as a result of a predetermined pressure of the pressure bar 61 on the stack of sheets 280 The movement of segment 71 in a clockwise ~irection, as viewed in FigO 7, causes the crank arm 68 to move in a clockwise direction, pulling the link 67 and the pressure bar 61 downwardly, applying a force on the plastic strips ~: 21 and the sheets 28 underneath the sameO Oscillation of arm 68 oscillates shaft 69, and thus the downward force on each end of pras ure bar 61 is equalizedO As crank arm 68 moves to the position of FigO 7, pin 73 moves out of contact with shoulder 1030 Simultaneously~ loba 101 moves out of the contact with the cam . ~ , ........................................ . .
: . .

8~ 3~3 surface lO9o Thereupon, springs 111 pull the drive plate 107 to the rear right (as viewed in FigsO 7 ~nd 9-12)~ Afi soon as the plate 107 begins to move to the right, switch 133 is closedO
Since the switch 137 is normally closed, the transformer 131 is energized, heating the ribbon 1220 The relay 134 is closed for approximately seven seconds and lamp 138 is illuminated for such periodO
As ribbon 122 moves from the position of FigO ~ to the position of FigO 13~ the straight ribbon sections 123 cut off the excess stud material 31, leaving stubs of stud material 22 below the level of second strip 240 When the support 116 engages abut-ment 143, switch 137 i5 opened, causing ribbon 122 to begin to coolO Continued force of springs 111 causes tha pins 142 to rise -~
i:n the slots 141 and the ribbon 122 moves to the position of FigO
14, filling counterbore 27 in second strip 24 wlth plastic material. -~
During the timed delay of relay 134, the cool ribbon draws hea~
out of the stub material orming a solid head 32 filling the counkerbore 27 and hardening the same :~
When the light 138 i-q extinguis~ed after the timed delay, the operator moves the handle 48 to rearward positionO This causes the link 81 to move from the position of FigO 4 to the ~ :
po~ition of FigO 3 so that the pin 92 rises to the upper end of ~lot 88. This causes segment 71 to return to the position of FigO 60 Lobe 101 contacts surface 109, returning support 106 to the initial position of FigO 120 As the knife 122 retracts, the margins of slots 149 wipe off any accumulation of plastic on the :
section~ 123 of knife 1220 Thereupon~ the operator lit~ bar 61 ..
and moves it r~arwardly to the position of FigO 50 The completed booX is then removed from the machineO As shown in FigO 18, :. . . . . : . . . . .

3~3~

heads 32 fill counterbores 27~ binding sheets 28 tightly between strips 21, 24 with studs 22 through the holes 29 in sheets 28 PUNl::H MECHANISM
In a preceding portion of this Specification it has been explained that forward movement of handle 48 from the dotted line position of FigO 3 to the position of FigO 4 causes oscillation of the punch crank 83 from the position of Fig~ 3 to the position of Fig. 40 Immediately below the level of punch opening.43 in the front 42 of casing 41 and spaced rearwardly at a point be-hind edge guide 46 is a femak die plate 151 extending horizon-tally transversely of the machine, the upward turned outex ends o~ platel51 being secured to side plates 52 by pivot bolts 84, :~
: as best shown in FigO 200 Holes 152 are formed in plate 151, the number and location thereof depending upon the holes to be punched in the paperO The rearward edge of plate 151 i~ bent vertically upwardly in a stretch 160 which serves as a stop, limiting inward insextion of sheets 280 The distance between stop 160 and hole~ : -152 determines the distance from the rnarginal edge of the sheets 28 at which the holes 29 are punched~
Immediately above plate 151 is a hori~ontal transverse guid~ plate 153 and there is a gap 155 between plates 151 and 153 which limit~ the quantity of paper which may be punched at one timeO Plate 153 is formed with holes 154 which are vertical-ly aligned with holes 1520 Vertically reciprocating punch plate 156 is in vertical . ,-.., alignment with holes 152 and 154 and i5 spaced forwardly from the upturned rear edgas of plates 151 and 154 and spaced forwardly therefrom by spacer 157. Immediately in front of plate 156 is a ront plate 1580 Pins 159 pas~ through holes in the upturned -~ 3~3~
edges of plates 151 J 154 and through front plate 158 and also through spacer 1570 The pins 159 pass through vertically elon~at-ed slots 161 in plate 156 sO that the plate 156 m~y reciprocate relative to the stationary elements of the apparatus An L-shaped secondary guide 162 is fixed to the front face of the vertically upturned portion of plate 153 and is also apertured in alignment with apertures 152~ 1540 Male punches 163 which are in the form of round cross section pins are in vertical alignment with holes 152, 1540 The lower ends of pins 163 are ground concave so as to cooperate with . :
holes 152 to punch paper in the gap 1550 The upper end of each pin 163 is formed with an enlarged head 164 which is received in -~
a 910t 166 in punch plate 1560 As best shown in FigO 22, at the left ox center of the plate 156 the upward exten~ of slot 166 is -~lightly more than the thickness of head 164 but progressing ~ :~
either direction from the center the upward ext~nsion of slots 166 increases to a maximum on each endO Below slots 166 are inward extending shoulders 169 formed integral in plate 156, which engage under the heads 164. Thus as the plate 156 is depressed, : -each head 164 of pins 163 serially proceeding from the center of the machine outward toward either side is depressed by the top . -of ~lot 166 engaging the top of head 1640 In other word~, all of the pins 163 are not depressed at once but they are depressed ~e~uentially in pairs matched relative to the centerline of the machineO Hence the force required to punch the entire series of holes in the paper is reduced because all of the holes are not punched simultaneou~lyO
Actuation of vertical reciprocation of punch plate 156 is accomplished by oscillation of punch crank 830 It will be noted -~ ~ 3~ 3~
that plate 156 has out~ard extensions 167 at either end which project through 810ts in plate 52 and have upward extended ears 1680 On the inward side of crank 83 is an eccentric boss 171 and said boss 171 fits in a hole in the lower end of vertical lever 1720 Lever 172 at its upper end is formed with a truncated seg-mental slot 173 as best shownin FigO 3 through which the extension 167 protrudes.
OPERATION OF PUNCH
As the handle is moved from rearward position of Fig. 3 to the forward position of Fig. 4, crank 83 oscillates clockwise as viewed in FigsO 3 and 4 and this causes eccentric boss 171 to -pull plate 156 downward because extension 167 is depressed verti-cally by the downward movement of lever 72 with slot 173 against which extension 167 bears. Turning attention now to FigsO 20-22, whlen the plate 156 is deprQssed, by reason of the top edge of each slot 166 contacting the top of head 164, the punches 163 are de-pressed sequentially proceeding from c~snter to each end of plate 1560 The depression of pins 163 causes the bottom end of the pin 163 to punch a hole in paper in gap 155 by reason of shearing action relativa to holes 1520 The holes in guide plate 153 and secondary guide 162 keep the pins 163 in vertical alignment with the holes 152 and 1540 When the handle is returned to rearward position, the shoulders 169 pull the heads 164 of each of the pins 163 upwardly 9imultaneou51y permitting removal of the paperO
MODIFIED PUNCH
In Figs~ 23 and 24 is shown a modification of the punch heretQfore described in which square or rectangular holes are formed in the paper rather than the round holes of the preceding modification. A punch body 176 which consists of an integral - ~8-~ ;~

3~3~
piece of metal is bolted to punch plate 156a by means of bolts1770 Depending from plate 176 is a seri~s of male punch pro-jections 178 which are rectangular of square in cross section and are ground at their lower ends in a manner similar to the grind-ing of pins 163 so that the male punch elements 178 will cooperate with the holes 152 (which are square or rectangular rather than round in the modified form of the punch) to punch square or rectangular holes in the paper.
The structure of FigsO 23 and 24 resembles that of pre-ceding modification and is incorporated in similar reciprocating structureO Corresponding elements are designated with the same ~:
reference numerals as in the p~eceding modification followed by :
subscript aO
A unique feature of the structure of the punch of FigsO23 and 24 is that the body 176 and integral projections 178 are a unitary piece of metal and can be stamped from a piece of sheet steel or other material in a single stamping operation~ thereby e:Liminating the necessity of individual pins 163 as in the pre-: ceding modification and in conventional punchesO As shown in FigO 23, the lower ends of the projections 178 are not uniformbut are of varying lengths so that the holes are punched in the paper sequentially rather than simultaneously proceeding from the cente.r of the machine outwardlyO
As best shown in FigO 25, a preferred shape of distal end of projection 178 is shown. The bottom edge at each end curves ; .
upwardly-inwardly in stretches 179 and at the middle is a semi-circular edge 1810 The radius of curvature of stretch 181 is substantially less than that of stretches 1790 Particularly when punching extremely large thicknesses of paper, the curved 19 ..

;,"',".

. . - , . . . . .. . . .

3~

portion 181 curls up the rectangular cutouts of the paper so that they are more easily driven through th2 holes 29 on the down-stroke of the punch.

- 20 - ;;

.

Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Cutting means for use with a plurality of thermoplastic members comprising locating means for said members, a knife formed of a thin narrow ribbon of metal, electrical means for heating said knife by resistance, a support for said knife, a frame, guide means on said frame for guiding movement of said support from a first position remote from said members to a second position at which said knife cuts through said members, and support actuating means to move said support from first position to a second position and back to first position, said electrical means having a first switch to pass current through said knife as said support leaves first position and a second switch to cut off current to said knife when said support has heated said knife sufficiently to cut said members as said support reaches second position, said guide means having a third position in a direction relative to said second position at a right angle to the direction of movement of said support from first to second position whereby said knife first forms heads on stubs of cut material of said members and then cools said heads.

2. Cutting means according to claim 1, said ribbon being bent in straight stretches and angular stretches intermediate said straight stretches and said support having projections across which said straight stretches lie, and resilient means on said support bearing against said ribbon at said angular stretches to draw said straight stretches taut.

3. Cutting means according to claim 2, which further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical ribs fixed relative to said locating means positioned in the path of movement of said straight stretches and each formed with a horizontal slot whereby as said knife moves between first and second positions said straight stretches pass through said horizontal slots and on the return of said knife to first position plastic material is wiped off said straight stretches by the margins of said slots.

4. Cutting means according to claim 1, said cutting means in-cluding compression means applying a force tending to move said members along their axes, and an interlock between said compression means and said support means restraining movement of said support means from first position except when said compression means is actuated, wherein the electrical means comprises a third switch, said third switch being closed only when said compression means is actuated, said third switch when open cutting off current to said knife so that said knife is heated only when said compression means is actuated.