EP0854788B1 - Device for supporting a comb binder and machine provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for supporting a comb binder (3) to enable perforated sheets (F) to be placed thereon is disclosed. Said binder has the form of an elongate channel and consists of a comb with transverse curved teeth (D) divided into pairs by gaps (I). The device comprises a set of supporting tabs (5, 5') arranged in pairs, and at least one tab in each pair is movable relative to the other tab so that in a first mutual positioning mode or retracted mode, said tabs can be inserted into the gap (I) between two adjacent teeth (D) of the binder (3), whereas in a second positioning mode or deployed mode, said tabs engage said teeth (D) and thereby support the binder (3). A binding machine provided with said device is also disclosed.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for holding a binding comb for placing perforated sheets thereon.

It also relates to a machine for binding perforated sheets equipped with such a device.

The term “comb binding” means a binding having the shape of a gutter elongated and consisting of a comb with transverse curved teeth separated two by two by intervals.

There are two types. The first are plastic while that the seconds are formed of a metallic wire.

So-called binding machines have already been proposed, which make it possible to perforate sheets to assemble and join them by means of a comb binding, to form a sort of notebook.

Document WO-A-93/09958 describes a support device for a metal wire comb binding. This device can be integrated into a binding. It includes a support surface and a plurality of support elements which extend spaced apart from this surface, on which a looped portion of the comb, located between two adjacent teeth thereof, can be engaged to allow to the binding to be supported in overhang, that is to say with a "cantilever" effect.

Such a device has certain drawbacks.

Firstly, it can be seen that the support elements cooperate with a loop portion of the comb located between two adjacent teeth. This part presents a width which is not necessarily equal to that of the support elements. She may be greater. In such a case, it may happen that the binding is inadvertently moved longitudinally when inserting the perforated sheets, which is customary inconvenient.

Furthermore, the top of the support elements occupies part of the free space between the teeth and the looped parts of the binding. It is through this space that are introduced perforated sheets to be assembled. This does not pose any special problem for large bindings. On the other hand, for bindings smaller in size, a large part of the aforementioned space is occupied by the support elements, so that the introduction of the sheets is tedious.

The present invention aims in particular to remedy these drawbacks.

With this in mind, it offers a binding holding device with comb which is stable, and which completely frees the space between the teeth and the mouths of the binding during the installation of the perforated sheets.

It is a device of simple design and usable even by inexperienced people.

This device is characterized by the fact that it comprises a set of fingers holding devices arranged in pairs and at least one of which in each pair is movable by relation to each other, so that in a first state of mutual positioning - says retracted state -, they can be inserted in an interval separating two neighboring teeth of the binding, while in a second positioning state - known as the deployed state -, they engage against said teeth in order to maintain the binding.

Thus, when the binding is formed of a metal wire, the fingers of hold engages regions located between two consecutive loops of the binding, deforming them locally.

• les doigts sont répartis en deux séries distinctes dont l'une au moins est portée par une réglette mobile longitudinalement et parallèlement à la reliure ;
• les doigts sont répartis en deux séries distinctes portées chacune par une réglette mobile longitudinalement et parallèlement à la reliure ;
• lesdites réglettes sont superposées et contiguës ;
• lesdits doigts consistent en des éléments plats qui s'étendent dans un plan parallèle à celui de ladite réglette ;
• une partie desdits doigts est conformée en crochet, aptes à coopérer avec lesdites dents de la reliure ;
• à l'état rétracté, les doigts des deux séries sont superposés deux à deux ;
• la reliure est constituée d'un fil, notamment métallique, conformé de telle façon qu'il présente une succession de bouches alternées de petite et grande largeur, - dites bouches minces et larges - ;
• à l'état rétracté, les doigts s'insèrent dans l'espace situé entre les deux branches de certaines des bouches larges.

Furthermore, according to other advantageous but non-limiting characteristics:

• the fingers are divided into two distinct series, at least one of which is carried by a strip movable longitudinally and parallel to the binding;
• the fingers are distributed in two distinct series each carried by a movable strip longitudinally and parallel to the binding;
• said strips are superimposed and contiguous;
• said fingers consist of flat elements which extend in a plane parallel to that of said strip;
• a part of said fingers is in the form of a hook, capable of cooperating with said teeth of the binding;
• in the retracted state, the fingers of the two series are superimposed two by two;
• the binding consists of a wire, in particular metallic, shaped so that it has a succession of alternating mouths of small and large width, - called thin and wide mouths;
• in the retracted state, the fingers are inserted into the space between the two branches of some of the wide mouths.

The invention also relates to a machine for binding sheets. perforated, which is fitted with a holding device conforming to one of the characteristics cited above.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une machine de reliure équipée du dispositif de maintien ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'une partie de reliure à peigne formée d'un fil métallique ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues simplifiées de face des moyens essentiels de l'invention, destinées à en expliquer le fonctionnement, les doigts de maintien étant représentés en coupe transversale ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont similaires aux figures 3 et 4, mais sont représentées en perspective ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention et d'une reliure, sur laquelle sont mises en place des feuilles perforées.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. This description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a binding machine equipped with the holding device;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a comb binding portion formed of a metal wire;
• Figures 3 and 4 are simplified front views of the essential means of the invention, intended to explain the operation, the holding fingers being shown in cross section;
• Figures 5 and 6 are similar to Figures 3 and 4, but are shown in perspective;
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention and of a binding, on which perforated sheets are placed.

The binding machine 1 represented in the appended FIG. 1 is of the type current. It includes means capable of perforating sheets to be assembled as well as means adapted to close the binding when all of the sheets have been put in place. They will not be described in detail in the present description because they do not, except strictly speaking, part of the invention.

As shown in this figure, the machine is equipped on its face upper front of a device 2 for maintaining a comb binding conforming to the invention.

This description will be made more specifically with reference to a comb binding consisting of a wire, in particular metallic. However, it goes without saying that any other binding in the shape of a gutter and consisting of a tooth comb transverse curves, can be used with the holding device of the invention. It is particularly the case of plastic comb binders.

A comb binding 3 consisting of a wire 30 and which has been discussed above, is partially shown in perspective in Figure 2. The wire is shaped so that it presents a succession of alternating loops 31 and 32 of small and large width, say "thin and wide curls". By the term "loop," is meant the part of the binding formed by the wire when it describes an arcuate part delimited on both sides by two parallel branches. Thus, by way of example, the loops 32 are bordered by two parallel branches 320.

The loops 31 define with the branches associated with them a series of transverse teeth D , separated two by two by an interval I.

We have designated by the reference P the pitch of the binding, that is to say the distance which separates two neighboring teeth D.

Depending on the case, the value of the step P can change, as well as the number of loops and their dimensions.

Finally, in FIG. 2 is designated by the reference E , the space which separates the loops 31 from the loops 32. It is through this space that perforated sheets to be assembled are introduced on the binding.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, the device 2 comprises a set of retaining fingers which are arranged in pairs and one of which at less in each pair is mobile compared to the other. So, in a first state of mutual positioning - called "retracted state" -, they can be inserted in an interval separating two neighboring teeth from the binding, while in a second positioning state, says "deployed state", they engage against the teeth in order to maintain the binding.

In Figures 3 to 6 is shown an embodiment of this device.

This device comprises two elongated strips 4 and 4 ', at least one of which is movable relative to the other. In the figures they have been shown to be mobile both, but in opposite directions (arrows f and g ). They can be metallic strips or any other material. They are provided at one of their ends with a button 40, respectively 40 ', capable of allowing their movement.

Of course, they are guided appropriately in a base not represented. This base comprises means forming a stop, capable of limiting their movement relative.

Each strip carries, at regular intervals, a series of fingers holding 5, respectively 5 '. The intervals are identical on the two strips.

In this case, these are projections which extend perpendicular to the strips on one of their longitudinal sides. They extend in the same plane as the crimps. Of course, in a different embodiment, the fingers could be elements related to the crimps.

As shown more precisely in FIGS. 5 and 6, the free part of the fingers 5 and 5 ′ has a cutout so that it is shaped as a hook 50, respectively 50 '.

Note however that the hook portions 50 of the fingers 5 are arranged opposite the corresponding hook portions 50 'of the fingers 5'.

The width of the fingers 5 and 5 'is such that it is less than the width of a loop 32 of the binding 3, between its two parallel branches 320.

The device is used as follows.

The strips 4 and 4 'being arranged so that their respective fingers are superimposed (position of Figures 3 and 5), there is positioned a binding 3 so that the fingers 5 and 5' can be inserted in intervals I separating two neighboring teeth D of the binding.

One then slides one of the strips (or both in opposite directions) so that the fingers 5 and 5 ′ of each pair separate from one another. This relative movement causes the hook parts 50 and 50 'to engage the branches 320 of the loops 32, deforming them locally. In this way, the fingers are engaged against the teeth D of the binding in order to maintain it. The binding cannot be subject to untimely longitudinal displacement.

It should be noted that in this position the space E of the binding is in no case cluttered by the fingers 5 and 5 ', so that the positioning of perforated sheets on the teeth D is facilitated.

The binding and sheets can be removed after returned the strips to their original position. We then bring the whole to the level of a known system capable of closing the binding.

In the embodiment of Figure 7, the upper strip which carries the fingers 5, is made integral with a slide 6 molded and sliding in a base. This slide is provided with a button 60. The lower strip, which is provided with fingers 5 ', is fixed. The relative movement of the two strips is limited by a worn nipple by one of them, in place in a light formed in the other.

This embodiment is also distinguished from the previous one by the fact that the part shaped as hooks of the fingers 5 is slightly raised. This characteristic is useful once all the perforated sheets F are in place on the binding 3. To release the binding from the device, the fingers must be returned to their initial position, retracted. The raising of the hooks of the strip 5 contributes to keeping the binding / sheets assembly in place on the device, as long as the sliding operation of the strip is not completed.

As an indication, nine pairs of fingers can be provided to support the comb binding.

Note that the device of the invention is autonomous, which means that it can be integrated into any binding machine or used separately.

Finally, in another embodiment, the fingers of the strips, in the state of positioning known as retracted, can not be superimposed but slightly offset from each other.

Claims (10)

1. A device for holding a comb binding (3) to enable punched sheets (F) to be put into place thereon, the binding being in the form of an elongate channel and being constituted by a comb of transverse curved teeth (D) that are separated in pairs by gaps (I), the device being characterized by the fact that it comprises a set of holding fingers (5, 5') organized in pairs, with at least one finger in each pair being movable relative to the other in such a manner that in a "retracted" first mutual positioning state they can be inserted into a gap (5) between two adjacent teeth (D) of the binding (3), while in a "deployed" second positioning state they engage against said teeth (D) in order to hold the binding (3).
2. A holding device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fingers (5, 5') are organized in two separate series, at least one of which is carried by a strip (4, 4') that is movable longitudinally parallel to the binding (3).
3. A holding device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the fingers (5, 5') are organized as two separate series, each carried by a respective strip (4, 4') that is movable longitudinally and parallel to the binding (3).
4. A holding device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said strips (4, 4') are superposed and contiguous.
5. A holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that said fingers (5, 5') are constituted by flat elements which extend in a plane parallel to the plane of said strip (4, 4').
6. A holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that a portion of each finger (5, 5') is hook-shaped (50, 50'), suitable for cooperating with said teeth (D) of the binding (3).
7. A holding device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by the fact that in the retracted state the fingers (5, 5') of the two series are superposed in pairs.
8. A holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the binding (3) is made of a wire, in particular a metal wire, shaped in such a manner as to present a succession of alternating loops (31, 32) of small and large width, referred to narrow loops and wide loops.
9. A holding device according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that in the retracted state, the fingers (5, 5') are inserted in the gaps situated between the two branches (320) of some of the wine loops (32).
10. A machine for binding punched sheets, the machine being fitted with a holding device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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