Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42F—SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING
  • B42F13/00—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots
  • B42F13/16—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings
  • B42F13/165—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings with flexible or resilient claws or rings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO BOOKS, FILING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE
  • B42P2241/00—Parts, details or accessories for books or filing appliances
  • B42P2241/24—Means for facilitating stacking or packaging

Definitions

• the present invention relates to binding elements for holding a plurality of perforated sheets or the like, and more specifically the invention pertains to structure for coupling binding elements for use in automated binding processes.
• binding elements have been utilized to bind a stack of perforated sheets or the like.
• binding elements which are of a wire comb or hanger-type design are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent 2,112,389 to Trussell and U.S. Patents 4,832,370 and 4,873,858 to Jones, while machines for assembling such binders are disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,031,585 to Adams, U.S. Patent 4,398,856 to Archer et al., U.S. Patent 4,525,117 to Jones, U.S. Patent 4,934,890 to Flatt, and U.S. Patent 5,370,489 to Bagroky.
• Binding elements typically include a spine from which a plurality of fingers extend which may be assembled through perforations in a stack of sheets.
• This spine may be linear, with or without a longitudinally extending hinge. Alternately, the spine may be formed by sequential bending of a wire, as with wire comb or hanger type binding elements.
• Another object ofthe invention is to provide a coupled group of binding elements in which the coupling structure does not interfere with the use or final appearance of a binding element.
• a related object is to provide a plurality of binding elements having a coupling structure which may be severed from the binding element during an automated binding process.
• An additional object ofthe invention is to provide a plurality of binding devices which may be economically and efficiently manufactured.
• a further object is to provide a coupled group of binding elements which may be molded using conventional molding techniques.
• the invention provides a plurality of binding elements that are particularly suitable for usage in automated binding processes.
• a continuous elongated binding element is provided which may be either rolled into a flat roll or along a spool.
• the continuous binding element which is, in actuality, a plurality of coupled individual binding elements, may be fed into an automated machine, and individual binding elements cut to a desired length.
• the continuous binding elements may be manufactured by any appropriate method, but the currently preferred method includes molding a length of one or more binding elements in a mold, demolding the molded elements, and advancing the molded element into a position within or adjacent the mold cavities and molding a connected binding element.
• the trailing portion ofthe binding element may be only partially molded, and the partially molded trailing section ofthe binding element advanced to the lead end cavities ofthe mold to mold on the next section of continuous binding element, completing the partially molded trailing end ofthe first formed binding element.
• an extruded strip or other spine element may be placed into the mold and fingers consecutively molded along the continuous spine.
• a plurality of binding elements may be coupled together with runners disposed at the longitudinal ends ofthe spines ofthe strips.
• a plurality of binding elements in this form may be provided either as discrete sheets, or as a continuous sheet which is rolled up in a manner similar to the continuously molded binding elements described above.
• the continuous sheet may be molded by a partial molding in the trailing cavity ⁇ which is then advanced to the lead cavity.
• an extruded or otherwise manufactured strip may be used as the continuous runner at the longitudinal ends ofthe plurality of binding elements.
• the runners may be in the form of a number of discrete links that extend between fingers or other portion of adjacent binding elements.
• the coupling structure may include more than one coupling structure.
• the plurality of binding elements may include stacking or nesting structure such as is disclosed in P.C.T. Application PCT/US0106362, filed February 28, 2001, based upon U.S. Provisional Application 60/188372, which was invented by one of the named inventors in this application and is assigned to the assignee of this application.
• P.C.T. Application PCT/US0106362 is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses.
• the nesting elements may be disposed inboard or outboard the runners. In use, the nesting structure may be used to stack sheets of binding elements coupled by runners.
• the unused structure may simply be severed prior to the process, or may remain as a superfluous structure that is severed with the other coupling or nesting structure following the storage, feeding and/or assembly processes.
• the sheets of binding elements coupled by runners (with or without stacking structure) at the longitudinal ends or discrete binding elements (with or without stacking structure) may be disposed in a feeding structure, such as a flat box, cassette, or cartridge arrangement having a section which is open for feeding the contained elements into a continuous binding process.
• a feeding structure such as a flat box, cassette, or cartridge arrangement having a section which is open for feeding the contained elements into a continuous binding process.
• a small spring is preferably molded between a binding element and the coupling structure and/or the stacking structure.
• the small spring may be molded integrally with the element, and provides a degree of flexibility between the element itself and the feeding or assembly machine components.
• the incorporation of such springs serves to eliminate or minimize any adverse effects of variances effecting the tolerances between the molded part and the mechanized handling structure, such as variances in the shrinkage ofthe plastic parts during the molding process.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a binding element ofthe prior art.
• FIG. 2 is a plurality of binding elements constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of a plurality of binding elements constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mold for molding binding elements constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view ofthe trailing end ofthe mold of FIG. 4, along with a fragmentary perspective view of a molded binding element.
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view ofthe leading end ofthe mold of FIG. 4, along with a fragmentary perspective view of a trailing end of a binding element constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mold of a second method of molding binding elements in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 11 A is. a perspective view of a binding element including a stacking structure.
• FIG. 1 IB is a perspective view ofthe opposite side ofthe binding element of FIG. 11A.
• FIG. 1 IC is an enlarged end view of the binding element of FIGS. 11A and B.
• FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in " accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an eleventh embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a single binding unit a twelfth embodiment a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional view ofthe stacking cap taken along line 18-18 in FIG. 17.
• FIG. 19 is a fragmentary plan view ofthe plurality of binding units taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 17.
• FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of a plurality of binding units constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention.
• FIG. 21 in an enlarged fragmentary view of end sections ofthe binding units shown in FIG. 20.
• FIG. 1 a typical binding element 20 which includes a spine 22 and a plurality of fingers 24 which protrude from either side ofthe spine 22.
• the spine may further include a living hinge 26 or the like, which facilitates the bending ofthe fingers 24 toward one another. In this way, the fingers may be inserted through perforations in a stack of sheets (not shown) to bind the sheets together.
• the living hinge 26 is in the form of a longitudinally extending line of reduced thickness along the spine. Binding elements of this type are disclosed in U.S. Patent 6,270,280, which will issue August 7, 2001 and which is incorporated herein by reference for all it discloses.
• the binder 20 is provided as part of a plurality of binding elements disposed in predetermined adjacent spacial relationships relative to one another to facilitate automated binding processes.
• adjacent includes not only binding elements that are disposed very closely, but binding elements that are spaced away from each other as well, so long as the spacial relationship is maintained.
• a plurality of elements so disposed may be readily handled without becoming tangled and may be coupled to an automated binding machine (not shown) for use in high volume binding processes.
• a coupling structure between the plurality of binders 20 is then typically sheared or sheared off to separate the elements before, during or after the handling process, the closing process, and/or the binding process. Alternately, if the coupling structure is in the form of a cartridge or the like, the cartridge may be discarded or recycled for later use.
• the particular design of the binding elements 20 themselves may be of an alternate configuration than those disclosed in the illustrations herein.
• the binding elements may include single as opposed to pairs of fingers which extend from the spine.
• the binding elements 20 are of a design which may be readily molded from plastic by processes, such as, injection molding. Examples of other sheet binding element structures are illustrated, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,369,013 to Andugaard et al., U.S. Patent 4,607,970 to Heusenkveld, U.S. Patent 4,873,858 to Jones, U.S. Patent 4,900,211 to Vercillo, U.S. Patent 4,904,103 to Im, and U.S. Patent 5,028,159 to Amrich et al.
• FIG. 2 there is illustrated a first embodiment of a plurality of binding elements 30 constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe invention. While appearing to resemble a continuous binding element, the plurality of binding elements 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 is essentially a series of binding elements 20 molded end-to-end.
• the elongated strip ofthe plurality of binding elements 30 may be rolled up in any appropriate manner, such as the flat roll illustrated in FIG. 2 or the spooled roll shown in FIG. 3.
• the plurality of binding elements 30 may then be rolled out to a flat position and a binding element 20 of a desired length cut from the unrolled strip.
• the elongated spine 22 itself is the coupling structure between the individual binding elements 20. In this way, this embodiment is particularly useful in that the plurality of binding elements 30 may be utilized in arrangements for binding various lengths of stacks of sheets.
• the spine 22 may be of a substantially uniform cross-section, it will be appreciated that the elongated length of spine 22 running through the plurality of binding elements 30 may alternately include variances in the cross section at intervals along the length ofthe spine 22 ofthe plurality of binding elements 30.
• the spine 22 may have a reduced size cross-section at standard lengths, such as 8-1/2 inches, 11 inches, or 14 inches which could facilitate severing the adjacent binding elements.
• One method of molding the continuous plurality of binding elements is within the mold illustrated in FIG. 4.
• the mold 34 (the bottom half of the mold is illustrated in the figures) is provided with a cavity 36 for molding a length of binding element 38 having a lead end 40 and a trailing end 42.
• the portion of the mold cavity 44 in which the trailing end 42 is molded is designed to mold only a portion of the trailing end 42 (see FIG. 5). In the embodiment illustrated, only a portion ofthe trailing end fingers and trailing end spine are molded in the trailing end 44 ofthe mold cavity.
• a length of binding element 38 is molded, the molded length 38 is removed from the mold and advanced to a position where the trailing end 42 ofthe length of binding element 38 is disposed in the cavity 36 at the lead end 46 of the mold (see FIG. 6).
• a second length of binding ' element is molded, and the trailing end 42 ofthe previous element length 38 becomes the lead end 40 ofthe second molded length of binding element, the molding ofthe second length completing the spine and fingers at the trailing end 42 ofthe first length of binding element 38.
• a continuous length of strip, or plurality of binding elements 30, may be molded as a continuous piece.
• the partial molding ofthe trailing end 42 ofthe molded length 38 is such that it causes an engagement with the subsequently molded length 38, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 6.
• the illustrated embodiment includes a partially molded trailing set of finger elements and a partially molded engaging spine
• the trailing set of fingers could be completely molded, and the spine only partially molded with a structure that facilitates molding the next section of spine thereto. It is expected that a dovetail arrangement ofthe spine, shown in FIGS 4-6, even without the partial molding ofthe trailing set of fingers would be sufficient to supply a firm attachment of a subsequently molded length of binding strip.
• the partial molding may be very simple in design, as, for example, with one-half of the spine and one-half of the fingers at the trailing end 42 being molded in the initial mold cycle.
• a second method of molding the continuous length of binding elements 30a is by molding fingers 24a to a previously formed continuous strip 50 disposed along the spine area, as in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 7. According to this method, all of the fingers of a molded length of binding element 38a are typically completely formed, rather than only partially forming the trailing end 42a ofthe strip.
• the strip 50 may be formed of any appropriate material such as, for example, fabric, metal, or an extruded plastic or polymeric material.
• the term cord is intended to include fabric, thread or string, rope, or the like, and the term wire is intended to include metal wire, filament, or thin flat sheet. While a relatively large rectangular continuous strip 50 is shown in FIG.
• the continuous strip 50 may be of an alternate thickness, width, and shape, so long as it provides a continuous element to which the length of strip may be molded.
• the continuous strip 50 may be a thin cord, and the fingers along with the bulk ofthe spine 22a may be molded to the cord to form the continuous length of strip.
• FIG. 8 there is shown another embodiment of a plurality of binding elements 30b.
• a sheet of parallel binding elements 20b are simultaneously molded with runners 54, 56 coupling together the binding elements 20b along the opposite longitudinal ends ofthe spines 22b.
• the plurality of binding elements 30b may be fed to a binding machine to bind stacks of sheets.
• the plurality of elements 30b may be fed directly into a machine as shown, for example, in FIG. 8, or the plurality of elements 30b may be disposed in a feeding structure, such as the box 60 shown in FIG. 9.
• the runners 54, 56 may be utilized in the feeding process or engage structure within the binding or feeding machine (not shown).
• individual binding elements 20c may be disposed within such a feeding structure or cartridge 60c.
• the building elements 20c may be individual elements 20c which are essentially in the form that the. binding elements 20c take in the final bound stack of sheets, such as shown in FIG. 10, or the binding elements 20h may include a stacking or spacing structure 70, such as disclosed, for example, in Application PCT/US01/06362, which is assigned to the assignee of this application.
• the disclosure of Application PCT/US01/06362 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for its disclosure with regard to the stacking structure, its possible designs, and the manner in which the stacking structures may cooperate during stacking.
• a plurality of binding elements 20h shown in FIGS. 11A through 1 IC is disposed in various cartridge designs, 60d, 60e, 60f.
• the binding elements 20h include stacking structure 70, which has a generally cylindrical shape. As disposed in the cartridges 60d, 60e, 60f, the stacking structures 70 merely abut one another to maintain the relative positions of the binding elements 20h. Accordingly, the stacking structure may have any appropriate design which maintains the elements 20h in their respective spaced locations.
• each stacking structures 70 may be used to facilitate an automated placement ofthe binding elements 20h within the cartridges 60d, 60e, 60f, as by receiving a probe or the like (not shown) which may be utilized to efficiently load the binding elements 20h into the cartridges.
• the stacking structures 70 themselves may be sized such that the cross-section or the length ofthe stacking structure 70 provides an indication ofthe size ofthe binding element itself, e.g., the final closed diameter ofthe binding element 20h.
• the cartridges 60a, 60b, 60c of FIGS. 12-14 are each designed to contain a different number of layers of binding elements 20h
• the cartridges 60d, 60e, 60f have some similar features, including a shell 80a, 80b, 80c defining a hollow interior in which the binding strips 20h are stored and an opening 81a, 81b, 81c through which the strips 20h are dispensed to a machine (not shown).
• the shells ofthe illustrated embodiment include walls, the shell may be in the form of a frame-type arrangement likewise defining a hollow interior in which the binding strips are stored.
• each layer 82a, 82b, 82c is provided with a channel or guide rails 83a, 83b, 83c along which the aligned group of stacking structures 70 is disposed. It will thus be appreciated that the binding elements 20h will be held in a given orientation and will not typically be able to tilt or rotate, ensuring consistent and accurate delivery to an automated binding machine.
• the cartridge 60d, 60e may be provided with one or more access slots 84a, 84b.
• the access slots 84a, 84b may be used both to visually determine the number of binding elements 20h contained in the cartridge 60d, 60e, and to access the respective stacking structure 70 ofthe strips 20h themselves.
• an element of the binding or handling machine (not shown) may access the plurality of binding strips 20h via the access slot(s) 84a, 84b to move them forward- through the cartridge 60d, 60e by asserting a force on the associated stacking structure 70.
• the cartridge 60e may further include a drive bar 85, which may be disposed within the cooperating channels or guide rails 83b of a given layer "behind" the stack of binding elements 20h.
• the opposite ends ofthe drive bar 85 include flexible fingers 86. It will be appreciated that a mechanical element of a binding or handling machine may readily engage a thrust surface 87 ofthe flexible fingers 86 in order to advance the stack of binding elements 20h through the channels in the cartridge 60e. Additionally, the flexible fingers 86 prevent the drive bar 85 and, accordingly, the stack of binding elements 20h from sliding back into the cartridge 60e, i.e., the binding elements 20h are biased toward the opening.
• the lower surface ofthe channel or guide rail 83b, and/or the fingers 86 ofthe drive bar 85 may have an increased frictional resistance to movement ofthe strips 20h or the drive bar 85.
• a ratcheting arrangement ofthe strips 20h and/or drive.bar 85 may be provided which prevents the strips 20h from retreating into the cartridge 60d, 60e, 60f.
• the cartridge 60e may also be provided with a surface which prevents the binding strips 20h from being removed from the cartridge 60c when it is not engaged with the handling or binding machine.
• a restraining device in the form of one or more covers, doors, flanges, or straps, for example, may be provided. While the cover(s) or door(s) 87, such as are shown in FIG. 13, may be sized to cover the entire. opening 81b, it is only necessary that they be sized to prevent the binding strips 20h from escaping the cartridge 60e.
• elongated pivoting doors 87 are provided at either side ofthe opening 81b ofthe cartridge 60e. It will thus be appreciated that the doors 87 cover only the channels 83b in which the stacking structures 70 ofthe binding strips 20h are disposed, restraining the ends and therefore the entire binding strips 20h.
• the cartridge embodiments 60e, 60f shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 further includes shelves 88a, 88b which separate the hollow interiors ofthe cartridges 80a, 80b into the layers of binding strips 20h.
• the shelves 88a, 88b include guides 89 which extend generally at a normal angle to the shelves. These guides 89 are positioned between the fingers ofthe binding strips 20h to facilitate maintaining the layers of strips 20h in the desired position and smooth movement ofthe strips 20h from the cartridge 60e.
• the guides 89 are formed by a simple bending ofthe shelves 88a, 88b themselves.
• the guides 89 may alternately be formed by pieces that are integrally molded with the shelves 88a, 88b or which are formed separately and then attached thereto.
• Such shelves may not be necessary in arrangements where the strips 20h are restrained in position by means of channels 83 a, 83b, 83 c such as are provided in FIGS. 12-14, so long as the strips 20h themselves are sufficiently rigid, and the arrangement provides adequate support to the strips to prevent their becoming entangled.
• the cartridge itself is not confined to a box-like structure.
• the cartridge may be in the form of a frame-like arrangement which supports the binding strips, but has no walls per se.
• the parallelly disposed plurality of binding elements may be molded as a continuous length of binding elements 30d, similar to the continuous length illustrated and described with regard to FIGS. 2-7.
• the runners 54d, 56d disposed at opposite longitudinal ends ofthe individual binding elements 20d provide continuity and connection between the binding elements 20d and the continuous length may be rolled either on itself as shown in FIG. 15, or onto a roller or spool.
• the individual binding elements 20d may be molded along the continuous runners 54d, 56d in a manner similar to the continuous spine illustrated in FIG. 7.
• the continuous plurality of binding elements 30d may be molded by only partially molding the trailing end ofthe runner and/or the trailing binding element at the trailing end of a molded length of binding elements, similar to the manner set forth in FIGS. 4-6.
• the coupling structure may extend between any appropriate portions ofthe binding elements 20, as, for example, the spines 22 or fingers 24.
• the runners are the form of a plurality of links 64 that extend between the fingers 24e of adjacent binding elements 20e. While the links 64 are illustrated extending between the outermost pairs of fingers, it will be appreciated that one or more links 64 may alternately be provided that extend between other pairs of fingers, or, in the case of binding strips having single fingers as opposed to pairs, for example, between fingers and spine.
• the plurality 30e of binding elements 20e so linked may be rolled onto themselves in a method similar to that shown in FIG. 15 or rolled onto a spool like device 66, as shown in FIG. 16. During use, the plurality 30e of binding elements 20e may be unrolled into a machine and the connecting links 64 severed and disposed of.
• the plurality of binding elements 30f, 30g may be provided with a stacking structure 70a, 70b that facilitates stacking the binding elements 20f, 20g as a part of a plurality 30f, 30g, i.e., in sheets or the like, or individually, i.e., if the runners 54f, 54g, 56f, 56g are cut.
• the stacking structures 70a, 70b may be in any appropriate form that facilitates stacking. Various designs for stacking structure 70 are shown, for example, in Application PCT/US0106362.
• the stacking structure 70b may be disposed inboard the runners 54g, 56g, i.e., between the runners 54g, 56g, and the binding strips 20g themselves, as shown in FIGS. 20-21, for example, or outboard the runners 54f, 56f, i.e., the runners 54f, 56f are disposed between the stacking structure 70a and the binding strips 20f, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 17-19.
• either or both the runners 54f, 54g, 56f, 56g or coupling structure and the stacking structure 70a, 70b may be utilized. If only one or the other is utilized, the extraneous structure may be severed prior to use or may merely remain unused in the binding machine.
• the coupling structure 54f, 54g, 56f, 56g and the stacking structure 70a, 70b are both preferably severed before, during or after storage and/or an automated handling and binding processes when they are no longer needed or desired. It will be appreciated, however, that a stacking structure may be formed as part ofthe binding element itself, in which case it need not be severed.
• the runners 54g, 56g may include an engagement structure which may be engaged by mechanical means of a binding machine or the like to pull or push the assembly along.
• the engagement structure is in the form of openings 74 therethrough which may be engaged by pins or the like.
• alternate engagement structure may be provided, such as, for example, one or more flanges or the like may protrude from the surface ofthe runner and may be used to ratchet and advance the runner(s) and the attached plurality of binding elements forward.
• a plurality of binding elements may likewise be formed by individually forming one or more binding elements 20g along with one or more runner segments 76.
• two binding elements 20g are molded with runner segments 76 disposed at either longitudinal end.
• the segments 76 are preferably provided with a coupling structure 78, such as the keyed arrangement 78 shown.
• the keyed arrangement 78 includes a male component 78a which may be received in a female component 78b of another runner segment 76.
• a single runner segment may be provided with two male or two female components which may engage a runner segment having the complimentary configuration.
• the runner segments may include an alternate coupling structure or may be coupled together by an alternate method such as ultrasonic welding or applying an adhesive.
• the plurality of strips 3 Of preferably includes a flexible connecting structure or flexible connector 72 between the individual strips and the coupling structure or stacking structure.
• the flexible connector 72 has a serpentine shape, and, in particular, the form of a small, flat spring 72 shown in FIGS. 17 and 19. In use, the spring or flexible connector 72 allows the runners 54f, 56f to flex toward or away from the strips 20f to adjust to the tool used to carry the runners 54f, 56f within a machine.
• the flexible connector 72 is illustrated in the binding element design of FIGS. 17-19, it will be appreciated that the flexible connector 72 is similarly useful in any structure where some flexibility between the product and the coupling structure is desired.
• the flexible connector would likewise be applicable to designs such as those illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, 15, and 16 or in the assemblies utilizing stacking structure 70 alone, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 11 A- 14 and as already disclosed and shown in Application PCT/US01/06362.
• the coupling structure itself may take the form of a flexible connector.
• the links 64 of FIG. 16 may have a springlike structure.
• the small, flat spring 72 shown in FIGS. 17 and 19 is particularly well suited to the illustrated binding strip 20f design because the entire structure may be molded in a two-part mold with no moving cores. It will be appreciated, however, that this flexible connector may be of an alternate design so long as it allows for a certain amount of flexibility between the binding strips and the runner. For example, a coiled spring may be provided.
• the flexible connector may be a simple link that is essentially molded at other than a right angle to the binding strip 20f such that the link may move toward a right angle position as forces are exerted to move the coupling structure (such as the runners 54f, 56f) away from the binding elements 20f, the link or a portion thereof acting as a living hinge between the runner or stacking structure and the binding strip. Conversely, if forces were applied to move the runner 54f, 56f toward the binding elements 20f, the link would move to a smaller angle.
• the invention provides various arrangements for supplying a plurality of binding elements to an automated machine for automated binding.
• the binding elements may be disposed end-to-end in a continuous length, or in a parallel arrangement coupled by continuous runners at either end ofthe strip.
• the binding elements may be fed directly into a binding machine or fed into a binding machine by way of a delivery structure such as a box or the like.
• the binding elements When fed by way of a delivery structure, the binding elements may be separate from one another or bound in sheets with runners at opposite longitudinal ends ofthe spine.
• the plurality of binding elements may also include stacking structure which facilitates the stacking of binding elements while either coupled together by the coupling structure, or when the coupling structure is severed therefrom, or when the coupling structure is cut to provide individual binding elements with the coupling structure attached. Before, during or after the storage, handling and/or binding processes, any coupling structure between the strips and/or the stacking structure may be severed to separate the strips.
• the plurality of binding strips may also include a flexible connector, such as a spring or the like, between the strips and the coupling and/or stacking structure. The additional flexibility provided by the flexible connector facilitates interaction ofthe coupling structure and/or stacking structure with handling and binding machines or apparatuses. In this way, pluralities of binding elements may be economically manufactured and efficiently delivered to automated machines to facilitate high volume binding processes.

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• Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
• Package Frames And Binding Bands (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-11-20 EP EP01997399A patent/EP1343638A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-11-20 CA CA002427246A patent/CA2427246A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-11-20 WO PCT/US2001/043252 patent/WO2002042090A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-11-20 AU AU2002217778A patent/AU2002217778A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-11-22 TW TW90128907A patent/TW577831B/zh active

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