EP1365927A1

EP1365927A1 - Device for forming index notches in bundles of sheets

Info

Publication number: EP1365927A1
Application number: EP02715927A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Lundberg
Original assignee: Mecland Holding AB
Current assignee: Mecland Holding AB
Priority date: 2001-02-07
Filing date: 2002-01-18
Publication date: 2003-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-18
Also published as: SE0100380L; SE0100380D0; WO2002062590A1; ATE374117T1; DE60222638D1; EP1365927B1; SE516824C2

Abstract

The invention concerns a device used for the formation of a thumb index in the side of a predetermined insert (4) of one or more sheets included in a volume (1). In order to simplify the formation of a thumb index, a base (15) extending into a space formed between the insert and associated identifying sheet (7) defining the bottom of the thumb index comprises a first stop (16) included in the base to support one main side of the insert, a pressure device (17) with which the insert is clamped to against the first stop, a second stop (25) included in the base to support one main side of the identifying sheet, a cutting unit (10) exhibiting principally a circular cutting head (11) that at its free end pointing towards the insert has a cutting edge (12) and which cutting edge can rotate around and move along an axis (14) towards the clamped insert, a means (18) of receiving the rotating cutting head included in the base after it passes through the insert.

Description

Device for forming index notches in bundles of sheets

The present invention concerns a device used for the formation of a thumb index in a predetermined insert of a volume of sheets such as in a book or similar.

This type of device is used for forming a so-called thumb index or index list by cutting circular segments out of the edges of a volume of sheets, usually in the form of books or catalogues, to facilitate for the reader to locate the desired pages. There are two principal types of thumb index available, namely of so-called European or so-called American type. The European thumb index is designed as a circular segment cut into the edge of a page insert, the cut out segment extending similarly and perpendicularly down towards the identifying sheet of the insert. That is to say, the subsequent sheet that forms the bottom of the thumb index. The thumb index of American type is indeed also designed as a circular segment indentation but contrary to the European type, the cut out segment extends like an indentation on the edge of the insert from the first page of the insert and at an angle down towards the identifying sheet. That is to say, the cut out circular segments increase in size from the first or top sheet of the insert and downward. The identifying sheets associated with the thumb index are normally arranged alphabetically and in this part are provided with letters or similar identifying marks to facilitate for the reader. These identifying marks can be applied to the identifying sheet by printing but are usually applied indirectly in the form of a printed adhesive mark of laminated paper or similar that is applied to the identifying sheet in conjunction with the thumb index of an insert. The said marks are used particularly when producing the American thumb index because they increase the durability of a volume of sheets such as a book, an encyclopaedia or similar and considerably increase the aesthetic impression of the thumb index.

Providing different types of volumes with a thumb index has been hitherto achieved manually and even if this task in itself entails certain additional costs when producing the volume, the demand for such products is still very large. To this part, there is consequently a desire to simplify the formation of a thumb index and thereby enable a cheaper production of these products. To this part it is also endeavoured to enable a considerably more developed automation in the production of thumb indexes for volume inserts. A first object of the present invention is therefore to achieve a device that simplifies the production of a thumb index in volumes of sheets such as found in books, catalogues and the like. A second object of the invention is to achieve a device that enables a simple method of providing the identifying sheet of a thumb index with an adhesive label of laminated paper or similar.

This object of the invention can be achieved with the device according to the present invention exhibiting the distinctive features and characteristics specified in claim 1.

The following is a more detailed description of this invention with references to attached drawings, where fig. 1 shows a side view of a device according to the present invention used for the formation of a thumb index in a volume insert, fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a volume with thumb index of so-called European type, i.e. designed as a number of uniform consecutive circular pieces of same size cut out of the edge of the sheets in the insert, fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a counter member that interacts with the cutting head included in the device to form the European thumb index, fig. 4 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention used for the formation of a thumb index of American type, fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a volume with thumb index of so-called American type, i.e. as a number of consecutive circular pieces of increasing size counting from the first sheet cut out of the edge of the sheets in the insert, fig. 6 shows a cross-section of a counter member that interacts with the cutting head included in the device to form the American thumb index, fig. 7 shows a side view enlargement of parts of the unit included in the device in accordance with the invention for applying an adhesive mark of laminated paper to the so-called identifying sheet that forms the bottom of the thumb index, and fig. 8 shows a partial top view of the application unit shown in fig. 7.

In fig. 1, a volume in the form of a book or similar that has left a fanning and counting unit (not shown) in a previous stage is designated with reference number 1. The volume 1 is handled by a holder 2 that is designed to grip the top of the two opposing sides of the volume so that the volume 1 is handled with its side edge or long side designated 3 freely hanging down. The fanning and counting unit in the previous stage has counted a predetermined number of sheets or pages that together define the first insert 4 in which the thumb index is to be made. To separate the insert 4 from the other sheets in the volume 5 and thereby form a space between the said insert and sheets, a guide rail 6 is arranged extending in the forward direction of transport of the volume 1 so that the insert 4 and the other sheets of the book 5 respectively are each located on one side of the guide rail 6 as the volume is transported forward. In the remaining volume of sheets 5 is also included a so-called identifying sheet 7, i.e. a sheet in the insert that defines the bottom 8 of the insert's thumb index (refer also to fig. 2). A stand included in the device that exhibits a cutter 10 with a principally circular and cylindrical cutting head 11 is designated 9. The said cutting head 11 has a circular cutting edge 12 at its free end and through the action of a motive unit 13 in the form of a motor with associated worm gear is arranged to perform a reciprocating motion along a shaft 14 and in addition also a rotating motion around the said shaft 14. The stand 9 also exhibits a base 15 that is arranged extending into the space defined between the insert 4 on the one side and the identifying sheet 7 and remaining sheets 5 on the other side.

The base 15 has a first stop 16 against the main plane of which the counted volume 4 is clamped by means of a reciprocating pressure device 17 constituting a pneumatic cylinder acting in the direction of the said stop. The first stop 16 is principally vertically oriented and extends parallel to the vertical plane A shown in fig. 1 for the plane-parallel and supportive reception of the freely hanging main side of the insert 4.

The cutting edge 12 of the cutting head 11 also exhibits a certain degree of inclination or pitch relevant to the periphery so that the cutting head, during its forward movement successively cuts through each of the sheets included in the first insert 4. The angle of inclination can be considered relatively small and can be chosen on the basis of the thickness of the sheets being cut. More precisely, the angle of inclination can be adapted so that the cutting head 11 makes a hole in one sheet for each rotation while the cutting head gradually cuts through all the sheets in the insert. To achieve the aforesaid uniform circular segment cut outs in each of the sheets included in the insert 4, the axis 14 of the cutting head 11 for rotational and linear movement is situated perpendicular to the main plane of the first stop 16. To this part, it should be understood that the thumb index is not hewn out but is cut, which is advantageous with regard to noise, not least thanks to the cutting forces generated during the working process being very small. In order to attain an efficient cutting action also during the final part of the cutting head's 11 operating sequence and in this respect the passage of the cutting head through the final sheet in the insert 4, the base 15 includes a counter member 18 acting towards the cutting head 11 and in which the cutting head 11 can be received in a controlled manner. With reference to fig. 1 and fig. 3, the counter member 18 includes an opening 19 arranged in the first stop 16, in which the ring-shaped cutting head 11 can be received. As the walls of the hole adjacent to the opening 19 have a sharp edge 21 facing the cutting head 11 that interacts with the free cutting edge 12 of the cutting head 11 to achieve a cutting action between the said parts, an efficient termination of the cutting process is offered in conjunction with the cutting head 11 being received in the said opening 19. Thus, a very good quality cut can be obtained also during the final part of the operating sequence, whereby the cutting head 11 passes through the last sheet in the insert. In order to facilitate the removal of paper cuttings that arise during the cutting process, the opening 19 is designed as a through hole.

The movement of the cutting head 11 between a front and a rear end position relative the direction of movement is controlled by a sensor arrangement not described in more detail herein, which can be of inductive type and which, in turn, is arranged in contact with a suitable logic control unit, likewise not described in more detail herein, for the purpose of transmitting signals.

In order to avoid burrs and uneven edges on the cuts formed in the sheets, it is necessary for the insert 4 of sheets to be fixed in some efficient way as close as possible to the cutting edge 12 of the rotating cutting head 11. For this purpose, the part of the pressure device 17 acting on the insert 4 includes a pressure plate 21 that, arranged to surround the outer periphery of the cutting head 11 in a considerably concentric manner, has a hole 22 corresponding to the cutting head in which the cutting head 11 can be received. Fig. 2 shows one example of the type of "European thumb index" intended to be formed with the device shown in fig. 1. A thumb index of European type entails in principle that the index is formed from circular segments being cut out of the side 3 of the insert 4. As illustrated in the figure, the circular segments cut from each sheet are identical and the formed indentation extends from the first page of the insert 4 and straight down in an axially uniform manner through the sheets to the identifying sheet in question 7.

Fig. 4 illustrates the device in a somewhat modified embodiment designed to form the said American index, whereby the device in the embodiment described below differs from the embodiment described above on two main points.

Referring to fig. 4 and fig. 6, firstly, the rotation axis 14 of the cutting head 11 is not perpendicular to the first stop 16 on the base 15 but cuts the said stop at an angle B, which is normally in the range 45° - 55° from the perpendicular originating from the principal plane of the stop. This choice of angle gives the gradually cut circular segments a successively increasing area in a downward direction seen from the insert. To this part, it should be understood that the piece cut out from the last sheet of the insert 4, that is to say the sheet that is against the first stop 6 on the base 15, irrespective of the thickness of the insert, must always exhibit the form of an essentially complete semicircle.

Since the pressure device 17 and the associated pressure plate 21 used to obtain an efficient clamping action act primarily perpendicular to the principal plane of the first stop 16, while the cutting head 11 for the American thumb index acts in an upward direction and at an angle B to the said stop 16, the second difference entails the pressure device 17 and the cutting head 11 not acting on a concentric or coincident axis as is the case with the European thumb index. In this way, the pressure device 17 pressure plate 21, however, cannot be arranged so that it concentrically surrounds the rotating cutting head 11, which is the case with the European thumb index. As the American thumb index has a relatively limited degree of processing it is possible nevertheless to obtain an acceptable quality of the edges of the cut out pieces.

As described above and in particular with respect to the American thumb index, a half-moon shaped mark 23 of adhesive laminated paper is applied to the area of the identifying sheet 7 that forms the bottom of the insert's 4 thumb index. To this part, the present device has also been designed to apply such a mark centrally in the formed thumb index.

Fig. 5 illustrates one example of a book with thumb index of the "American type", whereby the identifying sheet has been given a mark 23. This type of thumb index is also made in the form of circular segments cut from the side edge 3 but unlike the European index, the size of the pieces increases successively viewed from the first page of the insert 4 in a downward direction towards the identifying sheet 7. In this way, the recess formed will like a gradually increasing indentation extend into the edge 3 in an angled or cleft-like manner down through the insert 4. Referring to fig. 4, a device is illustrated that includes a unit generally designated 24 for providing and applying in a correct position relative the edge a mark 23 to the identifying sheet 7. The said mark providing unit 24 comprises included in the base 15 a second stop 25, against which at least the identifying sheet 7 but primarily also the other sheets 5 are clamped by a pressure device 26, here constituted by a pneumatic cylinder with associated pressure plate 27, acting in the direction of the said second stop 25. As illustrated in fig. 1 and fig. 4, the first and second stops on the base, 16 and 25 respectively, are arranged as two opposing side surfaces of the said base.

Below the base 15 and on the side of the vertical plane A where the identifying sheet 7 together with the other sheets 5 are clamped is arranged a means 28 of transporting and moving a strip 29 of marks 23 in the form of adhesive labels along a path. This track passes the area of the bottom edge 30 of the identifying sheet 7 and to allow the strip 29 to run close to the said bottom edge, the second stop 25 has an opening 31 through which the strip can run. Furthermore, means 32 of transferring marks 23 from the strip 29 to the identifying sheet 7 are arranged so that the bottom edges of the identifying sheet 7 and the applied mark 23 respectively are aligned with each other so that the mark is applied in the middle of the thumb index formed in the insert 4. Means 33 are also arranged for removing the strip 29 and moving it out of the way so that arriving volumes 1 can be moved forwards in the direction of transport. The said means of transfer 32 includes a sharp deflecting edge 34 that the strip 29 passes and that in the direction of forward movement of the strip is located in front of the bottom edge 30 of the identifying sheet. As the strip moves forward and passes the said deflecting edge, a mark 23 is separated from the strip 29 so that it principally positions itself upright as shown in fig. 7. Furthermore, the means of transfer 32 includes a first 35 and a second drive roller 36 for the strip 29 that relative the direction of movement of the strip are located on each side of the deflecting edge 34 and arranged independently of each other to drive the strip in different directions (i.e. in principle forwards and backwards as indicated by the arrows in fig. 7), a means of control 37 for advancing and removing the part of the strip 29 that is present in the area between the deflecting edge 34 and the second drive roller 36 of the said rollers.

In this described embodiment of the invention, the said means of control 37 comprises a pendulum 38 with an opening 39 through which the strip 29 runs and which, freely hanging in the strip, is located between the deflecting edge 34 and the second drive roller 36 for the strip. Through the action of the pendulum 38 weight, the said part of the strip 29 can thereby be alternately stretched or slackened by varying the tension of the said part of the strip by means of the drive rollers 35, 36. The said part of the strip 29 can thereby also be brought to a bottom position indicated with the dashed and dotted line in fig. 7, in which position the volume of sheets 1 can pass freely or, as is indicated by the solid line contour, the said part of the strip 29 can be moved towards and in contact with the bottom edge 7 of the identifying sheet 30. Furthermore, it should be observed that when the pendulum 38 is in its bottom position, the deflecting angle C contained between both parts of the strip on each side of the deflecting edge 34 is very small or pointed, whereby the peeling effect on the marks 23 being moved over the deflecting edge 34 is further increased.

As illustrated in fig. 1 and fig. 4, means 40 of stretching the identifying sheet 7 downward before it is finally clamped against the second stop 25 by the action of the pressure device 26 are arranged above the second stop 25. The said means of stretching 40 comprises a circular horizontally oriented roller 41, the length of which is adapted so that it principally extends along the entire length of the identifying sheet 7 and also in the direction of forward transport of the volume 1. The exterior of the roller 40 is covered in rubber or similar material that exhibits a high coefficient of friction. By rotating the roller 40 in the direction indicated by the arrow 42 in fig. 1 and fig. 4, that is to say around the longitudinal axis of the roller, the identifying sheet 7 is stretched downward before it is finally clamped against the second stop 25. Hereby, the straightness of the bottom edge of the identifying sheet 7 is ensured and any defects in the form of folds or similar are smoothed out before clamping takes place.

With reference to fig. 7, in conjunction with the second stop 25 is arranged a means 43 of pressing the applied mark onto the identifying sheet 7. The said means of pressing 42 comprises a reciprocating part in the form of an arm 44 that is articulated on the second stop 25 in order to swing relative to the opening 31 formed in the stop through the action of a control lever 45 articulated in the arm. The arm 44 has one active pressure part, which, as should be understood, when the arm is swinging through the opening arranged in the second stop, can be moved between a retracted and essentially removed position inside the second stop 25 and a position protruding from the stop in a direction towards the mark 23 applied to the identifying sheet 7. With the counted insert and the identifying sheet in the volume 1 with the remaining sheets on each side of the guide rail 6 and in addition the base 15 extending inside the space defined between the said sheets, the pressure device 17 is activated and clamps the freely suspended insert 4 against the first stop 16. Subsequently, the cutting unit 10 and thereby the cutting head 11 is activated to move forward in the direction towards the insert 4 so that the thumb index in the form of cut-outs is made in the edge of the insert 3. Once the cutting head 11 has passed through the last sheet in the insert 4 and gone a short distance farther into the opening 19 in the means of reception 18, the cutting head 11 will return to its original position. Immediately or in conjunction with the forming of the thumb index, a mark 23 is applied to the identifying sheet in the centre of the thumb index by means of the roller 41 included in the sheet stretching device 40 rotating so that the identifying sheet 7 is stretched downward and clamped to the second stop 25 by means of the second pressure device 26. With the part of the strip 29 that is located between the deflection edge 34 and the second drive roller 36 in slack position and the pendulum 38 included in the means of control 37 in its bottom position, the strip is fed forward through the action of the drive rollers 35, 36 so that a mark 23 is peeled off the strip when the mark passes over the deflecting edge 34. The peeled mark 23 is registered by a photocell, whereby, through the action of the drive rollers 35, the part of the strip 29 that is located between the deflection edge 34 and the second driver roller 36 is brought into a stretched position so that the said part of the strip strives to contact the bottom edge 30 of the identifying sheet 7. With the part of the strip 29 essentially in contact with the said edge 30, the strip is fed forward through the action of the drive roller 35, 36 so that the principally upright mark 23 is affixed to the bottom edge of the identifying sheet 7.

Claims

1. Device for the formation of a thumb index in one side edge of a predetermined insert (4) of one or more sheets included in a volume (1) such as a book or similar, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that a base (15) extends into a space formed between the insert and an associated identifying sheet (7) defining the bottom of the thumb index, a first stop (16) included in the base to support one main side of the insert, a pressure device (17) with which the insert is clamped to against the first stop, a second stop (25) included in the base to support one main side of the identifying sheet, a cutting unit (10) exhibiting principally a circular cutting head (11) that at its free end pointing towards the insert has a cutting edge (12) and which cutting edge can rotate around and move along an axis (14) towards the clamped insert, a means (18) of receiving the rotating cutting head included in the base after it passes through the insert.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it includes a holder (2) with which a volume of sheets is kept freely hanging down.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the base's (15) first stop (16) is located in a vertical plane (A) and parallel with the main side of the freely suspended insert (4).

4. Device in accordance with previous claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the means of reception (18) includes an opening (19) corresponding to the cutting head (11) and arranged in the first stop (16) in which the cutting head can be received.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the opening (19) is in the form of a through hole.

6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the ring-shaped cutting head (11) has a cutting edge (12) exhibiting a certain degree of inclination or pitch relevant to the periphery and axis (14) of the cutting head so that the said cutting head, during its forward cutting movement, successively cuts through each of the sheets included in the insert (4).

7. Device according to any one of the previous claims for forming a so-called European thumb index, characterised in that the axis (14) of the cutting head (11) is perpendicular to the first stop (16) and the main side of the insert (4) clamped to the said stop.

8. Device according to any one of the previous claims 1 - 5 for forming a so-called American thumb index, characterised in that the axis (14) of the cutting head (11) is at an angle (B) to the first stop (16) and relative to the direction of movement extending upwards towards the bottom edge of the insert (4) clamped to the said stop.

9. Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it has a unit for applying an adhesive mark (23) of laminated paper or similar to the identifying sheet (7) of the insert (4) and the area of the said identifying sheet that defines the bottom of the thumb index, which unit comprises a pressing device (26) with which the identifying sheet (7) but principally also a number of remaining sheets (5) are clamped against the base's (15) second stop (25), a means (28) with which a strip of marks (23) in the form of adhesive labels is transported along a track around and in a forward direction past a deflection edge (34) to separate the said marks from the strip and which deflection edge in the direction of movement seen in a forward direction is located in front of the bottom edge (30) of the identifying sheet (7), means of control (37) with which a part of the strip located after the deflection edge can be moved away with a reduction of the deflection angle (C) contained between both parts of the strip on each side of the deflection edge and thereby separating a mark from the strip and with which means of control the said part of the strip can be moved forward to make contact with the bottom edge of the identifying sheet for applying the mark to the identifying sheet whereby the strip is fed forward.

10. Device according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the means of transport (28) for the strip (29) includes a first and a second set of independently acting driver rollers

(35, 36), which, seen in the direction of movement of the strip, are located on either side of the deflection edge (34) whereby the second set of drive rollers (36), seen in the direction of movement of the strip, are located after the bottom edge (7) of the identifying sheet (30).

11. Device according to any one of the previous claims 9 or 10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the means of control (37) for moving away the strip (29) from the bottom edge (30) of the identifying sheet (7) includes a pendulum (38), which, via an opening (39) through which the strip runs, interacts with the strip in the area between the deflection edge (30) and the second set of driver rollers (36).

12. Device according to any one of the previous claims 9 -11, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the second stop (25) has an opening (31) through which the strip runs and a means (43) of pressing the applied mark (23) to the identifying sheet (7) comprises a reciprocating part with an active pressure part that by moving through the opening can be moved between a retracted and essentially removed position inside the second stop and a position protruding from the said stop against the applied mark.

13. Device according to claim 12, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the reciprocating part of the means of pressing (43) comprises an arm (44) that is articulated to the second stop (25) to swing relative to the opening (31).

14. Device in accordance with previous claims 9-13, characterised in that it comprises a means (40) of stretching the identifying sheet (7) before it is clamped to the second stop (25) with the pressure device (26).

15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the means of stretching the sheet (40) comprises a circular roller (41) rotating around the main axis and the exterior of which is covered in rubber or similar material with high coefficient of friction and that the roller extends horizontally and in the direction of forward transport of the volume (1).

16. Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the first stop (16) and the second stop (25) respectively are located symmetrically on each side ofthebase(15).