Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42B—PERMANENTLY ATTACHING TOGETHER SHEETS, QUIRES OR SIGNATURES OR PERMANENTLY ATTACHING OBJECTS THERETO
  • B42B5/00—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching
  • B42B5/08—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching by finger, claw or ring-like elements passing through the sheets, quires or signatures
  • B42B5/10—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures otherwise than by stitching by finger, claw or ring-like elements passing through the sheets, quires or signatures the elements being of castellated or comb-like form
  • B42B5/103—Devices for assembling the elements with the stack of sheets

Definitions

• This invention relates to apparatus for binding pads of perforated sheets to book form such as, for example, notebooks, calendars, instruction manuals and the like with wire binding elements.
• a well known method of binding perforated sheets uses binding elements which are lengths of wire bent so as to form curved prongs on which the sheets are impaled.
• the element is provided at the time of the impaling operation in the form of a tube having a longitudinal slot and the final stage in the binding process is to close the slot.
• Such elements are generally manufactured by firstly converting a length of wire to the so-called "zig-zag" form.
• the wire assumes the shape of a flat comb of indefinite length having prongs 12 which are closed at their points 14 and open at their bases or roots 16, the bases or roots 16 being connected to their neighbours by aligned length of wire 18 forming the stock or spine of the comb so that the pitch P of the prongs 12 corresponds to the pitch of the perforations in the sheets to be bound.
• a long length of such flat zig-zag form wire is then converted to a bending strip 20 by being brought to the slotted tubular form illustrated in Figure 2 by suitable bending of the prongs 12.
• the prongs 12 have a curved, hair-pin shape with a curved wall between each point and root.
• the curvature of the prongs 12 is such that the strip 20 has the appearance of an open sided cylinder with a substantially C-shaped cross-section.
• binding elements will hereinafter be referred to as "binding elements of the type described”.
• Perforated sheets are then impaled on the points 14. That operation being performed, the binding is completed by bringing the points 14 of the prongs 12 into the roots 16, which operation is facilitated by an indentation 21 on either the convex or the concave surface of the curved wall of each prong 12 approximately midway between the prong's point and root.
• the step of aligning a pad of perforated sheets with a binding element and moving the pad so that the points of the binding element pass through the perforations is commonly carried out automatically, see, for example, British Patent 2213769.
• many known insertion systems are relatively complicated and expensive.
• complexity and expense is increased if the apparatus is to bind pads of differing sizes with binding elements of varying size.
• British Patent Application 2301553 describes a binding apparatus with an insertion station at which the binding element is held in a generally horizontal orientation with the mouth facing upwards and the points exposed by holding means comprising vertically spaced retainer members and a front stop.
• the upper retainer member and front stop are positioned, respectively, above and at the ends of the roots to prevent rotation of the element as a pad is impaled on the points and the lower retainer member is positioned to support at least a portion of the wall of the binding element.
• the binding element is held firmly and securely in a readily accessible position for impaling of a pad on to the points of the binding element.
• the holding means can be made capable of accommodating differently sized binding elements by making the vertical location of the upper retainer member adjustable.
• closing devices as, in general, devices suitable for use with varying size binding elements are relatively complicated, costly and difficult to adjust for elements of different size. Similar problems arise when the closing device is to be suitable for binding pads of differing sizes and in particular pads with individual sheets of different sizes.
• the apparatus disclosed in British Application 2301553 has a closing device which is intended to accommodate both differently sized binding elements and differently sized pads.
• the closing device comprises spaced support members which carry the element with a pad hanging down therebetween.
• the closing device also includes first and second closing members, positionable on either side of the element, one of the closing members being movable relative to the other to close the element.
• the movable closing member comprises a reciprocating drive member and a pressure member secured to, and removable with, the driving member.
• a series of different pressure members are provided to accommodate binding elements of different sizes.
• the element is held in a generally vertical or upright orientation between a fixed lower plate and a vertically reciprocal pressure bar.
• the element is supported at its wall by a backstop and at its roots or points by an adjustable front stop.
• the adjustable front stop is pivotally mounted to accommodate movement of the roots or points as the element is closed.
• the closure members comprise two shaped jaws which move together in a rotary path.
• the shaping of the jaws means that they provide sufficient support for the element to prevent distortion thereof during closure.
• binding apparatuses include a facility to form the binding elements from a binding strip which is normally provided in the form of a continuous coil wound on a spool. Such apparatuses therefore include means for withdrawing the strip from the coil and for severing the strip into predetermined lengths to form the binding elements.
• a binding apparatus of the type with a facility to form binding elements is shown, for example, in British Applications 2122135 and 2301553 as well as in U.S. Patent 4874279.
• the spool is supported above the binding apparatus and this is shown in the two British Applications.
• a problem with this position of the spool is that a loop of the binding strip then tends to hang down which can result in distortion of the prongs under the strip's weight.
• a further problem is that the spool takes up space and detracts from the overall appearance.
• the spool is positioned to one side of the apparatus. No details of the feed means for transferring the strip to the apparatus are provided and it appears that there is still a risk of the formation of a loop with the consequent distortion. Furthermore, the spool again adds to the space occupied by the apparatus.
• apparatus for binding pads of perforated sheets with wire binding elements of the type described comprising means for supplying a binding strip to a cutting station and cutting means at the cutting station to sever a predetermined length of the binding strip and form a binding element, wherein the supply means comprises a mount for a coil of binding strip and transfer means for transferring the binding strip from the coil to the cutting station, the mount being located below the cutting station such that the strip is transferred upwardly from the coil, and wherein the transfer means comprises at least one feed wheel having faces shaped such as to engage the strip between the points and the roots.
• the location of the mount below the cutting station means that the strip is transferred upwardly from the coil which reduces the risk of damage under its own weight. That risk is still further reduced by making the transfer means in the form of at least one feed wheel with faces shaped to engage the strip between the points and the roots as the strip is then positively fed upwards by a part which preserves the shape of the prongs.
• two feed wheels are provided.
• the wheels can be used to turn the strip twice and therefore define an appropriate path for the strip between the coil and the cutting station.
• the mount may comprise a driven spindle for receipt in the core of a spool on which the coil is wound, the driven spindle being formed with a dog for drivingly engaging the core.
• the mount may comprise a spindle for receipt in the core of a spool on which the coil is wound, the spindle being supported at one end and formed with a groove at the other end for retaining the spool.
• the apparatus includes a casing and the mount comprises a frame movable relative the casing from an operative, supply, position to a user accessible position for mounting the coil.
• the frame can be arranged so that in the operative, supply, position it is located within the external outline of the casing so that the coil does not add to the space occupied by the apparatus.
• apparatus for binding pads of perforated sheets with wire binding elements of the type described comprising means for supplying a binding strip to a cutting station and cutting means at the cutting station to sever a predetermined length of the binding strip and form a binding element, wherein the cutting means comprises a blade reciprocal transversely to the extent of the strip and having a front portion formed with a forward cutting edge and wherein the blade includes at least one rearward portion of greater width than the front portion.
• the provision of a rearward portion of greater width than the front, cutting, portion enables a centering action.
• the rearward portion can be set at a width corresponding to the pitch of the prongs of the strip such that it engages adjacent prongs and centers the strip relative the cutting edge.
• a tapered region is provided between adjacent different width portions. This facilitates entry of the rearward portion(s) between adjacent prongs.
• the cutting path of the blade is automatically set according to the size of binding strip. This ensures that the appropriate portion(s) of the blade engage the strip.
• apparatus for binding pads of perforated sheets with wire binding elements of the type described comprising means for supplying a binding strip to a cutting station, cutting means at the cutting station to sever a predetermined length of the binding strip and form a binding element, means for conveying the binding element to an insertion station where the binding element is inserted through the perforations of a pad of perforated sheets, means for conveying the pad with the inserted element to a binding station and a closing device at the binding station for closing the element and thereby binding the pad, wherein the cutting means comprises a blade reciprocal transversely to the extent of the strip, wherein the insertion station comprises a support and means for holding the binding element on the support in a position in which it can be inserted, and wherein first means is provided for adjusting the cutting path of the blade according to the size of binder strip and second means is provided for adjusting the holding means according to the size of binder strip, the first and second means being linked.
• the apparatus By linking the adjustment of the cutting path of the blade to the adjustment of the holding means, the apparatus overall can be simplified as a single drive can be used to adjust both the blade cutting path and the holding means.
• the holding means comprises a retainer member which, in use, engages the tips of the roots of the binding element and the second adjustment means adjusts the vertical separation between the retainer member and the support.
• the vertical separation may be made readily adjustable by providing the retainer member with at least one amount comprising a base member with an inclined upper face and a strut having one end connected to the retainer member and the other end engaging the inclined face and forming the second adjustment means as a drive rod for moving the strut relative the inclined face.
• This embodiment employs what is effectively a cam arrangement, the inclined upper face comprising the cam and the strut comprising the cam follower. It has been found to be a particularly efficient but simple way of raising and lowering the retainer member.
• the means for adjusting the cutter means may comprise a first adjusting rod connected to the cutter means whilst the means for adjusting the holding means may comprise a second adjusting rod connected to the holding means.
• a rotatable link is secured between the first and second rods such that movement of one rod causes transverse movement of the other.
• the link may the form of a generally triangular plate having the rod secured to two apeces and pivotal around the third apex.
• the rotatable link enables a single drive to adjust both the cutter means and the holding means by movement of one in a direction transverse to the movement of the other. This allows the plate path to be horizontally adjustable and holding means to be vertically adjustable whilst still enabling use of a single drive. Formation of the rotatable link as a triangular plate has been found to be a particularly efficient way to provide this capacity.
• the apparatus may include a body and the cutter means may include a cutter block on which the cutter blade is mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the block towards and away from the body and the first adjustment means may move the cutter block towards and apart from the body to thereby alter the cutting path.
• the cutting blade is mounted to the body of the apparatus which makes adjustment of the cutting path difficult to achieve. This difficulty is obviated by mounting the cutting blade on a separate cutter block which can relatively simply moved towards and away from the body to thereby adjust the cutting path.
• apparatus for binding pads of perforated sheets with wire binding elements of the type described comprising an insertion station where a binding element is inserted through the perforations of a pad of perforated sheets, means for conveying the pad with the inserted element to a binding station and a closing device at the binding station for closing the element and thereby binding the pad, wherein the insertion station comprises a support and means for holding the binding element in a generally vertical orientation on the support with the points above the roots, the holding means comprising a back stop for engaging the sides of the roots and a retainer for engaging the tips of the roots.
• the desired three point holding of the element is achieved by the combination of the support, back stop and retainer.
• the three points include the sides and tips of the roots, the binding element is particularly securely held without damage to the element.
• the element is so securely held that it is not necessary to have any other parts for holding the element and so preferably it is held solely by the support, back stop and retainer member.
• the holding means comprises a plate secured to the back stop and having a front lip which is inclined downwardly and which, in use, engages the tips of the roots.
• the form of the holding means is still further simplified and adjustability still further improved if the back stop and the retainer member are integral.
• apparatus for binding pads of perforated sheets with wire binding elements of the type described comprising an insertion station where a binding element is inserted through the perforations of a pad of perforated sheets, means for conveying the pad with the inserted element to a binding station and a closing device at the binding station for closing the element and thereby binding the pad, wherein the binding station comprises a pusher bar for pushing the element against the pad and the closing device comprises a closing beam for closing the element when the element is pushed against the pad.
• Pushing the element against the pad causes the element to be squared up and so properly oriented. This obviates the need for positioning means. Furthermore it allows use of a closing member in the simple form of a closing beam.
• the binding station further comprises a clamp for clamping the pad fixed in position prior to operation of the pusher bar and the closing beam.
• the provision of the clamp ensures that the pusher bar does not move the pad and so the pad properly performs the job of squaring up the element.
• the proper presentation of the element which is achieved by use of the pusher bar to push the element against the pad, allows a great simplification of the closing device and this to be formed just as a closing beam.
• the closing beam is preferably actuated by mounting it at one end of each of a pair of pivoting arms such that pivoting of the arms causes lowering and raising of the closing beam.
• the arms may be pivoted by providing their other ends with a follower which engages in a rotary race track.
• Movement of the closing beam may be guided by at least one guide rod extending therethrough transversely to the extent of the beam.
• the guide rod has a stop which is engaged by the closing beam at the bottom of the stroke and the position of the stop on the guide rod is adjustable, thereby to adjust the stroke of the closing beam.
• the stop may comprise a collar with an internal thread which engages a threaded portion of the guide rod such that rotation of the collar causes it to move along the guide rod.
• the pusher bar may be carried on one end of each of a pair of reciprocating arms, the other end having a cam follower which engages a rotary cam.
• This embodiment is preferably combined with that where the closing beam is carried on a pair of pivoting arms which have followers engaging in rotary race tracks. The timing of the movement of the pusher bar and that of the closing beam can be easily set and the apparatus overall simplified if the cams and race tracks are driven by a common motor.
• the apparatus of the third to fifth aspects may further comprise means for supplying a binding strip to a cutting station, cutting means at the cutting station to sever a predetermined length of the binding strip and form the binding element and means for conveying the binding element to the insertion station.
• the supply means may include a star wheel whose points engage between adjacent roots of the strip and feed the strip to the cutting means stepwise.
• the means for conveying the element may comprise at least one endless belt.
• the belt(s) for conveying the pad preferably has a different coefficient of friction to that of the belt for conveying the element.
• the coefficients of friction can be set to accommodate the relative weights of the pad and element and also to take account of the fact that the element is held during conveying by the holding means.
• the coefficients of friction are suitably set to facilitate pushing of the element against the pad to square up the element for closing.
• the belt for conveying the element has a lower coefficient of friction than the belt(s) for conveying the pad.
• Figure 1 shows a strip of zig-zag wire for forming a binding element of the type described
• Figure 2 shows a binding strip formed from the strip shown in Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a side view of a binding apparatus in accordance with the invention.
• Figure 4 is a top view of the binding apparatus of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a side view of a coil mount of the apparatus of Figure 3;
• Figure 6 is an expended view of the portion of Figure 3 in circle A;
• Figure 7 is a view taken along line B-B of Figure 5;
• Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged views of the portions of Figure 7 in circles C and D;
• Figure 10 is a side view of supply means, a cutting station and an insertion station of the apparatus of Figure 3;
• Figure 11 is a top view of the supply means, a cutting station and insertion station of Figure 10;
• Figure 12 is a section taken along E-E of a feed wheel of the supply means of Figure 10;
• Figure 13 is a side view of a blade of the cutting station of Figure 10;
• Figure 14 is a sketch showing holding means of the insertion station of Figure 10;
• Figure 15 is an enlarged view of the portion in circle F of Figure 10;
• Figure 16 is a top view of a closing station of the apparatus of Figure 3;
• Figure 17 is a side view of the closing station of Figure 16.
• Figures 18 to 20 are sketches illustrating the operation of the closing station of Figure 16.
• Figures 3 to 20 show a binding apparatus 22 which comprises a supply station 24, a cutter station 26, an insertion station 28 and a closing station 30.
• the apparatus 22 is operative to form binding elements 32 from a coil of binding strip 34 and close the binding elements 32 in pads 36 to bind the pads 36.
• the apparatus 22 could include the supply station 24 and cutting station 26 alone, in which case the apparatus 22 would be one for forming binding elements 32.
• the apparatus 22 could include the insertion station 28 and the closing station 30 alone, in which case the apparatus 22 would be a binding apparatus but one used with separately prepared binding elements 32.
• the supply station 24 comprises a frame 38 for mounting a spool 40 carrying a coil of binding strip 20.
• the frame 38 has two arms 42 and a transverse cross-frame 44 therebetween.
• a draw slide 46 shown in the expanded view of Figure 6 is provided between each arm 42 and a support arm 48 mounted to the body 50 of the apparatus 22 such that the frame 38 can be slid forwardly to allow replacement of the spool 40 and then returned to a position where the frame 38 and spool 40 are contained within the body 50 and do not protrude beyond the external outline of the body 50.
• the cross-frame 44 carries a spindle 52 for receipt in the core 54 of the spool 40. At its inner end relative the body 50, the spindle 52 is formed with a drive dog 56, whilst at its outer end relative the body 50, the spindle 52 is formed with a reduced diameter portion 58 and an end cap 60.
• the illustrated spool 40 takes the standard form in which the core 54 has end plates 62 formed with an aperture 64.
• the aperture 64 is customarily used for location of the spool 40.
• it is employed to form a driving connection for rotation of the spool 40. This is achieved by the provision of the drive dog 56 which is located such as to engage the aperture 64 when the spool 40 is positioned on the spindle 52.
• the drive dog 56 is rotated by a motor 66 carried on the cross-frame 44 via a belt drive 67 and serves to rotate the spool 40 in the direction illustrated by the arrow of Figure 5.
• the spool 40 is securely retained on the spindle 52 by the combination of the reduced diameter portion 58 of the spindle 52 and the end cap 60 which engage therebetween the rim of the core front plate 62.
• the spool 40 is normally provided with the binding strip 20 wound in a coil thereon, adjacent strip portions being separated by a strip of paper. It is necessary to remove the strip of paper as the binding strip 20 is taken off the spool 40 for use in forming the binding elements 32.
• the cross-frame 44 is provided with a pair of rollers 68, one of which is driven by motor 66. The end of the paper strip is positioned between the rollers 68 and when the spool 40 is driven, the driven roller causes the paper strip to be extracted in an opposite direction to the binding strip 20, see arrow 70.
• a collector for the paper strip can suitably be provided below the cutting station 30 as generally illustrated at 72 in Figure 3.
• Rotation of the spool 40 causes the binding strip 20 to be dispensed to a feed means which is most clearly illustrated in Figure 10.
• the binding strip 20 passes up and around to two feed wheels 74.
• the feed wheels 74 are driven by a motor 76 via a belt drive generally indicated at 78.
• the feed wheels 74 serve to feed the binding strip 20 upwards to the cutting station 26 via a plenum 80 where the binding strip is turned through 270° and so supplied horizontally to the cutting station 26, as again illustrated in Figure 11 in dotted line 34.
• Each feed wheel 74 has a rim 82 and generally frustoconical faces 84. As illustrated the frustoconical faces 84 engage the points 14 and roots 16 of the binding strip 20. The frustoconical faces 84 are sized and shaped such that this occurs no matter what the size of the binding strip 20. As a result, all sizes of binding strip 20 are positively fed by the feed wheels 74 and in such a way that distortion of the binding strip 20 is prevented. The positive feed of the binding strip 20 is further enhanced by the engagement of the rim 82 with the indent 21 in the wall of the binding strip 20.
• the binding strip 20 is turned through 270° by the plenum 80. As the binding strip 20 traverses the plenum 80 it passes a sensor 86. The sensor 86 checks for the presence of the binding strip 20 and so can produce an operator alert if for some reason the feed of the binding strip 20 fails.
• the binding strip 20 arrives at the cutting station 26 in a generally vertical orientation with its roots 16 lowermost.
• a star wheel 88 is provided at the entrance to the cutting station 26 and has ribs 90 which engage between the roots 16 of adjacent prongs 12 of the strip 20.
• the star wheel 88 feeds the prongs 12 stepwise to a cutter blade 92.
• the cutter blade 92 and also the star wheel 88 are mounted on a cutter block 94 which is movable towards and away from the body 50 of the apparatus 22.
• the cutter blade 92 is mounted to be reciprocal, see arrow 96, relative the cutter block 94 and hence relative the body 50 of the apparatus 22 transversely to the extent of the binding strip 20.
• the cutter blade 92 is reciprocated by a motorised crank 98. As the cutter blade 92 is moved towards the body 50 it will enter the strip 20 between adjacent prongs 12 and sever the root 18 therebetween to cut a length from the binding strip 20 and thereby form a binding element 32.
• the star wheel 88 and crank 98 are controlled such that the number of prongs 12 fed past the cutter blade 92 before this is reciprocated produces a binding element 32 of desired length.
• the cutter block 94 is movable towards and away from the body 50. This is achieved by mounting the cutter block 94 to the body 50 by a threaded rod 100.
• the cutter block is formed with a cut-out 102 through which the rod 100 passes for accommodating an adjuster wheel 104 secured to the rod 100. Rotation of the adjuster wheel 104 causes rotation of the rod 100 and hence movement of the cutter block 94 relative the body 50.
• the cutter blade 92 is shown in detail in the enlarged view of Figure 13. As can be seen there, the cutter blade 92 has a front portion 106 formed with a forward cutting edge 108. The cutting edge 108 co-operates with an anvil 110 mounted on the body 50 to achieve the severing of the strip 20.
• the cutter blade 92 has two rearward portions 112 and 114 with first rearward portion 112 being wider than forward portion 106 and second rearward portion 114 being wider in turn than first rearward portion 112.
• the region between each of the portions 106, 112 and 114 is tapered, see 116.
• the strip 20 is fed to the cutting station 26 in a vertical orientation with the roots 16 lowermost. Reciprocation of the cutter blade 92 therefore firstly introduces forward portion 106 between adjacent prongs 12 of the strip 20 and then first rearward portion 112 and potentially also second rearward portion 114 depending on the cutter path.
• the rearward portion 112 or the rearward portion 114 engages between the prongs 12 and serves to centre the cutting edge 108 so that the binding strip 20 is properly and cleanly cut.
• a single rearward portion 112 would suffice to allow proper centralised cutting of binding strip 20 of a single pitch.
• the cutter blade 92 is capable of proper centralised cutting of binding strip 20 of at least two different pitches.
• binding strip 20 is commonly provided in just two different pitches, the cutter blade 92 can be formed as illustrated with just two rearwards portions 112, 114 and be usable with all common binding strip 20.
• the binding element 32 is conveyed to the insertion station 28 by an endless belt 116 across a table 117.
• the element 32 is supported on the endless belt 116 and maintained in the vertical orientation by holding means comprising a backstop 118 and a retainer member 120.
• the transfer belt 116, backstop 118 and retainer member 120 are illustrated most clearly in the expanded view of Figure 14.
• the retainer member 120 comprises a plate 122 with an angled front lip 124.
• the roots 16 of the element 32 are held between the backstop 118 and the angled lip 124, the backstop 118 engaging the sides of the ends of the roots 16 and the angled lip 124 engaging the tips thereof.
• the element 32 is therefore held at three points: below by the transfer belt 116; to the sides of the roots 16 by the backstop 118 and at the tips of the roots 16 by the angled lip 124. There is therefore three point holding as is desirable. It has been found however that the three points specified produce particularly effective and secure holding of the element 32.
• the element 32 When the element 32 reaches the insertion station 28, it is presented with its points 14 exposed. As a result, the points 14 can be inserted through the perforations of a pad 36, which pad 36 then lies on the table 117 above three transfer belts 128. The pad 36 with inserted element 32 is then conveyed to the closing station 30 by the transfer belts 116, 128.
• the insertion station 28 includes a book sensor 129 which ensures that the belts 116, 128 are only activated when a pad 36 is present at the insertion station 28.
• the retainer member 120 is vertically adjustable. This is achieved by mounting the retainer member 120 on two struts 130, each of which has a lower end which engages an upper inclined face 132 of an actuator wedge 134. With reference to Figure 10, movement of the wedges 134 to the left or the right in the sense of that Figure will cause the retainer member 120 to be respectively raised or lowered by virtue of the engagement of the struts 130 with the upper inclined faces 132 of the wedges 134.
• a separate mechanism can be provided for raising the backstop 118.
• the backstop 118 is fixed to the retainer member 120. Even more preferably, the retainer member and backstop 118 are integral.
• Movement of the actuator wedges 134 is caused by an adjustment rod 136 which is connected to the actuator wedges 134.
• the adjuster rod 136 may be separately driven but preferably it is operatively linked to the cutter block 94 such that movement of the cutter block 94 to adjust the cutting path of cutter blade 92 automatically results in a corresponding adjustment of the position of the retainer member 120.
• the link may take the form of a triangular link plate 138 to one apex of which the adjuster rod 136 is connected.
• a second adjuster rod 140 is connected at one end to a second apex of the triangular link plate 138 and at its other end to the cutter block 94.
• the third apex 142 is secured to a pivotal mount such that the triangular link plate 138 can pivot around the third apex 142.
• Adjustment of the position of the cutter block and hence of the cutting path of the cutter blade 92 by rotation of adjuster wheel 104 causes corresponding movement of adjuster rod 140.
• the triangular link plate 138 transforms this into corresponding but transverse movement of the adjuster rod 136. Therefore, when the cutting path of the cutter blade 92 is set according to the size of the binding strip 20, the vertical position of the retainer member 120 is also automatically set according to that size.
• the adjustment of the cutting path and the position of the retainer member 120 is achieved manually.
• the adjustment wheel 104 could be replaced by a motor for driving the cutter block 94 towards and away from the body 50.
• the pad 36 and element 32 move from the insertion station 28 to a position in the closing station 30 which is illustrated in Figure 16. In this position the pad 36 is supported by the table 117 (omitted from Figures 16 and 17 for clarity) as is the element 32. Although shown in Figure 16 and also in Figure 18 in an upright vertical orientation, the element 32 may in fact arrive at the closing station 30 at a tilt because it is no longer held by the holding means.
• the first step carried out at the closing station 30 is to ensure that the element 32 is properly oriented for closing. This is achieved by pressing the element 32 against the pad 36.
• the pad 36 is firstly clamped in position on the table by a clamp roller 150 which is moved down by a solenoid 152.
• a pusher bar 154 is advanced towards the element 32, to the left in the sense of Figure 16, and pushes the element 32 against the pad 36.
• This stage is illustrated in Figure 19 where it will be seen that the pusher plate 154 causes the element 32 to square up against the pad 36 and thus be properly vertically oriented.
• the pusher plate 154 is carried on two pusher arms 156 each of which carries a link 158 at the opposite end to the pusher plate 154.
• the links each carry a cam follower 160 which engages with the front shaped face of a cam 162. Rotation of the cams 162 is transformed by the cam followers 160 into reciprocal motion of the arms 156 and hence the pusher bar 154.
• the cams 162 are mounted to a drive rod 164 which passes through two station plates 166.
• the station plates 166 serve in part to define the closing station 30.
• the cams 162 are mounted at the outer sides of the station plates 166.
• a pivoting arm 168 is mounted adjacent the inner side of each station plate 166.
• the arms 168 are pivotal around a common pivot rod 170 which extends between the two station plates 166.
• the arms 168 carry a closing beam 172 at one end.
• the arms 168 each have a follower 174 which is movable in a rotary race track 176.
• the rotary race tracks are mounted on the drive rod 164 and so rotate with the cams 162.
• Rotation of the drive rod 164 firstly causes the arms 156 and hence the pusher bar 154 to move towards the element 32 and press this against the pad 36.
• the cams 162, cam followers 160, race tracks 176 and followers 174 are arranged such that the closing beam 172 is only lowered on to the element 32 after it has been pressed against the pad 36.
• the closing beam 172 brings the element 32 to the closed ring shape in which it binds the pad 36.
• the stroke of the closing beam 172 is adjustable to accommodate different sized elements 32. This is achieved by providing two guide rods 178 for the closing beam 172 which pass through apertures. in the closing beam 172.
• the guide rods 178 are engaged threadedly with collars 180, which collars 180 set the lower level of the stroke of the closing beam 172. Rotation of the collars 180 adjusts the vertical height of the lower level of the stroke.
• the collars 180 are rotated by a motorised pulley system comprising a drive pulley 182 connected by a pulley belt 184 to the collars 180.
• the closing of the element 32 involves three steps. Firstly the element 32 and pad 36 are transferred under the closing beam 172.
• the clamp roller 150 is then activated by the solenoid 152 to apply pressure to the pad 36 and the transfer belts 128 therebelow.
• the pressure plate 154 applies side pressure to the element 32 against the pad 36 which forces the element 32 vertical.
• the arms 168 move the closing beam 172 down on to the element 32 to close the element 32 to the ring shape illustrated in dotted outline in Figure 20.
• the closing beam 172 returns to its original position and then the pressure plate 154 and clamp roller 150 are retracted to allow the bound pad 36 to be moved by the transfer belts 128 to a collection unit 186 at the side of the apparatus 22.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)

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• 2002
  • 2002-03-25 GB GB0206988A patent/GB0206988D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2003
  • 2003-03-24 AU AU2003226504A patent/AU2003226504A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-03-24 EP EP03744912A patent/EP1487644A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-03-24 WO PCT/GB2003/001260 patent/WO2003080363A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation

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