EP1518714B1 - Station à coudre pour une machine de reliure de livres - Google Patents

Station à coudre pour une machine de reliure de livres Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1518714B1
EP1518714B1 EP20030425625 EP03425625A EP1518714B1 EP 1518714 B1 EP1518714 B1 EP 1518714B1 EP 20030425625 EP20030425625 EP 20030425625 EP 03425625 A EP03425625 A EP 03425625A EP 1518714 B1 EP1518714 B1 EP 1518714B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
thread
needle
sewing
sewing station
signatures
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP20030425625
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1518714A1 (fr
Inventor
Giuseppe Andreoni
Luigi Rondi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Meccanotecnica SpA
Original Assignee
Meccanotecnica SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Meccanotecnica SpA filed Critical Meccanotecnica SpA
Priority to EP20030425625 priority Critical patent/EP1518714B1/fr
Priority to DE2003610719 priority patent/DE60310719T2/de
Publication of EP1518714A1 publication Critical patent/EP1518714A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1518714B1 publication Critical patent/EP1518714B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B42B2/00—Permanently attaching together sheets, quires or signatures by stitching with filamentary material, e.g. textile threads
    • B42B2/02—Machines for stitching with thread

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the bookbinding field, and more specifically to a sewing station for a bookbinding machine.
  • a sewn book consists of a block of signatures that are sewn together in a corresponding station of the bookbinding machine.
  • the sewing station includes a series of needles and hook needles (or crochets), which cooperate to sew the signatures by means of continuous threads.
  • the threads are automatically cut after sewing a last signature of every block.
  • the sewing station is provided with a blade for each needle and with a hook for each hook needle. Once the last signature of the block has been sewn, the blade is moved close to the needle and the hook is moved close to the hook needle. In this way, the blade interferes with the thread that will be used by the needle to sew a first signature of a next block; at the same time, the hook picks up a loop of the thread that is held by the hook needle. As the block of signatures moves away from the needles and the hook needles, the thread is tightened on the blade and cut. The hook thus unravels the loop, so that the block of signatures is completely separated from the next one.
  • a portion of the thread projecting from the first signature of each block is very short; therefore, the thread can slip into the signature impairing its sewing.
  • the portion of the thread projecting from the last signature of each block is very long; the thread can then interfere with the next operations that are carried out on the block of signatures (for example, the gluing of a spine or the forming of a soft cover).
  • an aspect of the present invention provides a sewing station for a bookbinding machine, the sewing station having at least one sewing unit including a needle and a hook needle for sewing blocks of signatures in succession using a continuous thread, and a cutting device having means for engaging the thread in the proximity of the needle after sewing a last signature of each block and means for cutting the engaged thread; the sewing station further includes means for moving the cutting device to an operative position between the needle and the hook needle after engaging the thread, the thread being cut in the operative position.
  • the present invention also provides a bookbinding machine including the sewing station. Moreover, a corresponding sewing method is encompassed.
  • a bookbinding machine 100 is shown.
  • the machine 100 is used to sew together blocks of signatures 105, in order to form corresponding books; each signature 105 consists of a large printed sheet, which is folded one or more times (so as to define the pages of the book).
  • a hopper 110 feeds the signatures 105 in succession to an opening station 120 (for example, including 4 upper opening heads and 4 lower opening heads arranged along a feeding direction of the signatures 105).
  • the signatures 105 are opened in the middle and placed astride a fixed saddle 125, which conveys the signatures 105 to a sewing station 130.
  • the sewing station 130 includes a movable saddle 135, which is aligned with the fixed saddle 125 when opened (in a lowered position). Whenever a signature 105 is in the proximity of the sewing station 130, the signature 105 is accelerated so as to be separated from the following signatures and thrown onto the movable saddle 135. The movable saddle 135 is then closed (to a raised position). The signature 105 loaded on the movable saddle 135 is sewn to a previous signature by means of continuous threads. Once a last signature of a current block 140 has been sewn, the threads are cut. The block of signatures 140 is then conveyed to a holder 145 (in order to be supplied to further machines that complete the production of the book). Operation of the bookbinding machine 100 is remotely managed by means of a programmable logic controller (PLC) 150.
  • PLC programmable logic controller
  • the bookbinding machine has a different structure or includes other units (for example, a series of trays for pre-loading the signatures or a different number of opening heads), if the PLC is replaced with an equivalent data processing system (for example, a Personal Computer), and the like.
  • an equivalent data processing system for example, a Personal Computer
  • the sewing station 130 is illustrated in detail in a partially cut away view.
  • the sewing station 130 is formed by a bank of units 203 (for example, 10-15).
  • Each sewing unit 203 includes a needle 205 and a hook needle 210, which cooperate to sew together the signatures by means of a corresponding thread (not shown in the figure).
  • the needle 205 consists of a slender element with an eye 205e at its pointed end for inserting the thread;
  • the hook needle 210 consists of a similar slender element but with a hook 210h at its pointed end for catching the thread.
  • the needle 205 and the hook needle 210 are driven with a reciprocating motion towards the signature 105 put astride the movable saddle 135; for this purpose, the movable saddle 135 features a longitudinal slit (not shown in the figure) along a back of the signature 105, for allowing the passage of the needles 205 and the hook needles 210.
  • a pressure insert 215 is interposed between each pair of elements 205,210 and the signature 105 (so as to hold down the signature 105 on the movable saddle 135).
  • the insert 215 has a through hole 215n for the passage of the needle 205 and a through hole 215c for the passage of the hook needle 210.
  • a cutter 220 is associated with the needle 205, and a separator 225 is associated with the hook needle 210.
  • the cutter 220 is used to sever the thread after sewing the last signature of each block.
  • the separator 225 consists of a hook, which catches the cut thread to complete the separation of the block of signatures.
  • a gripper 227 (shown in dashed lines in the figure) is arranged inside the movable saddle 135; the gripper 227 acts as a thread carrier, which conveys the thread from the needle 205 to the hook needle 210 (inside the signature 105 put astride the movable saddle 135).
  • Each cutter 220 has a telescopic structure, with an inner element 220i that slides inside an outer element 220o. All the outer elements 220o are fastened to a bar 240. A further bar 245 drives all the inner elements 220i. The bar 245 is hinged at the free ends of two clamps 250 (only one shown in the figure). The clamps 250 are fastened to a shaft 255, which slides and rotates inside a sleeve of the tie rod mechanism 235.
  • the cutters 220 are moved transversally to their longitudinal axes (by means of the clamps 250 and the bars 240,245).
  • the shaft 255 rotates, the movement is transmitted to the clamps 250.
  • the bar 245 pivots about the clamps 250, and then moves transversally to its longitudinal axis (rightwards when the shaft 255 rotates counterclockwise and leftwards when the shaft 255 rotates clockwise). In this way, the inner elements 220i are extracted from or retracted into, respectively, the respective outer elements 220o.
  • FIG. 3a the cutter 220 is illustrated with the inner element 220i extracted from the outer element 220o.
  • a recess 305 is formed in the proximity of a free end of the inner element 220i.
  • the recess 305 has a left corner 305n and a right corner 305c; when the cutter 220 is placed between the respective needle and hook needle, the corner 305n faces the needle and the corner 305c faces the hook needle.
  • the recess 305 defines a hook, which is used to catch the corresponding thread (denoted with 310).
  • the outer element 220o ends with a circular edge 315.
  • a notch 320 is formed at the free end of the outer element 220o; the notch 320 is in line with the corner 305n.
  • the thread 310 When the inner element 220i is retracted into the outer element 220o, as shown in Figure 3b, the thread 310 remains engaged between those elements 220i,220o.
  • the corner 305c and the edge 315 act as blades, which cut the thread 310.
  • the notch 320 clears the portion of the thread 310 arranged on the corner 305n. As a consequence, the thread 310 is cut at a single position (on the side facing the hook needle).
  • a hollow 320 extends from a free end of the insert 215, between the through hole 215n (for the needle) and the through hole 215c (for the hook needle).
  • a slit 325 is made on a lower surface of the insert 215 (which lower surface is used to hold down the signatures); the slit 325 connects the through hole 215n with the hollow 320 (on the lower surface).
  • a chamfer 327 is formed at an outer joint between the slit 325 and the through hole 215n (to avoid damaging the thread when it is drawn towards the hollow 320).
  • the hollow 320 has an inner portion 320i, which extends inwards from the slit 325.
  • the concepts of the present invention are also applicable when the insert has a different structure (for example, consisting of a simple plate), or when all the inserts are replaced with one or more equivalent members.
  • the hollow has a different shape, the slit is formed in another way, and the like.
  • FIGS. 4a-4i The sequence of operations relating to a sewing process is illustrated schematically in Figures 4a-4i.
  • the thread 310 (typically supplied by a bobbin, not shown in the figure) is inserted into the eye 205e of the needle 205; the thread 310 is then used to sew together adjacent signatures (forming a stack 403).
  • the thread 310 is drawn through the back of each signature of the stack 403 to form interlocked stitches, each one bridging between two adjacent signatures of the stack 403; particularly, a row of plain stitches 405 is formed by the needle 205 and a row of looped stitches 410 is formed by the hook needle 210.
  • the stack of signatures 403 moves forward along a shifting direction indicated by the arrow in the figure; a new signature (denoted with 105n) is then fed to the stack 403 (by means of the movable saddle).
  • the signature 105n is pierced (using a punching device arranged inside the movable saddle); in particular, a through hole 415 and a through hole 420 are formed in the back of the signature 105n for the needle 205 and for the hook needle 210, respectively.
  • the thread 310 passes through the eye 205e of the needle 205 (between the bobbin and the plain stitches 405).
  • the hook 210h of the hook needle 210 faces forward (opposite to the shifting direction of the stack 403), and holds a loop 425 that has been freshly formed by the thread 310.
  • the needle 205 and the hook needle 210 are lowered, after rotating the hook needle 210 by 180°.
  • the thread 310 is conveyed inside the signature 105n by the needle 205, while the loop 425 remains wound around the hook needle 210 (outside the signature 105n).
  • the needle 205 and the hook needle 210 are then slightly retracted, in order to form a bend 427 in the double-stranded thread 310 inside the signature 105n.
  • the thread carrier 227 grips the thread 310 at that bend, and pulls it past the hook needle 210.
  • the thread carrier 227 then pivots towards the hook needle 210, to have the thread 310 contact the hook needle 210 (above the hook 210h).
  • the needle 205 and the hook needle 210 are then extracted from the signature 105n; at the same time, the thread carrier 227 returns to its starting position (close to the needle 205).
  • the hook 210h picks up the thread 310; as a consequence, the thread 310 is pulled out the signature 105n and forms a new loop 430 that is concatenated with the previous loop 425.
  • the hook needle 210 then rotates by 180° so as to return to its starting position.
  • the double-stranded thread 310 between the needle 205 and the hook needle 210 is tightened against an inner edge of the back of the signature 105n.
  • a blind stitch is performed after a last signature of a current block (denoted with 1051) has been sewn.
  • the same operations described above are executed without any signature (exploiting the insert 215 for the abutment of the double-stranded thread 310 between the needle 205 and the hook needle 210).
  • a further loop 435 is formed and concatenated with the previous loop 430.
  • the hook needle 210 is not rotated (so that the hook 210h remains turned backward).
  • the inner element 220i of the cutter 220 is extracted from the outer element 220o; the cutter 220 is then moved to an operative position between the needle 205 and the hook needle 210.
  • the operative position is substantially equidistant from the needle 205 and the hook needle 210; for example, the distance of the operative position from a central point (in the middle between the needle 205 and the hook needle 210) is lower than 20%, and preferably lower than 10%, of the distance between the needle 205 and the hook needle 210.
  • the recess of the inner element 220i engages the thread 310 (with the portion of the thread 310 between the needle 205 and the cutter 220 that crosses the slit 325 of the insert 215).
  • the separator 225 picks up the loop 435 (formed by the hook needle 210).
  • the inner element 220i is retracted into the outer element 220o so as to cut the thread 310.
  • This operation is performed in response to a corresponding command received from the controller of the bookbinding machine.
  • the cutting command is issued after a predefined delay, which is programmable by an operator. For example, when working with light paper the thread 310 is cut immediately, so as to avoid tearing the signatures. Conversely, when working with hard paper the thread 310 is cut after sewing some further signatures (for example, from 1 to 5); in this way, the stitches are further tightened so as to compact the signatures.
  • the separator 225 unravels the loop 435.
  • the block of signatures so obtained is completely separated from the previous one (being both the plain stitches 405 and the loop stitches 410 discontinued).
  • the length of the portion of the thread projecting from the last signature 1051 of the block just sewn (denoted with 3101) and the length of the portion of the thread projecting from the first signature 105f of the next block (denoted with 310f) depend on the operative position of the cutter 220. Particularly, the length of the projecting portion 310f increases (and the length of the projecting portion 3101 decreases accordingly) as the operative position of the cutter 220 moves away from the needle 205 towards the hook needle 210.
  • an aspect of the present invention proposes a sewing station for a bookbinding machine.
  • the sewing station has one or more sewing units.
  • Each sewing unit includes a needle and a hook needle for sewing blocks of signatures in succession using a continuous thread.
  • the sewing unit is provided with a cutting device; the cutting device has means for engaging the thread in the proximity of the needle after sewing a last signature of each block, and means for cutting the engaged thread.
  • the sewing station of the invention further includes means for moving the cutting device to an operative position between the needle and the hook needle after engaging the thread; the thread is then cut in the operative position.
  • the sewing station of the invention allows controlling the length of the portions of the thread projecting from the signatures in a very efficient way.
  • the length of the portions of the thread projecting from the first signatures of the blocks is increased.
  • the proposed solution reduces the length of the portions of the thread projecting from the last signatures of the blocks (in the proximity of the hook needles).
  • the thread is cut in a position that is substantially equidistant from the needle and the hook needle.
  • the insert has an opening that clears the thread between the needle and the cutter.
  • the opening prevents the thread (to be cut) from interfering with the insert (which interference would result in an increase of the length of the portion of the thread projecting from the last signature of each block).
  • the opening includes a portion extending towards the shifting direction of the sewn signatures, so as to clear the thread between the last signature of the block and the cutter.
  • This additional feature avoids any contact of the thread to be cut with the insert as the sewn signatures move away from the needles and the hook needles.
  • the present invention can be practiced cutting the thread in a different position (closer to either the needle or the hook needle), or using a different insert; for example, in alternative embodiments of the invention the opening of the insert does not include any portion extending towards the shifting direction of the sewn signatures, or the insert has no opening for clearing the thread to be cut. In any case, the use of the proposed solution in a sewing station without any insert is not excluded.
  • the cutter includes an active element that is responsive to a corresponding programmable command.
  • the sewing station can be configured for different operative conditions in a very simple manner.
  • a suggested choice for implementing the cutting element is that of using a telescopic structure.
  • the outer element has a notch that clears a corner of the inner element when retracted (while another corner of the inner element interferes with the edge of the outer element to cut the thread).
  • a way to further improve the solution is to turn the corner of the inner element (which is active to cut the thread) towards the hook needle.
  • the length of the portion of the thread projecting from the first signature is further reduced (with the length of the portion of the thread projecting from the last signature that is increased accordingly).
  • the sewing station of the invention is also suitable to be implemented without the possibility of programming the cutting command, or even using a cutting element of the passive type.
  • the cutting element has a different structure; for example, the active edge of the inner element can face the needle (instead of the hook needle), the outer element can be configured without any notch, or another mechanism can be used (for example, a scissors-like cutter).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sewing Machines And Sewing (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Machine à coudre (130) pour machine à relier des livres (100), la machine à coudre comprenant au moins un module de couture (203) incluant une aiguille (205) et une aiguille à crochet (210) pour coudre des blocs de feuillets (105) successivement en utilisant un fil continu (310), et un dispositif de coupe (220) comprenant des moyens (305) pour entrer en contact avec le fil à proximité de l'aiguille après couture d'un dernier feuillet de chaque bloc et des moyens (305c, 315) de coupe du fil engagé,
    caractérisée en ce qu'elle comprend en outre des moyens (240-255) pour déplacer le dispositif de coupe vers une position active entre l'aiguille et l'aiguille à crochet après être entré en contact avec le fil, le fil étant coupé à la position active.
  2. Machine à coudre (130) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle la position active est sensiblement équidistante de l'aiguille (205) et de l'aiguille à crochet (210).
  3. Machine à coudre (130) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle ledit au moins un module de couture comprend en outre un insert à pression (215), l'insert à pression ayant une ouverture (325) pour libérer le fil entre l'aiguille (205) et le dispositif de coupe (220) à la position active.
  4. Machine à coudre (130) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle les feuillets cousus se déplacent en s'écartant de la machine à coudre selon une direction de décalage, l'ouverture comprenant une partie (320i) s'étendant vers la direction de décalage pour libérer le fil (310) entre le dernier feuillet du bloc et le dispositif de coupe (220) à la position active.
  5. Machine à coudre (130) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans laquelle les moyens de coupe (305c, 315) incluent un élément actif (305c) agissant en réponse à un ordre de coupe, la machine à coudre comprenant en outre des moyens (150) pour programmer la commande de coupe.
  6. Machine à coudre (130) selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle le dispositif de coupe (220) inclut une structure télescopique avec un élément externe (220o) et un élément interne (220i) coulissant dans l'élément externe, l'élément interne incluant un évidement (305) pour entrer en contact avec le fil (310) quand l'élément interne est extrait de l'élément externe et pour interférer avec un bord (315) de l'élément externe pour couper le fil engagé quand l'élément interne est rétracté dans l'élément externe.
  7. Machine à coudre (130) selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle l'évidement (305) de l'élément interne (220i) comporte un premier coin (305n) et un second coin (305c), et dans laquelle l'élément externe (220o) comporte une encoche (320) pour libérer le premier coin quand l'élément interne est rétracté, le second coin interagissant avec le bord (315) pour couper le fil engagé quand l'élément interne est rétracté.
  8. Machine à coudre (130) selon la revendication 7, dans laquelle le premier coin (305n) fait face à l'aiguille (205) et le second coin (305c) fait face à l'aiguille à crochet (210) dans la position active.
  9. Machine à relier des livres (100) incluant la machine à coudre (130) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8 et des moyens (110-125) d'alimentation en feuillets successivement vers la machine à coudre (130).
  10. Procédé de couture pour une machine à relier des livres incluant les étapes suivantes :
    coudre par au moins une aiguille et au moins une aiguille à crochet des blocs de feuillets successivement en utilisant un fil continu correspondant;
    faire entrer en contact un dispositif de coupe avec le fil à proximité de l'aiguille après couture d'un dernier feuillet de chaque bloc ;
    déplacer le dispositif de coupe vers une position active entre l'aiguille et l'aiguille à crochet après être entré en contact avec le fil ; et
    couper le fil engagé à la position active.
EP20030425625 2003-09-29 2003-09-29 Station à coudre pour une machine de reliure de livres Expired - Lifetime EP1518714B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20030425625 EP1518714B1 (fr) 2003-09-29 2003-09-29 Station à coudre pour une machine de reliure de livres
DE2003610719 DE60310719T2 (de) 2003-09-29 2003-09-29 Nähstation für eine Buchbindevorrichtung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20030425625 EP1518714B1 (fr) 2003-09-29 2003-09-29 Station à coudre pour une machine de reliure de livres

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1518714A1 EP1518714A1 (fr) 2005-03-30
EP1518714B1 true EP1518714B1 (fr) 2006-12-27

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20030425625 Expired - Lifetime EP1518714B1 (fr) 2003-09-29 2003-09-29 Station à coudre pour une machine de reliure de livres

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EP (1) EP1518714B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60310719T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102673213B (zh) * 2012-05-28 2014-07-09 山东大学 穿线厚本装订机
IT201600076757A1 (it) * 2016-07-21 2018-01-21 Meccanotecnica Spa Cucitura di blocchi libro senza punto a vuoto

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1902864A (en) * 1931-06-04 1933-03-28 Brehmer Geb Method of and mechanism for extracting interconnecting threads between stitched books
EP0537106B1 (fr) * 1991-09-03 1996-04-24 Grapha-Holding Ag Procédé et dispositif pour la reliure des livres, des magazines etc., constitués par des cahiers
EP0603126B1 (fr) * 1992-12-09 1997-07-30 Grapha-Holding Ag Procédé et dispositif pour réaliser des blocs de livres brochés à partir de cahiers et bloc de livres brochés

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60310719T2 (de) 2007-10-11
EP1518714A1 (fr) 2005-03-30
DE60310719D1 (de) 2007-02-08

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