EP2441588A1

EP2441588A1 - Paper laminating and bookbinding machine

Info

Publication number: EP2441588A1
Application number: EP10786058A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kiyoshi Mitani
Original assignee: Mitani Corp
Current assignee: Mitani Corp
Priority date: 2009-06-08
Filing date: 2010-05-24
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-24
Also published as: EP2441588A4; EP2441588B1; WO2010143527A1; KR101287397B1; JP4847630B2; JPWO2010143527A1; KR20120016671A

Abstract

The lamination book binding machine 1 binds a plurality of half-fold printed sheets 8 folded to have printed surfaces facing each other inside into a book by bonding them together. The lamination book binding machine 1 guides both side edges of printed sheets 8 with a pair of plate springs 5 to a predetermined position in the width direction when feeding out the printed sheets 8 with a plurality of suction rollers 4. The pair of plate springs 5 are formed by bending a thin plate spring material and include bent contact portions formed by bending the material to incline such that the distance between the plate springs 5 is reduced in the feeding direction F of printed sheets 8. The lamination book binding machine 1 is configured such that, when the suction rollers 4 feed out the printed sheet 8, the pair of plate springs 5 are contacted to both side edges of the printed sheet 8 to cause elastic deformation in the pair of plate springs 5 so that the printed sheet 8 is thrust out by a thrust-out press plate in tight contact with the rail 6, with the pair of plate springs 5 being maintained in their elastically deformed state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lamination book binding machine for binding plural printed sheets folded to have printed surfaces facing each other inside into a book by bonding the sheets together with glue applied on the outer surfaces of the sheets.

BACKGROUND ART

One known book binding method of making albums with photos or the like, photo books, atlases, picture books, copy books of design drawings, etc. involves applying glue on one outer surface of printed sheets folded to have printed surfaces facing each other, and bonding successively stacked sheets together. For example, in a paper laminator of Patent Document 1, a plurality of vacuum rollers arranged in an up and down direction are used when bonding folded sheets together after glue application, the vacuum rollers applying suction to the sheets as they rotate so as to guide the sheets constantly until the sheets are bonded together. This lowers the possibility of sheets springing back after they are dropped even though they are fed at high speed, whereby the sheets can be bonded together with their ends closely aligned with each other. The glue-applied sheets are then slid on a rail to a lamination position, to be pressed with a press plate and bonded together.
A half-folding/glue-applying book binding machine of Patent Document 2, for example, uses a half-folding mechanism for folding rectangular sheets in half, a glue application mechanism for applying glue on the half-fold sheets, and a pressing means for pressing and bonding together the half-fold sheets stacked upon a table, to automate the process from the half-folding step to the bonding step. This book binding apparatus uses a pair of paper width restricting guides disposed in a V shape so as to guide left and right side edges of half-fold sheets fed from a glue application roller that forms part of the glue application mechanism after glue has been applied. These align both ends of the half-fold sheets stacked successively upon one another on the table.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE

PATENT DOCUMENTS

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4135923
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. 2001-187491

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

However, in binding printed sheets into a book, there can arise situations where the ends of printed sheets are not aligned because of adverse effects of glue transferred from the printed sheets and adhered onto the rail, or where, particularly when the paper used for the printed sheets is thin or soft, the printed sheets being fed by the vacuum rollers are curled when abutted on the rail because of the feeding force from the vacuum rollers. Since proper book binding cannot be achieved in such situations, appropriate countermeasures are necessary. In the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2, no such countermeasures are taken.
The present invention has been devised in view of such conventional problems and directed to providing a lamination book binding machine capable of properly binding half-fold printed sheets into a book.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

A first aspect of the present invention resides in a lamination book binding machine for binding a plurality of half-fold printed sheets (hereinafter referred to simply as printed sheets) folded to have printed surfaces facing each other inside into a book by bonding the printed sheets together, the machine including:

a glue application roller which applies glue to one outer surface of the printed sheet during rotation;
a pressure roller which rotates with a constant gap between the pressure roller and the glue application roller so as not to press the printed sheet and feeds out the printed sheet downward together with the glue application roller;
a plurality of suction rollers which suck the other outer surface of the printed sheet on which glue has been applied as the suction rollers rotate to feed out the printed sheet onto a rail;
a pair of plate springs which make contact with both side edges of the printed sheet to guide the printed sheet to a predetermined position in a width direction and to prevent the printed sheet fed out onto the rail from springing back; and
a thrust-out press plate which thrusts out the printed sheet fed out onto the rail to a predetermined lamination position to bond the printed sheet to a previously thrust out printed sheet,
wherein the pair of plate springs are formed by bending a thin plate spring material and include a base portion fixed to a frame and a bent contact portion formed by bending the material to incline relative to the base portion such that the distance between the plate springs is reduced in a feeding direction of the printed sheet, and
the pair of plate springs are contacted to both side edges of the printed sheet to cause elastic deformation in the pair of plate springs when the suction rollers feed out the printed sheet, so that the printed sheet is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate in tight contact with the rail, with the pair of plate springs being maintained in their elastically deformed state.

A second aspect of the present invention resides in a lamination book binding machine for binding a plurality of half-fold printed sheets (hereinafter referred to simply as printed sheets) folded to have printed surfaces facing each other inside into a book by bonding the printed sheets together, the machine including:

a glue application roller which applies glue to one outer surface of the printed sheet during rotation;
a pressure roller which rotates with a constant gap between the pressure roller and the glue application roller so as not to press the printed sheet and feeds out the printed sheet downward together with the glue application roller;
a plurality of suction rollers which suck the other outer surface of the printed sheet on which glue has been applied as the suction rollers rotate to feed out the printed sheet onto a rail;
a pair of wires stretched up and down at positions opposite the plurality of suction rollers;
a tension applying means for applying a predetermined tension to the pair of wires; and
a thrust-out press plate which thrusts out the printed sheet fed out onto the rail to a predetermined lamination position to bond the printed sheet to a previously thrust out printed sheet,
wherein the wires press down the printed sheet near both side edges thereof against the suction rollers when the suction rollers feed out the printed sheet, so that the thrust-out press plate deflects the printed sheet when thrusting out the printed sheet from between the wires and the suction rollers.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

The lamination book binding machine according to the first aspect of the present invention uses a pair of plate springs when binding half-fold printed sheets into a book using the glue application roller, the pressure roller, the plurality of suction rollers, and the thrust-out press plate, so as to prevent the printed sheet fed out onto the rail by the plurality of suction rollers from springing back, and to prevent the printed sheet on which glue has been applied from springing back due to redundant glue on the rail when thrust out by the thrust-out press plate. In the present invention, printed sheets mean half-fold printed sheets.
More specifically, the plate spring of the present invention is formed by bending a thin plate spring material and includes a base portion fixed to a frame and a bent contact portion formed by bending the material to incline relative to the base portion such that the distance between the plate springs is reduced in a feeding direction of the printed sheet.
In binding a book using the lamination book binding machine of the present invention, half-fold printed sheets are inserted in between the glue application roller and the pressure roller. At this time, glue is applied on one outer surface of the printed sheets by rotation of the glue application roller and the pressure roller.
The printed sheet with glue applied thereon is fed out to the plurality of suction rollers, which feed it out onto the rail. At this time, in the present invention, the bent contact portions of the pair of plate springs make contact with both side edges of the printed sheet, and as they deform elastically, the plate springs guide the printed sheet being fed out to a predetermined position in the width direction. With the pair of plate springs being maintained in the elastically deformed state, the printed sheet is prevented from springing back even after being fed onto the rail by the suction rollers in a manner in which it is prevented from springing back.
Next, the printed sheet fed out onto the rail is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate to a predetermined lamination position and bonded to a previously thrust out printed sheet. At this time, the pair of plate springs making contact with the printed sheet are maintained in the elastically deformed state so that the printed sheet is guided by the pair of plate springs such as to make tight contact with the rail as it is thrust out to the lamination position. Accordingly, even if some glue had dripped from the outer surface of the printed sheet and adhered on the rail, the printed sheet can be prevented from springing back from the rail as it is moved by the thrust-out press plate to be bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet, because of the bent contact portions of the pair of plate springs making contact with both side edges of the printed sheet. Therefore, when the printed sheet thrust out by the thrust-out press plate is bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet at the lamination position, the folded ends and both side edges of respective printed sheets can be aligned effectively at a predetermined position in the width direction.
Therefore, with the lamination book binding machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, half-fold printed sheets can properly be bound into a book, with their end faces being effectively aligned at respective positions.
The lamination book binding machine according to the second aspect of the present invention provides one way of preventing printed sheets, particularly when the paper used for the printed sheets is thin or soft, from deflecting when sucked by the suction rollers.
In binding a book using the lamination book binding machine of the present invention, too, half-fold printed sheets are inserted in between the glue application roller and the pressure roller. At this time, glue is applied on the outer surface of the printed sheets by rotation of the glue application roller and the pressure roller.
The printed sheet with glue applied thereon is fed out to the plurality of suction rollers, which feed it out onto the rail. At this time, in the present invention, the pair of wires with a tension applied by the tension applying means press down the printed sheet near both side edges thereof against the suction rollers. Thus the printed sheet can be prevented from deflecting and losing its flat shape.
Next, the printed sheet fed out onto the rail is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate to the predetermined lamination position and bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet. At this time, the thrust-out press plate deflects the printed sheet as it thrusts out the sheet from between the wires and the suction rollers. The printed sheet can thus be thrust out from between the wires and the suction rollers without the wires and tension applying means being moved specifically for that purpose. Therefore, when the printed sheet thrust out by the thrust-out press plate is bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet at the lamination position, the printed sheets can be bonded to each other correctly without any wrinkles or the like.
Accordingly, with the lamination book binding machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, half-fold printed sheets can properly be bound into a book without any wrinkles or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustrative front view showing a lamination book binding machine of Embodiment 1.
FIG. 2 is an illustrative side view showing the lamination book binding machine of Embodiment 1.
FIG. 3 is an illustrative front view showing the vicinity of a plurality of suction rollers in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 4 is an illustrative front view showing the vicinity of a thrust-out press plate at its retracted position in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 5 is an illustrative front view showing the vicinity of the thrust-out press plate moving toward a lamination position in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 6 is an illustrative side view showing a plate spring and a suction roller in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 7 is an illustrative side view showing an elastically deformed plate spring in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing how printed sheets are laminated in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 9 is an illustrative view showing how printed sheets are laminated with paperboard interposed therebetween in Embodiment 1.
FIG. 10 is an illustrative side view showing a lamination book binding machine of Embodiment 2.
FIG. 11 is an illustrative front view showing the vicinity of a plurality of suction rollers in Embodiment 2.
FIG. 12 is an illustrative sectional view showing how the thrust-out press plate thrusts out a printed sheet from between suction rollers and wires in Embodiment 2 as viewed from above.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the aforementioned lamination book binding machine according to the present invention will be described.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the pair of plate springs should preferably be configured to generate elastic deformation force by elastically deforming in the bent contact portion and a downstream portion in the feeding direction of the base portion, so that a reaction force that acts on the printed sheet when it is received by the rail causes tips of the bent contact portions of the pair of plate springs to bite into both side edges of the printed sheet, this biting state being maintained as the thrust-out press plate thrusts out the printed sheet in tight contact with the rail.
In this case, when feeding out the printed sheet onto the rail by the plurality of suction rollers, and when thrusting it out by the thrust-out press plate, the folded end of the printed sheet can be brought into tight contact with the rail by the pair of plate springs, and both side edges of the printed sheet can effectively be guided to a predetermined position in the width direction.
The aforementioned lamination book binding machine can be configured to bind a book with paperboard interposed between the printed sheets, such that the rail includes a receiving position change part capable of receiving paperboard fed out from the plurality of suction rollers at a position higher than an upper surface of the rail, and that the paperboard received on the receiving position change part is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate to be bonded to a previously thrust out printed sheet on the rail at a position separated a predetermined distance from the folded end of the printed sheet.
In this case, the lamination book binding machine is capable of binding a book in both cases of bonding printed sheets together and bonding printed sheets together with paperboard interposed therebetween. The receiving position change part may be fixed to a certain height position, or may be moved up and down alternately when bonding printed sheets and paperboard together. Thereby the machine can flexibly be adapted to binding of various types of books in accordance with the material, thickness, or the like of the paperboard.

EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the lamination book binding machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)

The lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment binds a plurality of half-fold printed sheets 8 (hereinafter referred to simply as "printed sheets 8") folded to have printed surfaces 81 facing each other inside into a book by bonding them together as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 8.
The lamination book binding machine 1 includes a glue application roller 32, a pressure roller 33, a plurality of suction rollers 4, a pair of plate springs 5, and a thrust-out press plate 71.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the glue application roller 32 is configured to apply glue on one outer surface 82A of printed sheets 8 as it rotates. The pressure roller 33 is configured to rotate with a constant gap between itself and the glue application roller 32 so as not to press the printed sheet 8, and to feed out printed sheets 8 downward together with the glue application roller 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of suction rollers 4 are configured to suck the other outer surface 82B of glue-applied printed sheets 8 as they rotate so as to feed out printed sheets 8 onto a rail 6 such as to prevent the sheets 8 from springing back. As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the pair of plate springs 5 are configured to make contact with both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8 to prevent the printed sheet 8 fed out onto the rail 6 from springing back, in cooperation with the plurality of suction rollers 4 preventing the spring back. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the thrust-out press plate 71 is configured to thrust out the printed sheet 8 fed out onto the rail 6 to a predetermined lamination position 702 (thrusting direction is indicated by arrow G in these drawings), to bond it to a previously thrust out printed sheet 8.
The pair of plate springs 5 are formed of a thin plate spring material bent as shown in FIG. 7, and include a base portion 51 fixed to a frame 2A, and a bent contact portion 52 formed by bending the material to incline relative to the base portion 51 such that the distance between the plate springs 5 is reduced in the feeding direction F of the printed sheet 8. The lamination book binding machine 1 is configured such that, when the suction rollers 4 feed out a printed sheet 8, the pair of plate springs 5 are contacted against both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8 to cause elastic deformation in the pair of plate springs 5, and the thrust-out press plate 71 thrusts out the printed sheet 8 in tight contact with the rail 6, with the pair of plate springs 5 being maintained in the elastically deformed state.
The lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 9.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that half-fold printed sheets 8 are fed out downward through a gap between the glue application roller 32 and the pressure roller 33, and then fed out downwards while being sucked by the plurality of suction rollers 4 aligned in the up and down direction to be placed at a receiving position on the rail 6. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the thrust-out press plate 71 is configured such as to slide the printed sheet 8 placed on the receiving position on the rail 6 in the horizontal direction to be bonded to a previously pressed one of the plurality of printed sheets 8 pressed against an opposite plate 72.
The lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the half-fold printed sheet 8 is delivered onto drums 31 in a way to allow its folded end 801 to make contact first with the drums 31 and that the folded ends 801 are abutted on the rail 6 to be aligned for the book binding.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a sheet stacking board 21 for stacking and storing collated half-fold printed sheets 8 is disposed above the lamination book binding machine 1. To the sheet stacking board 21 is provided a paper suction member 22 that picks up by suction the lowermost printed sheet 8 one by one to take it out downwards. The paper suction member 22 includes paper suction parts at two or more locations. Below the paper suction member 22 are rotatably arranged the drums 31 that receive printed sheets 8 fed thereto by the paper suction member 22 from the sheet stacking board 21 and feed them out. Opposite the drums 31 are rotatably arranged sheet feeding rollers 34 that hold the printed sheets 8 between themselves and the drums 31 to feed them out. Additional sheet feeding rollers 34 are arranged rotatably opposite each other below the drums 31 and the sheet feeding rollers 34 so as to pinch and feed out the printed sheets 8.
The glue application roller 32 is disposed below the drums 31 and the plurality of sheet feeding rollers 34. The glue application roller 32 is in rotating contact with a glue roller 322 that is in contact with glue 83 inside a glue tank 321, via an adjusting roller 323 that adjusts the amount of applied glue 83.
The rail 6 on which the thrust-out press plate 71 and the opposite plate 72 are provided is configured so that they can accommodate size changes in the up and down direction of the printed sheets 8. The rail 6 can be moved up and down to be adjusted in accordance with the height position of the folded ends 801, while the upper end of the printed sheets 8 is maintained at a fixed height position.
The plurality of suction rollers 4 aligned in the up and down direction rotate in synchronism with each other via a rotation drive power source 43, a timing belt 44, and the like. They rotate at the same circumferential speed (feeding speed) as that of the drums 31, the plurality of sheet feeding rollers 34, the glue application roller 32, and the pressure roller 33.
The plurality of suction rollers 4 are arranged on left and right sides relative to the feeding direction F of the printed sheets 8, as shown in FIG. 2. The thrust-out press plate 71 is disposed such as to be slidable in the horizontal direction between the plurality of suction rollers 4. As shown in FIG. 4, on the rail 6, at a position opposite the thrust-out press plate 71 is the opposite plate 72 that holds the rail 6 with an upper and lower plate to keep its position by means of spring pressure. The opposite plate 72 is configured to move back stepwise relative to the thrust-out press plate 71 each time printed sheets 8 are bonded together so as to keep the lamination position 702 of the printed sheets 8 at the same position.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the suction rollers 4 are configured to have cylindrical rotating parts 42 formed with a plurality of circumferentially arranged through holes 421, which are rotated and slid on the outer circumference of columnar core parts 41 formed with suction passages 411.
Suction pipes connected to a vacuum pump or the like are attached to the entrance of the suction passages 411 of the columnar core parts 41, while the exit of the suction passages 411 is formed on the side opposite the printed sheet 8. Suction is applied by the vacuum pump or the like, and as the columnar core parts 41 are rotated to feed out a printed sheet 8, the printed sheet 8 is sucked when the through holes 421 of the cylindrical rotating parts 42 come to face the exit of the suction passages 411, while the printed sheet 8 is not sucked when the remainder of the cylindrical rotating parts 42 comes to face the exit of the suction passages 411. Thereby suction force is applied only to necessary portions and a drop in the vacuum degree (suction force) caused by unnecessary air drawing can be prevented.
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7, the pair of plate springs 5 of this embodiment are fixed to the frames 2A at upper ends of their base portions 51. The pair of plate springs 5 are configured to generate an elastic deformation force due to elastic deformation of the bent contact portions 52 and downstream portions in the feeding direction F of the base portions 51 when a printed sheet 8 is inserted. The pair of plate springs 5 are attached to the frames 2A using the space in between the suction rollers 4 in the up and down direction.
The pair of plate springs 5 of this embodiment are attached at a plurality of positions in the up and down direction between the plurality of suction rollers 4. The pair of plate springs 5 can be abutted against the printed sheet 8 fed out by the plurality of suction rollers 4 at one or a plurality of positions in the up and down direction.
The pair of plate springs 5 are formed to have a length along the horizontal direction to guide the printed sheet 8 thrust out by the thrust-out press plate 71 to immediately before the lamination position 702. When printed sheets 8 are fed out by the suction rollers 4 and thrust out by the thrust-out press plate 71, one each printed sheet 8 is brought into contact with the pair of plate springs 5.
As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of suction rollers 4 and the pair of plate springs 5 of this embodiment are provided to the inner frames 2A disposed on the inner side of outer frames 2B. The drums 31, the glue application roller 32, the pressure roller 33, and the plurality of sheet feeding rollers 34 are disposed on the outer frames 2B.
As shown in FIG. 4, the thrust-out press plate 71 is configured to wait at a retracted position 701 where it is retracted from the plurality of suction rollers 4 until a printed sheet 8 is fed out onto the rail 6 by the suction rollers 4 and others, and after the printed sheet 8 is fed out onto the rail 6, thrust out this printed sheet 8 to the lamination position 702 to bond it to the previously thrust out printed sheet 8 held on the opposite plate 72.
As shown in FIG. 7, the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that the reaction force that acts on the printed sheet 8 when it is received by the rail 6 causes tips of the bent contact portions 52 of the pair of plate springs 5 to bite into both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8, this biting state being maintained as the thrust-out press plate 71 thrusts out the printed sheet 8 in tight contact with the rail 6.
The pair of plate springs 5 are maintained in the state in which they bite into both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8 so that the folded end 801 of the printed sheet 8 remains in tight contact with the rail 6 until the moment when the printed sheet 8 is bonded by the thrust-out press plate 71.
The lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment is capable of binding only the printed sheets 8 into a book by bonding them together, as shown in FIG. 8, and also capable of binding printed sheets 8 with paperboard 80 interposed therebetween into a book by bonding them together, as shown in FIG. 9.
For bonding the printed sheets 8 of this embodiment, for example, an acetic acid emulsion glue 83 is used. Using the paperboard 80 can improve absorption of moisture in the glue 83 applied on the printed sheets 8, whereby inexpensive acetic acid emulsion glue 83 can be made easier to use.
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 9, the rail 6 of this embodiment has a receiving position change part 61 that enables paperboard 80 fed out from the plurality of suction rollers 4 to be received at a higher position than the upper surface of the rail 6. The receiving position change part 61 can be moved up and down via a hole or the like cut out in the rail 6. In FIG. 9, the upper surface of the receiving position change part 61 when bonding printed sheets 8 is indicated and labeled as 601, while the upper surface of the receiving position change part 61 when bonding paperboard 80 is indicated and labeled as 602.
When bonding together the printed sheets 8 with paperboard 80 interposed therebetween, the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment thrusts out the paperboard 80 received on the upper surface of the receiving position change part 61 by the thrust-out press plate 71 to bond it to the previously thrust out printed sheet 8 on the rail 6. Thereby, the paperboard 80 is bonded to the printed sheet 8 at a position separated a predetermined distance from the folded end 801 as shown in FIG. 9, and thus a book can be bound by alternately bonding paperboard 80 and printed sheets 8.
If the glue on the outer surface 82A of the printed sheet 8 adheres on the surface of the rail 6 when the printed sheet 8 after glue has been applied thereto is placed on the rail 6, there is a possibility that the glue adhered on the rail 6 may cause slip resistance and deteriorate the sliding properties of the printed sheet 8 when the thrust-out press plate 71 thrusts out the printed sheet 8.
In this regard, the configuration of this embodiment using the pair of plate springs 5 prevents book binding failures due to adverse effects of glue adhered on the rail 6 from occurring.
In binding a book using the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment, half-fold printed sheets 8 are inserted into the gap formed between the drums 31, the plurality of sheet feeding rollers 34, the glue application roller 32, and the pressure roller 33 in a way to allow the folded ends 801 to reach the gap first, and glue is applied on one outer surface 82A of the printed sheets 8 by rotation of the drums 31, the plurality of sheet feeding rollers 34, the glue application roller 32, and the pressure roller 33.
The printed sheet 8 with glue applied thereon is fed out to the plurality of suction rollers 4, which feed it out onto the rail 6. At this time, in this embodiment, the tips of the bent contact portions 52 of the pair of plate springs 5 make contact with the printed sheet 8, and as they deform elastically, the plate springs 5 guide the printed sheet 8 being fed out to a predetermined position in the width direction (center position between the frames 2A). When the printed sheet 8 abuts on the rail 6, the plurality of suction rollers 4 prevent the printed sheet 8 from springing back. Also, the reaction force that acts on the printed sheet 8 when it is received on the rail 6 causes the tips of the bent contact portions 52 of the pair of plate springs 5 to bite into both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8 as shown in FIG. 7. This maintains the pair of plate springs 5 in the elastically deformed state, so that the pair of plate springs 5 prevent the printed sheet 8 from springing back from the rail 6.
Next, the printed sheet 8 fed out onto the rail 6 is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate 71 to the predetermined lamination position 702 and bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet 8. At this time, the pair of plate springs 5 making contact with the printed sheet 8 are elastically deformed such as to bite into both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8, so that the printed sheet 8 is guided by the pair of plate springs 5 biting thereinto as it is thrust out to the lamination position 702.
Accordingly, even if some glue 83 had dripped from the outer surface 82A of the printed sheet 8 and adhered on the rail 6, the printed sheet 8 can be prevented from springing back from the rail 6 as it is moved by the thrust-out press plate 71 to be bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet 8, because of the tips of the bent contact portions 52 of the pair of plate springs 5 biting into both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8. Therefore, when the printed sheet 8 thrust out by the thrust-out press plate 71 is bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet 8 at the lamination position 702, the folded ends 801 and both side edges 802 of respective printed sheets 8 can be aligned effectively at a predetermined position in the width direction (center position between the frames 2A).
Accordingly, with the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment, half-fold printed sheets 8 can be bound into a book, with their end faces 801 and 802 being effectively aligned at respective positions.

(Second Embodiment)

This embodiment shows one way of preventing printed sheets 8, particularly thin printed sheets 8, from deflecting (curling) when sucked by the suction rollers 4.
The lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment includes, instead of the above-described pair of plate springs 5, as shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, a pair of wires 53 stretched to extend up and down at positions opposite the plurality of suction rollers 4, and a tension applying means 54 that applies a predetermined tension to the pair of wires 53.
The wires 53 in this embodiment are a stainless wire with a diameter of 0.5 mm, and are stretched up and down on the pair of inner frames 2A at positions opposite the plurality of suction rollers 4 disposed on the frames 2A. The wires 53 are disposed close to both side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8, more specifically, at positions where they press down areas within 3 mm from the side edges 802 of the printed sheet 8. The wires 53 should preferably press down the printed sheet 8 at positions 1 to 1.5 mm from the side edges 802.
The tension applying means 54 in this embodiment is a tension spring 54, which is attached respectively to the pair of wires 53.
As shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, wire guides 55 are provided at an upper and lower position of the frames 2A for fixing the installation position of the wires 53. One end of the wire 53 is fixed to the wire guide 55 or frame 2A, while the other end of the wire 53 is attached to one end of the tension spring 54, the other end of the tension spring 54 being fixed to the frame 2A.
Tension applied to the wire 53 can be adjusted to a target value by changing the spring constant of the tension spring 54.
The lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that, when the suction rollers 4 feed out a printed sheet 8, the wires 53 under a tension applied by the tension springs 54 press down the printed sheet 8 close to its both side edges 802 against the suction rollers 4. Further, the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment is configured such that the thrust-out press plate 71 deflects the printed sheet 8 when it thrusts the sheet out from between the wires 53 and the suction rollers 4, as shown in FIG. 12.
In the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment, thin copying paper of about 0.1 mm thickness is used as the printed sheets 8 for the book binding. The thickness of the printed sheets 8 can be from 0.08 to 0.12 mm. Paper with a thickness larger than 0.12 mm can also be used as the printed sheets 8 if the paper has a soft texture.
Other elements of the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment are the same as those of the previously described Embodiment 1.
In binding a book using the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment, half-fold printed sheets 8 are inserted into the gap formed between the drums 31, the plurality of sheet feeding rollers 34, the glue application roller 32, and the pressure roller 33 in a way to allow the folded ends 801 to reach the gap first, and glue is applied on one outer surface 82A of the printed sheets 8 by rotation of the drums 31, the plurality of sheet feeding rollers 34, the glue application roller 32, and the pressure roller 33.
The printed sheet 8 with glue applied thereon is fed out to the plurality of suction rollers 4, which feed it out onto the rail 6. When the printed sheet 8 abuts on the rail 6, the feeding force exerted by the suction rollers 4 acts on the printed sheet 8 and causes it to curl.
To counteract this force, in this embodiment, the pair of wires 53 with a tension applied by the tension springs 54 press down the printed sheet 8 near its both side edges 802 against the suction rollers 4. Thus the printed sheet 8 can be prevented from deflecting (losing its flat shape).
Next, the printed sheet 8 fed out onto the rail 6 is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate 71 to the predetermined lamination position 702 and bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet 8. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12, the thrust-out press plate 71 deflects the printed sheet 8 as it thrusts the sheet out from between the wires 53 and the suction rollers 4. The printed sheet 8 can thus be thrust out from between the wires 53 and the suction rollers 4 without the wires 53 and tension springs 54 being moved specifically for that purpose. Therefore, when the printed sheet 8 thrust out by the thrust-out press plate 71 is bonded to the previously thrust out printed sheet 8 at the lamination position 702, the printed sheets 8 can be bonded to each other correctly without any wrinkles or the like caused by paper deflection.
Accordingly, with the lamination book binding machine 1 of this embodiment, half-fold printed sheets 8 can properly be bound into a book without any wrinkles or the like.
The wires 53 and tension applying means 54 can be applied also to the lamination book binding machine 1 shown in the above-described Embodiment 1.

Claims

A lamination book binding machine for binding a plurality of half-fold printed sheets (hereinafter referred to simply as printed sheets) folded to have printed surfaces facing each other inside into a book by bonding the printed sheets together, the machine comprising:
a glue application roller which applies glue to one outer surface of the printed sheet during rotation;

a pressure roller which rotates with a constant gap between the pressure roller and the glue application roller so as not to press the printed sheet and feeds out the printed sheet downward together with the glue application roller;

a plurality of suction rollers which suck the other outer surface of the printed sheet on which glue has been applied as the suction rollers rotate to feed out the printed sheet onto a rail;

a pair of plate springs which make contact with both side edges of the printed sheet to guide the printed sheet to a predetermined position in a width direction and to prevent the printed sheet fed out onto the rail from springing back; and

a thrust-out press plate which thrusts out the printed sheet fed out onto the rail to a predetermined lamination position to bond the printed sheet to a previously thrust out printed sheet,

wherein the pair of plate springs are formed by bending a thin plate spring material and include a base portion fixed to a frame and a bent contact portion formed by bending the material to incline relative to the base portion such that the distance between the plate springs is reduced in a feeding direction of the printed sheet, and

the pair of plate springs are contacted to both side edges of the printed sheet to cause elastic deformation in the pair of plate springs when the suction rollers feed out the printed sheet, so that the printed sheet is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate in tight contact with the rail, with the pair of plate springs being maintained in their elastically deformed state.
The lamination book binding machine according to claim 1, wherein the pair of plate springs are configured to generate an elastic deformation force by elastically deforming in the bent contact portion and a downstream portion in the feeding direction of the base portion, and
a reaction force that acts on the printed sheet when the printed sheet is received by the rail causes tips of the bent contact portions of the pair of plate springs to bite into both side edges of the printed sheet, this biting state being maintained as the thrust-out press plate thrusts out the printed sheet in tight contact with the rail.
A lamination book binding machine for binding a plurality of half-fold printed sheets (hereinafter referred to simply as printed sheets) folded to have printed surfaces facing each other inside into a book by bonding the printed sheets together, the machine comprising:
a glue application roller which applies glue to one outer surface of the printed sheet during rotation;

a pressure roller which rotates with a constant gap between the pressure roller and the glue application roller so as not to press the printed sheet and feeds out the printed sheet downward together with the glue application roller;

a plurality of suction rollers which suck the other outer surface of the printed sheet on which glue has been applied as the suction rollers rotate to feed out the printed sheet onto a rail;

a pair of wires stretched up and down at positions opposite the plurality of suction rollers;

a tension applying means for applying a predetermined tension to the pair of wires; and

a thrust-out press plate which thrusts out the printed sheet fed out onto the rail to a predetermined lamination position to bond the printed sheet to a previously thrust out printed sheet,

wherein the wires press down the printed sheet near both side edges thereof against the suction rollers when the suction rollers feed out the printed sheet, so that the thrust-out press plate deflects the printed sheet when thrusting out the printed sheet from between the wires and the suction rollers.
The lamination book binding machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lamination book binding machine is configured to bind a book with paperboard interposed between the printed sheets, the rail including a receiving position change part capable of receiving paperboard fed out from the plurality of suction rollers at a position higher than an upper surface of the rail, and
the paperboard received on the receiving position change part is thrust out by the thrust-out press plate to be bonded to a previously thrust out printed sheet on the rail at a position separated a predetermined distance from a folded end of the printed sheet.