GB2106033A

GB2106033A - Method and apparatus for binding sheets of paper together

Info

Publication number: GB2106033A
Application number: GB08128456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter J Stobb
Original assignee: Stobb Inc
Current assignee: Stobb Inc
Priority date: 1980-10-06
Filing date: 1981-09-21
Publication date: 1983-04-07
Also published as: IT1142877B; JPS5791298A; IT8149421A0; SE8105841L; NL8104221A; FR2491392A1; DE3136856A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus of binding sheets together wherein a needle 10 is used for piercing the stack of sheets 28 and a hardenable liquid is deposited in the pierced hole 27, so that the stack of sheets can be bound together. Both the method and apparatus are adapted for effecting that function of binding while the stack of sheets is moving. Also, the stack of sheets is preferably bound by the hardenable material, either a glue or a plastics material or the like, in two spaced-apart locations to thereby substitute for the usual stapling employed in binding a stack of sheets. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for binding sheets of paper together This invention relates to a method and apparaus for binding sheets of paper together. More particularly, it relates to a manner of depositing a glue or plastic in a hole pierced in the stack and thus having the glue or plastic serve as a substitute for the usual staple which binds sheets of magazines or the like together Background of the invention The graphic arts industry presently employs a method and apparatus of binding a stack of paper sheets together by a stapling process. That is accomplished through the well-known stitching machines which include mechanism for unfolding a stack of several sheets of paper and laying them on a saddle and then stapling the stack at the fold line, all to form a magazine or pamphlet or the like.The stitching is commonly done after the sheets are collated into a stack to form a completed signature or magazine or the like. Examples of the prior art are seen in U. S. Patents 2,219,608 and 2,413,358 and 2,568,604 and 2,817,513. Those four patents generally show the method and apparatus for unfolding sheets of paper and placing them on a saddle which moves along a line where additional sheets are deposited on the previously deposited sheets, all to form the final signature or booklet or the like.

the prior art commonly employs a stitching machine which applies a staple to the stack of sheets for binding the stack together. The staples are of a metal wire material and they necessarily require special stitching or stapling machinery, and the metal wire is relatively expensive both in the machinery required for applying it and in the cost of the wire itself.

The present invention improves upon the prior art by eliminating the need for a metal wire staple or any other material, and, instead, the present invention can utilize a glue, plastic or the like which can be applied to the sheets for binding them together.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method of binding sheets of paper together, comprising the steps of positioning the sheets in a stack on a support, piercing the sheets to form a hole therein, and depositing a hardenable liquid into the hole and in contact with the sheets for binding the sheets together when the liquid hardens.

In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention provides apparatus for binding a stack of sheets of paper together, comprising a support for holding the stock of sheets, a needle movable into the stack of sheets for piercing a hole therein, said needle having a hollow interior, and an outlet opening for the flow of a hardenable liquid from said needle and deposited into said hole, and a supply of hardenable liquid in liquid flow communication with said needle for the flow of the hardenable liquid from said needle.

The present invention further provides means for binding a stack of sheets of paper together, comprising a support for movably holding the stack of sheets, an applicator means movable into the stack of sheets for piercing a hole therein and having a hollow interior for the flow of a hardenable liquid into the hole, and means for moving said applicator means at the velocity of said support and out of the stack of sheets, and means for applying the hardenable liquid to the sheets while said applicator means is being moved out of the stack of sheets.

An advantage of the present invention is that is provides a method and apparatus wherein a stack of paper sheets can be bound together by glue, plastic, or the like in a single cycle action of a piercing and a withdrawing stroke of an applicator, such as a needle which pierces a hole in the sheets and which deposits the hardenable liquid, such as the glue, plastic, or the like.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention significantly reduces the cost of binding sheets together, including both the cost of the stitching material itself, such as eliminating the wire staple, and the cost of the machinery for applying the stitch itself. Further, the present invention merely requires apparatus located adjacent the already existing collating equipment, such as the collector chain for the sheets, and thus no elaborate or expensive additional equipment is required in order to improve upon the prior art stitching method and apparatus mentioned above and which otherwise is wellknown by anyone skilled in the art.

A preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of some of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, but showing it on a reduced scale, and also showing an added portion thereto and relating it to the stack of sheets.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of a fragment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and with a fragment of a stack of sheets thereon.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a stack of the sheets showing a plastic type of rivet holding the sheets together.

Detailed description of the preferred method and apparatus Both the method and appartus can best be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a tool 10, in the nature of a needle having an operating point 11 at the lower end thereof and being supported on a gear 12. The gear 12 is in mesh with a larger gear 13, and the gear 12 rolls on the interior of the gear 13 with its teeth 14 in mesh with the teeth 16 of the gear 13. Thus, a pin 17 rotatably supports the gear 12, and an arm 18 extends from a shaft 19 centrally disposed with respect to the gear 13. The shaft 19 is suitably driven in the direction of the arrow designated A, and thus the gear 12 moves in a counter-clockwise direction inside the gear 13.

The needle 10 is mounted on the gear 12 by means of a pin 21, and the needle 10 is suitably oriented and related with respect to the gear 12 to remain in the upright position shown throughout the entire cycle of the gear 12 moving around gear 13. That is, the point 11 of the needle 10 always remains downward as shown. Since the pin 21 is eccentric on the gear 12 relative to the centered pin 17, the pin 21 will follow the square path designated by the dot dash lines 22.

This is particularly significant in the lower side designated 23 of the path 22 where it will be here seen path 23 is straight and horizontal. That is, the needle 10 moves on the straight and horizontal path 23 at the lower portion of its dot dash line of 22 of the travel of the needle 10.

The tool or needle 10 is suitably arranged to pierce a stack of paper supported on a raceway 24 and moving in the direction of the arrow designated B.

Thus, it will be seen that the raceway 24 is adjacent the needle path line 23, and the tool or needle 10 can have its point 11 reach down to the raceway 24, as shown in Figure 2 and 3. In that downward movement, such as indicated in Figure 2 relative to a stack of sheets represented at 26, the needle point 11 will pierce a hole designated at 27 in the stack of sheets and as shown in Figure 3. Subsequently, the needle or tool 10 will deposit a hardenable liquid in the hole 27, and that may be a paper glue or a synthetic plastic material, or the like, which will eventually cure or harden in the hole 27 and thus hold the sheets 28, as designated in Figure 3, in a bound or together relationship.

That is, Figures 3 and 4 show a collection of several sheets 28, perhaps five or more forming the stack designated 26 in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the broken-away sections 29 at the fold or bindery edge 31 of the stack 26, and those broken out sections 29 are shown simply for the purpose of depicting the penetration of the needle point 11 into the stack 26 for first cutting or forming the hole 27 and then subsequently applying the hardenable liquid throughout the length of the hole 27. That is, the liquid is applied while the stack 26 moves in the direction of the arrow designated Din Figure land it is continued to be applied while the needle 10 is being raised along the upright line 32 on the needle path of travel 22. Therefore, it can be assumed that at a location designated 33 on the path of travel 22 the needle point 11 will pierce the stack 26.Next, at at least approximately the location designated 34, the hardenable liquid will be applied through the needle 10 and it will continue to be applied until the location designated 36 is reached. In that manner, the hardenable liquid is applied both while the needle is fully inserted into the stack 26 and also while the needle is being raised upwardly and thus being withdrawn from the stack 26, all so that the hardenable liquid will be applied throughout the entire opening 27 to thus bind the sheets 28 together orto form a rivet of a synthetic plastic material, for example, such as the shown rivet 37 in Figure 5.The rivet 37 has a head 38 at the lower end thereof and it also has a head 39 at the upper end thereof, and those heads serve to hold the sheets of paper together, and the heads are formed by an application of a surplus of the plastic material applied at the head or opposite ends of the rivet 37.

Thus, the needle or tool 10 is hollow for receiving the hardenable liquid, and in fact it may be a self-contained needle 10 with the supply of hardenable liquid disposed therein and with portions of the supply deposited in the holes 27 developed in the various stacks 26 which are passing underneath the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, for instance.

Alternatively, a hardenable liquid supply reservoir 41 can be stationarily located and connected with the needle 10 through a flexible hose 42. The needle 10 therefore has a hollow interior designated 43 and best shown in Figure 3, and it also has a liquid inlet opening 44 and an outlet opening 46. Thus the hardenable liquid can flow through the needle 10, such as being supplied to the inlet opening 44 through the flexible hose 42. Further, a compressed air or like fluid supply 47 can be connected with the reservoir 41 through a flow line 48, and thus the reservoir can be air pressurized so that the hardenable liquid moving therefrom and to the needle 10 can be under pressure and the injection of the hardenable liquid from the needle 10 can be controlled according to the pressure applied to the reservoir 41 and thus to its line 42 and the needle 10.An air valve 49 can also be attached and connected with the tank 47 for controlling the air pressure in the tank 47 coming from an air pump which is not shown.

Further, a valve 51 is shown in the line 48 for controlling the air flow to the reservoir 41, as desired.

The needle or tool 10 orbits about the drive shaft 19, and thus the needle 10 remains in the upright position shown throughout its movement along the path 22, and any suitable means for maintaining that upright orientation may be employed. For instance, there may be a square pin 52 affixed to the side of the needle 10 for riding in tracks located on the straight sides of the path 22, such as the fragment of the track designated 53. It will also be seen and understood that the needle path 23 is shown horizontal and parallel to the raceway or paper collector support 24 so that the needle can move in the same direction as the movement of the stack 26.

Figure 2 shows that there are two spaced-apart needles 10 supported adjacent the stack support 24, and they are operated simultaneously and in unison to respectively form the hose 27 and apply the hardenable liquid to the two spaced-apart locations in the area of the broken-away sections 29 on the stack 10. Figure 2 further shows that the support 24 is in the nature of the well-known chain-type of conveyor having an upstanding pusher 54 attached to the chain portion 56 of the support 24 to thus move the stack 26 continuously in the direction of the arrow B at a certain velocity and that is the same velocity at which the needle 10 moves along its path portion 23. Thus, in Figure 2, there are two supply hoses 42 that are shown, and they each supply the hardenable liquid to the respective needle 10. The hardenable material is preferably heated at the time it is in the system and is applied, and it thus cures or hardens with time and upon cooling. In that regard, the hardenable material can be considered to be thermo-plastic.

Figures 3 and 4 therefore show details of the apparatus, and it will be seen and understood by one skilled in the art that the sheets 28 normally have a fold along the fold plane designated 57 in Figure 4, and these sheets are draped over the raceway or support now designated 58 in Figures 3 and 4. The support 58 is movable in the direction of the arrow B and at that velocity mentioned, and it is supported on a base 59. Support 58 is shown to be triangularly shaped for accommodating the draped and folded paper sheets 28, and it is also shown to have a depression 61 in the apex thereof, and that depression 61 accommodates the needle point 11 and also receives some of the deformed or pushed-aside paper created by the piercing action and it also will receive some of the hardenable liquid when it is initially applied at the pierced hole.Figure 3 shows that the needle point 11 has an angled side designated 62 so that the needle can pierce the sheets 28 preferably simply by cutting through the sheets 28 and pushing them to one side so that there is actually no cutout portion of the sheets 28 for forming the hole 27 but intead the sheets 28 are only deformed or pushed to one side in the nature of an incomplete punchout, all for forming a pierced hole 27.

Therefore, the support 24 for the sheets or stack 26 is substantially conventional and well-known to the extent that there is a saddle, in the nature of the piece 58, and there is a pusher chain 56, and of course the stack 26 was formed by the deposit of sheets onto the chain 56 as the chain moved past a feeder mechanism for collating the sheets into the stack 26 in the conventional manner. The distinction herein resides in the depression 61 for accommodating the needle 10 and the hardenable material, such as for forming the head 38 on the staple 37 and for accommodating the pushed-away or pushed-aside portions of the paper in forming the hole 27. Thus the portion 58 is the moving saddle which forms the paper support.Of course there is a drive to the chain 56 which is synchronized with the drive for the needle 10 along its path portion 23 so that the two move at the same velocity and achieve the relationship indicated in Figure 2 so that there is a continuous movement of the stack 26 while it is being pierced and subsequently having the hardenable material applied thereto. Through the viscosity of the hardenable material, and through the control of the air pressure applied to the reservoir 41 and thus to the pressure of the liquid in the needle 10, the ejection of the liquid from the needle 10 can be controlled to occur between the points 34 and 36 as explained in connection with Figure 1.In that manner, the binding or hardenable liquid is applied below the seats 28 and throughout the length of the pierced hole 27 and slightly on top of the sheets 28, such as performing the rivet heads 38 and 39, by way of explanation and example. Also, the applicator or needle point 11 moves on the same or common path of the movement of the horizontally disposed chain 56, as shown in Figure 2, and while the applicator 10 is moving along its path portion 23 relative to its mounting pin 21.

Valve 51 can be connected to the input shaft 19 through a pulley 63 on the shaft 19 and a belt 64 interconnected with the valve 51. Thus the cycling of the needle 10 and the passage of air through the valve 51 can be synchronized to effect the ejection between points 34 and 36, all as mentioned. Valve 51 is actuated by a cam 66 on a shaft 67 driven by the belt 64. The cam 66 operates a cam follower 68 which is biased by a spring 71 operating in the valve housing 51 to open and close the air passageway 72 extending through the valve housing 51 and communicating with the line 48.

For further fluid control, a valve is on needle 10to open the passageway 43 when the needle is penetrating the sheets. A flap valve arm 73 and closure 74 are shown on the needle 10, and the arm is disposed to slide along the track 53 and thus be depressed to open the closure 74. Arm 73 and closure 74 are affixed together and are pivotally mounted and can be spring-urged to closed position after leaving the track 53 and at the location 36. A spiral spring can be affixed to the pivot shaft for the valve closure 74.

Claims

1. A method of binding sheets of paper together, comprising the steps of positioning the sheets in a stack on a support, piercing the sheets to form a hole therein, and depositing a hardenable liquid into the hole and in contact with the sheets for binding the sheets together when the liquid hardens.

2. The method as claimed in Claim 1, including the step of folding the sheets along a fold line and arranging the sheets in the stack with the folds of the sheets nested together on one common fold plane in the form of a magazine, and piercing and binding the sheets in two spaced-apart locations along the fold plane.

3. The method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said liquid is a glue material.

4. The method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said liquid is a plastic material which can hard into a rivet, and forming a head at each end of the rivet to extend laterally of the hole in the sheets and thereby retain the sheets together.

5. The method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the steps of piercing the sheets and depositing the liquid are combined through the use of a means moved into the sheets for piercing and depositing the liquid.

6. The method as claimed in Claim 5, including the steps of moving the sheets and the means along a common path and at the same velocity while piercing the sheets and depositing the liquid.

7. The method as claimed in Claim 6, including the step of moving said support for the sheets along the path and at the said velocity while piercing the sheets and depositing the liquid.

8. Apparatus for binding a stack of sheets of paper together, comprising a support for holding the stack of sheets, a needle movable into the stack of sheets for piercing a hole therein, said needle having a hollow interior, and an outlet opening for the flow of a hardenable liquid from said needle and deposited into said hole, and a supply of hardenable liquid in liquid-flow communication with said needle for the flow of the hardenable liquid from said needle.

9. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said support is a movable saddle for the stack of sheets, a drive mechanism movable at the velocity of said saddle, said needle being mounted on said drive mechanism and extending toward said saddle for the piercing of the stack of sheets and the depositing of the hardenable liquid while the stack of sheets is moving at said velocity.

10. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein said hardenable liquid is a glue material.

11. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein said hardenable liquid is a synthetic plastic material hardenable into a rivet, and a head on each end of said rivet for holding the stack of sheets together.

12. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein said support has a depression therein to the side thereof facing said needle.

13. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, including two said needles spaced apart within the span of the stack of sheets, for piercing and depositing the liquid in two spaced-apart locations on the stack of sheets.

14. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, including a fluid pressure supply fluid flow connected with said liquid supply for controlling the flow of the hardenable liquid from said needle.

15. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein said needle has an inlet opening, and said hardenable liquid supply being a container located exteriorly of said needle, and a flexible liquid hose connected between said needle and said container for the flow of the hardenable liquid to said needle.

16. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, including a fluid pressure supply fluid-flow connected with said liquid supply for controlling the flow of the hardenable liquid from said needle.

17. Means for binding a stack of sheets of paper together, comprising a support for movably holding the stack of sheets, an applicator means movable into the stack of sheets for piercing a hole therein and having a hollow interior for the flow of a hardenable liquid into the hole, and means for moving said applicator means at the velocity of said support and out of the stack of sheets, and means for applying the hardenable liquid to the sheets while said applicator means is being moved out of the stack of sheets.