GB2125735A - Book finishing - Google Patents

Abstract

A book finishing device comprises a substantially planar base plate 1 having a substantially straight leading edge 2; an adjustable stop member 3 mounted thereon and a side stop 4 extending at substantially 90 DEG to the adjustable stop and substantially normal to the plane of the base plate, the adjustable and side stops providing a means for locating and aligning a book on the base plate so that the spine of the book is substantially parallel to and extends beyond the leading edge of the base plate. Binding tape may be applied to the spine of the book when in position on the base plate from a dispensing means 40. A bar-like member 30 located above the base plate with its leading edge substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate is adapted to bear against a book to secure it in position upon the base plate. The invention also provides a method of binding books. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and device for finishing books The present invention relates to a method and a device for finishing books, notably for binding books.

In one method for making books, pamphlets, pads or other collections of pages in a single volume (for convenience hereinafter called books), the individual pages are collated and fixed together, eg. by stapling, glueing or other methods. An adhesive tape is then applied to the spine of the book to give a better finish to the binding. This tape extends onto the front and back covers of the book.

This tape is conventionally applied by means of a device in which the book is inserted spine downwards to contact a strip of tape. The book is then carried through one or more sets of guides or rollers which fold the tape around the spine of the book and onto the covers and press it firmly into place. However, such a device is expensive and problems in aligning and feeding the book through the device can arise. Furthermore, such a device is not suitable for use in binding books where the pages are greater than A4 paper size or where a small number of pages are to be bound in a limp cover, since the book tends to flop about and mis-align when held vertically.

I have devised a device which reduces the above problems and which provides a simple, cheap and readily portable means for taping a wide variety of sizes and shapes of book. The device can also be used for a number of other functions connected with the preparation, finishing and binding of books.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for applying a binding tape to the spine of a book, which method comprises placing the book in substantially co-planar orientation upon a generally horizontal base plate having mounted thereon an adjustable back stop aligned substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate, the book butting against the back stop and extending beyond the leading edge of the base plate with its spine substantially parallel to, but beyond, the leading edge of the base plate; applying a binding tape longitudinally onto the spine of the book and extending onto the top face of the book; and subsequently folding the tape onto the opposed face of the book.

In the method of the invention, the spine of the book is exposed to the operator, which permits accurate alignment and placement of a wide variety of widths of tape onto the book spine. By having the book supported on the base plate, problems with flexing of the book or mis-alignment of pages in the book can be reduced, notably where the pages of the book have been stapled together or are of greater than A4 size paper of where only a few pages are being bound into a limp cover. The adjustment of the back stop permits a wide range of sizes and shapes of book to be handled on the one device.

For convenience, the invention will now be described with reference to a particularly preferred form of device for use therein, as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device; and Figures 2 and 3 are views of alternative forms of the device of Fig. 1.

The book to be bound is placed upon a device which comprises a substantially planar base plate 1. This is made from wood, metal, plastics or any other suitable material. Plate 1 can form part of a larger structure, eg. a worktop on a bench; or can be a self-contained portable unit as shown, which can be readily moved from place to place as required.

The plate 1 has a substantially straight leading edge 2 to form a straight edge against which the book or pages can be trimmed as described below. If desired, this edge can be provided by a metal or similar insert or rightangled edge piece affixed to the base plate 1.

This edge piece can carry markings or other indicia to aid location of the book on the base plate and/or of the binding tape relative to the book as described below. The undersurface of the plate can be provided with feet or suckers, which can be adjustable, so that the base plate rests securely on a work surface.

Plate 1 is provided with an adjustable back stop 3 against which the book to be bound abuts. This stop can be provided by a number of means. For example, it can be provided by a metal or other angle bracket or bar, or by a section of wooden board lying on the upper surface of the base plate 1. The stop 3 can be a continuous member or can be provided by a series of separate members.

The stop is orientated on the base plate 1 so that it provides a book-abutting face which is substantially parallel to the leading edge 2 of the base plate and substantially normal to the plane of the plate 1. As stated above, the position of the stop 3 relative to the leading edge 2 is adjustable, so that different depths of book can be accommodated. The adjustment can be achieved for example by clamping stop 3 onto plate 1 by means of bolts passing through slots in the stop 3 and/or the plate 1; or by mounting stop 3 on screw adjustment means carried on or in plate 1. In this way, stop 3 can be positioned so that the spine of the book overhangs the leading edge 2 of the plate 1 to an appropriate amount as described below.

Plate 1 is preferably also provided with a side stop 4 extending at substantially 90 to the back stop 3 and extends substantially normal to the plane of plate 1. The side stop 4 is adapted to receive and locate the book laterally. Stop 4 is conveniently of the same design as stop 3. However, it may be fixedly attached to plate 1, rather than being adjustable. Alternatively, stop 4 could be fixedly or adjustably mounted upon stop 3. Stop 4 can be mounted on plate 1 to locate the left and/or right hand side of the book.

Stops 3 and 4 together form a right angled abutment adapted to receive and locate a book on plate 1 so that its spine overhangs beyond, but substantially parallel to, the leading edge 2 so than an operator can work on the spine. If desired, plate 1 and/or the stops 3 and 4 can be provided with accessories, e.g. clamps or spring loaded rollers for holding a book in place against the stops. The stops and/or plate 1 can carry markings or other indicia to assist positioning of the stops in the desired position.

The plate 1 and the stops 3 and 4 can be made of any desired sizes according to the size of book to be bound. Typically, plate 1 will be of sufficient size to accommodate paper sizes up to 50 cms square with 3 and 4 being of suitable lengths to suit. Preferably, stops 3 and 4 provide an abutment face 1 to 5 cms high. If desired, plate 1 can be provided with a range of interchangeable stops 3 and 4 to accommodate different thicknesses and sizes of book. The device of the invention will thus typically have plan view dimensions of from 30 to 60 cms front to back and from 40 to 100 cms side to side and a height of from 5 to 1 5 cms, thus making the device readily portable and capable of being stored in confined spaces.

The above device can be modified in a number of ways. Thus, the leading edge of plate 1 can be provided with a clamping member 30 to hold the book securely in position during binding or other operations.

The member 30 comprises a bar-like member which extends across part or all of the plate 1 substantially parallel to but above the leading edge of the plate to form a slot between the bar 30 and the plate 1 through which a book is inserted to lie upon plate 1. Bar 30 is spring loaded or otherwise biassed to bear against the upper face of the book. Preferably, bar 30 is mounted on plate 1 and/or the side stop 4 by means of bolts passing through slots in the bar and/or the plate or stops so that the position of the bar relative to the leading edge of the plate can be adjusted. The front edge of bar 30 also provides a stop against which the edge of the binding tape is laid to position the tape upon the upper face of the book.

Bar 30 is preferably formed with or provided with a metal leading edge and is also provided with a second leading edge substantially in register with the first, lower leading edge to the bar. The second leading edge is mounted above but spaced from the first leading edge, eg. by 1 to 5 mms, so as to form a second slot through which a sheet of paper of card can be inserted to but against stops 3 and 4. The projecting portion of the paper or card can then be trimmed off by running a knife or razor blade or other cutting edge along the front edge of the slot bearing against the upper and/or lower edges to the slot. Preferably a stop is provided at the end of the slot to reduce the risk of over-run of the cutting edge.

In use, a book 10 is laid flat onto plate 1 and pushed into abutment with stops 3 and, where present, 4. The position of stop 3 is, or has been, adjusted so that the spine 11 of the book overhangs the leading edge 2 of plate 1.

The overhang permits adhesive binding tape to be applied to the spine of the book without fouling the leading edge 2 of the plate 1. If it is desired to fold the binding tape under the book to contact the undersurface of the book, the overhang must be sufficient to allow this.

However, if the overhang is excessive the book will flex as pressure is applied during application of the tape onto the upper face of the book. It is therefore preferred that the overhang be not more than 1 cm. and to fold the tape over onto the underside of the book in a separate operation as described below.

Binding tape 20 of the desired size is then applied to the spine 11 of the book. The tape 20 is preferably applied to the upper face of the book at the desired point and folded down onto the spine. The extent to which the tape 20 extends onto the upper face of the book depends upon the thickness of the book at its spine and the width of the tape being used. it is convenient for plate 1 to carry a series of substantially parallel marker points or lines which, when viewed from above, aid positioning of the edge of the tape on the book.

These marks can be permanent scores or prints on plate 1 or can be applied, e.g. with crayon or other marker, for each operation.

Alternatively, where a clamping bar 30 is used to hold the book in position, this can be adjusted so that its leading edge follows the intended line of the edge of the tape on the upper face of the book and thus serves to guide the application of the tape.

The tape 20 is usually dispensed from a roll and the desired length cut off, e.g. by a knife or scissors. If desired, the roll of tape can be mounted on a rotatable hub 40 carried by plate 1 or side stop 4. Hub 40 can rotate about an axis normal or parallel to the plane of plate 1. For example, a plate can be fixed to the leading edge of plate 1 to one, preferably the right hand, side of the slot between bar 30 and plate 1. The plate carries a forwardly projecting substantially horizontal axle or hub on which the roll of tape is mounted. For a simple device, the tape can be drawn off in any direction, the desired length cut off and then positioned onto the book.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3, the tape can be dispensed through a guide 41 to one side of the book so that it is drawn across the level of the book along a fixed path to a guide 42 to the other side of the book. These guides can, for example, take the form of rectangular frames or rollers mounted on clamping bar 30 with the hub 40 for the roll of tape mounted on a horizontal axle from bar 30. Where the tape 20 is carried along a fixed path across the book, the position of the book is adjusted by means of back stop 3 so that the tape is aligned correctly with respect to the book.

As indicated above, the tape is applied to the upper surface of the book and is then folded down to be applied to the spine of the book. It is preferred to use self-adhesive tape but, if desired, adhesive can be applied to the book and a non-adhesive tape used. Since the spine of the book is exposed to the operator, the tape can be pressed well home onto the spine and any uneveness in the spine allowed for.

As indicated above, after the tape has been applied to the spine, it can then be folded under the book to extend onto the undersurface (the other cover) of the book whilst the book is still in its original orientation on plate 1. However, it is preferred to withdraw the book from plate 1, to reverse its orientation so that the spine butts against stop 3.

The unadhered portion of tape 20 now extends downwardly of the book's lower face and is folded onto the lower face to complete the binding operation as the spine 11 is pushed downwardly onto plate 1 and home against stop 3. The bound book can then be removed from plate 1 and any excess tape trimmed off.

The above form of the device readily lends itself to small volume operations and is simple and cheap to construct and operate. An added advantage is that it can be used as an aid for folding pages of a book when not used for binding books. In this alternative use, a page or pages of a book are laid on plate 1 and butted against stops 3 and 4. The free end of the pages are then folded over to butt against stops 3 and 4 and the folded pages then flattened down along the fold line. The free ends of the pages automatically feed into stops 3 and 4, thus assuring rapid and accurate folding of the pages. The folded pages can then be collated to form a book. This book is then positioned on plate 1 butting against stops 3 and 4 as described above for applying the binding tape, with the spine of the book exposed.

Where a book is made up from separate unfolded pages, these can be collated and placed onto plate 1 abutting stop 3 with the spine edges of the pages overhanging the leading edge 2 of the plate for glueing the pages together on the device of the invention.

Clamping bar 30 is then put into position to hold the book in place. Glue can then be applied to the exposed spine end of the pages to hold them together. Binding tape can then be applied to the spine as described above without moving the book from the device, enabling both the glueing and taping to be carried out at the one workplace. As described above, notably where member 30 has the extra leading edge, the device of the invention can be used to trim the pages of a book before they are folded and/or bound using the device ofthe invention.

The invention thus also provides a book finishing device which comprises a substantially planar base plate adapted to receive a book in substantially coplanar orientation thereon and having a substantially straight leading edge and an adjustable stop member mounted thereon to provide a book-abutting face substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate and substantially normal to the plane of the base plate and a side stop extending at substantially 90 to the adjustable stop and extending substantially normal to the plane of the base plate, the adjustable and side stops providing a means for locating and aligning a book on the base plate so that the spine of the book is substantially parallel to and extends beyond the leading edge of the base plate; and at least one selected from a means for dispensing a binding tape to be applied to the spine of the book when in position on the base plate and from a means for securing a book in position upon the base plate which comprises a bar-like member located above the base plate with its leading edge substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate, the bar-like member being adapted to bear against a book in position upon the base plate.

Claims (7)

1. A book finishing device which comprises a substantially planar base plate adapted to receive a book in substantially coplanar orientation thereon and having a substantially straight leading edge: an adjustable stop member mounted thereon to provide a book-abutting face substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate and substantially normal to the plane of the base plate: a side stop extending at substantially 90 to the adjustable stop and extending substantially normal to the plane of the base plate, the adjustable and side stops providing a means for locating and aligning a book on the base plate so that the spine of the book is substantially parallel to and extends beyond the leading edge of the base plate; and at least one selected from a means for dispensing a binding tape to be applied to the spine of the book when in position on the base plate and from a means for securing a book in position upon the base plate which comprises a bar-like member located above the base plate with its leading edge substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate, the bar-like member being adapted to bear against a book in position upon the base plate.

2. A method for applying a binding tape to the spine of a book, which method comprises placing the book in substantially coplanar orientation upon a generally horizontal base plate having mounted thereon an adjustable back stop aligned substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate, the book butting against the back stop and extending beyond the leading edge of the base plate with its spine substantially parallel to, but beyond, the leading edge of the base plate; applying a binding tape longitudinally onto the spine of the book and extending onto the top face of the book; and subsequently folding the tape onto the opposed face of the book.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the base plate is provided with a barlike member which extends substantially parallel to the leading edge of the base plate and bears downwardly onto the book to secure it in position on the base plate.

4. A device or method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the bar-like member carries a member thereupon which has a leading edge substantially parallel to and in register with the leading edge of the bar-like member to form a slot between the member and the bar-like member through which a sheet of paper can be inserted to butt against the back and/or side stops.

5. A device or method as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein there is provided a means for rotatably mounting a roll of tape upon the device from which the tape can be withdrawn from application to the spine of the book.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2 substantially as herein described.