GB2149351A

GB2149351A - Cover press-applicator

Info

Publication number: GB2149351A
Application number: GB08428539A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Horst Rathert
Original assignee: Kolbus GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Kolbus GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1983-11-11
Filing date: 1984-11-12
Publication date: 1985-06-12
Also published as: CH665804A5; GB8428539D0; JPS60124296A; GB2149351B; DE3340859A1; JPH0530638B2; DE3340859C2

Abstract

In a cover press-applicator for a bookbinding machine, with lateral clamping rails 4, 5 and a plate 3 for pressing against the spine, these rails and this plate being movable, in synchronism with the block transport system, in order to execute the movements for pressing the cover against the block, these movements being horizontal or vertical, as the case may be, the lateral clamping rails, 4, 5, possess suction elements or gripping elements, 4a, 5a, which hold the cover in the position where it is aligned with respect to the spine of the block, up to the instant at which it is pressed against the spine. The horizontal movement of the lateral clamping rails, 4, 5, is concurrently coordinated with the vertical movement of the plate 3, for pressing against the spine, in a manner such that the lateral clamping rails 4, 5 execute a compensating movement, towards the block 1, at the same time as the plate 3, for pressing against the spine, executes its vertical movement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cover press-applicator The invention relates to a cover press-applicator for a bookbinding machine, this pressapplicator possessing lateral clamping rails and a plate for pressing against the spine, these rails and this plate being movable, in synchronism with the block transport system, in order to execute the movements for pressing the cover against the block, these movements being horizontal or vertical, as the case may be.

In the production of adhesive-bound books, the cover is fastened to the unbound bookblock in the so-called cover press-applicator, in which the cover, previously aligned and in many cases provided with bend lines, is pressed against both the spine of the block and adjoining areas on its sides, while the movement of the block continues without interruption. Special importance is accorded to the operation in which the cover is applied and pressed on, insofar as this operation finally results in the unbound book receiving its pleasing sharp-edged spine shape. As is commonly known, both the lateral compressive force and the compressive force from below are applied simultaneously, using lateral clamping rails in conjunction with a plate for pressing against the spine.With such an arrangement, both tools can be moved in synchronism with the block transport system, in a straight line and over a defined travel distance. Details of a cover press-applicator of the type just described can, for example, be found in Swiss Patent 626,833.

Practical experience has shown that, in the known appliances, the compressing movement of the tools results in the occurrence of uncontrolled moments which cause the cover, previously aligned with respect to the spine of the block, to be displaced from its required position, especially when the block exhibits pronounced mushrooming and its spine is consequently wider than the distance between the bend lines which have been predetermined by scoring. In such cases, the mushrooming can also exhibit an asymmetrical shape, which results in an extreme misalignment of the cover with respect to the spine of the block.Inaccurate centering of the spine of the block with respect to either the grooves in the cover or the bend lines, as the case may be, invariably leads to a reduction in the quality of the product, such as simply a misshapen spine, angling of the title overprint with respect to the edges of the spine, creasing, and so on and so forth.

The object of the invention is to improve a cover press-applicator, of this generic type, to the effect that, with a view to an increase in quality, the cover, once aligned with respect to the spine of the block, is reliably prevented from being displaced while being applied and pressed on. This object is achieved by means of an arrangement wherein the lateral clamping rails are equipped with suction elements, or gripping elements, which hold the cover in the position where it is aligned with respect to the spine of the block, up to the instant at which it is pressed against the spine, and whereby the horizontal movement of the lateral clamping rails is coordinated with the vertical movement of the plate for pressing against the spine, in a manner such that the lateral clamping rails execute a compensating movement, towards the block, at the same time as the plate for pressing against the spine executes its vertical movement. Advantageous embodiments are characterised in the sub-claims.

The press-applicator according to the invention enables the cover to be held, while being applied and pressed on, in the position where it is aligned with respect to the spine of the block, without ever being displaced, and so enables it to be fastened to the block with accurate registration. In the case of covers with bend lines which are predetermined by scoring, accurate centering of these lines with respect to the spine of the block is guaranteed. The cover is held centrally at all times, so that even block mushrooming cannot exert any influence on the accuracy of the casing operation.

In the text which follows, an illustrative embodiment of the invention is described in more detail, by reference to the Drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a front view of the cover press-applicator, Figures 1 a to 1 c show the press-applicator at various instants during the process sequence, Figure 2 shows a side view of the cover press-applicator, and Figure 3 shows a view of the press-applicator, looking in the direction "A" indicated in Figure 1.

The cover press-applicator is formed essentially by a plate 3, for pressing against the spine, and by lateral clamping rails, 4 and 5, which can be shifted, on the pressing plate 3, towards areas on the sides of the block. In a known manner, the plate 3, for pressing against the spine, executes both a vertical movement and a horizontal movement, over a defined travel distance, in synchronism with the transport system, the latter running continuously and possessing block grippers 2, while at the same time the lateral clamping rails, 4 and 5, move horizontally inwards.

The plate 3, for pressing against the spine, is carried by a traversing carriage 9 which is capable of being shifted inside a guide cradle 6 by means of its rollers 7 and 8. For this purpose, a pull lever 10 acts on the carriage 9, this lever 10 belonging to an actuating arm 11 which is operated by a disc cam mechanism-not represented in the Drawings-and which causes the traversing carriage 9 to execute its straight-line movement. The same disc cam mechanism effects the vertical movement of the cradle 6, via control arms, 1 2 and 13, which act on its ends. The actuating movements are not discussed further in the paragraphs which follow, as they are not the subject of this invention.

Two mounting rods, 1 7 and 17a, are located in the traversing carriage 9, in which they are retained, so that, in conjunction with side pieces, 1 5 and 15a, they form a supporting frame. Bearers, 1 6 and 16a, are installed on the rods 1 7 and 17a, in a manner permitting them to slide freely, the function of these bearers being to receive the clamping rails 4 and 5. The two side pieces, 1 5 and 1 5a, serve to receive guide rods, 1 8 and 18a, on which the bearers 16 and 1 6a for the clamping rails 4 and 5 are respectively fixed in a manner such that they cannot move.The guide rods 1 8 and 18a, and the bearers, 1 6 and 16a, with the clamping rails 4 and 5, can slide freely in the axial direction, both in the traversing carriage 9, and in the side pieces 1 5 and 15a, the lateral clamping rails generating the pressing force on the side areas of the block, by way of compression springs. 24 and 24a, each located on the side opposite to the rail in question, in that these co.mpression springs are supported against setting rings, 1 9 and 19a, and against the traversing carriage 9.

The control over the closing and opening movements of the clamping rails is exercised concurrently with the horizontal movement of the traversing carriage 9 in the cradle 6, and is executed via cam rollers, 25 and 25a, which are fastened to the guide rods 1 8 and 18a, with allocated cam tracks, 26 and 26a, located on the guide cradle 6.

According to the invention, each of the lateral clamping rails, 4 and 5, is provided with a row of holes, 4a and 5a, through which suction air can be drawn, the function of these holes, 4a and 5a, being to hold the cover, 1 a, which has been accurately aligned with respect to the spine of the block 1, by means of lateral guides 31 and 31a, and consequently to fix the cover in this predetermined position relative to the spine of the block, up to the instant at which it is pressed on.

A correcting flap, 32, is employed in order to achieve accurately-registered feeding, this flap 32, rotatably mounted on the traversing carriage 9, correcting the cover 1 a, once it has been fed in, with respect to the block 1, in that a cam roller 32a, belonging to an arm 32b extending from the flap 32, rolls onto a cam piece 33 belonging to the guide cradle 6, under the assistance of a spring element which is not shown, but which holds the cam roller 32a in contact with the cam piece 33.

As described initially, the plate 3, for pressing against the spine, makes a horizontal movement, over a travel distance, in synchronism with the transport-system gripper, 2, holding the block, and a vertical movement, the purpose of which is to hold the cover hard against the adhesive-coated spine of the block during the synchronized movement, the sequences of movements executed by the cover pressapplicator being synchronized with the blocks which are continuously passing through, held in the transport-system grippers.

Once the correction has been made, the cover, resting on the lateral clamping rails 4 and 5, which are being moved in synchronism, is firmly held by suction, and its position relative to the spine of the block is consequently fixed, before the vertical movement of the plate 3, for pressing against the spine.

applies the cover to the adhesive-coated spine of the block. As the vertical stroke progresses.

the block now presses the cover into the space formed by the lateral clamping rails, 4 and 5, and the plate 3, for pressing against the spine, while the lateral clamping rails execute the necessary compensating movement. In the course of these movements, the cover is applied tautly around the spine of the block. As the sequence progresses further, the spine of the block is placed accurately into the spine area of the cover, predetermined by scoring, and is pressed on.

The press-applicator according to the invention ensures that the cover remains fixed in the position where it is aligned with respect to the spine of the block, and consequently enables the cover to be fastened to the spine of the block with accurate registration. The mushrooming which unavoidably accompanies block production, and which, moreover, can often be asymmetric, does not exert any influence on the accuracy of the casing operation.

Once centering has been effected, and once pressure is being applied to the spine, the suction at the holes, 4a and 5a, in the lateral clamping rails 4 and 5 is shut off, and the operation involving the application of pressure to the sides is thereupon performed, while the cover can move upwards without any hindrance.

Claims

1. A cover press-applicator for a bookbinding machine fitted with book block clamping means and a pressure member for pressing a cover against the spine of the book block, the clamping means and pressure member being movable in synchronism with block transporting means, for pressing the cover against the block, wherein the clamping means are arranged to hold the cover in a position aligned with respect to the spine up to the instant at which it is pressed against the spine, and the clamping movement of the clamping means being coordinated with the movement of the pressure member such that the clamping means execute a compensating movement towards the block at the same time as the pressure member executes a similar movement.

2. A cover press-applicator according to claim 1 including suction elements and/or gripping elements for holding the cover in alignment.

3. A cover press-applicator according to claim 1 or claim 2 including a traversing carriage carrying the pressure member which is moveable with respect to a guide cradle which is moveable at right angles to the carriage movement.

4. A cover press-applicator according to claim 3 wherein the clamping means are mounted on the carriage.

5. A cover press-applicator according to claim 4 including cam track and cam rollers for coordinating the movement of the clamping means towards the block with movement of the traversing carriage with respect to the guide cradle.

6. A cover press-applicator according to any of claims 3 to 5 wherein the traversing carriage carries a correcting device arranged upon placement of the cover to align it with respect ot the block.

7. A cover press-applicator substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.